Publications

8 Publications matching the given criteria: (Clear all filters)

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BACKGROUND: Clinical trials, epidemiological studies, clinical registries, and other prospective research projects, together with patient care services, are main sources of data in the medical research domain. They serve often as a basis for secondary research in evidence-based medicine, prediction models for disease, and its progression. This data are often neither sufficiently described nor accessible. Related models are often not accessible as a functional program tool for interested users from the health care and biomedical domains. OBJECTIVE: The interdisciplinary project Leipzig Health Atlas (LHA) was developed to close this gap. LHA is an online platform that serves as a sustainable archive providing medical data, metadata, models, and novel phenotypes from clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and other medical research projects. METHODS: Data, models, and phenotypes are described by semantically rich metadata. The platform prefers to share data and models presented in original publications but is also open for nonpublished data. LHA provides and associates unique permanent identifiers for each dataset and model. Hence, the platform can be used to share prepared, quality-assured datasets and models while they are referenced in publications. All managed data, models, and phenotypes in LHA follow the FAIR principles, with public availability or restricted access for specific user groups. RESULTS: The LHA platform is in productive mode (https://www.health-atlas.de/). It is already used by a variety of clinical trial and research groups and is becoming increasingly popular also in the biomedical community. LHA is an integral part of the forthcoming initiative building a national research data infrastructure for health in Germany.

Authors: T. Kirsten, F. A. Meineke, H. Loeffler-Wirth, C. Beger, A. Uciteli, S. Staubert, M. Lobe, R. Hansel, F. G. Rauscher, J. Schuster, T. Peschel, H. Herre, J. Wagner, S. Zachariae, C. Engel, M. Scholz, E. Rahm, H. Binder, M. Loeffler

Date Published: 3rd Aug 2022

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Background and Objective: Predicting individual mutation and cancer risks is essential to assist genetic counsellors in clinical decision making for patients with a hereditary cancer predisposition. Worldwide a variety of statistical models and empirical data for risk prediction have been developed and published for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC), and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC / Lynch syndrome, LS). However, only few models have so far been implemented in convenient and easy-to-use computer applications. We therefore aimed to develop user-friendly applications of selected HBOC and LS risk prediction models, and to make them available through the "Leipzig Health Atlas" (LHA), a web-based multifunctional platform to share research data, novel ontologies, models and software tools with the medical and scientific community. LHA is a project funded within the BMBF initiative "i:DSem – Integrative data semantics in system medicine". Methods and Results: We selected a total of six statistical models and empirical datasets relevant for HBOC and LS: 1) the Manchester Scoring System, 2) the "Mutation Frequency Explorer" of the German Consortium for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (GC-HBOC), 3) an extended version of the Claus model, 4) MMRpredict, 5) PREMM1,2,6, and 6) PREMM5. The Manchester Scoring System allows calculation of BRCA1/2 mutation probabilities based on aggregated family history. The "Mutation Frequency Explorer" allows flexible assessment of mutation risks in BRCA1/2 and other genes for different sets of familial cancer histories based on a large dataset from the GC-HBOC. The extended Claus model (as implemented in the commercial predigree drawing software Cyrillic 2.1.3, which is no longer supported and no longer works on newer operating systems) predicts both mutation and breast cancer risks based on structured pedigree data. MMRpredict, PREMM 1,2,6, and PREMM 5 predict mutation risks in mismatch repair genes for patients from families suspected of having LS. All models were implemented using the statistical software "R" and the R-package "Shiny". "Shiny" allows the development of interactive applications by incorporating "R" with HTML and other web technologies. The Shiny apps are accessible on the website of the "Leipzig Health Atlas" (https://www.health-atlas.de) for registered researchers and genetic counselors. Conclusions: The risk prediction apps allow convenient calculation of mutation or cancer risks for an advice-seeking individual based on pedigree data or aggregated information on the familial cancer history. Target users should be specialized health professionals (physicians and genetic counselors) and scientists to ensure correct handling of the tools and careful interpretation of results.

