@phdthesis{Heider2023, author = {Heider, Melanie}, title = {Detektionsrate der \(^{68}\)Ga-PSMA-PET/CT bei Patienten mit Rezidiv eines Prostatakarzinoms und Androgendeprivationstherapie}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-30612}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-306123}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Die Detektion des Prostataspezifischen Membranantigens (PSMA) mittels kombinierter Positronenemissions- und Computertomographie (PET/CT) ist ein etabliertes diagnostisches Verfahren bei Patienten mit Prostatakarzinom. Hierbei ist bislang unklar, ob und wie eine bereits eingeleitete Androgendeprivationstherapie (ADT) die diagnostische Genauigkeit der PSMA-PET/CT beeinflusst. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, die Detektionsrate der PSMA-PET/CT mit 68Ga-PSMA I\&T unter ADT in Abh{\"a}ngigkeit des PSA-Wertes zu evaluieren und mit einer Kontrollgruppe ohne ADT zu vergleichen. In dieser retrospektiven Studie wurden Daten von Patienten mit biochemischem Rezidiv nach radikaler Prostatektomie analysiert, welche zwischen 2014 und 2018 eine PSMA-PET/CT am Universit{\"a}tsklinikum W{\"u}rzburg erhalten haben. Mittels Propensity Score Matching wurde f{\"u}r die Patienten mit ADT innerhalb der letzten 6 Monate vor Durchf{\"u}hrung der PSMA-PET/CT eine Kontrollgruppe ohne ADT erstellt. Die Patienten mit ADT (n=62) wiesen eine signifikant h{\"o}here Detektionsrate auf als die Patienten ohne ADT (n=62). Die Traceranreicherung unterschied sich nicht signifikant in beiden Gruppen. Dagegen wiesen die Patienten mit ADT jedoch eine signifikant h{\"o}here Tumorlast auf und hatten h{\"a}ufiger Knochen- und Organmetastasen, sodass als Ursache f{\"u}r die h{\"o}here Detektionsrate der PSMA-PET/CT bei Patienten mit ADT ein fortgeschritteneres Tumorstadium angenommen wurde. Die Detektionsrate war bei den Patienten mit ADT auch bei niedrigen PSA-Werten hoch. Es scheint daher nicht erforderlich zu sein, eine bestehende ADT vor Durchf{\"u}hrung der PSMA-PET/CT im biochemischen Rezidiv abzusetzen und damit das Risiko einer Krankheitsprogression einzugehen. Die Korrelation des PSA-Wertes mit der Tumorlast in der PSMA-PET/CT war bei Patienten mit ADT geringer ausgepr{\"a}gt als bei Patienten ohne ADT. Patienten unter ADT k{\"o}nnten daher von einer regelm{\"a}ßigen Durchf{\"u}hrung der PSMA-PET/CT zur {\"U}berwachung der Krankheitsprogression profitieren. Hier bleibt allerdings eine Kosten-Nutzen-Analyse abzuwarten, da dies deutlich aufwendiger und teurer ist als die Bestimmung des PSA-Wertes.}, subject = {Positronen-Emissions-Tomografie}, language = {de} } @article{ParisiLehnerSchraderetal.2023, author = {Parisi, Sandra and Lehner, Nina and Schrader, Hanna and Kierer, Leonard and Fleischer, Anna and Miljukov, Olga and Borgulya, Gabor and R{\"u}ter, Gernot and Viniol, Annika and G{\´a}gyor, Ildik{\´o}}, title = {Experiencing COVID-19, home isolation and primary health care: A mixed-methods study}, series = {Frontiers in Public Health}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Public Health}, issn = {2296-2565}, doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2022.1023431}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-301498}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Objectives Although the vast majority of COVID-19 cases are treated in primary care, patients' experiences during home isolation have been little studied. This study aimed to explore the experiences of patients with acute COVID-19 and to identify challenges after the initial adaptation of the German health system to the pandemic (after first infection wave from February to June 2020). Methods A mixed-method convergent design was used to gain a holistic insight into patients experience. The study consisted of a cross-sectional survey, open survey answers and semi-structured telephone interviews. Descriptive analysis was performed on quantitative survey answers. Between group differences were calculated to explore changes after the first infection wave. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted on open survey answers and interviews. The results were then compared within a triangulation protocol. Results A total of 1100 participants from all German states were recruited by 145 general practitioners from August 2020 to April 2021, 42 additionally took part in qualitative interviews. Disease onset varied from February 2020 to April 2021. After the first infection wave, more participants were tested positive during the acute disease (88.8\%; 95.2\%; P < 0.001). Waiting times for tests (mean 4.5 days, SD 4.1; 2.7days, SD 2.6, P < 0.001) and test results (mean 2.4 days, SD 1.9; 1.8 days, SD 1.3, P < 0.001) decreased. Qualitative results indicated that the availability of repeated testing and antigen tests reduced insecurities, transmission and related guilt. Although personal consultations at general practices increased (6.8\%; 15.5\%, P < 0.001), telephone consultation remained the main mode of consultation (78.5\%) and video remained insignificant (1.9\%). The course of disease, the living situation and social surroundings during isolation, access to health care, personal resilience, spirituality and feelings of guilt and worries emerged as themes influencing the illness experience. Challenges were contact management and adequate provision of care during home isolation. A constant contact person within the health system helped against feelings of care deprivation, uncertainty and fear. Conclusions Our study highlights that home isolation of individuals with COVID-19 requires a holistic approach that considers all aspects of patient care and effective coordination between different care providers.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Kneer2022, author = {Kneer, Katharina Johanna}, title = {The association of three anxiety dimensions in children and adolescents: their influence on the brain and malleability by a prevention program}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-25746}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257468}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent group of neuropsychiatric disorders and go along with high personal suffering. They often arise during childhood and show a progression across the life span, thus making this age a specific vulnerable period during development. Still most research about these disorders is done in adults. In light of this, it seems of utmost importance to identify predictive factors of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Temperament or personality traits have been proclaimed as risk markers for the development of subsequent anxiety disorders, but their exact interplay is not clear. In this dissertation an effort is made to contribute to the understanding of how risk markers of early temperamental traits, in this