TY - JOUR A1 - Elhfnawy, Ahmed Mohamed A1 - Volkmann, Jens A1 - Schliesser, Mira A1 - Fluri, Felix T1 - Symptomatic vs. asymptomatic 20–40% internal carotid artery stenosis: Does the plaque size matter? JF - Frontiers in Neurology N2 - Background: Around 9–15% of ischemic strokes are related to internal carotid artery (ICA)-stenosis ≥50%. However, the extent to which ICA-stenosis <50% causes ischemic cerebrovascular events is uncertain. We examined the relation between plaque cross-sectional area and length and the risk of ischemic stroke or TIA among patients with ICA-stenosis of 20–40%. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients admitted to the Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, from January 2011 until September 2016 with ischemic stroke or TIA and concomitant ICA-stenosis of 20–40%, either symptomatic or asymptomatic. Plaque length and cross-sectional area were assessed on ultrasound scans. Results: We identified 41 patients with ischemic stroke or TIA and ICA-stenosis of 20–40%; 14 symptomatic and 27 asymptomatic. The plaque cross-sectional area was significantly larger among symptomatic than asymptomatic ICA-stenosis; median values (IQR) were 0.45 (0.21–0.69) cm2 and 0.27 (0.21–0.38) cm2, p = 0.03, respectively. A plaque cross-sectional area ≥0.36 cm2 had a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 76% for symptomatic compared with asymptomatic ICA-stenosis. In a sex-adjusted multivariate logistic regression, a plaque cross-sectional area ≥0.36 cm2 and a plaque length ≥1.65 cm were associated with an OR (95% CI) of 5.54 (1.2–25.6), p = 0.028 and 1.78 (0.36–8.73), p = 0.48, respectively, for symptomatic ICA-stenosis. Conclusion: Large plaques might increase the risk of ischemic stroke or TIA among patients with low-grade ICA-stenosis of 20–40%. Sufficiently powered prospective longitudinal cohort studies are needed to definitively test the stroke risk stratification value of carotid plaque length and cross-sectional area in the setting of current optimal medical treatment. KW - ischemic stroke KW - carotid atherosclerosis KW - carotid stenosis KW - plaque cross-sectional area KW - length of stenosis KW - carotid ultrasound Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201262 VL - 10 IS - 960 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schleier, Domenik A1 - Reusch, Engelbert A1 - Lummel, Lisa A1 - Hemberger, Patrick A1 - Fischer, Ingo T1 - Threshold photoelectron spectroscopy of IO and IOH JF - ChemPhysChem N2 - Iodine oxides appear as reactive intermediates in atmospheric chemistry. Here, we investigate IO and HOI by mass‐selective threshold photoelectron spectroscopy (ms‐TPES), using synchrotron radiation. IO and HOI are generated by photolyzing iodine in the presence of ozone. For both molecules, accurate ionization energies are determined, 9.71±0.02 eV for IO and 9.79±0.02 eV for HOI. The strong spin‐spin interaction in the 3Σ− ground state of IO+ leads to an energy splitting into the Ω=0 and Ω=±1 sublevels. Upon ionization, the I−O bond shortens significantly in both molecules; thus, a vibrational progression, assigned to the I−O stretch, is apparent in both spectra. KW - ionization potential KW - radicals KW - reactive intermediates KW - photolysis KW - synchrotron radiatoren Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-204751 VL - 20 IS - 19 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gablonski, Thorsten-Christian A1 - Pryss, Rüdiger A1 - Probst, Thomas A1 - Vogel, Carsten A1 - Andreas, Sylke T1 - Intersession-Online: A smartphone application for systematic recording and controlling of intersession experiences in psychotherapy JF - J — Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal N2 - Mobile health technologies have become more and more important in psychotherapy research and practice. The market is being flooded by several psychotherapeutic online services for different purposes. However, mobile health technologies are particularly suitable for data collection and monitoring, as data can be recorded economically in real time. Currently, there is no appropriate method to assess intersession experiences systematically in psychotherapeutic practice. The aim of our project was the development of a smartphone application framework for systematic recording and controlling of intersession experiences. Intersession-Online, an iOS- and Android-App, offers the possibility to collect data on intersession experiences easily, to provide the results to therapists in an evaluated form and, if necessary, to induce or interrupt intersession experiences with the primary aim to improve outcome of psychotherapy. In