Phase-stabilized UV light at 267 nm through twofold second harmonic generation

Providing phase stable laser light is important to extend the interrogation time of optical clocks towards many seconds and thus achieve small statistical uncertainties. We report a laser system providing more than 50 µW phase-stabilized UV light at 267.4 nm for an aluminium ion optical clock. The light is generated by frequency-quadrupling a fibre laser at 1069.6 nm in two cascaded non-linear crystals, both in single-pass configuration. In the first stage, a 10 mm long PPLN waveguide crystal converts 1 W fundamental light to more than 0.2 W at 534.8 nm. In the following 50 mm long DKDP crystal, more than 50 µW of light at 267.4 nm are generated. An upper limit for the passive short-term phase stability has been measured by a beat-node measurement with an existing phase-stabilized quadrupling system employing the same source laser. The resulting fractional frequency instability of less than 5×10^-17 after 1 s supports lifetime-limited probing of the ²⁷Al⁺ clock transition, given a sufficiently stable laser source. A further improved stability of the fourth harmonic light is expected through interferometric path length stabilisation of the pump light by back-reflecting it through the entire setup and correcting for frequency deviations. The in-loop error signal indicates an electronically limited instability of 1 × 10^-18 at 1 s.

eCross-cultural adaptation of the spine oncology-specific SOSGOQ2.0 questionnaire to German language and the assessment of its validity and reliability in the clinical setting

Background

The recently developed Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire (SOSGOQ2.0) was proven a valid and reliable instrument measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for patients with spinal malignancies. A German version was not available.

Objective

A cross-cultural adaptation of the SOSGOQ2.0 to the German language and its multicenter evaluation.

Methods

In a multistep process, a cross-cultural adaptation of the SOSGOQ2.0 was conducted. Subsequently, a multicenter, prospective observational cohort study was initiated to assess the reliability and validity of the German adaptation. To assess external construct validity of the cross-cultural adapted questionnaire, a comparison to the established questionnaire QLQ-C30 from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer was conducted. Mean-difference plots were used to measure the agreement between the questionnaires in total score and by domain (deviation from mean up to 10% allowed). Further reliability and validity tests were carried out. Change to baseline was analysed 3–16 weeks later after different interventions occurred. Clinically relevant thresholds in comparison to the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire were evaluated by ROC curve analysis.

Results

We could enroll 113 patients from four different university hospitals (58 females, 55 males). Mean age was 64.11 years (sd 11.9). 80 patients had an ECOG performance status of 2 or higher at baseline. External construct validity in comparison to the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire in total score and by domain was confirmed (range of deviation 4.4 to 9.0%). Good responsiveness for the domains Physical Functioning (P < .001) and Pain (P < .001) could be shown. The group mean values also displayed a difference in the domains of Social Functioning (P = .331) and Mental Health (P = .130), but not significant. The minimum clinically relevant threshold values for the questionnaire ranged from 4.0 to 7.5 points.

Conclusions

According to our results, the cross-cultural adapted questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool to measure HRQOL in German speaking patients with spinal malignancies. Especially the domains Physical Functioning and Pain showed overall good psychometric characteristics. In this way, a generic questionnaire, such as the EORTC QLQ-C30, can be usefully supplemented by spine-specific questions to increase the overall accuracy measuring HRQOL in patients with spinal malignancies.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08578-x.

The gridded retarding ion drift sensor for the petitSat cubeSat mission

The Gridded Retarding Ion Drift Sensor (GRIDS) is a small sensor that will fly on the 6 U petitSat CubeSat. It is designed to measure the three-dimensional plasma drift velocity vector in the Earth's ionosphere. The GRIDS also supplies information about the ion temperature, ion density, and the ratio of light to heavy ions present in the ionospheric plasma. It utilizes well-proven techniques that have been successfully validated by similar instruments on larger satellite missions while meeting CubeSat-compatible requirements for low mass, size, and power consumption. GRIDS performs the functions of a Retarding Potential Analyzer (RPA) and an Ion Drift Meter (IDM) by combining the features of both types of instruments in a single package. The sensor alternates RPA and IDM measurements to produce the full set of measurement parameters listed above. On the petitSat mission, GRIDS will help identify and characterize a phenomenon known as plasma blobs (or enhancements).

