[Need for nursing care among infants of Turkish and non-Turkish origin. An analysis of registry data of the medical service of the statutory health insurance in Westphalia-Lippe, Germany, 2004-2008]. / Pflegebedürftigkeit bei türkischstämmigen und -nicht-türkischstämmigen Säuglingen. Eine Analyse der Pflegegutachten des MDK Westfalen-Lippe von 2004 bis 2008.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Infants of mothers with an immigrant background experience poorer health outcomes than infants in Germany as a whole. The aim of this study was to investigate whether differences exist in diagnoses leading to long-term nursing care among infants of Turkish vs. non-Turkish background. METHODS: We analysed records of the medical service of the statutory health insurance of the region Westphalia-Lippe, 2004-2008. We used a name algorithm to identify cases with Turkish migrant background. RESULTS: There were 1 107 applications for long-term nursing care, 141 of which concerned infants of Turkish origin. "Inborn malformations, deformities and chromosomal abnormities" was more often the reason for application among non-Turkish infants, "Certain conditions which have their origin in the perinatal period" were twice as common among Turkish as compared to non-Turkish infants. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support the -assumption that mothers of Turkish origin more often apply for long-term nursing care due to malformations of their infant than other mothers.

[Linkage of data of the medical service of the health insurances with data of a cancer registry]. / Abgleich von Verwaltungsdaten des Medizinischen Dienstes der Krankenversicherung mit Krebsregisterdaten.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine whether a linkage of data sets of the Epidemiological Cancer Registry North Rhine-Westphalia (EKR-NRW) and the Medical Service of the Health Insurances (MDK WL) is feasible, which problems may occur during execution and what could be a solution strategy. METHODS: Data of the EKR-NRW were used to identify all cancer cases in the district of Munster, for which an expert opinion regarding nursing needs from the period 2004-2008 was available at the MDK WL. For this purpose factually anonymised data of the EKR-NRW and the MDK WL were linked by means of a semi-automatic probabilistic record linkage. RESULTS: Data linkage yielded 18 877 cancer cases but required great technical and temporal input. The processing of management data and the use of "routine channels" (ISDN connection), which provide the necessary safety for data transfer, but are designed for a considerably smaller amount of data, accounted for this. The interface problem (converting data from text format to a hierarchical XML format) can be solved with Excel or SAS. CONCLUSION: A record linkage with factually anonymised data from the MDK WL and the EKR-NRW is feasible. This allows, among other things, quantifying the needs for nursing care in persons with a cancer diagnosis.

Prevalence of a common point mutation in the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) gene within the 5'-splice donor site of intron 14 in patients with severe 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)- related toxicity compared with controls.

Deficiency of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), the rate-limiting enzyme in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) catabolism, has been linked to toxic side effects of 5-FU. The most prominent mutation of the DPD gene resulting in severe DPD deficiency is a G to A mutation in the GT 5'-splice recognition site of intron 14 (exon 14-skipping mutation). The corresponding mRNA lacks exon 14, and the enzymatic activity of the translated DPD protein is virtually absent. We developed a reverse transcription-PCR-based assay suitable for routine identification of the exon 14-skipping mutation and screened a control cohort of 851 Caucasian individuals as well as a cohort of 25 cancer patients reported by their physicians to have suffered from WHO grades 3-4 toxicity upon 5-FU chemotherapy. Within the control cohort, in total, eight heterozygotes were detected (0.94%): one heterozygote in 51 healthy donors, (1.96%); five heterozygotes in 572 hospital patients (0.87%); and two heterozygotes in 228 colorectal tumor patients (0.88%). Among the 25 patients with severe 5-FU-related toxicity, 5 (20%) were heterozygous and 1 (4%) was homozygous for the exon 14-skipping mutation. All six patients had experienced WHO grade 4 myelosuppression. Lethal outcome was seen in the homozygous and two of the heterozygous cases. We conclude that carriers of the DPD exon 14-skipping mutation are at significantly increased risk to experience life-threatening myelosuppression upon 5-FU treatment, even when the allelic status is heterozygous. These data lead us to suggest routine testing for the exon 14-skipping mutation before 5-FU treatment.

Isolation and characterization of the mouse (Mus musculus) somatostatin receptor type-4-encoding gene (mSSTR4).

