Grippeimpfung in Deutschland: Eine bevölkerungsbezogene Querschnittsanalyse der drei Influenzasaisons von 2002 bis 2005

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund und Ziel:: Die Influenza ist weltweit ein bedeutendes Gesundheitsproblem. Die Impfung ist die einzige Präventivmaßnahme, welche Mortalität und Morbidität in allen Alterskategorien zu reduzieren vermag. Ziele der vorliegenden Untersuchung waren eine Erhebung der Influenzaimpfungsraten in den Saisons 2002/2003, 2003/2004 und 2004/2005 in Deutschland, die Verbesserung des Verständnisses der Beweg- und Ablehnungsgründe der Impfung und die Erfassung der Zahl der beabsichtigten Impfungen für den folgenden Winter. Methodik:: Die Autoren führten eine zufallsgesteuerte Telefonumfrage in Haushalten durch. Zu der Zielgruppe gehörten nicht institutionalisierte Personen, repräsentativ für die Alterskategorie ≥14 Jahre. Der bei der Untersuchung verwendete Fragebogen war in allen Saisons identisch, und die Antworten konnten gepoolt werden. Für die Analyse wurden vier Zielgruppen identifiziert: 1. Personen im Alter von ≥60 Jahren; 2. Personen, die im medizinischen Bereich tätig sind; 3. Personen mit chronischen Erkrankungen; 4. eine zusammengesetzte Gruppe aus allen vorhergehenden Gruppen, d.h. Personen im Alter von ≥60 Jahren oder Personen, die im medizinischen Bereich beschäftigt oder chronisch erkrankt sind. Ergebnisse:: Die Stichprobengröße betrug 5 990 Personen. Die Impfungsrate nahm von 22,3% in der Saison 2002/2003 über 25,1% in der Saison 2003/2004 bis auf 26,5% in der Saison 2004/2005 zu. Dieser Anstieg ist statistisch signifikant (p = 0,007). Die Impfungsrate der zusammengesetzten Gruppe erhöhte sich von 40,0% (2002/2003) auf 42,2% (2004/2005). Die Beweg- und Ablehnungsgründe der Schutzimpfung haben sich in diesen Jahren nicht verändert. Zu den am häufigsten genannten Beweggründen für eine Schutzimpfung gehören: 1. die Einschätzung, dass Influenza eine schwerwiegende Erkrankung ist, die vermieden werden sollte; 2. eine Empfehlung vom Hausarzt oder Pflegepersonal; 3. die Vermeidung der Ansteckung von Familienmitgliedern und Freunden. Zu den erwähnten Gründen gegen eine Impfung bei Personen, die noch nie geimpft wurden, gehören: 1. Impfung wurde in Erwägung gezogen, am Ende jedoch nicht durchgeführt; 2. Erwartung, sich sowieso nicht mit Influenza anzustecken; 3. keine Empfehlung vom Hausarzt für die Impfung. Als Hauptmotivationsfaktoren für eine Influenzaschutzimpfung wurden angegeben: 1. Empfehlung vom Hausarzt oder Pflegepersonal; 2. weitergehende Informationen über den Impfstoff hinsichtlich der Wirksamkeit und Verträglichkeit; 3. Erhältlichkeit von weiterführenden Informationen über die Krankheit. Schlussfolgerung:: Der Durchimpfungsgrad erhöhte sich über drei Saisons hinweg um insgesamt 4,2%. Die Motivation für eine Influenzaschutzimpfung wird vor allem durch Empfehlungen des Hausarztes positiv beeinflusst. Es scheint außerdem, als würden Informationen über die Wirksamkeit und Verträglichkeit des Impfstoffs sowie über die Krankheit die Impfmotivation der Öffentlichkeit positiv beeinflussen. Die Autoren schlagen daher vor, dass sich Hausärzte besser über den Influenzaimpfstoff und die Erkrankung informieren, damit sie die Informationen über diese Themen aktiv an ihre Patienten weitergeben könne

Leptin inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cells at supraphysiological concentrations by inhibiting mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling.

