Masked ambiguity – Emotion identification in schizophrenia and major depressive disorder

Both patients with schizophrenia and with a major depressive disorder (MDD) display deficits in identifying facial expressions of emotion during acute phases of their illness. However, specific deficit patterns have not yet been reliably demonstrated. Tasks that employ emotionally ambiguous stimuli have recently shown distinct deficit patterns in patients with schizophrenia compared to other mental disorders as well as healthy controls. We here investigate whether a task which uses an ambiguous Japanese (Noh) mask and a corresponding human stimulus generates distinctive emotion attribution patterns in thirty-two Caucasian patients with schizophrenia, matched MDD patients and healthy controls. Results show that patients with schizophrenia displayed reaction time disadvantages compared to healthy controls while identifying sadness and anger. MDD patients were more likely to label stimuli with basic compared to subtle emotional expressions. Moreover, they showed more difficulties assigning emotions to the human stimulus than to the Noh mask. IQ, age and cognitive functioning did not modulate these results. Because overall group differences were not observed, this task is not suitable for diagnosing patients. However, the subtle differences that did emerge might give therapists handles that can be used in therapy.Action Contro

Мотивационное управление персоналом на примере компании ООО "Мобител"

Цель дипломной работы: анализ системы мотивационного управления в организации и разработка направлений его совершенствования. В ходе работы проводились практические исследования персонала, выявлялся мотивационный тип, определялась степень информативности персонала организации о системе мотивации (мотивационная среда). Был проведен практический анализ соотношения типов мотивации с формами. В ходе исследования применялось несколько практических методик по формированию мотивационной программы в компании. Степень внедрения: ряд рекомендаций по совершенствованию мотивационного управления персоналом были внедрены в практику управления ООО "Мобител".The purpose of the thesis: analysis of the system of motivational management in the organization and development of directions for its improvement. In the course of the work, practical research of personnel was carried out, the motivational type was revealed, the degree of information of the personnel of the organization about the system of motivation (motivational environment) was determined. A practical analysis of the relationship between types of motivation and forms was carried out. In the course of the research, several practical methods were used to form a motivational program in the company. Degree of implementation: a number of recommendations for improving motivational management of personnel were introduced into the practice of the management of LLC "Mobitel"

The Role of Monoclonal Antibody in Combination with First-Line Chemotherapy in Asian Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The strategies of incorporating monoclonal antibodies (MoABs) have now proved efficacy in the first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These include targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Bevacizumab is a MoAB targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an important mediator of new blood vessel formation. Cetuximab is a MoAB directed at EGFR. Binding cetuximab to EGFR blocks signal transduction and promotes receptor internalization and degradation. In this review, we present current data of bevacizumab and cetuximab for the first line treatment of advanced NSCLC. We also refer to their potential for Asian patients with advanced NSCLC in the first-line setting

H-Ras Expression in Immortalized Keratinocytes Produces an Invasive Epithelium in Cultured Skin Equivalents

Ras proteins affect both proliferation and expression of collagen-degrading enzymes, two important processes in cancer progression. Normal skin architecture is dependent both on the coordinated proliferation and stratification of keratinocytes, as well as the maintenance of a collagen-rich basement membrane. In the present studies we sought to determine whether expression of H-ras in skin keratinocytes would affect these parameters during the establishment and maintenance of an in vitro skin equivalent.Previously described cdk4 and hTERT immortalized foreskin keratinocytes were engineered to express ectopically introduced H-ras. Skin equivalents, composed of normal fibroblast-contracted collagen gels overlaid with keratinocytes (immortal or immortal expressing H-ras), were prepared and incubated for 3 weeks. Harvested tissues were processed and sectioned for histology and antibody staining. Antigens specific to differentiation (involucrin, keratin-14, p63), basement-membrane formation (collagen IV, laminin-5), and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT; e-cadherin, vimentin) were studied. Results showed that H-ras keratinocytes produced an invasive, disorganized epithelium most apparent in the lower strata while immortalized keratinocytes fully stratified without invasive properties. The superficial strata retained morphologically normal characteristics. Vimentin and p63 co-localization increased with H-ras overexpression, similar to basal wound-healing keratinocytes. In contrast, the cdk4 and hTERT immortalized keratinocytes differentiated similarly to normal unimmortalized keratinocytes.The use of isogenic derivatives of stable immortalized keratinocytes with specified genetic alterations may be helpful in developing more robust in vitro models of cancer progression

