@article{ConzelmannReifJacobetal.2012, author = {Conzelmann, Annette and Reif, Andreas and Jacob, Christian and Weyers, Peter and Lesch, Klaus-Peter and Lutz, Beat and Pauli, Paul}, title = {A polymorphism in the gene of the endocannabinoid-degrading enzyme FAAH (FAAH C385A) is associated with emotional-motivational reactivity}, series = {Psychopharmacology}, volume = {224}, journal = {Psychopharmacology}, number = {4}, doi = {10.1007/s00213-012-2785-y}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-126845}, pages = {573-579}, year = {2012}, abstract = {RATIONALE: The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is implicated in several psychiatric disorders. Investigating emotional-motivational dysfunctions as underlying mechanisms, a study in humans revealed that in the C385A polymorphism of the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the degrading enzyme of the eCB anandamide (AEA), A carriers, who are characterized by increased signaling of AEA as compared to C/C carriers, exhibited reduced brain reactivity towards unpleasant faces and enhanced reactivity towards reward. However, the association of eCB system with emotional-motivational reactivity is complex and bidirectional due to upcoming compensatory processes. OBJECTIVES: Therefore, we further investigated the relationship of the FAAH polymorphism and emotional-motivational reactivity in humans. METHODS: We assessed the affect-modulated startle, and ratings of valence and arousal in response to higher arousing pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant pictures in 67 FAAH C385A C/C carriers and 45 A carriers. RESULTS: Contrarily to the previous functional MRI study, A carriers compared to C/C carriers exhibited an increased startle potentiation and therefore emotional responsiveness towards unpleasant picture stimuli and reduced startle inhibition indicating reduced emotional reactivity in response to pleasant pictures, while both groups did not differ in ratings of arousal and valence. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings emphasize the bidirectionality and thorough examination of the eCB system's impact on emotional reactivity as a central endophenotype underlying various psychiatric disorders.}, language = {en} } @article{ConzelmannReifJacobetal.2012, author = {Conzelmann, Annette and Reif, Andreas and Jacob, Christian and Weyers, Peter and Lesch, Klaus-Peter and Lutz, Beat and Pauli, Paul}, title = {A polymorphism in the gene of the endocannabinoid-degrading enzyme FAAH (FAAH C385A) is associated with emotional-motivational reactivity}, series = {Psychopharmacology}, volume = {224}, journal = {Psychopharmacology}, number = {4}, doi = {10.1007/s00213-012-2785-y}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-129936}, pages = {573-579}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Rationale The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is implicated in several psychiatric disorders. Investigating emotional-motivational dysfunctions as underlying mechanisms, a study in humans revealed that in the C385A polymorphism of the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the degrading enzyme of the eCB anandamide (AEA), A carriers, who are characterized by increased signaling of AEA as compared to C/C carriers, exhibited reduced brain reactivity towards unpleasant faces and enhanced reactivity towards reward. However, the association of eCB system with emotional-motivational reactivity is complex and bidirectional due to upcoming compensatory processes. Objectives Therefore, we further investigated the relationship of the FAAH polymorphism and emotional-motivational reactivity in humans. Methods We assessed the affect-modulated startle, and ratings of valence and arousal in response to higher arousing pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant pictures in 67 FAAH C385A C/C carriers and 45 A carriers. Results Contrarily to the previous functional MRI study, A carriers compared to C/C carriers exhibited an increased startle potentiation and therefore emotional responsiveness towards unpleasant picture stimuli and reduced startle inhibition indicating reduced emotional reactivity in response to pleasant pictures, while both groups did not differ in ratings of arousal and valence. Conclusions Our findings emphasize the bidirectionality and thorough examination of the eCB system's impact on emotional reactivity as a central endophenotype underlying various psychiatric disorders.