594 research outputs found
Lebensqualität und alexithyme Merkmale bei Patienten mit somatoformer Schmerzstörung
Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Patienten mit einer somatoformen Schmerzstörung weisen häufig eine schlechte gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität (QoL) und Schwierigkeiten in der Affektregulation (Alexithymie) auf. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Zusammenhang zwischen QoL und alexithymen Merkmalen zu untersuchen. Patienten und Methoden: Bei 51Patienten mit somatoformer Schmerzstörung (durchschnittliche Erkrankungsdauer: 11,6Jahre) wurden Alexithymie (TAS-20), QoL (WHOQOL-BREF), psychische Belastung und Somatisierung (SCL-90-R) und depressive Symptome (MADRS) erhoben. Ergebnisse: Es fand sich eine signifikante negative Korrelation zwischen QoL und alexithymen Persönlichkeitsmerkmalen, insbesondere der psychischen QoL und dem TAS-20-Gesamtwert (r=−0,63, p<0,001). Die Alexithymiesubskala "Schwierigkeiten, Gefühle zu beschreiben" erwies sich als signifikanter Einflussfaktor für die psychische QoL (β=−0,34, p<0,01), auch nach Kontrolle von Depression, Somatisierung und Geschlecht. Schlussfolgerung: Für die insgesamt sehr niedrige QoL von Patienten mit somatoformer Schmerzstörung scheinen auch alexithyme Charakteristika eine wichtige Rolle zu spielen. Dies sollte sowohl diagnostisch als auch in der therapeutischen Zielsetzung berücksichtigt werde
Facilitated engraftment of human hematopoietic cells in severe combined immunodeficient mice following a single injection of Cl²MDP liposomes
Transplantation of normal and malignant human hematopoietic cells into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice allows for evaluation of long-term growth abilities of these cells and provides a preclinical model for therapeutic interventions. However, large numbers of cells are required for successful engraftment in preirradiated mice due to residual graft resistance, that may be mediated by cells from the mononuclear phagocytic system. Intravenous (i.v.) injection of liposomes containing dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP) may eliminate mouse macrophages in spleen and liver. In this study outgrowth of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells in SCID mice conditioned with a single i.v. injection of Cl2MDP liposomes in addition to sublethal total body irradiation (TBI) was compared to outgrowth of these cells in SCID mice that had received TBI alone. A two- to 10-fold increase in outgrowth of AML cells was observed in four cases of AML. Administration of 107 UCB cells reproducibly engrafted SCID mice that had been conditioned with Cl2MDP liposomes and TBI, whereas human cells were not detected in mice conditioned with TBI alone. As few as 2 x 104 purified CD34+ UCB cells engrafted in all mice treated with Cl2MDP liposomes. In SCID mice treated with macrophage depletion unexpected graft failures were not observed. Histological examination of the spleen showed that TBI and Cl2MDP liposomes i.v. resulted in a transient elimination of all macrophage subsets in the spleen, whereas TBI had a minor effect. Cl2MDP liposomes were easy to use and their application was not associated with appreciable side-effects. Cl2MDP liposome pretreatment in combination with TBI allows for reproducible outgrowth of high numbers of human hematopoietic cells in SCID mice
Heterogeneity of mouse spleen dentritic cells: in vivo phagocytic activity, expression of macrophage markers, and subpopulation turnover
Heterogeneity of mouse spleen dentritic cells: in vivo phagocytic activity, expression of macrophage markers, and subpopulation turnover
Test Results on the Silicon Pixel Detector for the TTF-FEL Beam Trajectory Monitor
Test measurements on the silicon pixel detector for the beam trajectory
monitor at the free electron laser of the TESLA test facility are presented. To
determine the electronic noise of detector and read-out and to calibrate the
signal amplitude of different pixels the 6 keV photons of the manganese K line
are used. Two different methods determine the spatial accuracy of the detector:
In one setup a laser beam is focused to a straight line and moved across the
pixel structure. In the other the detector is scanned using a low-intensity
electron beam of an electron microscope. Both methods show that the symmetry
