Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
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Multiple sclerosis twin study reveals distinct genetic, disease-specific, and psychometric impact on coping with critical life events
Get PDFBackground : Critical life events challenge our competence to develop coping strategies. In people with multiple sclerosis (MS), the impact of genetics, disease-specific, and psychometric factors on coping strategies have not been explored to date.
Methods : In a unique cohort of 56 monozygotic twins discordant for MS, we applied comprehensive psychometric and clinical testing to measure factors influencing the psychosocial impact (including stressors and coping strategies) of a critical life event, exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by the COVID-19 Pandemic Mental Health Questionnaire, CoPaQ). CoPaQ results were compared to an independent age- and sex-matched control cohort. We applied factor analysis, structural equation modeling, hypothesis testing, and regression models.
Results : We detected no differences in the perception of 14 CoPaQ subscales between MS and non-MS co-twins. However, compared to the independent control group, MS co-twins valued 5/14 CoPaQ subscales differently. Strong perception of pandemic-related stressors in MS co-twins was accompanied by higher HADS-Anxiety (ρ = 0.69, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), HADS-Depression (ρ = 0.57), BDI-II (ρ = 0.74, Beck Depression Inventory), and MSIS-29-psychological scores (ρ = 0.58, Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale 29). In a generalized linear mixed model, individuals who perceived pandemic-related stressors as more burdensome relied on inner resources, with a notable dependency on twinship.
Discussion : Using a unique twin approach, our study suggests that coping with critical life events is mainly driven by the genetic background. However, in people with MS, coping and the perception of stressors is further confounded by psychometric and disease-related factors
“Check this out! ”: Collective functions of instant messaging about media content
No full textPeople regularly use and discuss media content with others, such as partners, family, and friends. Such conversations increasingly occur virtually. However, few studies have examined the content and characteristics of mobile messenger communication about media content. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of 128 messenger chats about media content donated by 49 diverse groups. Based on the theoretical concept of group information processing, our analysis revealed six main collective functions of such conversations: (1) discourse, (2) shared emotions, (3) support, (4) joint activities, (5) group positivity, and (6) group identity. We show how these functions are associated with the affordances of messenger communication, group characteristics, and types of media content. Ruptures in the group process occurred only occasionally and were usually followed up by repair attempts. Our research demonstrates that messenger communication about media content not only serves as a substitute for face-to-face conversations but rather complements and enriches them
Exploring the origins of frequent tau-PET signal in vermal and adjacent regions
No full textPurpose: Off-target binding remains a significant challenge in tau-PET neuroimaging. While off-targets including monoamine oxidase enzymes and neuromelanin-containing cells have been identified, recent studies indicated a relevant binding of novel tau tracers to melanin-containing structures. To date, little is known about the effect of melanocytes in the meninges on tracer signals in brain PET data. Thus, we aimed to identify the target structure causal for the frequently observed [18F]PI-2620 PET signal in the vermis and adjacent cerebellar regions.
Methods: 274 participants underwent dynamic [18F]PI-2620 tau-PET: 3/4R-tauopathies (n = 85), 4R-tauopathies (n = 147), tau-negative disease controls (n = 24), and healthy controls (n = 18). Standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) and kinetic parameters including the distribution volume ratio (DVR), tracer clearance (k2) and relative perfusion (R1), were compared among the cohorts and sexes using the Automated Anatomical Labelling (AAL) atlas. Age and p-Tau levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were assessed for their relationship with vermal tau-PET signal. Furthermore, we combined autoradiographic and histochemical experiments on post-mortem brain tissue of deceased patients (n = 9).
Results: Male participants revealed higher mean vermal [18F]PI-2620 DVR (0.95 ± 0.13; vs. females 0.88 ± 0.10, p < 0.0001). Sex-related differences were most pronounced in the 3/4R-tauopathy cohort (p < 0.0001). Mean SUVRVer/Cbl, k2 and correlation analyses of kinetic parameters did not differ among groups. Histological assessments revealed co-localization of leptomeningeal pigmented cells with strong autoradiography signal spots within the vermal fissures. Tau-related autoradiography signals, age or p-Tau levels did not correlate significantly with tau-PET signals. Iron deposits did not cause relevant autoradiography signals in the vermis.
Conclusion: Leptomeningeal melanocytes are the primary target structure for [18F]PI-2620 PET binding in anterior vermis, whereas iron and tau deposits do not contribute significantly
Measuring social environment factors of inpatients and outpatients with depression in Germany: a cross-sectional study
Get PDFSex Differences in the Relationship of Socioeconomic Position With Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and Estimated Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Results of the German National Cohort
Get PDFMaintenance treatment with trofosfamide in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma – a retrospective single-centre analysis
Get PDFBackground: The prognosis of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) remains dismal. Trofosfamide (TRO) has been proposed as a well-tolerated oral maintenance therapy. This retrospective analysis aims to determine the value of this therapy.
Methods: Fifty-nine patients with advanced STS who received TRO maintenance therapy between 2016 and 2022 were reviewed and analysed regarding clinical parameters and outcomes.
Results: The median age was 48 years; the most common histological subtype was synovial sarcoma (n = 22, 37%), and 71% of patients (n = 42) presented with metastatic disease. No radiological evidence of disease (NED) before the start of maintenance was reported in 36% of patients (n = 21). The median follow-up was 38.2 months with a median maintenance duration of 9.0 months. The median event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 9.5 and 33.2 months, respectively. In metastatic patients achieving NED before the initiation of TRO, the median EFS was 29.4 months, while the median OS was not reached. In metastatic patients with anthracycline + ifosfamide (AI) as first-line induction therapy without prior metastasis-directed local therapy, the median EFS and OS from the start of AI were 13.9 and 26.8 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis of the overall cohort demonstrated that NED before the start of maintenance was significantly associated with a prolonged EFS (p = 0.024, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.26), and G2 histology correlated with longer OS (p = 0.030, HR = 0.16, reference: G3).
Interpretation: Oral maintenance therapy with TRO appears to improve outcomes in patients with advanced STS. Metastatic patients who achieve NED through prior metastasectomy may particularly benefit from TRO maintenance
Tracing Information Flow from Open Quantum Systems
Get PDFOpen quantum systems are highly relevant, both for practical applications as well as for fundamental questions about the nature of information and its transfer, encompassing for example decoherence and memory effects. Quantum mechanics introduces additional complexity to the transfer of information, e.g., storage of information in non-classical correlations. Yet, some of these aspects tend to be neglected by the usual framework of open system research. In this work, photons are used in a waveguide array to implement a quantum simulation of the coupling of a qubit with a low-dimensional discrete environment. Using the trace distance between quantum states as a measure of information, different types of information transfer are analyzed. Extending the usual perspective which is focused on the system alone, the presence of information is also investigated in the environment