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.

DNA microarrays reveal relationship of Ewing family tumors to both endothelial and fetal neural crest-derived cells and define novel targets.

Abstract: Ewing family tumors (EFTs) are small round blue cell tumors that show features of neuroectodermal differentiation. However, the histogenetic origin of EFTs is still a matter of debate. We used high-density DNA microarrays for the identification of EFT-specific gene expression profiles in comparison with normal tissues of diverse origin. We identified 37 genes that are up-regulated in EFTs compared with normal tissues and validated expression of these genes in EFTs by both conventional and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The expression pattern of EFT-associated genes in normal tissues indicated a high similarity between EFTs and fetal and neuronal as well as endothelial tissues and supports the concept that a primitive neural crest-derived progenitor at the transition to mesenchymal and endothelial differentiation is transformed in EFTs. EFT-associated genes could be used for molecular discrimination between EFTs and other small round blue cell tumors and clearly identified a cell line (SK-N-MC) that was initially established as neuroblastoma as being an EFT. Ectopic expression of the EFT-specific EWS-FLI1 fusion protein in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells was not sufficient to induce the complete EFT-specific gene expression signature, suggesting that the EFT-specific gene expression profile is not just a consequence of EWS-FLI1 expression but depends on the histogenetic background of the EFT stem cell.

Are perfectionistic strivings in sport adaptive? A systematic review of confirmatory, contradictory, and mixed evidence.

Abstract: A controversial issue in sport perfectionism research concerns the degree to which athletes’ perfectionistic tendencies are adaptive or maladaptive Insight into this issue can be obtained by distinguishing between two perfectionism dimensions: perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns Past narrative reviews concede that perfectionistic concerns are maladaptive in sport, but offer contrasting conclusions about whether athletes’ perfectionistic strivings are adaptive or maladaptive (see Flett & Hewitt, 2005; Hall, 2006; Stoeber, 2011) To address this discrepancy, this review systematically documented, categorised, and quantitatively analysed 201 correlations from 31 studies on perfectionism in athletes When bivariate correlations were regarded, the proportion of evidence associating perfectionistic strivings with adaptive characteristics in sport was slightly greater than the proportion of evidence associating the dimension with maladaptive characteristics in sport When partial correlations were regarded (ie, correlations that controlled for overlap with perfectionistic concerns), a clear majority of evidence associated perfectionistic strivings with adaptive characteristics and only a small minority associated it with maladaptive characteristics Across both instances, though, considerable evidence (as represented by nonsignificant correlations) associated perfectionistic strivings with neither adaptive nor maladaptive characteristics Collectively, these findings suggest that perfectionistic strivings among athletes are predominantly adaptive, occasionally neutral, and rarely maladaptive However, this trend is only apparent when the negative influence of perfectionistic concerns is controlled Implications of these findings on future research directions and applied sport psychology practice are discussed

Heart failure in cardiomyopathies: a position paper from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology.

Abstract: Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of heart muscle diseases and an important cause of heart failure (HF). Current knowledge on incidence, pathophysiology and natural history of HF in cardiomyopathies is limited, and distinct features of their therapeutic responses have not been systematically addressed. Therefore, this position paper focuses on epidemiology, pathophysiology, natural history and latest developments in treatment of HF in patients with dilated (DCM), hypertrophic (HCM) and restrictive (RCM) cardiomyopathies. In DCM, HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has high incidence and prevalence and represents the most frequent cause of death, despite improvements in treatment. In addition, advanced HF in DCM is one of the leading indications for heart transplantation. In HCM, HF with preserved ejection (HFpEF) affects most patients with obstructive, and ∼10% of patients with non-obstructive HCM. A timely treatment is important, since development of advanced HF, although rare in HCM, portends a poor prognosis. In RCM, HFpEF is common, while HFrEF occurs later and more frequently in amyloidosis or iron overload/haemochromatosis. Irrespective of RCM aetiology, HF is a harbinger of a poor outcome. Recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of HF in cardiomyopathies have significant implications for therapeutic decision-making. In addition, new aetiology-specific treatment options (e.g. enzyme replacement therapy, transthyretin stabilizers, immunoadsorption, immunotherapy, etc.) have shown a potential to improve outcomes. Still, causative therapies of many cardiomyopathies are lacking, highlighting the need for the development of effective strategies to prevent and treat HF in cardiomyopathies.