case Trait Anxiety, Anxiety Sensitivity and Separation Anxiety are interplaying. While Trait Anxiety is regarded as a more general tendency to react anxiously to threatening situations or stimuli (Unnewehr, Joormann, Schneider, \& Margraf, 1992), Anxiety Sensitivity is the tendency to react with fear to one's own anxious sensations (Allan et al., 2014; S. Reiss, Peterson, Gursky, \& McNally, 1986), and Separation Anxiety is referring to the extent to which the child is avoiding certain situations because of the fear of being separated from primary care givers (In-Albon \& Schneider, 2011). In addition, it will be addressed how these measurements are associated with negative life events, as well as brain functioning and if they are malleable by a prevention program in children and adolescents. In study 1 the aim was to extend the knowledge about the interrelations of this anxiety dimensions and negative life events. Results indicated positive correlations of all three anxiety traits as well as with negative life events. Thus, a close connection of all three anxiety measures as well as with negative life events could be indicated. The closest association was found between Anxiety Sensitivity and Trait Anxiety and between Separation Anxiety and Anxiety Sensitivity. Furthermore, negative life events functioned as mediator between Anxiety Sensitivity and Trait Anxiety, indicating that a part of the association was explained by negative life events. In study 2 we extended the findings from study 1 with neurobiological parameters and examined the influence of anxiety traits on emotional brain activation by administering the "emotional face matching task". This task activated bilateral prefrontal regions as well as both hippocampi and the right amygdala. Further analyses indicated dimension-specific brain activations: Trait Anxiety was associated with a hyperactivation of the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and Separation Anxiety with a lower activation bilaterally in the IFG and the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG). Furthermore, the association between Separation Anxiety and Anxiety Sensitivity was moderated by bi-hemispheric Separation-Anxiety-related IFG activation. Thus, we could identify distinct brain activation patterns for the anxiety dimensions (Trait Anxiety and Separation Anxiety) and their associations (Separation Anxiety and Anxiety Sensitivity). The aim of study 3 was to probe the selective malleability of the anxiety dimensions via a prevention program in an at-risk population. We could identify a reduction of all three anxiety traits from pre- to post-prevention-assessment and that this effect was significant in Anxiety Sensitivity and Trait Anxiety scores. Furthermore, we found that pre-intervention Separation Anxiety and Anxiety Sensitivity post-intervention were associated. In addition, pre-interventive scores were correlated with the intervention-induced change within the measure (i.e., the higher the score before the intervention the higher the prevention-induced change) and pre-intervention Anxiety Sensitivity correlated with the change in Separation Anxiety scores. All relations, seemed to be direct, as mediation/moderation analyses with negative life events did not reveal any significant effect. These results are very promising, because research about anxiety prevention in children and adolescents is still rare and our results are indicating that cognitive-behavioural-therapy based prevention is gilding significant results in an indicated sample even when samples sizes are small like in our study. In sum the present findings hint towards distinct mechanisms underlying the three different anxiety dimensions on a phenomenological and neurobiological level, though they are highly overlapping (Higa-McMillan, Francis, Rith-Najarian, \& Chorpita, 2016; Taylor, 1998). Furthermore, the closest associations were found between Anxiety Sensitivity and Trait Anxiety, as well as between Separation Anxiety and Anxiety Sensitivity. Specifically, we were able to find a neuronal manifestation of the association between Separation Anxiety and Anxiety Sensitivity (Separation Anxiety-specific IFG activation) and a predictive potential on prevention influence. The results of these studies lead to a better understanding of the etiology of anxiety disorders and the interplay between different anxiety-related temperamental traits and could lead to further valuable knowledge about the intervention as well as further prevention strategies.}, subject = {Pr{\"a}vention}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Finkl2022, author = {Finkl, Sophia}, title = {Untersuchungen zur Funktion und Expression von miR-200b im Prostatakarzinom unter besonderer Beachtung von miR-200b als Prognosemarker bei Hochrisiko-Erkrankten und des Enzyms SOAT1 als Zielstruktur von miR-200b}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-25741}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257418}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Die miR-200b zeigte sich in zwei unabh{\"a}ngigen Prostatakarzinomkollektiven herabreguliert und in dem verwendeten Hochrisiko Kollektiv erwies sich miR-200b zudem in uni- und multivariaten Analysen in einem retrospektiven Versuchsansatz als geeigneter Marker zur Absch{\"a}tzung der Prognose des Prostatakarzinoms. Mittels in vitro Experimenten konnten tumorsuppressive Funktionen von miR-200b best{\"a}tigt werden, da miR-200b {\"u}berexprimierende Prostatakarzinom Zelllinien eine geringere Proliferation und eine geringere Autophagie zeigten. Zus{\"a}tzlich konnte auf funktioneller Ebene, SOAT1 als Zielgen von miR-200b definiert werden. Die funktionelle Bedeutung der miR-200b vermittelten Regulation der SOAT1 Expression konnte in weiteren Experimenten best{\"a}tigt werden, indem eine Sensitivierung gegen{\"u}ber der antiproliferativen Wirkung von SOAT1 Inhibitoren in miR-200b {\"u}berexprimierenden Prostatakarzinom-Zellen beobachtet werden konnte. Mit diesen Ergebnissen konnte ein Model entwickelt werden, welches einen m{\"o}glichen Erkl{\"a}rungsansatz der Bedeutung, der von miR-200b vermittelten SOAT1 Regulation f{\"u}r den Fettstoffwechsel des Prostatakarzinoms liefern k{\"o}nnte.