Loneliness during the Covid-19 pandemic in Germany: Impact of social factors and polygenic risk scores on interpersonal differences in loneliness and mental health.

OBJECTIVES: The outbreak of Covid-19 negatively affected mental health and increased loneliness. The subjective feeling of loneliness is influenced by genetic and social factors and has a negative impact on mental health. METHODS: From March 2020 to June 2021 loneliness was investigated in N = 517 individuals using monthly acquired questionnaire data and Latent Growth Curve Analysis. Associations of social factors and polygenic risk scores (PRSs, n = 361) with class membership were investigated. RESULTS: Three classes ("average", 40%; "not lonely", 38%; "elevated loneliness", 22%) were identified, that differ significantly regarding loneliness, mental dysfunction, and response to the lockdown phases. Individuals with a high PRS for neuroticism are more likely to belong to the "elevated loneliness" class, living with another person is a protective factor. CONCLUSION: As the "elevated loneliness" class was at the highest risk of mental dysfunction, our findings underscore the importance of identifying those individuals to implement counteractive measures.

The relative importance of mercury methylation and demethylation in rice paddy soil varies depending on the presence of rice plants.

Neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) accumulates in rice grain from paddy soil, where its concentration is controlled by microbial mercury methylation and demethylation. Both up- and down-regulation of methylation is known to occur in the presence of rice plants in comparison to non-vegetated paddy soils; the influence of rice plant presence/absence on demethylation is unknown. To assess the concurrent influence of rice plant presence/absence on methylation and demethylation, and to determine which process was more dominant in controlling soil MeHg concentrations, we maintained six rhizoboxes of paddy soil with and without rice plants. At the peak of plant growth, we simultaneously measured ambient MeHg, ambient inorganic mercury (IHg), and potential rate constants of methylation and demethylation (Kmeth and Kdemeth) in soil using stable isotope tracers and ID-GC-ICPMS. We also measured organic matter content, elemental S, and water-extractable sulfate. We found MeHg concentrations were differentially controlled by MeHg production and degradation processes, depending on whether plants were present. In non-vegetated boxes, MeHg concentration was controlled by Kmeth, as evidenced by a strong and positive correlation, while Kdemeth had no relation to MeHg concentration. These results indicate methylation was the dominant driver of MeHg concentration in non-vegetated soil. In vegetated boxes, Kdemeth strongly and negatively predicted MeHg concentration, indicating that demethylation was the dominant control in soil with plants. MeHg concentration, Kmeth, and % MeHg all had significantly less variance in vegetated than in non-vegetated soils due to a consistent elimination of greater values. This pattern suggests that reduced MeHg production capacity was a secondary control on MeHg concentrations in vegetated soils. We observed no difference in the magnitude or variance of Kdemeth between treatments, suggesting that demethylation was robust to soil chemical conditions influenced by the plant, perhaps because of a wider taxonomic diversity of demethylators. Our results suggest that methylation and demethylation processes could both be leveraged to alter MeHg concentrations in rice paddy soil.

The impact of physical fitness on resilience to modern life stress and the mediating role of general self-efficacy.

Substantial evidence shows that physical activity and fitness play a protective role in the development of stress related disorders. However, the beneficial effects of fitness for resilience to modern life stress are not fully understood. Potentially protective effects may be attributed to enhanced resilience via underlying psychosocial mechanisms such as self-efficacy expectations. This study investigated whether physical activity and fitness contribute to prospectively measured resilience and examined the mediating effect of general self-efficacy. 431 initially healthy adults participated in fitness assessments as part of a longitudinal-prospective study, designed to identify mechanisms of resilience. Self-efficacy and habitual activity were assessed in parallel to cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, which were determined by a submaximal step-test, hand strength and standing long jump test. Resilience was indexed by stressor reactivity: mental health problems in relation to reported life events and daily hassles, monitored quarterly for nine months. Hierarchical linear regression models and bootstrapped mediation analyses were applied. We could show that muscular and self-perceived fitness were positively associated with stress resilience. Extending this finding, the muscular fitness-resilience relationship was partly mediated by self-efficacy expectations. In this context, self-efficacy expectations may act as one underlying psychological mechanism, with complementary benefits for the promotion of mental health. While physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness did not predict resilience prospectively, we found muscular and self-perceived fitness to be significant prognostic parameters for stress resilience. Although there is still more need to identify specific fitness parameters in light of stress resilience, our study underscores the general relevance of fitness for stress-related disorders prevention.

