E-Health intervention for subthreshold depression: Reach and two-year effects of a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

There is evidence for e-Health interventions for full-blown depression. Little is known regarding commonly untreated subthreshold depression in primary care. This randomized controlled multi-centre trial assessed reach and two-year-effects of a proactive e-Health intervention (ActiLife) for patients with subthreshold depression.

METHODS

Primary care and hospital patients were screened for subthreshold depression. Over 6 months, ActiLife participants received three individualized feedback letters and weekly messages promoting self-help strategies against depression, e.g., dealing with unhelpful thoughts or behavioural activation. The primary outcome depressive symptom severity (Patient Health Questionnaire;PHQ-8) and secondary outcomes were assessed 6, 12 and 24 months.

RESULTS

Of those invited, n = 618(49.2 %) agreed to participate. Of them, 456 completed the baseline interview and were randomized to ActiLife (n = 227) or assessment only (n = 226). Generalised estimation equation analyses adjusting for site, setting and baseline depression revealed that depressive symptom severity declined over time, with no significant group differences at 6 (mean difference = 0.47 points; d = 0.12) and 24 months (mean difference = -0.05 points; d = -0.01). Potential adverse effects were observed at 12 months, with higher depressive symptom severity for ActiLife than control participants (mean difference = 1.33 points; d = 0.35). No significant differences in rates of reliable deterioration or reliable improvement of depressive symptoms were observed. ActiLife increased applied self-help strategies at 6 (mean difference = 0.32; d = 0.27) and 24 months (mean difference = 0.22; d = 0.19), but not at 12 months (mean difference = 0.18; d = 0.15).

LIMITATIONS

Self-report measures and lack of information on patients' mental health treatment.

DISCUSSION

ActiLife yielded satisfactory reach and increased the use of self-help strategies. Data were inconclusive in terms of depressive symptom changes.

Generation of two human iPSC lines (HIMRi002-A and HIMRi003-A) derived from Caveolinopathy patients with rippling muscle disease

Here we introduce the human induced pluripotent stem cell lines (hiPSCs), HIMRi002-A and HIMRi003-A, generated from cultured dermal fibroblasts of 61-year-old (HIMRi002-A) and 38-year-old (HIMRi003-A) female patients, carrying a known heterozygous pathogenic variant (p.A46T) in the Caveolin 3 (CAV3) gene, via lentiviral expression of OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC. HIMRi002-A and HIMRi003-A display typical embryonic stem cell-like morphology, carry the p.A46T CAV3 gene mutation, express several pluripotent stem cell markers, retain normal karyotype (46, XX) and can differentiate in all three germ layers. We postulate that the HIMRi002-A and HIMRi003-A iPSC lines can be used for the characterization of CAV3-associated pathomechanisms and for developing new therapeutic options.

Sociodemographic Differences in Intimate Partner Violence Prevalence, Chronicity, and Severity Among Young Sexual and Gender Minorities Assigned Male at Birth: The P18 Cohort Study

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent among young sexual and gender minorities assigned male at birth (YSGM-AMAB). However, few studies have examined the chronicity or distinguished between minor and severe forms of IPV among YSGM-AMAB. Furthermore, while past research has documented differences in IPV by race/ethnicity, sexual identity, gender identity, income, and education in other populations, few studies have examined these sociodemographic characteristics in relation to IPV in YSGM-AMAB. Thus, the present study aims to: (1) estimate past year prevalence and chronicity of minor and severe forms of IPV victimization and perpetration in a diverse sample of (N = 665) YSGM-AMAB in New York City, and (2) examine differences in IPV prevalence and chronicity by the aforementioned sociodemographic characteristics. Cross-sectional data from [BLINDED] informed these descriptive and inferential analyses. Nearly half of all participants reported past year IPV victimization and approximately 40% reported perpetration. Psychological violence was the most common form of victimization, followed by sexual, physical, and injury victimization. Psychological violence was the most common form of perpetration, followed by physical, sexual, and injury perpetration. Regarding sociodemographic differences in last year IPV prevalence, bisexual, transgender, and lower income YSGM-AMAB were more likely to report several subtypes of IPV victimization. Whereas Asian/API, bisexual, transgender, and lower income participants were more likely to report several subtypes of IPV perpetration. Regarding last year IPV chronicity, non-graduate YSGM-AMAB reported more instances of two subtypes of IPV victimization, while Black, White, cisgender, upper income, non-graduate participants reported more instances of several subtypes of IPV perpetration. These findings may be used to develop IPV prevention and intervention programs, inform future research endeavors, and develop and strengthen policies that reduce sociodemographic inequalities and promote more favorable sociopolitical conditions for YSGM-AMAB.