}, language = {en} } @article{OberlaenderPletinckxDaehleretal.2011, author = {Oberl{\"a}nder, Uwe and Pletinckx, Katrien and D{\"a}hler, Anja and M{\"u}ller, Nora and Lutz, Manfred and Arzberger, Thomas and Riederer, Peter and Gerlach, Manfred and Koutsilieri, Eleni and Scheller, Carsten}, title = {Neuromelanin is an Immune Stimulator for Dendritic Cells in vitro}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-69210}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized at the cellular level by a destruction of neuromelanin (NM)-containing dopaminergic cells and a profound reduction in striatal dopamine. It has been shown recently that antimelanin antibodies are increased in sera of Parkinson patients, suggesting that NM may act as an autoantigen. In this study we tested whether NM is being recognized by dendritic cells (DCs), the major cell type for inducing Tand B-cell responses in vivo. This recognition of NM by DCs is a prerequisite to trigger an adaptive autoimmune response directed against NM-associated structures. Results: Murine DCs were treated with NM of substantia nigra (SN) from human subjects or with synthetic dopamine melanin (DAM). DCs effectively phagocytized NM and subsequently developed a mature phenotype (CD86high/MHCIIhigh). NM-activated DCs secreted the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-a. In addition, they potently triggered T cell proliferation in a mixed lymphocyte reaction, showing that DC activation was functional to induce a primary T cell response. In contrast, DAM, which lacks the protein and lipid components of NM but mimics the dopamine-melanin backbone of NM, had only very little effect on DC phenotype and function. Conclusions: NM is recognized by DCs in vitro and triggers their maturation. If operative in vivo, this would allow the DC-mediated transport and presentation of SN antigens to the adaptive immune system, leading to autoimmmunity in susceptible individuals. Our data provide a rationale for an autoimmune-based pathomechanism of PD with NM as the initial trigger.}, subject = {Immunstimulation}, language = {en} } @article{FiedlerElKarehEremeevetal.2014, author = {Fiedler, Sebastian and El-Kareh, Lydia and Eremeev, Sergey V. and Tereshchenko, Oleg E. and Seibel, Christoph and Lutz, Peter and Kokh, Konstantin A. and Chulkov, Evgueni V. and Kuznetsova, Tatyana V. and Grebennikov, Vladimir I. and Bentmann, Hendrik and Bode, Matthias and Reinert, Friedrich}, title = {Defect and structural imperfection effects on the electronic properties of BiTeI surfaces}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {16}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, number = {075013}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/16/7/075013}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-119467}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The surface electronic structure of the narrow-gap seminconductor BiTeI exhibits a large Rashba-splitting which strongly depends on the surface termination. Here we report on a detailed investigation of the surface morphology and electronic properties of cleaved BiTeI single crystals by scanning tunneling microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES, XPS), electron diffraction (SPA-LEED) and density functional theory calculations. Our measurements confirm a previously reported coexistence of Te- and I-terminated surface areas originating from bulk stacking faults and find a characteristic length scale of ~100 nm for these areas. We show that the two terminations exhibit distinct types of atomic defects in the surface and subsurface layers. For electronic states resided on the I terminations we observe an energy shift depending on the time after cleavage. This aging effect is successfully mimicked by depositon of Cs adatoms found to accumulate on top of the I terminations. As shown theoretically on a microscopic scale, this preferential adsorbing behaviour results from considerably different energetics and surface diffusion lengths at the two terminations. Our investigations provide insight into the importance of structural imperfections as well as intrinsic and extrinsic defects on the electronic properties of BiTeI surfaces and their temporal stability.}, language = {en} } @article{GrafMondorfKnopetal.2019, author = {Graf, Christiana and Mondorf, Antonia and Knop, Viola and Peiffer, Kai-Henrik and Dietz, Julia and Friess, Julia and Wedemeyer, Heiner and Buggisch, Peter and Mauss, Stefan and Berg, Thomas and Rausch, Michael and Sprinzl, Martin and Klinker, Hartwig and Hinrichsen, Holger and Bronowicki, Jean-Pierre and Haag, Sebastian and H{\"u}ppe, Dietrich and Lutz, Thomas and Poynard, Thierry and Zeuzem, Stefan and Friedrich-Rust, Mireen and Sarrazin, Christoph and Vermehren, Johannes}, title = {Evaluation of point shear wave elastography using acoustic radiation force impulse imaging for longitudinal fibrosis assessment in patients with HBeAg-Negative HBV infection}, series = {Journal of Clinical Medicine}, volume = {8}, journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine}, number = {12}, issn = {2077-0383}, doi = {10.3390/jcm8122101}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-193916}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Background: Accurate assessment of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic HBeAg-negative Hepatitis B is of crucial importance not only to predict the long-term clinical course, but also to evaluate antiviral therapy indication. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the utility of point shear wave elastography (pSWE) for longitudinal non-invasive fibrosis assessment in a large cohort of untreated patients with chronic HBeAg-negative hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods: 407 consecutive patients with HBeAg-negative HBV infection who underwent pSWE, transient elastography (TE) as well as laboratory fibrosis markers, including fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4), aspartate to platelet ratio index (APRI) and FibroTest, on the same day were prospectively followed up for six years. Patients were classified into one of the three groups: inactive carriers (IC; HBV-DNA <2000 IU/mL and ALT <40 U/L); grey zone group 1 (GZ-1; HBV DNA <2000 IU/mL and ALT >40 U/L); grey zone group 2 (GZ-2; HBV-DNA >2000 IU/mL and ALT <40 U/L). Results: pSWE results were significantly correlated with TE (r = 0.29, p < 0.001) and APRI (r = 0.17; p = 0.005). Median pSWE values did not differ between IC, GZ-1 and GZ-2 patients (p = 0.82, p = 0.17, p = 0.34). During six years of follow-up, median pSWE and TE values did not differ significantly over time (TE: p = 0.27; pSWE: p = 0.05). Conclusion: Our data indicate that pSWE could be useful for non-invasive fibrosis assessment and follow-up in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Lutz2018, author = {Lutz, Peter}, title = {Surface and Interface Electronic Structure in Ferroelectric BaTiO\(_3\)}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-159057}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Transition metal oxides (TMO) represent a highly interesting material class as they exhibit a variety of different emergent phenomena including multiferroicity and superconductivity. These effects result from a significant interplay of charge, spin and orbital degrees of freedom within the correlated d-electrons. Oxygen vacancies (OV) at the surface of certain d0 TMO release free charge carriers and prompt the formation of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). Barium titanate (BaTiO3) is a prototypical and promising d0 TMO. It displays ferroelectricity at room temperature and features several structural phase transitions, from cubic over tetragonal (at room temperature) and orthorhombic to rhombohedral. The spontaneous electric polarization in BaTiO3 can be used to manipulate the physical properties of adjacent materials, e.g. in thin films. Although the macroscopic properties of BaTiO3 are studied in great detail, the microscopic electronic structure at the surface and interface of BaTiO3 is not sufficiently understood yet due to the complex interplay of correlation within the d states, oxygen vacancies at the surface, ferroelectricity in the bulk and the structural phase transitions in BaTiO3. This thesis investigates the electronic structure of different BaTiO3 systems by means of angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES). The valence band of BaTiO3 single crystals is systematically characterized and compared to theoretical band structure calculations. A finite p-d hybridization of titanium and oxygen states was inferred at the high binding energy side of the valence band. In BaTiO3 thin films, the occurrence of spectral weight near the Fermi level could be linked to a certain amount of OV at the surface which effectively dopes the host system. By a systematic study of the metallic surface states as a function of temperature and partial oxygen pressure, a model was established which reflects the depletion and accumulation of charge carriers at the surface of BaTiO3. An instability at T ~ 285K assumes a volatile behavior of these surface states. The ferroelectricity in BaTiO3 allows a control of the electronic structure at the interface of BaTiO3-based heterostructures. Therefore, the interface electronic structure of Bi/BaTiO3 was studied with respect to the strongly spin-orit coupled states in Bi by also including a thickness dependent characterization. The ARPES results, indeed, confirm the presence of Rashba spin-split electronic states in the bulk band gap of the ferroelectric substrate. By varying the film thickness in Bi/BaTiO3, it was able to modify the energy position and the Fermi vector of the spin-split states. This observation is associated with the appearance of an interface state which was observed for very low film thickness. Both spectral findings suggest a significant coupling between the Bi films and BaTiO3.