Espasmo hemifacial: experiencia en un centro terciario

Resumen El espasmo hemifacial consiste en un infrecuente trastorno del movimiento que afecta a la musculatura inervada por el nervio facial, en especial la de la hemicara superior. Existen dos formas clínicas, una primaria en la que la causa subyacente está representada por un conflicto neurovascular, y una secundaria, en la que la alteración del nervio facial es producida por algún tipo de lesión ocupante de espacio. Resulta de especial interés para el otorrinolaringólogo conocer esta entidad y ser capaz de diferenciar ambas formas clínicas dado el diferente enfoque terapéutico que pueden requerir. Aportamos una visión general de esta patología repasando su epidemiología y fisiopatología, además, de nuestra experiencia en forma de una serie de cuatro casos que ilustran las variadas formas de presentación de esta entidad, así como los signos y síntomas de alarma que pueden ayudar a realizar un correcto diagnóstico y manejo.

Abstract Hemifacial spasm consists of an unfrecuent movement disorder involving facial muscles, especially those from the upper half of the face. Two different clinical presentations are described. Primary hemifacial spasm is defined by a neurovascular conflict, and secondary occurs when facial nerve is damaged by a space occupying lesion. It is of special interest for the otorhinolaryngologist to get to know about this condition and to be able to acknowledge its clinical presentations due to the different therapeutical approach that may be needed for each of them. We contribute with a general vision of this entity reviewing its epidemiology and patophysiology. Furthermore, we show our experience by sharing a four-case series which we believe to illustrate the different ways of presentation as well as the alarm signs and symptoms that may be helpful in order to accomplish an accurate diagnose and treatment.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health in Germany: longitudinal observation of different mental health trajectories and protective factors.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting measures can be regarded as a global stressor. Cross-sectional studies showed rather negative impacts on people's mental health, while longitudinal studies considering pre-lockdown data are still scarce. The present study investigated the impact of COVID-19 related lockdown measures in a longitudinal German sample, assessed since 2017. During lockdown, 523 participants completed additional weekly online questionnaires on e.g., mental health, COVID-19-related and general stressor exposure. Predictors for and distinct trajectories of mental health outcomes were determined, using multilevel models and latent growth mixture models, respectively. Positive pandemic appraisal, social support, and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation were positively, whereas perceived stress, daily hassles, and feeling lonely negatively related to mental health outcomes in the entire sample. Three subgroups ("recovered," 9.0%; "resilient," 82.6%; "delayed dysfunction," 8.4%) with different mental health responses to initial lockdown measures were identified. Subgroups differed in perceived stress and COVID-19-specific positive appraisal. Although most participants remained mentally healthy, as observed in the resilient group, we also observed inter-individual differences. Participants' psychological state deteriorated over time in the delayed dysfunction group, putting them at risk for mental disorder development. Consequently, health services should especially identify and allocate resources to vulnerable individuals.

Linfoma no Hodgkin primario extranodal de musculatura masticatoria. A propósito de un caso

Resumen Entre el 25% a 40% de los linfomas no Hodgkin (LNH) surgen en ubicaciones extranodales. La afectación de los tejidos blandos por el LNH es infrecuente y el linfoma de origen primario del músculo esquelético es aún más inusual. Los músculos mayormente afectados son los de las extremidades, pelvis, región glútea y con menor frecuencia los músculos de cabeza y cuello. En este artículo se presenta nuestra experiencia sobre un caso de linfoma no Hodgkin primario extranodal del músculo masetero, que fue tratado con quimioterapia combinada tipo R-CHOP con buena respuesta. Se revisan en la literatura las características clínicas de esta patología, los criterios diagnósticos y el tratamiento en este tipo de linfoma.