C-24 Longitudinal Trajectories of Working Memory Performance in Typically Aging Older Adults

Objective

Cross-sectional studies have shown age-related differences in working memory (WM), but the trajectory is unclear due to the scarcity of longitudinal studies. Additional research is needed to better characterize the course of age-related changes in WM in older adults. The present study sought to address this gap in the literature by conducting serial assessments of WM in a longitudinally followed cohort of typically aging adults. We hypothesized a significant age × time interaction, such that WM would show pronounced declines with advancing age.

Methods

640 functionally intact participants in an aging cohort (clinical dementia rating = 0; age range 52-99, mean age = 75) completed a computerized WM measure, Running Letter Memory (RLM), every ~15 months for up to 8.5 years (mean follow-up = 1.9 years). Longitudinal changes in RLM scores were analyzed using linear mixed effects models, allowing for random slopes and intercepts. All models were adjusted for sex and education.

Results

RLM performance did not significantly decline over time (b = -.14, p = .43). As hypothesized, there was a significant age × time interaction predicting RLM scores (b = -.08, p = .006). Specifically, RLM performance remained relatively stable (or slightly improved) until around age 75, beyond which increasingly precipitous declines were observed with advancing age.

Conclusion

The present results suggest that WM performance does not evidence declines until the mid-70s in typically aging adults, at which point increasingly steep decline trajectories are observed with advancing age. These findings highlight that cognitive aging does not occur at a constant rate in late life.

Towards a transportable aluminium ion quantum logic optical clock

With the advent of optical clocks featuring fractional frequency uncertainties on the order of 10^-17 and below, new applications such as chronometric leveling with few-centimeter height resolution emerge. We are developing a transportable optical clock based on a single trapped aluminum ion, which is interrogated via quantum logic spectroscopy. We employ singly charged calcium as the logic ion for sympathetic cooling, state preparation, and readout. Here, we present a simple and compact physics and laser package for manipulation of ⁴⁰Ca⁺. Important features are a segmented multilayer trap with separate loading and probing zones, a compact titanium vacuum chamber, a near-diffraction-limited imaging system with high numerical aperture based on a single biaspheric lens, and an all-in-fiber ⁴⁰Ca⁺ repump laser system. We present preliminary estimates of the trap-induced frequency shifts on ²⁷Al⁺, derived from measurements with a single calcium ion. The micromotion-induced second-order Doppler shift for ²⁷Al⁺ has been determined to be δν_EMMν=-0.4_-0.3 ^+0.4×10^-18 and the black-body radiation shift is δν_BBR/ν = (-4.0 ± 0.4) × 10^-18. Moreover, heating rates of 30 (7) quanta per second at trap frequencies of ω_rad,Ca+ ≈ 2π × 2.5 MHz (ω_ax,Ca+ ≈ 2π × 1.5 MHz) in radial (axial) direction have been measured, enabling interrogation times of a few hundreds of milliseconds.

A Type 1 Diabetes Genetic Risk Score Predicts Progression of Islet Autoimmunity and Development of Type 1 Diabetes in Individuals at Risk

OBJECTIVE

We tested the ability of a type 1 diabetes (T1D) genetic risk score (GRS) to predict progression of islet autoimmunity and T1D in at-risk individuals.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We studied the 1,244 TrialNet Pathway to Prevention study participants (T1D patients' relatives without diabetes and with one or more positive autoantibodies) who were genotyped with Illumina ImmunoChip (median [range] age at initial autoantibody determination 11.1 years [1.2-51.8], 48% male, 80.5% non-Hispanic white, median follow-up 5.4 years). Of 291 participants with a single positive autoantibody at screening, 157 converted to multiple autoantibody positivity and 55 developed diabetes. Of 953 participants with multiple positive autoantibodies at screening, 419 developed diabetes. We calculated the T1D GRS from 30 T1D-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms. We used multivariable Cox regression models, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves, and area under the curve (AUC) measures to evaluate prognostic utility of T1D GRS, age, sex, Diabetes Prevention Trial-Type 1 (DPT-1) Risk Score, positive autoantibody number or type, HLA DR3/DR4-DQ8 status, and race/ethnicity. We used recursive partitioning analyses to identify cut points in continuous variables.

