Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

About: Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg is a education organization based out in Halle, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Liquid crystal. The organization has 20232 authors who have published 38773 publications receiving 965004 citations. The organization is also known as: MLU & University of Wittenberg.

Bevacizumab and osteonecrosis of the jaw: incidence and association with bisphosphonate therapy in three large prospective trials in advanced breast cancer.

Abstract: Long-term bisphosphonate therapy is associated with increased risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). In a retrospective analysis, a 16% ONJ incidence was reported in patients receiving bisphosphonates with anti-angiogenic therapy (bevacizumab or sunitinib) for bone metastases from breast, colon, or renal cell cancers. To assess ONJ incidence with bevacizumab, we analysed data from 3,560 patients receiving bevacizumab-containing therapy for locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer (LR/MBC) in two double-blind, randomised trials (AVADO and RIBBON-1) and a large, non-randomised safety study (ATHENA). The overall incidence of ONJ with bevacizumab was 0.3% in the blinded phase of the two randomised trials and 0.4% in the single-arm study. There was a trend towards increased ONJ incidence in patients who received bisphosphonate therapy versus those with no bisphosphonate exposure (0.9 vs. 0.2%, respectively, in the pooled analysis of the randomised trials; 2.4 vs. 0%, respectively, in ATHENA). In conclusion, this is the largest analysis of ONJ in patients receiving bevacizumab for LR/MBC. The 0.3–0.4% incidence is considerably lower than previously suggested with anti-angiogenic therapy in a small retrospective analysis. The risk of ONJ appeared to be increased in patients exposed to bisphosphonates, a pattern consistent with observations before the introduction of anti-angiogenic therapy to breast cancer management. The 0.9–2.4% incidence seen in bisphosphonate-exposed patients receiving bevacizumab is within the 1–6% range reported for bisphosphonates alone. Good oral hygiene, dental examination, and avoidance of invasive dental procedures remain important in patients receiving bisphosphonates, irrespective of bevacizumab administration.

Radiological and clinical outcomes of using Chartis TM to plan endobronchial valve treatment

Abstract: One-way endobronchial valves (EBV) have been shown to relieve symptoms of emphysema, particularly in patients without collateral ventilation (CV) between the target and adjacent lobes. In this study, we investigated the ability of the bronchoscopic Chartis Pulmonary Assessment SystemTM to predict treatment response by determining the presence of CV. EBV patients (n=80) underwent a pre-treatment Chartis assessment. Before and 30 days after implantation, high-resolution CT scans were taken to determine target lobe volume reduction (TLVR). A pre- to post-treatment reduction of ≥350 mL was defined as significant. In addition, clinical outcomes (FEV1, 6-minute walk test and SGRQ) were compared over the same time period. Of the 51 patients classified as having an absence of CV according to their Chartis reading, 36 showed a TLVR ≥350 mL. Twenty-nine patients were classified as having CV, and of these 24 did not meet this TLVR cut-off. Chartis showed an accuracy level of 75% in predicting whether or not the TLVR cut-off would be reached. Those predicted to respond showed significantly greater TLVR (p < 0.0001) and FEV1 improvement (p=0.0013) than those predicted not to respond. Chartis is a safe and effective method of predicting response to EBV treatment.

Long-term management impacts on soil C, N and physical fertility: Part II: Bad Lauchstadt static and extreme FYM experiments

Abstract: Manure is a source of plant nutrients and can make a valuable contribution to soil organic matter (SOM). Two experimental sites were studied on a Halpic Phaeozem soil near Bad Lauchstadt in Germany. The first experiment, called the static experiment, commenced in 1902. The impact of fresh farmyard manure (FYM) (0, 20 and 30 t ha −1 2 year −1 ) combined with P, K and N fertiliser application on total organic C (C T ), labile C (C L ), non-labile C (C NL ), total N (N T ), mean weight diameter (MWD) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity ( K unsat ) was investigated. The second experiment commenced in 1984 and investigated the effect of extreme rates of fresh FYM applications (0, 50, 100 and 200 t ha −1 year −1 ) and cropping, or a continuous tilled fallow on the same soil properties. At both sites a nearby grassland site served as a reference. On the static experiment, FYM application increased all C fractions, particularly C L , where application of 30 t ha −1 2 year −1 increased C L by 70% compared with no FYM application. Fertiliser additions to the static experiment had a positive influence on C fractions while N T increased from both FYM and fertiliser application. MWD increased as a result of FYM application, but did not reach that of the grassland site. Both fertiliser and FYM application increased K unsat (10 mm tension) on the static experiment. In the second experiment application of 200 t ha −1 year −1 of FYM increased concentrations of C L by 173% and of C NL by 80%, compared with no FYM application to make them equivalent to, or greater than the grassland site. A continuously tilled fallow resulted in significant decreases in all C fractions, N T and MWD compared with the cropped site, while K unsat (10 mm tension) was increased on the 0 and 50 t ha −1 year −1 treatments as a result of a recent tillage. There was no difference in K unsat between the cropped and the continuous tilled fallow at FYM applications of 100 and 200 t ha −1 year −1 . There were similar significant positive correlations of all C fractions and N T with MWD on both experimental sites but the relationships were much stronger on the extreme FYM experiment. Weaker relationships of C fractions and N T with K unsat (10 mm tension) occurred for the static experimental site but these were not significant for the extreme FYM experimental site. The strongest relationship between C fractions and K unsat was with C L . This research has shown that applications of FYM can increase SOM and improve soil physical fertility. However, the potential risk of very high rates of FYM on the environment need to be taken into consideration, especially since the application of organic materials to soils is likely to increase in the future.

Loss of K‐Cl co‐transporter KCC3 causes deafness, neurodegeneration and reduced seizure threshold

Abstract: K-Cl co-transporters are encoded by four homologous genes and may have roles in transepithelial transport and in the regulation of cell volume and cytoplasmic chloride. KCC3, an isoform mutated in the human Anderman syndrome, is expressed in brain, epithelia and other tissues. To investigate the physiological functions of KCC3, we disrupted its gene in mice. This severely impaired cell volume regulation as assessed in renal tubules and neurons, and moderately raised intraneuronal Cl(-) concentration. Kcc3(-/-) mice showed severe motor abnormalities correlating with a progressive neurodegeneration in the peripheral and CNS. Although no spontaneous seizures were observed, Kcc3(-/-) mice displayed reduced seizure threshold and spike-wave complexes on electrocorticograms. These resembled EEG abnormalities in patients with Anderman syndrome. Kcc3(-/-) mice also displayed arterial hypertension and a slowly progressive deafness. KCC3 was expressed in many, but not all cells of the inner ear K(+) recycling pathway. These cells slowly degenerated, as did sensory hair cells. The present mouse model has revealed important cellular and systemic functions of KCC3 and is highly relevant for Anderman syndrome.