[Assessment-Based Home Treatment for People with Severe Psychotic Disorders].

Objective: Although there is growing evidence for clinical effectiveness of crisis resolution teams (also called Home Treatment Teams) for patients with severe psychotic disorders, a lot of studies suffer from poor model fidelity, which leads to an ignorance of specific effective factors.

Methods: Here we present the implementation of an assessment-based Home Treatment in Germany. Assessment-derived therapeutic tasks are shared between team members by a manualized process.

Environmental control of branching in petunia.

Plants alter their development in response to changes in their environment. This responsiveness has proven to be a successful evolutionary trait. Here, we tested the hypothesis that two key environmental factors, light and nutrition, are integrated within the axillary bud to promote or suppress the growth of the bud into a branch.

Olfactomedin-1 Has a V-shaped Disulfide-linked Tetrameric Structure.

Olfactomedin-1 (Olfm1; also known as noelin and pancortin) is a member of the olfactomedin domain-containing superfamily and a highly expressed neuronal glycoprotein important for nervous system development. It binds a number of secreted proteins and cell surface-bound receptors to induce cell signaling processes. Using a combined approach of x-ray crystallography, solution scattering, analytical ultracentrifugation, and electron microscopy we determined that full-length Olfm1 forms disulfide-linked tetramers with a distinctive V-shaped architecture.

In Utero Fine Particle Air Pollution and Placental Expression of Genes in the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Signaling Pathway: An ENVIRONAGE Birth Cohort Study.

Background: Developmental processes in the placenta and the fetal brain are shaped by the same biological signals. Recent evidence suggests that adaptive responses of the placenta to the maternal environment may influence central nervous system development.

Objectives: We studied the association between in utero exposure to fine particle air pollution with a diameter ≤ 2.

Clinical high risk for psychosis: gender differences in symptoms and social functioning.

Aim: Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder that presents differently in men and women: men show a higher propensity to negative symptoms, lower social functioning, earlier age at onset and co-morbid substance abuse, whereas women display more affective symptoms. It is unknown whether these differences extend to subjects at high risk (HR) of psychosis. Thus, the aim of the present study was to address this question.

Drosophila muller f elements maintain a distinct set of genomic properties over 40 million years of evolution.

The Muller F element (4.2 Mb, ~80 protein-coding genes) is an unusual autosome of Drosophila melanogaster; it is mostly heterochromatic with a low recombination rate. To investigate how these properties impact the evolution of repeats and genes, we manually improved the sequence and annotated the genes on the D.

Molecular responses in the telomere-mitochondrial axis of ageing in the elderly: a candidate gene approach.

Experimental evidence shows that telomere shortening induces mitochondrial damage but so far studies in humans are scarce. Here, we investigated the association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content in elderly and explored possible intermediate mechanisms by determining the gene expression profile of candidate genes in the telomere-mitochondrial axis of ageing. Among 166 non-smoking elderly, LTL, leukocyte mtDNA content and expression of candidate genes: sirtuin1 (SIRT1), tumor protein p53 (TP53), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ-coactivator1α (PGC-1α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ-coactivator1β (PGC-1β), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) and nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2 (NRF2), using a quantitave real time polymerase chain assay (qPCR).

European Psychiatric Association (EPA) guidance on quality assurance in mental healthcare.

Purpose: To advance the quality of mental healthcare in Europe by developing guidance on implementing quality assurance.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature search on quality assurance in mental healthcare and the 522 retrieved documents were evaluated by two independent reviewers (B.J.

Antibody activation using DNA-based logic gates.

Oligonucleotide-based molecular circuits offer the exciting possibility to introduce autonomous signal processing in biomedicine, synthetic biology, and molecular diagnostics. Here we introduce bivalent peptide-DNA conjugates as generic, noncovalent, and easily applicable molecular locks that allow the control of antibody activity using toehold-mediated strand displacement reactions. Employing yeast as a cellular model system, reversible control of antibody targeting is demonstrated with low nM concentrations of peptide-DNA locks and oligonucleotide displacer strands.

