A smartphone-based health care chatbot to promote self-management of chronic pain (SELMA) : pilot randomized controlled trial

Background: Ongoing pain is one of the most common diseases and has major physical, psychological, social, and economic impacts. A mobile health intervention utilizing a fully automated text-based health care chatbot (TBHC) may offer an innovative way not only to deliver coping strategies and psychoeducation for pain management but also to build a working alliance between a participant and the TBHC. Objective: The objectives of this study are twofold: (1) to describe the design and implementation to promote the chatbot painSELfMAnagement (SELMA), a 2-month smartphone-based cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) TBHC intervention for pain self-management in patients with ongoing or cyclic pain, and (2) to present findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial, in which effectiveness, influence of intention to change behavior, pain duration, working alliance, acceptance, and adherence were evaluated. Methods: Participants were recruited online and in collaboration with pain experts, and were randomized to interact with SELMA for 8 weeks either every day or every other day concerning CBT-based pain management (n=59), or weekly concerning content not related to pain management (n=43). Pain-related impairment (primary outcome), general well-being, pain intensity, and the bond scale of working alliance were measured at baseline and postintervention. Intention to change behavior and pain duration were measured at baseline only, and acceptance postintervention was assessed via self-reporting instruments. Adherence was assessed via usage data. Results: From May 2018 to August 2018, 311 adults downloaded the SELMA app, 102 of whom consented to participate and met the inclusion criteria. The average age of the women (88/102, 86.4%) and men (14/102, 13.6%) participating was 43.7 (SD 12.7) years. Baseline group comparison did not differ with respect to any demographic or clinical variable. The intervention group reported no significant change in pain-related impairment (P=.68) compared to the control group postintervention. The intention to change behavior was positively related to pain-related impairment (P=.01) and pain intensity (P=.01). Working alliance with the TBHC SELMA was comparable to that obtained in guided internet therapies with human coaches. Participants enjoyed using the app, perceiving it as useful and easy to use. Participants of the intervention group replied with an average answer ratio of 0.71 (SD 0.20) to 200 (SD 58.45) conversations initiated by SELMA. Participants’ comments revealed an appreciation of the empathic and responsible interaction with the TBHC SELMA. A main criticism was that there was no option to enter free text for the patients’ own comments. Conclusions: SELMA is feasible, as revealed mainly by positive feedback and valuable suggestions for future revisions. For example, the participants’ intention to change behavior or a more homogenous sample (eg, with a specific type of chronic pain) should be considered in further tailoring of SELMA

Perspektiven der Biotechnologie in der modernen Medizin

Die effiziente Überführung von Grundlagenerkenntnissen in technische Anwendungen und die industrielle Nutzung derselben ist eine ökonomische Notwendigkeit moderner Industriegesellschaften. In der Chemie wird dies seit über 150 Jahren mit Erfolg praktiziert. Im Gegensatz dazu hat die Biologie in diesem Zeitraum im wesentlichen Erkenntnisse gesammelt, aber eine Umsetzung in technologische Verfahren hat erst zum Ende des auslaufenden Jahrhunderts begonnen. Mit der Biotechnologie hat sich in den letzten 20 Jahren aus der Biologie ein neuer, zukunftsträchtiger Industriezweig entwickelt. Zur Zeit sind die wichtigsten Anwendungsfelder der Biotechnologie Umwelt, Agrar- und Lebensmittelindustrie sowie die Medizin (Medizinische Biotechnologie)

Bioreactor cultivation of CHO DP-12 cells under sodium butyrate treatment – comparative transcriptome analysis with CHO cDNA microarrays

Klausing S, Krämer O, Noll T. Bioreactor cultivation of CHO DP-12 cells under sodium butyrate treatment – comparative transcriptome analysis with CHO cDNA microarrays. BMC Proceedings. 2011;5(Suppl 8)

Translational Recoding Induced by G-Rich mRNA Sequences That Form Unusual Structures

AbstractWe investigated a herpesvirus mutant that contains a single base insertion in its thymidine kinase (tk) gene yet expresses low levels of TK via a net +1 translational recoding event. Within this mutant gene, we defined a G-rich signal that is sufficient to induce recoding. Unlike other translational recoding events, downstream RNA structures or termination codons did not stimulate recoding, and paused ribosomes were not detected. Mutational analysis indicated that specific tRNAs or codon–anticodon slippage were unlikely to account for recoding. Rather, recoding efficiency correlated with the G-richness of the signal and its ability to form unusual structures. These findings identify a mechanism of translational recoding with unique features and potential implications for clinical drug resistance and other biological systems

Proteomic and metabolomic characterization of CHO DP-12 cell lines with different high passage histories

Beckmann T, Thüte T, Heinrich C, Büntemeyer H, Noll T. Proteomic and metabolomic characterization of DP-12 cell lines with different high passage histories. In: BMC Proceedings. BMC Proceedings. Vol 5. BioMed Central; 2011

Growth characterization of CHO DP-12 cell lines with different high passage histories

Heinrich C, Timo W, Christina K, Northoff S, Noll T. Growth characterization of CHO DP-12 cell lines with different high passage histories. In: Hansjörg H, ed. BMC Proceedings. BMC Proceedings. Vol 5. BioMed Central; 2011

Magnesium as a biomaterial and its biological interactions

To investigate different magnesium alloys as a biodegradable material for implants it is necessary to understand the degradation process in the biological environment. The following study shows interactions of pure magnesium with various physical and chemical environmental parameters according to the parameters within the application area.DFG/SFB/599DFG/SFB/59

A universal microfluidic approach for integrated analysis of temporal homocellular and heterocellular signaling and migration dynamics

Microfluidics offers precise and dynamic control of microenvironments for the study of temporal cellular responses. However, recent research focusing solely on either homocellular (single-cell, population) or heterocellular response may yield insufficient output, which possibly leads to partial comprehension about the underlying mechanisms of signaling events and corresponding cellular behaviors. Here, a universal microfluidic approach is developed for integrated analysis of temporal signaling and cell migration dynamics in multiple cellular contexts (single-cell, population and coculture). This approach allows to confine the desired number or mixture of specific cell sample types in a single device. Precise single cell seeding was achieved manually with bidirectional controllability. Coupled with time-lapse imaging, temporal cellular responses can be observed with single-cell resolution. Using NIH3T3 cells stably expressing signal transducer and activator of transcription 1/2 (STAT1/2) activity biosensors, temporal STAT1/2 activation and cell migration dynamics were explored in isolated single cells, populations and cocultures stimulated with temporal inputs, such as single-pulse and continuous signals of interferon γ (IFNγ) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We demonstrate distinct dynamic responses of fibroblasts in different cellular contexts. Our presented approach facilitates a multi-dimensional understanding of STAT signaling and corresponding migration behaviors.<br/