Perinatal mental disorders in Switzerland : prevalence estimates and use of mental-health services

Background: Perinatal mental disorders (PMDs) are the most common complication of pregnancy and the first postpartum year. Since PMD prevalence and use of mental-health services by perinatal women in Switzerland are unknown, we analysed existing health statistics. Methods: We used statistics from a large health insurance company, hospitals and freelance midwives. We assessed the annual rates of mental healthcare use in perinatal women (n = 13 969). We ascertained the annual rates of PMD treatment in obstetric inpatients (n = 89 699), and annual rates of PMD records by freelance midwives (n = 57 951). In 15 104 women who gave birth in 2012 or 2013, we assessed use of mental-healthcare before and during pregnancy, and in the postpartum year. For the same sample, we determined proportions of medication and consultation treatments. We used multiple regression analysis to estimate the influence of PMD on overall healthcare costs of mandatory health insurance. Results: The annual rate of mental-healthcare use by perinatal women was 16.7%. The annual rate of PMD treatment in obstetric inpatients was 1.1%. The annual rate of PMD records in the midwifery care setting was 2.9%. Women with PMD use mental health services mainly in non-obstetric outpatient settings. Medication was the most frequent treatment. Primary care providers and mental health specialists contributed almost equally to consultation treatments. PMD during pregnancy raised overall costs of healthcare in the postpartum year by 1214 Swiss francs. Conclusions: Health-system research and perinatal healthcare should take into consideration the high prevalence of PMD. Real PMD prevalence may be even higher than our data suggest and could be assessed with a survey using our model of PMD prevalence

Die Macht auf dem Gipfel

Die Alpenbegeisterung, die in der zweiten Hälfte des 18. Jahrhunderts in Europa aufkam, stand stark unter dem Einfluss der Aufklärung und ihrer bürgerlichen Freiheitsideale. Seit dem frühen 19. Jahrhundert gab es neben dieser Gleichsetzung von Bergen und republikanischer Freiheit aber auch konkurrierende romantische Strömungen, welche zur Monarchie tendierten und die Ergebenheit und Treue der alpinen Gesellschaften hervorhoben. Eva Bachmann untersucht in diesem Buch die bislang wenig beachteten Reisen der britischen und italienischen Monarchie in die Alpen – von den illustren Jagdexkursionen des italienischen Königs Vittorio Emanuele II., über die inkognito Flucht der britischen Königin Victoria in die Alpenwelt, bis hin zu den abenteuerlichen Bergbesteigungen der italienischen Königin Margherita

On the origin of the grapevine variety Müller-Thurgau as investigated by the inheritance of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)

Random amplified polymorphic DNA obtained with 10 different primers and peroxidase isoenzymes of Riesling, Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau were analyzed for genetic relationships between these grapevine varieties. It can be concluded that Müller-Thurgau is not a progenitor of a cross Riesling x Silvaner as generally assumed, but of Riesling and an unknown cultivar

Die Macht auf dem Gipfel

Die Alpenbegeisterung, die in der zweiten Hälfte des 18. Jahrhunderts in Europa aufkam, stand stark unter dem Einfluss der Aufklärung und ihrer bürgerlichen Freiheitsideale. Seit dem frühen 19. Jahrhundert gab es neben dieser Gleichsetzung von Bergen und republikanischer Freiheit aber auch konkurrierende romantische Strömungen, welche zur Monarchie tendierten und die Ergebenheit und Treue der alpinen Gesellschaften hervorhoben. Eva Bachmann untersucht in diesem Buch die bislang wenig beachteten Reisen der britischen und italienischen Monarchie in die Alpen – von den illustren Jagdexkursionen des italienischen Königs Vittorio Emanuele II., über die inkognito Flucht der britischen Königin Victoria in die Alpenwelt, bis hin zu den abenteuerlichen Bergbesteigungen der italienischen Königin Margherita

Particulate organic matter : Vector for carbon export, indicator for aquaculture impact and microbial hotspot

