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High-resolution fMRI in the sub-millimeter regime allows researchers to resolve brain activity across cortical layers and columns non-invasively. While these high-resolution data make it possible to address novel questions of directional information flow within and across brain circuits, the corresponding data analyses are challenged by MRI artifacts, including image blurring, image distortions, low SNR, and restricted coverage. These challenges often result in insufficient spatial accuracy of conventional analysis pipelines. Here we introduce a new software suite that is specifically designed for layer-specific functional MRI: LayNii. This toolbox is a collection of command-line executable programs written in C/C++ and is distributed opensource and as pre-compiled binaries for Linux, Windows, and macOS. LayNii is designed for layer-fMRI data that suffer from SNR and coverage constraints and thus cannot be straightforwardly analyzed in alternative software packages. Some of the most popular programs of LayNii contain ‘layerification’ and columnarization in the native voxel space of functional data as well as many other layer-fMRI specific analysis tasks: layer-specific smoothing, model-based vein mitigation of GE-BOLD data, quality assessment of artifact dominated sub-millimeter fMRI, as well as analyses of VASO data.
Aims: Cardio-oncology is a growing interdisciplinary field which aims to improve cardiological care for cancer patients in order to reduce morbidity and mortality. The impact of cardiac biomarkers, echocardiographic parameters, and cardiological assessment regarding risk stratification is still unclear. We aimed to identify potential parameters that allow an early risk stratification of cancer patients. Methods and results: In this cohort study, we evaluated 930 patients that were admitted to the cardio-oncology outpatient clinic of the University Hospital Heidelberg from January 2016 to January 2019. We performed echocardiography, including Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) analysis and measured cardiac biomarkers including N-terminal pro brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T levels (hs-cTnT). Most patients were suffering from breast cancer (n = 450, 48.4%), upper gastrointestinal carcinoma (n = 99, 10.6%) or multiple myeloma (n = 51, 5.5%). At the initial visit, we observed 86.7% of patients having a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF >50%). At the second follow up, still 78.9% of patients showed a preserved LVEF. Echocardiographic parameters or elevation of NT-proBNP did not significantly correlate with all-cause mortality (ACM) (logistic regression LVEF <50%: P = 0.46, NT-proBNP: P = 0.16) and failed to identify high-risk patients. In contrast, hs-cTnT above the median (≥7 ng/L) was an independent marker to determine ACM (multivariant logistic regression, OR: 2.21, P = 0.0038) among all included patients. In particular, hs-cTnT levels before start of a chemotherapy were predictive for ACM. Conclusions: Based on our non-selected cohort of cardio-oncological patients, hs-cTnT was able to identify patients with high mortality by using a low cutoff of 7 ng/L. We conclude that measurement of hs-cTnT is an important tool to stratify the risk for mortality of cancer patients before starting chemotherapy.
We retrospectively investigated histopathological growth patterns in individuals with advanced nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) treated within the randomized HD18 study. In all, 35/60 patients (58%) presented with atypical growth patterns. Patients with atypical growth patterns more often had stage IV disease (P = 0·0354) and splenic involvement (P = 0·0048) than patients with typical growth patterns; a positive positron emission tomography after two cycles of chemotherapy (PET-2) tended to be more common (P = 0·1078). Five-year progression-free survival [hazard ratio (HR) = 0·86; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0·49–1·47] and overall survival (HR = 0·85; 95% CI = 0·49–1·51) did not differ between the groups after study treatment with PET-2-guided escalated BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone). Thus, advanced NLPHL is often associated with atypical growth patterns but their prognostic impact is compensated by PET-2-guided escalated BEACOPP.
Since the early 1970s several studies have reported distal splenic artery embolization, better known as partial spleen embolization (PSE), as an efficacious treatment of portal hypertensive variceal bleeding and hypersplenism in cirrhosis.(1, 2) However, the effect of PSE on portal pressure is secondary to the induction of splenic infarction. Depending on both the infarct volume and possible infection, PSE can induce serious complications including death.(2, 3) On the other hand, proximal splenic artery embolization (PSAE), which mimics surgical splenic artery ligation, prevents large infarction of the spleen, favoring collateral perfusion of its intact distal vasculature.(3) For this, PSAE has been extensively preferred over PSE for reducing portal hyperflow and treating refractory ascites (RA) after whole or partial liver transplantation (LT).(3, 4) We report here a case of PSAE used to treat RA in a patient with cirrhosis not eligible for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and LT.
Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis (FAS) stimulates tumor cell death and reduces angiogenesis. When SH-SY5Y cells or primary neurons are exposed to hypoxia only, inhibition of FAS yields significantly enhanced cell injury. The pathophysiology of stroke, however, is not only restricted to hypoxia but also includes reoxygenation injury. Hence, an oxygen-glucose-deprivation (OGD) model with subsequent reoxygenation in both SH-SY5Y cells and primary neurons as well as a murine stroke model were used herein in order to study the role of FAS inhibition and its underlying mechanisms. SH-SY5Y cells and cortical neurons exposed to 10 h of OGD and 24 h of reoxygenation displayed prominent cell death when treated with the Acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitor TOFA or the fatty acid synthase inhibitor cerulenin. Such FAS inhibition reduced the reduction potential of these cells, as indicated by increased NADH2+/NAD+ ratios under both in vitro and in vivo stroke conditions. As observed in the OGD model, FAS inhibition also resulted in increased cell death in the stroke model. Stroke mice treated with cerulenin did not only display increased brain injury but also showed reduced neurological recovery during the observation period of 4 weeks. Interestingly, cerulenin treatment enhanced endothelial cell leakage, reduced transcellular electrical resistance (TER) of the endothelium and contributed to poststroke blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown. The latter was a consequence of the activated NF-κB pathway, stimulating MMP-9 and ABCB1 transporter activity on the luminal side of the endothelium. In conclusion, FAS inhibition aggravated poststroke brain injury as consequence of BBB breakdown and NF-κB-dependent inflammation.
Background: No simple staging system has emerged for basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), since they do not follow the TNM process, and practitioners failed to agree on simple clinical or pathological criteria as a basis for a classification. Operational classification of BCCs is required for decision-making, trials and guidelines. Unsupervised clustering of real cases of difficult-to-treat BCCs (DTT-BCCs; part 1) has demonstrated that experts could blindly agree on a five groups classification of DTT-BCCs based on five patterns of clinical situations. Objective: Using this five patterns to generate an operational and comprehensive classification of BCCs. Method: Testing practitioner's agreement, when using the five patterns classification to ensure that it is robust enough to be used in the practice. Generating the first version of a staging system of BCCs based on pattern recognition. Results: Sixty-two physicians, including 48 practitioners and the 14 experts who participated in the generation of the five different patterns of DTT-BCCs, agreed on 90% of cases when classifying 199 DTT-BCCs cases using the five patterns classification (part 1) attesting that this classification is understandable and usable in practice. In order to cover the whole field of BCCs, these five groups of DTT-BCCs were added a group representing the huge number of easy-to-treat BCCs, for which sub-classification has little interest, and a group of very rare metastatic cases, resulting in a four-stage and seven-substage staging system of BCCs. Conclusion: A practical classification adapted to the specificities of BCCs is proposed. It is the first tumour classification based on pattern recognition of clinical situations, which proves to be consistent and usable. This EADO staging system version 1 will be improved step by step and tested as a decision tool and a prognostic instrument.
BAG3 is a negative regulator of ciliogenesis in glioblastoma and triple-negative breast cancer cells
(2021)
By regulating several hallmarks of cancer, BAG3 exerts oncogenic functions in a wide variety of malignant diseases including glioblastoma (GBM) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here we performed global proteomic/phosphoproteomic analyses of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated isogenic BAG3 knockouts of the two GBM lines U343 and U251 in comparison to parental controls. Depletion of BAG3 evoked major effects on proteins involved in ciliogenesis/ciliary function and the activity of the related kinases aurora-kinase A and CDK1. Cilia formation was significantly enhanced in BAG3 KO cells, a finding that could be confirmed in BAG3-deficient versus -proficient BT-549 TNBC cells, thus identifying a completely novel function of BAG3 as a negative regulator of ciliogenesis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that enhanced ciliogenesis and reduced expression of SNAI1 and ZEB1, two key transcription factors regulating epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) are correlated to decreased cell migration, both in the GBM and TNBC BAG3 knockout cells. Our data obtained in two different tumor entities identify suppression of EMT and ciliogenesis as putative synergizing mechanisms of BAG3-driven tumor aggressiveness in therapy-resistant cancers.
Purpose: Auditory functional MRI (fMRI) often uses silent inter-volume delays for stimulus presentation. However, maintaining the steady-state of the magnetization usually requires constant delays. Here, a novel acquisition scheme dubbed “pre-Saturated EPI using Multiple delays in Steady-state” (SEPIMS) is proposed, using spin saturation at a fixed delay before each volume to maintain steady-state conditions, independent of previous spin history. This concept allows for variable inter-volume delays and thus for flexible stimulus design in auditory fMRI. The purpose was to compare the signal stability of SEPIMS and conventional sparse EPI (CS-EPI). Methods: The saturation module comprises two non-selective adiabatic saturation pulses. The efficiency of the saturation and its effect on the SEPIMS signal stability is tested in vitro and in vivo. Results: Data show that SEPIMS yields the same signal stability as CS-EPI, even for extreme variations between inter-volume delay durations. However, dual saturation pulses are required to achieve sufficiently high saturation efficiency in compartments with long T1 values. Importantly, spoiler gradient pulses after the EPI readout have to be optimized to avoid eddy-current-induced image distortions. Conclusion: The proposed SEPIMS sequence maintains high signal stability in the presence of variable inter-volume durations, thus allowing for flexible stimulus design.
Background and Objective: Long-term tooth retention is the ultimate goal of periodontal therapy. Aim of this study was to evaluate tooth loss (TL) during 10 years of supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) in periodontal compromised patients and to identify factors influencing TL on patient level. Material and Methods: Patients were re-examined 120 ± 12 months after active periodontal therapy. TL and risk factors [smoking, initial diagnosis, SPT adherence, interleukin-1 polymorphism, cardiovascular diseases, age at baseline, bleeding on probing (BOP), change of practitioner, insurance status, number of SPT, marital and educational status] influencing TL on patient level were assessed. Results: One-hundred patients (52 female, mean age 65.6 ± 11 years) lost 121 of 2428 teeth (1.21 teeth/patient; 0.12 teeth/patient/y) during 10 years of SPT. Forty-two of these were lost for periodontal reasons (0.42 teeth/patient; 0.04 teeth/patient/y). Significantly more teeth were lost due to other reasons (P < .001). Smoking, baseline severity of periodontitis, non-adherent SPT, positive interleukin-1 polymorphism, marital and educational status, private insurance, older age at baseline and BOP, small number of SPT were identified as patient-related risk factors for TL (P < .05). Conclusion: During 120 ± 12 months of SPT, only a small number of teeth was lost in periodontally compromised patients showing the positive effect of a well-established periodontal treatment concept. The remaining risk for TL should be considered using risk-adopted SPT allocation.
CD4+ T cell lymphopenia predicts mortality from Pneumocystis pneumonia in kidney transplant patients
(2020)
Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PcP) remains a life-threatening opportunistic infection after solid organ transplantation, even in the era of Pneumocystis prophylaxis. The association between risk of developing PcP and low CD4+ T cell counts has been well established. However, it is unknown whether lymphopenia in the context of post-renal transplant PcP increases the risk of mortality. Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of a cohort of kidney transplant patients with PcP (n = 49) to determine the risk factors for mortality associated with PcP. We correlated clinical and demographic data with the outcome of the disease. For CD4+ T cell counts, we used the Wilcoxon rank sum test for in-hospital mortality and a Cox proportional-hazards regression model for 60-day mortality. Results: In univariate analyses, high CRP, high neutrophils, CD4+ T cell lymphopenia, mechanical ventilation, and high acute kidney injury network stage were associated with in-hospital mortality following presentation with PcP. In a receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) analysis, an optimum cutoff of ≤200 CD4+ T cells/µL predicted in-hospital mortality, CD4+ T cell lymphopenia remained a risk factor in a Cox regression model. Conclusions: Low CD4+ T cell count in kidney transplant recipients is a biomarker for disease severity and a risk factor for in-hospital mortality following presentation with PcP.
Background: Cerebral O2 saturation (ScO2) reflects cerebral perfusion and can be measured noninvasively by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Objectives: In this pilot study, we describe the dynamics of ScO2 during TAVI in nonventilated patients and its impact on procedural outcome. Methods and Results: We measured ScO2 of both frontal lobes continuously by NIRS in 50 consecutive analgo-sedated patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI (female 58%, mean age 80.8 years). Compared to baseline ScO2 dropped significantly during RVP (59.3% vs. 53.9%, p < .01). Five minutes after RVP ScO2 values normalized (post RVP 62.6% vs. 53.9% during RVP, p < .01; pre 61.6% vs. post RVP 62.6%, p = .53). Patients with an intraprocedural pathological ScO2 decline of >20% (n = 13) had higher EuroSCORE II (3.42% vs. 5.7%, p = .020) and experienced more often delirium (24% vs. 62%, p = .015) and stroke (0% vs. 23%, p < .01) after TAVI. Multivariable logistic regression revealed higher age and large ScO2 drops as independent risk factors for delirium. Conclusions: During RVP ScO2 significantly declined compared to baseline. A ScO2 decline of >20% is associated with a higher incidence of delirium and stroke and a valid cut-off value to screen for these complications. NIRS measurement during TAVI procedure may be an easy to implement diagnostic tool to detect patients at high risks for cerebrovascular complications and delirium.
Cortical changes in epilepsy patients with focal cortical dysplasia: new insights with T2 mapping
(2020)
Background: In epilepsy patients with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) as the epileptogenic focus, global cortical signal changes are generally not visible on conventional MRI. However, epileptic seizures or antiepileptic medication might affect normal-appearing cerebral cortex and lead to subtle damage. Purpose: To investigate cortical properties outside FCD regions with T2-relaxometry. Study Type: Prospective study. Subjects: Sixteen patients with epilepsy and FCD and 16 age-/sex-matched healthy controls. Field Strength/Sequence: 3T, fast spin-echo T2-mapping, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), and synthetic T1-weighted magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition of gradient-echoes (MP-RAGE) datasets derived from T1-maps. Assessment: Reconstruction of the white matter and cortical surfaces based on MP-RAGE structural images was performed to extract cortical T2 values, excluding lesion areas. Three independent raters confirmed that morphological cortical/juxtacortical changes in the conventional FLAIR datasets outside the FCD areas were definitely absent for all patients. Averaged global cortical T2 values were compared between groups. Furthermore, group comparisons of regional cortical T2 values were performed using a surface-based approach. Tests for correlations with clinical parameters were carried out. Statistical Tests: General linear model analysis, permutation simulations, paired and unpaired t-tests, and Pearson correlations. Results: Cortical T2 values were increased outside FCD regions in patients (83.4 ± 2.1 msec, control group 81.4 ± 2.1 msec, P = 0.01). T2 increases were widespread, affecting mainly frontal, but also parietal and temporal regions of both hemispheres. Significant correlations were not observed (P ≥ 0.55) between cortical T2 values in the patient group and the number of seizures in the last 3 months or the number of anticonvulsive drugs in the medical history. Data Conclusion: Widespread increases in cortical T2 in FCD-associated epilepsy patients were found, suggesting that structural epilepsy in patients with FCD is not only a symptom of a focal cerebral lesion, but also leads to global cortical damage not visible on conventional MRI. Evidence Level: 21. Technical efficacy Stage: 3 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2020;52:1783–1789.
Background and Objectives: Patient blood (more accurately: haemoglobin, Hb) management (PBM) aims to optimize endogenous Hb production and to minimize iatrogenic Hb loss while maintaining patient safety and optimal effectiveness of medical interventions. PBM was adopted as policy for patients by the World Health Organization (WHO), and, all the more, should be applied to healthy donors. Materials and Methods: Observational data from 489 bone marrow (BM) donors were retrospectively analysed, and principles of patient blood management were applied to healthy volunteer BM donations. Results and Conclusion: We managed to render BM aspiration safe for donors, notably completely avoiding the collection of autologous blood units and blood transfusions through iron management, establishment and curation of high-yield aspiration technique, limitation of collection volume to 1·5% of donor body weight and development of volume prediction algorithms for the requested cell dose.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) signaling influences numerous cell biological mechanisms such as differentiation, proliferation, survival, migration, and angiogenesis. Intriguingly, our current knowledge is based solely on the role of S1P with an 18-carbon long-chain base length, S1P d18:1. Depending on the composition of the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the sphingolipid de novo metabolism, the serine palmitoyltransferase, other chain lengths have been described in vivo. While cells are also able to produce S1P d20:1, its abundance and function remains elusive so far. Our experiments are highlighting the role of S1P d20:1 in the mouse central nervous system (CNS) and human glioblastoma. We show here that S1P d20:1 and its precursors are detectable in both healthy mouse CNS-tissue and human glioblastoma. On the functional level, we focused our work on one particular, well-characterized pathway, the induction of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression via the S1P receptor 2 (S1P2). Intriguingly, S1P d20:1 only fairly induces COX-2 expression and can block the S1P d18:1-induced COX-2 expression mediated via S1P2 activation in the human glioblastoma cell line LN229. This data indicates that S1P d20:1 might act as an endogenous modulator of S1P signaling via a partial agonism at the S1P2 receptor. While our findings might stimulate further research on the relevance of long-chain base lengths in sphingolipid signaling, the metabolism of S1P d20:1 has to be considered as an integral part of S1P signaling pathways in vivo.
Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), a histone lysine demethylase with the main specificity for H3K4me2, has been shown to be overexpressed in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) tumor samples. However, its role in RMS biology is not yet well understood. Here, we identified a new role of LSD1 in regulating adhesion of RMS cells. Genetic knockdown of LSD1 profoundly suppressed clonogenic growth in a panel of RMS cell lines, whereas LSD1 proved to be largely dispensable for regulating cell death and short-term survival. Combined RNA and ChIP-sequencing performed to analyze RNA expression and histone methylation at promoter regions revealed a gene set enrichment for adhesion-associated terms upon LSD1 knockdown. Consistently, LSD1 knockdown significantly reduced adhesion to untreated surfaces. Importantly, precoating of the plates with the adhesives collagen I or fibronectin rescued this reduced adhesion of LSD1 knockdown cells back to levels of control cells. Using KEGG pathway analysis, we identified 17 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in LSD1 knockdown cells related to adhesion processes, which were validated by qRT-PCR. Combining RNA and ChIP-sequencing results revealed that, within this set of genes, SPP1, C3AR1, ITGA10 and SERPINE1 also exhibited increased H3K4me2 levels at their promoter regions in LSD1 knockdown compared to control cells. Indeed, LSD1 ChIP experiments confirmed enrichment of LSD1 at their promoter regions, suggesting a direct transcriptional regulation by LSD1. By identifying a new role of LSD1 in the modulation of cell adhesion and clonogenic growth of RMS cells, these findings highlight the importance of LSD1 in RMS.
Childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD) occurs in 3–7% of all pregnancies and about 35% of women after preterm birth (PTB) meet the criteria for acute stress reaction. Known risk factors are trait anxiety and pain intensity, whereas planned delivery mode, medical support, and positive childbirth experience are protective factors. It has not yet been investigated whether the effects of anxiety and delivery mode are mediated by other factors, and whether a PTB-risk alters these relationships. 284 women were investigated antepartum and six weeks postpartum (risk-group with preterm birth (RG-PB) N = 95, risk-group with term birth (RG-TB) N = 99, and control group (CG) N = 90). CB-PTSD symptoms and anxiety were measured using standardized psychological questionnaires. Pain intensity, medical support, and childbirth experience were assessed by single items. Delivery modes were subdivided into planned vs. unplanned delivery modes. Group differences were examined using MANOVA. To examine direct and indirect effects on CB-PTSD symptoms, a multi-sample path analysis was performed. Rates of PTS were highest in the RG-PB = 11.58% (RG-TB = 7.01%, CG = 1.1%). MANOVA revealed higher values of CB-PTSD symptoms and pain intensity in RG-PB compared to RG-TB and CG. Women with planned delivery mode reported a more positive birth experience. Path modeling revealed a good model fit. Explained variance was highest in RG-PB (R2 = 44.7%). Direct enhancing effects of trait anxiety and indirect reducing effects of planned delivery mode on CB-PTSD symptoms were observed in all groups. In both risk groups, CB-PTSD symptoms were indirectly reduced via support by medical staff and positive childbirth experience, while trait anxiety indirectly enhanced CB-PTSD symptoms via pain intensity in the CG. Especially in the RG-PB, a positive birth experience serves as protective factor against CB-PTSD symptoms. Therefore, our data highlights the importance of involving patients in the decision process even under stressful birth conditions and the need for psychological support antepartum, mainly in patients with PTB-risk and anxious traits.