axis of the detector defines a straight line within 0.4 microns. The
sensitivity of the detector to low energy X-rays is measured using a vacuum
ultraviolet beam at the synchrotron light source HASYLAB. Additionally, the
electron microscope is used to study the radiation hardness of the detector.Comment: 14 pages (Latex), 13 figures (Postscript), submitted to Nuclear
Instruments and Methods
Ionospheric quasi-static electric field anomalies during seismic activity in August–September 1981
The paper proposes new results, analyses and information for the plate tectonic situation in the processing of INTERCOSMOS-BULGARIA-1300 satellite data about anomalies of the quasi-static electric field in the upper ionosphere over activated earthquake source regions at different latitudes. The earthquake catalogue is made on the basis of information from the United State Geological Survey (USGS) website. The disturbances in ionospheric quasi-static electric fields are recorded by IESP-1 instrument aboard the INTERCOSMOS-BULGARIA-1300 satellite and they are compared with significant seismic events from the period 14 August–20 September 1981 in magnetically very quiet, quiet and medium quiet days. The main tectonic characteristics of the seismically activated territories are also taken in account. The main goal of the above research work is to enlarge the research of possible connections between anomalous vertical electric field penetrations into the ionosphere and the earthquake manifestations, also to propose tectonic arguments for the observed phenomena. The studies are represented in four main blocks: (i) previous studies of similar problems, (ii) selection of satellite, seismic and plate tectonic data, (iii) data processing with new specialized software and observations of the quasi-static electric field and (iiii) summary, comparison of new with previous results in our studies and conclusion. We establish the high informativity of the vertical component <i>Ez</i> of the quasi-static electric field in the upper ionosphere according observations by INTERCOSMOS-BULGARIA-1300 that are placed above considerably activated earthquake sources. This component shows an increase of about 2–10 mV/m above sources, situated on mobile structures of the plates. The paper discusses the observed effects. It is represented also a statistical study of ionospheric effects 5–15 days before and 5–15 days after the earthquakes with magnitude M 4.8–7.9
Heterogeneity of mouse spleen dendritic cells: in vivo phagocytic activity, expression of macrophage markers, and subpopulation turnover
In the normal mouse spleen, two distinct populations of dendritic cells
(DC) are present that differ in microanatomical location. The major
population of marginal DC is found in the "marginal zone bridging
channels" and extends into the red pulp. The interdigitating cells (IDC)
are localized in the T cell areas in the white pulp. The aim of the
present study was to characterize these two splenic DC populations with
regard to their phenotype, in vivo phagocytic function, and turnover. Both
marginal DC and IDC are CD11c+ and CD13+, but only IDC are NLDC-145+ and
CD8alpha+. Notably, both populations, when freshly isolated, express the
macrophage markers F4/80, BM8, and Mac-1. To study the phagocytic capacity
of these cells, we employed the macrophage "suicide" technique by
injecting liposomes loaded with clodronate i.v. Marginal DC, but not IDC,
were eliminated by this treatment. Phagocytosis of DiI-labeled liposomes
by DC confirmed this finding. The two DC populations differed
significantly with regard to their turnover rates, as studied in a
transgenic mouse model of conditional depletion of DC populations with
high turnover. In these mice, marginal DC were completely eliminated, but
the IDC population remained virtually intact. From these data we conclude
that the marginal DC population has a high turnover, in contrast to the
IDC population. Taken together, the present results indicate that marginal
DC and IDC represent two essentially distinct populations of DC in the
mouse spleen. They differ not only in location, but also in phenotype,
phagocytic ability, and turnover
Abdominal diameters as indicators of visceral fat: comparison between magnetic resonance imaging and anthropometry
A recalibrated prediction model can identify level-1 trauma patients at risk of nosocomial pneumonia
