Die Bedeutung von Metakognitionen für das Verständnis und die Psychotherapie von Zwang

The Importance of Metacognitions in the Understanding and Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder The present article discusses three cognitive approaches of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): (1) Beck's theory of content-specificity, (2) Salkovskis' cognitive-behavioural approach and (3) Wells' more recent theory of metacognitions. Wells' approach is explained in more detail: the so called Self-Regulatory Executive Function model is presented as well as special aspects of thinking in OCD, for example the self-referential status of thinking, thinking in object mode and aspects of `thought-action fusion'. The relevance of Wells' metacognitive approach for the development and the maintenance of OCD is discussed. Furthermore, proposals are made on how to include these issues in the psychotherapy of OCD

Horizontal gene transfer contributed to the evolution of extracellular surface structures

The single-cell layered ectoderm of the fresh water polyp Hydra fulfills the function of an epidermis by protecting the animals from the surrounding medium. Its outer surface is covered by a fibrous structure termed the cuticle layer, with similarity to the extracellular surface coats of mammalian epithelia. In this paper we have identified molecular components of the cuticle. We show that its outermost layer contains glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans and we have identified chondroitin and chondroitin-6-sulfate chains. In a search for proteins that could be involved in organising this structure we found PPOD proteins and several members of a protein family containing only SWT (sweet tooth) domains. Structural analyses indicate that PPODs consist of two tandem β-trefoil domains with similarity to carbohydrate-binding sites found in lectins. Experimental evidence confirmed that PPODs can bind sulfated glycans and are secreted into the cuticle layer from granules localized under the apical surface of the ectodermal epithelial cells. PPODs are taxon-specific proteins which appear to have entered the Hydra genome by horizontal gene transfer from bacteria. Their acquisition at the time Hydra evolved from a marine ancestor may have been critical for the transition to the freshwater environment

Auswirkungen von automatischen Gedanken und psychologischer Flexibilität auf die depressive Symptomatik und Rückfallwahrscheinlichkeit remittiert Depressiver

Theoretical Background: Although positive and negative automatic thoughts (PAT, NAT) and psychological flexibility (PF) are strongly related to depressive symptoms, the role of these variables in a depressive relapse has not been examined yet. Question: The study examines the impact of an inpatient treatment on clinical variables like PAT, NAT, and PF. Furthermore, the course of PAT, NAT, and PF of individuals with early relapse after therapy is observed. Finally, the study focuses on the question, to what extent PAT, NAT, and PF predict a relapse in depression. Method: The variables were measured in 39 remitted depressed subjects and 45 healthy control persons. During the experimental phase, a sad mood was induced in both groups. The remitted depressed subjects went through a 16-month follow-up phase. Results: After the negative mood induction, remitted depressed showed less PAT in comparison to healthy persons. During the follow-up phase, individuals with early relapse showed restricted access to PAT and low PF. None of the variables (PAT, NAT, PF) could predict depressive relapse. Conclusion: Remitted depressive and early relapsed subjects show limited access to PAT. The weak production of PAT represents a risk factor for a depressive relapse

A modular synthetic route to size-defined immunogenic Haemophilus influenzae b antigens is key to the identification of an octasaccharide lead vaccine candidate

The first glycoconjugate vaccine using isolated glycans was licensed to protect children from Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib) infections. Subsequently, the first semisynthetic glycoconjugate vaccine using a mixture of antigens derived by polymerization targeted the same pathogen. Still, a detailed understanding concerning the correlation between oligosaccharide chain length and the immune response towards the polyribosyl-ribitol-phosphate (PRP) capsular polysaccharide that surrounds Hib remains elusive. The design of semisynthetic and synthetic Hib vaccines critically depends on the identification of the minimally protective epitope. Here, we demonstrate that an octasaccharide antigen containing four repeating disaccharide units resembles PRP polysaccharide in terms of immunogenicity and recognition by anti-Hib antibodies. Key to this discovery was the development of a modular synthesis that enabled access to oligosaccharides up to decamers. Glycan arrays containing the synthetic oligosaccharides were used to analyze anti-PRP sera for antibodies. Conjugates of the synthetic antigens and the carrier protein CRM197, which is used in licensed vaccines, were employed in immunization studies in rabbits