}, subject = {Prostatakrebs}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Upcin2022, author = {Upcin, Berin}, title = {Contribution of vascular adventitia-resident progenitor cells to new vessel formation in \(ex\) \(vivo\) 3D models}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-25507}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-255070}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Ongoing research to fight cancer, one of the dominant diseases of the 21st century has led to big progress especially when it comes to understanding the tumor growth and metastasis. This includes the discovery of the molecular mechanisms of tumor vascularization, which is critically required for establishment of tumor metastasis. Formation of new blood vessels is the first step in tumor vascularization. Therefore, understanding the molecular and cellular basis of tumor vascularization attracted a significant effort studying in biomedical research. The blood vessels for supplying tumor can be formed by sprouting from pre-existing vessels, a process called angiogenesis, or by vasculogenesis, that is de novo formation of blood vessels from not fully differentiated progenitor cell populations. Vasculogenic endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can either be activated from populations in the bone marrow reaching the pathological region via the circulation or they can be recruited from local reservoirs. Neovessel formation influences tumor progression, hence therapeutic response model systems of angiogenesis/vasculogenesis are necessary to study the underlying mechanisms. Although, initially the research in this area focused more on angiogenesis, it is now well understood that both angiogenesis and postnatal vasculogenesis contribute to neovessel formation in adult under both most pathological as well as physiological conditions. Studies in the last two decades demonstrate that in addition to the intimal layer of fully differentiated mature endothelial cells (ECs) and various smaller supplying vessels (vasa vasorum) that can serve as a source for new vessels by angiogenesis, especially the adventitia of large and medium size blood vessels harbors various vascular wall-resident stem and progenitor cells (VW-SPCs) populations that serve as a source for new vessels by postnatal vasculogenesis. However, little is known about the potential role of VW-SPCs in tumor vascularization. To this end, the present work started first to establish a modified aortic ring assay (ARA) using mouse aorta in order to study the contribution of vascular adventitia-resident VW-SPCs to neovascularization in general and in presence of tumor cells. ARA is already established an ex vivo model for neovascularization allows to study the morphogenetic events of complex new vessel formation that includes all layers of mature blood vessels, a significant advantage over the assays that employ monolayer endothelial cell cultures. Moreover, in contrast to assays employing endothelial cells monocultures, both angiogenic and vasculogenic events take place during new vessel formation in ARA although the exact contribution of these two processes to new vessel formation cannot be easily distinguished in conventional ARA. Thus, in this study, a modified protocol for the ARA (mdARA) was established by either removing or keeping the aortic adventitia in place. The mdARA allows to distinguish the role of VW-SPCs from those of other aortic layers. The present data show that angiogenic sprouting from mature aortic endothelium was markedly delayed when the adventitial layer was removed. Furthermore, the network between the capillary-like sprouts was significantly reduced in absence of aortic adventitia. Moreover, the stabilization of new sprouts by assembling the NG2+ pericyte-like cells that enwrapped the endothelial sprouts from the outside was improved when the adventitial layer remained in place. Next, mimicking the tumor-vessel adventitia-interaction, multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) and aortic rings (ARs) with or without adventitia of C57BL/6-Tg (UBC-GFP) mice were confronted within the collagen gel and cultured ex vivo. This 3D model enabled analysis of the mobilization, migration and capillary-like sprouts formation by VW-SPCs within tumor-vessel wall-interface in comparison to tumor-free side of the ARs. Interestingly, while MCTS preferred the uptake of single vascular adventitia-derived cells, neural spheroids were directly penetrated by capillary-like structures that were sprouted from the aortic adventitia. In summary, the model established in this work allows to study new vessel formation by both postnatal vasculogenesis and angiogenesis under same conditions. It can be applied in various mouse models including reporter mouse models, e.g. Cxcr1 CreER+/mTmG+/- mice, in which GFP-marked macrophages of the vessel wall were directly observed as they mobilized from their niche and migrated into collagen gel. Another benefit of the model is that it can be used for testing different factors such as small molecules, growth factors, cytokines, and drugs with both pro- and anti-angiogenic/vasculogenic effects.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Scheler2022, author = {Scheler, Maximilian Heinrich Julius}, title = {Die operative Versorgung des Thoraxmagens - Eine Langzeitanalyse von 2008-2015}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-25301}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-253018}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Der Thoraxmagen beschreibt eine zirkul{\"a}re Schwachstelle der phreniko{\"o}sophagealen Membran mit einer schrittweisen Dislozierung der Magenkardia und des {\"O}sophagus nach mediastinal. Die Therapie des Thoraxmagens kann konservativ im Sinne des „watchful waiting" oder operativ erfolgen. Aufgrund der m{\"o}glichen Komplikationen wird die elektive Operation durch die amerikanischen Leitlinien empfohlen. Ein zentrales Problem der Hiatushernienchirurgie stellt die hohe Anzahl an Rezidiven dar. Ob die Gr{\"u}nde hierf{\"u}r in der Zwerchfellrekonstruktion, Speiser{\"o}hrenl{\"a}nge, Fundoplicatio oder Netzaugmentation liegen, wird nach wie vor kontrovers diskutiert. In dieser Arbeit wurde die operative Versorgung des Thoraxmagens von 124 Patienten des Universit{\"a}tsklinikums W{\"u}rzburg im Zeitraum von September 2008 bis Juni 2015 untersucht. Hierf{\"u}r war neben den perioperativen Daten auch die Rezidiv- und Letalit{\"a}tsrate von Relevanz. Das Patientenkollektiv wurde sowohl in Hinblick auf das Lebensalter als auch auf die verschiedenen Versorgungsarten analysiert. Um die postoperative Lebensqualit{\"a}t zu beurteilen, erfolgte die Patientenbefragung mit Hilfe eines Symptomfragebogens und dem Gastrointestinalen Lebensqualit{\"a}tsindex nach Eypasch (GIQLI). Zus{\"a}tzlich wurden 17 Patienten postoperativ mittels MRT untersucht, um eine optimierte MRT-Sequenz zur Beurteilung der Hiatusregion zu evaluieren. Im Vergleich der Altersgruppen zeigte sich trotz einer erh{\"o}hten Komorbidit{\"a}tsrate bei dem Patientenkollektiv ≥ 75 Jahre (p=0,002) kein signifikanter Unterschied bei Betrachtung der intraoperativen Komplikationen. Die Rezidivrate lag unabh{\"a}ngig vom Alter bei 20,2\% im Untersuchungszeitraum, jedoch konnte eine verminderte Rezidivrate bei Patienten mit U-Shape Versorgung (p=0,015) festgestellt werden. In der postoperativen Patientenbefragung zeigten sich 87,0\% der Patienten, unabh{\"a}ngig vom Alter und der Versorgungsart, zufrieden mit dem Operationsergebnis und beschrieben ihren Zustand im Vergleich zu pr{\"a}operativ als gebessert. Die Ergebnisse des GIQLI erbrachten in dem untersuchten Patientenkollektiv ein gegen{\"u}ber der Allgemeinbev{\"o}lkerung erniedrigten Wert mit 95,4 Punkten. Die optimierte MRT-Sequenz zeichnete sich durch eine hohe diagnostische Konfidenz bei guter Bildqualit{\"a}t, kurzer Untersuchungsdauer und gleichzeitig hoher Akzeptanz der Patienten gegen{\"u}ber dieser Art der Diagnostik aus. Zusammenfassend stellt die operative Versorgung von Thoraxm{\"a}gen, unabh{\"a}ngig des Patientenalters, eine sichere Therapieform dar, die zu einer hohen Patientenzufriedenheit f{\"u}hrt. Die modifizierte MRT-Untersuchung hat sich als diagnostische Methode bew{\"a}hrt und stellt eine Alternative zu strahlenexponierenden oder von Seiten der Patienten weniger gut tolerierten Untersuchungsmodalit{\"a}ten dar.