RESULTS

Higher T1D GRS significantly increased the rate of progression to T1D adjusting for DPT-1 Risk Score, age, number of positive autoantibodies, sex, and ethnicity (hazard ratio [HR] 1.29 for a 0.05 increase, 95% CI 1.06-1.6; P = 0.011). Progression to T1D was best predicted by a combined model with GRS, number of positive autoantibodies, DPT-1 Risk Score, and age (7-year time-integrated AUC = 0.79, 5-year AUC = 0.73). Higher GRS was significantly associated with increased progression rate from single to multiple positive autoantibodies after adjusting for age, autoantibody type, ethnicity, and sex (HR 2.27 for GRS >0.295, 95% CI 1.47-3.51; P = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

The T1D GRS independently predicts progression to T1D and improves prediction along T1D stages in autoantibody-positive relatives.

Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Risk in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Insights From the DCCT/EDIC Study

Background

Hyperglycemia leading to increased oxidative stress is implicated in the increased risk for the development of macrovascular and microvascular complications in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods and Results

A random subcohort of 349 participants was selected from the DCCT / EDIC (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications) cohort. This included 320 controls and 29 cardiovascular disease cases that were augmented with 98 additional known cases to yield a case cohort of 447 participants (320 controls, 127 cases). Biosamples from DCCT baseline, year 1, and closeout of DCCT , and 1 to 2 years post‐ DCCT ( EDIC years 1 and 2) were measured for markers of oxidative stress, including plasma myeloperoxidase, paraoxonase activity, urinary F 2α isoprostanes, and its metabolite, 2,3 dinor‐8 iso prostaglandin F 2α . Following adjustment for glycated hemoblobin and weighting the observations inversely proportional to the sampling selection probabilities, higher paraoxonase activity, reflective of antioxidant activity, and 2,3 dinor‐8 iso prostaglandin F 2α , an oxidative marker, were significantly associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease (−4.5% risk for 10% higher paraoxonase, P <0.003; −5.3% risk for 10% higher 2,3 dinor‐8 iso prostaglandin F 2α , P =0.0092). In contrast, the oxidative markers myeloperoxidase and F 2α isoprostanes were not significantly associated with cardiovascular disease after adjustment for glycated hemoblobin. There were no significant differences between DCCT intensive and conventional treatment groups in the change in all biomarkers across time segments.

Conclusions

Heightened antioxidant activity (rather than diminished oxidative stress markers) is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk in type 1 diabetes mellitus, but these biomarkers did not change over time with intensification of glycemic control.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL : https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifiers: NCT 00360815 and NCT 00360893.

Deep digital flexor tendon shortening as a treatment for distal interphalangeal joint hyperextension in a 2-year-old mare

Shortening of the deep digital flexor tendon was performed by tenotomy, overlapping and anastomosis. The procedure was performed on a two-year-old Quarter Horse Mare with distal interphalangeal joint hyperextension with subluxation and metatarsophalangeal joint hyperextension. These problems originated from damage to the digital flexor tendons, presumably due to previous distal limb trauma. The procedure markedly improved the mare's level of comfort, degree of ambulation and limb conformation. Two years following surgery the mare was comfortable at pasture.

Aktuelle Diagnostik der Hüftkopf-nekrose

Die neue S3-Leitlinie zur atraumatischen Femurkopfosteonekrose (aFKON) des Erwachsenen fasst nicht nur den aktuellen Wis-sensstand zur Diagnostik der aFKON zusammen, sondern positioniert sich auch kritisch und klar zu verschiedenen Therapien und the-rapeutischen Ansätzen. In der vorliegenden Übersichtsarbeit werden die Kernaussagen der neuen Leitlinie zur Diagnostik der aFKON unter Berücksichtigung neuester Literatur erörtert. Die korrekte Zuordnung zu einem Stadium der Erkrankung ist Dreh- und Angel-punkt einer modernen Therapieentscheidung für jeden einzelnen Patienten. Hierzu wird eine pragmatische und moderne Nutzung der 1993 vorgelegten ARCO-Klassifikation empfohlen und beschrieben sowie Kriterien für die Einordnung in die einzelnen Stadien definiert. Die Diagnostik und die Klassifizierung der aFKON beruht heute praktisch ausschließlich auf den Ergebnissen der bildgebenden Diagnostik. Die Magnetresonanztomografie und in einzelnen Fällen die ergänzende Computer -tomografie sind die Eckpfeiler der Klassifikation. Die Radiografie des Beckens a. p. und einer zweiten Ebene der betroffenen Hüfte ist als Basisuntersuchung bei Verdacht auf eine aFKON anzusehen und dient auch dem Aus-schluss anderer Erkrankungen.