}, subject = {Bariumtitanat}, language = {en} } @article{HolzmannLittigFrankSchmadereretal.2022, author = {Holzmann-Littig, Christopher and Frank, Tamara and Schmaderer, Christoph and Braunisch, Matthias C. and Renders, Lutz and Kranke, Peter and Popp, Maria and Seeber, Christian and Fichtner, Falk and Littig, Bianca and Carbajo-Lozoya, Javier and Meerpohl, Joerg J. and Haller, Bernhard and Allwang, Christine}, title = {COVID-19 Vaccines: Fear of side effects among German health care workers}, series = {Vaccines}, volume = {10}, journal = {Vaccines}, number = {5}, issn = {2076-393X}, doi = {10.3390/vaccines10050689}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-270561}, year = {2022}, abstract = {(1) Background: Health care workers (HCWs) play a key role in increasing anti-COVID vaccination rates. Fear of potential side effects is one of the main reasons for vaccine hesitancy. We investigated which side effects are of concern to HCWs and how these are associated with vaccine hesitancy. (2) Methods: Data were collected in an online survey in February 2021 among HCWs from across Germany with 4500 included participants. Free-text comments on previously experienced vaccination side effects, and fear of short- and long-term side effects of the COVID-19 vaccination were categorized and analyzed. (3) Results: Most feared short-term side effects were vaccination reactions, allergic reactions, and limitations in daily life. Most feared long-term side effects were (auto-) immune reactions, neurological side effects, and currently unknown long-term consequences. Concerns about serious vaccination side effects were associated with vaccination refusal. There was a clear association between refusal of COVID-19 vaccination in one's personal environment and fear of side effects. (4) Conclusions: Transparent information about vaccine side effects is needed, especially for HCW. Especially when the participants' acquaintances advised against vaccination, they were significantly more likely to fear side effects. Thus, further education of HCW is necessary to achieve good information transfer in clusters as well.}, language = {en} } @article{KaemmererTribiusCohrsetal.2023, author = {K{\"a}mmerer, Peer W. and Tribius, Silke and Cohrs, Lena and Engler, Gabriel and Ettl, Tobias and Freier, Kolja and Frerich, Bernhard and Ghanaati, Shahram and Gosau, Martin and Haim, Dominik and Hartmann, Stefan and Heiland, Max and Herbst, Manuel and Hoefert, Sebastian and Hoffmann, J{\"u}rgen and H{\"o}lzle, Frank and Howaldt, Hans-Peter and Kreutzer, Kilian and Leonhardt, Henry and Lutz, Rainer and Moergel, Maximilian and Modabber, Ali and Neff, Andreas and Pietzka, Sebastian and Rau, Andrea and Reichert, Torsten E. and Smeets, Ralf and Sproll, Christoph and Steller, Daniel and Wiltfang, J{\"o}rg and Wolff, Klaus-Dietrich and Kronfeld, Kai and Al-Nawas, Bilal}, title = {Adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx and solitary ipsilateral lymph node metastasis (pN1) — a prospective multicentric cohort study}, series = {Cancers}, volume = {15}, journal = {Cancers}, number = {6}, issn = {2072-6694}, doi = {10.3390/cancers15061833}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-311024}, year = {2023}, abstract = {(1) Background: Evaluation of impact of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity/oropharynx (OSCC) of up to 4 cm (pT1/pT2) and solitary ipsilateral lymph node metastasis (pN1). A non-irradiated group with clinical follow-up was chosen for control, and survival and quality of life (QL) were compared; (2) Methods: This prospective multicentric comprehensive cohort study included patients with resected OSCC (pT1/pT2, pN1, and cM0) who were allocated into adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) or observation. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival and QL after surgery; (3) Results: Out of 27 centers, 209 patients were enrolled with a median follow-up of 3.4 years. An amount of 137 patients were in the observation arm, and 72 received adjuvant irradiation. Overall survival did not differ between groups (hazard ratio (HR) 0.98 [0.55-1.73], p = 0.94). There were fewer neck metastases (HR 0.34 [0.15-0.77]; p = 0.01), as well as fewer local recurrences (HR 0.41 [0.19-0.89]; p = 0.02) under adjuvant RT. For QL, irradiated patients showed higher values for the symptom scale pain after 0.5, two, and three years (all p < 0.05). After six months and three years, irradiated patients reported higher symptom burdens (impaired swallowing, speech, as well as teeth-related problems (all p < 0.05)). Patients in the RT group had significantly more problems with mouth opening after six months, one, and two years (p < 0.05); (4) Conclusions: Adjuvant RT in patients with early SCC of the oral cavity and oropharynx does not seem to influence overall survival, but it positively affects progression-free survival. However, irradiated patients report a significantly decreased QL up to three years after therapy compared to the observation group.