Introduction: Nosocomial pneumonia has poor prognosis in hospitalized trauma patients. Croce et al. published a model to predict post-traumatic ventilator-associated pneumonia, which achieved high discrimination and reasonable sensitivity. We aimed to externally validate Croce’s model to predict nosocomial pneumonia in patients admitted to a Dutch level-1 trauma center. Materials and methods: This retrospective study included all trauma patients (≥ 16y) admitted for > 24 h to our level-1 trauma center in 2017. Exclusion criteria were pneumonia or antibiotic treatment upon hospital admission, treatment elsewhere > 24 h, or death < 48 h. Croce’s model used eight clinical variables—on trauma severity and treatment, available in the emergency department—to predict nosocomial pneumonia risk. The model’s predictive performance was assessed through discrimination and calibration before and after re-estimating the model’s coefficients. In sensitivity analysis, the model was updated using Ridge regression. Results: 809 Patients were included (median age 51y, 67% male, 97% blunt trauma), of whom 86 (11%) developed nosocomial pneumonia. Pneumonia patients were older, more severely injured, and underwent more emergent interventions. Croce’s model showed good discrimination (AUC 0.83, 95% CI 0.79–0.87), yet predicted probabilities were too low (mean predicted risk 6.4%), and calibration was suboptimal (calibration slope 0.63). After full model recalibration, discrimination (AUC 0.84, 95% CI 0.80–0.88) and calibration improved. Adding age to the model increased the AUC to 0.87 (95% CI 0.84–0.91). Prediction parameters were similar after the models were updated using Ridge regression. Conclusion: The externally validated and intercept-recalibrated models show good discrimination and have the potential to predict nosocomial pneumonia. At this time, clinicians could apply these models to identify high-risk patients, increase patient monitoring, and initiate preventative measures. Recalibration of Croce’s model improved the predictive performance (discrimination and calibration). The recalibrated model provides a further basis for nosocomial pneumonia prediction in level-1 trauma patients. Several models are accessible via an online tool. Level of evidence: Level III, Prognostic/Epidemiological Study.</p
Demographic patterns and outcomes of patients in level I trauma centers in three international trauma systems
Introduction: Trauma systems were developed to improve the care for the injured. The designation and elements comprising these systems vary across countries. In this study, we have compared the demographic patterns and patient outcomes of Level I trauma centers in three international trauma systems. Methods: International multicenter prospective trauma registry-based study, performed in the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU), Utrecht, the Netherlands, John Hunter Hospital (JHH), Newcastle, Australia, and Harborview Medical Center (HMC), Seattle, the United States. Inclusion: patients =18 years, admitted in 2012, registered in the institutional trauma registry. Results: In UMCU, JHH, and HMC, respectively, 955, 1146, and 4049 patients met the inclusion criteria of which 300, 412, and 1375 patients with Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 15. Mean ISS was higher in JHH (13.5; p < 0.001) and HMC (13.4; p < 0.001) compared to UMCU (11.7). Unadjusted mortality: UMCU = 6.5 %, JHH = 3.6 %, and HMC = 4.8 %. Adjusted odds of death: JHH = 0.498 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.303-0.818] and HMC = 0.473 (95 % CI 0.325-0.690) compared to UMCU. HMC compared to JHH was 1.002 (95 % CI 0.664-1.514). Odds of death patients ISS > 15: JHH = 0.507 (95 % CI 0.300-0.857) and HMC = 0.451 (95 % CI 0.297-0.683) compared to UMCU. HMC = 0.931 (95 % CI 0.608-1.425) compared to JHH. TRISS analysis: UMCU: Ws = 0.787, Z = 1.31, M = 0.87; JHH, Ws = 3.583, Z = 6.7, M = 0.89; HMC, Ws = 3.902, Z = 14.6, M = 0.84. Conclusion: This study demonstrated substantial differences across centers in patient characteristics and mortality, mainly of neurological cause. Future research must investigate whether the outcome differences remain with nonfatal and long-term outcomes. Furthermore, we must focus on the development of a more valid method to compare systems
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