An endophenotype approach to the genetics of alcohol dependence: a genome wide association study of fast beta EEG in families of African ancestry

Fast beta (20-28 Hz) electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillatory activity may be a useful endophenotype for studying the genetics of disorders characterized by neural hyperexcitability, including substance use disorders (SUDs). However, the genetic underpinnings of fast beta EEG have not previously been studied in a population of African-American ancestry (AA). In a sample of 2382 AA individuals from 482 families drawn from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA), we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on resting-state fast beta EEG power. To further characterize our genetic findings, we examined the functional and clinical/behavioral significance of GWAS variants. Ten correlated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (r²>0.9) located in an intergenic region on chromosome 3q26 were associated with fast beta EEG power at P<5 × 10^-8. The most significantly associated SNP, rs11720469 (β: -0.124; P<4.5 × 10^-9), is also an expression quantitative trait locus for BCHE (butyrylcholinesterase), expressed in thalamus tissue. Four of the genome-wide SNPs were also associated with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Alcohol Dependence in COGA AA families, and two (rs13093097, rs7428372) were replicated in an independent AA sample (Gelernter et al.). Analyses in the AA adolescent/young adult (offspring from COGA families) subsample indicated association of rs11720469 with heavy episodic drinking (frequency of consuming 5+ drinks within 24 h). Converging findings presented in this study provide support for the role of genetic variants within 3q26 in neural and behavioral disinhibition. These novel genetic findings highlight the importance of including AA populations in genetics research on SUDs and the utility of the endophenotype approach in enhancing our understanding of mechanisms underlying addiction susceptibility.

Feasibility of the Participatory Experience Survey and the Setting Affordances Survey for use in evaluation of programmes serving youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities

BACKGROUND

Participation by youth with disabilities in recreational activities has been shown to promote the development of important skills needed for transition to adulthood. The Participatory Experience Survey (PES) and the Setting Affordances Survey (SAS) were developed for use by recreational programmes serving youth with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities (SIDD) to assess participant experiences and ensure that participants are afforded optimal opportunities to develop these skills. This paper presents a feasibility evaluation to determine the appropriateness of the PES and the SAS for use in a programme evaluation context.

METHOD

The PES and the SAS were used to evaluate a programme serving youth with SIDD in the greater northwest region of the United States. Three recreational activities were evaluated: an art project, trip to a zoo and a track practice. Programme volunteers used the SAS to assess opportunities and affordances offered within each activity. The PES was then given to 10 young people in each activity to capture their experiences. It was hypothesized that each setting would afford different experiences and developmental opportunities because of the differing nature of the activities.

RESULTS

The PES and SAS were found to be feasible for conducting a programme evaluation. All three settings offered varying types of experiences and affordances. Notably, as measured by the SAS, opportunity for skill development was greater in more structured activities; the zoo had the fewest opportunities for skill development and the art project had the most skill development opportunities. Youth answered 'no' most often to 'asking for help' and 'helping a kid', suggesting changes to offer more opportunities to develop these skills would be beneficial in all three activities.

CONCLUSION

These new instruments offer programmes a means to more fully include young people with disabilities during programme evaluations, leading to better-structured, more supportive programmes.

Percutaneous Irreversible Electroporation: Long-term survival analysis of 71 patients with inoperable malignant hepatic tumors

Aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the survival times after percutaneous irreversible electroporation (IRE) in inoperable liver tumors not amenable to thermal ablation. 71 patients (14 females, 57 males, median age 63.5 ± 10.8 years) with 103 liver tumors were treated in 83 interventions using IRE (NanoKnife® system). The median tumor short-axis diameter was 1.9 cm (minimum 0.4 cm, maximum 4.5 cm). 35 patients had primary liver tumors and 36 patients had liver metastases. The Kaplan-Meier method was employed to calculate the survival rates, and the different groups were compared using multivariate log-rank and Wilcoxon tests. The overall median survival time was 26.3 months; the median survival of patients with primary land secondary liver cancer did not significantly differ (26.8 vs. 19.9 months; p = 0.41). Patients with a tumor diameter >3 cm (p < 0.001) or more than 2 lesions (p < 0.005) died significantly earlier than patients with smaller or fewer tumors. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and Child-Pugh class B or C cirrhosis died significantly earlier than patients with Child-Pugh class A (p < 0.05). Patients with very early stage HCC survived significantly longer than patients with early stage HCC with a median survival of 22.3 vs. 13.7 months (p < 0.05).

