Universality class of interacting directed single- and double-strand homopolymers.

This work examines a field theory for directed homopolymers in a good solvent. The field theory is based on a lattice model for single- and double-strand polymers with length variables, direction-dependent pairing energy and interactions. As for the less explicit O(n)-symmetric model, there is a close relation to the conventional one-component branched polymer and the associated Lee-Yang problem.

Cranial nerve involvement in patients with immune-mediated neuropathy: An observational blink reflex study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess cranial nerve involvement in a large adult cohort of patients with immune-mediated neuropathy undergoing immunoglobulin treatment by measuring blink reflex R1 latency prolongation in correlation with clinical findings and nerve conduction studies.

Methods: 104 patients underwent blink reflex examination and ulnar nerve conduction studies and were assessed by the Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment disability score, the revised Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R) and focused clinical examination.

Results: Prolonged R1 latencies were identified in 23 of 104 patients (22.

[Outpatient medical specialist care (ASV): A multiperspective study on status quo, challenges and perspectives].

Background: In 2012, the so-called ambulatory medical specialist care (ASV) was implemented in accordance with para. 116b of Book V of the German Social Code (SGB V), enabling physicians in outpatient practices and hospitals to treat patients with rare diseases or complex courses of disease in a uniform framework. The implementation, however, is slow.

Analysis of routine blood parameters in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and evaluation of a possible correlation with disease progression-a multicenter study.

Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis is still unclear, its course is considerably variable, and prognosis is hard to determine. Despite much research, there is still a lack of easily accessible markers predicting prognosis. We investigated routine blood parameters in ALS patients regarding correlations with disease severity, progression rate, and survival.

Pain-Related Coping Behavior in ALS: The Interplay between Maladaptive Coping, the Patient's Affective State and Pain.

Background: Pain is a common symptom in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Coping plays a central role in adjustment to pain.

Objective: This study evaluates the use of different pain coping strategies in patients with ALS and investigates the interplay of maladaptive coping, and the patient's affective state and pain.

A Multi-Center Cohort Study on Characteristics of Pain, Its Impact and Pharmacotherapeutic Management in Patients with ALS.

Background: Although pain is common in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and an effectively treatable symptom, it is widely under-recognized and undertreated. This study investigates epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pain, its impact and pharmacological treatment in ALS patients. In addition, opportunities for further optimization of pain therapy need to be identified.

Characteristics of pain and the burden it causes in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - a longitudinal study.

Objective: Pain currently plays a subordinate role in the clinical care of patients with ALS. We aim to examine epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pain as well as its impact throughout the disease course.

Methods: During a longitudinal follow-up at three time points, 151 ALS patients from three German outpatient clinics completed the Brief Pain Inventory, ALS-Functional Rating Scale-Extension and ALS Depression Inventory.

Dopaminergic modulation of novelty repetition in Parkinson's disease: A study of P3 event-related brain potentials.

Objective: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Cognitive impairments have been reported using the event-related potential (ERP) technique. Patients show reduced novelty P3 (nP3) amplitudes in oddball experiments, a response to infrequent, surprising stimuli, linked to the orienting response of the brain.

Human brain connectivity: Clinical applications for clinical neurophysiology.

This manuscript is the second part of a two-part description of the current status of understanding of the network function of the brain in health and disease. We start with the concept that brain function can be understood only by understanding its networks, how and why information flows in the brain. The first manuscript dealt with methods for network analysis, and the current manuscript focuses on the use of these methods to understand a wide variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

AANEM - IFCN glossary of terms in neuromuscular electrodiagnostic medicine and ultrasound.

Modern neuromuscular electrodiagnosis (EDX) and neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) require a universal language for effective communication in clinical practice and research and, in particular, for teaching young colleagues. Therefore, the AANEM and the IFCN have decided to publish a joint glossary as they feel the need for an updated terminology to support educational activities in neuromuscular EDX and NMUS in all parts of the world. In addition NMUS has been rapidly progressing over the last years and is now widely used in the diagnosis of disorders of nerve and muscle in conjunction with EDX.

AANEM - IFCN Glossary of Terms in Neuromuscular Electrodiagnostic Medicine and Ultrasound.

Modern neuromuscular electrodiagnosis (EDX) and neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) require a universal language for effective communication in clinical practice and research and, in particular, for teaching young colleagues. Therefore, the AANEM and the IFCN have decided to publish a joint glossary as they feel the need for an updated terminology to support educational activities in neuromuscular EDX and NMUS in all parts of the world. In addition NMUS has been rapidly progressing over the last years and is now widely used in the diagnosis of disorders of nerve and muscle in conjunction with EDX.

