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R Augustin

Publications and source records attributed to R Augustin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

[Slot machine gambling behaviour in East Germany 1990-2000].

TARGET: To test the hypothesis that parameters of slot machine gambling behaviour and related treatment cases have been increasing heavily in the new Länder of Germany (after reunification). METHOD: Data from the National Population Survey 2000 and from the EBIS Treatment Monitoring System (1998-2000) were compared with figures from previous analyses for 1990-1997. RESULTS: The percentage of people with gambling experience increased, but the proportion of currently active gamblers decreased. The proportion of frequent gamblers (as an indicator of high-risk behaviour) did not change. The annual average number of new outpatient treatment cases per treatment facility increased, from a low baseline of 1.5 cases, by about 20 %. All figures are still below those for former Western Germany. CONCLUSION: At least until 2000 A.D., the expected extreme increase in gambling behaviour and related treatment demand did not occur.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Mitogenic and anti-apoptotic activity of insulin on bovine embryos produced in vitro.

Insulin improves development of mammalian preimplantation embryos and, in addition to the regulation of glucose transport, it exerts mitogenic and anti-apoptotic activities. The expression of glucose transporters (Glut) mediating the uptake of this essential energy substrate is critical for embryo survival. An impaired expression of Glut leads to an increase in apoptosis at the blastocyst stage and involves Bax. The various effects of insulin were unravelled by supplementing the in vitro culture medium with insulin (1.7 micromol l(-1)) and (i) the rates of cleavage and blastocyst development were recorded; (ii) mitogenic activity was studied by determining the total number of blastocyst cells and the ratio between trophectoderm and inner cell mass (ICM) cells; (iii) the frequency of apoptosis in blastocysts was determined by the TdT-mediated duTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay and by quantification of the relative amounts of mRNA for Bax and Bcl-XL; and (iv) expression for Glut1, Glut3 and Glut8 transcripts was compared between embryos cultured in the presence or absence of insulin. Insulin increased rates of cleavage (81.2+/-2.2 (control) to 86.0+/-2.5) and blastocyst development (24.7+/-1.9 to 31.3+/-1.2), and number of blastocyst cells (123.7+/-6.0 to 146.3+/-6.6); the increase in the number of blastocyst cells was due to a significantly higher number of trophectoderm cells (82.3+/-5.0 versus 100.3+/-5.5). Blastocysts derived from cultures supplemented with insulin showed a significant decrease in apoptosis as determined by the TUNEL assay (14.8+/-0.9 to 12.2+/-0.7). No effects of insulin on the mRNA expression of Glut isoforms and Bax and Bcl-XL were found. These results demonstrate that the mitogenic and anti-apoptotic effects of insulin on bovine preimplantation embryos did not correlate with changes in the amounts of mRNA for the glucose transporter isoforms Glut1, -3 and -8, or transcripts for Bax and Bcl-XL.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Glucose transporter expression is developmentally regulated in in vitro derived bovine preimplantation embryos.

Glucose is readily been taken up and utilized by preimplantation embryos from different species. However, a comprehensive analysis of the glucose transporter expression throughout preimplantation development is still missing. Here, we have investigated the expression of facilitative glucose transporters (Glut1-5 and 8) and sodium-dependent-glucose transporter (SGLT-I) in bovine oocytes and preimplantation embryos up to d16 of development, using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The embryos were produced in vitro by IVM-IVF. Glut1, Glut3, Glut8, and SGLT-I were expressed in all stages studied. Glut4 transcripts were first detected at the blastocyst stage. Glut2 expression was restricted to the period of blastocyst elongation at d14 and d16. Transcription of the fructose transporter Glut5 started at the 8-/16-cell stage. Our results show a distinct expression pattern for glucose transporters during bovine embryo development in vitro indicating specialized functions for these isoforms at different developmental stages in bovine embryos. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 60:370-376,

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Measuring alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems: comparison of responses from self-administered questionnaires and telephone interviews.

AIMS: Compared with surveys using self-administered questionnaires, telephone interviews generally yield higher coverage rates, have a lower proportion of missing values and result in fewer inconsistencies. Meta-analyses, however, show that responses to sensitive questions by telephone tend to be biased by social expectations. The aim of the study is to examine whether responses on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems differ with respect to mode of administration (self-administered vs. telephone). Design and participants. Data were analysed from the 1995 self-administered survey among 6427 subjects and from telephone surveys conducted annually between 1994 and 1996 yielding a pooled sample of 6193 subjects. MEASUREMENTS: Alcohol consumption within the last 30 days was measured using a beverage-specific quantity-frequency index. For a summary measure responses were converted into pure alcohol (ethanol) per day and categorized into no alcohol consumption (0 g), non-hazardous consumption (< or = 20 g for female and < or = 40 g for males) and hazardous consumption (> 20 g for females and > 40 g for males). Alcohol-related problems were assessed using the CAGE questionnaire with a cut-off point of at least two positive responses. FINDINGS: Using (cumulative) logistic regression, a significant mode effect was found for both alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. Lower beverage-specific prevalences in the telephone mode were found to be responsible for the difference in the distribution of the summary consumption measure. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that patterns of drinking and alcohol-related problems are more easily reported in self-administration questionnaires compared to telephone interviews.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[The influence of regional differences in drinking style on hazardous use, excessive drinking, abuse and dependence].