general, the smartphone application could be a helpful, evidence-based tool for research and practice. Overall speaking, further research to investigate the efficacy of Intersession-Online is necessary. KW - intersession experiences KW - intersession processes KW - psychotherapy KW - mobile app KW - smartphone app Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-285597 SN - 2571-8800 VL - 2 IS - 4 SP - 480 EP - 495 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - John, Vini A1 - Kotze, Leigh A. A1 - Ribechini, Eliana A1 - Walzl, Gerhard A1 - Du Plessis, Nelita A1 - Lutz, Manfred B. T1 - Caveolin-1 controls vesicular TLR2 expression, p38 signaling and T cell suppression in BCG infected murine monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells JF - Frontiers in Immunology N2 - Monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) and granulocytic MDSCs (G-MDSCs) have been found to be massively induced in TB patients as well in murine Mtb infection models. However, the interaction of mycobacteria with MDSCs and its role in TB infection is not well studied. Here, we investigated the role of Cav-1 for MDSCs infected with Mycobacterium bovis Bacille-Calmette-Guerín (BCG). MDSCs that were generated from murine bone marrow (MDSCs) of wild-type (WT) or Cav1\(^{−/−}\) mice upregulated Cav-1, TLR4 and TLR2 expression after BCG infection on the cell surface. However, Cav-1 deficiency resulted in a selective defect of intracellular TLR2 levels predominantly in the M-MDSC subset. Further analysis indicated no difference in the phagocytosis of BCG by M-MDSCs from WT and Cav1\(^{−/−}\) mice or caveosome formation, but a reduced capacity to up-regulate surface markers, to secrete various cytokines, to induce iNOS and NO production required for suppression of T cell proliferation, whereas Arg-1 was not affected. Among the signaling pathways affected by Cav-1 deficiency, we found lower phosphorylation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Together, our findings implicate that (i) Cav-1 is dispensable for the internalization of BCG, (ii) vesicular TLR2 signaling in M-MDSCs is a major signaling pathway induced by BCG, (iii) vesicular TLR2 signals are controlled by Cav-1, (iv) vesicular TLR2/Cav-1 signaling is required for T cell suppressor functions. KW - myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) KW - caveolin-1 (Cav-1) KW - TLR2 KW - TLR4 KW - BCG KW - T cell suppression Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-195528 SN - 1664-3224 VL - 10 IS - 2826 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Boetzl, Fabian A. A1 - Konle, Antonia A1 - Krauss, Jochen T1 - Aphid cards – useful model for assessing predation rates or bias prone nonsense? JF - Journal of Applied Entomology N2 - Predation on pest organisms is an essential ecosystem function supporting yields in modern agriculture. However, assessing predation rates is intricate, and they can rarely be linked directly to predator densities or functions. We tested whether sentinel prey aphid cards are useful tools to assess predation rates in the field. Therefore, we looked at aphid cards of different sizes on the ground level as well as within the vegetation. Additionally, by trapping ground‐dwelling predators, we examined whether obtained predation rates could be linked to predator densities and traits. Predation rates recorded with aphid cards were independent of aphid card size. However, predation rates on the ground level were three times higher than within the vegetation. We found both predatory carabid activity densities as well as community weighted mean body size to be good predictors for predation rates. Predation rates obtained from aphid cards are stable over card type and related to predator assemblages. Aphid cards, therefore, are a useful, efficient method for rapidly assessing the ecosystem function predation. Their use might especially be recommended for assessments on the ground level and when time and resource limitations rule out more elaborate sentinel prey methods using exclosures with living prey animals. KW - carabid beetles KW - ecosystem service KW - ground-dwelling predators KW - methods KW - natural pest control KW - sentinel prey Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-204798 VL - 144 IS - 1-2 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sacchetto, Claudia A1 - Sequeira, Vasco A1 - Bertero, Edoardo A1 - Dudek, Jan A1 - Maack, Christoph A1 - Calore, Martina T1 - Metabolic Alterations in Inherited Cardiomyopathies JF - Journal of Clinical Medicine N2 - The normal function of the heart relies on a series of complex metabolic processes