Einsatz von intelligenten virtuellen Avataren in der Therapie mit Menschen mit Autismus-Spektrum-Störungen : Eine innovative Technologie als potentielles ergotherapeutisches Therapiemittel zur Förderung von berufsrelevanten sozialen Interaktionsfertigkeiten

Darstellung des Themas: Jugendliche mit Autismus-Spektrum-Störungen (ASS) zeigen aufgrund ihrer Diagnose Einschränkungen im Bereich der sozialen Interaktionsfertigkeiten, welche besonders während dem Eintritt ins Erwachsenen- und somit Berufsleben zur Hürde werden. In der Ergotherapie fehlen entsprechende Ansätze, um Betroffene beim beruflichen Prozess zu unterstützen. Ziel: Das Ziel dieser Bachelorarbeit ist es, herauszufinden, welches Potential die junge Technologie Virtuelle Realität (VR) in Form von Avataren in der Ergotherapie bietet, um berufsrelevante soziale Interaktionsfertigkeiten von Menschen mit ASS zu fördern. Methode: Anhand einer systematischen Literaturrecherche wurden sechs Hauptstudien identifiziert, kritisch gewürdigt und für die Beantwortung der Fragestellung analysiert. Um die Relevanz der Thematik für die Ergotherapie zu evaluieren, wurde das OTPF (AOTA, 2014) in dieser themengeleiteten Arbeit eingebettet. Relevante Ergebnisse: Die Ergebnisse bestätigen das Potential der VR für die ergotherapeutische Intervention mit Menschen mit ASS. Die von den Avataren adressierten Fertigkeiten decken sich mit den erforderten sozialen Fertigkeiten aus der Arbeitswelt. Jedoch sollten bei der Implementierung in der Praxis zwingend ethische Grundsätze beachtet werden. Schlussfolgerung: Obwohl berufliche Ressourcen und Defizite von Menschen mit ASS individuell sind, gilt VR als vielversprechende Therapiemethode, da sie beliebig anpassbar und ansprechend für Betroffene ist

First record of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato antibodies in stray dogs in the Northwest Region of Parana State, Brazil

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-B. burgdorferi sensu lato sl em cães errantes da área urbana da cidade de Umuarama, localizado na região noroeste do estado do Paraná, Brasil. Amostras de soro de 168 cães foram testados utilizando imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) e Western Blot (WB), a fim de detectar anticorpos anti-Borrelia burgdorferi sl. A IFI foi utilizada como teste de triagem e os resultados positivos foram confirmados empregando a técnica de WB. Sessenta e cinco (38,69%) de 168 amostras de soro foram positivas na IFI; 54 deles (83,07%) foram confirmados pela WB. A análise geral dos dados confirmaram a presença de anticorpos anti-B. burgdorferi sl em 32,14% (54/168) dos cães, o que sugere que a região noroeste do Estado do Paraná, pode constituir uma área de risco para a doença de Lyme. Mais estudos são necessários para determinar as características epidemiológicas da doença na região estudada.The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato s.l. antibodies in stray dogs of the urban area of Umuarama Town, localized in the northwest region of Parana state, Brazil. Serum samples from 168 dogs were tested using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and Western Blot (WB) in order to detect anti-Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. antibodies. The IFI analysis was used as screening test and positive results were confirmed employing the WB technique. Sixty-five (38.69%) of 168 serum samples were positive in the IFI; 54 of them (83.07%) were confirmed by the WB. The overall data analysis confirmed the presence of anti-B. burgdorferi s.l. antibodies in 32.14% (54/168) dogs, what suggests that northwest region of Parana State may constitute a risk area for Lyme disease. Further studies are necessary to determine the epidemiological characteristics of this disease in the region studied

Endocrine disruption in thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) from the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (Bay of Biscay, Southwestern Europe)

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) interfere with the development and functioning of the endocrine system, causing reproductive disturbance in aquatic wildlife. The aim of the present work was to determine the presence of EDs in sediments and to investigate possible exposure and effects of EDs in the estuary of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (Gernika) in comparison with the Arriluze marina. For this, gonad histology, plasma vitellogenin (VTG) protein levels and mRNA levels of vitellogenin (vtg), cyp19 aromatases, estrogen receptor (er) and retinoid X receptor (rxr) were studied in Chelon labrosus. The presence of alkylphenols (APs) in fish bile was also assessed. In sediments, estrogenic hormones were below the detection limit and levels of bisphenol A were very low. In Gernika organotin compounds were low but in Arriluze levels of up to 12 μg/g were found. Moderate levels of APs and phthalate levels of up to 8 μg/g were found in sediments. In fish, a high prevalence up to 33% of intersex gonads was found in Gernika, whereas only one intersex was found in Arriluze. Accordingly, mullets from Gernika showed higher concentrations of APs in bile. VTG protein levels were detected not only in females but also in some undifferentiated, male and intersex fish. mRNA of vtg was detected in one male from Gernika. mRNA of er and rxr showed significant differences between seasons. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that C. labrosus from the Urdaibai estuary were exposed to EDs and showed clear signs of endocrine disruption.This work was supported by Catedra UNESCO of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) through the project DERBiUr (UNESCO06/19), by the University of the Basque Country through a grant to the Unit of Formation and Research (UFI 11/37), by the Basque Government through the project ETORTEK-IMPRES and a grant to consolidated research groups (GIC07/26-IT-393-07), and by MICINN through the projects CEMAGUA (CGL2007-64551/HID) and SCARCE (Consolider-Ingenio 2010 CSD2009-00065). Denise Fernandes acknowledges a postdoctoral fellowship (SFRH/BPD/34289/2006) from the Portuguese Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Portugal. The help of Drs. T. Serrano and M.C. Barbero with the examination of gonad preparations is greatly acknowledged.Puy-Azurmendi, E.; Ortiz-Zarragoitia, M.; Villagrasa, M.; Kuster, M.; Aragón Revuelta, P.; Atienza Boronat, MJ.; Puchades Pla, R.... (2013). Endocrine disruption in thicklip grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) from the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (Bay of Biscay, Southwestern Europe). Science of the Total Environment. 443:233-244. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.10.078S23324444

