Publications by authors named "Witte L"

Autistic individuals have described facing unfair or discriminatory treatment across settings, such as in school and at work. However, there have been few studies examining how widespread or prevalent discrimination is against autistic individuals. We aimed to fill that gap by examining how prevalent or common it is for autistic youth to experience discrimination based on race or ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity, and health condition or disability.

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Objective: We previously found that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) mixture exposure is inversely associated with SARS-CoV-2 IgG (IgG) antibody levels in pregnant individuals. Here, we aim to identify metabolites mediating this relationship to elucidate the underlying biological pathways.

Methods: We included 59 pregnant participants from a US-based pregnancy cohort.

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Background: Research suggests that marginalized young adults, particularly sexual and gender minorities (SGM), face distinctive healthcare transition challenges. SGM often navigate a complex intersection of identities, experiences, and stressors that can contribute to mental health disparities. However, they often lack access to appropriate support and resources tailored to their needs, which can result in increased psychological distress.

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  • The Revi system, developed by BlueWind Medical, is an innovative implantable device designed to treat urgency urinary incontinence, marking the first FDA-cleared neuromodulation device that can be used without prior conservative treatments.
  • In a study involving 151 women, 79% of those assessed at the 24-month mark showed significant improvement in their condition, with consistent efficacy over time and high rates of participant satisfaction.
  • The results highlight the Revi system's durability, effectiveness, and safety, with no serious adverse events reported throughout the study period.
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Prenatal infections and activation of the maternal immune system have been proposed to contribute to causing neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), chronic conditions often linked to brain abnormalities. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain and play a key role in neurodevelopment. Disruption of microglial functions can lead to brain abnormalities and increase the risk of developing NDDs.

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  • A study investigated the impact of Maternal Immune Activation (MIA) on child neurodevelopment using neuroimaging data from a large cohort of mother-child pairs from the Generation R Study.
  • Researchers examined levels of specific cytokines during pregnancy and employed various neuroimaging techniques to analyze brain development in children at ages 10 and 14.
  • The results showed no significant association between MIA and any neuroimaging outcomes, contradicting earlier findings that indicated brain abnormalities in neonates exposed to MIA.
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Background: This study investigates patients' use of eHealth services, their awareness of the availability of these services, and their intention to use them in primary care. It also examines patient characteristics and factors that influence the use of these services.

Methods: A cross-sectional design using questionnaires was conducted.

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  • The study investigates how genotype analysis can enhance the classification of (mosaic) aneuploid embryos that have been diagnosed through copy number analysis of a trophectoderm biopsy.
  • Results showed that genotype analysis can identify different types of aneuploidy, revealing meiotic or uniform aneuploidy in embryos with intermediate changes, and presumed mitotic or mosaic aneuploidy in those with full changes.
  • The research involved a large-scale analysis of 1560 embryos, focusing on assessing the chromosomal anomalies and their origins by integrating copy number data with genotyping.
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  • * A systematic review analyzed 111 neuroimaging studies across different types of MIA, including serious conditions like HIV and Zika, which showed clear associations with structural brain issues, whereas findings for less severe infections were inconsistent.
  • * Most research focused on the effects within the first year after birth, emphasizing the need for further studies to determine if these associations influence long-term brain development, especially given the mixed results for less severe cases.
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Background: Antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) have been described in the serum of people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (schizophrenia). However, the prevalence and clinical relevance of these antibodies in schizophrenia is unclear. This knowledge gap includes the possibility of such antibodies being associated with a distinct clinical profile, which in turn might warrant a distinct treatment approach.

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  • Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), but there are gaps in its measurement among cardiologists according to current guidelines.
  • The review presents four clinical cases showing the link between elevated Lp(a) levels and coronary artery disease (CAD), supported by consensus statements from leading heart organizations.
  • Emphasizing routine Lp(a) measurement can help identify high-risk patients, guiding more aggressive treatment and tailored care in catheterization settings, while ongoing clinical trials explore Lp(a)-lowering therapies.
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  • About 25% of the population has a patent foramen ovale (PFO), which is usually asymptomatic, but it can sometimes cause right-to-left shunt (RLS)-mediated hypoxaemia, a rare condition.
  • In a case involving a 73-year-old woman, her oxygen levels significantly improved from 87% to 98% after undergoing percutaneous PFO closure due to her progressive difficulty breathing.
  • While most PFOs don't cause problems, RLS-mediated hypoxaemia can occur even in older adults, and percutaneous closure is a safe and effective treatment that provides quick relief.
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New in vitro models provide an exciting opportunity to study live human microglia. Previously, a major limitation in understanding human microglia in health and disease has been their limited availability. Here, we provide an overview of methods to obtain human stem cell or blood monocyte-derived microglia-like cells that provide a nearly unlimited source of live human microglia for research.