Introduction: Cesarean section (CS) rates are increasing worldwide. One constant indication is the breech presentation at term. By offering external cephalic version (ECV) and vaginal breech delivery CS rates can be further reduced. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the ECV at 38 weeks of gestation with the associate uptake rate, predicting factors, success rate, and complications at a tertiary healthcare provider in Germany specializing in vaginal breech delivery. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study with retrospective data acquisition. All women with a singleton fetus in breech presentation presenting after 34 weeks of gestation for counseling between 2013 and 2017 were included. ECV impact factors were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: A total of 1,598 women presented for breech birth planning. ECV was performed on 353 patients. The overall success rate was 22.4%. A later week of gestation (odds ratio [OR] 1.69), an abundant amniotic fluid index (AFI score) (OR 5.74), fundal (OR 3.78) and anterior (OR 0.39) placental location, and an oblique lie (OR 9.08) were significantly associated with successful ECV in our population. No major complications were observed. The overall vaginal delivery rates could be increased to approximately 14% with ECV. Conclusion: The demand for alternative birth modes other than CS for breech birth is high in the area of Frankfurt, Germany. Our study offers evidence of the safety of ECV at 38 weeks. Centers with expertise in vaginal breech delivery and ECV can reduce CS-rates. To further establish vaginal breech delivery and ECV as alternate options, the required knowledge and skill should be implemented in the revised curricula.
Background: Pathogenesis of portal hypertension is multifactorial and includes pathologic intrahepatic angiogenesis, whereby TIPS insertion is an effective therapy of portal hypertension associated complications. While angiogenin is a potent contributor to angiogenesis in general, little is known about its impact on TIPS function over time. Methods: In a total of 118 samples from 47 patients, angiogenin concentrations were measured in portal and inferior caval vein plasma at TIPS insertion (each blood compartment n = 23) or angiographic intervention after TIPS (each blood compartment n = 36) and its relationship with patient outcome was investigated. Results: Angiogenin levels in the inferior caval vein were significantly higher compared to the portal vein (P = 0.048). Ten to 14 days after TIPS, inferior caval vein angiogenin level correlated inversely with the portal systemic pressure gradient (P<0.001), measured invasively during control angiography. Moreover, patients with TIPS revision during this angiography, showed significantly lower angiogenin level in the inferior caval vein compared to patients without TIPS dysfunction (P = 0.01). Conclusion: In cirrhosis patients with complications of severe portal hypertension, circulating levels of angiogenin are derived from the injured liver. Moreover, angiogenin levels in the inferior caval vein after TIPS may predict TIPS dysfunction.
Introduction: Clinically complex patients often require multiple medications. Polypharmacy is associated with inappropriate prescriptions, which may lead to negative outcomes. Few effective tools are available to help physicians optimise patient medication. This study assesses whether an electronic medication management support system (eMMa) reduces hospitalisation and mortality and improves prescription quality/safety in patients with polypharmacy. Methods and analysis: Planned design: pragmatic, parallel cluster-randomised controlled trial; general practices as randomisation unit; patients as analysis unit. As practice recruitment was poor, we included additional data to our primary endpoint analysis for practices and quarters from October 2017 to March 2021. Since randomisation was performed in waves, final study design corresponds to a stepped-wedge design with open cohort and step-length of one quarter. Scope: general practices, Westphalia-Lippe (Germany), caring for BARMER health fund-covered patients. Population: patients (≥18 years) with polypharmacy (≥5 prescriptions). Sample size: initially, 32 patients from each of 539 practices were required for each study arm (17 200 patients/arm), but only 688 practices were randomised after 2 years of recruitment. Design change ensures that 80% power is nonetheless achieved. Intervention: complex intervention eMMa. Follow-up: at least five quarters/cluster (practice). recruitment: practices recruited/randomised at different times; after follow-up, control group practices may access eMMa. Outcomes: primary endpoint is all-cause mortality and hospitalisation; secondary endpoints are number of potentially inappropriate medications, cause-specific hospitalisation preceded by high-risk prescribing and medication underuse. Statistical analysis: primary and secondary outcomes are measured quarterly at patient level. A generalised linear mixed-effect model and repeated patient measurements are used to consider patient clusters within practices. Time and intervention group are considered fixed factors; variation between practices and patients is fitted as random effects. Intention-to-treat principle is used to analyse primary and key secondary endpoints.
DNA methylation-based prediction of response to immune checkpoint inhibition in metastatic melanoma
(2021)
Background: Therapies based on targeting immune checkpoints have revolutionized the treatment of metastatic melanoma in recent years. Still, biomarkers predicting long-term therapy responses are lacking. Methods: A novel approach of reference-free deconvolution of large-scale DNA methylation data enabled us to develop a machine learning classifier based on CpG sites, specific for latent methylation components (LMC), that allowed for patient allocation to prognostic clusters. DNA methylation data were processed using reference-free analyses (MeDeCom) and reference-based computational tumor deconvolution (MethylCIBERSORT, LUMP). Results: We provide evidence that DNA methylation signatures of tumor tissue from cutaneous metastases are predictive for therapy response to immune checkpoint inhibition in patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that LMC-based segregation of large-scale DNA methylation data is a promising tool for classifier development and treatment response estimation in cancer patients under targeted immunotherapy.
The mammalian target of rapamycin and the integrated stress response are central cellular hubs regulating translation upon stress. The precise proteins and pathway specificity of translation targets of these pathways remained largely unclear. We recently described a new method for quantitative translation proteomics and found that both pathways control translation of the same sets of proteins.
Minimal residual disease (MRD) is the strongest predictor of relapse in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). In BLAST study (NCT01207388), adults with BCP-ALL in remission with MRD after chemotherapy received blinatumomab, a CD19 BiTE® immuno-oncotherapy, 15 µg/m2/day for up to four 6-week cycles (4 weeks continuous infusion, 2 weeks off). Survival was evaluated for 110 patients, including 74 who received HSCT in continuous complete remission. With a median follow-up of 59·8 months, median survival (months) was 36·5 (95% CI: 22.0–not reached [NR]). Median survival was NR (29.5–NR) for complete MRD responders (n = 84) and 14.4 (3.8–32.3) for MRD non-responders (n = 23; p = 0.002); after blinatumomab and HSCT, median survival was NR (25.7–NR) (n = 61) and 16.5 (1.1–NR) (n = 10; p = 0.065), respectively. This final analysis suggests complete MRD response during blinatumomab treatment is curative. Post-hoc analysis of study data suggests while post blinatumomab HSCT may be beneficial in appropriate patients, long-term survival without HSCT is also possible.
Background: Misconceptions about ADHD stigmatize affected people, reduce credibility of providers, and prevent/delay treatment. To challenge misconceptions, we curated findings with strong evidence base. Methods: We reviewed studies with more than 2000 participants or meta-analyses from five or more studies or 2000 or more participants. We excluded meta-analyses that did not assess publication bias, except for meta-analyses of prevalence. For network meta-analyses we required comparison adjusted funnel plots. We excluded treatment studies with waiting-list or treatment as usual controls. From this literature, we extracted evidence-based assertions about the disorder. Results: We generated 208 empirically supported statements about ADHD. The status of the included statements as empirically supported is approved by 80 authors from 27 countries and 6 continents. The contents of the manuscript are endorsed by 366 people who have read this document and agree with its contents. Conclusions: Many findings in ADHD are supported by meta-analysis. These allow for firm statements about the nature, course, outcome causes, and treatments for disorders that are useful for reducing misconceptions and stigma.
Background: Guselkumab is an interleukin (IL)-23 pathway blocker with proven efficacy in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Early intervention with guselkumab may result in changes to the clinical disease course versus later intervention. Methods: and analysis Here we present the rationale and design of a phase 3b, randomised, double-blind, multicentre study (GUIDE), comparing treatment effects of guselkumab in patients with short (≤2 years) or longer (>2 years) duration of plaque-type psoriasis, measured from first appearance of psoriatic plaques. Participants achieving skin clearance (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)=0) by week 20 and maintaining complete clearance at week 28 visit (‘super-responders’ (SRe)) will be randomised to continue approved maintenance dosing every 8 weeks (q8w) versus an investigational maintenance dosing interval of 16 weeks (q16w) until week 68. Primary endpoint: proportion of participants in the q8w vs q16w arms with absolute PASI <3 at week 68. Participants with PASI <3 at week 68 will be withdrawn from guselkumab treatment for up to 48 weeks. Participants not achieving SRe criteria (non-SRe) will remain in the study with q8w guselkumab dosing through week 68. Additional to serum samples obtained from all patients, skin biopsies and whole-blood samples will be taken from SRe and non-SRe participants at various time points in optional substudies. Analyses include: genetics; immunophenotyping (fluorescence-activated cell sorting); gene and protein expression profiling; immunohistology. By merging clinical endpoints with mechanistic findings, this study aims to elucidate how IL-23 blockade with guselkumab can modify the disease course by altering molecular and cellular drivers that cause relapse after treatment withdrawal, particularly among SRe. Ethics and dissemination: Approval obtained from ethics committee Medical Council Hamburg, Germany (PVN5925). GUIDE is compliant with the Declaration of Helsinki. Trial registration number: Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03818035). All primary endpoint results (prespecified analyses) will be submitted to peer-reviewed, international journals within 18 months after primary completion date.
Circulating P2X7 receptor signaling components as diagnostic biomarkers for temporal lobe epilepsy
(2021)
Circulating molecules have potential as biomarkers to support the diagnosis of epilepsy and to assist with differential diagnosis, for example, in conditions resembling epilepsy, such as in psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is an important regulator of inflammation and mounting evidence supports its activation in the brain during epilepsy. Whether the P2X7R or P2X7R-dependent signaling molecules can be used as biomarkers of epilepsy has not been reported. P2X7R levels were analyzed by quantitative ELISA using plasma samples from controls and patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) or PNES. Moreover, blood cell P2X7R expression and P2X7R-dependent cytokine signature was measured following status epilepticus in P2X7R-EGFP reporter, wildtype, and P2X7R-knockout mice. P2X7R plasma levels were higher in TLE patients when compared with controls and patients with PNES. Plasma levels of the broad inflammatory marker protein C-Reactive protein (CRP) were similar between the three groups. Using P2X7R-EGFP reporter mice, we identified monocytes as the main blood cell type expressing P2X7R after experimentally evoked seizures. Finally, cytokine array analysis in P2X7R-deficient mice identified KC/GRO as a potential P2X7R-dependent plasma biomarker following status epilepticus and during epilepsy. Our data suggest that P2X7R signaling components may be a promising subclass of circulating biomarkers to support the diagnosis of epilepsy.
Objective: The NADPH oxidase Nox4 is an important source of H2O2. Nox4-derived H2O2 limits vascular inflammation and promotes smooth muscle differentiation. On this basis, the role of Nox4 for restenosis development was determined in the mouse carotid artery injury model. Methods and results: Genetic deletion of Nox4 by a tamoxifen-activated Cre-Lox-system did not impact on neointima formation in the carotid artery wire injury model. To understand this unexpected finding, time-resolved single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) from injured carotid arteries of control mice and massive-analysis-of-cDNA-ends (MACE)-RNAseq from the neointima harvested by laser capture microdissection of control and Nox4 knockout mice was performed. This revealed that resting smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and fibroblasts exhibit high Nox4 expression, but that the proliferating de-differentiated SMCs, which give rise to the neointima, have low Nox4 expression. In line with this, the first weeks after injury, gene expression was unchanged between the carotid artery neointimas of control and Nox4 knockout mice. Conclusion: Upon vascular injury, Nox4 expression is transiently lost in the cells which comprise the neointima. NADPH oxidase 4 therefore does not interfere with restenosis development after wire-induced vascular injury.
Background: To identify variables predicting outcome in neuroblastoma patients assigned to the high-risk group solely by the presence of MYCN oncogene amplification (MNA). Methods: Clinical characteristics, genomic information, and outcome of 190 patients solely assigned to high-risk neuroblastoma by MNA were analyzed and compared to 205 patients with stage 4 neuroblastoma aged ≥18 months with MNA (control group). Results: Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) at 10 years were 47% (95%-CI 39–54%) and 56% (95%-CI 49–63%), respectively, which was significantly better than EFS and OS of the control group (EFS 25%, 95%-CI 18–31%, p < 0.001; OS 32% 95%-CI 25–39%, p < 0.001). The presence of RAS-/p53-pathway gene alterations was associated with impaired 10-year EFS and OS (19% vs. 55%, and 19% vs. 67%, respectively; both p < 0.001). In time-dependent multivariable analyses, alterations of RAS-/p53-pathway genes and the extent of the best primary tumor resection were the only independent prognostic variables for OS (p < 0.001 and p = 0.011, respectively). Conclusions: Neuroblastoma patients attributed to high risk solely by MYCN amplification have generally a more favorable outcome. Mutations of genes of the RAS and/or p53 pathways and incomplete resection are the main risk factors predicting poor outcome.
Background: Bipolar disorder is associated with circadian disruption and a high risk of suicidal behavior. In a previous exploratory study of patients with bipolar I disorder, we found that a history of suicide attempts was associated with differences between winter and summer levels of solar insolation. The purpose of this study was to confirm this finding using international data from 42% more collection sites and 25% more countries. Methods: Data analyzed were from 71 prior and new collection sites in 40 countries at a wide range of latitudes. The analysis included 4876 patients with bipolar I disorder, 45% more data than previously analyzed. Of the patients, 1496 (30.7%) had a history of suicide attempt. Solar insolation data, the amount of the sun’s electromagnetic energy striking the surface of the earth, was obtained for each onset location (479 locations in 64 countries). Results: This analysis confirmed the results of the exploratory study with the same best model and slightly better statistical significance. There was a significant inverse association between a history of suicide attempts and the ratio of mean winter insolation to mean summer insolation (mean winter insolation/mean summer insolation). This ratio is largest near the equator which has little change in solar insolation over the year, and smallest near the poles where the winter insolation is very small compared to the summer insolation. Other variables in the model associated with an increased risk of suicide attempts were a history of alcohol or substance abuse, female gender, and younger birth cohort. The winter/summer insolation ratio was also replaced with the ratio of minimum mean monthly insolation to the maximum mean monthly insolation to accommodate insolation patterns in the tropics, and nearly identical results were found. All estimated coefficients were significant at p < 0.01. Conclusion: A large change in solar insolation, both between winter and summer and between the minimum and maximum monthly values, may increase the risk of suicide attempts in bipolar I disorder. With frequent circadian rhythm dysfunction and suicidal behavior in bipolar disorder, greater understanding of the optimal roles of daylight and electric lighting in circadian entrainment is needed.
Introduction: The newest intravenous (IV) iron products show an improved safety profile over predecessors, allowing for the rapid administration of relatively high doses. Ferric derisomaltose (FDI; also known as iron isomaltoside), ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), and ferumoxytol (FER), are successful treatments for iron deficiency (Europe; FDI and FCM) and iron deficiency anemia (US; FDI, FCM, and FER). Areas covered: This review focusses on the chemistry and structure of FDI, FCM, and FER, and on three key aspects of IV iron safety: (1) hypersensitivity; (2) hypophosphatemia and sequelae; (3) cardiovascular safety. Expert opinion: Although the safety of modern IV iron has improved, immediate infusion reactions and the development of hypophosphatemia must be appreciated and recognized by those who prescribe and administer IV iron. Immediate infusion reactions can occur with any IV iron and are usually mild; severe reactions – particularly anaphylaxis – are extremely rare. The recognition and appropriate management of infusion reactions is an important consideration to the successful administration of IV iron. Severe, persistent, hypophosphatemia is a specific side effect of FCM. No cardiovascular safety signal has been identified for IV iron. Ongoing trials in heart failure will provide additional long-term efficacy and safety data.
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the longer-term results of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) repair with or without aortic root replacement. Methods: From 1999 to 2017, 142 patients with or without aortic root dilatation who underwent repair of a regurgitant BAV were included in the study. Ninety-four patients underwent isolated BAV repair (Group 1; median age 43 years) and 48 patients underwent valve-sparing aortic root replacement plus BAV repair (aortic valve reimplantation—Group 2; median age 48 years). Median clinical follow-up time was 5.9 years (range 0.5–15) in Group 1 and 3 years (range 0.5–16) in Group 2, respectively. Results: In-hospital mortality was 1% in Group 1, and 2% in Group 2 (p = .6). The 5- and 10-year survival was 93 ± 2.9% and 81 ± 5.8% in Group 1 and 96 ± 3.1% and 96 ± 3.1% in Group 2, respectively (p = .31). Eleven patients of Group 1 (1.7%/patient-year) and five patients of Group 2 (2.2%/patient-year) underwent reoperation of the aortic valve (p = .5). The 5- and 10-year freedom from reoperation were 93.0 ± 2.1% and 77.1 ± 7.1% in Group 1 and 93.0 ± 5.0% and 76.7 ± 9.6% in Group 2 (p = .83), respectively. At the latest follow-up, only two patients of Group 1 and 1 patient of Group 2 had AV regurgitation = 2° (p = .7). The cumulative linearized incidence of all valve-related complications (bleeding, stroke, endocarditis, and reoperation) was 2.9%/patient-year in Group 1% and 4%/patient-year in Group 2, respectively (p = .6). Conclusions: Isolated BAV repair and combined aortic valve reimplantation plus BAV repair provide good clinical longer-term outcomes with relatively low reoperation rate and durable valve function.
Objective: Evaluation of survival of teeth with class III furcation involvement (FI) ≥5 years after active periodontal treatment (APT) and identification of prognostic factors. Methods: All charts of patients who completed APT at the Department of Periodontology of Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany, beginning October 2004 were screened for teeth with class III FI. APT had to be accomplished for ≥5 years. Charts were analysed for data of class III FI teeth at baseline (T0), at accomplishment of APT (T1), and at the last supportive periodontal care (T2). Baseline radiographic bone loss (RBL) and treatment were assessed. Results: One-hundred and sixty patients (age: 54.4 ± 9.8 years; 82 females; 39 active smokers; 9 diabetics, 85 stage III, 75 stage IV, 59 grade B, 101 grade C) presented 265 teeth with class III FI. Ninety-eight teeth (37%) were lost during 110, 78/137 (median, lower/upper quartile) months. Logistic mixed-model regression and mixed Cox proportional hazard model associated adjunctive systemic antibiotics with fewer tooth loss (26% vs. 42%; p = .019/.004) and RBL (p = .014/.024) and mean probing pocket depth (PPD) at T1 (p < .001) with more tooth loss. Conclusions: Subgingival instrumentation with adjunctive systemic antibiotics favours retention of class III furcation-involved teeth. Baseline RBL and PPD at T1 deteriorate long-term prognosis.
Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the long-term efficacy, retention, and tolerability of add-on brivaracetam (BRV) in clinical practice. Methods: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study recruited all patients who initiated BRV between February and November 2016, with observation until February 2021. Results: Long-term data for 262 patients (mean age = 40 years, range = 5–81 years, 129 men) were analyzed, including 227 (87%) diagnosed with focal epilepsy, 19 (7%) with genetic generalized epilepsy, and 16 (6%) with other or unclassified epilepsy syndromes. Only 26 (10%) patients had never received levetiracetam (LEV), whereas 133 (50.8%) were switched from LEV. The length of BRV exposure ranged from 1 day to 5 years, with a median retention time of 1.6 years, resulting in a total BRV exposure time of 6829 months (569 years). The retention rate was 61.1% at 12 months, with a reported efficacy of 33.1% (79/239; 50% responder rate, 23 patients lost-to-follow-up), including 10.9% reported as seizure-free. The retention rate for the entire study period was 50.8%, and at last follow-up, 133 patients were receiving BRV at a mean dose of 222 ± 104 mg (median = 200, range = 25–400), including 52 (39.1%) who exceeded the recommended upper dose of 200 mg. Fewer concomitant antiseizure medications and switching from LEV to BRV correlated with better short-term responses, but no investigated parameters correlated with positive long-term outcomes. BRV was discontinued in 63 (24%) patients due to insufficient efficacy, in 29 (11%) for psychobehavioral adverse events, in 25 (10%) for other adverse events, and in 24 (9%) for other reasons. Significance: BRV showed a clinically useful 50% responder rate of 33% at 12 months and overall retention of >50%, despite 90% of included patients having previous LEV exposure. BRV was well tolerated; however, psychobehavioral adverse events occurred in one out of 10 patients. Although we identified short-term response and retention predictors, we could not identify significant predictors for long-term outcomes. Key Points Long-term postmarketing data for brivaracetam in 262 patients showed an overall retention rate of 50.8%; At 12 months, the 50% responder rate for brivaracetam was 33.1%, with 10.9% reporting seizure freedom; Previous treatment with levetiracetam (90%) did not impact brivaracetam retention or efficacy; Levetiracetam treatment failure should not preclude brivaracetam introduction; No long-term efficacy predictors could be identified.
Musculoskeletal disorders of the trunk and neck are common among cleaners. Vacuum cleaning is a demanding activity. The aim of this study was to present the movement profile of the trunk and neck during habitual vacuuming. The data were collected from 31 subjects (21f./10 m) using a 3D motion analysis system (Xsens). 10 cycles were analysed in vacuuming PVC and carpet floors with 8 vacuum cleaners. The joint angles and velocities were represented statistically descriptive. When vacuuming, the trunk is held in a forwardly inclined position by a flexion in the hip and rotated from this position. In the joint angles and velocities of the spine, the rotation proved to be dominant. A relatively large amount of movement took place in the cervical spine and also in the lumbar spine. The shown movement profile is rather a comfort area of vacuuming which may serve as a reference for ergonomics in vacuuming.
Körpergrößenschätzung und Geschlechtsdiskrimination anhand von metrischen Schädeldachparametern
(2021)
1. Körpergrößenschätzung und Geschlechtsdiskrimination; Messung des maximalen Längs- und Querdurchmessers des Schädels
Knöcherne Schädel sind häufig die einzigen Skelettüberreste, die für forensisch-osteologische Untersuchungen zur Verfügung stehen. Am Schädel lassen sich gute Hinweise für Geschlechtsdiskriminierung, Lebensalter und Herkunft erlangen. Es sollte überprüft werden, ob mithilfe der an der frischen Sägefläche des Hirnschädels gemessenen maximalen Schädellänge und -breite eine Schätzung der Körpergröße oder eine Geschlechtsdiskrimination möglich ist.
In die Untersuchung gingen die Autopsieberichte von 959 Verstorbenen ein, die das 21. Lebensjahr vollendet hatten und in den Jahren 2004 bis 2008 am Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Universität Gießen obduziert worden waren. Um den Einfluss der Herkunft der Individuen auf die untersuchten Maße abzuschätzen, wurde eine getrennte Betrachtung der in Deutschland (n=760) und außerhalb von Deutschland geborenen Individuen (n=199) durchgeführt. Trotz signifikanter Korrelationen der maximalen Schädellänge mit der Körpergröße konnte aufgrund der hohen Standardfehler keine sinnvolle einsetzbare Regressionsformel berechnet werden. Die maximale Schädelbreite zeigte keine nennenswerte Korrelation zur Körperlänge. Bezüglich der Geschlechtsdiskrimination konnte für kaukasoide Individuen folgende Aussage getroffen werden: Schädellängen kleiner 15,5 cm sprechen für weibliche und größer 19 cm für männliche Individuen. Bei der Schädelbreite weisen Werte kleiner 12,5 cm auf eine Frau und größer 15,5 cm auf einen Mann hin.
2. Über die Korrelation von Schädelnahtlängen und Körperhöhe bei Mitteleuropäern
An den Stellen des Schädeldachs, an denen 2 benachbarte Knochenanlagen aneinanderstoßen, bildet das Bindegewebe Knochennähte, Suturae (Sutura sagitalis, Sutura coronalis, Sutura lambdoidea) aus (Schiebler et al. 2002).
Ein vielversprechender Ansatz hinsichtlich der Verwendung der Schädelnähte zur Körperhöhenschätzung wurde von Rao et al. (2009) publiziert. Sie konnten in ihrer Studie an 87 Schädeln südindischer männlicher Individuen eine Korrelation sowohl zwischen Sagittal- als auch Coronarnaht und Körperhöhe nachweisen und für deren Berechnung eine Regressionsformel ableiten. In der vorliegenden prospektiven Studie sollte überprüft werden, ob sich die Ergebnisse von Rao et al. auf eine mitteleuropäische Population übertragen lassen, und ob sich anhand von Sektionsfällen eine Korrelation zwischen Schädelnahtlängen (Sagittal- und Coronarnaht) einerseits und Körperlänge andererseits nachweisen lässt.
Am Gießener Institut für Rechtsmedizin wurden in den Jahren 2009 und 2010 bei 117 Verstorbenen prospektiv die Längen der Sagittal- und Coronarnaht sowie die Körperhöhen gemessenen. Das Alter der Verstorbenen lag zwischen 15 und 96 Jahren (Mittelwert 52,8 Jahre, Median 51 Jahre); 82 Personen waren männlich und 35 weiblich. Die Länge der Sagittalnaht in Bezug auf die Körperhöhe ergab in der Regressionsanalyse einen Korrelationskoeffizienten von lediglich r = 0,045 (p = 0,617). Ähnliche Ergebnisse wurden für die Coronarnaht ermittelt; hierbei betrug der Korrelationskoeffizient r = 0,015. Bei Annahme einer maximal zulässigen Fehlerwahrscheinlichkeit von α = 0,05 erwies sich keine der durchgeführten Regressionsanalysen als statistisch signifikant. Nach den erhobenen Befunden ist weder die Länge der Sagittal- noch die Länge der Coronarnaht geeignet, bei Mitteleuropäern die Körperhöhe zu schätzen.
Die Therapie des critical size defects stellt eine große Herausforderung der Medizin dar. Die Knochendefekte können beispielsweise in Folge von Tumorresektionen, Knochenheilungsstörungen oder nach Frakturen entstehen. Den aktuellen Goldstandard in der Therapie großer Knochendefekte stellt die Transplantation von autologem Knochenmaterial dar. Die Entnahme des Materials aus dem Beckenkamm ist allerdings mit Nachteilen wie der Entnahmemorbididät verbunden. Alternativ können Tissue-Engineering Techniken eingesetzt werden, bei denen Zellen mit regenerativem Potential mit Knochenersatzmaterialien und Wachstumsfaktoren kombiniert werden, um eine Defektheilung zu erzielen. Der Einsatz von bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMC) mit einem osteokonduktiven Gerüst wie b-TCP hat sich als geeignetes Therapiekonzept bewiesen. Einen weiteren Ansatz stellt die Verwendung von autologen Blutkonzentraten wie beispielsweise des platelet rich fibrin (PRF) dar. Das PRF kann innerhalb weniger Minuten aus patienteneigenem Blut mittels Zentrifugation hergestellt und direkt angewandt werden. Durch seine charakteristische dreidimensionale Fibrinmatrix dient das PRF als Reservoir für Wachstums- und Regenerationsfaktoren.
Die Kombination von BMC mit PRF könnte also durch die gesteigerte Konzentration an Zytokinen und Wachstumsfaktoren wie VEGF und TGF-b zu einer Unterstützung der regenerativen Wirkung der BMC führen. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es daher, den Effekt von PRF auf BMC in vitro zu analysieren.
In Anlehnung an das low speed centrifugation concept wurden zwei verschiedene PRF-Matrices hergestellt. Diese wurden entweder mit mittlerer relativer Zentrifugalbeschleunigung (RCF) (208g) oder mit geringer RCF (60g) zentrifugiert. Um eine geeignete Konzentration des PRF zur Kombination mit den BMC zu finden, wurde im Vorfeld eine Dosisfindungskurve erstellt. Zu diesem Zweck wurde der Einfluss ansteigender PRF-Konzentrationen auf die metabolische Aktivität der BMC nach 7 Tagen Inkubation analysiert. Wir konnten einen Trend zu erhöhten Werten bei einer Konzentration von 10% des PRF beobachten. Die metabolische Aktivität der BMC wurde durch höhere PRF-Konzentrationen nicht weiter gesteigert.
Aufgrund dieser Ergebnisse wurde für die nachfolgenden Experimente eine Konzentration von 10% der PRF-Aufbereitungen und der Serum-Kontrolle eingesetzt.
Zur Charakterisierung der beiden PRF-Aufbereitungen wurde der Gehalt an Wachstumsfaktoren im Vergleich zu humanem Serum untersucht. Es zeigten sich signifikant gesteigerte Konzentrationen von Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (sICAM-1) und Transforming Growth Factor-b (TGF-b) in dem PRF. Bezüglich des Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)-Gehaltes ließ sich allerdings kein Unterschied zwischen humanem Serum und den PRF-Matrices darstellen.
Der Effekt des PRF low-RCF und PRF medium-RCF auf die Viabilität der BMC wurde anhand der metabolischen Aktivität nach 2, 7 und 14 Tagen Inkubation untersucht. Als Kontrollgruppe diente hierbei der Zusatz von humanem Serum. Die metabolische Aktivität der BMC zeigte sich an Tag 14 in allen Gruppen signifikant gesteigert.
Außerdem konnten wir zeigen, dass der Zusatz von PRF zu BMC zu einer statistisch signifikant erhöhten Genexpression der Matrix-Metalloproteasen (MMP) -2, -7 und - 9 im Vergleich zur Serum-Kontrollgruppe führt.
In unseren Versuchen konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass die apoptotische Aktivität der BMC durch Kombination mit PRF nicht negativ beeinflusst wird. Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass sich PRF-Matrices als geeignete allogene oder autologe Quelle von Wachstums- und Regenerationsfaktoren nutzen lassen. Sie besitzen damit die Kapazität, Zellen wie die BMC zu stimulieren und zu aktivieren. Unsere Studie zeigt, dass der Zusatz von PRF für BMC-gestützte Therapien förderlich sein könnte. Dies muss jedoch in geeigneten Tiermodellen überprüft werden.
Für eine erfolgreiche Behandlung mit implantatprothetischen Therapiekonzepten ist eine stabile Implantat-Abutment-Verbindung entscheidend. Vor allem die Abutmentschraube als komplikationsanfälligste Komponente dieser Verbindung steht im Mittelpunkt zahlreicher wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen. Implantate und Komponenten aus Zirkoniumdioxid sind schon seit einigen Jahren auf dem Markt erhältlich. Dennoch gibt es keine Studien, die sich mit der Vorspannkraft von Schrauben bei Implantaten und Abutments aus Zirkoniumdioxid beschäftigen. Ebenso wurden bisher noch keine Schrauben mit Feingewinde im Bereich der Implantologie untersucht. Die vorliegende Studie soll den beschriebenen Forschungsbedarf abdecken.
Um zu ermitteln, in wieweit die Schraubengeometrie Einfluss auf die Vorspannkraft bei Implantat-Abutment-Verbindungen aus Zirkoniumdioxid hat, wurden verschiedene Schrauben hergestellt. Mit einem Schraubenkopfwinkel von 90° wurden Schrauben mit Feingewinde (M1,4x0,2) und 2, 4 und 6 Gewindegängen produziert. Zur Variation des Schraubenkopfwinkels wurden Schrauben mit Feingewinde und 4 Gewindegängen sowie einem Schraubenkopfwinkel von 30° und 60° hergestellt. Es wurden Gewindehülsen als Implantat-Analog und Schraubenkopfauflagen aus Zirkoniumdioxid extern hergestellt und eingekauft (Firma Microceram, Meißen, Deutschland).
Um die Vorspannkraft der Verbindung messen zu können, wurden die Prüfkörper in eine zu diesem Zweck entwickelte Messeinheit integriert. Die Messeinheit besteht aus einem Gerüstzylinder, der als Rahmenkonstrukt dient. Im Inneren des Gerüstzylinders befindet sich die Gewindehülse als Implantat-Analog in einem Spannfutter, das in direkter Verbindung mit dem Messsensor steht. In einer Fassung über der Gewindehülse befindet sich die Schraubenkopfauflage als Abutment-Analog. Gewindehülse und Schraubenkopfauflage stehen dabei nicht in direktem Kontakt. Erst durch die Versuchsschrauben kommt diese Verbindung zustande. Die Zugkraft, die beim Anziehen der Schraubenverbindung entsteht, wird vom Sensor registriert. Er leitet daraus die Vorspannkraft der Verbindung ab.
Jede Prüfverbindung wurde mit vier aufeinander folgenden Anzugsdrehmomenten angezogen (15 Ncm, 20 Ncm, 25 Ncm und 30 Ncm). Nach jedem Anzugsvorgang erfolgte die Messung der Vorspannkraft. Die Messwerte sind somit in Abhängigkeit des Anzugsdrehmoments erhoben worden.
Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Gewindegangzahl der Schrauben keinen Einfluss auf die erzielte Vorspannkraft der Verbindung hat. Die gemessenen Vorspannkräfte bei Schrauben mit 2, 4 und 6 Gewindegängen weisen einen nahezu linearen Einfluss des Anzugsdrehmoments auf die Vorspannkraft nach: Je höher das Anzugsdrehmoment, desto höher auch die ermittelte Vorspannkraft.
Der Schraubenkopfwinkel hingegen zeigte einen Einfluss auf die Vorspannkraft. Bei einem sehr steilen Schraubenkopfwinkel von 30° wurden die geringsten Werte für die Vorspannkraft ermittelt, bei einem Schraubenkopfwinkel von 90° die Höchsten.
Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie wurden mit Ergebnissen einer anderen Versuchsgruppe verglichen, die im selben Versuchsaufbau Schrauben mit gleicher Konfiguration, aber Regelgewinde (M1,6x0,35) statt Feingewinde und größerem Schraubendurchmesser untersuchten. Im Vergleich der Ergebnisse ergab sich kein Vorteil im Bezug auf die erzielte Vorspannkraft bei Schrauben mit Feingewinde.
Schrauben mit 2 Gewindegängen lieferten eine ähnliche Vorspannkraft wie Schrauben mit 4 oder 6 Gewindegängen. Dies legt die Möglichkeit nahe, kürzere Schrauben und somit kürzere Implantate zu entwickeln, um aufwendige Augmentationsmaßnahmen bei geringer Restknochenhöhe umgehen zu können. Vorher müssen jedoch weitere Untersuchungen folgen, um die Stabilität von Schrauben mit 2 Gewindegängen zu überprüfen.
Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war die Untersuchung der Kurzzeitdynamik zirkulierender Tumorzellen bei hepatozellulären Karzinompatienten, die erstmalig eine radiologische Intervention in Form einer transarteriellen Chemoembolisation oder einer Mikrowellenablation als Therapie erhielten. Dafür wurde in Vorversuchen eine neuartige Methode zur Isolation und Detektion von zirkulierenden Tumorzellen entwickelt.
Zugleich sollte ein potenzieller Einsatz dieser Methode als Screeningverfahren für hepatozelluläre Karzinompatienten mithilfe der Sensitivität und Spezifität überprüft werden. Darüber hinaus wurde eine mögliche Korrelation der Kurzzeitdynamik zirkulierender Tumorzellen sowohl mit der Kurzzeitdynamik des AFP-Wertes als anerkannten HCC-Tumormarker, als auch des IL-6-Wertes als aktuell diskutierten Tumormarker analysiert. Ferner wurde die Kurzzeitdynamik zirkulierender Tumorzellen mit dem klinischen Verlauf der Patienten verglichen.
Im Zeitraum von September 2017 bis Juni 2018 konnten Blutproben von 18 Patienten mit einem hepatozellulären Karzinom untersucht werden. Davon wurden zehn Patienten mittels Mikrowellenablation und acht Patienten mittels transarterieller Chemoembolisation behandelt. Daneben wurden Blutproben von 13 gesunden Probanden ausgewertet.
Methodisch wurden jeweils im Anschluss an die Gewinnung des Patientenblutes, vor und unmittelbar nach jeweiliger radiologischer Intervention, die zirkulierenden Tumorzellen aus dem Blut isoliert und die gewonnenen Zellen durch die Durchflusszytometrie nachgewiesen und quantifiziert. Als zirkulierende Tumorzellen wurden dabei jene Zellen betrachtet, die eine Negativität auf den Marker CD45 sowie eine Positivität auf die Marker ASGPR-1, CD146, CD274 und CD90 zeigten.
Durch den Vergleich der Proben vor und nach radiologischer Intervention konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Anzahlen zirkulierender Tumorzellen nach der radiologischen Intervention im Mittel niedriger sind als vor der Therapie. Die Anzahl zirkulierender Tumorzellen sank dabei im Schnitt bei den mit Mikrowellenablation behandelten Patienten stärker im Vergleich zu denen, die eine transarterielle Chemoembolisation erhielten. Dies bestätigte den klinischen Verlauf der Patientengruppen, da die Mortalität der Gruppe, die eine transarterielle Chemoembolisation erhielten deutlich höher war als bei den übrigen Patienten.
Als klinisch einsetzbare Screening-Methode im Sinne einer „Liquid Biopsy“ für das HCC müssen die Sensitivität und Spezifität weitergehend optimiert werden. Eine signifikante Korrelation zwischen der Kurzzeitdynamik der Anzahlen zirkulierender Tumorzellen und der Kurzzeitdynamik der AFP-Werte und der IL-6-Werte konnte nicht festgestellt werden. Entgegen des erwarteten Trends, legte die angewendete Methode, durch das Absinken der zirkulierenden Tumorzellen, die positive Wirkung der transarteriellen Chemoembolisation und der Mikrowellenablation in hepatozellulären Karzinompatienten dar.
Purpose: To compare Cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in patients with Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) vs. non-SCC penile cancer, since survival outcomes may differ between histological subtypes. Methods: Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database (2004–2016), penile cancer patients of all stages were identified. Temporal trend analyses, cumulative incidence and Kaplan–Meier plots, multivariable Cox regression and Fine and Gray competing-risks regression analyses tested for CSM differences between non-SCC vs. SCC penile cancer patients. Results: Of 4,120 eligible penile cancer patients, 123 (3%) harbored non-SCC vs. 4,027 (97%) SCC. Of all non-SCC patients, 51 (41%) harbored melanomas, 42 (34%) basal cell carcinomas, 10 (8%) adenocarcinomas, eight (6.5%) skin appendage malignancies, six (5%) epithelial cell neoplasms, two (1.5%) neuroendocrine tumors, two (1.5%) lymphomas, two (1.5%) sarcomas. Stage at presentation differed between non-SCC vs. SCC. In temporal trend analyses, non-SCC diagnoses neither decreased nor increased over time (p > 0.05). After stratification according to localized, locally advanced, and metastatic stage, no CSM differences were observed between non-SCC vs. SCC, with 5-year survival rates of 11 vs 11% (p = 0.9) for localized, 33 vs. 37% (p = 0.4) for locally advanced, and 1-year survival rates of 37 vs. 53% (p = 0.9) for metastatic penile cancer, respectively. After propensity score matching for patient and tumor characteristics and additional multivariable adjustment, no CSM differences between non-SCC vs. SCC were observed. Conclusion: Non-SCC penile cancer is rare. Although exceptions exist, on average, non-SCC penile cancer has comparable CSM as SCC penile cancer patients, after stratification for localized, locally invasive, and metastatic disease.
Purpose: In patients with pyogenic spondylodiscitis, surgery is considered the treatment of choice to conduct proper debridement, stabilise the spine and avoid extended bed rest, which in turn is a risk factor for complications such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Methods: We conducted a retrospective clinical study with analysis of a group of 99 patients who had undergone treatment for pyogenic discitis at our institution between June 2012 and August 2017. Included parameters were age, sex, disease pattern, the presence of deep vein thrombosis, resuscitation, in-hospital mortality, present anticoagulation, preexisting comorbidities, tobacco abuse, body mass index, microbiological germ detection and laboratory results. Results: Among the analysed cohort, 12% of the treated patients for pyogenic spondylodiscitis suffered from a radiologically confirmed pulmonary embolism. Coronary heart disease (p < 0.01), female sex (p < 0.01), anticoagulation at admission (p < 0.01) and non-O blood type (p < 0.001) were associated with development of pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism was significantly associated with resuscitation (p < 0.005) and deep vein thrombosis (p < 0.001). Neurosurgery was not associated with increased risk for pulmonary embolism compared to conservative-treated patients (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Surgery for pyogenic spondylodiscitis was not associated with an elevated risk of pulmonary embolism in our analysis. However, we describe several risk factors for pulmonary embolism in this vulnerable cohort. Prospective studies are necessary to improve prevention and postoperative management in patients with pyogenic spondylodiscitis.
HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 genetic diversity modulates response to lithium in bipolar affective disorders
(2021)
Bipolar affective disorder (BD) is a severe psychiatric illness, for which lithium (Li) is the gold standard for acute and maintenance therapies. The therapeutic response to Li in BD is heterogeneous and reliable biomarkers allowing patients stratification are still needed. A GWAS performed by the International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLiGen) has recently identified genetic markers associated with treatment responses to Li in the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) region. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this association, we have genetically imputed the classical alleles of the HLA region in the European patients of the ConLiGen cohort. We found our best signal for amino-acid variants belonging to the HLA-DRB1*11:01 classical allele, associated with a better response to Li (p < 1 × 10−3; FDR < 0.09 in the recessive model). Alanine or Leucine at position 74 of the HLA-DRB1 heavy chain was associated with a good response while Arginine or Glutamic acid with a poor response. As these variants have been implicated in common inflammatory/autoimmune processes, our findings strongly suggest that HLA-mediated low inflammatory background may contribute to the efficient response to Li in BD patients, while an inflammatory status overriding Li anti-inflammatory properties would favor a weak response.
TRIANNI mice carry an entire set of human immunoglobulin V region gene segments and are a powerful tool to rapidly isolate human monoclonal antibodies. After immunizing these mice with DNA encoding the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and boosting with spike protein, we identified 29 hybridoma antibodies that reacted with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Nine antibodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2 infection at IC50 values in the subnanomolar range. ELISA-binding studies and DNA sequence analyses revealed one cluster of three clonally related neutralizing antibodies that target the receptor-binding domain and compete with the cellular receptor hACE2. A second cluster of six clonally related neutralizing antibodies bind to the N-terminal domain of the spike protein without competing with the binding of hACE2 or cluster 1 antibodies. SARS-CoV-2 mutants selected for resistance to an antibody from one cluster are still neutralized by an antibody from the other cluster. Antibodies from both clusters markedly reduced viral spread in mice transgenic for human ACE2 and protected the animals from SARS-CoV-2-induced weight loss. The two clusters of potent noncompeting SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies provide potential candidates for therapy and prophylaxis of COVID-19. The study further supports transgenic animals with a human immunoglobulin gene repertoire as a powerful platform in pandemic preparedness initiatives.
Background: Cases of immune complex vasculitis have been reported following COVID-19 infections; so far none in association with novel mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination. This case report describes a cutaneous immune complex vasculitis after vaccination with BNT162b2. Case presentation: A 76-year old male with liver cirrhosis developed an immune complex vasculitis 12 days after the second injection of BNT162b2. On physical examination, the patient presented with pruritic purpuric macules on hands and feet, flexor and extensor parts of both legs and thighs and lower abdomen, and bloody diarrhoea. Laboratory testing showed elevated inflammatory markers. After short treatment with oral steroids all clinical manifestations and laboratory findings resolved. Conclusions: An increasing number of clinical manifestations have been attributed to COVID-19 infection and vaccination. This is the first written report of immune complex vasculitis after vaccination with BNT162b2. We present our case report and a discussion in the light of type three hypersensitivity reaction.
Rationale: Both attention deficit-/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are accompanied by deficits in response inhibition. Furthermore, the prevalence of comorbidity of ADHD and AUD is high. However, there is a lack of research on whether the same neuronal subprocesses of inhibition (i.e., interference inhibition, action withholding and action cancellation) exhibit deficits in both psychiatric disorders. Methods: We examined these three neural subprocesses of response inhibition in patient groups and healthy controls: non-medicated individuals with ADHD (ADHD; N = 16), recently detoxified and abstinent individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD; N = 15), and healthy controls (HC; N = 15). A hybrid response inhibition task covering interference inhibition, action withholding, and action cancellation was applied using a 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Results: Individuals with ADHD showed an overall stronger hypoactivation in attention related brain areas compared to AUD or HC during action withholding. Further, this hypoactivation was more accentuated during action cancellation. Individuals with AUD recruited a broader network, including the striatum, compared to HC during action withholding. During action cancellation, however, they showed hypoactivation in motor regions. Additionally, specific neural activation profiles regarding group and subprocess became apparent. Conclusions: Even though deficits in response inhibition are related to both ADHD and AUD, neural activation and recruited networks during response inhibition differ regarding both neuronal subprocesses and examined groups. While a replication of this study is needed in a larger sample, the results suggest that tasks have to be carefully selected when examining neural activation patterns of response inhibition either in research on various psychiatric disorders or transdiagnostic questions.
Introduction: In an emergency department, the majority of pediatric trauma patients present because of minor injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate temporal changes in age-related injury pattern, trauma mechanism, and surgeries in pediatric patients. Methods: This retrospective study included patients < 18 years of age following trauma from 01/2009 to 12/2018 at a level I trauma center. They were divided into two groups: group A (A: 01/2009 to 12/2013) and group B (B: 01/2014 to 12/2018). Injury mechanism, injury pattern, and surgeries were analyzed. As major injuries fractures, dislocations, and organ injuries and as minor injuries contusions and superficial wounds were defined. Results: 23,582 patients were included (58% male, median age 8.2 years). There was a slight increase in patients comparing A (n = 11,557) and B (n = 12,025) with no difference concerning demographic characteristics. Significant more patients (A: 1.9%; B: 2.4%) were admitted to resuscitation room, though the number of multiple injured patients was not significantly different. In A (25.5%), major injuries occurred significantly less frequently than in B (27.0%), minor injuries occurred equally. Extremity fractures were significantly more frequent in B (21.5%) than in A (20.2%), peaking at 8–12 years. Most trauma mechanisms of both groups were constant, with a rising of sport injuries at 8–12 years. Conclusion: Although number of patients increases only slightly over a decade, there was a clear increase in major injuries, particularly extremity fractures, peaking at 8–12 years. At this age also sport accidents significantly increased. At least, admittance to resuscitation room rose but without an increase of multiple injured patients.
Introduction: Improvements in both musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal manifestations are important treatment goals in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Objective: These post hoc analyses determined whether additional benefits related to various PsA domains are observed in patients simultaneously achieving 50% improvement in American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR50) and 100% improvement in Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI100), the primary endpoint of the SPIRIT-H2H study. Methods: Patients with active PsA and psoriasis in SPIRIT-H2H (N = 566) were categorised into two sets of four response groups irrespective of treatment allocation (approved dosages of ixekizumab or adalimumab): patients who simultaneously achieved ACR50 and PASI100 response, achieved ACR50 response only, achieved PASI100 response only, or did not achieve ACR50 or PASI100 response after 24 and 52 weeks of treatment. Patients achieving simultaneous ACR50 and PASI100 response were compared with the other patient response groups at the corresponding time point for efficacy and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes. Results: Patients simultaneously achieving ACR50 and PASI100 responses at week 24 or 52 showed higher rates of ACR70 response, minimal disease activity, Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis ≤ 4, resolution of enthesitis and dactylitis, and HRQoL improvement at weeks 24 and 52, respectively, than the other corresponding response groups at both time points. Conclusion: High levels of disease control, such as those obtained with simultaneous achievement of ACR50 and PASI100 response, were linked to better outcomes across a wide range of endpoints that are important for patients with PsA. Patients meeting this combined endpoint showed more comprehensive and thus greater control of disease activity.
Background: Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, interventions in the upper airways are considered high-risk procedures for otolaryngologists and their colleagues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate limitations in hearing and communication when using a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) system to protect against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and to assess the benefit of a headset. Methods: Acoustic properties of the PAPR system were measured using a head and torso simulator. Audiological tests (tone audiometry, Freiburg speech test, Oldenburg sentence test (OLSA)) were performed in normal-hearing subjects (n = 10) to assess hearing with PAPR. The audiological test setup also included simulation of conditions in which the target speaker used either a PAPR, a filtering face piece (FFP) 3 respirator, or a surgical face mask. Results: Audiological measurements revealed that sound insulation by the PAPR headtop and noise, generated by the blower-assisted respiratory protection system, resulted in significantly deteriorated hearing thresholds (4.0 ± 7.2 dB hearing level (HL) vs. 49.2 ± 11.0
Objectives: To evaluate the predictive value of volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) assessment of the lumbar spine derived from phantomless dual-energy CT (DECT)-based volumetric material decomposition as an indicator for the 2-year occurrence risk of osteoporosis-associated fractures. Methods: L1 of 92 patients (46 men, 46 women; mean age, 64 years, range, 19–103 years) who had undergone third-generation dual-source DECT between 01/2016 and 12/2018 was retrospectively analyzed. For phantomless BMD assessment, dedicated DECT postprocessing software using material decomposition was applied. Digital files of all patients were sighted for 2 years following DECT to obtain the incidence of osteoporotic fractures. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to calculate cut-off values and logistic regression models were used to determine associations of BMD, sex, and age with the occurrence of osteoporotic fractures. Results: A DECT-derived BMD cut-off of 93.70 mg/cm3 yielded 85.45% sensitivity and 89.19% specificity for the prediction to sustain one or more osteoporosis-associated fractures within 2 years after BMD measurement. DECT-derived BMD was significantly associated with the occurrence of new fractures (odds ratio of 0.8710, 95% CI, 0.091–0.9375, p < .001), indicating a protective effect of increased DECT-derived BMD values. Overall AUC was 0.9373 (CI, 0.867–0.977, p < .001) for the differentiation of patients who sustained osteoporosis-associated fractures within 2 years of BMD assessment. Conclusions: Retrospective DECT-based volumetric BMD assessment can accurately predict the 2-year risk to sustain an osteoporosis-associated fracture in at-risk patients without requiring a calibration phantom. Lower DECT-based BMD values are strongly associated with an increased risk to sustain fragility fractures.
Key Points: Dual-energy CT–derived assessment of bone mineral density can identify patients at risk to sustain osteoporosis-associated fractures with a sensitivity of 85.45% and a specificity of 89.19%. The DECT-derived BMD threshold for identification of at-risk patients lies above the American College of Radiology (ACR) QCT guidelines for the identification of osteoporosis (93.70 mg/cm 3 vs 80 mg/cm 3 ).
To explore and describe attitudes and opinions towards suicidality in healthcare professionals (HCPs) working with oncological patients. Methods: A 48-item online questionnaire was developed and distributed to HCPs working with cancer patients. Three hundred fifty-four answered questionnaires were analyzed. Results: The majority of HCPs reported that they were able to understand why a cancer patient would commit suicide (87.8%) or would seek help from an assisted suicide organization (ASO; 83.9%). The understandable reasons were pain and physical impairments (51.4%), social isolation (19.8%), loss of control and autonomy (18.1%), terminal disease (17.2%), loss of meaning (15.3%), desperation (14.7%), and psychic distress (9.3%). Personal experiences with suicidality lead only 44.8% of HCPs to believe that thereby they would be better able to understand a patients’ wish for suicide. Religion was negatively associated with understanding of suicide and why a cancer patient would seek help from an ASO. Knowledge of suicidality was positively associated with why a cancer patient would seek help from an ASO. Conclusions: There is still little knowledge in oncology about the relation of HCPs’ attitudes toward suicidality in their patients and how those attitudes influence their behavior, especially care and treatment of patients. More research on this topic is needed. It stands to reason that more education about suicidality in cancer patients seems likely to improve understanding and attitudes and thereby influence care for cancer patients.
Das Übergangstraining : Maßnahme in der betrieblichen Wiedereingliederung im professionellen Tanz
(2021)
Neben der Vorbeugung von akuten und chronischen Schäden ist im professionellen Bühnentanz bei gesundheitlichen Problemen am Muskel-Skelett-System eine intensive – dem Berufssport vergleichbare – Rehabilitation unter Berücksichtigung tanzspezifischer Bewegungselemente von großer Bedeutung. In Kombination mit anderen, die Leistungsfähigkeit wiederherstellenden Maßnahmen ist das in diesem Beitrag erläuterte sog. Übergangstraining („transition dance class“) als Trainingsform im Rahmen der stufenweisen beruflichen Wiedereingliederung von zentraler Bedeutung, da es die Übergangsphase zwischen allgemeinen Maßnahmen einer Rehabilitation und dem Wiedererreichen der vollständigen Arbeitsfähigkeit im Tanzberuf darstellt.
Für die Funktion und das Überleben von Zellen ist die Aufrechterhaltung und Regulation der Redoxhomöostase durch Produktion und Elimination von radikalen Sauerstoffspezies (ROS) von entscheidender Bedeutung. In Tumorzellen finden sich höhere basale ROS-Level als in gesunden Zellen, was jedoch trotz des vermehrten oxidativen Stresses nicht zur Zelltodinduktion führt, da kompensatorisch antioxidative Mechanismen ebenfalls gesteigert sind. Vor allem zwei antioxidative Systeme sind hauptsächlich bei der Elimination von ROS involviert: das Glutathion (GSH)-System und das Thioredoxin (TRX)-System. Hierbei spielt eine beständige Regeneration von GSH, als auch von TRX, eine wichtige Rolle, da diese bei der Reduktion von Sauerstoffradikalen verbraucht werden. Im hepatozellulären Karzinom (HCC) ist die gestörte Redoxhomöostase mit gesteigerten ROS Leveln ein wichtiger Faktor in der Karzinogenese. Das HCC wird oft erst im fortgeschrittenen, nicht mehr kurativen Stadium diagnostiziert und ist resistent gegenüber nahezu allen Formen von Chemotherapien. Dies verdeutlich die immense Bedeutung der Erforschung der teilweise unverstandenen Tumorgenese, aber auch die Notwendigkeit für die Entwicklung von neuen Therapien.
In der hier dargestellten experimentellen Arbeit gingen wir deshalb der Frage nach, ob die alleinige Inhibierung der antioxidativen Schutzmechanismen durch sog. ROS Modulatoren ausreicht, um eine Zelltodinduktion in humanen HCC-Zelllinien herbeizuführen und damit eine potenzielle neue Therapiestrategie aufzuzeigen.
Wir konnten zeigen, dass die simultane Inhibierung dieser zwei antioxidativen Hauptmechanismen im HCC durch die Kombination von Auranofin (TXR-Inhibitor) mit Buthionine-Sulfoximin (BSO, Glutathion-Inhibitor) und Erastin (indirekter Glutathion-Inhibitor) mit BSO zur ROS-abhängigen Zelltodinduktion im HCC in vitro führt. Interessant ist, dass die gesteigerten ROS-Level jedoch nicht den Zelltod im HCC induzierten, wenn nur eines der beiden antioxidativen Systeme inhibiert wurde. Offenbar ist die Tumorzelle in der Lage durch Hochregulierung anderer antioxidativer Systeme das induzierte ROS zu neutralisieren. Unsere Untersuchungen zum Wirkmechanismus der Zelltodinduktion durch die Kombinationsbehandlungen Auranofin + BSO bzw. Erastin + BSO identifizierten unerwarteterweise eine Caspasen-unabhängige, nicht-apoptotische Zelltodform, die sog Ferroptose, welche durch ROS-Produktion und Lipidperoxidierung charakterisiert ist.
Weitere Experimente konnten untermauern, dass mit der Induktion der Ferroptose durch die selektive ROS-Modulation die Apoptoseresistenz der HCC Zellen umgangen werden kann.
Mechanistisch kann diese erstmals 2012 beschriebene eisenabhängige Zelltodform, Ferroptose, durch zwei verschiedene Signalwege induziert werden: Erstens durch den kanonischen Pfad, bei welchem die Inhibierung der Glutathionperoxidase 4 (GPX4), einem Protein, welches die Zellmembran vor Lipidperoxidation schützt, eine zentrale Rolle spielt, und zweitens durch den nicht-kanonischen Pfad, welcher durch eine Anhäufung von zweiwertigem Eisen u. a. durch Aktivierung von Hämoxygenasen (HO), vermittelt durch den Transkriptionsfaktor Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), gekennzeichnet ist. Wir konnten feststellen, dass in unseren Kombinationsbehandlungen beide Pfade involviert sind und eine Herunterregulierung von GPX4 als auch eine Akkumulation von Nrf2 und Hämoxygenase-1 (HO-1) besteht.
Zusammenfassend konnte unsere Arbeit zeigen, dass mittels pharmakologischer Adressierung zweier antioxidativer Systeme die Therapieresistenz der HCC-Zellen umgangen werden kann, und dass die Induktion der Ferroptose zukünftig eine vielversprechende Therapieoption im HCC darstellen könnte.
Hintergrund: Seit mehr als 50 Jahren werden in Deutschland Herzschrittmacher-Implantationen durchgeführt, mittlerweile mit mehr als 100.000 Implantationen pro Jahr. Obwohl es sich um einen gängigen Eingriff handelt, existieren wenig prospektiv randomisierte Studien zu technischen Aspekten der Implantation, insbesondere dem Wundverschluss am Ende der Operation. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, an einem Kollektiv von Patienten unerwünschte Ereignisse und kosmetische Ergebnisse, in Abhängigkeit des beim Hautverschluss verwendeten Nahtmaterials (resorbierbarer bzw. nicht-resorbierbarer Faden), miteinander zu vergleichen.
Methoden: In einem Zeitraum von Juli 2018 bis April 2019 wurden Patienten mit geplanter de novo Herzschrittmacher-Implantation ohne Defibrillationstherapie prospektiv in die Studie eingeschlossen und anhand einer Randomisierungliste in zwei Probandengruppen eingeteilt: nicht-resorbierbares Nahtmaterial (Gruppe Prolene®) bzw. resorbierbares Nahtmaterial (Gruppe Monocryl®).
Ein Tag (Beobachtungszeitpunkt 1), sechs Wochen (Beobachtungszeitpunkt 2) und ein Jahr post-OP (Beobachtungszeitpunkt 3) erfolgte die Beurteilung der Narbe bezüglich des kosmetischen Ergebnisses und klinisch relevanter, unerwünschter Ereignisse. Zur kosmetischen Beurteilung diente die Wundbreite in mm, eine auftretende Kelloidbildung und die „Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale“ (POSA-Score). Dieser wurde zu Beobachtungszeitpunkt 1 seitens des Patienten auf zwei Fragen (Schmerzhaftigkeit, Juckreiz) reduziert. Die erhobenen klinisch relevanten Parameter waren Nachblutungen, Infektionen, Insuffizienz der Naht und Revisions-OP aufgrund eines Lokalbefundes.
Ergebnisse: Es konnten 114 Patienten in die Studie eingeschlossen werden. Zu Beobachtungszeitpunkt 2 und Beobachtungszeitpunkt 3 belief sich die Anzahl auf jeweils 92 Probanden. Zu allen drei Beobachtungszeitpunkten konnte zwischen beiden Gruppen weder ein signifikanter Unterschied im kosmetischen Ergebnis noch im Auftreten klinisch relevanter Ereignisse festgestellt werden.
Schlussfolgerung: Anhand der vorliegenden Studie scheint das verwendete Nahtmaterial keinen großen Einfluss auf das kosmetische Ergebnis der Narbe, sowie auf das Auftreten von unerwünschten Ereignissen zu haben. Eine multizentrische prospektiv randomisierte Studie mit größerer Patientenanzahl ist notwendig, um die hier erhobenen Daten zu verifizieren.
HINTERGRUND: Asthma ist die häufigste chronische Krankheit bei Kindern und Jugendlichen, wobei bei einem Großteil bereits erste Exazerbationen im Vorschulalter auftreten. Diese sind meist mit stationären Aufenthalten verbunden, jedoch gibt es nur wenige detaillierte zeitliche und demografische Untersuchungen dieser besonders schweren Asthmakohorte. Ebenso gibt es kaum Untersuchungen über die Verteilung der Asthmaphänotypen in dieser Altersgruppe.
