Recently Scientists from Mainz were able to identify the mechanisms responsible for vessel damage resulting from aircraft noise in a newly developed animal model. Already a short time later, this study achieved great echo all over the world. To be mentioned as a "Reserach Highlight" at the renowned journal "Nature" underlines the great importance of the research results.
Published in the renowned Journal „Lancet Neurology“.
For Basic medical research biobanks are essential. Tissue samples, blood and other body fluids stored therein play a key role to produce meaningful research results.
In 2009 the Time Magazine elected Biobanking as one of the ten most important ideas of our century. The Biobank for Bioliquids as a part of the BioMaterialbank Mainz (BMBM) at the University Medical Center Mainz now put a robotic platform into operation. It is a pipetting robot, which is able to dispense more than 700 samples per hour into small tubes and prepare them for deep freezing storage.
New study of cardiology of Mainz University identifies mechanisms responsible for vessel damage resulting from aircraft noise
(Mainz, 17 February 2017, ok) Aircraft noise has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease and is considered as a novel vascular risk factor. In 2013, the research team of Professor Thomas Münzel has succeeded in proving that simulated night-flying noise increases the stress hormone adrenaline, reduces sleep quality and triggers a vascular damage called endothelial dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanisms of this vascular damage have not been established so far. In a newly developed animal model, the scientists have now been able to detect that aircraft noise leads to a significant increase in stress hormones, vascular dysfunction, increased oxidative stress and a marked change in the expression of genes within the vessel wall. They also decoded the enzymes responsible for vascular damage. The results of this study enable us for the first time to develop specific strategies, which may mitigate the negative consequences for the vasculature caused by noise. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, the most prestigious cardiological journal in Europe, describe the scientists as a breakthrough in (aircraft) noise research. The results were presented today at the University of Mainz.
Scientists of the Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), the dermatology clinic and the immunology of the University Medical Center Mainz have achieved new findings about the mechanisms of dissolving blood clots (Thrombus). They were able to Show for the first time, that the Effector-Memory-T-Cells, a specialized subgroup of the so called adaptive immune cells, invade into blood clots and cause inflammations. As a result the resolution of the blood clot delays.
The research findings could lead to an improved therapy of the disrupted cardiovascular system.
The research findings were published in the paper “Innate Effector-Memory T-Cell Activation Regulates Post-Thrombotic Vein Wall Inflammation and Thrombus Resolution” in the renowned Journal „Circulation Research“.
Hypertension is one of the most common illnesses of our time. If the blood pressure is too high, the risk of heart attacks, strokes and long-term organ damages rises. Despite a plethora of established medicines, long-term damages of high blood pressure often can't be prevented adequately. A Research Group of the Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH) at the University Medical Center Mainz headed by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Philip Wenzel now discoverd a so far unknown interaction between blood coagulation factors and inflammatory reaction: They were able to show that the so called coagulation factor XI is more activated at patients with high blood pressure. If this coagulation factor is inhibited, the blood pressure can be considerably reduced and inflammatory reactions are emerging less often.
These findings open up new therapy options for Hypertension and inflammatory diseases.
The findings were published in the renowned Journal ‚Science Translational Medicine‘.
Promotional Prize of the Hermann-Wacker-Fonds awarded to Dr. Alexander Karl-Georg Schuster
How far can the vascular structure provide Information about the individual risk of cardio vascular diseases? That`s the central question of Dr. Schusters promotional work, for which he was awarded with the Promotional Prize of the Hermann-Wacker-Fonds. Dr. Schuster was able to show in this work, that it is to be asumed that there is a connection between the vascular structure of the retina and cardio vascular risk factors like high blood pressure or cardiac insufficiency.
The Promotional Prize of the Hermann-Wacker-Fonds includes prize money of €1,000.
Cardiologists of the University Medical Center Mainz now implanted the 1000th heart valve with the TAVI-technique
Cardiologists of the University Medical Center Mainz published research findings in the trade Journal Scientific Reports
Weak hearts are no longer able to sufficiently supply the organism with blood. Approximately 1.8 Million affected People live in Germany. Heart failure caused by alcohol abuse is responsible for more than one fifth of the heart muscle diseases (myocardial diseases) not caused by a circulatory disorder.
A Research Group of the Center of Cardiology at the University Medical Center Mainz now successfully described how Ethanol supports the production of Oxygen radicals with devasting consequences.
These Oxygen radicals again disturb the function of the mitochondria, the power plants of the cell. Heart muscle cells get destroyed and an irreparable heart muscle damage arises.
