The impact of motivation and teachers' autonomy support on children's executive functions.

The present study investigates the interplay of executive functions, motivation, and teacher's autonomy support in school context. In a cross-sectional study design 208 students from different school types completed a standardized motivation questionnaire and processed two executive function tasks. All teachers who teach these students were asked about their autonomy supporting behavior by a standardized test.

Extreme deviations from expected recovery curves and their associations with therapeutic alliance, social support, motivation, and life events in psychosomatic in-patient therapy.

Objectives: Within the clinical support tools (CST) of the OQ-Analyst, the "Assessment for Signal Cases" (ASC) evaluates the therapeutic alliance, social support, motivation, and life events. We investigated whether the ASC covers domains of importance in treatment weeks with extreme deviations from expected recovery curves (ERCs).

Methods: Psychosomatic in-patients were monitored weekly with the ASC and the "Outcome Questionnaire" (OQ-45).

Mental distress and effort to engage an image-guided navigation system in the surgical training of endoscopic sinus surgery: a prospective, randomised clinical trial.

The use of image-guided navigation systems in the training of FESS is discussed controversy. Many experienced sinus surgeons report a better spatial orientation and an improved situational awareness intraoperatively. But many fear that the navigation system could be a disadvantage in the surgical training because of a higher mental demand and a possible loss of surgical skills.

Providing patient progress feedback and clinical support tools to therapists: is the therapeutic process of patients on-track to recovery enhanced in psychosomatic in-patient therapy under the conditions of routine practice?

Objectives: In previous studies of patients on-track to recovery (OT) involving therapists receiving only patient progress feedback without clinical support tools (CST) inconsistent results were found. Possible effects of combining patient progress feedback with CST on OT patients remain unclear.

Methods: At intake (t1), 252 patients of two in-patient psychosomatic clinics were randomized either into the experimental group (EG) or the treatment-as-usual control group (CG).

Very similar spacing-effect patterns in very different learning/practice domains.

Temporally distributed ("spaced") learning can be twice as efficient as massed learning. This "spacing effect" occurs with a broad spectrum of learning materials, with humans of different ages, with non-human vertebrates and also invertebrates. This indicates, that very basic learning mechanisms are at work ("generality").

"Psychosomatic consultation in the workplace": a new model of care at the interface of company-supported mental health care and consultation-liaison psychosomatics: design of a mixed methods implementation study.

Background: Mental health issues are gaining in importance in society and the economic system. At the same time, the accessibility and stigmatisation of the mental health care system in Germany can obstruct help-seeking behavior and delay early psychotherapeutic interventions. Therefore, new models of care are being established at the interface of company-supported health promotion and conventional health insurance sponsored outpatient care for people developing mental illnesses.

Efficient Nef-mediated downmodulation of TCR-CD3 and CD28 is associated with high CD4+ T cell counts in viremic HIV-2 infection.

The role of the multifunctional accessory Nef protein in the immunopathogenesis of HIV-2 infection is currently poorly understood. Here, we performed comprehensive functional analyses of 50 nef genes from 21 viremic (plasma viral load, >500 copies/ml) and 16 nonviremic (<500) HIV-2-infected individuals. On average, nef alleles from both groups were equally active in modulating CD4, TCR-CD3, CD28, MHC-I, and Ii cell surface expression and in enhancing virion infectivity.

The presence of a vpu gene and the lack of Nef-mediated downmodulation of T cell receptor-CD3 are not always linked in primate lentiviruses.

Nef is an accessory protein critical for the ability of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV) to replicate efficiently in their respective hosts. Previous analyses of members of 15 different primate lentivirus lineages revealed a link between Nef function and the presence of a vpu gene. In particular, Nef proteins of all vpu-containing viruses had lost their ability to downmodulate the T cell (TCR-CD3) receptor.

Genetic identity and biological phenotype of a transmitted/founder virus representative of nonpathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus infection in African green monkeys.

Understanding the lack of disease progression in nonpathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections is essential for deciphering the immunopathogenesis of human AIDS. Yet, in vivo studies have been hampered by a paucity of infectious molecular clones (IMCs) of SIV suitable to dissect the viral and host factors responsible for the nonpathogenic phenotype. Here, we describe the identification, cloning, and biological analysis of the first transmitted/founder (T/F) virus representing a nonpathogenic SIV infection.

Lipoxin A4 receptor dependent leishmania infection.

The lipoxin A4 receptor (ALX) is an important target of LxA4 in synovial tissues of patients with inflammatory arthritis. Previously this receptor was known as the FPRL-1 on PMN and shown to interact with acute phase proteins and a variety of peptides. ALX signalling can either activate or deactivate PMN functions.

Is the high virulence of HIV-1 an unfortunate coincidence of primate lentiviral evolution?

In the subset of primate lentiviruses that contain a vpu gene - HIV-1 and its simian precursors - the Nef protein has lost the ability to down-modulate CD3, block T cell activation and suppress programmed death. Vpu counteracts a host restriction factor induced by the inflammatory cytokine interferon-alpha. I propose that the acquisition of vpu may have allowed the viral lineage that gave rise to HIV-1 to evolve towards greater pathogenicity by removing the selective pressure for a protective Nef function that prevents damagingly high levels of immune activation.

Semen-derived amyloid fibrils drastically enhance HIV infection.

Sexual intercourse is the major route of HIV transmission. To identify endogenous factors that affect the efficiency of sexual viral transmission, we screened a complex peptide/protein library derived from human semen. We show that naturally occurring fragments of the abundant semen marker prostatic acidic phosphatase (PAP) form amyloid fibrils.

Primary delusional parasitosis treated with olanzapine.