Marine particulate organic matter (POM) can serve as vector for carbon (C) export, indicator for aquaculture impact and microbial hotspot: Off NW Africa, upwelling stimulates primary production. Despite the importance of bacteria for the biological C pump (BCP), little is known about bacterial communities (BCC) off NW Africa. Hence, the first objective is the description of the free-living (FL) and particle-attached (PA) BCC off NW Africa and potential key players in C degradation. Results reveal high relative abundances of C degrading bacteria, suggesting their key role in POM turnover. Aquacultures in the tropics are often accompanied by eutrophication and high POM loads. In Bolinao, Philippines, recurring hypoxia leads to major fish kills. So far POM characteristics have not been quantified. Results indicate the aquaculture activities in POM characteristics, rendering them ideal indicators for aquaculture impact. Overall, the results advance our understanding of the BCP and biogeochemical processes on aquaculture-derived POM. Furthermore, they indicate how processes occurring on the microscale are relevant for current global challenge

Le West African Data and Metadata Repository : une archive de données à long terme pour les ensembles de données écologiques de l'Afrique de l'Ouest

Obwohl zunehmend Daten für ökologische Studien gebraucht werden, gehen noch immer viele Daten verloren oder sind mangels geeigneter Datenarchive nicht sichtbar genug. Mit dem West African Data and Metadata Repository stellen wir ein Langzeitdatenarchiv für eine datenarme Region vor, das eine detaillierte Dokumentation mit Metadaten nach dem EML-Standard erlaubt und Datenhaltern die Möglichkeit gibt, Datenzugangsebenen und Nutzungsbedingungen zu bestimmen. Dieser Artikel gibt einen Überblick zu Struktur, Funktionen und Inhalt. Das Repositorium ist online unter der URL http://westafricandata.senckenberg.de.Although there is an increasing need for data in ecological studies, many datasets are still lost or not sufficiently visible due to a lack of appropriate data archives. With the West African Data and Metadata Repository, we present a secure long-term archive for a data-poor region allowing detailed documentation by metadata following the EML standard and giving data holders the opportunity to define levels of data access and conditions of use. This article gives an overview of structure, functions and content. The repository is online at the URL http://westafricandata.senckenberg.de.Bien qu'il existe un besoin croissant de données dans les études écologiques, de nombreux ensembles de données sont encore perdues ou pas suffisamment visibles en raison d'un manque d'archives de données appropriées. Avec le West African Data and Metadata Repository, nous présentons une archive sécurisé à long terme pour une région pauvre en données permettant une documentation détaillée par des métadonnées suivant la norme EML et donnant aux propriétaires de données la possibilité de définir des niveaux de l'accès aux données et les conditions d'utilisation. Cet article donne un aperçu de la structure, des fonctions et du contenu. Le référentiel est en ligne à l'adresse URL http://westafricandata.senckenberg.de

Interleukin-22 predicts severity and death in advanced liver cirrhosis: a prospective cohort study

Background: Interleukin-22 (IL-22), recently identified as a crucial parameter of pathology in experimental liver damage, may determine survival in clinical end-stage liver disease. Systematic analysis of serum IL-22 in relation to morbidity and mortality of patients with advanced liver cirrhosis has not been performed so far. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study including 120 liver cirrhosis patients and 40 healthy donors to analyze systemic levels of IL-22 in relation to survival and hepatic complications. Results: A total of 71% of patients displayed liver cirrhosis-related complications at study inclusion. A total of 23% of the patients died during a mean follow-up of 196 +/- 165 days. Systemic IL-22 was detectable in 74% of patients but only in 10% of healthy donors (P 18 pg/ml, n = 57) showed significantly reduced survival compared to patients with regular ([less than or equal to]18 pg/ml) levels of IL-22 (321 days versus 526 days, P = 0.003). Other factors associated with overall survival were high CRP ([greater than or equal to]2.9 mg/dl, P = 0.005, hazard ratio (HR) 0.314, confidence interval (CI) (0.141 to 0.702)), elevated serum creatinine (P = 0.05, HR 0.453, CI (0.203 to 1.012)), presence of liver-related complications (P = 0.028, HR 0.258 CI (0.077 to 0.862)), model of end stage liver disease (MELD) score [greater than or equal to]20 (P = 0.017, HR 0.364, CI (0.159 to 0.835)) and age (P = 0.011, HR 1.047, CI (1.011 to 1.085)). Adjusted multivariate Cox proportional-hazards analysis identified elevated systemic IL-22 levels as independent predictors of reduced survival (P = 0.007, HR 0.218, CI (0.072 to 0.662)). Conclusions: In patients with liver cirrhosis, elevated systemic IL-22 levels are predictive for reduced survival independently from age, liver-related complications, CRP, creatinine and the MELD score. Thus, processes that lead to a rise in systemic interleukin-22 may be relevant for prognosis of advanced liver cirrhosis