Quality of human-computer interaction - results of a national usability survey of hospital-IT in Germany

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Due to the increasing functionality of medical information systems, it is hard to imagine day to day work in hospitals without IT support. Therefore, the design of dialogues between humans and information systems is one of the most important issues to be addressed in health care. This survey presents an analysis of the current quality level of human-computer interaction of healthcare-IT in German hospitals, focused on the users' point of view.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To evaluate the usability of clinical-IT according to the design principles of EN ISO 9241-10 the IsoMetrics Inventory, an assessment tool, was used. The focus of this paper has been put on suitability for task, training effort and conformity with user expectations, differentiated by information systems. Effectiveness has been evaluated with the focus on interoperability and functionality of different IT systems.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>4521 persons from 371 hospitals visited the start page of the study, while 1003 persons from 158 hospitals completed the questionnaire. The results show relevant variations between different information systems.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Specialised information systems with defined functionality received better assessments than clinical information systems in general. This could be attributed to the improved customisation of these specialised systems for specific working environments. The results can be used as reference data for evaluation and benchmarking of human computer engineering in clinical health IT context for future studies.</p

The role of tenascin-C in tissue injury and tumorigenesis

The extracellular matrix molecule tenascin-C is highly expressed during embryonic development, tissue repair and in pathological situations such as chronic inflammation and cancer. Tenascin-C interacts with several other extracellular matrix molecules and cell-surface receptors, thus affecting tissue architecture, tissue resilience and cell responses. Tenascin-C modulates cell migration, proliferation and cellular signaling through induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oncogenic signaling molecules amongst other mechanisms. Given the causal role of inflammation in cancer progression, common mechanisms might be controlled by tenascin-C during both events. Drugs targeting the expression or function of tenascin-C or the tenascin-C protein itself are currently being developed and some drugs have already reached advanced clinical trials. This generates hope that increased knowledge about tenascin-C will further improve management of diseases with high tenascin-C expression such as chronic inflammation, heart failure, artheriosclerosis and cancer

Functional porous ceramic films by pulsed laser deposition

Physical vapor deposition techniques are used in a variety of applications to deposit thin films with particular structural and functional properties for applications such as electronic, mechanical, optical and tribological coatings. The vapor/plasma states used in surface and thin film technology are generated by electrical, optical or chemical means. In the case of optical plasma formation, laser radiation is usually used to generate a hot, dense and highly excited plasma

Influence of spinal cord stimulation on insulin sensitivity in chronic pain patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This prospective, sham-controlled, randomized, cross-over study (NCT03637075), was designed to test the hypothesis that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for the treatment of pain can also improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity when compared to sham stimulation. METHODS: Ten non-diabetic participants (5 females, mean age 48.8 years) who had an SCS system implanted for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain were studied. Whilst applying a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, sham-stimulation and tonic stimulation were performed for 45 min (n=4) or 60 min (n=6) in each case randomly. The insulin sensitivity index and pain levels were determined. A second investigation, BurstDR stimulation was also conducted and the result was compared to that of sham stimulation (cross-over design). RESULTS: The insulin sensitivity improved significantly under the tonic stimulation when compared to the sham stimulation (p=0.037). BurstDR stimulation independently did not lead to a significantly improved insulin sensitivity compared to that after sham stimulation (p=0.16). We also examined the pain during the test and found no significant difference between sham and tonic stimulation (p=0.687). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that tonic stimulation used for the treatment of pain could also improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Further investigations are required to investigate the clinical relevance of the role of glucose metabolism in diabetic chronic pain participants and its underlying mechanisms