Abstract P6-16-03: Phase 2 trial of everolimus and/or trastuzumab in hormone refractory, hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-normal metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

Background: Increased signaling through growth factor pathways including PI3K/Akt/mTOR and HER2 have been implicated in hormone resistance. Everolimus (EVE) improves outcomes when added to endocrine therapy for patients with HR-positive MBC. This study evaluated the efficacy of everolimus (EVE) and trastuzumab (TRAS) in hormone refractory HER2-normal metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: Eligible patients had HR-positive, HER2/neu-negative (IHC +1 or +2, HER2-non-amplified) MBC that had progressed within 6 months of the most recent endocrine therapy. Patients continued on the most recent endocrine therapy they received and were randomized to receive EVE 10 mg oral daily or TRAS IV (8 mg/kg loading dose followed by 6 mg/kg every 3 weeks). At progression, the other agent was added (TRAS in the EVE arm and EVE in the TRAS arm). Patients were followed until disease progression or death.

Results: 54 eligible patients were included in the analysis, and were randomized to EVE (n=30) or TRAS (n=24). 33% of patients were on fulvestrant, 31% exemestane, 22% tamoxifen and 7% letrozole, which were continued. The median PFS was 5.7 months for EVE vs. 2 months for TRAS until first progression or death with hazard ratio of 0.45 (95% CI 0.25-0.81, p=0.008). Among 48 patients who had disease progression, EVE was added to 16 patients who were originally treated by TRAS, and TRAS was added to 12 patients who were originally treated by EVE; the median time to the second progression was 6.3 months for the arm where EVE was added vs. 3.1 months in the arm where TRAS was added. Three patients were taken off study due to decrease in ejection fraction.

Conclusions: This trial demonstrates the efficacy of EVE alone or in combination with TRAS in patients with hormone refractory HR-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, who remained on the endocrine therapy they had experienced disease progression on. This suggests that mTOR inhibition has the potential of restoring sensitivity to endocrine therapy and potentially allows the re-use of endocrine agents. Updated results and correlative studies will be presented. Clinical trial information: NCT00912340.

Citation Format: Paplomata E, Gogineni K, Meisel J, Santa-Maria C, Yuan L, Kramer J, Bill Li X, Zelnak A, Pakkala S, Kaklamani V, O'Regan R. Phase 2 trial of everolimus and/or trastuzumab in hormone refractory, hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-normal metastatic breast cancer (MBC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-16-03.

Differences of cell surface marker expression between bone marrow- and kidney-derived murine mesenchymal stromal cells and fibroblasts

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are undifferentiated, multipotent adult cells with regenerative properties. They are particularly relevant for therapeutic approaches due to the simplicity of their isolation and cultivation. Since MSC show an expression pattern of cell surface marker, which is almost identical to fibroblasts, many attempts have been made to address the similarities and differences between MSC and fibroblasts. In this study we aimed to isolate murine MSC from bone marrow (BM) and kidney to characterize them in comparison to fibroblasts. Cells were isolated from murine kidney, BM and abdominal skin by plastic adherence and subsequently characterized by analysing their capability to build colony-forming unit-fibroblasts (CFU-F), their morphology, their proliferation, expression of telomerase activity and cell surface antigens as well as their differentiation capacity. Plastic adherent cells from the 3 mouse tissues showed similar morphology, proliferation profiles and CFU-F building capacities. However, while MSC from BM and kidney differentiated into the adipogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic direction, fibroblasts were not able to do so efficiently. In addition, a tendency for lower expression of telomerase was found in the fibroblast population. Proliferating cells from kidney and BM expressed the MSC-specific cell surface markers CD105 and Sca-1 on a significantly higher and CD117 on a significantly lower level compared to fibroblasts and were thereby distinguishable from fibroblasts. Furthermore, we found that certain CD markers were specifically expressed on a higher level, either in BM-derived cells or fibroblasts. This study demonstrates that murine MSC isolated from different organs express certain specific markers, which enable their discrimination.