Abstract Around 20% to 45% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) develop in extranodal locations. Soft tissue involvement is rare and skeletal muscle affection is a far more unusual NHL presentation. In this singular scenario, upper and lower extremity muscles are mostly affected, especially those from the pelvic and gluteal area and less frequent of the musculature from the head and neck region. Therefore, we here in report a case of an extranodal NHL of the masseter muscle. Treatment regime was based on R-CHOP combined chemotherapy resulting in a favorable outcome. Diagnostic criteria and clinical characteristics, and treatment of this type of lymphoma are reviewed in this article.

Longitudinal determination of resilience in humans to identify mechanisms of resilience to modern-life stressors: the longitudinal resilience assessment (LORA) study.

Resilience is the maintenance and/or quick recovery of mental health during and after periods of adversity. It is conceptualized to result from a dynamic process of successful adaptation to stressors. Up to now, a large number of resilience factors have been proposed, but the mechanisms underlying resilience are not yet understood. To shed light on the complex and time-varying processes of resilience that lead to a positive long-term outcome in the face of adversity, the Longitudinal Resilience Assessment (LORA) study has been established. In this study, 1191 healthy participants are followed up at 3- and 18-month intervals over a course of 4.5 years at two study centers in Germany. Baseline and 18-month visits entail multimodal phenotyping, including the assessment of mental health status, sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, resilience factors, life history, neuropsychological assessments (of proposed resilience mechanisms), and biomaterials (blood for genetic and epigenetic, stool for microbiome, and hair for cortisol analysis). At 3-monthly online assessments, subjects are monitored for subsequent exposure to stressors as well as mental health measures, which allows for a quantitative assessment of stressor-dependent changes in mental health as the main outcome. Descriptive analyses of mental health, number of stressors including major life events, daily hassles, perceived stress, and the ability to recover from stress are here presented for the baseline sample. The LORA study is unique in its design and will pave the way for a better understanding of resilience mechanisms in humans and for further development of interventions to successfully prevent stress-related disorder.

Contrasting arsenic cycling in strongly and weakly stratified contaminated lakes: Evidence for temperature control on sediment-water arsenic fluxes.

Arsenic contamination of lakebed sediments is widespread due to a range of human activities, including herbicide application, waste disposal, mining, and smelter operations. The threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health is dependent on the degree of mobilization from sediments into overlying water columns and exposure of aquatic organisms. We undertook a mechanistic investigation of arsenic cycling in two impacted lakes within the Puget Sound region, a shallow weakly-stratified lake and a deep seasonally-stratified lake, with similar levels of lakebed arsenic contamination. We found that the processes that cycle arsenic between sediments and the water column differed greatly in shallow and deep lakes. In the shallow lake, seasonal temperature increases at the lakebed surface resulted in high porewater arsenic concentrations that drove larger diffusive fluxes of arsenic across the sediment-water interface compared to the deep, stratified lake where the lakebed remained ~10#x00B0;C cooler. Plankton in the shallow lake accumulated up to an order of magnitude more arsenic than plankton in the deep lake due to elevated aqueous arsenic concentrations in oxygenated waters and low phosphate: arsenate ratios in the shallow lake. As a result, strong arsenic mobilization from sediments in the shallow lake was countered by large arsenic sedimentation rates out of the water column driven by plankton settling.

Increased exposure of plankton to arsenic in contaminated weakly-stratified lakes.

Arsenic, a priority Superfund contaminant and carcinogen, is a legacy pollutant impacting aquatic ecosystems in urban lakes downwind of the former ASARCO copper smelter in Ruston, WA, now a Superfund site. We examined the mobility of arsenic from contaminated sediments and arsenic bioaccumulation in phytoplankton and zooplankton in lakes with varying mixing regimes. In lakes with strong seasonal thermal stratification, high aqueous arsenic concentrations were limited to anoxic bottom waters that formed during summer stratification, and arsenic concentrations were low in oxic surface waters. However, in weakly-stratified lakes, the entire water column, including the fully oxic surface waters, had elevated concentrations of arsenic (up to 30µgL-1) during the summer. We found enhanced trophic transfer of arsenic through the base of the aquatic food web in weakly-stratified lakes; plankton in these lakes accumulated up to an order of magnitude more arsenic on multiple sampling days than plankton in stratified lakes with similar levels of contamination. We posit that greater bioaccumulation in weakly-stratified lakes was due to elevated arsenic in oxic waters. Aquatic life primarily inhabits oxic waters and in the oxic water column of weakly-stratified lakes arsenic was speciated as arsenate, which is readily taken up by phytoplankton because of its structural similarities to phosphate. Our study indicates that mobilization of arsenic from lake sediments into overlying oxic water columns in weakly-stratified lakes leads to increased arsenic exposure and uptake at the base of the aquatic food web.