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Purpose Of Review: We evaluate available evidence for the role of inflammation in depression. We reappraise literature involving systemic inflammation, neuroinflammation and neurotransmission and their association with depression. We review the connection between depression, autoimmunity and infectious diseases.

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This study examined the association between victimization and victim blaming using a sample of = 142 participants in a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with the influence of subject gender, victim stereotyping level, threat level, and victim gender for victim blaming. Belief in a just world was included in the model as a covariate. Mediation analyses were conducted with the degree of identifiability with the victim and attitudes toward traditional role models as explanatory approaches.

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  • Young patients with cryptogenic stroke and a patent foramen ovale (PFO) sometimes receive device closure to prevent future strokes, but about 25% may still have a residual right-to-left shunt after 6 months.
  • In a study of 227 patients, it was found that at 6 months post-closure, 72.7% had no shunt, while the rest had varying degrees of residual shunt.
  • By 12 months, many of these residual shunts had either diminished or closed completely, indicating that while residual shunts are common at 6 months, most are small and tend to close over time.
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Adaptations of the immune system throughout gestation have been proposed as important mechanisms regulating successful pregnancy. Dysregulation of the maternal immune system has been associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. To translate findings from mechanistic preclinical studies to human pregnancies, studies of serum immune markers are the mainstay.

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Prenatal infections and activation of the maternal immune system have been proposed to contribute to causing neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), chronic conditions often linked to brain abnormalities. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain and play a key role in neurodevelopment. Disruption of microglial functions can lead to brain abnormalities and increase the risk of developing NDDs.

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In the age of big data, scientific progress is fundamentally limited by our capacity to extract critical information. Here, we map fine-grained spatiotemporal distributions for thousands of species, using deep neural networks (DNNs) and ubiquitous citizen science data. Based on 6.

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Depression is common among autistic youth and has a significant negative impact on quality of life and day-to-day functioning. Despite great need for efficacious treatments, there are currently limited research-supported interventions for depression symptoms in autistic young people. This study tested a novel, behavior-based approach or psychotherapy for treatment of depression symptoms in autistic adolescents without intellectual disability (i.

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  • HIV persists in the central nervous system (CNS) of people living with HIV, leading to cognitive impairments even with antiretroviral therapy (ART).
  • Researchers analyzed paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples from 19 untreated adults, finding higher HIV RNA levels in plasma compared to CSF and mostly consistent coreceptor usage.
  • The study revealed that some viruses in the CNS can replicate in microglia (brain immune cells) as well as T-cells, suggesting that viral evolution may help the infection spread within the CNS, which needs further investigation.
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Associations between antenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and pregnancy outcomes have been conflicting and the role of the immune system is currently unclear. This prospective cohort study investigated the interaction of antenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection, changes in cytokine and HS-CRP levels, birthweight and gestational age at birth. 2352 pregnant participants from New York City (2020-2022) were included.

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  • A study was conducted on pain perception in Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donors receiving Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF), revealing that 92% of donors experienced pain, with 52% reporting moderate to severe discomfort.
  • The majority of pain occurred in younger female donors and was predominantly located in the gluteal and lower back regions, often described as nagging but tolerable, with sleep being affected during the G-CSF administration period.
  • The research emphasizes the importance of recognizing and managing pain in donors despite being manageable, providing valuable insights for healthcare staff involved in donor care.
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Disturbances in T-cells, specifically the Th17/Treg balance, have been implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes. We investigated these two T-cell populations following pre-pregnancy and pregnancy SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination in 351 participants from a pregnancy cohort in New York City (Generation C; 2020-2022). SARS-CoV-2 infection status was determined via laboratory or medical diagnosis and COVID-19 vaccination status via survey and electronic medical records data.

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