Leptin is a hormone secreted by white fat tissue and signals the amount of overall body fat to the hypothalamus. The circulating concentration of leptin correlates with the level of obesity. Breast cancer risk is higher in obese postmenopausal women compared with postmenopausal women of a normal weight, and high leptin concentrations may contribute to this risk. In the present study, SK-BR-3 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines were treated with various concentrations (6.25-1,600 ng{combining long solidus overlay}ml) of recombinant leptin and changes in cell proliferation were assessed. The SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells exhibited a concentration-dependent increase in proliferation with physiological leptin concentrations (100 ng{combining long solidus overlay}ml) was observed. Cell proliferation was not affected at supraphysiological leptin concentrations (>800 ng{combining long solidus overlay}ml) in SK-BR-3 cells, whereas it decreased in MDA-MB-231 cells. Therefore, cell signaling and cell cycle changes were assessed at supraphysiological concentrations (1,600 ng{combining long solidus overlay}ml). In the two cell lines, leptin treatment decreased the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cell signaling pathway activation. Leptin treatment did not increase Akt phosphorylation or significantly alter the cell population distribution across cell cycle stages. To the best of our knowledge, leptin-induced growth inhibition of breast cancer cells at supraphysiological concentrations has not been reported in the literature to date, and the findings of this study suggest that reduced MAPK activity may be the underlying cause. Thus, the effect of leptin on breast cancer growth warrants further investigation since leptin is considered to be one of the main mediators in the obesity-breast cancer connection

Olive oil phenolics: effects on DNA oxidation and redox enzyme mRNA in prostate cells

J.L.Q. was supported by the University of Granada, Spain (Becas de Perfeccionamiento de Doctores Programme). D.K.S. was supported by a grant from World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the other authors were supported by the Scottish Executive Rural and Agricultural Department (SERAD).Hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol and caffeic acid effects on hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage, hydroperoxide generation and redox enzyme gene expression were studied in oxidative-stress-sensitive human prostate cells (PC3). Hydroxytyrosol led to lower levels of hydroperoxides, DNA damage, and mRNA levels of classic glutathione peroxidase (GPx) for all the studied concentrations. Only hydroxytyrosol was effective at low concentrations (10 μM). TYROSOL REDUCED DNA OXIDATION ONLY AT HIGH (>50 Μm) concentrations and increased hydroperoxides, GPx and phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx mRNA levels. Caffeic acid elicited effects between those of the other two phenolics. Results indicate that hydroxytyrosol is the only significant antioxidant phenolic in olive oil and may be the major component accounting for its beneficial properties. Tyrosol appeared to exhibit pro-oxidant effects (only at high concentrations) and caffeic acid was neutral. Both number and position of hydroxyl groups appear to play a role in the cellular effects of hydroxytyrosol.University of Granada, Spain (Becas de Perfeccionamiento de Doctores Programme)World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)Scottish Executive Rural and Agricultural Department (SERAD

A rapid method for determining arachidonic:eicosapentaenoic acid ratios in whole blood lipids: correlation with erythrocyte membrane ratios and validation in a large Italian population of various ages and pathologies

BACKGROUND: Omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), are important for good health conditions. They are present in membrane phospholipids.The ratio of total n-6:n-3 LCPUFA and arachidonic acid:eicosapentaenoic acid (AA and EPA), should not exceed 5:1. Increased intake of n-6 and decreased consumption of n-3 has resulted in much higher, ca 10/15:1 ratio in RBC fatty acids with the possible appearance of a pathological "scenario". The determination of RBC phospholipid LCPUFA contents and ratios is the method of choice for assessing fatty acid status but it is labour intensive and time consuming. AIMS OF THE STUDY: [i] To describe and validate a rapid method, suitable for large scale population studies, for total blood fatty acid assay; [ii] to verify a possible correlation between total n-6:n-3 ratio and AA:EPA ratios in RBC phospholipids and in whole-blood total lipids, [iii] to assess usefulness of these ratio as biomarkers of LCPUFA status. METHODS: 1 Healthy volunteers and patients with various pathologies were recruited.2 Fatty acid analyses by GC of methyl esters from directly derivatized whole blood total lipids and from RBC phospholipids were performed on fasting blood samples from 1432 subjects categorised according to their age, sex and any existing pathologies.AA:EPA ratio and the total n-6:n-3 ratio were determined. RESULTS: AA:EPA ratio is a more sensitive and reliable index for determining changes in total blood fatty acid and it is correlated with the ratio derived from extracted RBC phospholipids. CONCLUSIONS: The described AA:EPA ratio is a simple, rapid and reliable method for determining n-3 fatty acid status