INTRODUCTION: Previous research in Germany identified a "north-south" gradient in the hazardous use of alcoholic drinks, but this had methodological limitations. The present study estimates the hazardous use of alcohol more reliably. In addition, regional differences in drinking style and their relation to indicators of problematic alcohol use are examined. METHODS: Data are from 1995 and 1997 representative samples of the non-institutionalised German general population aged 18 to 59 years. Based on 15,017 complete observations prevalence rates for abstinence, hazardous consumption (>30 g ethanol per day for men; >20 g ethanol per day for women), two or more CAGE-symptoms, and heavy episodic drinking (5+ drinks consumed in a day) were calculated and a cluster analysis was performed with regard to the 16 German federal states. RESULTS: Regional differences exist in the prevalence of abstinence and hazardous drinking, but a "north-south" gradient was not evident. However, cluster analysis results suggest a "north-south" difference in drinking style, i.e. the quantity-frequency pattern of beer, wine, and spirits consumption. Compared with the northern German federal states, those in the south experienced more beer and less wine and spirits consumption in combination with a lower frequency of drinking beer and spirits. No cluster difference was found for hazardous drinking, lifetime prevalence of 2+ CAGE items or consumption of 5+ drinks in a day. Yet, mean consumption of ethanol was significantly higher in the north. CONCLUSIONS: Research suggesting more hazardous consumption in southern Germany must be tempered by these findings that found no 'north-south' gradient in several different indicators of problematic alcohol use. Different drinking styles in northern and southern states do not result in differences concerning prevalence of binge drinking nor alcohol-related problems. Drinking style only made a difference in the mean consumption of ethanol. Methodological differences between the reported studies are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Childhood-onset schizophrenia: research update.

This review is a research update of recent literature related to childhood-onset schizophrenia (onset of psychotic symptoms by age 12 years). This subgroup of patients has attracted considerable research interest because patients with a childhood onset may represent a more homogeneous patient population in which to search for risk or etiologic factors. We examine data indicating that childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) shares the same clinical and neurobiologic features as later-onset forms of the disorder. Compared with adults with schizophrenia, however, this subgroup of patients appears to have more severe premorbid neuro-developmental abnormalities, more cytogenetic anomalies, and potentially greater family histories of schizophrenia and associated spectrum disorders. While preliminary, these data indicate that a greater genetic vulnerability may be one of the underpinnings of COS. Future studies of this subgroup may provide important clues as to the genetic basis for schizophrenia and how gene products influence certain features of the disease, such as age of onset and mode of inheritance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The insulin-dependent glucose transporter isoform 4 is expressed in bovine blastocysts.

We have investigated the expression of two glucose transporter isoforms, Glut1 and 4, in 14- and 16-day-old bovine blastocysts (d14, d16) using RT-PCR, competitive RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. The blastocysts were grown in vivo or had been produced in vitro. Glut1 mRNA was detected in all blastocysts studied, Glut4 in all d14 blastocysts, but only in a few d16 blastocysts. Glut4 mRNA was localized in trophoblast and endoderm cells. Glut1 mRNA increased from d14 to d16 while Glut4 transcription was down-regulated in d16 blastocysts. The mRNA amounts varied between 0.8 to 23 pg and 3.9 to 65 fg per 100 ng embryonic RNA for Glut1 and Glut4, respectively, displaying a 100- to 1500-fold lower expression of Glut4 compared with Glut1 during blastocyst elongation. This is the first report on the expression of the insulin-sensitive Glut4 isoform in mammalian preimplantation embryos.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of alcohol use and the association between onset of use and alcohol-related problems in a general population sample in Germany.

AIMS: This paper examines the prevalence of alcohol use, alcohol-related problems and onset of regular alcohol use, including its association with the prevalence of CAGE symptoms. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Data come from three nationally representative samples of the non-institutionalized German general population aged 18-59 years which were conducted annually between 1994 and 1996. Subjects (n = 7501) were surveyed through telephone interviews. FINDINGS: Overall, men were more likely to drink alcohol, to be heavier drinkers and to experience more alcohol problems than women. Prevalence of 12-month use was constant across age among males, but decreased with age among women. Prevalence of heavier drinking, however, increased with age in both sexes. While for both sexes the median age of onset decreased towards younger cohorts, the prevalence of regular use at younger ages increased more strongly among females compared to males. In all cohorts of both sexes, an association between early age of onset and negative consequences measured by the CAGE questionnaire could be observed. Odds ratios were significantly lower for life-time experience of at least two CAGE symptoms among respondents if they had started regular alcohol use later than their peers. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a narrowing of the gender gap due to an increasing prevalence of regular alcohol use for females across cohorts. Gender differences with regard to heavier drinking are still prominent. The findings confirm those of related studies in which early age of onset of regular alcohol use was found to be a significant predictor for life-time alcohol-related problems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Reduced production of interferon alpha and interferon gamma in leukocyte cultures from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.