Stiripentol in the treatment of adults with focal epilepsy- a retrospective analysis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the add-on treatment of stiripentol (STP) in adult patients with severely pharmacoresistant focal or multifocal epilepsy.

METHODS

Data on adult patients treated with STP from March 2007 to July 2020 and with at least one clinical follow-up (FU) were retrospectively reviewed. Data on tolerability, efficacy and concomitant medication were evaluated at baseline, 6 months (5.5 ± 1.6 months (mean ± SD)) and 12 months (13.1 ± 3.9 months (mean ± SD)).

RESULTS

Data of 22 patients (54.5% male, mean age 34.4 ± 17.79 years (mean ± SD), including mean duration of epilepsy 17.6 ± 25.5 years (mean ± SD), median seizure frequency 30 ± 20 (median ± MAD) per month, and 63.6% being severely intellectually disabled, with 3 to 18 previous anti-seizure-drugs (ASD), were collected. After 6 months, 72.7% of the patients were still taking STP, and 31% of the patients were responders, including 13% who were seizure-free. The 12-month retention rate was 54.4 %, the response rate was 36.4% and 13.6% of patients were seizure-free at the 12-month FU. Reasons for discontinuation were increased seizure frequency, hyperammonaemia and encephalopathy.

CONCLUSION

STP seems to be a useful option in the treatment of patients with severely pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Prospective trials are necessary to examine the efficacy of STP in adult patients with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy.

The Intersection of Mental Health, Self-Reported Neurocognitive Functioning, and Education in Older HIV+ Gay Men

Older people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) face different mental and neurocognitive challenges related to their health and well-being. Using data from a cross-sectional study (n=250) on older (age 50-69) gay men living with HIV/AIDS in NYC, this study examined the multi-level associations between self-reported neurocognitive functioning, mental health, and key sociodemographics (age, race/ethnicity, financial situation, and education). Findings suggest those who have higher self-reported neurocognitive functioning have higher levels of education, better self-rated health, and lower levels of PTSD and depression (p<0.01). Differences were not observed based on race/ethnicity, financial situation, and age. The overall findings demonstrate educational differences in self-reported cognitive functioning among older HIV+ gay men and highlight the importance of enhancing interventions and policies to promote better cognitive and mental health outcomes. More research is warranted to understand the intersection of education and cognitive performance among other sub-groups of PLWHA to understand whether these findings are consistent.

Low-threshold SARS-CoV-2 testing facility for hospital staff: Prevention of COVID-19 outbreaks?

BACKGROUND

The ongoing global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused over 4.7 million infections greatly challenging healthcare workers (HCW) and medical institutions worldwide. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has shown to significantly impact mental and physical health of HCW. Thus, implementation of testing facilities supporting HCW are urgently needed.

METHODS

A low-threshold SARS-CoV-2 testing facility was introduced at the University Hospital Bonn, Germany, in March 2020. Irrespective of clinical symptoms employees were offered a voluntary and free SARS-CoV-2 test. Furthermore, employees returning from SARS-CoV-2 risk regions and employees after risk contact with SARS-CoV-2 infected patients or employees were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pharyngeal swabs were taken and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for detection of SARS-CoV-2 was performed, test results being available within 24 h. Profession, symptoms and reason for SARS-CoV-2 testing of employees were recorded.

RESULTS

Between 9th March and April 30, 2020, a total of 1510 employees were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection. 1185 employees took advantage of the low-threshold testing facility. One percent (n = 11) were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, 18% being asymptomatic, 36% showing mild and 36% moderate/severe symptoms (missing 10%). Furthermore, of 56 employees returning from SARS-CoV-2 risk regions, 18% (10/56) were tested SARS-CoV-2 positive. After risk contact tracking by the hospital hygiene 6 patient-to-employee transmissions were identified in 163 employees with contact to 55 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.