Authors: Silke Zachariae, Sebastian Stäubert, C. Fischer, Markus Löffler, Christoph Engel

Date Published: 8th Mar 2019

Publication Type: InProceedings

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome, colorectal cancer

Abstract (Expand)

PURPOSE: To characterise the prevalence of pathogenic germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 in families with breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) history. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 21 401 families were gathered between 1996 and 2014 in a clinical setting in the German Consortium for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, comprising full pedigrees with cancer status of all individual members at the time of first counselling, and BRCA1/2 mutation status of the index patient. RESULTS: The overall BRCA1/2 mutation prevalence was 24.0% (95% CI 23.4% to 24.6%). Highest mutation frequencies were observed in families with at least two OCs (41.9%, 95% CI 36.1% to 48.0%) and families with at least one breast and one OC (41.6%, 95% CI 40.3% to 43.0%), followed by male BC with at least one female BC or OC (35.8%; 95% CI 32.2% to 39.6%). In families with a single case of early BC (<36 years), mutations were found in 13.7% (95% CI 11.9% to 15.7%). Postmenopausal unilateral or bilateral BC did not increase the probability of mutation detection. Occurrence of premenopausal BC and OC in the same woman led to higher mutation frequencies compared with the occurrence of these two cancers in different individuals (49.0%; 95% CI 41.0% to 57.0% vs 31.5%; 95% CI 28.0% to 35.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide guidance for healthcare professionals and decision-makers to identify individuals who should undergo genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Moreover, it supports informed decision-making of counselees on the uptake of genetic testing.

Authors: K. Kast, K. Rhiem, B. Wappenschmidt, E. Hahnen, J. Hauke, B. Bluemcke, V. Zarghooni, N. Herold, N. Ditsch, M. Kiechle, M. Braun, C. Fischer, N. Dikow, S. Schott, N. Rahner, D. Niederacher, T. Fehm, A. Gehrig, C. Mueller-Reible, N. Arnold, N. Maass, G. Borck, N. de Gregorio, C. Scholz, B. Auber, R. Varon-Manteeva, D. Speiser, J. Horvath, N. Lichey, P. Wimberger, S. Stark, U. Faust, B. H. Weber, G. Emons, S. Zachariae, A. Meindl, R. K. Schmutzler, C. Engel

Date Published: 2nd Mar 2016

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: breast cancer, ovarian cancer

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: Cardiorespiratory fitness is a well-established independent predictor of cardiovascular health. However, the relevance of alternative exercise and non-exercise tests for cardiorespiratory fitness assessment in large cohorts has not been studied in detail. We aimed to evaluate the YMCA-step test and the Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ) for the estimation of cardiorespiratory fitness in the general population. METHODS: One hundred and five subjects answered the VSAQ, performed the YMCA-step test and a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) and gave BORG ratings for both exercise tests (BORGSTEP, BORGCPX). Correlations of peak oxygen uptake on a treadmill (VO2_PEAK) with VSAQ, BORGSTEP, one-minute, post-exercise heartbeat count, and peak oxygen uptake during the step test (VO2_STEP) were determined. Moreover, the incremental values of the questionnaire and the step test in addition to other fitness-related parameters were evaluated using block-wise hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: Eighty-six subjects completed the step test according to the protocol. For completers, correlations of VO2_PEAK with the age- and gender-adjusted VSAQ, heartbeat count and VO2_STEP were 0.67, 0.63 and 0.49, respectively. However, using hierarchical regression analysis, age, gender and body mass index already explained 68.8% of the variance of VO2_PEAK, while the additional benefit of VSAQ was rather low (3.4%). The inclusion of BORGSTEP, heartbeat count and VO2_STEP increased R(2) by a further 2.2%, 3.3% and 5.6%, respectively, yielding a total R(2) of 83.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Neither VSAQ nor the YMCA-step test contributes sufficiently to the assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness in population-based studies.

Authors: A. Teren, S. Zachariae, F. Beutner, R. Ubrich, M. Sandri, C. Engel, M. Loffler, S. Gielen

Date Published: 15th Dec 2015

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: The LIFE-Adult-Study is a population-based cohort study, which has recently completed the baseline examination of 10,000 randomly selected participants from Leipzig, a major city with 550,000 inhabitants in the east of Germany. It is the first study of this kind and size in an urban population in the eastern part of Germany. The study is conducted by the Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases (LIFE). Our objective is to investigate prevalences, early onset markers, genetic predispositions, and the role of lifestyle factors of major civilization diseases, with primary focus on metabolic and vascular diseases, heart function, cognitive impairment, brain function, depression, sleep disorders and vigilance dysregulation, retinal and optic nerve degeneration, and allergies. METHODS/DESIGN: The study covers a main age range from 40-79 years with particular deep phenotyping in elderly participants above the age of 60. The baseline examination was conducted from August 2011 to November 2014. All participants underwent an extensive core assessment programme (5-6 h) including structured interviews, questionnaires, physical examinations, and biospecimen collection. Participants over 60 underwent two additional assessment programmes (3-4 h each) on two separate visits including deeper cognitive testing, brain magnetic resonance imaging, diagnostic interviews for depression, and electroencephalography. DISCUSSION: The participation rate was 33 %. The assessment programme was accepted well and completely passed by almost all participants. Biomarker analyses have already been performed in all participants. Genotype, transcriptome and metabolome analyses have been conducted in subgroups. The first follow-up examination will commence in 2016.