}, subject = {Zwerchfellkrankheit}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Haehnel2022, author = {H{\"a}hnel, Luzia Maria}, title = {Evaluation von Beta-2-Mikroglobulin, Laktat und Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme im Liquor als Biomarker der Multiplen Sklerose}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-25850}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-258503}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {This study investigates the suitability of beta-2-microglobulin (β2-microglobulin), lactate and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) as biomarkers, given the good availability of these parameters in routine diagnostics but lack of data in this regard. For this purpose, 6,310 CSF samples obtained at the Neurological Clinic of the University Hospital of W{\"u}rzburg were analyzed. Closer analysis was carried out of 276 cases with non-inflammatory neurological diseases (NIND; control group) and 438 MS cases not taking an immunotherapy treatment (study group). In the MS cases, the form of progression of the disease and the disease activity (clinical relapses, progression index) were recorded. A clear correlation could be seen between age and CSF levels of β2-microglobulin, lactate and ACE in both the MS and control groups, whereby a correction was required for the subsequent comparison studies; this could also at least partly explain the contradictory data obtained in other studies to date. The MS cases showed elevated β2-microglobulin and lactate levels and decreased ACE levels in CSF compared to the controls. In both groups, there was a positive correlation between β2-microglobulin and ACE levels. In the separate analysis of the forms of progression of MS, cases with clinically-isolated syndrome (CIS) and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) revealed elevated β2-microglobulin levels, whilst cases with secondary-progressive or primary-progressive MS (SPMS or PPMS) did not. Lactate levels were only increased in cases of CIS. Cases with a relapsing course showed reduced ACE levels. The disease activity could not reliably be mapped by the parameters. Lactate levels tended to be elevated during a relapse, but this result was no longer significant after correction. Lactate levels also showed a positive correlation with the progression index. Our findings in this study provide evidence that the examined analysis parameters cannot be used in isolation to assess progression, disease activity and duration of disease. However, the significant differences between relapsing and chronic-progressive courses support the hypothesis of different underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis, and could serve as a starting basis for further studies.}, subject = {Multiple Sklerose}, language = {de} } @article{MammadovaBachBraun2019, author = {Mammadova-Bach, Elmina and Braun, Attila}, title = {Zinc homeostasis in platelet-related diseases}, series = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, volume = {20}, journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, number = {21}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms20215258}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-285554}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Zn\(^{2+}\) deficiency in the human population is frequent in underdeveloped countries. Worldwide, approximatively 2 billion people consume Zn\(^{2+}\)-deficient diets, accounting for 1-4\% of deaths each year, mainly in infants with a compromised immune system. Depending on the severity of Zn\(^{2+}\) deficiency, clinical symptoms are associated with impaired wound healing, alopecia, diarrhea, poor growth, dysfunction of the immune and nervous system with congenital abnormalities and bleeding disorders. Poor nutritional Zn\(^{2+}\) status in patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma or with advanced non-Hodgkin lymphoma, was accompanied by cutaneous bleeding and platelet dysfunction. Forcing Zn\(^{2+}\) uptake in the gut using different nutritional supplementation of Zn\(^{2+}\) could ameliorate many of these pathological symptoms in humans. Feeding adult rodents with a low Zn\(^{2+}\) diet caused poor platelet aggregation and increased bleeding tendency, thereby attracting great scientific interest in investigating the role of Zn\(^{2+}\) in hemostasis. Storage protein metallothionein maintains or releases Zn\(^{2+}\) in the cytoplasm, and the dynamic change of this cytoplasmic Zn\(^{2+}\) pool is regulated by the redox status of the cell. An increase of labile Zn\(^{2+}\) pool can be toxic for the cells, and therefore cytoplasmic Zn\(^{2+}\) levels are tightly regulated by several Zn\(^{2+}\) transporters located on the cell surface and also on the intracellular membrane of Zn\(^{2+}\) storage organelles, such as secretory vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi apparatus. Although Zn\(^{2+}\) is a critical cofactor for more than 2000 transcription factors and 300 enzymes, regulating cell differentiation, proliferation, and basic metabolic functions of the cells, the molecular mechanisms of Zn\(^{2+}\) transport and the physiological role of Zn\(^{2+}\) store in megakaryocyte and platelet function remain elusive. In this review, we summarize the contribution of extracellular or intracellular Zn\(^{2+}\) to megakaryocyte and platelet function and discuss the consequences of dysregulated Zn\(^{2+}\) homeostasis in platelet-related diseases by focusing on thrombosis, ischemic stroke and storage pool diseases.