Relevance of Host Cell Surface Glycan Structure for Cell Specificity of Influenza A Viruses

first_page settings Order Article Reprints Open AccessHypothesis Relevance of Host Cell Surface Glycan Structure for Cell Specificity of Influenza A Viruses by Markus Kastner 1,†,‡, Andreas Karner 1,†,§ [ORCID] , Rong Zhu 1,† [ORCID] , Qiang Huang 2 [ORCID] , Andreas Geissner 3,4,‖, Anne Sadewasser 5,¶, Markus Lesch 6, Xenia Wörmann 6, Alexander Karlas 6,**, Peter H. Seeberger 3,4 [ORCID] , Thorsten Wolff 5 [ORCID] , Peter Hinterdorfer 1 [ORCID] , Andreas Herrmann 7 and Christian Sieben 8,9,* [ORCID] 1 Institute for Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4020 Linz, Austria 2 State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, MOE Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China 3 Department for Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany 4 Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany 5 Division of Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany 6 Molecular Biology Department, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany 7 Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstraße 23a, 14195 Berlin, Germany 8 Nanoscale Infection Biology Group, Department of Cell Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany 9 Institute for Genetics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. † These authors contributed equally to this work. ‡ Current address: Materials Characterization Lab (MCL), Materials Research Institute (MRI), Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. § Current address: University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, School of Medical Engineering and Applied Social Sciences, Garnisonstr. 21, 4020 Linz, Austria. ‖ Current address: Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada. ¶ Current address: Secarna Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG, Am Klopferspitz 19, 82152 Planegg, Germany. ** Current address: Viral Vectors and Gene Therapeutics, ProBioGen AG, 13086 Berlin, Germany. Viruses 2023, 15(7), 1507; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15071507 Received: 9 May 2023 / Revised: 21 June 2023 / Accepted: 28 June 2023 / Published: 5 July 2023 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Virology - Viruses at Multiple Levels of Complexity) Download Browse Figures Review Reports Versions Notes Abstract Influenza A viruses (IAVs) initiate infection via binding of the viral hemagglutinin (HA) to sialylated glycans on host cells. HA’s receptor specificity towards individual glycans is well studied and clearly critical for virus infection, but the contribution of the highly heterogeneous and complex glycocalyx to virus–cell adhesion remains elusive. Here, we use two complementary methods, glycan arrays and single-virus force spectroscopy (SVFS), to compare influenza virus receptor specificity with virus binding to live cells. Unexpectedly, we found that HA’s receptor binding preference does not necessarily reflect virus–cell specificity. We propose SVFS as a tool to elucidate the cell binding preference of IAVs, thereby including the complex environment of sialylated receptors within the plasma membrane of living cells

Genetic characterization of an adapted pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza virus that reveals improved replication rates in human lung epithelial cells

The 2009 influenza pandemic originated from a swine-origin H1N1 virus, which, although less pathogenic than anticipated, may acquire additional virulence-associated mutations in the future. To estimate the potential risk, we sequentially passaged the isolate A/Hamburg/04/2009 in A549 human lung epithelial cells. After passage 6, we observed a 100-fold increased replication rate. High-throughput sequencing of viral gene segments identified five dominant mutations, whose contribution to the enhanced growth was analyzed by reverse genetics. The increased replication rate was pinpointed to two mutations within the hemagglutinin (HA) gene segment (HA1 D130E, HA2 I91L), near the receptor binding site and the stem domain. The adapted virus also replicated more efficiently in mice in vivo. Enhanced replication rate correlated with increased fusion pH of the HA protein and a decrease in receptor affinity. Our data might be relevant for surveillance of pre-pandemic strains and development of high titer cell culture strains for vaccine production

Postsurgical pain outcome of vertical and transverse abdominal incision: Design of a randomized controlled equivalence trial [ISRCTN60734227]

BACKGROUND: There are two ways to open the abdominal cavity in elective general surgery: vertically or transversely. Various clinical studies and a meta-analysis have postulated that the transverse approach is superior to other approaches as regards complications. However, in a recent survey it was shown that 90 % of all abdominal incisions in visceral surgery are still vertical incisions. This discrepancy between existing recommendations of clinical trials and clinical practice could be explained by the lack of acceptance of these results due to a number of deficits in the study design and analysis, subsequent low internal validity, and therefore limited external generalisability. The objective of this study is to address the issue from the patient's perspective. METHODS: This is an intraoperatively randomized controlled observer and patient-blinded two-group parallel equivalence trial. The study setting is the Department of General-, Visceral-, Trauma Surgery and Outpatient Clinic of the University of Heidelberg, Medical School. A total of 172 patients of both genders, aged over 18 years who are scheduled for an elective abdominal operation and are eligible for either a transverse or vertical incision. To show equivalence of the two approaches or the superiority of one of them from the perspective of the patient, a primary endpoint is defined: the pain experienced by the patient (VAS 0–100) on day two after surgery and the amount of analgesic required (piritramide [mg/h]). A confidence interval approach will be used for analysis. A global α-Level of 0.05 and a power of 0.8 is guaranteed, resulting in a size of 86 patients for each group. Secondary endpoints are: time interval to open and close the abdomen, early-onset complications (frequency of burst abdomen, postoperative pulmonary complications, and wound infection) and late complications (frequency of incisional hernias). Different outcome variables will be ranked by patients and surgeons to assess the relevance of possible endpoints from the patients' and surgeons' perspective. CONCLUSION: This is a randomized controlled observer and patient-blinded two-group parallel trial to answer the question if the transverse abdominal incision is equivalent to the vertical one due to the described endpoints

