Risk factors and oral health-related quality of life: A case–control comparison between patients after a first-episode psychosis and people from general population

INTRODUCTION: No research is available about the oral health risk factors and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. AIM: To compare oral health risk factors and OHRQoL in patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (first-episode) to people with no history of psychotic disorder. METHOD: A case-control comparison (1:2) multivariable linear regression analysis and an estimation of prevalence of impact on OHRQoL. RESULTS: Patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (first-episode) have lower OHRQoL with more associated risk factors. Of the patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (first-episode), 14.8% reported a negative impact on OHRQoL, higher than the prevalence of 1.8% found in people from the general population. DISCUSSION: The high prevalence rate of a negative impact on OHRQoL in patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (first-episode) shows the importance of acting at an early stage to prevent a worse outcome. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The findings highlight the need for oral health interventions in patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (first-episode). Mental health nurses, as one of the main health professionals supporting the health of patients diagnosed with a mental health disorder, can support oral health (e.g. assess oral health in somatic screening) in order to improve the OHRQoL

Metabolic consequences of chronic sleep restriction in rats:Changes in body weight regulation and energy expenditure

Epidemiological studies have shown an association between short or disrupted sleep and an increased risk to develop obesity. In animal studies, however, sleep restriction leads to an attenuation of weight gain that cannot be explained by changes in energy intake. In the present study, we assessed whether the attenuated weight gain under conditions of restricted sleep is a consequence of an overall increase in energy expenditure. Adult male rats were subjected to a schedule of chronic sleep restriction (SR) for 8 days with a 4 h window of unrestricted rest per day. Electroencephalogram and electromyogram recordings were performed to quantify the effect of the sleep restriction schedule on sleep-wake patterns. In a separate experiment, we measured sleep restriction-induced changes in body weight, food intake, and regulatory hormones such as glucose, insulin, leptin and corticosterone. To investigate whether a change in energy expenditure underlies the attenuation of weight gain, energy expenditure was measured by the doubly labeled water method from day 5 until day 8 of the SR protocol. Results show a clear attenuation of weight gain during sleep restriction but no change in food intake. Baseline plasma glucose, insulin and leptin levels are decreased after sleep restriction which presumably reflects the nutritional status of the rats. The daily energy expenditure during SR was significantly increased compared to control rats. Together, we conclude that the attenuation of body weight gain in sleep restricted rats is explained by an overall increase in energy expenditure together with an unaltered energy intake. Published by Elsevier Inc

Is cognitive functioning associated with subjective quality of life in young adults with spina bifida and hydrocephalus?

Objective: To test the hypothesis that cognitive functioning is associated with subjective quality of life of young adults with spina bifida and hydrocephalus (SBHC). Design: Cross-sectional multi-centre study in The Netherlands. Subjects: A total of 110 young adults with SBHC (16-25 years old, 63% female). Methods: Cognitive domains measured were intelligence (Raven Standard Progressive Matrices), memory (Wechsler Memory Scale) and executive functioning (Wisconsin modified Card Sorting Test (WmCST), Trail Making Test A and B (TMT) and UNKA word production test). Subjective quality of life was measured with a visual analogue scale. Correlations and hierarchical regression analysis controlling for age, gender and functional independence were applied. Results: The TMT score was significantly associated (-0.25) with subjective quality of life. In the hierarchical regression analysis both the WmCST and TMT scores were significant determinants of subjective quality of life (Beta values 0.24 and -0.31 respectively). Intelligence, memory and word production were not related to subjective quality of life. All 5 cognitive variables together explained a significant additional 14.6%, of the variance of subjective quality of life (total explained variance 19.9%). Conclusion: Executive functioning was associated with subjective quality of life in young adults with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. This finding underlines the importance of examining cognitive functioning of persons with SBHC in addition to medical and functional status in medical care and outcome research

Functionalized tetrapodal diazatriptycenes for electrostatic dipole engineering in n-type organic thin film transistors

V.R., F.S.B., S.H., M.M., M.-M.B., S.H., J.F., W.K., W.J., A.K., A.P., U.H.F.B., and K.M. acknowledge the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for financial support within the INTERPHASE project (nos. 13N13656, 13N13657, 13N13658, 13N13659). V.R. thanks the German Research Foundation for financial support within the SFB1249 project and the Heidelberg Graduate School of Fundamental research.The authors also appreciate financial support by the German Research Foundation (grant ZH 63/39-1) and by the DAAD-ACEH Scholarship of Excellence (A.A.).A diazatriptycene‐based tetrapodal scaffold with thiol anchors enforces a nearly upright orientation of functional groups, introduced to its quinoxaline subunit, with respect to the substrate upon formation of self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs). Substitution with electron‐withdrawing fluorine and cyano as well as electron‐rich dimethylamino substituents allows tuning of the molecular dipole and, consequently, of the work function of gold over a range of 1.0 eV (from 3.9 to 4.9 eV). The properties of the SAMs are comprehensively investigated by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, near edge X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. As prototypical examples for the high potential of the presented SAMs in devices, organic thin‐film transistors are fabricated.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Deliberate termination of life of newborns with spina bifida, a critical reappraisal