These findings were published in the renowned Journal Scientific Research, which is published by the Nature Publishing Group.
3. International Glaucoma Symposium on 28. and 29. October 2016 at the University Medical Center Mainz
The dangerous thing of glaucoma is that People often don't recognize the optic nerve is fading for a long time. But glaucoma can be successfully treated. Important is to start therapy in good time to prevent the worst-case-Scenario - blindness.
At the 3. International Glaucoma Symposium, new minimally invasive surgery methods are one of the main topics. An other topic are new technologies for personalized diagnosis of glaucoma, from which the patient can benefit directly. The special highlight of the symposium are glaucoma-live-surgeries.
The two-day event takes place from the 28th to the 29th of October 2016 in the lecture hall of the Eyeclinic and Polyclinic of the University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131 Mainz. Numerous leading scientists from Europe, USA and even Australia will be participating. Patient associations like Pro Retina and the Bundesverband Selbshilfe e.V. will also take place to inform the patients.
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ulrich Walter will be Senior Research Professor at the Center of Thrombosis and Hemostasis at the University Medical Center Mainz
As the first physician in Rhineland-Palatinate Prof. Dr. Konrad Wolf awarded the former Scientific Director of the Center of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ulrich Walter, with a Senior Research Professorship. Aim of the Senior Research Professorship is to anchor Prof. Walters (67) Research Expertise at the University Medical Center Mainz and to increase the national and international visibility of the CTH.
The Senior Research Professorship is funded by the University Medical Center Mainz. It has a duration up to the end of 2017.
Study of the University Medical Center Mainz examines the relation of myopia and cognitive skills
Environmental factors and leisure behaviour have a greater influence on developing shortsightedness (myopia) than the ability to think logically or to solve problems. Although Myopia and the so called "fluid intelligence" are related, but only indirectly through the duration of education. Scientists of the University Medical Center Mainz discovered that in the study "Myopia and Cognitive Performance: Results From the Gutenberg Health Study". The results of the study are published in the October edition of the scientific Magazine “Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science”.
A new study of cardiologists from Mainz reevaluates the role of the vasodilative substance.
A Research Group headed up by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Andreas Daiber of the University Medical Center Mainz detected new side effects of the organic nitrate Nitroglycerin. These could affect the prognosis of treated patients on a long-lasting way. As the recent Study of Mainz shows, a multi-day treatment with nitroglycerin can lead to a damage of the DNA. This could lead to a dying of stem cells, which are important for the repairing processes, as well as of endothelial cells. The latter form the separating layer between blood stream and the surrounding tissue. The recent publication appeared in the scientific journal “Basic Research in Cardiology”.
Findings of the Gutenberg Health Study.
The mental health of people with migrant background, which are already born in Germany (Migrants of the 2. Generation) is comparable with the mental health of people without migrant background.
People with migrant background, who moved on their own after 1949 (Migrants of the 1. Generation) suffer from mental problems.
These are the findings of a recent research work in the course of the Gutenberg Health Study.
Doctors of the University Medical Center Mainz have successfully cured a patient, who suffered from a high leakage of the tricuspid valve, with a catheter for the first time. It is one of the first two surgical interventions with a cardiotape at the tricuspid valve worldwide. While the specialists of the University Medical Center Mainz executed surgical interventions at the aortic and mitral valve with the latest catheter technologies, the corresponding surgical intervention at the tricuspid valve constitutes a special challenge – which is successfully mastered in Mainz now.
Essential for the resent Success is the tight interdisciplinary cooperation of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons in the recently founded Heartcenter Mainz.
How can a telemedical-supported coagulation service contribute to the optimized treatment of patients with an oral anticoagulation? This and more questions were asked to the experts of the Center of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH) today by the Minister of Health of the state Rhineland Palatinate, Sabine Bätzing-Lichtenthäler, in the course of her summer tour. She was impressed by the explanations about the structure, procedures and projects of the treatment of Thrombosis and Hemostasis diseases.
People with enlarged thrombocytes (blood platelets) have a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases and thrombosis. The main reasons for an enlarged thrombocyte volume are genetic as well as not genetic factors. This was figured out by Dr. Marina Panova-Noeva from the Center of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH) at the University Medical Center Mainz. Corresponding data of the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) are underlying to her research results. The thrombocyte volume may be usable as a marker for risk assessment with regard to vascular-obliterating diseases.
