University of Marburg

About: University of Marburg is a education organization based out in Marburg, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gene. The organization has 23195 authors who have published 42907 publications receiving 1506069 citations. The organization is also known as: Philipps University of Marburg & Philipps-Universität.

Treatment of allergic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness by antisense-induced local blockade of GATA-3 expression.

Abstract: Recent studies in transgenic mice have revealed that expression of a dominant negative form of the transcription factor GATA-3 in T cells can prevent T helper cell type 2 (Th2)-mediated allergic airway inflammation in mice. However, it remains unclear whether GATA-3 plays a role in the effector phase of allergic airway inflammation and whether antagonizing the expression and/or function of GATA-3 can be used for the therapy of allergic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. Here, we analyzed the effects of locally antagonizing GATA-3 function in a murine model of asthma. We could suppress GATA-3 expression in interleukin (IL)-4–producing T cells in vitro and in vivo by an antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide overlapping the translation start site of GATA-3, whereas nonsense control oligonucleotides were virtually inactive. In a murine model of asthma associated with allergic pulmonary inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice, local intranasal administration of fluorescein isothiocyanate–labeled GATA-3 antisense oligonucleotides led to DNA uptake in lung cells associated with a reduction of intracellular GATA-3 expression. Such intrapulmonary blockade of GATA-3 expression caused an abrogation of signs of lung inflammation including infiltration of eosinophils and Th2 cytokine production. Furthermore, treatment with antisense but not nonsense oligonucleotides induced a significant reduction of airway hyperresponsiveness in OVA-sensitized mice to levels comparable to saline-treated control mice, as assessed by both enhanced pause (PenH) responses and pulmonary resistance determined by body plethysmography. These data indicate a critical role for GATA-3 in the effector phase of a murine asthma model and suggest that local delivery of GATA-3 antisense oligonucleotides may be a novel approach for the treatment of airway hyperresponsiveness such as in asthma. This approach has the potential advantage of suppressing the expression of various proinflammatory Th2 cytokines simultaneously rather than suppressing the activity of a single cytokine.

Low back pain in primary care: costs of care and prediction of future health care utilization.

Abstract: Study design Cost of illness study alongside a randomized controlled trial. Objective To describe the costs of care for patients with low back pain (1) and to identify patient characteristics as predictors for high health care cost during a 1-year follow-up (2). Summary of background data Low back pain (LBP) is one of the leading causes of high health care costs in industrialized countries (Life time prevalence, 70%). A lot of research has been done to improve primary health care and patients' prognosis. However, the cost of health care does not necessarily follow changes in patient outcomes. Methods General practitioners (n = 126) recruited 1378 patients consulting for LBP. Sociodemographic data, pain characteristics, and LBP-related cost data were collected by interview at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. Costs were evaluated from the societal perspective. Predictors of high cost during the subsequent year were studied using logistic regression analysis. Results Mean direct and indirect costs for LBP care are about twice as high for patients with chronic LBP compared to acutely ill patients. Indirect costs account for more than 52% to 54% of total costs. About 25% of direct costs refer to therapeutic procedures and hospital or rehabilitational care. Patients with high disability and limitations in daily living show a 2- to 5-fold change for subsequent high health care costs. Depression seems to be highly relevant for direct health care utilization. Conclusion Interventions designed to reduce high health care costs for LBP should focus on patients with severe LBP and depressive comorbidity. Our results add to the economic understanding of LBP care and may give guidance for future actions on health care improvement and cost reduction.

Electrospinning approaches toward scaffold engineering--a brief overview.

Abstract: Tissue engineering involves the in vitro seeding of cells onto scaffolds which assume the role of supporting cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation, and which define the three-dimensional shape of the tissue to be engineered. Among the various types of scaffold architectures available, scaffolds based on nanofibers mimicking to a certain extent the structure of the extracellular matrix offer great advantages. Electrospinning is the technique of choice for the preparation of such scaffolds. Investigations have revealed that the nanofibrous structure promotes cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Parameters relevant for these processes such as fiber diameters, surface topology, porosity, mechanical properties, and the fibrous architecture of the scaffold can be controlled by electrospinning in a broad range.