Fusion and Evaluation of 3D Data and Excavation Documents for Comparison of Original and Digital Copy in the Case of a Megalithic Tomb

This contribution shows the preliminary results of the multidisciplinary cooperation of archaeological, technical and heritage issues using the example of the megalithic tomb Kleinenkneten II. The tomb was excavated in the 1930s, but big parts of the documentation have unfortunately been destroyed. Furthermore, some ancient interpretations need to be objectively reviewed. More than 500 historical image data visually document the historical excavation situation. In addition, the current situation was recorded in 3D using modern methods. Geodetic products, such as orthophotos, can be derived from modern data and compared with old plans. Also, a point cloud was calculated from historical images, which can be compared with the current situation. The combination of modern and historical data enables new archaeological interpretations. From a museum perspective, strategies for the construction of authentic value of the 3D model is considered, as well as its communication to the public

Does psychopathology at admission predict the length of inpatient stay in psychiatry? Implications for financing psychiatric services

Background: The debate on appropriate financing systems in inpatient psychiatry is ongoing. In this context, it is important to control resource use in terms of length of stay (LOS), which is the most costly factor in inpatient care and the one that can be influenced most easily. Previous studies have shown that psychiatric diagnoses provide only limited justification for explaining variation in LOS, and it has been suggested that measures such as psychopathology might be more appropriate to predict resource use. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between LOS and psychopathological syndromes or symptoms at admission as well as other characteristics such as sociodemographic and clinical variables. Methods: We considered routine medical data of patients admitted to the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich in the years 2008 and 2009. Complete data on psychopathology at hospital admission were available in 3,220 inpatient episodes. A subsample of 2,939 inpatient episodes was considered in final statistical models, including psychopathology as well as complete datasets of further measures (e.g. sociodemographic, clinical, treatment-related and psychosocial variables). We used multivariate linear as well as logistic regression analysis with forward selection procedure to determine the predictors of LOS. Results: All but two syndrome scores (mania, hostility) were positively related to the length of stay. Final statistical models showed that syndromes or symptoms explained about 5% of the variation in length of stay. The inclusion of syndromes or symptoms as well as basic treatment variables and other factors led to an explained variation of up to 25%. Conclusions: Psychopathological syndromes and symptoms at admission and further characteristics only explained a small proportion of the length of inpatient stay. Thus, according to our sample, psychopathology might not be suitable as a primary indicator for estimating LOS and contingent costs. This might be considered in the development of future costing systems in psychiatry

Novel multiple sclerosis susceptibility loci implicated in epigenetic regulation

We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility in German cohorts with 4888 cases and 10,395 controls. In addition to associations within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region, 15 non-MHC loci reached genome-wide significance. Four of these loci are novel MS susceptibility loci. They map to the genes L3MBTL3, MAZ, ERG, and SHMT1. The lead variant at SHMT1 was replicated in an independent Sardinian cohort. Products of the genes L3MBTL3, MAZ, and ERG play important roles in immune cell regulation. SHMT1 encodes a serine hydroxymethyltransferase catalyzing the transfer of a carbon unit to the folate cycle. This reaction is required for regulation of methylation homeostasis, which is important for establishment and maintenance of epigenetic signatures. Our GWAS approach in a defined population with limited genetic substructure detected associations not found in larger, more heterogeneous cohorts, thus providing new clues regarding MS pathogenesis

Three-dimensional printing of porous load-bearing bioceramic scaffolds

This article reports on the use of the binder jetting three-dimensional printing process combined with sintering to process bioceramic materials to form micro- and macroporous three-dimensional structures. Three different glass-ceramic formulations, apatite–wollastonite and two silicate-based glasses, have been processed using this route to create porous structures which have Young’s modulus equivalent to cortical bone and average bending strengths in the range 24–36 MPa. It is demonstrated that a range of macroporous geometries can be created with accuracies of ±0.25 mm over length scales up to 40 mm. Hot-stage microscopy is a valuable tool in the definition of processing parameters for the sintering step of the process. Overall, it is concluded that binder jetting followed by sintering offers a versatile process for the manufacture of load-bearing bioceramic components for bone replacement applications