CONCLUSION

In the absence of easily accessible public SARS-CoV-2 testing facilities low-threshold SARS-CoV-2 testing facilities in hospitals with rapid testing resources help to identify SARS-CoV-2 infected employees with absent or mild symptoms, thus stopping the spread of infection in vulnerable hospital environments. High levels of professional infection prevention training and implementation of specialized wards as well as a perfectly working hospital hygiene network identifying and tracking risk contacts are of great importance in a pandemic setting.

Association of CCL2 with systemic inflammation in Schnitzler syndrome

BACKGROUND

Schnitzler syndrome (SchS) is a rare autoinflammatory disease characterized by urticarial exanthema, bone and joint alterations, fever and monoclonal gammopathy, which manifest mostly in the second half of life. It involves overactivation of the interleukin (IL)-1 system, but the exact pathophysiological pathways remain largely unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To identify and characterize the pathogenetic players in SchS.

METHODS

Blood parameters were quantified in patients with SchS compared with healthy controls and patients with psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CCL2 expression in cultured primary cells was analysed by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and ELISA.

RESULTS

CCL2, a chemoattractant for monocytic and further mononuclear immune cells, was found to be significantly elevated in patients with SchS. CCL2 levels showed a positive association with global disease activity, especially with bone pain, but not disease duration, gammopathy, neutrophilia or skin disease. In vitro stimulation assays demonstrated a strong CCL2 production capacity of mononuclear immune cells and fibroblasts, but not epithelial or endothelial cells. Among a range of inflammatory mediators, only IL-1β (immune cells, fibroblasts) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α (fibroblasts) were important CCL2 inducers. TNF-α, but not IL-17, strengthened the CCL2-inducing effect of IL-1β in fibroblasts. Accordingly, CCL2 levels positively correlated with both TNF-α and IL-1β serum levels in patients with SchS. Therapeutic IL-1β blockade decreased CCL2 blood levels in these patients as early as 1 week after the initiation of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

CCL2 may be an important component of the pathogenetic cascade leading to bone alterations, and a suitable marker of disease activity in patients with SchS.

Delineation between different components of chronic pain using dimension reduction - an ASL fMRI study in hand osteoarthritis

Background

Traditional psychometric measures aimed at characterizing the pain experience often show considerable overlap, due to interlinked affective and modulatory processes under central nervous system control. Neuroimaging studies have been employed to investigate this complexity of pain processing, in an attempt to provide a quantifiable, adjunctive description of pain perception. In this exploratory study, we examine psychometric and neuroimaging data from 38 patients with painful osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint. We had two aims: first, to utilize principal component analysis (PCA) as a dimension reduction strategy across multiple self‐reported endpoints of pain, cognitive and affective functioning; second, to investigate the relationship between identified dimensions and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) as an indirect measure of brain activity underpinning their ongoing pain experiences.

Methods

Psychometric data were collected using validated questionnaires. Quantitative estimates of rCBF were acquired using pseudo‐continuous arterial spin‐labelled functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

Two principal components were identified that accounted for 73% of data variance; one related to pain scores and a second to psychological traits. Voxel‐wise multiple regression analysis revealed a significant negative association between the ‘pain score’ component and rCBF to a right temporal lobe cluster, including the amygdala and the parahippocampal cortex.

Conclusion

We suggest this association may represent a coping mechanism that aims to reduce fear‐related pain‐anxiety. Further investigation of central brain processing mechanisms in osteoarthritis‐related pain may offer insights into more effective therapeutic strategies.

Significance

This study demonstrates that dimension reduction using PCA allows insight into pain perception and its affective components in relation to brain activation patterns in patients with painful hand osteoarthritis.

In chronic spontaneous urticaria, high numbers of dermal endothelial cells, but not mast cells, are linked to recurrent angio-oedema

BACKGROUND

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is an inflammatory skin disorder characterized by recurrent weals, angio-oedema or both. Recent studies have shown that the number of endothelial cells is increased in the skin of patients with CSU, but the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of this are unclear.