Epidemiology and outcomes of hepatitis C infection in elderly US Veterans

The chronic hepatitis C (CHC) cohort in the United States is getting older. Elderly patients with CHC may be at a high risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but also other nonhepatic comorbidities that negatively impact their likelihood of receiving or responding to antiviral treatment. There is little information on the clinical epidemiology or outcomes of CHC and its treatment in the elderly. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1 61 744 patients with a positive Hepatitis C virus RNA in the Veterans Health Administration Hepatitis C Clinical Case Registry to examine the association between age subgroups (20-49, 50-64, 65-85 years) and risk of cirrhosis, HCC or death using Cox proportional hazards models. We also examined the effect of treatment with a sustained viral response (SVR) on these outcomes in each age subgroup. The age distribution was 36.8% 20- to 49-year-olds, 57.6% 50- to 64-year-olds and 5.6% 65- to 85-year-olds (i.e. elderly). Risk of cirrhosis, HCC and death was significantly elevated in elderly patients [HR cirrhosis = 1.14 (1.00-1.29), HR HCC = 2.44 (1.99-2.99); HR death 2.09 (1.98-2.22)] compared with younger patients. The incidence of HCC was than 8.4 per 1000 PY in the elderly compared with 2.6 per 1000 PY and 5.7 per 1000 PY, among the 20-49 and 50-64 age groups, respectively. Elderly patients were significantly less likely to receive antiviral treatment (3.8% vs 14.8% and 19.1%, P < 0.0001), but among those who received treatment SVR was not different among the age groups (33.5% vs 33.2% and 32.1%). In an analysis limited to those who received treatment, SVR compared to treatment receipt with no SVR was associated with a reduction in risk of developing cirrhosis (HR = 0.34; 0.18-0.66) and HCC (HR = 0.60; 0.22-1.61) and all-cause mortality risk (HR = 0.52, 0.33-0.82). Elderly patients with CHC are more likely to develop HCC than younger patients but have traditionally received less antiviral treatment than younger patients. However, receipt of curative treatment is associated with a benefit in reducing cirrhosis, HCC and overall mortality, irrespective of age.

Cranial MR Imaging and Cerebral 99MTC HM-PAO-Spect in Patients with Subacute or Chronic Severe Closed Head Injury and Normal CT Examinations

Eighteen patients in the subacute or chronic state following severe closed head injury with normal cranial CT scans were examined by MR and 99mTc HM-PAO SPECT. Correlations were sought between these 2 imaging modalities and the clinical outcome, as defined by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score. Both MR and SPECT revealed cerebral damage in all patients examined but structural and functional alterations did not coincide topographically in 64.9% of lesions. Nevertheless, complementary injury patterns suggesting poor recovery were found; cortical contusions and diffuse axonal injury (MR) in conjunction with cortical and thalamic hypoperfusion (SPECT) were noticed in 8 out of 12 patients with unfavorable outcome (GOS = III and IV). The synthesis of MR and SPECT information clearly enhanced the ability both to accurately assess posttraumatic brain damage and to improve patients' outcome prediction.

High-Resolution Real-Time Sonography and MR Imaging in Assessment of Osteocartilaginous Exostoses

High-resolution real-time ultrasonography (US) and MR imaging, using both spin-echo (SE) and gradient-echo (GE) sequences, were performed prospectively in 14 patients with solitary osteocartilaginous exostoses to assess cartilage cap thickness and bursa formation. Results were compared to surgical and histopathologic findings in all cases. Both US and MR imaging were useful in evaluating exostotic cartilage cap thickness, which is supposed to be the most reliable sign of malignant transformation. Hyaline cartilage matrix had distinctive features in US and MR imaging caused by its specific histologic composition. The formation of bursae over the protruding exostoses, which results in pain and clinically could raise the suspicion of growth and malignant transformation, was demonstrated best using GE sequences. MR imaging was thus superior to US in the detection of bursa formation.

Photo-spectroscopy of mixtures of catalyst particles reveals their age and type

Within a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, a mixture of catalyst particles that consist of either zeolite Y (FCC-Y) or ZSM-5 (FCC-ZSM-5) is used in order to boost the propylene yield when processing crude oil fractions. Mixtures of differently aged FCC-Y and FCC-ZSM-5 particles circulating in the FCC unit, the so-called equilibrium catalyst (Ecat), are routinely studied to monitor the overall efficiency of the FCC process. In this study, the age of individual catalyst particles is evaluated based upon photographs after selective staining with substituted styrene molecules. The observed color changes are linked to physical properties, such as the micropore volume and catalytic cracking activity data. Furthermore, it has been possible to determine the relative amount of FCC-Y and FCC-ZSM-5 in an artificial series of physical mixtures as well as in an Ecat sample with unknown composition. As a result, a new practical tool is introduced in the field of zeolite catalysis to evaluate FCC catalyst performances on the basis of photo-spectroscopic measurements with an off-the-shelf digital single lens reflex (DSLR) photo-camera with a macro lens. The results also demonstrate that there is an interesting time and cost trade-off between single catalyst particle studies, as performed with e.g. UV-vis, synchrotron-based IR and fluorescence micro-spectroscopy, and many catalyst particle photo-spectroscopy studies, making use of a relatively simple DSLR photo-camera. The latter approach offers clear prospects for the quality control of e.g. FCC catalyst manufacturing plants.