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Forster2023, author = {Forster, Leonard}, title = {Hyaluronic acid based Bioinks for Biofabrication of Mesenchymal Stem Cells}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-29860}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-298603}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {As a major component of the articular cartilage extracellular matrix, hyaluronic acid is a widely used biomaterial in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. According to its well-known interaction with multiple chondrocyte surface receptors which positively affects many cellular pathways, some approaches by combining mesenchymal stem cells and hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels are already driven in the field of cartilage regeneration and fat tissue. Nevertheless, a still remaining major problem is the development of the ideal matrix for this purpose. To generate a hydrogel for the use as a matrix, hyaluronic acid must be chemically modified, either derivatized or crosslinked and the resulting hydrogel is mostly shaped by the mold it is casted in whereas the stem cells are embedded during or after the gelation procedure which does not allow for the generation of zonal hierarchies, cell density or material gradients. This thesis focuses on the synthesis of different hyaluronic acid derivatives and poly(ethylene glycol) crosslinkers and the development of different hydrogel and bioink compositions that allow for adjustment of the printability, integration of growth factors, but also for the material and biological hydrogel, respectively bioink properties.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Zoran2022, author = {Zoran, Tamara}, title = {Multilevel analysis of the human immune response to \(Aspergillus\) \(fumigatus\) infection: Characteristic molecular signatures and individual risk factors}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-29851}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-298512}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Although the field of fungal infections advanced tremendously, diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in immunocompromised patients continues to be a challenge. Since IPA is a multifactorial disease, investigation from different aspects may provide new insights, helpful for improving IPA diagnosis. This work aimed to characterize the human immune response to Aspergillus fumigatus in a multilevel manner to identify characteristic molecular candidates and risk factors indicating IPA, which may in the future support already established diagnostic assays. We combined in vitro studies using myeloid cells infected with A. fumigatus and longitudinal case-control studies investigating patients post allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) suffering from IPA and their match controls. Characteristic miRNA and mRNA signatures indicating A. fumigatus-infected monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) demonstrated the potential to differentiate between A. fumigatus and Escherichia coli infection. Transcriptome and protein profiling of alloSCT patients suffering from IPA and their matched controls revealed a distinctive IPA signature consisting of MMP1 induction and LGAL2 repression in combination with elevated IL-8 and caspase-3 levels. Both, in vitro and case-control studies, suggested cytokines, matrix-metallopeptidases and galectins are important in the immune response to A. fumigatus. Identified IPA characteristic molecular candidates are involved in numerous processes, thus a combination of these in a distinctive signature may increase the specificity. Finally, low monocyte counts, severe GvHD of the gut (grade ≥ 2) and etanercept administration were significantly associated with IPA diagnosis post alloSCT. Etanercept in monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) infected with A. fumigatus downregulates genes involved in the NF-κB and TNF-α pathway and affects the secretion of CXCL10. Taken together, identified characteristic molecular signatures and risk factors indicating IPA may in the future in combination with established fungal biomarkers overcome current diagnostic challenges and help to establish tailored antifungal therapy. Therefore, further multicentre studies are encouraged to evaluate reported findings.}, subject = {Aspergillus fumigatus}, language = {en} } @article{LiuHanBlairetal.2021, author = {Liu, Fengming and Han, Kun and Blair, Robert and Kenst, Kornelia and Qin, Zhongnan and Upcin, Berin and W{\"o}rsd{\"o}rfer, Philipp and Midkiff, Cecily C. and Mudd, Joseph and Belyaeva, Elizaveta and Milligan, Nicholas S. and Rorison, Tyler D. and Wagner, Nicole and Bodem, Jochen and D{\"o}lken, Lars and Aktas, Bertal H. and Vander Heide, Richard S. and Yin, Xiao-Ming and Kolls, Jay K. and Roy, Chad J. and Rappaport, Jay and Erg{\"u}n, S{\"u}leyman and Qin, Xuebin}, title = {SARS-CoV-2 Infects Endothelial Cells In Vivo and In Vitro}, series = {Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology}, volume = {11}, journal = {Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology}, issn = {2235-2988}, doi = {10.3389/fcimb.2021.701278}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-241948}, year = {2021}, abstract = {SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause fatal inflammatory lung pathology, including thrombosis and increased pulmonary vascular permeability leading to edema and hemorrhage. In addition to the lung, cytokine storm-induced inflammatory cascade also affects other organs. SARS-CoV-2 infection-related vascular inflammation is characterized by endotheliopathy in the lung and other organs. Whether SARS-CoV-2 causes endotheliopathy by directly infecting endothelial cells is not known and is the focus of the present study. We observed 1) the co-localization of SARS-CoV-2 with the endothelial cell marker CD31 in the lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected mice expressing hACE2 in the lung by intranasal delivery of adenovirus 5-hACE2 (Ad5-hACE2 mice) and non-human primates at both the protein and RNA levels, and 2) SARS-CoV-2 proteins in endothelial cells by immunogold labeling and electron microscopic analysis. We also detected the co-localization of SARS-CoV-2 with CD31 in autopsied lung tissue obtained from patients who died from severe COVID-19. Comparative analysis of RNA sequencing data of the lungs of infected Ad5-hACE2 and Ad5-empty (control) mice revealed upregulated KRAS signaling pathway, a well-known pathway for cellular activation and dysfunction. Further, we showed that SARS-CoV-2 directly infects mature mouse aortic endothelial cells (AoECs) that were activated by performing an aortic sprouting assay prior to exposure to SARS-CoV-2. This was demonstrated by co-localization of SARS-CoV-2 and CD34 by immunostaining and detection of viral particles in electron microscopic studies. Moreover, the activated AoECs became positive for ACE-2 but not quiescent AoECs. Together, our results indicate that in addition to pneumocytes, SARS-CoV-2 also directly infects mature vascular endothelial cells in vivo and ex vivo, which may contribute to cardiovascular complications in SARS-CoV-2 infection, including multipleorgan failure.