METHODEN: Es erfolgte eine retrospektive Analyse von 572 Krankenhausaufenthalten im Universitätsklinikum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin Frankfurt mit der ICD Diagnose Asthma (J.45) zwischen dem 1. Januar 2008 und dem 31. Dezember 2017 bei Kindern im Alter 1-5 Jahren. Die Aufteilung erfolgte in drei Phänotypen. Allergisches Asthma (RAST und/oder Prick-Test positiv), eosinophiles Asthma (Eosinophilie >300/µl und RAST/Prick-Test negativ) und nicht-allergisches Asthma (Eosinophilie ≤300/µl und RAST/Prick-Test negativ). Akut schweres Asthma wurde definiert als akute Dyspnoe, Tachypnoe, Sauerstoffbedarf und/oder systemische Steroidtherapie. Analysiert wurden u.a. Alter, Geschlecht, Liegezeit, Therapie und Re-Hospitalisierungsrate.
ERGEBNISSE: Von 572 Krankenhausaufenthalten mit der Diagnose Asthma erfüllten 205 Patienten die Definition eines akut schweren Asthmas. Von diesen 205 Kindern wurden bereits n=55 (26,8%) vor der stationären Aufnahme mit einem inhalativen Steroid (ICS) behandelt. Die phänotypische Charakterisierung ergab folgende Verteilung: 49% wiesen Allergisches Asthma, 15% Asthma mit atopischer Dermatitis, 10% eosinophiles nicht-allergisches Asthma und 26% nicht-allergisches Asthma. Von diesen Patienten wurden 71.7% mit ICS und 15,1% mit Montelukast als Monotherapie entlassen. Die Rate der Notfallvorstellung (Notfallambulanz und Re-Hospitalisierung) innerhalb von 12 Monaten nach Entlassung war mit n=42 (20,5%) hoch. Die Zahl der Eosinophilen (> 300 µl) hatte keinen Einfluss auf die Re-Hospitalisierung. Es zeigte sich eine hohe Verschreibung von Antibiotika bei Asthma-Patienten (143 (69,8%) der 205 Patienten) während des stationären Aufenthalts, wobei nur 42 Patienten (20,5%) einen CRP-Wert über 2 mg/dl aufwiesen.
Schlussfolgerung: Obwohl die Asthmaprävalenz bei Schulkindern höher ist, leiden Vorschulkinder im Alter von 1-5 Jahren häufiger an schweren Asthma-Exazerbationen mit Hospitalisierung. Trotz protektiver Therapie mit ICS oder Montelukast ist die Re-Hospitalisierungsrate hoch. Die bisherigen Therapiekonzepte reichen in dieser Altersgruppe anscheinend nicht aus, um Patienten mit schwerem Asthma im Vorschulalter ausreichend zu kontrollieren. Neue Therapiekonzepte wie die Triple-Therapie mit Zugabe des Long-Acting Muscarin Rezeptors (Tiotropium) sollten dringend evaluiert werden.
Background: Dual-source dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) offers the potential for opportunistic osteoporosis screening by enabling phantomless bone mineral density (BMD) quantification. This study sought to assess the accuracy and precision of volumetric BMD measurement using dual-source DECT in comparison to quantitative CT (QCT). Methods: A validated spine phantom consisting of three lumbar vertebra equivalents with 50 (L1), 100 (L2), and 200 mg/cm3 (L3) calcium hydroxyapatite (HA) concentrations was scanned employing third-generation dual-source DECT and QCT. While BMD assessment based on QCT required an additional standardised bone density calibration phantom, the DECT technique operated by using a dedicated postprocessing software based on material decomposition without requiring calibration phantoms. Accuracy and precision of both modalities were compared by calculating measurement errors. In addition, correlation and agreement analyses were performed using Pearson correlation, linear regression, and Bland-Altman plots. Results: DECT-derived BMD values differed significantly from those obtained by QCT (p < 0.001) and were found to be closer to true HA concentrations. Relative measurement errors were significantly smaller for DECT in comparison to QCT (L1, 0.94% versus 9.68%; L2, 0.28% versus 5.74%; L3, 0.24% versus 3.67%, respectively). DECT demonstrated better BMD measurement repeatability compared to QCT (coefficient of variance < 4.29% for DECT, < 6.74% for QCT). Both methods correlated well to each other (r = 0.9993; 95% confidence interval 0.9984–0.9997; p < 0.001) and revealed substantial agreement in Bland-Altman plots. Conclusions: Phantomless dual-source DECT-based BMD assessment of lumbar vertebra equivalents using material decomposition showed higher diagnostic accuracy compared to QCT.
We investigated the effects of sexual arousal induced by olfactory stimuli on the expression of neuromodulators, neurotransmitters and sexual steroid receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN, the circadian pacemaker of mammals) and other cerebral entities of Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) compared to manual sleep deprivation and immobilization stress. The hamsters kept under a 12:12 hours (h) light:dark cycle were deprived of sleep by sexual stimulation, gentle manual handling or immobilization stress for 1 h at the beginning of the light phase and subsequently sacrificed at zeitgeber time 01:00, respectively; for comparison, hamsters were manually sleep deprived for 6 or 20 h or sacrificed after completing a full sleep phase. As demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, apart from various alterations after manual sleep deprivation, sexual stimulation caused down-regulation of arginine-vasopressin (AVP), vasointestinal peptide (VIP), serotonin (5-HT), substance P (SP), and met-enkephalin (ME) in the SCN. Somatostatin (SOM) was diminished in the medial periventricular nucleus (MPVN). In contrast, an increase in AVP was observed in the PVN, that of oxytocin (OXY) in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), of tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH) in the infundibular nucleus (IN), and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) in the A7 neuron population of the brain stem (A7), respectively. Testosterone in plasma was increased. The results indicate that sexual arousal extensively influences the neuropeptide systems of the SCN, suggesting an involvement of the SCN in reproductive behavior.
Rodent models of Parkinson’s disease are based on transgenic expression of mutant synuclein, deletion of PD genes, injections of MPTP or rotenone, or seeding of synuclein fibrils. The models show histopathologic features of PD such as Lewi bodies but mostly only subtle in vivo manifestations or systemic toxicity. The models only partly mimic a predominant loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. We therefore generated mice that express the transgenic diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR) specifically in DA neurons by crossing DAT-Cre mice with Rosa26 loxP-STOP-loxP DTR mice. After defining a well-tolerated DTx dose, DAT-DTR and DTR-flfl controls were subjected to non-toxic DTx treatment (5 × 100 pg/g) and subsequent histology and behavioral tests. DAT protein levels were reduced in the midbrain, and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons were reduced in the substantia nigra, whereas the pan-neuronal marker NeuN was not affected. Despite the promising histologic results, there was no difference in motor function tests or open field behavior. These are tests in which double mutant Pink1−/−SNCAA53T Parkinson mice show behavioral abnormalities. Higher doses of DTx were toxic in both groups. The data suggest that DTx treatment in mice with Cre/loxP-driven DAT-DTR expression leads to partial ablation of DA-neurons but without PD-reminiscent behavioral correlates.
Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET) can be successfully repeated but may eventually be dose-limited. Since 177Lu-DOTATATE dose limitation may come from hematological rather than renal function, hematological peripheral blood stem cell backup might be desirable. Here, we report our initial experience of peripheral blood stem-cell collection (PBSC) in patients with treatment-related cytopenia and therefore high risk of bone-marrow failure. Five patients with diffuse bone-marrow infiltration of NET and relevant myelosuppression (≥grade 2) received PBSC before one PRRT cycle with 177Lu-DOTATATE (7.6 ± 0.8 GBq/cycle). Standard stem-cell mobilization with Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was applied, and successful PBSC was defined as a collection of >2 × 106/kg CD34+ cells. In case of initial failure, Plerixafor was administered in addition to G-CSF prior to apheresis. PBSC was successfully performed in all patients with no adverse events. Median cumulative activity was 44.8 GBq (range, 21.3–62.4). Three patients had been previously treated with PRRT, two of which needed the addition of Plerixafor for stem-cell mobilization. Only one of five patients required autologous peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation during the median follow up time of 28 months. PBSC collection seems to be feasible in NET with bone-marrow involvement and might be worth considering as a backup strategy prior to PRRT, in order to overcome dose-limiting bone-marrow toxicity.
Gaining detailed knowledge about sex-related immunoregulation remains a crucial prerequisite for the development of adequate disease models and therapeutic strategies enabling personalized medicine. Here, the key parameter of the production of cytokines mediating disease resolution was investigated. Among these cytokines, STAT3-activating interleukin (IL)-22 is principally associated with recovery from tissue injury. By investigating paradigmatic acetaminophen-induced liver injury, we demonstrated that IL-22 expression is enhanced in female mice. Increased female IL-22 was confirmed at a cellular level using murine splenocytes stimulated by lipopolysaccharide or αCD3/CD28 to model innate or adaptive immunoactivation. Interestingly, testosterone or dihydrotestosterone reduced IL-22 production by female but not by male splenocytes. Mechanistic studies on PMA/PHA-stimulated T-cell-lymphoma EL-4 cells verified the capability of testosterone/dihydrotestosterone to reduce IL-22 production. Moreover, we demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation that testosterone impairs binding of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor to xenobiotic responsive elements within the murine IL-22 promoter. Overall, female mice undergoing acute liver injury and cultured female splenocytes upon inflammatory activation display increased IL-22. This observation is likely related to the immunosuppressive effects of androgens in males. The data presented concur with more pronounced immunological alertness demonstrable in females, which may relate to the sex-specific course of some immunological disorders.
The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Most SARS-CoV-2 infections are mild or even asymptomatic. However, a small fraction of infected individuals develops severe, life-threatening disease, which is caused by an uncontrolled immune response resulting in hyperinflammation. However, the factors predisposing individuals to severe disease remain poorly understood. Here, we show that levels of CD47, which is known to mediate immune escape in cancer and virus-infected cells, are elevated in SARS-CoV-2-infected Caco-2 cells, Calu-3 cells, and air−liquid interface cultures of primary human bronchial epithelial cells. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 infection increases SIRPalpha levels, the binding partner of CD47, on primary human monocytes. Systematic literature searches further indicated that known risk factors such as older age and diabetes are associated with increased CD47 levels. High CD47 levels contribute to vascular disease, vasoconstriction, and hypertension, conditions that may predispose SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals to COVID-19-related complications such as pulmonary hypertension, lung fibrosis, myocardial injury, stroke, and acute kidney injury. Hence, age-related and virus-induced CD47 expression is a candidate mechanism potentially contributing to severe COVID-19, as well as a therapeutic target, which may be addressed by antibodies and small molecules. Further research will be needed to investigate the potential involvement of CD47 and SIRPalpha in COVID-19 pathology. Our data should encourage other research groups to consider the potential relevance of the CD47/ SIRPalpha axis in their COVID-19 research.
Background: To test the effect of urological primary cancers (bladder, kidney, testis, upper tract, penile, urethral) on overall mortality (OM) after secondary prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, patients with urological primary cancers and concomitant secondary PCa (diagnosed 2004-2016) were identified and were matched in 1:4 fashion with primary PCa controls. OM was compared between secondary and primary PCa patients and stratified according to primary urological cancer type, as well as to time interval between primary urological cancer versus secondary PCa diagnoses. Results: We identified 5,987 patients with primary urological and secondary PCa (bladder, n = 3,287; kidney, n = 2,127; testis, n = 391; upper tract, n = 125; penile, n = 47; urethral, n = 10) versus 531,732 primary PCa patients. Except for small proportions of Gleason grade group and age at diagnosis, PCa characteristics between secondary and primary PCa were comparable. Conversely, proportions of secondary PCa patients which received radical prostatectomy were smaller (29.0 vs. 33.5%), while no local treatment rates were higher (34.2 vs. 26.3%). After 1:4 matching, secondary PCa patients exhibited worse OM than primary PCa patients, except for primary testis cancer. Here, no OM differences were recorded. Finally, subgroup analyses showed that the survival disadvantage of secondary PCa patients decreased with longer time interval since primary cancer diagnosis. Conclusions: After detailed matching for PCa characteristics, secondary PCa patients exhibit worse survival, except for testis cancer patients. The survival disadvantage is attenuated, when secondary PCa diagnosis is made after longer time interval, since primary urological cancer diagnosis.
Objective: The term ‘precision medicine’ describes a rational treatment strategy tailored to one person that reverses or modifies the disease pathophysiology. In epilepsy, single case and small cohort reports document nascent precision medicine strategies in specific genetic epilepsies. The aim of this multicentre observational study was to investigate the deeper complexity of precision medicine in epilepsy. Methods: A systematic survey of patients with epilepsy with a molecular genetic diagnosis was conducted in six tertiary epilepsy centres including children and adults. A standardised questionnaire was used for data collection, including genetic findings and impact on clinical and therapeutic management. Results: We included 293 patients with genetic epilepsies, 137 children and 156 adults, 162 females and 131 males. Treatment changes were undertaken because of the genetic findings in 94 patients (32%), including rational precision medicine treatment and/or a treatment change prompted by the genetic diagnosis, but not directly related to known pathophysiological mechanisms. There was a rational precision medicine treatment for 56 patients (19%), and this was tried in 33/56 (59%) and was successful (ie, >50% seizure reduction) in 10/33 (30%) patients. In 73/293 (25%) patients there was a treatment change prompted by the genetic diagnosis, but not directly related to known pathophysiological mechanisms, and this was successful in 24/73 (33%). Significance: Our survey of clinical practice in specialised epilepsy centres shows high variability of clinical outcomes following the identification of a genetic cause for an epilepsy. Meaningful change in the treatment paradigm after genetic testing is not yet possible for many people with epilepsy. This systematic survey provides an overview of the current application of precision medicine in the epilepsies, and suggests the adoption of a more considered approach.
Abstract: Neurophysiological measures of preparation and attention are often atypical in ADHD. Still, replicated findings that these measures predict which patients improve after Neurofeedback (NF), reveal neurophysiological specificity, and reflect ADHD-severity are limited. Methods: We analyzed children’s preparatory (CNV) and attentional (Cue-P3) brain activity and behavioral performance during a cued Continuous Performance Task (CPT) before and after slow cortical potential (SCP)-NF or semi-active control treatment (electromyogram biofeedback). Mixed-effects models were performed with 103 participants at baseline and 77 were assessed for pre-post comparisons focusing on clinical outcome prediction, specific neurophysiological effects of NF, and associations with ADHD-severity. Results: Attentional and preparatory brain activity and performance were non-specifically reduced after treatment. Preparatory activity in the SCP-NF group increased with clinical improvement. Several performance and brain activity measures predicted non-specific treatment outcome. Conclusion: Specific neurophysiological effects after SCP-NF were limited to increased neural preparation associated with improvement on ADHD-subscales, but several performance and neurophysiological measures of attention predicted treatment outcome and reflected symptom severity in ADHD. The results may help to optimize treatment.
1. Zusammenfassung
1.1. Zielsetzung
Die hier beschriebene Studie vergleicht die effektive Linsenposition (ELP), die Vorderkammertiefenveränderung und den korrigierten Fernvisus nach einer Kataraktoperation bei Patienten mit und ohne Pseudoexfoliationssyndrom (PEX-Syndrom). Bei Patienten mit einem koexistierenden PEX-Syndrom wird während der Kataraktoperation eine Zonulaschwächen bedingte Verlagerung und tiefere Positionierung der eingesetzten Intraokular-linse erwartet.
1.2. Design
Prospektiv, randomisiert.
1.3. Methoden
In dieser prospektiven Studie wurden 56 Augen von 56 konsekutiven Patienten mit PEX-Syndrom (n = 28) oder ohne PEX-Syndrom (n = 28) und klinisch signifikanter Katarakt eingeschlossen. Sämtlichen Patienten beider Gruppen wurde mittels Phakoemulsifikation eine einteilige Acryl-Hinterkammer-Intraokularlinse implantiert. Als primäre Zielparameter der Studie dienten die Vorderkammertiefe als Indikator für die postoperative axiale Position der IOL benannt als die effektive Linsenposition sowie der korrigierte Fernvisus.
1.4. Ergebnisse
Vor der Operation betrug die Vorderkammertiefe (VKT) 2,54 ± 0,42 mm in der PEX-Gruppe und 2,53 ± 0,38 mm in der Kontrollgruppe (p = 0,941). Postoperativ betrug die VKT 4,29 ± 0,71 mm in der PEX-Gruppe bzw. 4,33 ± 0,72 mm in der Normalgruppe (p = 0,533). Es gab keinen signifikanten Unterschied in Bezug auf die Veränderungen der VKT zwischen den Gruppen (PEX-Gruppe: 1,75 ± 0,74 mm, Kontrollgruppe: 1,81 ± 0,61 mm, p = 0,806) und dem korrigierten Fernvisus (DCVA) prä- (p = 0,469) sowie postoperativ (PEX-Gruppe: 0,11 ± 0,13 logMAR, Kontrollgruppe: 0,09 ± 0,17 logMAR, p = 0,245).
1.5. Schlussfolgerung
Die Kataraktoperation induzierten Veränderungen waren bei Patienten, die an einem PEX-Syndrom erkrankt waren, die gleichen, die auch bei Patienten ohne PEX-Syndrom zu beobachten waren. Die präoperative und postoperative Vorderkammertiefe, als Indikator für die ELP, zeigte zwischen PEX-Augen und gesunden Augen nach der Kataraktoperation keine signifikanten Unterschiede. Des Weiteren waren keine Unterschiede in Bezug auf den korrigierten Fernvisus zwischen beiden Gruppen zu beobachten. Demnach ist zu erwarten, dass eine Erkrankung am PEX-Syndrom bei einer durch einen erfahrenen Chirurgen durchgeführten Kataraktoperation nicht zu einer Verschlechterung des Visus oder einer tieferen Positionierung der eingesetzten Intraokularlinse führt.
Background: Patients with colorectal carcinoma and high-grade microsatellite instability (MSI-H) or deficiency in mismatch repair (dMMR) exceptionally respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). ICIs are more active in treatment-naïve patients than in patients with refractory MSI-H/dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer and even more active in patients with locally advanced tumors. Material and Methods: A 33-year-old male patient with Lynch syndrome was diagnosed with a locally advanced rectal cancer and refused standard neoadjuvant chemoradiation because of the potential harm of sexual dysfunction. MMR and microsatellite instability status were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and fragment length polymerase chain reaction followed by capillary electrophoresis. Results: After MSI-H/dMMR was confirmed, the patient was treated with ICIs (1 mg/kg ipilimumab at day 1 and 3 mg/kg nivolumab at day 1 and 15). A complete clinical response was documented at day 21 after start of treatment. The patient underwent a total mesorectal excision at day 30. In the extirpated tissue, a complete pathological response was confirmed. Conclusion: In MSI-H/dMMR locally advanced rectal cancer short-course ICI treatment is highly effective and may be discussed in patients with dMMR locally advanced rectal cancer.
Background: To analyze postoperative, in-hospital, complication rates in patients with organ transplantation before radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods: From National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (2000–2015) prostate cancer patients treated with RP were abstracted and stratified according to prior organ transplant versus nontransplant. Multivariable logistic regression models predicted in-hospital complications. Results: Of all eligible 202,419 RP patients, 216 (0.1%) underwent RP after prior organ transplantation. Transplant RP patients exhibited higher proportions of Charlson comorbidity index ≥2 (13.0% vs. 3.0%), obesity (9.3% vs. 5.6%, both p < 0.05), versus to nontransplant RP. Of transplant RP patients, 96 underwent kidney (44.4%), 44 heart (20.4%), 40 liver (18.5%), 30 (13.9%) bone marrow, <11 lung (<5%), and <11 pancreatic (<5%) transplantation before RP. Within transplant RP patients, rates of lymph node dissection ranged from 37.5% (kidney transplant) to 60.0% (bone marrow transplant, p < 0.01) versus 51% in nontransplant patients. Regarding in-hospital complications, transplant patients more frequently exhibited, diabetic (31.5% vs. 11.6%, p < 0.001), major (7.9% vs. 2.9%) cardiac complications (3.2% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.01), and acute kidney failure (5.1% vs. 0.9%, p < 0.001), versus nontransplant RP. In multivariable logistic regression models, transplant RP patients were at higher risk of acute kidney failure (odds ratio [OR]: 4.83), diabetic (OR: 2.81), major (OR: 2.39), intraoperative (OR: 2.38), cardiac (OR: 2.16), transfusion (OR: 1.37), and overall complications (1.36, all p < 0.001). No in-hospital mortalities were recorded in transplant patients after RP. Conclusions: Of all transplants before RP, kidney ranks first. RP patients with prior transplantation have an increased risk of in-hospital complications. The highest risk, relative to nontransplant RP patients appears to acute kidney failure.