Tests for lymphoproliferation and interferon induction in normal blood donors and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were performed in a whole-blood assay. Patients with high inflammatory RA showed significantly reduced lymphoproliferation and interferon gamma production after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) when compared with patients with low inflammatory activity, or with normal control individuals. Similarly, patients with high and low inflammatory RA exhibited a significantly reduced interferon alpha production after stimulation with Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) when compared with normal blood donors. Our findings may point to an important immunodeficiency of the circulating lymphocytes of RA patients and may explain some of the in vitro immunoregulatory abnormalities reported in this disease.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1987

Plasma catecholamines and alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in circulating blood cells in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Autonomic system dysfunction could be the cause of postural hypotension seen in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). To verify this hypothesis, we examined the alpha 2- and beta 2-adrenoceptors on blood cells after 1/2 h in the resting supine position with the peritoneal cavity filled for 2-3 h, as well as the response of plasma norepinephrine (NE), heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) to 10 min of standing. Supine free and particularly conjugated NE levels were significantly higher in all uremic patients compared with controls. The postural test induced similar increases of MAP and HR in 8 diabetic, 11 nondiabetic patients and 23 controls, whereas 4 diabetic patients became hypotensive. Orthostasis caused a mean free NE increment of only 0.5 nmol/l in the latter patient group with mean NE responses of 1.45-1.65 nmol/l in the former 3 groups. The densities of platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptors (assessed by [3H] yohimbine binding) and of mononuclear leucocyte (MNL) beta 2-adrenoceptors determined by (-) (125I) iodocyanopindolol binding amounted to 160 +/- 50 and 1600 +/- 520 binding sites/cell, respectively, in controls and were unchanged in patients without postural hypotension. The 4 diabetic patients suffering from postural hypotension showed numerically higher beta 2-receptor numbers (2080 binding sites/cell), significantly increased alpha 2-receptor densities (280 binding sites/cell, p less than 0.05) and significantly increased MNL isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities (38 vs 24 pmol cAMP/10(6) MNL/10 min in controls, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMed1985

Golgi and computer morphometric analysis of cortical dendrites in metabolic storage disease.

Golgi and computer morphometric analysis of neuronal dendrites was done on four cases, one each of Tay-Sachs disease, infantile type 2 sialidosis, Hurler's syndrome, and Sanfilippo's syndrome. There were large meganeurites on pyramidal neurons in Tay-Sachs disease, and small ones in Hurler's and Sanfilippo's syndromes. All the meganeurites in these three diseases were predominantly distal to the soma in layer 3, but close to it in layer 5. These findings may be accounted for by different rates of ganglioside accumulation and cortical neuronal morphogenesis. Computer morphometric analysis revealed atrophic or less developed layer 5 dendritic length and branching in Tay-Sachs disease, sialidosis, and Hurler's syndrome compared with tissues from control patients. These dendritic changes may be secondary to ganglioside accumulation or due to abnormal surface membrane production during dendritic development. This study contributes to an understanding of how enzyme deficiency is translated into abnormal cell structure and, presumably, function.

Cerebral Cortex↗
PubMed1985

Proliferation and interferon production in whole blood samples and isolated lymphocyte preparations.

To establish a method for the evaluation of immunological parameters in small blood samples, a whole blood technique was developed for the estimation of mitogen induced cell proliferation and interferon (IFN) production. The results obtained were compared with data using isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Mixtures of heparinized whole blood and culture medium or equal numbers of PBL of healthy volunteers or of patients were cultured with the mitogens concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen or the monoclonal antibodies OKT3 and anti-Leu-4. Cell proliferation as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation and interferon production were found to be of higher magnitude in the whole blood assay. The only situation in which results were similar was pokeweed mitogen induced cell proliferation. Since in the whole blood assay the cell populations are present in their natural distribution, this test system may reflect the in vivo situation better than the test using isolated lymphocytes. Furthermore, our data indicate that whole blood samples may be used clinically for the evaluation of different immune parameters, as data on a limited number of patients with Hodgkin's disease have shown.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1983

Catecholamines, renin, aldosterone and arterial pressure in patients on chronic hemodialysis treatment.

To assess the interaction between adrenergic activity and blood pressure regulation, plasma catecholamines (CA), plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosteron (PA) were measured in 66 normal subjects and 18 dialysis patients. Prior to dialysis, blood levels of free norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and PRA were normal, but total (free and conjugated) CA as well as PA were significantly elevated. There was a spectrum of response during hemodialysis. On an average mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) fell during the first two hours of treatment, concomitantly followed by an increase in mean NE level. Whereas PRA and PA were highest at the end of treatment, mean free NE returned promptly to predialysis values through the late dialysis period. Severe hypotensive episodes during dialysis were associated with a baroreceptor-mediated adrenergic stimulation. These results indicate a qualitatively normal reaction of dialysis patients to volume removal and the importance of the renin-angiotensin-system in maintaining blood pressure during dialysis.

Adolescent↗