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Hellmann2022, author = {Hellmann, Anna-Maria}, title = {Vergleichende Untersuchung der Interaktion humaner und muriner Immunzellen mit \(Aspergillus\) \(fumigatus\)}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-26564}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-265642}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) ist der h{\"a}ufigste Erreger der invasiven Aspergillose, welche vornehmlich immunsupprimierte Patientinnen und Patienten betrifft und mit einer hohen Letalit{\"a}t einhergeht. Zur Entwicklung neuer diagnostischer sowie therapeutischer Ans{\"a}tze ist ein besseres Verst{\"a}ndnis der Interaktion von A. fumigatus mit dem humanen Immunsystem zwingend erforderlich. Zur Erforschung dieser Interaktion werden h{\"a}ufig Mausmodelle herangezogen, welche aufgrund der unterschiedlichen Biologie des Wirts jedoch nicht direkt {\"u}bertragbar sind. Ziel dieser Studie war es, einen funktionellen in vitro Vergleich zwischen humanen und murinen Makrophagen, neutrophilen Granulozyten (PMNs) und dendritischen Zellen (DCs) in ihrer Interaktion mit A. fumigatus Konidien, Keimschl{\"a}uchen sowie depletiertem Zymosan zu erstellen, um eine bessere Beurteilung und {\"U}bertragbarkeit des Mausmodells bei der invasiven Aspergillose zu erm{\"o}glichen. Dabei wurden die verschiedenen Zellen des Immunsystems auf standardisierte und reproduzierbare Weise generiert und Stimulationsversuche durchgef{\"u}hrt. Hierbei zeigten humane und murine Zellen in vitro eine unterschiedliche Antwort auf die Stimulation mit A. fumigatus: Murine Makrophagen und neutrophile Granulozyten zeigten im Vergleich zu den humanen Zellen eine st{\"a}rkere prim{\"a}re Immunantwort mit einer vermehrten Aussch{\"u}ttung reaktiver Sauerstoffspezies (ROS). Humane DCs hingegen, welche als Bindeglied zwischen angeborenem und adaptivem Immunsystem fungieren, zeigten nach Stimulation mit A. fumigatus eine vermehrte Oberfl{\"a}chenexpression von Maturationsmarkern sowie eine h{\"o}here Phagozytoserate als die murinen DCs. Weiterhin konnte eine inverse Dectin-1-Expression auf humanen und murinen DCs nach Stimulation mit A. fumigatus nachgewiesen werden. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass es f{\"u}r alle untersuchten Zelltypen Unterschiede zwischen humanen und murinen Zellen in der basalen und der Zytokinaussch{\"u}ttung nach Stimulation mit A. fumigatus gab. In Zusammenschau der Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigt das murine Immunsystem eine st{\"a}rkere angeborene Immunantwort mit vermehrter ROS-Aussch{\"u}ttung, jedoch auch eine anti-inflammatorische Zytokinantwort, um m{\"o}glicherweise eine {\"u}berschießende Inflammation zu verhindern. Dies k{\"o}nnte durch die st{\"a}rkere Exposition der Maus gegen{\"u}ber A. fumigatus durch den bodennahen Lebensraum sowie ihrer kurzen Lebensdauer bedingt sein. Im humanen System kommt hingegen der Aktivierung des adaptiven Immunsystems {\"u}ber die DCs eine {\"u}bergeordnete Rolle zu. So zeigen beide Spezies distinkte Unterschiede in ihrer in vitro Immunantwort gegen{\"u}ber A. fumigatus, welche bei der {\"U}bertragung von experimentellen Daten von der Maus auf den Menschen beachtet werden sollten.}, subject = {Aspergillus fumigatus}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Nordbeck2022, author = {Nordbeck, Arno Wilhelm}, title = {Roux-en-Y Magenbypass spezifische metabolomische Ver{\"a}nderungen in Urin, Faeces und Plasma - Charakterisierung im Zucker (fa/fa) Rattenmodel}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-26869}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-268694}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Es wurde ein etabliertes Tiermodell mit Zucker Ratten (fa/fa) verwendet, um postoperative, gewichtsverlustunabh{\"a}ngige metabolomische Effekte des Roux-en-Y Magenbypass (RYGB) zu ermitteln. Es galt Hypothesen zu generieren, welche globalen Metabolite die positiven Auswirkungen des Magenbypass verursachen k{\"o}nnen. Beispielsweise war γ-Amino-Butters{\"a}ure (GABA) f{\"a}kal nach RYGB vermehrt nachweisbar und somit ein potentieller Mediator f{\"u}r einen Bypass-spezifischen Effekt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen die Komplexit{\"a}t der metabolomischen Ver{\"a}nderungen durch RYGB und Nahrungsrestriktion. Die genauen Mechanismen nach metabolisch-bariatrischer Operation, die zu dem therapeutischen Effekt f{\"u}hren, bleiben weiterhin unklar, sodass es weiterer Studien bedarf, um kausale Zusammenh{\"a}nge nachzuweisen.}, subject = {Tiermodell}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Jung2022, author = {Jung, Lisa}, title = {Nachweis von Autoantik{\"o}rpern bei Patienten mit prurigin{\"o}sen Hauterkrankungen}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-26525}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-265254}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Pruritus tritt verst{\"a}rkt bei {\"a}lteren Menschen auf und ist mit vielen verschiedenen Dermatosen unterschiedlichen Ursprungs vergesellschaftet. Pruritus und ein fortgeschrittenes Lebensalter sind auch charakteristisch f{\"u}r die h{\"a}ufigste blasenbildende Autoimmundermatose, das bull{\"o}se Pemphigoid. Im pr{\"a}monitorischen Stadium treten h{\"a}ufig nur Juckreiz und unspezifische Hautver{\"a}nderungen auf. Das Prodromalstadium eines bull{\"o}sen Pemphigoids dauert wenige Wochen bis zu mehreren Jahren. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, die prurigin{\"o}sen Erkrankungen Prurigo simplex subacuta [L28.2], Prurigo nodularis [L28.1], eosinophilenreiche Dermatitis [L30.8] und Prurigoform eines atopischen Ekzems [L20.0] im Hinblick auf das klinische, laborchemische und histologische Bild bei der Erstdiagnose der Erkrankungen auszuwerten. Insbesondere sollte {\"u}berpr{\"u}ft werden, ob bei der Erstdiagnose typische Autoantik{\"o}rper einer subepidermalen blasenbildenden Autoimmundermatose (BP180, BP230) nachgewiesen werden konnten und trotz des letzendlich ungew{\"o}hnlichen Erscheinungsbildes letztlich ein bull{\"o}ses Pemphigoid vorgelegen haben k{\"o}nnte. Es erfolgte eine retrospektive Auswertung der oben genannten prurigin{\"o}sen Erkrankungen, die {\"u}ber einen Zeitraum von {\"u}ber 10 Jahren in der Klinik f{\"u}r Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie des Universit{\"a}tsklinikums W{\"u}rzburg behandelt wurden. Die Patienten wurden gem{\"a}ß ICD-Kodierung in die vier oben genannten Gruppen unterteilt. Nebst Patientencharakteristika wurden die Parameter direkte Immunfluoreszenz (DIF), indirekte Immunfluoreszenz (IIF), ELISA-Testverfahren, Immunoblot, eosinophile Granulozyten, Gesamt-IgE, histologische Untersuchung, Dermographismus und Blasenbildung ausgewertet. Es konnten insgesamt 325 Patienten in die Studie eingeschlossen werden, bei denen bei der Erstdiagnose einer prurigin{\"o}sen Erkankung eine IIF auf der humanen Spalthaut und/oder auf dem Affen{\"o}sophagus als Substrat veranlasst wurde. Es konnten bei insgesamt 54 (16,7\%) Patienten Autoantik{\"o}rper gegen IgG oder IgA mittels IIF nachgewiesen werden. Bei 42 (76,4\%) Patienten wurde eine weiterf{\"u}hrende Diagnostik mittels DIF durchgef{\"u}hrt, die bei 37 (88,1\%) Personen als negativ befundet wurde. Bei f{\"u}nf (11,9\%) Patienten konnten Autoantik{\"o}rper gegen IgG, IgA und IgM nachgewiesen werden. Alle stammten aus der Gruppe mit einer Prurigo simplex subacuta [L28.2]. Bei diesen f{\"u}nf Patienten wurde zus{\"a}tzlich noch ein ELISA-Test durchgef{\"u}hrt. Nur bei einem Patienten konnten Autoantik{\"o}rper gegen BP180 und Desmoglein 1 nachgewiesen werden. 