Myofilament Remodeling and Function Is More Impaired in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Compared with Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Ischemic Heart Disease

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) show similarities in clinical presentation. However, although DCM patients do not recover and slowly deteriorate further, PPCM patients show either a fast cardiac deterioration or complete recovery. The aim of this study was to assess if underlying cellular changes can explain the clinical similarities and differences in the two diseases. We, therefore, assessed sarcomeric protein expression, modification, titin isoform shift, and contractile behavior of cardiomyocytes in heart tissue of PPCM and DCM patients and compared these with nonfailing controls. Heart samples from ischemic heart disease (ISHD) patients served as heart failure control samples. Passive force was only increased in PPCM samples compared with controls, whereas PPCM, DCM, and ISHD samples all showed increased myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity. Length-dependent activation was significantly impaired in PPCM compared with controls, no impairment was observed in ISHD samples, and DCM samples showed an intermediate response. Contractile impairments were caused by impaired protein kinase A (PKA)–mediated phosphorylation because exogenous PKA restored all parameters to control levels. Although DCM samples showed reexpression of EH-myomesin, an isoform usually only expressed in the heart before birth, PPCM and ISHD did not. The lack of EH-myomesin, combined with low PKA-mediated phosphorylation of myofilament proteins and increased compliant titin isoform, may explain the increase in passive force and blunted length-dependent activation of myofilaments in PPCM samples

Myofilament remodeling and function is more impaired in peripartum cardiomyopathy compared to dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic heart disease

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) show similarities in clinical presentation. However, while DCM patients do not recover and slowly deteriorate further, PPCM patients show either a fast cardiac deterioration or complete recovery. The aim of this study was to assess if underlying cellular changes can explain the clinical similarities and differences in the two diseases. We therefore assessed sarcomeric protein expression, modification, titin isoform shift, and contractile behavior of cardiomyocytes in heart tissue of PPCM and DCM patients and compared these to non-failing controls. Heart samples from ischemic heart disease (ISHD) patients served as heart failure control samples. Passive force was only increased in PPCM samples compared to controls while PPCM, DCM and ISHD samples all showed increased myofilament Ca(2+)-sensitivity. Length-dependent activation was significantly impaired in PPCM compared to controls, while no impairment was observed in ISHD samples and DCM showed an intermediate response. Contractile impairments were caused by impaired PKA-mediated phosphorylation since exogenous PKA restored all parameters to control levels. While DCM samples showed re-expression of EH-myomesin, an isoform usually only expressed in the heart before birth, PPCM and ISHD did not. The lack of EH-myomesin, combined with low PKA-mediated phosphorylation of myofilament proteins and increased compliant titin isoform, may explain the increase in passive force and blunted length- dependent activation of myofilaments in PPCM samples

Myofilament remodeling and function is more impaired in peripartum cardiomyopathy compared to dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic heart disease

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) show similarities in clinical presentation. However, while DCM patients do not recover and slowly deteriorate further, PPCM patients show either a fast cardiac deterioration or complete recovery. The aim of this study was to assess if underlying cellular changes can explain the clinical similarities and differences in the two diseases. We therefore assessed sarcomeric protein expression, modification, titin isoform shift, and contractile behavior of cardiomyocytes in heart tissue of PPCM and DCM patients and compared these to non-failing controls. Heart samples from ischemic heart disease (ISHD) patients served as heart failure control samples. Passive force was only increased in PPCM samples compared to controls while PPCM, DCM and ISHD samples all showed increased myofilament Ca(2+)-sensitivity. Length-dependent activation was significantly impaired in PPCM compared to controls, while no impairment was observed in ISHD samples and DCM showed an intermediate response. Contractile impairments were caused by impaired PKA-mediated phosphorylation since exogenous PKA restored all parameters to control levels. While DCM samples showed re-expression of EH-myomesin, an isoform usually only expressed in the heart before birth, PPCM and ISHD did not. The lack of EH-myomesin, combined with low PKA-mediated phosphorylation of myofilament proteins and increased compliant titin isoform, may explain the increase in passive force and blunted length- dependent activation of myofilaments in PPCM samples