}, language = {en} } @article{NotzHerrmannSchlesingeretal.2021, author = {Notz, Quirin and Herrmann, Johannes and Schlesinger, Tobias and Helmer, Philipp and Sudowe, Stephan and Sun, Qian and Hackler, Julian and Roeder, Daniel and Lotz, Christopher and Meybohm, Patrick and Kranke, Peter and Schomburg, Lutz and Stoppe, Christian}, title = {Clinical Significance of Micronutrient Supplementation in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients with Severe ARDS}, series = {Nutrients}, volume = {13}, journal = {Nutrients}, number = {6}, issn = {2072-6643}, doi = {10.3390/nu13062113}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-241112}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The interplay between inflammation and oxidative stress is a vicious circle, potentially resulting in organ damage. Essential micronutrients such as selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) support anti-oxidative defense systems and are commonly depleted in severe disease. This single-center retrospective study investigated micronutrient levels under Se and Zn supplementation in critically ill patients with COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and explored potential relationships with immunological and clinical parameters. According to intensive care unit (ICU) standard operating procedures, patients received 1.0 mg of intravenous Se daily on top of artificial nutrition, which contained various amounts of Se and Zn. Micronutrients, inflammatory cytokines, lymphocyte subsets and clinical data were extracted from the patient data management system on admission and after 10 to 14 days of treatment. Forty-six patients were screened for eligibility and 22 patients were included in the study. Twenty-one patients (95\%) suffered from severe ARDS and 14 patients (64\%) survived to ICU discharge. On admission, the majority of patients had low Se status biomarkers and Zn levels, along with elevated inflammatory parameters. Se supplementation significantly elevated Se (p = 0.027) and selenoprotein P levels (SELENOP; p = 0.016) to normal range. Accordingly, glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) activity increased over time (p = 0.021). Se biomarkers, most notably SELENOP, were inversely correlated with CRP (r\(_s\) = -0.495), PCT (r\(_s\) = -0.413), IL-6 (r\(_s\) = -0.429), IL-1β (r\(_s\) = -0.440) and IL-10 (r\(_s\) = -0.461). Positive associations were found for CD8\(^+\) T cells (r(_s\) = 0.636), NK cells (r\(_s\) = 0.772), total IgG (r\(_s\) = 0.493) and PaO\(_2\)/FiO\(_2\) ratios (r\(_s\) = 0.504). In addition, survivors tended to have higher Se levels after 10 to 14 days compared to non-survivors (p = 0.075). Sufficient Se and Zn levels may potentially be of clinical significance for an adequate immune response in critically ill patients with severe COVID-19 ARDS.}, language = {en} } @article{HolzmannLittigStadlerPoppetal.2023, author = {Holzmann-Littig, Christopher and Stadler, David and Popp, Maria and Kranke, Peter and Fichtner, Falk and Schmaderer, Christoph and Renders, Lutz and Braunisch, Matthias Christoph and Assali, Tarek and Platen, Louise and Wijnen-Meijer, Marjo and L{\"u}hnen, Julia and Steckelberg, Anke and Pfadenhauer, Lisa and Haller, Bernhard and Fuetterer, Cornelia and Seeber, Christian and Schaaf, Christian}, title = {Locating medical information during an infodemic: information seeking behavior and strategies of health-care workers in Germany}, series = {Healthcare}, volume = {11}, journal = {Healthcare}, number = {11}, issn = {2227-9032}, doi = {10.3390/healthcare11111602}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-319306}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a flood of — often contradictory — evidence. HCWs had to develop strategies to locate information that supported their work. We investigated the information-seeking of different HCW groups in Germany. Methods: In December 2020, we conducted online surveys on COVID-19 information sources, strategies, assigned trustworthiness, and barriers — and in February 2021, on COVID-19 vaccination information sources. Results were analyzed descriptively; group comparisons were performed using χ\(^2\)-tests. Results: For general COVID-19-related medical information (413 participants), non-physicians most often selected official websites (57\%), TV (57\%), and e-mail/newsletters (46\%) as preferred information sources — physicians chose official websites (63\%), e-mail/newsletters (56\%), and professional journals (55\%). Non-physician HCWs used Facebook/YouTube more frequently. The main barriers were insufficient time and access issues. Non-physicians chose abstracts (66\%), videos (45\%), and webinars (40\%) as preferred information strategy; physicians: overviews with algorithms (66\%), abstracts (62\%), webinars (48\%). Information seeking on COVID-19 vaccination (2700 participants) was quite similar, however, with newspapers being more often used by non-physicians (63\%) vs. physician HCWs (70\%). Conclusion: Non-physician HCWs more often consulted public information sources. Employers/institutions should ensure the supply of professional, targeted COVID-19 information for different HCW groups.}, language = {en} }