Genome-wide association data suggest ABCB1 and immune-related gene sets may be involved in adult antisocial behavior

Adult antisocial behavior (AAB) is moderately heritable, relatively common and has adverse consequences for individuals and society. We examined the molecular genetic basis of AAB in 1379 participants from a case-control study in which the cases met criteria for alcohol dependence. We also examined whether genes of interest were expressed in human brain. AAB was measured using a count of the number of Antisocial Personality Disorder criteria endorsed under criterion A from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV). Participants were genotyped on the Illumina Human 1M BeadChip. In total, all single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) accounted for 25% of the variance in AAB, although this estimate was not significant (P=0.09). Enrichment tests indicated that more significantly associated genes were over-represented in seven gene sets, and most were immune related. Our most highly associated SNP (rs4728702, P=5.77 × 10(-7)) was located in the protein-coding adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette, sub-family B (MDR/TAP), member 1 (ABCB1). In a gene-based test, ABCB1 was genome-wide significant (q=0.03). Expression analyses indicated that ABCB1 was robustly expressed in the brain. ABCB1 has been implicated in substance use, and in post hoc tests we found that variation in ABCB1 was associated with DSM-IV alcohol and cocaine dependence criterion counts. These results suggest that ABCB1 may confer risk across externalizing behaviors, and are consistent with previous suggestions that immune pathways are associated with externalizing behaviors. The results should be tempered by the fact that we did not replicate the associations for ABCB1 or the gene sets in a less-affected independent sample.

Five population-based interventions for smoking cessation: a MOST trial

Little is known about the relative, additive, and interactive effects of different population-based treatments for smoking cessation. The goal of this study was to evaluate the main and interactive effects of five different smoking interventions. Using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST), 1,034 smokers who entered a Web site for smokers (smokefree.gov) were randomly assigned to the "on" and "off" conditions of five smoking cessation interventions: the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Web site (www.smokefree.gov vs a "lite" Web site), telephone quitline counseling (vs none), a smoking cessation brochure (vs a lite brochure), motivational e-mail messages (vs none), and mini-lozenge nicotine replacement therapy (NRT vs none). Analyses showed that the NCI Web site and NRT both increased abstinence; however, the former increased abstinence significantly only when it was not used with the e-mail messaging intervention (messaging decreased Web site use). The other interventions showed little evidence of effectiveness. There was evidence that mailed nicotine mini-lozenges and the NCI Web site (www.smokefree.gov) provide benefit as population-based smoking interventions.

Online cognitive-based intervention for depression: exploring possible circularity in mechanisms of change

BACKGROUND

This study investigates possible circularity in mechanisms of change in participants of Master Your Mood (MYM), a cognitive-based, online intervention for young adults with depressive symptoms. A previous study showed that MYM effectively reduced depression and anxiety and strengthened mastery.

METHOD

We randomized 244 participants with depressive symptoms into MYM or a wait-list control condition. We explored the circularity hypothesis by several analyses. Correlations were computed to determine the association between (change in) depression and anxiety. Path analysis mediation models were used to explore whether change in anxiety and mastery mediated the intervention effect on depression, whether depression and mastery mediated the effect on anxiety and whether depression and anxiety mediated the effect on mastery. We used linear regression to explore whether early changes in anxiety predicted later changes in depression, and whether early changes in depression predicted later changes in anxiety.

RESULTS

Co-morbidity between depression and anxiety was high (69.2%) and the association between depression and anxiety change was strong (r = 0.677, p < 0.01). Changes in anxiety and mastery mediated change in depression (mediation proportion 44%); changes in depression mediated change in anxiety (79%) and mastery (75%). We did not find an early change in anxiety predictive for a late change in depression, and vice versa.

CONCLUSIONS

This study appears to confirm the hypothesized circularity in the recovery process. We found high co-morbidity and strong correlation between depression and anxiety levels and bi-directional relationships between potential mediators and outcomes. Early anxiety change scores were not predictive of late depression change scores, and vice versa.