AIM

To evaluate whether mast cell (MC) or endothelial cell (EC) numbers correlate with CSU and whether they are relevant for disease duration, disease activity or the presence of clinical features.

METHODS

We determined the numbers of CD31+ ECs and MCs in nonlesional skin of 30 patients with CSU using quantitative histomorphometry, and assessed their correlation with each other and with clinical features such as disease duration, disease activity and occurrence of angio-oedema.

RESULTS

The numbers of MCs and ECs were high in the nonlesional skin of patients with CSU, but did not correlate with each other. Neither MC number nor EC number correlated with disease duration or disease activity. Interestingly, patients with high numbers of cutaneous CD31+ ECs had higher rates of recurrent angio-oedema and vice versa.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these findings, we speculate that vascular remodelling and MC hyperplasia in patients with CSU occurs independently and via different mechanisms. Targeting of the mechanisms that drive neoangiogenesis in CSU may result in novel therapeutic strategies for the management of patients with angio-oedema.

Clinical and Molecular Phenotypes of Low-Penetrance Variants of NLRP3: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

OBJECTIVE

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) result from gain-of-function mutations in the NLRP3 gene, which causes excessive release of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and systemic inflammation. While pathogenetic NLRP3 variant phenotypes are well-characterized, low-penetrance NLRP3 variants represent a significant clinical challenge. The aims of this study were to determine the clinical phenotype, the in vitro biologic phenotype, and the effect of anti-IL-1 treatment in patients with low-penetrance NLRP3 variants.

METHODS

A multicenter study of consecutive symptomatic patients with low-penetrance NLRP3 variants recruited from 7 centers between May 2012 and May 2013 was performed. The observed findings were transferred into a study database, from which they were extracted for analysis. Controls were patients with a known pathogenetic NLRP3 variant. Clinical presentation and CAPS markers of inflammation were captured. Functional assays of inflammasome activation, including caspase 1 activity, NF-κB release, cell death, and IL-1β release, were performed. Treatment effects of IL-1 were determined. Comparisons between low-penetrance and pathogenetic NLRP3 variants were performed.

RESULTS

The study included 45 patients, 21 of which were female (47%); 26 of the patients (58%) were children. NLRP3 low-penetrance variants identified in the patients were Q703K (n = 19), R488K (n = 6), and V198M (n = 20). In the controls, 28 had pathogenetic NLRP3 variants. Patients with low-penetrance NLRP3 variants had significantly more fever (76%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (73%); eye disease, hearing loss, and renal involvement were less common. Functional inflammasome testing identified an intermediate phenotype in low-penetrance NLRP3 variants as compared to wild-type and pathogenetic NLRP3 variants. All treated patients responded to IL-1 inhibition, with complete response documented in 50% of patients.

CONCLUSION

Patients with low-penetrance NLRP3 variants display a distinct clinical phenotype and an intermediate biologic phenotype, including IL-1β and non-IL-1β-mediated inflammatory pathway activation.

The Transcriptional Regulation of FOXO Genes in Thyrocytes

FOXO transcription factors are key regulators of DNA damage repair, proliferation and apoptosis in thyrocytes. Thyroid malignancies show impaired FOXO function. In this study, we investigated the transcriptional regulation of FOXO isoforms in thyroid epithelial cells. mRNA expression of FOXO isoforms (FOXO1, 3 and 4) was determined in FRTL-5 cells stimulated with different growth factors and H2O2. Furthermore, the impact of PI3K/AKT signalling on FOXO transcription was investigated in PI3K p110α mutant FRTL-5 cells and regulatory dependence of FOXO transcription on FOXO was studied in FRTL-5 cells with hFOXO3 overexpression. Finally, mRNA expression levels of FOXO isoforms were determined in human epithelial thyroid tumours. Growth factor deprivation induced transcription of FOXO1, 3 and 4, whereas insulin stimulation decreased FOXO1 and FOXO4 transcription in FRTL-5 cells. Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT cascade amplified FOXO1 and FOXO4 expression. In contrast, H2O2 and TSH did not influence FOXO transcription in thyrocytes. Overexpression of PI3K p110α inhibited FOXO3 and induced FOXO4 transcription. In human thyroid tumours, FOXO1 and FOXO3 mRNA levels were significantly downregulated in papillary thyroid carcinoma when compared to normal tissues. In contrast, follicular thyroid carcinomas showed significant upregulation of FOXO4 mRNA.In this paper, we demonstrate an influence of PI3K signalling on FOXO transcription in thyrocytes. Moreover, we show that thyroid cancers exhibit alterations in FOXO transcription besides the previously reported alterations in posttranslational FOXO3 regulation. These findings may add to the concept of targeting the PI3K pathway in advanced thyroid cancers.