Delusional parasitosis (DP) is a rare psychiatric disorder, predominantly observed in middle aged and elderly patients. It can manifest itself as an isolated delusional disorder (primary DP), as a symptom of another psychiatric disorder or as an organic or toxic psychosis. The typical antipsychotic pimozide was traditionally considered to be the gold standard for treating DP.

Comparison of whole blood interleukin-8 and plasma interleukin-8 as a predictor for sepsis in postoperative patients.

Objective: Interleukin-8 (IL-8, also known as neutrophil-activating peptide 1, NAP1 and CXCL8, CXC chemokine ligand 8) is recognized as a potent effector of neutrophil functions. IL-8 is a major response factor following NfkB activation by cytokines or lipopolysaccharide and several different cell types T lymphocytes, monocytes, epithelial and endothelial cells secrete this polypeptide. IL-8 is not to be determined at significant concentrations in plasma due to its receptor binding but may play a major role in tissues.

[Antimicrobial therapy in dermatology].

The extensive and sometimes indiscriminate use of antibiotics sometimes without strict indications has led to increases in both bacterial resistance and sensitization of patients. Systemic antibiotics in skin infections are indicated when a severe local infection occurs which spreads into the surrounding tissue or when there are signs of systemic infection. There are special indications in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease,diabetes or immunosuppression.

Understanding intentions in social interaction: the role of the anterior paracingulate cortex.

Neuroimaging studies have identified the anterior paracingulate cortex (PCC) as the key prefrontal region subserving theory of mind. We adopt an evolutionary perspective hypothesizing that, in response to the pressures of social complexity, a mechanism for manipulating information concerning social interaction has emerged in the anterior PCC. To date, neuroimaging studies have not properly distinguished between intentions of persons involved in social interactions and intentions of an isolated person.

Characterization of a thyroid-specific and cyclic adenosine monophosphate-responsive enhancer far upstream from the human sodium iodide symporter gene.

We describe the cloning and characterization of a human sodium iodide (NIS) upstream enhancer (NUE). This putative enhancer was cloned based on its sequence homology (69% identity) to the rat NUE. A 296 base pair (bp) genomic DNA fragment, which is located 9000 bp upstream from the human hNIS gene, was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and inserted into a luciferase reporter gene in front of both the homologous NIS promoter and the heterologous SV40 promoter.

Opinion article: cytomegalovirus is a risk factor in atherogenesis.

Whether or not infectious agents are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has been a matter of discussion for the past 2 decades. Although there is no definite proof of a causal role of human cytomegalovirus in atherogenesis, a body of knowledge supports the concept that this virus is involved in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. This review assesses the most important data published in support of this hypothesis.

FDG-PET for clinical use. Results of the 3rd German Interdisciplinary Consensus Conference, "Onko-PET III", 21 July and 19 September 2000.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is the most powerful molecular imaging technique currently available for clinical use. Because deranged tumour metabolism is a common finding in many malignancies, PET is frequently used for tissue characterisation, staging and therapy control. Four previous consensus studies in Germany, performed up to 1997, have established indications for fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) PET in oncology, neurology and cardiology.

Transcriptional regulation of the human sodium/iodide symporter gene by Pax8 and TTF-1.

The regulation of the human Na(+)/I(-) symporter (NIS) gene is of considerable interest for both the diagnosis and therapy of thyroid pathologies. We investigated the influence of the thyroid-specific transcription factors TTF-1 and Pax8 on the NIS promoter and its 5'-flanking sequence. Reporter genes containing the corresponding genomic fragments coupled to a luciferase reporter gene were cotransfected with expression vectors carrying the the cDNA's for TTF-1 and Pax8.

Thyroid transcription factor 1 and Pax8 synergistically activate the promoter of the human thyroglobulin gene.

Thyroglobulin (Tg) is an essential thyroid-specific protein, which serves as the matrix for thyroid hormone biosynthesis. To obtain new insights in the regulation of Tg gene expression, we investigated the interaction of the human Tg promoter with the thyroid-specific transcription factors TTF-1 and Pax8. A reporter gene, containing a 202 bp fragment from the human Tg 5'-flanking region including the promoter sequence and the transcriptional start site, and expression vectors containing the cDNAs for human TTF-1 and Pax8 were used in cotransfection experiments, in the non-thyroidal cell lines COS-7 and HeLa.

Difficult bile duct stone recurrence after endoscopy and extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy.

Background/aims: In a prospective study, we investigated stone recurrence in high risk patients with difficult common bile duct stones treated with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) after futile endoscopic attempts at stone extraction with sphincterotomy.

Methodology: Endoscopic stone extraction proved unsuccessful in 35 of 659 patients presenting with common bile duct stones (5.5%, 11 males and 24 females: mean age 71.

Alveolar echinococcosis of the liver: percutaneous stent therapy in Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Background And Aims: Infiltration of the hepatic veins in the alveolar echinococcosis can lead to the development of the Budd-Chiari syndrome. The medical and surgical treatment of this condition is generally unsatisfactory. The results of successful interventional treatment with percutaneous stent implantation in the hepatic veins are reported.

Solitary versus multiple gallstones: the importance of total biliary protein concentration and other factors.

Background: Nucleating and antinucleating factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of cholesterol crystal nucleation.

Patients And Methods: In 88 gallstone patients (59 female, 29 male) bile was examined for total biliary protein and glycoprotein concentration, nucleation time and cholesterol saturation index. Gallstone density was measured by in vivo computed tomography.

Increased incidence of gallstones and prior cholecystectomy in patients with large bowel cancer.

In a retrospective study, the frequency of occurrence of gallstones and cholecystectomy in 479 patients with colorectal cancer was compared with that of 483 matched control patients with other malignancies. The mean interval between cholecystectomy and colon cancer diagnosis was 15.1 +/- 9.