ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: We describe the harmonized MRI acquisition and quality assessment of an ongoing global OCD study, with the aim to translate representative, well-powered neuroimaging findings in neuropsychiatric research to worldwide populations. METHODS: We report on T1-weighted structural MRI, resting-state functional MRI, and multi-shell diffusion-weighted imaging of 140 healthy participants (28 per site), two traveling controls, and regular phantom scans. RESULTS: Human image quality measures (IQMs) and outcome measures showed smaller within-site variation than between-site variation. Outcome measures were less variable than IQMs, especially for the traveling controls. Phantom IQMs were stable regarding geometry, SNR, and mean diffusivity, while fMRI fluctuation was more variable between sites. CONCLUSIONS: Variation in IQMs persists, even for an a priori harmonized data acquisition protocol, but after pre-processing they have less of an impact on the outcome measures. Continuous monitoring IQMs per site is valuable to detect potential artifacts and outliers. The inclusion of both cases and healthy participants at each site remains mandatory.
ABSTRACT
Background: Covid-19 led to significant restrictions in the daily life for the German population. The aim of this study was to assess how the corona pandemic impacted on physical activity (PA) behavior, quality of life (QoL) as well as anxiety and depression symptoms of cancer patients. Method(s): Between May and July 2020, an online survey was conducted for adult cancer patients in Germany, with access to organized exercise programs. The questionnaire consisted of a cancer history, questions about PA and exercise behavior before and during the pandemic, as well as the standardized questionnaires EORTC C-30, HADS and FFKA questionnaires. Result(s): 117 subjects completed the survey. Exercise behavior was significantly reduced during the pandemic compared to before (p = 0.004). 70.1% of the subjects stated that they are exercising less than before the pandemic. With an average score of 58.12 within the global QoL scale, patients met the matched reference values (61.4). The social function scale achieved the lowest score (57,1. vs. reference data: 75,0) and physical function the highest (74.2 vs. reference data: 76,7). On the symptomatic scales, fatigue scale showed the highest symptom burden (48,24 vs. reference data: 34,6). 70.9% of the included patients stated that the restriction of social contacts due to the pandemic had an impact on their QoL. The mean HADS score was 10.62 points with 33.3 % of the subjects exceeding the cut-off value of >= 13. Conclusion(s): PA decreased significantly during the pandemic. QoL is reduced compared to pre-pandemic EORTC reference data, with the social function being most impaired. Regarding the development of mental disorders, the sample can be classified as endangered. The use of screenings for mental illnesses should be given greater consideration in oncological care. Further studies are needed to assess the longer-term impact of the corona pandemic on exercise behavior and psychosocial effects in cancer patients.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to characterize the diagnostic performance of a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (NP) in blood. Blood samples were collected during hospitalization of 165 inpatients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and from 505 outpatients predominantly with relevant symptoms of COVID-19 simultaneously with PCR testing. For the 143 inpatients who had their first blood sample collected within 2 weeks after PCR-confirmed infection, the diagnostic sensitivity of the ELISA was 91.6%. The mean NP concentration of the 131 ELISA-positive blood samples was 1,734 pg/ml (range, 10 to 3,840 pg/ml). An exponential decline in NP concentration was observed for 368 blood samples collected over the first 4 weeks after PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and all blood samples taken later had an NP concentration below the 10-pg/ml diagnostic cutoff. The diagnostic sensitivity of the ELISA was 81.4% for the 43 blood samples collected from outpatients with a simultaneous positive PCR test, and the mean NP concentration of the 35 ELISA-positive samples was 157 pg/ml (range, 10 to 1,377 pg/ml). For the 462 outpatients with a simultaneous negative PCR test, the diagnostic specificity of the ELISA was 99.8%. In conclusion, the SARS-CoV-2 NP ELISA is a suitable laboratory diagnostic test for COVID-19, particularly for hospitals, where blood samples are readily available and screening of serum or plasma by ELISA can facilitate prevention of nosocomial infections and reduce the requirement for laborious swab sampling and subsequent PCR analysis to confirmatory tests only.