Interaction of thyroid hormone with brown adipose tissue

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays an important role in regulating core-body temperature in various species including man. [18F]FDGPET/ CT imaging first revealed the presence of metabolically active BAT depots and that decreased BAT function is associated with various metabolic conditions. Thyroid hormone (TH) in concert with sympathetic nervous system signalling (SNS) stimulates BAT thermogenesis and thyroid disorders result in dysfunctional BAT. Currently, research is focussing not only on BAT regulation but also on browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) to BAT beige adipose tissue (BeAT) in order to develop novel treatments for human obesity and related conditions. While [18F]FDG-PET/ CT imaging is continuing to provide valuable insights into BAT and BeAT function in health and disease, there is a pressing need to develop alternative radiotracers that reliably track their activity in vivo. As a result it is expected that preclinical micro PET/CT investigations of BAT and BeAT will gain in prominence.

The aim of this short review is to i) describe fundamentals in BAT biology, ii) highlight some of the clinical and preclinical studies performed on humans and rodents with a focus on TH, BAT and PET/CT, and iii) bridge these data with our own studies within the DFG thyroid transact priority program.

Interaction of thyroid hormone with brown adipose tissue. Lessons learned from PET-CT

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays an important role in regulating core-body temperature in various species including man. [18F]FDG-PET/CT imaging first revealed the presence of metabolically active BAT depots and that decreased BAT function is associated with various metabolic conditions. Thyroid hormone (TH) in concert with sympathetic nervous system signalling (SNS) stimulates BAT thermogenesis and thyroid disorders result in dysfunctional BAT. Currently, research is focussing not only on BAT regulation but also on browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) to BAT beige adipose tissue (BeAT) in order to develop novel treatments for human obesity and related conditions. While [18F]FDG-PET/CT imaging is continuing to provide valuable insights into BAT and BeAT function in health and disease, there is a pressing need to develop alternative radiotracers that reliably track their activity in vivo. As a result it is expected that preclinical micro PET/CT investigations of BAT and BeAT will gain in prominence. The aim of this short review is to i) describe fundamentals in BAT biology, ii) highlight some of the clinical and preclinical studies performed on humans and rodents with a focus on TH, BAT and PET/CT, and iii) bridge these data with our own studies within the DFG thyroid transact priority program.

An improved Peltier effect-based instrument for critical temperature threshold measurement in cold- and heat-induced urticaria

BACKGROUND

Cold- and heat-induced urticaria are chronic physical urticaria conditions in which wheals, angioedema or both are evoked by skin exposure to cold and heat respectively. The diagnostic work up of both conditions should include skin provocation tests and accurate determination of critical temperature thresholds (CTT) for producing symptoms in order to be able to predict the potential risk that each individual patient faces and how this may be ameliorated by therapy.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate TempTest(®) 4, a simple and relatively inexpensive instrument for the accurate determination of CTT which may be used in clinical practice.

METHODS

TempTest(®) 4 has a single 2 mm wide 350 mm U-shaped Peltier element generating a temperature gradient from 4 °C to 44 °C along its length. Using a clear plastic guide placed over the skin after provocation, CTT values may be determined with an accuracy of ±1 °C. Here, TempTest(®) 4 was compared with its much more expensive predecessor, TempTest(®) 3, in inducing wheals in 30 cold urticaria patients.

RESULTS

Both TempTest(®) 4 and TempTest(®) 3 induced wheals in all 30 patients between 8 ° and 28 °C. There was a highly significant (P < 0.0001) correlation between the instruments in the CTT values in individual patients.

CONCLUSION

The TempTest(®) 4 is a simple, easy to use, licensed, commercially available and affordable instrument for the determination of CTTs in both cold- and heat-induced urticaria.