Cupulin Is a Zona Pellucida-Like Domain Protein and Major Component of the Cupula from the Inner Ear

The extracellular membranes of the inner ear are essential constituents to maintain sensory functions, the cupula for sensing torsional movements of the head, the otoconial membrane for sensing linear movements and accelerations like gravity, and the tectorial membrane in the cochlea for hearing. So far a number of structural proteins have been described, but for the gelatinous cupula precise data are missing. Here, we describe for the first time a major proteinogenic component of the cupula structure with an apparent molecular mass of 45 kDa from salmon. Analyses of respective peptides revealed highly conserved amino-acid sequences with identity to zona pellucida-like domain proteins. Immunohistochemistry studies localized the protein in the ampulla of the inner ear from salmon and according to its anatomical appearance we identified this glycoprotein as Cupulin. Future research on structure and function of zona pellucida-like domain proteins will enhance our knowledge of inner ear diseases, like sudden loss of vestibular function and other disturbances

Surface Studies on the Energy Release of the MOST System 2-Carbethoxy-3-Phenyl-Norbornadiene/Quadricyclane (PENBD/PEQC) on Pt(111) and Ni(111)

Novel energy-storage solutions are necessary for the transition from fossil to renewable energy sources. Auspicious candidates are so-called molecular solar thermal (MOST) systems. In our study, we investigate the surface chemistry of a derivatized norbornadiene/quadricyclane molecule pair. By using suitable push–pull substituents, a bathochromic shift of the absorption onset is achieved, allowing a greater overlap with the solar spectrum. Specifically, the adsorption and thermally induced reactions of 2-carbethoxy-3-phenyl-norbornadiene/quadricyclane are assessed on Pt(111) and Ni(111) as model catalyst surfaces by synchrotron radiation-based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Comparison of the respective XP spectra enables the distinction of the energy-rich molecule from its energy-lean counterpart and allows qualitative information on the adsorption motifs to be derived. Monitoring the quantitative cycloreversion between 140 and 230 K spectroscopically demonstrates the release of the stored energy to be successfully triggered on Pt(111). Heating to above 300 K leads to fragmentation of the molecular framework. On Ni(111), no conversion of the energy-rich compound takes place. The individual decomposition pathways of the two isomers begin at 160 and 180 K, respectively. Pronounced desorption of almost the entire surface coverage only occurs for the energy-lean molecule on Ni(111) above 280 K; this suggests weakly bound species. The correlation between adsorption motif and desorption behavior is important for applications of MOST systems in heterogeneously catalyzed processes

A tetravalent nanovaccine that inhibits growth of HPV-associated head and neck carcinoma via dendritic and T cell activation.

The global incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) associated head and neck carcinoma is on the rise, in response to this a tetravalent therapeutic vaccine named Qβ-HPVag was developed. This vaccine, utilizing virus-like particles (VLPs) loaded with toll-like receptor ligands and chemically coupled to four HPV16-derived peptides, demonstrated strong anti-tumor effects in a murine head and neck cancer model. Qβ-HPVag impeded tumor progression, increased infiltration of HPV-specific T cells, and significantly improved survival. The vaccine`s efficacy was associated with immune repolarization in the tumor microenvironment, characterized by expanded activated dendritic cell subsets (cDC1, cDC2, DC3). Notably, mice responding to treatment exhibited a higher percentage of migratory DC3 cells expressing CCR7. These findings suggest promising prospects for optimized VLP-based vaccines in treating HPV-associated head and neck cancer