Age-related differences of microRNA-21 in leukocytes and its association with physical performance

INTRODUCTION: Several studies suggest chronic inflammation as an underlying biological mechanism for the decline in physical performance of elderly (Cesari et al., 2004; Tiainen et al., 2010). Moreover, it has been shown that habitual exercise ameliorates the higher proinflammatory gene expression in leukocytes of elderly (Gano et al., 2011). Within the last years several microRNAs (short, non-coding RNAs) have been demonstrated to regulate gene expression also in the context of exercise immunology (Wessner et al., 2010). Interestingly, some of these microRNAs (miRs) such as miR-21 and miR-146 are involved in pathways important for ageing as well as inflammatory processes (Olivieri et al. 2012). Therefore, the main aims of the current study were (1) to investigate whether miR-21 and miR-146 levels in leukocytes are affected by age and (2) to correlate performance levels of elderly to miR gene expression levels. METHODS: Healthy young (n=7, age: 25.28 ± 2.3 years) and old (n=25, age: 83.40 ± 5.63 years) females participated in the study. After an overnight fast, leukocytes were isolated from heparinized blood using BD Vacutainer CPT tubes. miR-21 and miR146 gene expression in leukocytes was determined by quantitative RT-PCR using miScript Primer Assays (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Additonally, leukocyte numbers and inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, hs-IL6, IL1-ra) were quantified. In order to relate potential inflammtaory markers to the fitness level of the elderly, several functional tests were performed (handgrip, 6min walking test, chair-rise test, isokinetic measurement of knee extension and flexion). Differences between groups were detected by unpaired t-tests. Correlations between markers were characterized using Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Interestingly, miR-21 expression in leukocytes was significantly enhanced in the elderly (+55.1%, p=0.036) while miR-146a levels were not affected by age (p=0.492). However, miR-21 correlated signifantly with hs-CRP levels (r=0.352; p=0.033), we did not detect any associations between miR-21 expression and performance parameters of the elderly: Handgrip (r=0.533; p=0.121), 6-min Walking Test (r=0.231; p=0.220), Chair Rise (r=0.336; p=0.070), Peak Torque knee extension (r=0.589; p=0.105) as well as flexion (r=0.203; p=0.291). CONCLUSION: In conclusion these preliminary results show that miR-21 seems to be enhanced with age but not influenced by fitness level of the elderly. Gene targets of miR-21 have been identified in the TGF-β signaling pathway. Therefore, next steps would be to associate the changes in miR-21with its potential targets to further elucidate its role in the ageing process

Zur Entwicklung der Preisniveaus in Ost- und Westdeutschland: Zugleich eine Dokumentation verschiedener Preisniveau-Zeitreihen für das geteilte und für das vereinigte Deutschland

Die Bedeutung regionaler Unterschiede des Preisniveaus wird in den Wirtschaftswissenschaften unterschätzt. Lediglich in Form von Mietspiegeln werden regionale Preisniveauunterschiede lebensweltlich berücksichtigt. Wie experimentelle Berechnungen des Bundesinstituts für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR) zeigen, gibt es in Deutschland gegenwärtig nennenswerte Preisniveauunterschiede auf der Ebene von Landkreisen. Dadurch ergibt sich auch ein Preisniveauunterschied zwischen Ost- und Westdeutschland. Dieser Ost-West-Unterschied bestanden auch zu Zeiten der deutschen Teilung. Im vorliegenden Aufsatz werden die Ost-West-Preisniveaus seit dem Jahr 1950 erstmals in konsistenter Art und Weise dokumentiert. Die vom DIW Berlin zuletzt (1991) ermittelten Kaufkraftparitäten für Ost und Westdeutschland erweisen sich überraschend kompatibel mit den entsprechenden späteren Berechnungen des Bundesinstituts für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR). Die Ergebnisse beider Methoden sind sehr ähnlich und weichen zugleich deutlich von der Annahme des Statistischen Bundesamtes eines nach der Vereinigung einheitlichen Preisniveaus in Ost- und Westdeutschland ab. Es wird eine Vorschlag für die Berechnung von konsistenten Zeitreihen für die Preisniveaus in Ost- und Westdeutschland für die Jahre 1950 bis 2009 gemacht.The economic literature to date is underestimating the importance of regional price level differences. Only in the form of rent indices are these differences considered in relation to overall quality of life. As experimental estimates by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs, and Spatial Development (BBSR) show, current price levels in Germany differ substantially both between counties and between eastern and western Germany. And these East-West differences have existed since before German reunification. The present article provides the first consistent documentation of East-West price levels since 1950. The East/West German purchasing power parities last calculated by DIW Berlin (in 1991) prove surprisingly consistent with the corresponding later estimates by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs, and Spatial Development (BBSR). The two methods lead to very similar results, and both sets of results deviate substantially from the Federal Statistical Office's assumption of identical price levels in East and West Germany after reunification. The article proposes a method to calculate consistent time series for East and West German price levels and purchasing power indices for the years 1950 to 2009