Sonographic and 3T-MRI-based evaluation of the tongue in ALS.

A few systematic imaging studies employing ultrasound (HRUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have suggested tongue measures to aid in diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The relationship between structural tongue alterations and the ALS patients' bulbar and overall motor function has not yet been elucidated. We here thus aimed to understand how in-vivo tongue alterations relate to motor function and motor function evolution over time in ALS.

The upper cervical spinal cord in ALS assessed by cross-sectional and longitudinal 3T MRI.

The upper cervical spinal cord is measured in a large longitudinal amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cohort to evaluate its role as a biomarker. Specifically, the cervical spinal cord´s cross-sectional area (CSA) in plane of the segments C1-C3 was measured semi-automatically with T1-weighted 3T MRI sequences in 158 ALS patients and 86 controls. Six-month longitudinal follow-up MRI scans were analyzed in 103 patients.

[Reimbursement differences in the ambulatory specialized care (ASV) compared to the previous care system. An exemplary analysis in medical oncology treating gastrointestinal malignancies].

Introduction And Aim: The ambulatory specialized care (ASV) act (Sect. 116b of the Social Code Fifth Book [SGB V]) is intended to enable patients with a rare disease or a special course of disease or patients needing a highly specialized treatment to get access to outpatient care by office-based as well as hospital doctors. Data concerning care, service performance and fees - in comparison to the usual contract with the statutory insurance or the former Sect.

Mine drainage: Treatment technologies and rare earth elements.

The recent research and development on mine drainage published in 2018 was summarized in this annual review. In particular, this review was focused on two main aspects of mine drainage: (a) advances in treatment technologies and (b) rare earth elements in mine drainage and its recovery. The first section covers passive treatment technologies and active treatment options, including physiochemical treatment and biological treatment.

Dyspnea in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: The Dyspnea-ALS-Scale (DALS-15) essentially contributes to the diagnosis of respiratory impairment.

Background: Dyspnea is a cardinal but often underestimated symptom in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The newly developed Dyspnea-ALS-Scale (DALS-15) is highly relevant for therapeutic decisions because dyspnea is a separate criterion to consider noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in ALS. In comparison to the limited effects of neuroprotective compounds, NIV has the greatest impact on survival and improves quality of life.

The Dyspnea-ALS-Scale (DALS-15) optimizes individual treatment in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) suffering from dyspnea.

Background: Dyspnea is frequent in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and one of the most bothersome symptoms. The recently developed Dyspnea-ALS-Scale (DALS-15) is a disease-specific patient-reported outcome to detect and quantify dyspnea.

Objectives: To analyze in a case-based approach the diagnostic and clinical implications and the benefit of the DALS-15 for individual patients in daily clinical routine.

[Characteristics of Care and Outcome Quality within the Specialized Ambulatory Palliative Care (SAPV): Analysis of Patient Characteristics and Indicators of Care of a Palliative Care Team].

Background: The ambulatory specialized palliative care (SAPV) was implemented to enable patients with the need for end-of-life intensive care to die with accompanied professionality and in familiar surroundings. Studies on changes of patient characteristics as well as the contents of care within time are scarce. The aim of this study was the evaluation of care parameters and variations in time as well as a qualitative assessment of the dying process and the stress on the dependents.

Toward in vivo determination of peripheral nervous system immune activity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Introduction: We sought to identify patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who displayed suspected peripheral nervous system (PNS) inflammation to compare them to those with suspected PNS degeneration.

Methods: We measured sonographic median and ulnar nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) and cerebrospinal fluid albumin/serum albumin ratio (Q ) in patients with ALS to classify them as having suspected PNS degeneration (small CSA/low Q ) or inflammation (larger CSA/high Q ).

Results: Fifty-seven percent of patients had suspected PNS degeneration, 21% had suspected PNS inflammation, and 21% displayed suspected "normal PNS state.

Significance of CSF NfL and tau in ALS.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light chain (NfL) has emerged as putative diagnostic biomarker in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but it remains a matter of debate, whether CSF total tau (ttau), tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (ptau) and the ptau/ttau ratio could serve as diagnostic biomarker in ALS as well. Moreover, the relationship between CSF NfL and tau measures to further axonal and (neuro)degeneration markers still needs to be elucidated. Our analysis included 89 ALS patients [median (range) age 63 (33-83) years, 61% male, disease duration 10 (0.