[Epidemiological study on the dimension of vitamin D deficiency in North Germany]

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In North Germany, the recommended exposure to sunlight of 30 minutes per day to produce sufficient vitamin D is hardly achieved, in particular due to weather conditions. Moreover, lifestyle and working habits also contribute to this problem. The aim of our study was therefore to investigate the prevalence of the vitamin D deficiency in North Germany.

METHODS

For this purpose, 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels of over 98,000 people from North Germany during the time period 2008-2011 were retrospectively analysed based on age, gender and season. 25-vitamin D status was divided into sufficient (> 75 nmol/l) and insufficient (50 to 75 nmol/l) supply as well as vitamin D deficiency (< 50 to 25 nmol/l) and severe vitamin D deficiency (< 25 nmol/l).

RESULTS

An undersupply of vitamin D was evident in all age groups analysed both in women and men in North Germany. Overall, vitamin D deficiency was particularly present during the months with less sunlight: more than 30 % of the people analysed showed a severe vitamin D deficiency in the months January to April. The study also showed that 25-vitamin D tests were almost evenly distributed over the individual months of the whole year and that this analysis was requested more frequently in elderly than in younger people. However, a severe vitamin D deficiency could also be detected in 25 % of the people analysed in the adolescent and young adult age group.

CONCLUSION

Based on these results, it can be recommended to test 25-vitamin D levels once a year during the months January to April to detect a severe deficiency and to early initiate preventive supplementation.

Common biological networks underlie genetic risk for alcoholism in African- and European-American populations

Alcohol dependence (AD) is a heritable substance addiction with adverse physical and psychological consequences, representing a major health and economic burden on societies worldwide. Genes thus far implicated via linkage, candidate gene and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) account for only a small fraction of its overall risk, with effects varying across ethnic groups. Here we investigate the genetic architecture of alcoholism and report on the extent to which common, genome-wide SNPs collectively account for risk of AD in two US populations, African-Americans (AAs) and European-Americans (EAs). Analyzing GWAS data for two independent case-control sample sets, we compute polymarker scores that are significantly associated with alcoholism (P = 1.64 × 10(-3) and 2.08 × 10(-4) for EAs and AAs, respectively), reflecting the small individual effects of thousands of variants derived from patterns of allelic architecture that are population specific. Simulations show that disease models based on rare and uncommon causal variants (MAF < 0.05) best fit the observed distribution of polymarker signals. When scoring bins were annotated for gene location and examined for constituent biological networks, gene enrichment is observed for several cellular processes and functions in both EA and AA populations, transcending their underlying allelic differences. Our results reveal key insights into the complex etiology of AD, raising the possibility of an important role for rare and uncommon variants, and identify polygenic mechanisms that encompass a spectrum of disease liability, with some, such as chloride transporters and glycine metabolism genes, displaying subtle, modifying effects that are likely to escape detection in most GWAS designs.

Transcriptional signatures as a disease-specific and predictive inflammatory biomarker for type 1 diabetes

The complex milieu of inflammatory mediators associated with many diseases is often too dilute to directly measure in the periphery, necessitating development of more sensitive measurements suitable for mechanistic studies, earlier diagnosis, guiding therapeutic decisions and monitoring interventions. We previously demonstrated that plasma samples from recent-onset type 1 diabetes (RO T1D) patients induce a proinflammatory transcriptional signature in freshly drawn peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) relative to that of unrelated healthy controls (HC). Here, using cryopreserved PBMC, we analyzed larger RO T1D and HC cohorts, examined T1D progression in pre-onset samples, and compared the RO T1D signature to those associated with three disorders characterized by airway infection and inflammation. The RO T1D signature, consisting of interleukin-1 cytokine family members, chemokines involved in immunocyte chemotaxis, immune receptors and signaling molecules, was detected during early pre-diabetes and found to resolve post-onset. The signatures associated with cystic fibrosis patients chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, patients with confirmed bacterial pneumonia, and subjects with H1N1 influenza all reflected immunological activation, yet each were distinct from one another and negatively correlated with that of T1D. This study highlights the remarkable capacity of cells to serve as biosensors capable of sensitively and comprehensively differentiating immunological states.

Immune-mediated interface dermatitis in a rhesus macaque

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune dermatitis, specifically interface dermatitis, is rarely reported in nonhuman primates.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

This report describes a case of idiopathic immune-mediated dermatitis clinically manifesting as palmoplantar hyperkeratosis in a rhesus macaque, successfully controlled with the use of long-term oral corticosteroid therapy.