Anticancer effects of n-3 EPA and DHA and their endocannabinoid derivatives on breast cancer cell growth and invasion

Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge NHS Grampian Endowment funds and TENOVUS Scotland for funding. JL was funded by a scholarship from Fraserburgh Moonlight Prowl and AAS was funded by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS). We also thank Dr Raphael Mechoulam, University of Jerusalem, for the gift of the endocannabinoids.Peer reviewedPostprin

Dietary Supplementation with Conjugated Linoleic Acid Plus n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Increases Food IntakeBrown Adipose Tissue in Rats

The effect of supplementation with 1% conjugated linoleic acid and 1% n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (CLA/n-3) was assessed in rats. Food intake increased with no difference in body weights. White adipose tissue weights were reduced whereas brown adipose tissue and uncoupling protein-1 expression were increased. Plasma adiponectin, triglyceride and cholesterol levels were reduced while leptin, ghrelin and liver weight and lipid content were unchanged. Hypothalamic gene expression measurements revealed increased expression of orexigenic and decreased expression of anorexigenic signals. Thus, CLA/n-3 increases food intake without affecting body weight potentially through increasing BAT size and up-regulating UCP-1 in rats

LESLIE LARS IVERSEN - Bibliography from GEORGE ALAN GARTON. 4 June 1922 — 13 May 2010

Alan Garton and his group at The Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen made very significant and unique contributions to the understanding of differences in digestion, absorption and metabolism of dietary lipids (fats) and their importance to health in mammalian species, particularly farm animals, but also various aspects of lipid metabolism and health in humans. The group were the first to use commercially available gas chromatography and first, this side of the Atlantic, to employ thin-layer chromatography for lipid analyses. A special adaptation of radio-gas chromatography, developed in-house, also led to the definitive evidence that radio-labelled methylmalonyl-CoA, derived from propionic acid, particularly from grain-fed sheep, can be utilized for fatty acid synthesis. Alan always highlighted the relevance of the group's lipid research to human health and wellbeing, as seen by the role of branched-chain fatty acids in Refsum's disease and the later development of studies of the role of saturated and essential omega-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids, including conjugated linoleic acids and trans fatty acids, in human health and disease by the group

Cytoprotective effects of phenolic antioxidants and essential fatty acids in human blood monocyte and neuroblastoma cell lines: Surrogates for neurological damage in vivo

Background Oxidative stress is implicated in the development of a range of neurological diseases. There is increasing interest in the neuroprotective efficacy of antioxidants in modulating such processes with at least one polyphenolic being tested as a prophylactic in Alzheimer's disease. Beneficial effects of adjunctive n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with combined intakes of vitamin C and E on both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia have been reported. Robust in vitro systems are desirable, enabling a mechanistic investigation of the molecular mechanisms underpinning such effects and identification of further potentially efficacious nutraceuticals. Materials and method A comparative study employing a human lymphoblastoid cell line derived from a subject with early onset schizophrenia, a neuroblastoma IMR-32 cell line and the histiocytic lymphoma U937 cell line was undertaken. The cytoprotective effects of two phenols in affording protection to cellular DNA from an oxidative challenge were assessed in untreated and fatty acid treated cell lines. Results and conclusion Marked differences in the uptake of fatty acids by the cell types were found and the IMR-32 cell line was most susceptible to the oxidant challenge. Hydroxytyrosol gave significant cytoprotection in all three-cell lines and this possible neuroprotective efficacy warrants further investigation, both in vitro and in vivo