We have isolated and sequenced the mouse somatostatin receptor subtype-4-encoding gene (mSSTR4). The mSSTR4 gene encodes 384 amino acids (aa). The deduced mouse SSTR4 has 95 and 89% aa identity with the deduced rat and human SSTR4, respectively, while it has lower aa identity with the other mouse subtypes (mSSTR1, 60%; mSSTR2, 47%; mSSTR3, 42%). Using an RT-PCR technique, we show that the mSSTR4 gene is expressed in brain, but not in liver, heart, spleen or kidney of the adult mouse.

Circadian variation of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase mRNA expression in leukocytes and serum cortisol levels in patients with advanced gastrointestinal carcinomas compared to healthy controls.

PURPOSE: The activity of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) - the rate-limiting enzyme in fluorouracil (5-FU) catabolism - has been reported to vary according to the time of day. On the basis of this data, so-called chronomodulated chemotherapy regimens with variable-rate infusions of 5-FU have been investigated in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. Recent results suggest lower toxicity of 5-FU by chronomodulated application. However, the pattern of circadian DPD activity levels have been shown to vary considerably. METHODS: We, therefore, studied the circadian changes in mRNA expression of DPD in leukocytes of ten patients with advanced gastrointestinal carcinomas prior to chronomodulated 5-FU-based salvage therapy and in 5five healthy controls. Simultaneously, we measured serum cortisol levels (SCL) to evaluate the endogenous circadian hormone rhythm. RESULTS: SCL displayed a consistent circadian rhythm with the mean peak value of serum cortisol at 8 a.m. and the mean trough value at 11 p.m. both in patients and in controls. However, mean minimum-maximum serum cortisol differences of SCL were significantly lower in patients compared to controls. In the 5fivehealthy controls, a trend towards a circadian rhythm of DPD mRNA expression was observed with the peak of expression at 5 a.m. which was significantly different from the trough at 2 p.m. ( P<0.005 Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test). When each control was studied separately, only two individuals showed circadian variations that could be fitted to a cosine wave ( P=0.001, P=0.014, Cosinor analysis). In contrast, DPD mRNA expression in patients with advanced gastrointestinal carcinomas did not demonstrate any consistent circadian rhythm. Pairwise comparisons of groups of DPD mRNA levels at different times of the day did not show significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our analysis of DPD mRNA expression in leukocytes from healthy controls demonstrates first evidence for a circadian DPD mRNA expression periodicity. In patients with advanced gastrointestinal carcinomas, however, this rhythm seems to be disturbed although circadian endogenous cortisol secretion pattern is maintained.

Comparison of mRNA expression levels determined with TaqMan and competitive template RT-PCR.

Two methods for measurement of thymidylate synthase (TS) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) mRNA expression were compared. Although the relative mRNA levels compared to beta-actin measured with competitive template RT-PCR were different from the data obtained with a TaqMan based PCR, a significant correlation between the two assays was found.

[PAF-antagonists with a phospholipid structure. 5. Propanediol phospholipids with various substituted pyridinium and quinuclidinium head groups and variations of the phosphorus-nitrogen distance;synthesis, characterization and structure activity relationship]. / PAF-Antagonisten mit Phospholipidstruktur. 5. Metteilung: Propandiolphospholipide mit verschieden substituierten Pyridinium-bzw. Chinuclidiniumkopfgruppen und veränderter Phosphor-Stickstoff-Distanz; Synthese, Charakterisierung und Struktur-Wirkungs-Betrachtungen.

A series of 10 PAF-analogues, structurally modified in position C-2 (n-propyl) and position C-3 (polar head group) were synthesized, and the PAF-inhibitory potencies was evaluated using PAF-induced aggregation of human blood platelets in vitro. Structure-activity relationships revealed, that the PAF-inhibitory activity is strongly influenced by the distance between phosphate and onium center and the structure of the substituted heterocyclus. The best activity was observed by 3,5-dimethylpyridinium- and 4-ethylpyridinium derivative with a P-N-distance of 6 methylene groups (IC50 = 1.9 x 10(-6) mol/l and 2.7 x 10(-6) mol/l).

Pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil in patients heterozygous for the IVS14+1G > A mutation in the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene.