66 Mit dieser Studie konnte aufgezeigt werden, dass bei Patienten mit den Erkrankungen Prurigo simplex subacuta [L28.2], Prurigo nodularis [L28.1], eosinophilenreiche Dermatitis [L30.8] und Prurigoform eines atopischen Ekzems [L20.0] keine erh{\"o}hte Bildung von Autoantik{\"o}rpern gegen die dermoepidermale Junktionszone stattfindet. Dennoch sollte bei Patienten mit prurigin{\"o}sen Erkrankungen eine serologische Untersuchung mittels IIF - und im Falle einer Positivit{\"a}t mittels ELISA und ggf. DIF durchgef{\"u}hrt werden, vor allem bei {\"a}lteren Patienten, bei welchen der Pruritus als f{\"u}hrendes Symptom beschrieben wird, um die Diagnose einer bull{\"o}sen Autoimmundermatose sicher ausschließen zu k{\"o}nnen. Zudem sollte eine Verlaufskontrolle {\"u}ber mehrere Jahre erfolgen, um die Auswirkung des Pruritus als Trigger auf die Bildung von Autoantik{\"o}rpern einer bull{\"o}sen Autoimmundermatose zu verfolgen.}, subject = {Autoantik{\"o}rper}, language = {de} } @article{KarakayaBiderFranketal.2022, author = {Karakaya, Emine and Bider, Faina and Frank, Andreas and Teßmar, J{\"o}rg and Sch{\"o}bel, Lisa and Forster, Leonard and Schr{\"u}fer, Stefan and Schmidt, Hans-Werner and Schubert, Dirk Wolfram and Blaeser, Andreas and Boccaccini, Aldo R. and Detsch, Rainer}, title = {Targeted printing of cells: evaluation of ADA-PEG bioinks for drop on demand approaches}, series = {Gels}, volume = {8}, journal = {Gels}, number = {4}, issn = {2310-2861}, doi = {10.3390/gels8040206}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-267317}, year = {2022}, abstract = {A novel approach, in the context of bioprinting, is the targeted printing of a defined number of cells at desired positions in predefined locations, which thereby opens up new perspectives for life science engineering. One major challenge in this application is to realize the targeted printing of cells onto a gel substrate with high cell survival rates in advanced bioinks. For this purpose, different alginate-dialdehyde—polyethylene glycol (ADA-PEG) inks with different PEG modifications and chain lengths (1-8 kDa) were characterized to evaluate their application as bioinks for drop on demand (DoD) printing. The biochemical properties of the inks, printing process, NIH/3T3 fibroblast cell distribution within a droplet and shear forces during printing were analyzed. Finally, different hydrogels were evaluated as a printing substrate. By analysing different PEG chain lengths with covalently crosslinked and non-crosslinked ADA-PEG inks, it was shown that the influence of Schiff's bases on the viscosity of the corresponding materials is very low. Furthermore, it was shown that longer polymer chains resulted in less stable hydrogels, leading to fast degradation rates. Several bioinks highly exhibit biocompatibility, while the calculated nozzle shear stress increased from approx. 1.3 and 2.3 kPa. Moreover, we determined the number of cells for printed droplets depending on the initial cell concentration, which is crucially needed for targeted cell printing approaches.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Vogg2023, author = {Vogg, Nora Johanna}, title = {Mass spectrometry-based quantification of steroids for the diagnostic workup of adrenal tumors}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-29343}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-293438}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Tumors of the adrenal gland belong to the most frequent neoplasms in humans with a prevalence of 3-10 \% in adults. The aim of the diagnostic workup is the identification of potentially hormone-secreting and / or malignant tumors, because most of these tumors will require surgical resection. Malignant adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) are very rare and associated with a poor prognosis in advanced stages, therefore, an early and accurate diagnosis is crucial. Within this thesis, two liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods for the quantification of steroids in different biomaterials were developed to improve the diagnostic workup of adrenal tumors. First, an LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of cortisol and dexamethasone in serum samples after dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was developed, validated, and applied to 400 clinical samples. Newly established method-specific threshold concentrations for cortisol and dexamethasone increased DST specificity from 67.5 \% to 92.4 \% while preserving 100 \% sensitivity. Second, an LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of eleven urinary steroids was developed and validated to improve the differentiation between ACC and adrenocortical adenomas (ACA). A decision tree requiring only two steroids was trained for classification and tested based on 24 h urine samples from 268 patients with adrenal tumor. Malignancy was excluded with a negative predictive value of 100 \% in an independent validation cohort of 84 samples of 24-h urine. A newly proposed simplified diagnostic workflow with urinary steroid profiling as first tier test could obviate additional adrenal-specific imaging in 42 of 64 patients with ACA. The new DST method is already in clinical use at the University Hospital W{\"u}rzburg, whereas the classification model based on urinary steroid profiling will require prospective validation in a larger cohort.}, subject = {Nebennierentumor}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Seager2022, author = {Seager, Anna}, title = {Die ur{\"a}mische Neuropathie - ein Vitamin-B\(_{12}\)-Mangel?}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-29109}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-291094}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Eine Vielzahl von Patienten mit fortgeschrittener, beziehungsweise dialysepflichtiger Niereninsuffizienz entwickeln eine Polyneuropathie. Die Pathogenese der ur{\"a}mischen Neuropathie (UN) ist nicht gekl{\"a}rt, sodass auf der Suche nach dem Pathomechanismus auch ein Vitamin-B12-Mangel diskutiert werden muss, da dieser {\"a}hnliche Symptome wie die UN hervorrufen kann. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Zusammenhang zwischen den Parametern des Vitamin-B12-Stoffwechsels und der UN darzustellen. In einer prospektiven Studie mit insgesamt 54 teilnehmenden Patienten wurden diese vor und nach einer Vitamin-B12-Substitution laborchemisch untersucht. Zudem erhielten die Patienten neben einer klinischen Untersuchung eine elektroneurographische Diagnostik des N. suralis und des N. tibialis, sowie eine QST-Untersuchung.}, subject = {Ur{\"a}mie}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Westhofen2022, author = {Westhofen, Thilo Chou-Jong}, title = {Die Entwicklung und Charakterisierung Dendritischer Zell-Subsets in der gesunden und arteriosklerotischen Aorta}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-29621}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-296210}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Arteriosklerose ist eine chronisch inflammatorische Erkrankung der Gef{\"a}ßwand. Nach aktuellem Wissensstand sind Dendritische Zellen (DCs) maßgeblich an der Entstehung und dem Fortschreiten von Arteriosklerose beteiligt. In der Vergangenheit konnten f{\"u}r DCs unterschiedliche Subsets beschreiben werden, die sowohl proinflammatorische als auch immunregulatorische Funktionen {\"u}bernehmen k{\"o}nnen. Die systematische Charakterisierung von DCs in der gesunden Aorta, sowie w{\"a}hrend der Entstehung von Arteriosklerose ist jedoch noch ausstehend. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde zun{\"a}chst die systematische Einteilung von DCs in vitro mit Hilfe von DCs aus Flt3L-Knochenmarkskulturen durchgef{\"u}hrt. Aufbauend darauf erfolgte die systematische Analyse aortaler DCs durch tierexperimentelle Untersuchungen an gesunden C57BL/6J M{\"a}usen, sowie Apolipoprotein E-defizienten (ApoE-/-) M{\"a}usen und low-density-lipoprotein-receptor-defizienten (Ldlr-/-) M{\"a}usen w{\"a}hrend der Atherogenese. Mittels immunhistochemischer Untersuchungen von CD11cYFPreporter M{\"a}usen konnten zudem korrelierend DCs in der Gef{\"a}ßwand der murinen Aorta lokalisiert werden. Zusammenfassend gibt die vorliegende Arbeit erstmalig einen systematischen {\"U}berblick {\"u}ber die einzelnen DC-Subsets in der gesunden Aorta und w{\"a}hrend der Atherogenese. Dies tr{\"a}gt zu einem besseren Verst{\"a}ndnis der Rolle der einzelnen DC Subsets w{\"a}hrend der Entstehung der Arteriosklerose bei und bietet eine m{\"o}gliche Grundlage f{\"u}r zuk{\"u}nftige Behandlungsstrategien. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit wurden im Februar 2014 als Originalarbeit in geteilter Erstautorenschaft von Martin Busch, Thilo Westhofen und Miriam Koch unter dem Titel Dendritic Cell Subset Distributions in the Aorta in Healthy and Atherosclerotic Mice im Plos One publiziert (1). Die Originalpublikation findet sich im Folgenden unter Absatz 11. Die Ergebnisse dieser Publikation wurden modifiziert unter 6.1-6.5 dargelegt und unter 7.1-7.5 im Kontext der aktuellen Literatur diskutiert. Sofern nicht anders angegeben, wurden alle Experimente von Thilo Westhofen geplant, durchgef{\"u}hrt und ausgewertet.}, subject = {Dendritische Zelle}, language = {de} } @article{AdakuChilakaMally2020, author = {Adaku Chilaka, Cynthia and Mally, Angela}, title = {Mycotoxin Occurrence, Exposure and Health Implications in Infants and Young Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review}, series = {Foods}, volume = {9}, journal = {Foods}, number = {11}, issn = {2304-8158}, doi = {10.3390/foods9111585}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-219250}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Infants and young children (IYC) remain the most vulnerable population group to environmental hazards worldwide, especially in economically developing regions such as sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). As a result, several governmental and non-governmental institutions including health, environmental and food safety networks and researchers have been proactive toward protecting this group. Mycotoxins, toxic secondary fungal metabolites, contribute largely to the health risks of this young population. In SSA, the scenario is worsened by socioeconomic status, poor agricultural and storage practices, and low level of awareness, as well as the non-establishment and lack of enforcement of regulatory limits in the region. Studies have revealed mycotoxin occurrence in breast milk and other weaning foods. Of concern is the early exposure of infants to mycotoxins through transplacental transfer and breast milk as a consequence of maternal exposure, which may result in adverse health effects. The current paper presents an overview of mycotoxin occurrence in foods intended for IYC in SSA. It discusses the imperative evidence of mycotoxin exposure of this population group in SSA, taking into account consumption data and the occurrence of mycotoxins in food, as well as biomonitoring approaches. Additionally, it discusses the health implications associated with IYC exposure to mycotoxins in SSA.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Yaqub2022, author = {Yaqub, Jonathan F.}, title = {Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede der myokardialen Kontraktilit{\"a}t, Geschlechtshormonspiegel und NT-proBNP-Spiegel bei koronarchirurgischen Patienten}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-29116}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-291163}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Die vorliegende klinisch-experimentelle Arbeit beleuchtet den Zusammenhang zwischen biologischem Geschlecht, den Konzentrationen der Geschlechtshormone Testosteron, Estradiol sowie dem kardialen Protein NT-pro-BNP in vivo und der Kraftentwicklung stimulierter Herzmuskelzellen in vitro. Im Studienzeitraum wurden insgesamt 225 Patienten (35 weiblich, 190 m{\"a}nnlich), die sich einer elektiven koronarchirurgischen Operation unter Einsatz der Herz-Lungen-Maschine unterzogen, in die Studie eingeschlossen. Im Rahmen der Operation wurden Herzmuskelproben vom linken und rechten Herzohr gewonnen. Aus diesen wurde experimentell der kontraktile Apparat isoliert. Diese Muskelfaserb{\"u}ndel wurden mittels Immersion in verschieden stark konzentrierten Kalziumb{\"a}dern zur Kontraktion stimuliert und die resultierende Kraftentwicklung erfasst. Diese Daten wurden den im Patientenblut bestimmten Serumkonzentrationen von Estradiol, Testosteron und NT-pro-BNP gegen{\"u}bergestellt. Es konnte, auch unter Ber{\"u}cksichtigung der Hormonkonzentrationen, weder eine Korrelation des Patientengeschlechts mit der Kraftentwicklung festgestellt werden, noch korrelierte die Konzentration von NT-pro-BNP mit der Kraftentwicklung im experimentellen Modell.}, subject = {Herz}, language = {de} }