Profiling quality of care for patients with chronic headache in three different German hospitals – a case study

BACKGROUND: Legal requirements for quality assurance in German rehabilitation hospitals include comparisons of providers. Objective is to describe and to compare outcome quality of care offered by three hospitals providing in-patient rehabilitative treatment exemplified for patients with chronic headache. METHODS: We performed a prospective three center observational study on patients suffering from chronic headache. Patients underwent interventions commonly used according to internal guidelines of the hospitals. Measurements were taken at three points in time (at admission, at discharge and 6 months after discharge). Indicators of outcome quality included pain intensity and frequency of pain, functional ability, depression, quality of life and health related behavior. Analyses of differences amongst the hospitals were adjusted by covariates due to case-mix situation. RESULTS: 306 patients from 3 hospitals were included in statistical analysis. Amongst the hospitals, patients differed significantly in age, education, diagnostic subgroups, beliefs, and with respect to some pain-related baseline values (covariates). Patients in all three hospitals benefited from intervention to a clinically relevant degree. At discharge from hospital, outcome quality differed significantly after adjustment according to case-mix only in terms of patients' global assessment of treatment results. Six months after discharge, the only detectable significant differences were for secondary outcomes like improved coping with stress or increased use of self-help. The profiles for satisfaction with the hospital stay showed clear differences amongst patients. CONCLUSION: The results of this case study do not suggest a definite overall ranking of the three hospitals that were compared, but outcome profiles offer a multilayer platform of reliable information which might facilitate decision making

Influence of an outpatient multidisciplinary pain management program on the health-related quality of life and the physical fitness of chronic pain patients

BACKGROUND: Approximately 10 to 20 percent of the population is suffering from chronic pain. Since this represents a major contribution to the costs of the health care system, more efficient measures and interventions to treat these patients are sought. RESULTS: The development of general health and physical activity of patients with chronic pain was assessed in an interdisciplinary outpatient pain management program (IOPP). 36 patients with an average age of 48 years were included in the IOPP. Subjective assessment of well-being was performed at five time points (baseline, post intervention and 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter) by using standardized questionnaires. The study focused on the quality of life survey Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, which is a validated instrument with established reliability and sensitivity. In addition, the patients participated in physical assessment testing strength, power, endurance, and mobility. Prior to therapy a substantial impairment was found on different levels. Marked improvements in the psychological parameters were obtained by the end of the program. No success was achieved with regard to the physical assessments. CONCLUSION: Although many different studies have evaluated similar programs, only few of them have attained positive results such as improvements of general quality of life or of physical strength. Often no difference from the control group could be detected only some months after the intervention. In the present study no significant persistent improvement of well-being occurred. Possible reasons are either wrong instruments, wrong selection of patients or wrong interventions

A bio-psycho-social exercise program (RÜCKGEWINN) for chronic low back pain in rehabilitation aftercare - Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is strong, internationally confirmed evidence for the short-term effectiveness of multimodal interdisciplinary specific treatment programs for chronic back pain. However, the verification of long-term sustainability of achieved effects is missing so far. For long-term improvement of pain and functional ability high intervention intensity or high volume seems to be necessary (> 100 therapy hours). Especially in chronic back pain rehabilitation, purposefully refined aftercare treatments offer the possibility to intensify positive effects or to increase their sustainability. However, quality assured goal-conscious specific aftercare programs for the rehabilitation of chronic back pain are absent.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This study aims to examine the efficacy of a specially developed bio-psycho-social chronic back pain specific aftercare intervention (RÜCKGEWINN) in comparison to the current usual aftercare (IRENA) and a control group that is given an educational booklet addressing pain-conditioned functional ability and back pain episodes. Overall rehabilitation effects as well as predictors for compliance to the aftercare programs are analysed. Therefore, a multicenter prospective 3-armed randomised controlled trial is conducted. 456 participants will be consecutively enrolled in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and assigned to either one of the three study arms. Outcomes are measured before and after rehabilitation. Aftercare programs are assessed at ten month follow up after dismissal form rehabilitation.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Special methodological and logistic challenges are to be mastered in this trial, which accrue from the interconnection of aftercare interventions to their residential district and the fact that the proportion of patients who take part in aftercare programs is low. The usability of the aftercare program is based on the transference into the routine care and is also reinforced by developed manuals with structured contents, media and material for organisation assistance as well as training manuals for therapists in the aftercare.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Trial Registration number: NCT01070849</p