Good news for the Center of Cardiology at the University Medical Center Mainz: Professor Wolfgang Kasper will complement the team headed by Univ.- Prof. Dr. Thomas Münzel and Univ.- Prof. Dr. Thomas Rostock. Professor Kasper was until the End of July 2016 Head of the Medical Clinic I of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology at the St. Josefs-Hospital (JoHo) in Wiesbaden and has been retired there. In the Center of Cardiology he takes responsibility for the area of second opinion from the 15th of October 2016.
Together for an improved and comprehensive treatment of patients suffering from a heart condition – Center of Cardiology, Clinic for cardiac, thorax and vascular surgery and the [...] Centre of Pediatrics and Youth Medicine form the new Heart Center Mainz.
With the aim to reinforce and extend the leading position in Rhineland Palatinate in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, the University Medical Center Mainz now founded the treat center “Heart Center Mainz”. The establishment of the Heart Center Mainz matches up with the demand to intensify and further develop an interlinked and individual medical care of Heart patients of all ages in a future-oriented way. Most of all the new founded Heart Center, which offers the treatment of the whole spectrum of cardiovascular diseases, is characterized by tailor-made therapy concepts through interdisciplinary care.
Another aim is to develop research and teaching in this area. In the new treat center doctors and scientists of the Center of Cardiology and the Clinic for cardiac, thorax and vascular surgery work together. In case of especially young patients, doctors of the Centre of Pediatrics and Youth Medicine are consulted because of their special expertise.
The University Medical Center Mainz and the Catholic Medical Center of Koblenz-Montabaur agreed on a visionary cooperation
The Center of Cardiology of the University Medical Center Mainz and the Catholic Medical Center Koblenz-Montabaur gGmbH (KKM) start a new cooperation regarding the treatment of patients with complex cardiovascular diseases. The cardiac specialists of the University Medical Center Mainz concentrate on the highly specialized follow-up care, while the KKM ensures the qualified primary care. The cooperation is aiming to improve the generally treatment of cardiac patients.
The University Medical Center Mainz is a place where state-of-the-art medicine is performed. This will be shown by the only University Medical Center in Rhineland Palatinate on Sunday, the 3rd of July in a very special way: For the first time since nearly 20 years it arranges an open house day. The visitors can experience fascinating things of the world of medicine at first hand, can take a look behind the scenes of the University Medical Center Mainz or inform themselves about teaching and training at the Medical Center. The detailed program booklet with more than 100 attractions is situated at the clinic gates and various places in the city, for example in the town hall or in the AZ-Costumer Center at the market. Furthermore it is available under www.unimedizin-mainz.de/tag-der-offenen-tuer-2016/programm.html
The occasion for the open house day of the University Medical Center Mainz is the 70th anniversary of the reopening of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz after the world war two. Furthermore the Science Alliance proclaimed the thematic year “Human and Medicine” in cooperation with the City Mainz. The entry is free and everyone interested is very welcome.
University Medical Center Mainz published a new study regarding aircraft noise pollution
Noise Pollution is a significant and international accepted indicator for the health impact of noise. Annoyance, anger, exhaustion and stress symptoms because of permanently noise affect well-being, health and quality of life. Although continuing stress is a fundamental reason for mental disorders, it has hardly been researched, how noise pollution and mental health are connected. Scientists of the Clinic and Polyclinic of Psychotherapy and the Center of Cardiology of the University Medical Center Mainz examined on a representative random sample of nearly 15,000 participants from the Areas Mainz and Mainz-Bingen between the age of 35 and 74 the connection of noise pollution and anxiety and depression on the one hand, the contribution of various noise sources to the noise pollution on the other hand.
The study found a substantial increase of depression and anxiety regarding to an increasing noise pollution. Compared with other noise sources like street-, rail- and neighborhood noise the harassment because of aircraft noise is of prime importance and affects at least 60% of the population. The findings are now published in the latest edition of the renowned trade journal “PLOSone”.
The chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a particular form of pulmonary hypertension, which is rated as a very serious disease. It arises through blood clots getting into the lungs repeatedly. The young investigator Dr. Lukas Hobohm from the Center of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH) of the University Medical Center Mainz just examined that angiopoetin-2 (Ang-2), a growth factor and regulator for blood and lymph vessels, is existing in an higher amount by CTEPH-patients. This research result suggests that the determination of the Ang-2-concentration in the blood could be used as a diagnostic marker to early recognize an increased risk of the development of a CTEPH.
From the German Society of Cardiology – Cardiovascular Research e.V. (DGK) Hobohm now received the Hans-Blömer-Young Investigator Award for clinical cardiovascular research for this research work.
University Medical Center Mainz, Cardiopraxis Mainz and the 1. FSV Mainz 05 as well as Boehringer Ingelheim again count on the broad information of the population regarding the issue of heart attacks.