Oligonucleotide microarray for identification of Enterococcus species

For detection of most members of the Enterococcaceae, the specificity of a novel oligonucleotide microarray (ECC-PhyloChip) consisting of 41 hierarchically nested 16S or 23S rRNA gene-targeted probes was evaluated with 23 pure cultures (including 19 Enterococcus species). Target nucleic acids were prepared by PCR amplification of a 4.5-kb DNA fragment containing large parts of the 16S and 23S rRNA genes and were subsequently labeled fluorescently by random priming. Each tested member of the Enterococcaceae was correctly identified on the basis of its unique microarray hybridization pattern. The evaluated ECC-PhyloChip was successfully applied for identification of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis in artificially contaminated milk samples demonstrating the utility of the ECC-PhyloChip for parallel identification and differentiation of Enterococcus species in food sample

Polyester Polyols from Waste PET Bottles for Polyurethane Rigid Foams

This paper describes a modified process to produce polyester polyols from PET wastes derived from the “bottle fraction residue” of the German Dual System (DSD) [11] employing a waste oligoester condensate of the polyesterification process with the addition of some glycols of longer chain and occasional modification with further dicarboxylic acids to produce polyester polyols of a broad range of properties which are further reacted to form polyurethane or polyisocyanurate rigid foams for insulation, construction materials, or coatings

Development of a two-dimensional virtual pixel X-ray imaging detector for time-resolved structure research

An interpolating two-dimensional X-ray imaging detector based on a single photon counter with gas amplification by GEM (gas electron multiplier) structures is presented. The detector system can be used for time-resolved structure research down to the microsecond-time domain. The prototype detector has been tested at the SAXS beamline at ELETTRA synchrotron light source with a beam energy of 8 keV to test its capabilities in the rough beamline environment. The imaging performance is examined with apertures and standard diffraction targets. Finally, the application in a time-resolved lipid temperature jump experiment is presented.Comment: 10 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in J. Synchrotron Rad, revised version, paper shortened, minor change

Novel Schizophrenia Risk Gene TCF4 Influences Verbal Learning and Memory Functioning in Schizophrenia Patients

Background: Recently, a role of the transcription factor 4 (TCF4) gene in schizophrenia has been reported in a large genome-wide association study. It has been hypothesized that TCF4 affects normal brain development and TCF4 has been related to different forms of neurodevelopmental disorders. Schizophrenia patients exhibit strong impairments of verbal declarative memory (VDM) functions. Thus, we hypothesized that the disease-associated C allele of the rs9960767 polymorphism of the TCF4 gene led to impaired VDM functioning in schizophrenia patients. Method: The TCF4 variant was genotyped in 401 schizophrenia patients. VDM functioning was measured using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). Results: Carriers of the C allele were less impaired in recognition compared to those carrying the AA genotype (13.76 vs. 13.06; p = 0.049). Moreover, a trend toward higher scores in patients with the risk allele was found for delayed recall (10.24 vs. 9.41; p = 0.088). The TCF4 genotype did not influence intelligence or RAVLT immediate recall or total verbal learning. Conclusion: VDM function is influenced by the TCF4 gene in schizophrenia patients. However, the elevated risk for schizophrenia is not conferred by TCF4-mediated VDM impairment. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base