Cerebrospinal fluid findings in patients with neurological manifestations in post-COVID-19 syndrome

BACKGROUND: Information on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings in patients with neurological manifestations in post-COVID-19 syndrome is scarce. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of 84 CSF samples in patients fulfilling post-COVID-19 criteria in two neurological post-COVID-19 outpatient clinics. RESULTS: In 68% of samples, all CSF parameters were normal. The most frequent pathological CSF finding was elevation of total protein (median total protein 33.3 mg/dl [total range 18.5-116.2]) in 20 of 83 (24%) samples. The second most prevalent pathological finding was a blood-CSF barrier dysfunction as measured by elevation of QAlb (median QAlb 4.65 [2.4-13.2]) in 11/84 (13%). Pleocytosis was found in only 5/84 (6%) samples and was mild in all of them. CSF-restricted oligoclonal bands were found in 5/83 (6%) samples. Anti-neuronal autoantibodies in CSF were negative in most cases, whilst 12/68 (18%) samples were positive for anti-myelin autoantibodies in serum. PCR for herpesviridae (HSV-1/-2, VZV, EBV, CMV, HHV6) showed, if at all, only weakly positive results in CSF or EDTA whole blood/plasma. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of samples did not show any pathologies. The most frequent findings were elevation of total protein and blood-CSF barrier dysfunction with no signs of intrathecal inflammation. CSF analysis still keeps its value for exclusion of differential diagnoses

White matter correlates of complex processing speed performance in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Background: Natalizumab (NTZ) exerts a positive impact on cognitive functions in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). Little is known about the effect of Fingolimod (FIN) on these functions. Objectives: to compare the effect on cognitive functions of 1-year treatment with FIN or NTZ. Methods: All consecutive RRMS scheduled for treatment with NTZ or FIN underwent neuropsychological evaluations using the Brief Repeatable Battery, Stroop Test, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at baseline and every 12 months. A test was considered failed if the corresponding z-score was 2 standard deviation (SD) below the mean Italian normative values. The Cognitive Impairment Index (CII) as a measure of global cognitive function was calculated for each patient. Patients were propensity score (PS)-matched on a 1-to-1 basis at the time of treatment start using the following covariates: sex, age, prior treatment exposure, relapses prior the treatment, school education, and BDI score. The relapse risk during the treatment was estimated through a Poisson regression model. A generalized linear mixed model for repeated measures with an autoregressive variance-covariance structure was applied to evaluate changes in CII, the mean number of cognitive tests failed and FSS score at 1 year of treatment. Results: the effect of treatment on cognitive functions was evaluated in 62 matched RRMS patients receiving NTZ(n=31) or FIN(n=31). The relapse incidence was not significant different between the treatments (FIN vs NTZ: Incidence rate ratio=0.71, p=0.6). The mean±SD number of cognitive tests failed was significantly reduced only in FIN treated patients (2.8±2.2 vs 1.7±1.8, p=0.0014). The CII significantly improved in both groups (NAT 18.5±6.1 vs 14.5±6.1, p=0.0075; FIN 14.0±7.3 vs 11.5±7.5, p< 0.0001), but there was not a significant interaction between group X time. The FSS was unchanged in both groups. Conclusions: Our results indicates, for the first time, that both NAT and FIN treatments significantly ameliorate cognitive functions in RRMS. Moreover, the effect on the number of tests failed suggest that FIN could have a greater impact on cognition than NTZ. The effect on cognition of these two drugs goes in parallel with the reduction of the relapse rate. This latter finding support the hypothesis that in the short-term, NTZ and FIN, exert a positive impact on cognition likely by means of their anti-inflammatory properties