Tailoring the nucleation of domain walls along multi-segmented cylindrical nanoelements.

The magnetization reversal of three-segment cylindrical nanoelements comprising alternating nanowire and nanotube sections is investigated by means of Monte Carlo simulations. Such nanoelements may feature a three-state behaviour with an intermediate plateau in the hysteresis curve due to a metastable pinning of the domain walls (DWs) at the wire-tube interfaces. It turns out that vortex as well as transverse DWs contribute to the magnetization reversal. By varying the geometric parameters, the sequence, or the material of the elements the nucleation location of DWs, as well as their nucleation field, can be tailored. Especially interesting is the novel possibility to drive DWs coherently in the same or in opposite directions by changing the geometry of the hybrid nanoelement. This important feature provides additional flexibility to the construction of logical devices based on DW movement. Another prominent outcome is that DWs can be nucleated near the centre of the element and then traverse to the outer tips of the cylindrical structure when the applied field is increased, which also opens the possibility to use these three-segment nanoelements for the field-induced delivery of DWs as substitutes for large nucleation pads.

Role of diffusion-weighted MRI in differentiation of hepatic abscesses from non-infected fluid collections.

AIM: To evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) in the differentiation of hepatic abscesses from non-infected fluid collections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 22 hepatic abscesses and 27 non-infected hepatic fluid collections were examined in 27 patients who underwent abdominal MRI including DW-MRI. Two independent observers reviewed T2-weighted + DW-MRI and T2-weighted + contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (CET1W) images in two sessions. Detection rates and confidence levels were calculated and compared using McNemar's and Wilcoxon's signed rank tests, respectively. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of abscesses and non-infected fluid collections were compared using the t-test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the accuracy of detecting abscesses using T2-weighted + DW-MRI (both observers: 21/22, 95.5%) versus T2-weighted + CET1W images (observer 1: 21/22, 95.5%; observer 2: 22/22, 100%; p < 0.01). Mean ADC values were significantly lower with abscesses versus non-infected fluid collections (0.83 ± 0.24 versus 2.25 ± 0.61 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s; p < 0.001). With ROC analysis there was good discrimination of abscess from non-infected fluid collections at a threshold ADC value of 1.36 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s. CONCLUSION: DW-MRI allows qualitative and quantitative differentiation of abscesses from non-infected fluid collections in the liver.

Renal ablation in patients with end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Transarterial catheter embolization of the kidneys (TAE) is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure. In this study outcome and TAE-related complications of the patients who underwent TAE of the kidneys were evaluated retrospectively. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between August 2003 and August 2009, 11 patients underwent selective percutaneous transarterial renal embolization for end stage renal disease associated with uncontrolled hypertension, nephrotic syndrome, bleeding or malignancy. TAE of renal arteries was performed using different embolization agents. RESULTS: Successful renal embolization was possible in all 21 kidneys. All patients became anuric. Non-target embolization was not detectable. Nevertheless, all patients developed some degree of postembolization symptoms including nausea, vomiting, fever or pain. A typical finding after embolization was an increase in the C-reactive protein. CONCLUSIONS: Renal embolization is rarely done but should be considered as an alternative to surgical nephrectomy in patients with end stage renal disease due to the lesser invasiveness. Our study confirms the safety and effectivity of percutaneous renal embolization in patients with ESRD. We were able to control the hypertension, nephrotic syndrome, and bleeding caused by ESRD.

Luminescent dye-doped KAP nanorods obtained by template assisted crystallization.

