Support Vector Machine Analysis of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Interoception Does Not Reliably Predict Individual Outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia

Background: The approach to apply multivariate pattern analyses based on neuro imaging data for outcome prediction holds out the prospect to improve therapeutic decisions in mental disorders. Patients suffering from panic disorder with agoraphobia (PD/AG) often exhibit an increased perception of bodily sensations. The purpose of this investigation was to assess whether multivariate classification applied to a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) interoception paradigm can predict individual responses to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in PD/AG. Methods: This analysis is based on pretreatment fMRI data during an interoceptive challenge from a multicenter trial of the German PANIC-NET. Patients with DSM-IV PD/AG were dichotomized as responders (n = 30) or non-responders (n = 29) based on the primary outcome (Hamilton Anxiety Scale Reduction ≥50%) after 6 weeks of CBT (2 h/week). fMRI parametric maps were used as features for response classification with linear support vector machines (SVM) with or without automated feature selection. Predictive accuracies were assessed using cross validation and permutation testing. The influence of methodological parameters and the predictive ability for specific interoception-related symptom reduction were further evaluated. Results: SVM did not reach sufficient overall predictive accuracies (38.0–54.2%) for anxiety reduction in the primary outcome. In the exploratory analyses, better accuracies (66.7%) were achieved for predicting interoception-specific symptom relief as an alternative outcome domain. Subtle information regarding this alternative response criterion but not the primary outcome was revealed by post hoc univariate comparisons. Conclusion: In contrast to reports on other neurofunctional probes, SVM based on an interoception paradigm was not able to reliably predict individual response to CBT. Results speak against the clinical applicability of this technique

High molecular weight DNA extraction methods lead to high quality filamentous ascomycete fungal genome assemblies using Oxford Nanopore sequencing

During the last two decades, whole-genome sequencing has revolutionized genetic research in all kingdoms, including fungi. More than 1000 fungal genomes have been submitted to sequence databases, mostly obtained through second generation short-read DNA sequencing. As a result, highly fragmented genome drafts have typically been obtained. However, with the emergence of third generation long-read DNA sequencing, the assembly challenge can be overcome and highly contiguous assemblies obtained. Such attractive results, however, are extremely dependent on the ability to extract highly purified high molecular weight (HMW) DNA. Extraction of such DNA is currently a significant challenge for all species with cell walls, not least fungi. In this study, four isolates of filamentous ascomycetes (Apiospora pterospermum, Aspergillus sp. (subgen. Cremei), Aspergillus westerdijkiae, and Penicillium aurantiogriseum) were used to develop extraction and purification methods that result in HMW DNA suitable for third generation sequencing. We have tested and propose two straightforward extraction methods based on treatment with either a commercial kit or traditional phenol-chloroform extraction both in combination with a single commercial purification method that result in high quality HMW DNA from filamentous ascomycetes. Our results demonstrated that using these DNA extraction methods and coverage, above 75 x of our haploid filamentous ascomycete fungal genomes result in complete and contiguous assemblies

Regulierende Ökosystemleistungen in Fruchtfolgen mit Ackerbohnen (Vicia faba) und Erbsen (Pisum sativum): Quantifizierung, Bewertung und Realisierung (Verbundvorhaben)

Das hier beschriebene Verbundvorhaben umfasst folgende Teilprojekte: FKZ 15EPS016, FKZ 15EPS060 und FKZ 15EPS061. Die kombinierten Wirkungen diversifizierter Fruchtfolgen mit Körnerleguminosen in konventionellen Anbausystemen sind wenig untersucht. Wir haben die Effekte des Anbaus von Ackerbohnen (Vicia faba) auf die Vielfalt und Abundanz von Bestäubern und Raubarthropoden, die biologische Schädlingskontrolle und die Kulturpflanzenbestäubung untersucht. Zudem wurden Vorfrucht- und Nachbarschaftseffekte analysiert. Ökonomische und agronomische Daten wurden anhand von Betriebsbefragungen erhoben. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass v. a. Hummeln vom Ackerbohnenanbau profitieren, andere Wildbienen aber von blütenreichen, naturnahen Lebensräumen in der Agrarlandschaft abhängen. Insektenbestäubung ist ein wichtiger Parameter für die Ertragsbildung bei Ackerbohnen und Raps. Es zeigte sich ein positiver Nachbarschaftseffekt der Ackerbohne auf vegetationsbewohnende Nützlinge. Zudem waren die Aktivitätsdichten von Spinnen in Landschaften mit Ackerbohne höher als in Landschaften ohne Ackerbohne. Ackerbohnen können in einzelnen Jahren unter Einbezug des monetären Vorfruchtwerts eine wirtschaftlich konkurrenzfähige Alternative zu den übrigen Hauptkulturen sein, die allerdings stark von den gegebenen Standort- und Witterungsbedingungen beeinflusst wird. Der Anbau von Ackerbohnen bringt landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben agronomische Vorteile. Allerdings zeigte sich auch eine Volatilität in der Wirtschaftlichkeit des Ackerbohnenanbaus. Hinsichtlich der ökologischen Wirkungen sollte der Ackerbohnenanbau mit anderen Maßnahmen (v. a. die Wiederherstellung und der Erhalt von halbnatürlichen Habitaten) kombiniert werden, die auch für die Bereitstellung von Ökosystemleistungen wie biologische Schädlingskontrolle oder Bestäubung von Relevanz sind

Characterization of Eight Novel Spiroleptosphols from Fusarium avenaceum

Chemical analyses of Fusarium avenaceum grown on banana medium resulted in eight novel spiroleptosphols, T1, T2 and U–Z (1–8). The structures were elucidated by a combination of high-resolution mass spectrometric data and 1- and 2-D NMR experiments. The relative stereochemistry was assigned by 1H coupling and NOESY/ROESY experiments. Absolute stereochemistry established for 7 by vibrational circular dichroism was found analogous to that of the putative polyketide spiroleptosphol from Leptosphaeria doliolum

Impact of pre-hospital handling and initial time to cranial computed tomography on outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients with out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest—a retrospective bi-centric study

BackgroundAneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) presents occasionally with cardiac arrest (CA). The impact of pre-hospital and emergency room (ER) treatment on outcome remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the impact of pre-hospital treatment, focusing on lay cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and ER handling on the outcome of SAH patients with out-of-hospital CA (OHCA).MethodsIn this bi-centric retrospective analysis, we reviewed SAH databases for OHCA and CPR from January 2011 to June 2021. Patients were analyzed for general clinical and epidemiological parameters. CPR data were obtained from ambulance reports and information on ER handling from the medical records. Data were correlated with patient survival at hospital discharge as a predefined outcome parameter.ResultsOf 1,120 patients with SAH, 45 (4.0%) were identified with OHCA and CPR, 38 of whom provided all required information and were included in this study. Time to resuscitation was significantly shorter with lay resuscitation (5.3 ± 5.2 min vs. 0.3 ± 1.2 min, p = 0.003). Nineteen patients were not initially scheduled for cranial computed tomography (CCT), resulting in a significantly longer time interval to first CCT (mean ± SD: 154 ± 217 min vs. 40 ± 23 min; p < 0.001). Overall survival to discharge was 31.6%. Pre-hospital lay CPR was not associated with higher survival (p = 0.632). However, we observed a shorter time to first CCT in surviving patients (p = 0.065)ConclusionsOHCA in SAH patients is not uncommon. Besides high-quality CPR, time to diagnosis of SAH appears to play an important role. We therefore recommend considering CCT diagnostics as part of the diagnostic algorithm in patients with OHCA