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Wolfgang Domej,1 Karl Oettl,2 Wilfried Renner31Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, 2Institute of Physiological Chemistry, 3Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaAbstract: Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals and other reactive species overwhelm the availability of antioxidants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species, and their counterpart antioxidant agents are essential for physiological signaling and host defense, as well as for the evolution and persistence of inflammation. When their normal steady state is disturbed, imbalances between oxidants and antioxidants may provoke pathological reactions causing a range of nonrespiratory and respiratory diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the respiratory system, ROS may be either exogenous from more or less inhalative gaseous or particulate agents such as air pollutants, cigarette smoke, ambient high-altitude hypoxia, and some occupational dusts, or endogenously generated in the context of defense mechanisms against such infectious pathogens as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. ROS may also damage body tissues depending on the amount and duration of exposure and may further act as triggers for enzymatically generated ROS released from respiratory, immune, and inflammatory cells. This paper focuses on the general relevance of free radicals for the development and progression of both COPD and pulmonary emphysema as well as novel perspectives on therapeutic options. Unfortunately, current treatment options do not suffice to prevent chronic airway inflammation and are not yet able to substantially alter the course of COPD. Effective therapeutic antioxidant measures are urgently needed to control and mitigate local as well as systemic oxygen bursts in COPD and other respiratory diseases. In addition to current therapeutic prospects and aspects of genomic medicine, trending research topics in COPD are presented.Keywords: reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, antioxidants

Escherichia coli K-12's kdsA and kdsB gene expression is regulated by growth phase at the transcriptional level and so stops expression once the stationary cell phase begins. kdsA's product catalyzes 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid and kdsB's product activates it. The exact regulation mechanism is unknown but probably involves trans- and cis-acting factors. The persistence of these genes' products is probably due to their stability and non-protease degradability.

Exercise induces telomerase activity and regulates shelterin expression. These effects are believed to preserve telomeres. However, the impact of exercise intensity on telomerase and shelterins has not been studied systematically. This pilot study investigated the kinetics of leukocyte telomerase activity (LTA) and the expression of telomere-related genes in response to exercise at different intensities.