The majority of excitatory synapses terminating on cortical neurons are found on dendritic spines. The geometry of spines, in particular the size of the spine head, tightly correlates with the strength of the excitatory synapse formed with the spine. Under conditions of synaptic plasticity, spine geometry may change, reflecting functional adaptations. Since the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been shown to influence synaptic transmission as well as Hebbian and homeostatic forms of synaptic plasticity, we speculated that TNF-deficiency may cause concomitant structural changes at the level of dendritic spines. To address this question, we analyzed spine density and spine head area of Alexa568-filled granule cells in the dentate gyrus of adult C57BL/6J and TNF-deficient (TNF-KO) mice. Tissue sections were double-stained for the actin-modulating and plasticity-related protein synaptopodin (SP), a molecular marker for strong and stable spines. Dendritic segments of TNF-deficient granule cells exhibited ∼20% fewer spines in the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus compared to controls, indicating a reduced afferent innervation. Of note, these segments also had larger spines containing larger SP-clusters. This pattern of changes is strikingly similar to the one seen after denervation-associated spine loss following experimental entorhinal denervation of granule cells: Denervated granule cells increase the SP-content and strength of their remaining spines to homeostatically compensate for those that were lost. Our data suggest a similar compensatory mechanism in TNF-deficient granule cells in response to a reduction in their afferent innervation.
Aim: It can be challenging to distinguish COVID-19 in children from other common infections. We set out to determine the rate at which children consulting a primary care paediatrician with an acute infection are infected with SARS-CoV-2 and to compare distinct findings. Method: In seven out-patient clinics, children aged 0–13 years with any new respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms and presumed infection were invited to be tested for SARS-CoV-2. Factors that were correlated with testing positive were determined. Samples were collected from 25 January 2021 to 01 April 2021. Results: Seven hundred and eighty-three children participated in the study (median age 3 years and 0 months, range 1 month to 12 years and 11 months). Three hundred and fifty-eight were female (45.7%). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 19 (2.4%). The most common symptoms in children with as well as without detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA were rhinitis, fever and cough. Known recent exposure to a case of COVID-19 was significantly correlated with testing positive, but symptoms or clinical findings were not. Conclusion: COVID-19 among the children with symptoms of an acute infection was uncommon, and the clinical presentation did not differ significantly between children with and without evidence of an infection with SARS-CoV-2.
Introduction: Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy for haemophilia presents a challenge to the existing structure of haemophilia centres and requires a rethink of current collaboration and information exchange with the aim of ensuring a system that is fit-for-purpose for advanced therapies to maximise benefits and minimise risks. In Europe, a certification process based on the number of patients and facilities is offered to the haemophilia centres by European Haemophilia Network (EUHANET). Aim and methods: This joint European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders (EAHAD) and European Haemophilia Consortium (EHC) publication describes criteria for centres participating in gene therapy care that require a reassessment of the infrastructure of comprehensive care and provides an outlook on how these criteria can be implemented in the future work of haemophilia centres. Results: The core definition of a haemophilia treatment centre remains, but additional roles could be implemented. A modifiable ‘hub-and-spoke’ model addresses all aspects associated with gene therapy, including preparation and administration of the gene therapy product, determination of coagulation and immunological parameters, joint.
Introduction: Over the last decade, multiple clinical trials demonstrated improved survival after chemotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa). However, real-world data validating this effect within large-scale epidemiological data sets are scarce. We addressed this void. Materials and Methods: Men with de novo mPCa were identified and systemic chemotherapy status was ascertained within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2004–2016). Patients were divided between historical (2004–2013) versus contemporary (2014–2016). Chemotherapy rates were plotted over time. Kaplan–Meier plots and Cox regression models with additional multivariable adjustments addressed overall and cancer-specific mortality. All tests were repeated in propensity-matched analyses. Results: Overall, 19,913 patients had de novo mPCa between 2004 and 2016. Of those, 1838 patients received chemotherapy. Of 1838 chemotherapy-exposed patients, 903 were historical, whereas 905 were contemporary. Chemotherapy rates increased from 5% to 25% over time. Median overall survival was not reached in contemporary patients versus was 24 months in historical patients (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.55, p < 0.001). After propensity score matching and additional multivariable adjustment (age, prostate-specific antigen, GGG, cT-stage, cN-stage, cM-stage, and local treatment) a HR of 0.55 (p < 0.001) was recorded. Analyses were repeated for cancer-specific mortality after adjustment for other cause mortality in competing risks regression models and recorded virtually the same findings before and after propensity score matching (HR: 0.55, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In mPCa patients, chemotherapy rates increased over time. A concomitant increase in survival was also recorded.
Purpose: To evaluate the impact of testing asymptomatic cancer patients, we analyzed all tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) before and during radiotherapy at a tertiary cancer center throughout the second wave of the pandemic in Germany. Methods: Results of all real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for SARS-CoV 2 performed at our radio-oncology department between 13 October 2020 and 11 March 2021 were included. Clinical data and anamnestic information at the time of testing were documented and examined for (i) the presence of COVID-19-related symptoms and (ii) virus-related anamnesis (high-risk [prior positive test or contact to a positive tested person within the last 14 days] or low-risk [inconspicuous anamnesis within the last 14 days]). Results: A total of 1056 SARS-CoV 2 tests in 543 patients were analyzed. Of those, 1015 tests were performed in asymptomatic patients and 41 tests in patients with COVID-19-associated symptoms. Two of 940 (0.2%) tests in asymptomatic patients with low-risk anamnesis and three of 75 (4.0%) tests in asymptomatic patients with high-risk anamnesis showed a positive result. For symptomatic patients, SARS-CoV 2 was detected in three of 36 (8.3%) low-risk and three of five (60.0%) high-risk tests. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the correlation between individual risk factors and positivity rates of SARS-CoV 2 tests in cancer patients. The data demonstrate that clinical and anamnestic assessment is a simple and effective measure to distinctly increase SARS-CoV 2 test efficiency. This might enable cancer centers to adjust test strategies in asymptomatic patients, especially when test resources are scarce.
Interpretation bias and dysfunctional social assumptions are proposed to play a pivotal role in the development and maintenance of social phobia (SP), especially in youth. In this study, we aimed to investigate disorder-specific implicit assumptions of rejection and implicit interpretation bias in youth with severe, chronic SP and healthy controls (CG). Twenty-seven youth with SP in inpatient/day-care treatment (M age = 15.6 years, 74% female) and 24 healthy controls (M age = 15.7 years, 54% female) were included. The Implicit Association Test (IAT) and the Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP) were completed to assess implicit assumptions and interpretation bias related to the processing of social and affective stimuli. No group differences were observed for the IAT controlling for depressive symptoms in the analyses. However, group differences were found regarding interpretation bias (p = .017, η2p = .137). Correlations between implicit scores and explicit questionnaire results were medium to large in the SP group (r =|.28| to |.54|, pall ≤ .05), but lower in the control group (r =|.04| to |.46|, pall ≤ .05). Our results confirm the finding of an interpretation bias in youth SP, especially regarding the implicit processing of faces, whereas implicit dysfunctional social assumptions of being rejected do not seem to be specific for SP. Future research should investigate the causal relationship of assumptions/interpretation bias and SP.
Estimating the age of the developmental stages of the blow fly Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is of forensic relevance for the determination of the minimum post-mortem interval (PMImin). Fly eggs and larvae can be aged using anatomical and morphological characters and their modification during development. However, such methods can only hardly be applied for aging fly pupae. Previous study described age estimation of C. vicina pupae using gene expression, but just when reared at constant temperatures, but fluctuating temperatures represent a more realistic scenario at a crime scene. Therefore, age-dependent gene expression of C. vicina pupae were compared at 3 fluctuating and 3 constant temperatures, the latter representing the mean values of the fluctuating profiles. The chosen marker genes showed uniform expression patterns during metamorphosis of C. vicina pupae bred at different temperature conditions (constant or fluctuating) but the same mean temperature (e.g. constant 10 °C vs. fluctuating 5–15 °C). We present an R-based statistical tool, which enables estimation of the age of the examined pupa based on the analysed gene expression data.
Sprach- und Sprechstörungen kommen bei zahlreichen Kindern vor und werden in der ICD-11 analog zur ICD-10 als Entwicklungsstörungen im Kapitel 6 (Psychische, Verhaltens- und Entwicklungsstörungen) klassifiziert. International sind bislang die ICD-10-Kriterien nicht von allen Professionen, die sich mit Sprach- und Sprechstörungen klinisch oder im Rahmen der Forschung beschäftigen, akzeptiert. Sie werden einerseits als zu wenig differenziert hinsichtlich der unterschiedlichen Sprachkomponenten vonseiten der Linguistik, Sprachtherapie oder Logopädie erlebt. Zum anderen wird die unklare Abgrenzung organisch bedingter Sprach- und Sprechprobleme von der Sprachentwicklungsstörung vonseiten der Medizin teilweise kritisch bewertet. In dem vorliegenden Artikel wird deshalb einerseits die Klassifikation von Sprach- und Sprechproblemen und -störungen in der ICD-11 im Vergleich zur ICD-10 vorgenommen. Wesentlich erscheint hier die in der ICD-11 neu eingeführte Differenzierung in „primäre“ und „sekundäre“ Neuroentwicklungsstörungen. Zum anderen erfolgt aber auch eine Auseinandersetzung mit dem DSM-5 sowie anderen Klassifikationsvorschlägen vonseiten der englischsprachigen Sprachtherapie (CATALISE-2) und der deutschsprachigen Pädaudiologie („phonologische Wahrnehmungsstörung“) sowie der Vorschlag einer Ergänzung der aktuellen ICD-11-Klassifikation hinsichtlich konkreter sprachlicher Einschränkungen bei einem Kind mit Sprachentwicklungsstörung, basierend auf einer ausführlichen Diagnostik. Wir hoffen, mit dem Artikel so den Weg für eine berufsübergreifende Klassifikation von Sprach- und Sprechstörungen nach ICD-11 zu bahnen, damit perspektivisch alle Berufsgruppen, die Diagnostik und Therapie der betroffenen Personen anbieten, eine vergleichbare Terminologie verwenden. Diese vergleichbare Terminologie soll sowohl die klinische Versorgung verbessern als auch die unterschiedlichen Forschungsansätze und -richtungen vergleichbarer machen.
Der Einfluss von Chemotherapie bei malignen pädiatrischen Erkrankungen auf kindliche Impftiter
(2021)
Hintergrund: Chemotherapie hat nicht nur einen Einfluss auf die Krebszellen, sondern auch auf das Immunsystem der Behandelten. In unserer Studie untersuchten wir den Impftiterverlust impfpräventablen Erkrankungen (Masern, Mumps, Röteln und Varizella zoster) bei Kindern und Jugendlichen, welche eine chemotherapeutische Behandlung wegen einer malignen Erkrankung erhielten.
Methoden: Eingeschlossen in die retrospektive Studie wurden Kinder, Jugendliche und junge Erwachsene im Alter bis zum 21. Lebensjahr, welche zwischen 2001 und 2010 an der Kinderklinik für Hämatologie und Onkologie der Universitätsklinik Frankfurt am Main therapiert wurden. Es erfolgte die Analyse von Antikörper-Titer für Masern, Mumps, Röteln und Varizella zoster zum Diagnosezeitpunkt und erneut bis zu 12 Monate nach Therapieende.
Ergebnis: Insgesamt konnten 195 Kinder und Jugendliche in die Studie eingeschlossen werden. 122 Probanden waren männlich, 73 weiblich. Die größte Patientengruppe war an ALL erkrankt (80 Patienten). Die übrigen Patienten verteilten sich auf 15 Patienten mit AML, 18 Patienten mit NHL, 22 Patienten mit Hodgkin Lymphom. 60 Patienten waren an soliden Tumoren erkrankt. Insgesamt haben 27%, 47%, 19% und 17% der Kinder und Jugendlichen ihren Impfschutz gegen Masern, Mumps, Röteln und Varizella zoster verloren. Hierbei zeigte sich eine Altersabhängigkeit. In der Auswertung zeigte sich bei jüngeren Kindern unter 7 Jahren häufiger ein Titerverlust als bei den älteren Kindern und Jugendlichen. Auch an ALL-erkrankte und behandelte Kinder und Jugendliche verloren häufiger ihren Impfschutz als die Patienten mit anderen untersuchten Krebserkrankungen (AML, NHL, M. Hodgkin, solide Tumore).
Fazit: Die Daten unserer retrospektiven Studie zeigen, dass eine signifikante Anzahl von Kindern und Jugendlichen durch eine chemotherapeutischen Behandlung ihre vorbestehenden Impftiter gegen impfpräventable Erkrankungen wie Masern, Mumps, Röteln und Varizella zoster verlieren. Dieser Verlust zeigt sich häufiger bei jüngeren Patienten und ALL-Patienten. Unsere Daten unterstreichen daher, wie wichtig es ist, Kinder und Jugendliche nach Beendigung der Chemotherapie erneut zu impfen, um einen neuen ausreichenden Impfschutz gegen Masern, Mumps, Röteln und Varizella zoster zu erhalten.
The locus coeruleus (LC) contains the majority of central noradrenergic neurons sending wide projections throughout the entire CNS. The LC is considered to be essential for multiple key brain functions including arousal, attention and adaptive stress responses as well as higher cognitive functions and memory. Electrophysiological studies of LC neurons have identified several characteristic functional features such as low-frequency pacemaker activity with broad action potentials, transient high-frequency burst discharges in response to salient stimuli and an apparently homogeneous inhibition of firing by activation of somatodendritic α2 autoreceptors (α2AR). While stress-mediated plasticity of the α2AR response has been described, it is currently unclear whether different LC neurons projecting to distinct axonal targets display differences in α2AR function. Using fluorescent beads-mediated retrograde tracing in adult C57Bl6/N mice, we compared the anatomical distributions and functional in vitro properties of identified LC neurons projecting either to medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus or cerebellum. The functional in vitro analysis of LC neurons confirmed their mostly uniform functional properties regarding action potential generation and pacemaker firing. However, we identified significant differences in tonic and evoked α2AR-mediated responses. While hippocampal-projecting LC neurons were partially inhibited by endogenous levels of norepinephrine and almost completely silenced by application of saturating concentrations of the α2 agonist clonidine, prefrontal-projecting LC neurons were not affected by endogenous levels of norepinephrine and only partially inhibited by saturating concentrations of clonidine. Thus, we identified a limited α2AR control of electrical activity for prefrontal-projecting LC neurons indicative of functional heterogeneity in the LC-noradrenergic system.
The precise understanding of the dopaminergic (DA) system and its pharmacological modifications is crucial for diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as for understanding basic processes, such as motivation and reward. We probed the functional connectivity (FC) of subcortical nuclei related to the DA system according to seed regions defined according to an atlas of subcortical nuclei. We conducted a large pharmaco-fMRI study using a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, where we examined the effect of l -DOPA, a dopamine precursor, and amisulpride, a D2/D3-receptor antagonist on resting-state FC in 45 healthy young adults using a cross-over design. We examined the FC of subcortical nuclei with connection to the reward system and their reaction to opposing pharmacological probing. Amisulpride increased FC from the putamen to the precuneus and from ventral striatum to precentral gyrus. l -DOPA increased FC from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the insula/operculum and between ventral striatum and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and it disrupted ventral striatal and dorsal caudate FC with the medial prefrontal cortex. In an exploratory analysis, we demonstrated that higher self-rated impulsivity goes together with a significant increase in VTA-mid-cingulate gyrus FC during l -DOPA-challenge. Therefore, our DA challenge modulated distinct large-scale subcortical connectivity networks. A dopamine-boost can increase midbrain DA nuclei connectivity to the cortex. The involvement of the VTA-cingulum connectivity in dependence of impulsivity has implications for diagnosis and therapy in disorders like ADHD.
The physiotherapist plays an essential role for people with haemophilia, an inherited bleeding disease responsible for musculoskeletal complications. Yet, with the advent of new and advanced therapies, the medical landscape is changing, and physiotherapy must adapt alongside. This paper considers whether there will still be a need for physiotherapy in the era of advanced therapies, and discusses ways in which services should evolve to complement emerging treatment paradigms for haemostasis in people with haemophilia. Ultimately, physiotherapy will remain an important element of care, even for people with little joint damage and low risks in the era of the new mild phenotype. However, competencies will need to evolve, and physiotherapists in both primary care and specialist treatment centres should work with haematology colleagues to develop more sensitive tools for detecting early joint changes. Physiotherapists will also play a crucial role in counselling and physically coaching, monitoring the musculoskeletal status of people with haemophilia who have transitioned to new treatments.
Unter dem vielseitigen Symptomkomplex der autosomal-rezessiv vererbten Erkrankung Ataxia-teleangiectasia (A-T) nimmt die Lungenschädigung eine herausragende Rolle ein. Sie beeinflusst die Morbidität und Mortalität der Erkrankung durch rezidivierende Infekte, Bronchiektasien sowie akutes oder chronisches Lungenversagen nachhaltig. Als pathophysiologische Grundlage gilt oxidativer Stress mit einer erhöhten Sensitivität für reaktive Sauerstoffspezies (ROS) und DNA-schädigende Reagenzien. Das aus dem gleichnamigen Gen resultierende Protein ATM wird durch das Vorkommen von DNADoppelstrangbrüchen (DSB) und ROS auf verschiedene Arten aktiviert und reguliert anschließend diverse Prozesse wie der DNA-Reparatur und den zellulären Stressantwortmechanismen. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es die Sensitivität von ATM-defizienten Lungenzellen im Hinblick auf oxidativen Stress näher zu untersuchen. Hierfür wurden Atm-defiziente murine Lungenzellen spontan und nach Stimulation mit Bleomycin (BLM) auf ihre prozentuale Verteilung in der Lunge, auf den Level von ROS, ihre Viabilität und ROS-induzierte DNA-Schäden hin untersucht. Spontan zeigte sich ein signifikant erhöhtes Vorkommen von Alveolarepithelzellen vom Typ 2 (AT2-Zellen) in Atm-defizienten Mauslungen im Vergleich zu Wildtyp-Lungen, welches sich durch die Stimulation mit BLM noch verstärkte und auf erhöhte Regenerations- und Reparaturvorgänge in der Lunge hindeutet. Zudem ist der intrazelluläre Level an ROS in den Lungenzellen und AT2-Zellen signifikant erhöht. Mit steigenden Konzentrationen an BLM sank die Zellviabilität pulmonaler Atm-defizienter Zellen deutlich und die Resolution von DNA-Schäden ist im Vergleich zu Wildtyp-Zellen verzögert. Die Ergebnisse der Arbeit deuten auf eine Beteiligung von oxidativem Stress und DNA-Schäden als pathophysiologische Komponente bei der Entstehung der Lungenmanifestation bei A-T hin.
Given the ongoing global SARS-CoV-2-vaccination efforts, clinical awareness needs to be raised regarding the possibility of an increased incidence of SARS-CoV-2-vaccine-related immune-mediated thrombocytopenia in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) secondary to cerebral sinus and vein thrombosis (CVT) requiring (emergency) neurosurgical treatment in the context of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). Only recently, an association of vaccinations and cerebral sinus and vein thrombosis has been described. In a number of cases, neurosurgical treatment is warranted for these patients and special considerations are warranted when addressing the perioperative coagulation. We, herein, describe the past management of patients with VITT and established a literature-guided algorithm for the treatment of patients when addressing the impaired coagulation in these patients. Increasing insights addressing the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2-vaccine-related immune-mediated thrombocytopenia guide physicians in developing an interdisciplinary algorithm taking into account the special considerations of this disease.