Echogenic perfluorohexane-loaded macrophages adhere in vivo to activated vascular endothelium in mice, an explorative study.

Background: Macrophages may concentrate ultrasound contrast agents and exhibit selective adhesion to activated endothelium. The present study investigates in mice the potential of perfluorohexane (PFH) loaded macrophages to act as ultrasound contrast agent with high reflectivity and specifically targeted at (atherosclerotic) vascular lesions.

Methods: Lung passage was evaluated with a mouse echo scanner after injection, at a slow pace or as a bolus, of varying doses of PFH-loaded and unloaded bone marrow macrophages (BMM) into the jugular vein.

The clinical impact of including pictures in Papanicolaou test reports.

Introduction: Although the inclusion of representative photomicrographic images in pathology reports remains uncommon, the frequency has increased in recent years. The impact of the inclusion of pictures has not previously been examined in peer-reviewed literature.

Materials And Methods: We compared the Papanicolaou (Pap) test interpretations produced by our laboratory before and after the introduction of a requirement to include pictures in reports with interpretations of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL); atypical squamous cells, cannot rule out high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; atypical glandular cells; or carcinoma.

Working towards integrated community care for older people: empowering organisational features from a professional perspective.

Although multi-disciplinary cooperation between professionals is a prerequisite to provide integrated care in the community, this seems hard to realise in practice. Yet, little is known about the experiences of professionals who implement it nor about the organisational features professionals identify as empowering during this cooperation process. Therefore, a case study of a multi-disciplinary geriatric team was performed.

Double lung transplantation for diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia.

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is a rare cause of obstructive lung disease and a proposed precursor of pulmonary carcinoid tumors. With increased awareness of this disease, an accumulating number of cases have been reported. Patients may have progressive shortness of breath due to small airway obstruction.

Reversal of hypoxia in murine atherosclerosis prevents necrotic core expansion by enhancing efferocytosis.

Objective: Advanced murine and human plaques are hypoxic, but it remains unclear whether plaque hypoxia is causally related to atherogenesis. Here, we test the hypothesis that reversal of hypoxia in atherosclerotic plaques by breathing hyperoxic carbogen gas will prevent atherosclerosis.

Approach And Results: Low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice (LDLR(-/-)) were fed a Western-type diet, exposed to carbogen (95% O2, 5% CO2) or air, and the effect on plaque hypoxia, size, and phenotype was studied.

DNA-directed control of enzyme-inhibitor complex formation: a modular approach to reversibly switch enzyme activity.

DNA-templated reversible assembly of an enzyme-inhibitor complex is presented as a new and highly modular approach to control enzyme activity. TEM1-β-lactamase and its inhibitor protein BLIP were conjugated to different oligonucleotides, resulting in enzyme inhibition in the presence of template strand. Formation of a rigid dsDNA linker upon addition of a complementary target strand disrupts the enzyme-inhibitor complex and results in the restoration of enzyme activity, enabling detection of as little as 2 fmol DNA.

Protein kinase-D1 overexpression prevents lipid-induced cardiac insulin resistance.

In the insulin resistant heart, energy fuel selection shifts away from glucose utilization towards almost complete dependence on long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). This shift results in excessive cardiac lipid accumulation and eventually heart failure. Lipid-induced cardiomyopathy may be averted by strategies that increase glucose uptake without elevating LCFA uptake.

[Pilot study on a modular outpatient treatment programme following public order placements because of endangerment in patients with psychotic disorders].

Patients with psychotic disorders who were detained by public order because of endangerment, can be regarded as a population at risk of further endangerment, public order placements and a forensic course. Concepts of specific aftercare for this subgroup are lacking thus far. The present pilot study explores the feasibility of a modular therapeutic outpatient programme that is tailored to specific subgroup needs and is applied over six months.