Authors: M. Loeffler, C. Engel, P. Ahnert, D. Alfermann, K. Arelin, R. Baber, F. Beutner, H. Binder, E. Brahler, R. Burkhardt, U. Ceglarek, C. Enzenbach, M. Fuchs, H. Glaesmer, F. Girlich, A. Hagendorff, M. Hantzsch, U. Hegerl, S. Henger, T. Hensch, A. Hinz, V. Holzendorf, D. Husser, A. Kersting, A. Kiel, T. Kirsten, J. Kratzsch, K. Krohn, T. Luck, S. Melzer, J. Netto, M. Nuchter, M. Raschpichler, F. G. Rauscher, S. G. Riedel-Heller, C. Sander, M. Scholz, P. Schonknecht, M. L. Schroeter, J. C. Simon, R. Speer, J. Staker, R. Stein, Y. Stobel-Richter, M. Stumvoll, A. Tarnok, A. Teren, D. Teupser, F. S. Then, A. Tonjes, R. Treudler, A. Villringer, A. Weissgerber, P. Wiedemann, S. Zachariae, K. Wirkner, J. Thiery

Date Published: 22nd Jul 2015

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: disease of mental health, mental depression, vascular disease, allergic hypersensitivity disease, sleep disorder, retinal degeneration

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: Reference intervals for leukocyte subsets from peripheral blood are helpful for the understanding of disease states and therapy effects. METHODS: We performed in-depth immunophenotyping for 608 healthy German adults from the Leipzig region from 40 to 79 years by 10-color flow cytometry (FCM) to gain reference information for various leukocyte subsets including subsets of granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes. RESULTS: First, we derived gender- and age-specific reference intervals for males and females from 40 to 59 and from 60 to 79 years, respectively. Second, we further investigated the influence of gender and age on leukocyte counts. We found significantly higher cell counts for monocytes (P < 0.001) and NK cells (P < 0.001) in men, whereas women had higher counts for B cells (P < 0.001), Th cells (P < 0.001) and regulatory T cells (P = 0.008). Furthermore, with increasing age, a decrease in Tc cells (about 8% within 5 years) and an increase in NK cells (<4% within 5 years) were observed. CONCLUSION: In future research, it should be investigated whether these are real ageing effects that can be confirmed in longitudinal studies. Furthermore, it is important to understand if the Tc cell count drop is functionally compensated by the increase of NK cells.

Authors: S. Melzer, S. Zachariae, J. Bocsi, C. Engel, M. Loffler, A. Tarnok

Date Published: 24th Feb 2015

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise capacity has been shown to predict cardiovascular disease incidence and is increasingly measured in epidemiological studies. However, direct measurement of peak oxygen uptake is too time consuming in large-scale studies. We therefore investigated whether a brief 3-minute step-test protocol can be used to estimate peak oxygen uptake in these settings. DESIGN AND METHODS: A group of 97 subjects performed the YMCA step test and a maximal treadmill test with continuous measurement of oxygen uptake. Correlation and linear regression analyses were used to identify VO2peak predictors obtained from the step test and to develop models for VO2peak estimation. RESULTS: The YMCA model, including the 1-minute heart beat count, predicted VO2peak with R = 0.83. A novel simplified model based on the heart rate at 45 s of recovery performed comparable (R = 0.83). However, models based on heart rate measures were only valid in subjects who completed the test according to protocol, but not in subjects who terminated prematurely. For the applicability in subjects with low exercise capacity, a new model including gas exchange analysis enabled prediction of VO2peak (R = 0.89). All models were validated in an independent sample (r = 0.86-0.91). Exercise time of the step test was less than one-hird of standard ergospirometry (treadmill test: 654 +/- 151 s, step test: 180 s, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In large-scale epidemiological studies with limited time slots for exercise testing and significant proportions of subjects with low exercise capacity a modified version of the YMCA step test may be used to predict VO2peak.

Authors: F. Beutner, R. Ubrich, S. Zachariae, C. Engel, M. Sandri, A. Teren, S. Gielen

Date Published: 1st May 2014

Publication Type: Not specified

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