Copyright of Strahlentherapie und Onkologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Strahlentherapie und Onkologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent regulator of angiogenesis and thereby involved in the development and progression of solid tumors. A 936C > T polymorphism in the VEGF gene has been associated with reduced VEGF plasma levels. Purpose of the present study was to analyze the potential association between VEGF genotype and radiological appearance of breast lesions by mammography. Materials and Methods: Fifty two women with 54 suspected breast lesions were analyzed by the use of mammography with the standard breast imaging reporting and data systems (BI-RADS). Germline VEGF genotype was determined in all subjects by allele-specific digestion of amplification products. An open biopsy was performed on all lesions. Results: VEGF CC, CT and TT genotypes were found in 41 (79%), 9 (17%) and 2 (4%) patients. By mammography 26, 16 and 12 suspected breast lesions were classified as BI-RADS scores 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Both carriers of the TT genotype were classified as BI-RADS 5, whereas among CT or CC carriers, BI-RADS scores 3, 4 and 5 were found in 26, 16 and 10 subjects (P < 0.026). Conclusion: The VEGF 936C > T polymorphism seems to be associated with a high BI-RADS score in women with suspicious breast lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent regulator of angiogenesis and thereby involved in the development and progression of solid tumors. A 936C > T polymorphism in the VEGF gene has been associated with reduced VEGF plasma levels. Purpose of the present study was to analyze the potential association between VEGF genotype and radiological appearance of breast lesions by mammography. Materials and Methods: Fifty two women with 54 suspected breast lesions were analyzed by the use of mammography with the standard breast imaging reporting and data systems (BI-RADS). Germline VEGF genotype was determined in all subjects by allele-specific digestion of amplification products. An open biopsy was performed on all lesions. Results: VEGF CC, CT and TT genotypes were found in 41 (79%), 9 (17%) and 2 (4%) patients. By mammography 26, 16 and 12 suspected breast lesions were classified as BI-RADS scores 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Both carriers of the TT genotype were classified as BI-RADS 5, whereas among CT or CC carriers, BI-RADS scores 3, 4 and 5 were found in 26, 16 and 10 subjects (P < 0.026). Conclusion: The VEGF 936C > T polymorphism seems to be associated with a high BI-RADS score in women with suspicious breast lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposePrimary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a multifactorial optic neuropathy with a strong hereditary component. Recent studies suggested a role for tumour necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the pathogenesis of POAG. The purpose of the present study was to investigate a hypothesized association between the TNF-α−308G>A and −238G>A gene polymorphisms and the presence of POAG in a Caucasian population.MethodsThe present case–control study comprised 114 unrelated patients with POAG and 228 healthy control subjects, matched for age and gender. Genotyping of the TNF-α−308G>A and −238G>A polymorphisms was performed using polymerase chain reaction.ResultsAllelic frequencies and genotype distributions of both the TNF-α−308G>A and −238G>A gene polymorphisms did not significantly differ between patients with POAG and control subjects. Presence of the TNF-α−308A-allele was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.96 for POAG, whereas an OR of 0.52 was found among carriers of the TNF-α−238A-allele.ConclusionOur data suggest that none of the investigated TNF-αgene polymorphisms is a major risk factor among Caucasian patients with POAG.Eye (2006) 20, 1040–1043. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6702078; published online 2 September 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Retinal artery occlusion is a common vision-threatening disease. Among other risk factors, coagulopathies leading to a hypercoagulable state have been associated with retinal artery occlusion. Numerous studies have shown that two genetic variants, factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210A, cause a procoagulant state. However, their role in the pathogenesis of retinal artery occlusion is still unclear. The purpose of the present study was therefore to investigate a possible association between factor V Leiden, prothrombin 20210A, and retinal artery occlusion.Methods In the present retrospective case-control study, we studied 136 patients with retinal artery occlusion and 136 age- and gender-matched control subjects. The presence of factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210A alleles was determined by polymerase chain reaction.Results The prevalence of heterozygosity for the prothrombin G20210A variant did not significantly differ between patients and controls (three patients vs two controls, P=0.65). Distribution of factor V Leiden genotypes revealed no significant difference among the two groups (heterozygosity: eight patients vs 11 controls, P=0.47). As for other risk factors, arterial hypertension, a history of stroke and myocardial infarction were significantly more frequent in patients than in controls.Conclusion Our data suggest that factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210A do not play a major role in patients with retinal artery occlusion.Eye (2003) 17, 731-734. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6700495 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship of three types of personal conflict and clinical symptoms was examined in a group of 139 psychotherapy clients and participants of a psychological training course in the workplace. The participants received the Lauterbach conflict measure and the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R). A subgroup of low-conflict and a subgroup of high-conflict participants was formed. Conflict measures and clinical symptoms were highly correlated in the low-conflict group, but not in the high-conflict group. In addition, we showed that the three types of cognitive conflict correlated highly in low-conflict participants but not in the high-conflict subgroup. We concluded that symptoms and conflict account for different dimensions of mental strain in highly conflicted individuals and personal conflict represents a risk factor for developing clinical symptoms. Psychotherapy should not be limited to the symptom dimension but should account for the conflict perspective in an individualized approach. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The administrative process in the implementation of a scheme of co-operation between the school and general dental practitioner services to screen and treat children aged 14 years and above in an Area Health Authority is described. 84 % of the target group were screened in periods amounting to 12 months. The uptake of treatment as assessed by return of notices of referral was only 1.5 %. Interview of a sample of those referred revealed that 49 % had been to a dentist within 6 months and of these 34 % would not have otherwise attended, 13 % had taken referral forms to practitioners. The implications of these findings are discussed and a more effective means of evaluating treatment uptake is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]