Variation of DNA methylation in candidate age-related targets on the mitochondrial-telomere axis in cord blood and placenta.

Background: Epigenetics is tissue-specific and potentially even cell-specific, but little information is available from human reproductive studies about the concordance of DNA methylation patterns in cord blood and placenta, as well as within-placenta variations. We evaluated methylation levels at promoter regions of candidate genes in biological ageing pathways (SIRT1, TP53, PPARG, PPARGC1A, and TFAM), a subtelomeric region (D4Z4) and the mitochondrial genome (MT-RNR1, D-loop).

Methods: Ninety individuals were randomly chosen from the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort to evaluate methylation concordance between cord blood and placenta using highly quantitative bisulfite-PCR pyrosequencing.

Endothelial arginine resynthesis contributes to the maintenance of vasomotor function in male diabetic mice.

Aim: Argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) is essential for recycling L-citrulline, the by-product of NO synthase (NOS), to the NOS substrate L-arginine. Here, we assessed whether disturbed arginine resynthesis modulates endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in normal and diabetic male mice.

Methods And Results: Endothelium-selective Ass-deficient mice (Assfl/fl/Tie2Cretg/- = Ass-KOTie2) were generated by crossing Assfl/fl mice ( = control) with Tie2Cre mice.

Improving membrane based multiplex immunoassays for semi-quantitative detection of multiple cytokines in a single sample.

Background: Inflammatory mediators can serve as biomarkers for the monitoring of the disease progression or prognosis in many conditions. In the present study we introduce an adaptation of a membrane-based technique in which the level of up to 40 cytokines and chemokines can be determined in both human and rodent blood in a semi-quantitative way. The planar assay was modified using the LI-COR (R) detection system (fluorescence based) rather than chemiluminescence and semi-quantitative outcomes were achieved by normalizing the outcomes using the automated exposure settings of the Odyssey readout device.

Synthesis and initial preclinical evaluation of the P2X7 receptor antagonist [¹¹C]A-740003 as a novel tracer of neuroinflammation.

Neuroinflammation, in particular activation of microglia, is thought to play an important role in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In activated microglia, the purinergic P2X7 receptor is upregulated. A-740003, a highly affine and selective P2X7 receptor antagonist, is a promising candidate for the development of a radiotracer for imaging of neuroinflammation by positron emission tomography.

Unilateral vulval swelling in cyclists: a report of 8 cases.

Objective: To define the clinical features, imaging results, histopathologic patterns, and clinical outcomes seen in patients who develop vulval swelling as a result of intensive cycling.

Methods: The case notes of 8 female cyclists were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 45 years, and all were cycling long distances each week (range, 125-450 km; median, 210 km).

[High utilisers with affective and schizophrenic disorders in the psychiatric health care system: a comparison between Eastern and Western Germany].

Objective: High utilisers of psychiatric services are defined as a group of patients showing a great amount of service use, especially inpatient care, consequently causing immense costs. There is a lack of studies investigating differences between East and West Germany.

Methods: Service use and psychopathology were examined in 350 high utilisers receiving inpatient treatment in one East German and three West German psychiatric hospitals.

Quantitative muscle ultrasound versus quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy.

Introduction: Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are non-invasive methods that can be performed repeatedly and without discomfort. In the assessment of neuromuscular disorders it is unknown if they provide complementary information. In this study we tested this for patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).

Coping as a predictor of treatment outcome in people at clinical high risk of psychosis.

Aim: The concept of coping is relevant to recent models of psychosis, and people with established psychotic disorders have been found to predominately use maladaptive coping strategies. This study aimed to examine the general coping patterns of people at clinical high risk of psychosis (CHR) and to investigate whether pre-therapy coping behaviour plays a role in predicting responsiveness to early interventions.

Methods: One hundred twenty-eight help-seeking CHR outpatients were randomized into two treatment groups: either receiving integrated psychological intervention (IPI), including cognitive behaviour therapy, or supportive counselling (SC) for 12 months.