@article{ChumakRuettigerLeeetal.2016, author = {Chumak, Tetyana and R{\"u}ttiger, Lukas and Lee, Sze Chim and Campanelli, Dario and Zuccotti, Annalisa and Singer, Wibke and Popel{\´a}ř, Jiř{\´i} and Gutsche, Katja and Geisler, Hyun-Soon and Schraven, Sebastian Philipp and Jaumann, Mirko and Panford-Walsh, Rama and Hu, Jing and Schimmang, Thomas and Zimmermann, Ulrike and Syka, Josef and Knipper, Marlies}, title = {BDNF in Lower Brain Parts Modifies Auditory Fiber Activity to Gain Fidelity but Increases the Risk for Generation of Central Noise After Injury}, series = {Molecular Neurobiology}, volume = {53}, journal = {Molecular Neurobiology}, number = {8}, doi = {10.1007/s12035-015-9474-x}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-187341}, pages = {5607-5627}, year = {2016}, abstract = {For all sensory organs, the establishment of spatial and temporal cortical resolution is assumed to be initiated by the first sensory experience and a BDNF-dependent increase in intracortical inhibition. To address the potential of cortical BDNF for sound processing, we used mice with a conditional deletion of BDNF in which Cre expression was under the control of the Pax2 or TrkC promoter. BDNF deletion profiles between these mice differ in the organ of Corti (BDNF \(^{Pax2}\) -KO) versus the auditory cortex and hippocampus (BDNF \(^{TrkC}\) -KO). We demonstrate that BDNF \(^{Pax2}\) -KO but not BDNF \(^{TrkC}\) -KO mice exhibit reduced sound-evoked suprathreshold ABR waves at the level of the auditory nerve (wave I) and inferior colliculus (IC) (wave IV), indicating that BDNF in lower brain regions but not in the auditory cortex improves sound sensitivity during hearing onset. Extracellular recording of IC neurons of BDNF \(^{Pax2}\) mutant mice revealed that the reduced sensitivity of auditory fibers in these mice went hand in hand with elevated thresholds, reduced dynamic range, prolonged latency, and increased inhibitory strength in IC neurons. Reduced parvalbumin-positive contacts were found in the ascending auditory circuit, including the auditory cortex and hippocampus of BDNF \(^{Pax2}\) -KO, but not of BDNF \(^{TrkC}\) -KO mice. Also, BDNF \(^{Pax2}\) -WT but not BDNF \(^{Pax2}\) -KO mice did lose basal inhibitory strength in IC neurons after acoustic trauma. These findings suggest that BDNF in the lower parts of the auditory system drives auditory fidelity along the entire ascending pathway up to the cortex by increasing inhibitory strength in behaviorally relevant frequency regions. Fidelity and inhibitory strength can be lost following auditory nerve injury leading to diminished sensory outcome and increased central noise.}, language = {en} } @article{WagnerAshbyKurtzetal.2015, author = {Wagner, Martin and Ashby, Damien R. and Kurtz, Caroline and Alam, Ahsan and Busbridge, Mark and Raff, Ulrike and Zimmermann, Josef and Heuschmann, Peter U. and Wanner, Christoph and Schramm, Lothar}, title = {Hepcidin-25 in diabetic chronic kidney disease is predictive for mortality and progression to end stage renal disease}, series = {PLoS One}, volume = {10}, journal = {PLoS One}, number = {4}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0123072}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-125514}, pages = {e0123072}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Background Anemia is common and is associated with impaired clinical outcomes in diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD). It may be explained by reduced erythropoietin (EPO) synthesis, but recent data suggest that EPO-resistance and diminished iron availability due to inflammation contribute significantly. In this cohort study, we evaluated the impact of hepcidin-25—the key hormone of iron-metabolism—on clinical outcomes in diabetic patients with CKD along with endogenous EPO levels. Methods 249 diabetic patients with CKD of any stage, excluding end-stage renal disease (ESRD), were enrolled (2003-2005), if they were not on EPO-stimulating agent and iron therapy. Hepcidin-25 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. The association of hepcidin-25 at baseline with clinical variables was investigated using linear regression models. All-cause mortality and a composite endpoint of CKD progression (ESRD or doubling of serum creatinine) were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards models. Results Patients (age 67 yrs, 53\% male, GFR 51 ml/min, hemoglobin 131 g/L, EPO 13.5 U/L, hepcidin-25 62.0 ng/ml) were followed for a median time of 4.2 yrs. Forty-nine patients died (19.7\%) and forty (16.1\%) patients reached the composite endpoint. Elevated hepcidin levels were independently associated with higher ferritin-levels, lower EPO-levels and impaired kidney function (all p<0.05). Hepcidin was related to mortality, along with its interaction with EPO, older age, greater proteinuria and elevated CRP (all p<0.05). Hepcidin was also predictive for progression of CKD, aside from baseline GFR, proteinuria, low albumin- and hemoglobin-levels and a history of CVD (all p<0.05). Conclusions We found hepcidin-25 to be associated with EPO and impaired kidney function in diabetic CKD. Elevated hepcidin-25 and EPO-levels were independent predictors of mortality, while hepcidin-25 was also predictive for progression of CKD. Both hepcidin-25 and EPO may represent important prognostic factors of clinical outcome and have the potential to further define "high risk" populations in CKD.}, language = {en} } @article{GrossAmuzudeCimanetal.2011, author = {Groß, Uwe and Amuzu, Sylvarius K. and de Ciman, Ring and Kassimova, Iparkhan and Groß, Lisa and Rabsch, Wolfgang and Rosenberg, Ulrike and Schulze, Marco and Stich, August and Zimmermann, Ortrud}, title = {Bacteremia and Antimicrobial Drug Resistance over Time, Ghana}, series = {Emerging Infectious Diseases}, volume = {17}, journal = {Emerging Infectious Diseases}, number = {10}, doi = {10.3201/edi1710.110327}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133805}, pages = {1879-1882}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Bacterial distribution and antimicrobial drug resistance were monitored in patients with bacterial bloodstream infections in rural hospitals in Ghana. In 2001-2002 and in 2009, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi was the most prevalent pathogen. Although most S. enterica serovar Typhi isolates were chloramphenicol resistant, all isolates tested were susceptible to ciprofloxacin.}, language = {en} }