Objects: Deliberate termination of life of newborns (involuntary euthanasia) with meningomyelocele (MMC) is practiced openly only in the Netherlands. 'Unbearable and hopeless suffering' is the single most cited criterion for this termination, together with the notion that 'there are no other proper medical means to alleviate this suffering'. In this paper, both (and other) statements are questioned, also by putting them in a broader perspective. Methods: First, a historical overview of the treatment of newborns with MMC is presented, concentrating on the question of selection for treatment. Second, a thorough analysis is made of the criteria used for life termination. Third, a case of a newborn with a very severe MMC is presented as a 'reference case'. Conclusion: 'Unbearable and hopeless suffering' cannot be applied to newborns with MMC. They are not 'terminally ill' and do have 'prospects of a future'. In these end-of-life decisions, 'quality of life judgments' should not be applied. When such a newborn is not treated, modern palliative care always will suffice in eliminating possible discomfort. There is no reason whatsoever for active life-termination of these newborns

Family doctor-driven follow-up for adult childhood cancer survivors supported by a web-based survivor care plan

To facilitate family doctor-driven follow-up for adult childhood cancer survivors, we developed a survivor care plan (SCP) for adult survivors and their family doctors. The SCP was accessible for survivors and their family doctors on a secure website and as a printed booklet. It included data on diagnosis, treatment and potential risks as well as recommendations for follow-up. Childhood cancer survivors who were off-treatment >= 5 years, aged >= 18 years and not involved in a long-term follow-up program were eligible. They were advised to visit their family doctor. The endpoints were numbers of participants, adherence of family doctors to the guidelines and satisfaction ratings. The eligibility criteria were fulfilled by 108 survivors. Three family doctors and 15 survivors refused, 10 survivors were non-responders. Of the remaining 80 survivors, 73 survivors visited 72 family doctors. Sixty-nine (96%) family doctors returned data of whom 60 (83%) fully adhered to the recommended tests. The majority of survivors and family doctors were satisfied about the SCP. A (web-based) SCP for survivors and family doctors can serve as an effective communication vehicle to provide adequate shared care by the long-term follow-up clinic and family doctors

Chemical genetics strategy to profile kinase target engagement reveals role of FES in neutrophil phagocytosis

Chemical tools to monitor drug-target engagement of endogenously expressed protein kinases are highly desirable for preclinical target validation in drug discovery. Here, we describe a chemical genetics strategy to selectively study target engagement of endogenous kinases. By substituting a serine residue into cysteine at the DFG-1 position in the ATP-binding pocket, we sensitize the non-receptor tyrosine kinase FES towards covalent labeling by a complementary fluorescent chemical probe. This mutation is introduced in the endogenous FES gene of HL-60 cells using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Leveraging the temporal and acute control offered by our strategy, we show that FES activity is dispensable for differentiation of HL-60 cells towards macrophages. Instead, FES plays a key role in neutrophil phagocytosis via SYK kinase activation. This chemical genetics strategy holds promise as a target validation method for kinases.Medicinal Chemistr

n-type doping of organic semiconductors : immobilization via covalent anchoring

We gratefully acknowledge the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for financial support within the InterPhase project (FKZ 13N13659, 13N13656, 13N13657, and 13N13658).Electrical doping is an important tool in the design of organic devices to modify charge carrier concentration in and Fermi level position of organic layers. The undesired diffusion of dopant molecules within common transport materials adversely affects both lifetime and device performance. To overcome this drawback, we developed a strategy to achieve immobilization of dopants through their covalent attachment to the semiconductor host molecules. Derivatization of the commonly employed n-type dopant 2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzoimidazole (ο-MeO-DMBI) with a phenylazide enables the resulting o-AzBnO-DMBI to photochemically generate a reactive nitrene, which subsequently binds covalently to the host material, 6,6-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Both the activation and addition reactions are monitored by mass spectrometry as well as optical and photoelectron spectroscopy. A suppression of desorption and a decrease in volatility of the DMBI derivative in ultrahigh vacuum were observed after activation of a bilayer structure of PCBM and o-AzBnO-DMBI. Electrical measurements demonstrate that the immobilized o-AzBnO-DMBI can (i) dope the PCBM at conductivities comparable to values reported for o-MeO-DMBI in the literature and (ii) yield improved electrical stability measured in a lateral two terminal device geometry. Our immobilization strategy is not limited to the specific system presented herein but should also be applicable to other organic semiconductor–dopant combinations.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Environmental Enrichment Induces Behavioral Recovery and Enhanced Hippocampal Cell Proliferation in an Antidepressant-Resistant Animal Model for PTSD

Background: Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be considered the result of a failure to recover after a traumatic experience. Here we studied possible protective and therapeutic aspects of environmental enrichment (with and without a running wheel) in Sprague Dawley rats exposed to an inescapable foot shock procedure (IFS). Methodology/Principal Findings: IFS induced long-lasting contextual and non-contextual anxiety, modeling some aspects of PTSD. Even 10 weeks after IFS the rats showed reduced locomotion in an open field. The antidepressants imipramine and escitalopram did not improve anxiogenic behavior following IFS. Also the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor sodium butyrate did not alleviate the IFS induced immobility. While environmental enrichment (EE) starting two weeks before IFS did not protect the animals from the behavioral effects of the shocks, exposure to EE either immediately after the shock or one week later induced complete recovery three weeks after IFS. In the next set of experiments a running wheel was added to the EE to enable voluntary exercise (EE/VE). This also led to reduced anxiety. Importantly, this behavioral recovery was not due to a loss of memory for the traumatic experience. The behavioral recovery correlated with an increase in cell proliferation in hippocampus, a decrease in the tissue levels of noradrenalin and increased turnover of 5-HT in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Conclusions/Significance: This animal study shows the importance of (physical) exercise in the treatment of psychiatri