5-Fluorouracil (5FU) and capecitabine are two of the most frequently prescribed chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of patients with cancer. Administration of test doses of 5FU to eight patients heterozygous for the IVS14+1G > A mutation and five control patients showed that the AUC and clearance were weak parameters with respect to the identification of patients with a DPD deficiency. However, highly significant differences were observed for the terminal half life of 5FU between DPD patients and controls. Thus, a DPD deficiency could be predicted from 5FU blood concentrations measured after the administration of a test dose of 5FU.

[On the prognosis of hip fractures. Assessment of mortality after hip fractures by analyzing overlapping segments of longitudinal data]. / Zur Prognose der Schenkelhalsfraktur. Beurteilung der Mortalität nach Schenkelhalsfraktur durch sektorübergreifende Datenzusammenführung.

BACKGROUND: Data on the treatment of hip fractures in acute care settings have been collected in a report card system for quality assurance in Germany since the beginning of the 1990s. However, there are no data on the long-term outcome and long-term quality of care. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In a retrospective study, data on 1393 patients from 1999 were collected from different sources: from the department of quality assurance at the medical association of Westfalia-Lippe, the Statutory Health Insurance Funds (AOK), and the Medical Review Board of the Statutory Health Insurance Funds (Medizinischer Dienst der Krankenkasse, MDK). Statistical analyses were performed by the Center for Clinical Studies of the University of Düsseldorf. RESULTS: Uni- and multivariate analyses reveal the following prognostic parameters for survival after hip fracture: sex, age, nursing care dependency, living in a nursing home, risk stratification according to ASA, and postoperative complications. Timing of the operation had no affect on survival. CONCLUSIONS: Prognostic factors for the outcome after hip fracture can only be obtained by analyzing data from the hospital stay and the post-hospital setting as well. Chances of survival can be significantly improved by rehabilitative care.

Flower inhibition in Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. Bioassay of an endogenous long-day inhibitor and inhibition by (±) abscisic acid and xanthoxin.

The inhibition of flowering in Kalanchoe by crude sap expressed from leaves held in non-inductive long-day conditions is described, using a bioassay technique of leaf injection, which confirms the existence of a transferable inhibitor.This technique has also revealed that ± abscisic acid and Xanthoxin are inhibitory to flowering at 50 and 100 ppm respectively. The previously known inhibitory effects of gibberellic acid on flowering have also been confirmed.

[Thrombolytic treatment of peripheral arterial circulatory disorders with streptokinase]. / Thrombolytische Behandlung peripherer arterieller Durchblutungsstörungen mit Streptokinase.

The purpose of these investigations is to refer to the possibility of the reconstructive treatment of arterial obstructions by means of streptokinase. New application methods improved the chances of success of fibrinolysis. They run about 50%. The local application of smaller doses of streptokinase confines the contraindications to a certain extent. Obstruction in the pelvic area which are not older than three months and such ones in the femoropopliteal part up to 6 weeks are to be regarded as indication to the fibrinolysis. In the care of patients with arterial obstructive diseases importance should, therefore, be attached to the fact that thrombotic shifts should be recognized in time an the possibility of a fibrinolytic therapy is tested within the periods mentioned.

A new type of cytoplasmic male sterility in rye (Secale cereale L.): analysis of mitochondrial DNA.

Mitochondrial (mt) DNA of a new type of rye cytoplasm ('Gülzow', G) that induces cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) was analyzed and compared with rye mtDNAs of different origins MtDNA of the G type was easily distinguishable from mtDNA of another CMS source, 'Pampa' (P) type, and from mtDNA of fertile lines with respect to restriction fragment patterns and hybridization with mitochondrial genes. The results of the molecular analyses indicate a close, but not identical relationship between the mtDNA of the G type cytoplasm and that of cv 'Pluto'.

Rapid identification of gene sequences for transcriptional map assembly by direct cDNA screening of genomic reference libraries.

We have used the direct cDNA screening protocol to identify sequences transcribed in cerebral cortex from a reference library of human Xq28. To derive coding sequences from these genomic clones, we first identified fragments containing transcribed sequences and subjected these to exon trapping or to partial sequencing and analysis by Grail. In a preliminary analysis of three clones, coding sequences from two novel genes expressed in brain were identified. This method allows the rapid identification of coding sequences of genes expressed in specific tissues without recourse to cDNA libraries. The approach is amenable to large scale applications and should be useful for isolating candidate disease genes and in particular for assembling integrated transcriptional maps from large genomic regions.