Background: Both selective mutism (SM) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) are severe pediatric anxiety disorders with the common trait of behavioral inhibition (BI). The underlying pathophysiology of these disorders remains poorly understood, however converging evidence suggests that alterations in several peripheral molecular pathways might be involved. In a pilot study, we investigated alterations in plasma molecular markers (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 [DPPIV], interleukin-6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor-β [TNF-β] and neuropeptide-Y [NPY]) in children with SM, SAD, and healthy controls, as well as the correlation of these markers to symptom severity. Methods: We included 51 children and adolescents (aged 5–18 years; n = 29 girls): n = 20 children in the SM-, n = 16 in the SAD- and n = 15 in the control-group (CG). Peripheral blood samples were analyzed for DPPIV, IL-6, TNF-β, and NPY concentrations. Diverse psychometric measures were used for BI, anxiety, and mutism symptoms. Results: Lower DPPIV-levels were correlated with more anxiety symptoms. However, we could not find a difference in any molecular marker between the patients with SAD and SM in comparison to the CG. Conclusion: DPPIV is proposed as relevant marker for child and adolescent anxiety. Investigating the pathophysiology of SM and SAD focusing on state and trait variables as anxiety or BI might help better understanding the underlying mechanisms of these disorders. Further studies with especially larger cohorts are needed to validate the current pilot-findings.
Since the survival rates of pediatric patients undergoing cancer treatment or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have increased rapidly in recent decades, the late effects of treatment are now an important focus of patient care. Access to fertility preservation (FP) procedures as well as their financing differs considerably across Europe. However, some countries in Europe have recently changed the legal basis for financing FP procedures; therefore, the implementation of structures is mandatory to give patients access to FP. In this prospective cohort study, we characterized the process for establishing pediatric fertility counseling, including the development of an in-house standard procedure for recommendations regarding FP with potentially gonadotoxic treatment and valuating data from all FP counseling sessions. All data concerning patient characteristics (pubertal status, disease group) and recommendation of FP measures were prospectively collected and adoption of FP measures analyzed. Prior to the establishment of a structured process for FP in our pediatric oncology and stem cell transplantation center, there was no standardized FP counseling. We demonstrate that with the establishment of an inhouse standard procedure, it is possible to give consistent yet individualized FP counseling to approximately 90% of our patients facing gonadotoxic treatment, counseling over 200 patients between 2017 and 2019. This pilot study could potentially be adapted in other pediatric hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplantation centers to allow a more standardized handling of FP counseling for all patients facing gonadotoxic treatment.
Purpose: To investigate short-term (3 months follow-up) changes in visual quality following Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) for Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED). Methods: In this prospective institutional case series, 51 patients that underwent DMEK for FED were included. Assessment included the Quality of Vision (QoV) questionnaire preoperatively, at 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. Secondary outcome measures were anterior segment parameters acquired by Scheimpflug imaging, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and endothelial cell density (ECD). Results: Glare, hazy vision, blurred vision, and daily fluctuation in vision were the symptoms mostly reported preoperatively. All symptoms demonstrated a significant reduction of item scores for severity, frequency, and bothersome in the course after DMEK (P < 0.01). Glare and fluctuation in vision remained to some extent during the follow-up period (median score = 1). Preoperatively, corneal densitometry correlated moderately to weakly with severity of hazy vision (rs = 0.39; P = 0.03) and frequency (rs = 0.26; P = 0.02) as well as severity (rs = 0.27; P = 0.03) of blurry vision. CDVA and central corneal thickness (CCT) did not correlate with visual complains. Conclusions: Following DMEK for FED, patient-reported visual symptoms assessed by the QoV questionnaire represent a useful tool providing valuable information on the impact of DMEK on visual quality that cannot be directly estimated by morphological parameters and visual acuity only.
Background: SAMHD1 mediates resistance to anti-cancer nucleoside analogues, including cytarabine, decitabine, and nelarabine that are commonly used for the treatment of leukaemia, through cleavage of their triphosphorylated forms. Hence, SAMHD1 inhibitors are promising candidates for the sensitisation of leukaemia cells to nucleoside analogue-based therapy. Here, we investigated the effects of the cytosine analogue CNDAC, which has been proposed to be a SAMHD1 inhibitor, in the context of SAMHD1. Methods: CNDAC was tested in 13 acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cell lines, in 26 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cell lines, ten AML sublines adapted to various antileukaemic drugs, 24 single cell-derived clonal AML sublines, and primary leukaemic blasts from 24 AML patients. Moreover, 24 CNDAC-resistant sublines of the AML cell lines HL-60 and PL-21 were established. The SAMHD1 gene was disrupted using CRISPR/Cas9 and SAMHD1 depleted using RNAi, and the viral Vpx protein. Forced DCK expression was achieved by lentiviral transduction. SAMHD1 promoter methylation was determined by PCR after treatment of genomic DNA with the methylation-sensitive HpaII endonuclease. Nucleoside (analogue) triphosphate levels were determined by LC-MS/MS. CNDAC interaction with SAMHD1 was analysed by an enzymatic assay and by crystallisation. Results: Although the cytosine analogue CNDAC was anticipated to inhibit SAMHD1, SAMHD1 mediated intrinsic CNDAC resistance in leukaemia cells. Accordingly, SAMHD1 depletion increased CNDAC triphosphate (CNDAC-TP) levels and CNDAC toxicity. Enzymatic assays and crystallisation studies confirmed CNDAC-TP to be a SAMHD1 substrate. In 24 CNDAC-adapted acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) sublines, resistance was driven by DCK (catalyses initial nucleoside phosphorylation) loss. CNDAC-adapted sublines displayed cross-resistance only to other DCK substrates (e.g. cytarabine, decitabine). Cell lines adapted to drugs not affected by DCK or SAMHD1 remained CNDAC sensitive. In cytarabine-adapted AML cells, increased SAMHD1 and reduced DCK levels contributed to cytarabine and CNDAC resistance. Conclusion: Intrinsic and acquired resistance to CNDAC and related nucleoside analogues are driven by different mechanisms. The lack of cross-resistance between SAMHD1/ DCK substrates and non-substrates provides scope for next-line therapies after treatment failure.
Cancer therapies have experienced significant advances in recent years. While conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy has long been the cornerstone for the treatment of many tumor entities, uprising immunotherapies have revolutionized the therapeutic landscape. Among them, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with their demonstrated increased overall survival rates and response rates in cancer patients are now FDA-approved for metastatic melanoma and multiple other malignancies. Despite their clinical benefit in cancer therapies, ICIs can induce unique autoimmune-like toxicities known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which can involve any organ system including the nervous system. Although neurotoxicities are rare complications of ICI therapy they are often severe and can lead to long-term disability or even death if left untreated.
Neurological irAEs exhibit a broad spectrum of clinical presentations affecting the entire nervous system. Diagnosing neurological irAEs is often challenging as symptoms and laboratory findings can be uncharacteristic for common neurological disorders and clinical experience with ICI-mediated toxicities is still limited. In light of expanding clinical indications for ICIs, physicians will encounter ICI-mediated neurotoxicities more frequently. Thus, thorough characterizations of the diverse set of neurological irAEs are essential for optimal patient care, the prevention of severe ICI-mediated complications, and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms. This work portrays the clinical presentation, management and outcome of neurological irAEs following ICI therapies.
Patients with neurotoxicities related to ICIs who presented at the Yale New Haven Hospital between January 2014 and June 2018 were retrospectively identified from the quality control database. A comprehensive chart review was performed and data regarding patient demographics, medical history, ICI regimen and neurotoxicity were recorded. In total, 18 patients with neurological irAEs following ICI therapy for melanoma, small cell lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and Merkel-cell carcinoma were identified. Neurotoxicities included central nervous system disorders comprising central demyelinating disorder,autoimmune encephalitis predominantly affecting the grey matter, and aseptic meningitis. Peripheral nervous system toxicities included sensorimotor polyneuropathy and myasthenia gravis. Cases of hypophysitis were also recorded. Time to onset of neurological irAEs ranged from 1 to72 weeks with a median of five weeks. In all patients ICIs were held and steroids initiated. Additional immunomodulatory therapies were required in nine patients. Sixteen of 18 patients showed neurological improvement. Fourteen patients had highgrade neurotoxicity (grade 3-4), six of whom deceased due to cancer progression, while none of the low-grade neurotoxicity patients (grade 1-2) died. High-grade neurotoxicity was identified as a negative prognostic marker for overall survival (p = 0.046).
This work shows that neurotoxicities present early-onset, rapidly progressive complications of ICIs with a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes affecting the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and neuroendocrine system. A high index of caution for neurological irAEs is warranted throughout ICI therapy as timely diagnosis and management can reduce morbidity and mortality. Randomized clinical trials are needed to develop standardized diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms of ICI-induced neurotoxicities.
Transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is non-inferior to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in preventing thromboembolic events in atrial fibrillation (AF). Non-vitamin K antagonists (NOACs) have an improved safety profile over VKAs; however, evidence regarding their effect on cardiovascular and neurological outcomes relative to LAAO is limited. Up-to-date randomized trials or propensity-score-matched data comparing LAAO vs. NOACs in high-risk patients with AF were pooled in our study. A total of 2849 AF patients (LAAO: 1368, NOACs: 1481, mean age: 75 ± 7.5 yrs, 63.5% male) were enrolled. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.3 ± 1.7, and the mean HAS-BLED score was 3.4 ± 1.2. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. In the LAAO group, the success rate of device implantation was 98.8%. During a mean follow-up of 2 years, as compared with NOACs, LAAO was associated with a significant reduction of ISTH major bleeding (p = 0.0002). There were no significant differences in terms of ischemic stroke (p = 0.61), ischemic stroke/thromboembolism (p = 0.63), ISTH major and clinically relevant minor bleeding (p = 0.73), cardiovascular death (p = 0.63), and all-cause mortality (p = 0.71). There was a trend toward reduction of combined major cardiovascular and neurological endpoints in the LAAO group (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.64–1.11, p = 0.12). In conclusion, for high-risk AF patients, LAAO is associated with a significant reduction of ISTH major bleeding without increased ischemic events, as compared to “contemporary NOACs”. The present data show the superior role of LAAO over NOACs among high-risk AF patients in terms of reduction of major bleeding; however, more randomized controlled trials are warranted.
Simple Summary: The role of transcriptionally deregulated miRNAs (microRNAs) in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is still not fully understood. To address this issue, we have performed global miRNA expression profiling of commonly used cHL cell lines and we present a complete cHL miRNome (microRNome). Within this group, we identify miRNAs recurrently deregulated in cHL cell lines, and compare them to non-Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines and sorted normal CD77+ germinal centre B-cells. Moreover, we show that several of the recurrently overexpressed miRNAs in cHL cell lines, and also primary microdissected HRS (Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg) cells, target known B-cell-related transcription factors and NF-κB inhibitors. These findings provide evidence that deregulated miRNAs contribute to the loss of B-cell phenotype and NF-κB activation observed in this lymphoma.
Abstract: A hallmark of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is the attenuation of B-cell transcription factors leading to global transcriptional reprogramming. The role of miRNAs (microRNAs) involved in this process is poorly studied. Therefore, we performed global miRNA expression profiling using RNA-seq on commonly used cHL cell lines, non-Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines and sorted normal CD77+ germinal centre B-cells as controls and characterized the cHL miRNome (microRNome). Among the 298 miRNAs expressed in cHL, 56 were significantly overexpressed and 23 downregulated (p < 0.05) compared to the controls. Moreover, we identified five miRNAs (hsa-miR-9-5p, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-196a-5p, hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-155-5p) as especially important in the pathogenesis of this lymphoma. Target genes of the overexpressed miRNAs in cHL were significantly enriched (p < 0.05) in gene ontologies related to transcription factor activity. Therefore, we further focused on selected interactions with the SPI1 and ELF1 transcription factors attenuated in cHL and the NF-ĸB inhibitor TNFAIP3. We confirmed the interactions between hsa-miR-27a-5p:SPI1, hsa-miR-330-3p:ELF-1, hsa-miR-450b-5p:ELF-1 and hsa-miR-23a-3p:TNFAIP3, which suggest that overexpression of these miRNAs contributes to silencing of the respective genes. Moreover, by analyzing microdissected HRS cells, we demonstrated that these miRNAs are also overexpressed in primary tumor cells. Therefore, these miRNAs play a role in silencing the B-cell phenotype in cHL.
Introduction: Cancer patients tend to prefer oral instead of parenteral chemotherapy. To date, there is little evidence on the medication adherence in cancer patients. We investigated medication adherence to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients suffering from non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: Tyrosine kinase inhibitor adherence was measured electronically by MEMS® (medication event monitoring system) over at least six months. Adherence rates were calculated in terms of Dosing Compliance, Timing Compliance, Taking Compliance, and Drug Holidays. Patients were dichotomized as adherent when Dosing Compliance and Timing Compliance were ≥80%, Taking Compliance ranged between 90 and 110%, and <1 Drug Holiday was registered. Quality of life was assessed by two questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 version 3.0, EORTC QLQ-LC13) at three time points. Adverse drug events were reported via patient diaries. Results: Out of 32 patients enrolled, data from 23 patients were evaluable. Median Dosing Compliance, Taking Compliance, and Timing Compliance adherence rates of tyrosine kinase inhibitor intake amounted to 100%, 98%, and 99%, respectively; Drug Holidays were observed in three patients. Four patients were dichotomized as non-adherent. Three of them had a twice-daily tyrosine kinase inhibitor regimen. Median quality of life scores amounted to 67 (max. 100) and remained unchanged over the study period. Fatigue and rash were the most frequently reported adverse drug events. Conclusion: Medication adherence of non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors was extraordinarily high and is likely to support the effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment and a good quality of life over a long period of time. Adherence facilitating information and education is especially relevant for patients taking tyrosine kinase inhibitors in a twice-daily regimen.
Preeclampsia (PE), a gestational hypertensive disease originating from the placenta, is characterized by an imbalance of various cellular processes. The cell cycle regulator p21Cip1/CDKN1A (p21) and its family members p27 and p57 regulate signaling pathways fundamental to placental development. The aim of the present study was to enlighten the individual roles of these cell cycle regulators in placental development and their molecular involvement in the pathogenesis of PE. The expression and localization of p21, phospho-p21 (Thr-145), p27, and p57 was immunohistochemically analyzed in placental tissues from patients with early-onset PE, early-onset PE complicated by the HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count) syndrome as well as late-onset PE compared to their corresponding control tissues from well-matched women undergoing caesarean sections. The gene level was evaluated using real-time quantitative PCR. We demonstrate that the delivery mode strongly influenced placental gene expression, especially for CDKN1A (p21) and CDKN1B (p27), which were significantly upregulated in response to labor. Cell cycle regulators were highly expressed in first trimester placentas and impacted by hypoxic conditions. In support of these observations, p21 protein was abundant in trophoblast organoids and hypoxia reduced its gene expression. Microarray analysis of the trophoblastic BeWo cell line depleted of p21 revealed various interesting candidate genes and signaling pathways for the fusion process. The level of p21 was reduced in fusing cytotrophoblasts in early-onset PE placentas and depletion of p21 led to reduced expression of fusion-related genes such as syncytin-2 and human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), which adversely affected the fusion capability of trophoblastic cells. These data highlight that cell cycle regulators are important for the development of the placenta. Interfering with p21 influences multiple pathways related to the pathogenesis of PE.
Although anti-cancer properties of the natural compound curcumin have been reported, low absorption and rapid metabolisation limit clinical use. The present study investigated whether irradiation with visible light may enhance the inhibitory effects of low-dosed curcumin on prostate cancer cell growth, proliferation, and metastasis in vitro. DU145 and PC3 cells were incubated with low-dosed curcumin (0.1–0.4 µg/mL) and subsequently irradiated with 1.65 J/cm2 visible light for 5 min. Controls remained untreated and/or non-irradiated. Cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, and chemotaxis were evaluated, as was cell cycle regulating protein expression (CDK, Cyclins), and integrins of the α- and β-family. Curcumin or light alone did not cause any significant effects on tumor growth, proliferation, or metastasis. However, curcumin combined with light irradiation significantly suppressed tumor growth, adhesion, and migration. Phosphorylation of CDK1 decreased and expression of the counter-receptors cyclin A and B was diminished. Integrin α and β subtypes were also reduced, compared to controls. Irradiation distinctly enhances the anti-tumor potential of curcumin in vitro and may hold promise in treating prostate cancer.
Sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) lyase (Sgpl1) catalyses the irreversible cleavage of S1P and thereby the last step of sphingolipid degradation. Loss of Sgpl1 in humans and mice leads to accumulation of sphingolipids and multiple organ injuries. Here, we addressed the role of hepatocyte Sgpl1 for regulation of sphingolipid homoeostasis by generating mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of Sgpl1 (Sgpl1HepKO mice). Sgpl1HepKO mice had normal body weight, liver weight, liver structure and liver enzymes both at the age of 8 weeks and 8 months. S1P, sphingosine and ceramides, but not glucosylceramides or sphingomyelin, were elevated by ~1.5–2-fold in liver, and this phenotype did not progress with age. Several ceramides were elevated in plasma, while plasma S1P was normal. Interestingly, S1P and glucosylceramides, but not ceramides, were elevated in bile of Sgpl1HepKO mice. Furthermore, liver cholesterol was elevated, while LDL cholesterol decreased in 8-month-old mice. In agreement, the LDL receptor was upregulated, suggesting enhanced uptake of LDL cholesterol. Expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, liver X receptor and fatty acid synthase was unaltered. These data show that mouse hepatocytes largely compensate the loss of Sgpl1 by secretion of accumulating sphingolipids in a specific manner into blood and bile, so that they can be excreted or degraded elsewhere.
Objective: Dravet syndrome (DS) is a rare but severe drug-resistant epilepsy. Before the approval of fenfluramine (FFA) for the treatment of seizures in DS, patients in Germany could receive treatment under a compassionate use program (CUP). Methods: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, observational study to describe the efficacy, tolerability, and retention of FFA within the CUP. Patients received add-on therapy with oral FFA gradually titrated to a target dose between .13 and .7 mg/kg/day Results: Overall, 78 patients with DS (median age = 8.0 years, range = 2.1–46.0; 53% female, median concomitant antiseizure medications [ASMs] = 3) were treated with FFA for a median duration of 255.5 days (range = 31–572). Responder rates (a ≥50% reduction; n = 78) and seizure-freedom rates at 3 months were 68% and 14% for total seizures, respectively, and 67% and 23% for generalized tonic–clonic seizures. Responder rates were consistent at 6 and 12 months (n = 66 and n = 43, respectively). Median seizure days per month significantly decreased from 10.0 (range = .5–30) to 3.0 (range = 0–30) in the 3-month period before and after FFA treatment (p < .001). Significantly fewer patients reported at least one episode of status epilepticus (28% vs. 14% patients before and after FFA initiation, p = .005). During FFA treatment, 35 (45%) patients were able to discontinue a concomitant ASM. At the last follow-up date, 66 (85%) patients remained on treatment with FFA. The most common adverse events were somnolence (36%), decreased appetite (22%), and ataxia (8%). Forty-eight (62%) patients were reported as having a meaningful global clinical improvement. Significance: In a large cohort of patients, FFA demonstrated efficacy across a range of outcomes including clinically significant reductions in convulsive seizures, and was well tolerated, providing valuable information for real-world practice.
Background: To test the effect of urological primary cancers (bladder, kidney, testis, upper tract, penile, urethral) on overall mortality (OM) after secondary prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, patients with urological primary cancers and concomitant secondary PCa (diagnosed 2004-2016) were identified and were matched in 1:4 fashion with primary PCa controls. OM was compared between secondary and primary PCa patients and stratified according to primary urological cancer type, as well as to time interval between primary urological cancer versus secondary PCa diagnoses. Results: We identified 5,987 patients with primary urological and secondary PCa (bladder, n = 3,287; kidney, n = 2,127; testis, n = 391; upper tract, n = 125; penile, n = 47; urethral, n = 10) versus 531,732 primary PCa patients. Except for small proportions of Gleason grade group and age at diagnosis, PCa characteristics between secondary and primary PCa were comparable. Conversely, proportions of secondary PCa patients which received radical prostatectomy were smaller (29.0 vs. 33.5%), while no local treatment rates were higher (34.2 vs. 26.3%). After 1:4 matching, secondary PCa patients exhibited worse OM than primary PCa patients, except for primary testis cancer. Here, no OM differences were recorded. Finally, subgroup analyses showed that the survival disadvantage of secondary PCa patients decreased with longer time interval since primary cancer diagnosis. Conclusions: After detailed matching for PCa characteristics, secondary PCa patients exhibit worse survival, except for testis cancer patients. The survival disadvantage is attenuated, when secondary PCa diagnosis is made after longer time interval, since primary urological cancer diagnosis.