On Friday, the 15th of April 2016, the awareness campaign on the subject of heart attacks and Chest Pain Unit (CPU) initiated by the University Medical Center Mainz starts again for the fifth time. With 50 percent, cardiovascular diseases still are the main course of death in this country. According to the statistics, heart attacks are the most common followed by strokes and cardiac insufficiency. Alarming: For nearly forty percent of people suffering a heart attack, every help comes too late – they die before the emergency doctor arrives. Mostly it was missed to inform an emergency doctor in due time. The best treatment result can be achieved within an hour – which is called the “golden hour”. Actually the pre-hospital treatment, the time from the beginning of symptoms to the arrival at the hospital, is up to 225 minutes. To inform and educate in this regard is the primary aim of the fifth awareness campaign “Offensive against Chest Pain”. The campaign is supported by the 1. FSV Mainz 05, Boehringer Ingelheim, the German Heart Foundation and the Cardiopraxis Mainz.
The Cardiology of the University Medical Center Mainz moved into a new building and started operations. In the new building with the Number 401K the Rhythmology is housed. That’s the section of the Cardiology which deals with all forms of cardiac arrhythmia. The core of the building are three highly modern cardiac catheter laboratories – which underlie the highest technological and hygienically standards and partly run with a cardiological practice established at the ground floor. Today the first patient was welcomed.
1000th participant welcomed to the ProsPECTUS-study
Cardiovascular diseases rank among the most common causes of death in Germany. The most common here is the heart attack, followed by stroke and cardiac insufficiency. Every fourth patient with an acute heart attack dies before the arriving the hospital – every minute counts when it comes to a heart attack. To develop diagnostics and treatment of cardiovascular diseases like a heart attack and to examine the long-term cause of the symptoms around chest pain, since 2014 there is the so called ProsPECTUS-study at the Center of Cardiology (formerly II. Medical Clinic and Polyclinic) of the University Medical Center Mainz. The study directors Univ.-Prof. Dr. Philipp Wild and Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Münzel recently welcomed Renate Strigler as the 1000st participant.
An aortic stenosis is a constriction of the aortic valve of the heart. Thereof results that the valve is able to open in a reduced way. A minimal invasive surgery can help: with a so-called transcatheteraortic valve implantation (TAVI), a valve replacement gets inserted especially in elderly, seriously ill patients with serious aortic stenosis and a high surgical risk. The TAVI-method mostly has replaced the heart-valve-surgery as the most common treatment in this country. Now the German Society of Cardiology (DGK) attested the Center of Cardiology, Cardiology I, under the lead of Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Münzel and the Clinic for Cardiothoratic and Vascular Surgery (HTG) under the lead of Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian-Friedrich Vahl to execute this surgery at the highest level and with adequate conditions in terms of structure and human resources. The DGK as well certified the Cardiology and the HTG together as a Center for minimal invasive heart valve replacement.
Heart failure – also known as cardiac insufficiency – is wide spread according to information of the German Heart Foundation: In Germany more than 1.8 Million People are affected.
Cardiologic treatment at the University Medical Center Mainz at a high level
A minimal invasive surgery can help patients who suffer a serious aortic stenosis or an untight mitral valve. It’s not necessary to open the thorax. Since 2008 specialists of the University Medical Center Mainz execute this heart valve surgery with state-of-the-art catheter technology. Recently it was possible to treat the 1000st patient with the minimal invasive method.
Scientists from Mainz examine the consequences of repeatedly sonication with aviation noise for the vessels.
Simulated night aviation noise can impair the vessel function of healthy study participants as well as of patients suffering from heart condition. That’s the result of a noise-effect-study(FluG-Risiko) of the II. Medical Clinic and Polyclinic of the University Medical Center Mainz in 2014.
In a further study, a research team headed by the cardiologist Dr. Frank Schmidt wants to examine the thesis that blood vessels don’t familiarize with aviation noise. In fact, various findings indicate that vessels react more sensitive on repeated sonication with noise.
The German Heart Foundation supports the study over a period of 18 months with 55,000 Euro.
Cardiology of the University Medical Center Mainz is accredited as an educational institution for “Interventional Cardiology”
At the II. Medical Clinic of the University Medical Center Mainz, in future specialist doctors for cardiology can acquire the additional qualification “Interventional Cardiology”. Interventional Cardiologists for example widen narrowed coronary vessels with a balloon and implant stents to patients suffering heart attacks. The II. Medical Clinic received its accreditation as an educational institution from the relevant committee of the German Society of Cardiology (DGK).