orchestrating the proper generation and use of energy. In this context, mitochondria serve a crucial role as a platform for energy transduction by supplying ATP to the varying demand of cardiomyocytes, involving an intricate network of pathways regulating the metabolic flux of substrates. The failure of these processes results in structural and functional deficiencies of the cardiac muscle, including inherited cardiomyopathies. These genetic diseases are characterized by cardiac structural and functional anomalies in the absence of abnormal conditions that can explain the observed myocardial abnormality, and are frequently associated with heart failure. Since their original description, major advances have been achieved in the genetic and phenotype knowledge, highlighting the involvement of metabolic abnormalities in their pathogenesis. This review provides a brief overview of the role of mitochondria in the energy metabolism in the heart and focuses on metabolic abnormalities, mitochondrial dysfunction, and storage diseases associated with inherited cardiomyopathies. KW - inherited cardiomyopathies KW - mitochondria KW - cardiac metabolism Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-193806 SN - 2077-0383 VL - 8 IS - 12 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sauer, Markus A1 - Juranek, Stefan A. A1 - Marks, James A1 - De Magis, Alessio A1 - Kazemier, Hinke G A1 - Hilbig, Daniel A1 - Benhalevy, Daniel A1 - Wang, Xiantao A1 - Hafner, Markus A1 - Paeschke, Katrin T1 - DHX36 prevents the accumulation of translationally inactive mRNAs with G4-structures in untranslated regions JF - Nature Communications N2 - Translation efficiency can be affected by mRNA stability and secondary structures, including G-quadruplex structures (G4s). The highly conserved DEAH-box helicase DHX36/RHAU resolves G4s on DNA and RNA in vitro, however a systems-wide analysis of DHX36 targets and function is lacking. We map globally DHX36 binding to RNA in human cell lines and find it preferentially interacting with G-rich and G4-forming sequences on more than 4500 mRNAs. While DHX36 knockout (KO) results in a significant increase in target mRNA abundance, ribosome occupancy and protein output from these targets decrease, suggesting that they were rendered translationally incompetent. Considering that DHX36 targets, harboring G4s, preferentially localize in stress granules, and that DHX36 KO results in increased SG formation and protein kinase R (PKR/EIF2AK2) phosphorylation, we speculate that DHX36 is involved in resolution of rG4 induced cellular stress. KW - RNA metabolism KW - Translation Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-227486 VL - 10 IS - 2421 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schneider, Norbert A1 - Huestegge, Lynn T1 - Interaction of oculomotor and manual behavior: evidence from simulated driving in an approach–avoidance steering task JF - Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications N2 - Background While the coordination of oculomotor and manual behavior is essential for driving a car, surprisingly little is known about this interaction, especially in situations requiring a quick steering reaction. In the present study, we analyzed oculomotor gaze and manual steering behavior in approach and avoidance tasks. Three task blocks were implemented within a dynamic simulated driving environment requiring the driver either to steer away from/toward a visual stimulus or to switch between both tasks. Results Task blocks requiring task switches were associated with higher manual response times and increased error rates. Manual response times did not significantly differ depending on whether drivers had to steer away from vs toward a stimulus, whereas oculomotor response times and gaze pattern variability were increased when drivers had to steer away from a stimulus compared to steering toward a stimulus. Conclusion The increased manual response times and error rates in mixed tasks indicate performance costs associated with cognitive flexibility, while the increased oculomotor response times and gaze pattern variability indicate a parsimonious cross-modal action control strategy (avoiding stimulus fixation prior to steering away from it) for the avoidance scenario. Several discrepancies between these results and typical eye–hand interaction patterns in basic laboratory research suggest that the specific goals and complex perceptual affordances associated with driving a vehicle strongly shape cross-modal control of behavior. KW - steering KW - driving simulation KW - gaze control KW - visual orientation Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-200419 VL - 4 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ruf, Katharina A1 - Thomas, Wolfgang A1 - Brunner, Maximilian A1 - Speer, Christian P. A1 - Hebestreit, Helge T1 - Diverging effects of premature birth and bronchopulmonary dysplasia on exercise capacity and physical activity – a case control study JF - Respiratory Research N2 - Background Extreme prematurity has been associated with exercise intolerance and reduced physical activity. We hypothesized that children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) would be especially affected based on long-term lung function impairments. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare exercise capacity and habitual physical activity between children born very and extremely preterm with and without BPD and term-born children. Methods Twenty-two school-aged children (aged 8 to 12 years) born with a gestational age < 32 weeks and a birthweight < 1500 g (9 with moderate or severe BPD (=BPD), 13 without BPD (=No-BPD)) and 15 healthy term-born children (=CONTROL) were included in the study. Physical activity was measured by accelerometry, lung function by spirometry and exercise capacity by an incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test. Results Peak oxygen uptake was reduced in the BPD-group (83 ± 11%predicted) compared to the No-BPD group (91 ± 8%predicted) and the CONTROL group (94 ± 9%predicted). In a general linear model, variance of peak oxygen uptake was significantly explained by BPD status and height but not by prematurity (p < 0.001). Compared to CONTROL, all children born preterm spent significantly more time in sedentary behaviour (BPD 478 ± 50 min, No-BPD 450 ± 52 min, CONTROL 398 ± 56 min, p < 0.05) and less time in moderate-to-vigorous-physical activity (BPD 13 ± 8 min, No-BPD 16 ± 8 min, CONTROL 33 ± 16 min, p < 0.001). Prematurity but not BPD contributed significantly to explained variance in a general linear model of sedentary behaviour and likewise moderate-to-vigorous-physical activity (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 respectively). Conclusion In our cohort, BPD but not prematurity was associated with a reduced exercise capacity at school-age. However, prematurity regardless of BPD was related to less engagement in physical activity and more time spent in sedentary behaviour. Thus, our findings suggest diverging effects of prematurity and BPD on exercise capacity and physical activity." KW - Bronchopulmonary dysplasia KW - Physical activity KW - Exercise testing KW - Preterm birth KW - Exercise capacity Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-202449 VL - 20 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Richter, Anne A1 - Exner, Florian A1 - Bratengeier, Klaus A1 - Polat, Bülent A1 - Flentje, Michael A1 - Weick, Stefan T1 - Impact of beam configuration on VMAT plan quality for Pinnacle\(^3\)Auto-Planning for head and neck cases JF - Radiation Oncology N2 - Background The purpose of this study was to compare automatically generated VMAT plans to find the superior beam configurations for Pinnacle3 Auto-Planning and share “best practices”. Methods VMAT plans for 20 patients with head and neck cancer were generated using Pinnacle3 Auto-Planning Module (Pinnacle3 Version 9.10) with different beam setup parameters. VMAT plans for single (V1) or double arc (V2) and partial or full gantry rotation were optimized. Beam configurations with different collimator positions were defined. Target coverage and sparing of organs at risk were evaluated based on scoring of an evaluation parameter set. Furthermore, dosimetric evaluation was performed based on the composite objective value (COV) and a new cross comparison method was applied using the COVs. Results The evaluation showed a superior plan quality for double arcs compared to one single arc or two single arcs for all cases. Plan quality was superior if a full gantry rotation was allowed during optimization for unilateral target volumes. A double arc technique with collimator setting of 15° was superior to a double arc with collimator 60° and a two single arcs with collimator setting of 15° and 345°. Conclusion The evaluation showed that double and full arcs are superior to single and partial arcs in terms of organs at risk sparing even for unilateral target volumes. The collimator position was found as an additional setup parameter, which can further improve the target coverage and sparing of organs at risk. KW - auto-planning KW - VMAT KW - single arc KW - double arc KW - full arc KW - partial arc KW - plan comparison Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-200301 VL - 14 ER -