Im Bereich der Neonatologie kommen die Patient*innen oft multimorbide zu Welt oder sind für bestimmte Komplikationen gefährdet, die sich aus ihrer Unreife ergeben. Dabei spielen sowohl bei reifen kranken Neugeborenen und erst recht bei Frühgeborenen Erkrankungen der Atemwege eine Hauptrolle. Nach wie vor ist das konventionelle Röntgen in diesem Bereich der Medizin ein wichtiges Instrument. Die diagnostische Strahlenexposition bietet jedoch immer wieder Raum zur Diskussion. Die Patient*innen sind nur wenige Tage alt und besitzen somit über eine hohe Proliferationsrate und ein Maß an undifferenzierten Zellen, sie erhalten in Summe teilweise viele Aufnahmen und haben auf der anderen Seite eine hohe Lebenserwartung, wenn sie die Neugeborenenzeit ohne Komplikationen überleben. Haupteffekte ionisierender Strahlen sind für die Früh- und kranken Neugeborenen Malignome, vor allem die Leukämien. Es soll herausgefunden werden, inwieweit die Strahlenbelastung ein gesundheitliches Risiko für die Früh- und Neugeborenen darstellt.
Hintergrund: Gegenstand der wissenschaftlichen und klinischen Diskussion ist immer wieder das eventuell bestehende Risiko der einfallenden ionisierenden Röntgenstrahlung auf das Früh- oder Neugeborene, dennoch ist das Röntgen als diagnostisches Mittel notwendig. Es soll untersucht werden, wie hoch das gesundheitliche Risiko durch diagnostische Röntgenaufnahmen in der Praxis für die Früh- und Neugeborenen ist.
Material und Methoden: Alle Patient*innen des Schwerpunktes Neonatologie in der Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin aus dem Zeitraum vom 01.01.2013 bis 31.12.2018 im Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt wurden retrospektiv untersucht. Es wurden die Anzahl der Röntgenaufnahmen pro Patient*in, die zugrunde liegende Indikation, das Dosisflächenprodukt (DFP), die Effektive Dosis (ED) und das geschätzte Risiko dokumentiert, bzw. errechnet. Die ED ist eine Schätzgröße, welche mittels Konversionskoeffizienten aus den Eingangsgrößen des DFP, der Eintrittsdosis oder dem Air Kerma (Kai) berechnet wird. Im ICRP Bericht Nr. 60 finden sich Faktoren zur Risikoabschätzung von 2,8 bis 13*10-2 Sv-1. Diese Risikoeinschätzung nähert das durch Strahlung induzierte Risiko für Krebs in der ersten Lebensdekade an – vor allem für Leukämien, aber auch andere Krebsarten.
Ergebnisse: Von den insgesamt 3843 stationär in der Neonatologie behandelten Patient*innen (2013-2018) erhielten 1307 (34%) mindestens eine Röntgenaufnahme. Pro Jahr wurden in einer Abteilung für Neonatologie ca. 700 Röntgenaufnahmen angefertigt. Die mittlere Anzahl an Röntgenaufnahmen pro Patient*in betrug 3,19 Aufnahmen und korrelierte gegensinnig mit Geburtsgewicht und Gestationsalter. Am häufigsten wurden sehr kleine Frühgeborene untersucht, meistens in den ersten drei Lebenstagen. Im Laufe des Beobachtungszeitraums wurden weniger Röntgenaufnahmen angefertigt. Die häufigsten Gründe für Röntgenaufnahmen waren Kontrollen von Tubus oder ZVK-Lage. Je reifer und schwerer die Neugeborenen waren, desto seltener wurde ein pathologischer Befund erhoben. Bei niedrigem Geburtsgewicht war die Thoraxabdomenaufnahme die bevorzugte Röntgenart, bei reiferen Patient*innen die Thoraxaufnahme. Das kumulative DFP betrug im Mittel 5,95 mGy*cm² und die kumulative ED betrug im Mittel 23,7 µSv pro Aufenthalt. Damit errechnete sich ein Risiko von 3,1*10-6, das bedeutet 3,1 von 1.000.000 Patient*innen entwickeln nach dieser kumulativen Strahlendosis in der ersten Lebensdekade womöglich Krebs. Das kumulative DFP und die ED pro Aufenthalt und somit auch das Risiko, nach einer gewissen Strahlenexposition Krebs zu entwickeln, sinken mit zunehmendem Geburtsgewicht und zeigen einen Höhepunkt bei einem Geburtsgewicht von <500 g. Die maximale kumulative Strahlendosis betrug 342 µSv mit einem daraus resultierenden Risiko von 44*10-6 und ist damit selbst bei diesem Patienten nach Martin et al. als „minimal“ zu werten.
Schlussfolgerung: Die Strahlenbelastung der Früh- und Neugeborenen konnte evaluiert werden und der Zusammenhang zwischen Unreife und Strahlenbelastung konnte bestätigt werden. Die Strahlenbelastung fiel im internationalen Vergleich minimal aus und es ist nicht von einem gesundheitlichen Risiko durch diagnostische Bildgebung auszugehen. Dies lässt sich vor allem durch moderne Technik mit kurzer Belichtungszeit und hoher Aufnahmespannungen und durch die relativ niedrige Anzahl an gemachten Röntgenbildern erklären. Da bei weiterer Minimierung der eingesetzten Dosis von einem Qualitätsverlust der Bilder auszugehen ist, ist die Einsparung von Röntgenuntersuchungen und die vermehrte Nutzung von Alternativen anzuraten. Die Indikationen müssen vor allem bei Patient*innen <500 g genauestens überprüft werden. Weiterhin sollte nach Alternativen (Sonographie, Kernspintomographie) gesucht werden.
Increased intraindividual variability of reaction time is a main cognitive feature of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is associated with deficits in sustained attention. While traditionally, mean and variance were used to characterize reaction time distributions, the ex-gaussian distributional model allows a more sophisticated analysis of reaction time series. Reaction time distributions are separated in a normal and an exponential component.
The present study investigates the impact of incentives on reaction time variability in a sample of adult ADHD patients. ADHD is associated with increased Tau, the output parameter of the ex-gaussian model characterizing the exponential part of the distribution. Tau is linked to “lapses of attention”, which are more frequent in ADHD patients. It is known that tau can be modulated in ADHD Patients. It was therefore postulated that tau would be higher in ADHD Patients in a paradigm where quick answers were required but could be modulated by monetary incentives. In addition, the effect of “delay discounting”, which is more distinct in ADHD patients, on reaction time variability was investigated. Eventually, the association of variability measures with strength of ADHD symptoms was tested.
To this end, reaction time distributions of 62 adult ADHD patients and 45 healthy controls from two different reaction time paradigms were analyzed. The monetary incentive delay task, by comprehending a control – and a win condition, allows an investigation of the effect of incentives on reaction times. Subjects had to react as fast as possible by keypress to a stimulus, after a cue signaled a possible monetary reward. During the Delay-Discounting-Task, subjects had to choose between sooner, but smaller, and higher delayed monetary rewards, during which they could use as much time for consideration as desired.
Results show that an increased Tau in the control condition of the monetary- incentive-delay-task could be replicated, while a distinct influence of the win condition emerged. Subjects with ADHD showed an improvement of Tau in the win condition even below the level of healthy controls. However, they showed increased variability of the “regular” responses around the mean of the normal component of the distribution, represented by sigma. Moreover, it was indicated by trend a higher reaction time variability in ADHD patients during choices of delayed rewards. Tau was associated the current symptom strength as well as with the strength of ADHD-Symptoms during childhood, assessed by questionnaire.
While the present results could have implications for etiological models of the disease, they may also contribute to the development of novel diagnostic methods. In advanced studies, neural correlates of sophisticated measures of reaction time variability should be investigated. Furthermore, they should be associated with genetic risk factors with regard to possible endophenotypes. Possible implications for clinical handling of patients should be explored.
Hintergrund: Die Verankerung der Kompetenzorientierung und die Betonung der praktisch-klinischen Ausbildung im Rahmen des Medizinstudiums sind zentrale Punkte in den Neuerungen der Ärztlichen Approbationsordnung. Mit der Entwicklung des Nationalen Kompetenzbasierten Lernzielkatalogs Medizin (NKLM) ist ein Rahmenwerk erstellt und verabschiedet worden, das die Inhalte des gesamten Medizinstudiums in Deutschland abbilden und eine Implementierung kompetenzorientierter Lernziele an den Fakultäten forcieren soll. Um diesem Ziel gerecht zu werden, müssen bereits an den Fakultäten vorhandene Lehrveranstaltungen mit dem NKLM abgeglichen und im Rahmen eines Curriculum Mappings kartiert werden. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist daher die Kartierung der im Frankfurter Blockpraktikum Chirurgie erlernten Kompetenzen im Sinne eines Curriculum Mappings in Anlehnung an die im NKLM formulierten Lernziele. Zudem wurde folgenden Fragestellungen nachgegangen: Welcher Umfang kompetenzorientierter Lernziele kann Studierenden in einem zweiwöchigen Praktikum Chirurgie vermittelt werden? Wie ist die Vermittlung der einzelnen Kapitel des NKLM im Blockpraktikum Chirurgie gewichtet? Gibt es Unterschiede der erreichten Lernziele in Abhängigkeit des Geschlechts der Studierenden, der besuchten Fachrichtung bzw. des besuchten Lehrkrankenhauses?
Material und Methoden: Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden Medizinstudierende im zweiten bzw. dritten klinischen Semester unmittelbar nach Abschluss ihres Blockpraktikums Chirurgie gebeten, unter Nutzung eines Online-Fragebogens anzugeben, welche der im NKLM formulierten Lernziele sie im zweiwöchigen Blockpraktikum Chirurgie gelernt haben. Somit konnte für jedes Kapitel dargestellt werden, zu welchem prozentualen Anteil die Lernziele dieses Kapitels erreicht worden sind. Zudem wurden die soziodemographischen Daten der Studierenden, die Fachrichtung des Blockpraktikums und das Lehrkrankenhaus erfasst. Die statistische Auswertung erfolgte mit dem Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney Test und dem Kruskal-Wallis Test.
Ergebnisse: Insgesamt nahmen 81 Studierenden (28 Männer, 53 Frauen) aus dem 2. bzw 3. klinischen Semester an der Studie teil. Insgesamt wurden im zweiwöchigen Blockpraktikum Chirurgie 8,78 ± 5,10% (Min. 1,01%; Max. 29,84%) aller Lernziele von den Studierenden erreicht. Hierbei wurden anteilig die meisten Lernziele in den Kapiteln 5-11 (Abschnitt 1 „Ärztliche Rollen“) mit 29,92 ± 15,22% (Min. 0,00%; Max. 63,10%) vermittelt. Aus Abschnitt 2 („Medizinisches Wissen, klinische Fähigkeiten und professionelle Haltungen“) wurden vor allem die Lernziele der Kapitel 14b „Klinisch-praktische Fertigkeiten“ (15,49 ± 7,78% (Min. 0,00%; Max. 41,30%) und 14c „Ärztliche Gesprächsführung“ (22,98 ± 16,47% (Min. 0,00%; Max. 70,69%) von den Studierenden erreicht. Männer geben durchschnittlich an, mehr Lernziele erreicht zu haben als Frauen (9,84% vs. 8,22%; p=0.104731). Weiterhin haben Studierende, die ihr Praktikum in einem Lehrkrankenhaus mit weniger als 100 chirurgischen Bettenplätzen (10,60 ± 6,75%; Min. 2,33%; Max. 29,84%) oder in einer Rotation (9,95 ± 6,67%; Min. 1,90%; Max. 29,84%) durch mehrere Fachrichtungen absolvierten, angegeben mehr Lernziele erreicht zu haben als andere Studierende insgesamt.
Schlussfolgerung: Das zweiwöchige Blockpraktikum Chirurgie in Frankfurt kann den Studierenden (im Hinblick auf die Gesamtdauer des Medizinstudiums) einen großen Anteil der im NKLM formulierten Lernziele vermitteln. Vor allem die Lernziele der „Ärztlichen Rollen“ und der „klinisch-praktischen Fertigkeiten“ werden erlernt. Die Vermittlung gelingt besonders umfangreich in kleineren Lehrkrankenhäusern. Trotzdem bietet das Blockpraktikum Chirurgie den Teilnehmer nur einen kleinen Einblick in den Fachbereich Chirurgie. Für die Vermittlung von spezifischen chirurgischen Fähigkeiten, Prinzipen chirurgischer Diagnostik und Therapie, sowie Aspekte der „Patientenzentrierten Gesundheitsversorgung“ sind andere Formate notwendig.
Locomotor activity patterns of laboratory mice are widely used to analyze circadian mechanisms, but most investigations have been performed under standardized laboratory conditions. Outdoors, animals are exposed to daily changes in photoperiod and other abiotic cues that might influence their circadian system. To investigate how the locomotor activity patterns under outdoor conditions compare to controlled laboratory conditions, we placed 2 laboratory mouse strains (melatonin-deficient C57Bl and melatonin-proficient C3H) in the garden of the Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie in Frankfurt am Main. The mice were kept singly in cages equipped with an infrared locomotion detector, a hiding box, nesting material, and with food and water ad libitum. The locomotor activity of each mouse was recorded for 1 year, together with data on ambient
temperature, light, and humidity. Chronotype, chronotype stability, total daily activity, duration of the activity period, and daily diurnality indices were determined from the actograms. C3H mice showed clear seasonal differences in the chronotype, its stability, the total daily activity, and the duration of the activity period. These pronounced seasonal differences were not observed in the C57Bl. In both strains, the onset of the main activity period was mainly determinedby the evening dusk, whereas the offset was influenced by the ambient temperature. The actograms did not reveal infra-, ultradian, or lunar rhythms or a weekday/weekend pattern. Under outdoor conditions, the 2 strains retained their nocturnal locomotor identity as observed in the laboratory. Our results indicate that the chronotype displays a seasonal plasticity that may depend on the melatoninergic system. Photoperiod and ambient temperature are the most potent abiotic entraining cues. The timing of the evening dusk mainly affects the onset of the activity period; the ambient temperature during this period influences the latter’s duration. Humidity, overall light intensities, and human activities do not affect the locomotor behavior.
Durch die sich verändernde Altersstruktur nehmen die Inzidenz und Prävalenz von Herzklappenerkrankungen wie der Mitralinsuffizienz weltweit zu, verbunden mit einem Verlust an Lebensqualität und Lebensjahren für den individuellen Patienten und hohen Kosten für das Gesundheitssystem. Die Standardtherapie, eine chirurgische Rekonstruktion oder ein Ersatz der Mitralklappe kommt aufgrund von Alter und Begleiterkrankungen (insbesondere der Herzinsuffizienz) bei bis zu 50% der Patienten nicht in Frage. Die MitraClip- Prozedur ist ein etabliertes Verfahren zur minimalinvasiven Therapie der hochgradigen Mitralklappeninsuffizienz bei Patienten mit hohem Operationsrisiko. In einigen, jedoch nicht allen Patientenkohorten konnte ein positiver Einfluss auf Rehospitalisierungen und Sterblichkeit gezeigt werden. Insbesondere Patienten mit Rechtsherzdysfunktion (RVD) scheinen weniger zu profitieren. Aufgrund des individuellen Risikos des Eingriffs und der erheblichen Kosten ist es notwendig, Patienten zu identifizieren die von dem Eingriff profitieren und solche bei denen ein ungünstiges Nutzen/ Risikoverhältnis besteht.
Im Rahmen des Frankfurter Mitralklappenregisters wurden 119 Patienten im interdisziplinären Konsens („Heart Team“) vom 07/2013 bis 02/2017 mit der MitraClip Prozedur behandelt und nach ihrem schriftlichen Einverständnis in die Analyse eingeschlossen. Der Langzeitverlauf wurde bis zum 31.12.2017 beobachtet.
Ziel der Studie war, zu erfassen, ob die Anwendung von bei Herzinsuffizienz etablierten Prognosemodellen bei diesen Patienten sinnvoll ist und ob sich das Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM) und der Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) Score in ihrer Genauigkeit bei diesen Patienten unterscheiden insbesondere im Kontext einer RVD.
Die Diagnose einer RVD erfolgte über den im Herzultraschall leicht zu erfassenden Parameter „Tricuspid Annular Plane Excursion“ (TAPSE), der die während der Systole zurückgelegte Strecke des Trikuspidalrings misst.
Die Genauigkeit in der Vorhersage der 1- Jahres Mortalität der beiden Scores wurde durch die Bestimmung der Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUROC) ermittelt.
Innerhalb eines Jahres nach MitraClip- Therapie verstarben 29 Patienten (28.2%) des Gesamtkollektivs. Bei Patienten mit funktioneller Mitralklappeninsuffizienz (FMR) betrug die 1- Jahres Mortalität 23,3%, bei Patienten mit degenerativer Mitralklappeninsuffizienz (DMR) 31,7%. In der Kaplan- Meier Analyse bestand eine signifikant erhöhte 1- Jahres Mortalität für Patienten mit RVD (34.8 vs 22.8%; p=0.009). Patienten mit FMR wiesen eine erhöhte Sterblichkeit auf, wenn gleichzeitig eine RVD bestand (38.1% vs 9.1% ohne RVD). Diese Assoziation bestand bei Patienten mit DMR nicht (32% mit RVD vs. 34.3%).
Die prognostische Genauigkeit beider Scores war im Gesamtkollektiv vergleichbar (SHFM: 0.704, MAGGIC: 0.692). Das gilt auch für separate Analysen nach funktioneller/ degenerativer Genese der Mitralklappeninsuffizienz (FMR: SHFM 0.696, MAGGIC 0.722; DMR: SHFM 0.727, MAGGIC 0.629). Bei Patienten ohne RVD zeigt das SHFM jedoch eine höhere diagnostische Genauigkeit als der MAGGIC Score (SHFM: 0.775; MAGGIC: 0.551, p <0.05). Bei Patienten mit Rechtsherzdysfunktion bestehen keine signifikanten Unterschiede (SHFM: 0.615; MAGGIC: 0.799, p>0.05), auch wenn ein Trend zugunsten des MAGGIC Scores bestand.
Eine bestehende RVD ist ein wichtiger prognostischer Marker für Patienten, die mit einem Mitraclip behandelt werden und sollte in der Entscheidungsfindung des „Heart Teams“ berücksichtigt werden. SHFM und MAGGIC Score besitzen eine adäquate prognostische Trennschärfe in unserer Patientenkohorte, Unterschiede bestehen bei Patienten mit/ ohne RVD. Aufgrund der Heterogenität der Erkrankung sowie der Begleiterkrankungen besteht für beide Scores nur eine moderate Trennschärfe, sie dürfen beim individuellen Patienten nicht einziges Entscheidungskriterium sein. Denkbar wäre, durch einen „machine learning“ Ansatz unter Einbeziehung klinischer, anatomischer, demographischer und laborchemischer Daten ein Score System zu entwerfen, mit dem eine höhere prognostische Genauigkeit erreicht werden könnte.
The capacity of convalescent and vaccine-elicited sera and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants is currently of high relevance to assess the protection against infections. We performed a cell culture-based neutralization assay focusing on authentic SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.617.1 (Kappa), B.1.617.2 (Delta), B.1.427/B.1.429 (Epsilon), all harboring the spike substitution L452R. We found that authentic SARS-CoV-2 variants harboring L452R had reduced susceptibility to convalescent and vaccine-elicited sera and mAbs. Compared to B.1, Kappa and Delta showed a reduced neutralization by convalescent sera by a factor of 8.00 and 5.33, respectively, which constitutes a 2-fold greater reduction when compared to Epsilon. BNT2b2 and mRNA1273 vaccine-elicited sera were less effective against Kappa, Delta, and Epsilon compared to B.1. No difference was observed between Kappa and Delta towards vaccine-elicited sera, whereas convalescent sera were 1.51-fold less effective against Delta, respectively. Both B.1.617 variants Kappa (+E484Q) and Delta (+T478K) were less susceptible to either casirivimab or imdevimab. In conclusion, in contrast to the parallel circulating Kappa variant, the neutralization efficiency of convalescent and vaccine-elicited sera against Delta was moderately reduced. Delta was resistant to imdevimab, which, however, might be circumvented by combination therapy with casirivimab together.