Luminescent nanorods of potassium acid phthalate (KAP) doped with rhodamine 6G (Rh 6G) dye molecules were grown by template assisted crystallization. Pores with diameters ranging from tens of nanometers to few micrometers were obtained in polycarbonate foils after heavy-ion irradiation and subsequent chemical etching of the damage trails along the ion trajectories. Crystallization from solution was employed for filling of the pores with the dye-doped KAP rods. These nanostructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, optical absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence detection. X-ray diffraction was used for structural analysis. The luminescence of the dye-doped rods undergoes a redshift when the diameter of the structures decreases. This shift is probably caused by increasing dye concentration in the rods with decreasing pore diameter. The luminescence originating from the Rh 6G presence is up-converted due to the second-harmonic generation in KAP.

Transarterial catheter embolization of a sarcoma for preoperative conditioning.

This paper presents a case of an undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma/NOS (not otherwise specified; former pleomorphic - storiform malignant fibrous histiocytoma) of the lower leg, of a huge tumor causing ulceration of the cutaneous surface. To improve preoperative conditions, selective transarterial devascularization of the tumor feeders was performed. At operation the tumor was completely ischaemic allowing for clear tumor demarcation with little blood loss during surgery.

Serological and immunohistochemical HER-2/neu statuses do not correlate and lack prognostic value for ovarian cancer patients.

The serodiagnostics of extracellular domain (ECD) HER-2/neu has turned into an evidenced-based tumour marker for HER-2/neu-positive breast cancer patients. This study investigated the clinical relevance of immunohistochemical and serum HER-2/neu in 44 patients with advanced ovarian cancer. The Hercept-Test® from DAKO Diagnostics was used to analyse immunohistochemical HER-2/neu expression. The HER-2/neu ECD in serum was determined quantitatively by Bayer Immuno 1™ Immunoanalyser. The HER-2/neu serum values were correlated to the clinical course of disease and to established prognostic factors, i.e. progression-free and overall survival. Some 23% of patients (n = 11) expressed HER-2/neu serum levels higher than 15 ng/mL, whereas only 7.7% (n = 2) of the patients examined by immunohistochemistry showed a HER-2/neu overexpression of the tissue. None of them revealed an overexpression of HER-2/neu ECD by serodiagnostics. HER-2/neu overexpression did not correlate significantly to any of the analysed prognostic factors. According to progression-free and overall survival, there was no significant difference between serologically HER-2/neu-positive or negative patients. For ovarian cancer patients, neither high HER-2/neu serum levels, nor immunohistochemically determined HER-2/neu positivity, appear to predict the course of disease. This study shows a lack of association between the immunohistochemical HER-2/neu status and the serum level of solute extracelluar HER-2/neu domain.

Spatially resolved nuclear spin relaxation, electron spin relaxation and light absorption in swift heavy ion irradiated LiF crystals.

Spatially resolved (19)F and (7)Li spin-lattice relaxation rates are measured for LiF single crystals after irradiation with two kinds of swift heavy ions ((12)C of 133 MeV and (208)Pb of 1.78 GeV incident energy). Like in earlier studies on (130)Xe and (238)U irradiated LiF crystals, we found a strong enhancement of the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate within the ion penetration depth and a slight--but still significant--enhancement beyond. By evaluating the nuclear relaxation rate enhancement within the ion range after irradiation with different projectiles, a universal relationship between the spin-lattice relaxation rate and the dose is deduced. The results of accompanying X-band electron paramagnetic resonance relaxation measurements and optical absorption spectroscopy are included in a physical interpretation of this relationship. Also the reason for the enhanced relaxation rate beyond the ion range is further discussed.

Photoepilation with variable pulsed light in non-facial body areas: evaluation of efficacy and safety.

BACKGROUND: Variable Pulsed Light (VPL) is a new intensity pulse light (IPL) system. We evaluated VPL for safety and long-term efficacy in non-facial hair removal. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Variable Pulsed Light [VPL System (Energist Limited, UK), 610-950 nm] system was used for the removal of unwanted non-facial dark pigmented body hair in 42 volunteers (40 females, two males, age: 18-43 years, mean: 30.4 +/- 7.4 years) with Fitzpatrick skin phototype (SPT) II (33.3%), III (38.1%) and IV (28.6%), and brown (43.8%) or black (56.2%) fine (19.0%), medium (47.6%) or coarse (9.4%) body hair. Minimum follow-up period was 12 months (mean: 13.14 +/- 2.38). Treatment parameters were as follows: number x duration of micropulses: 15 x 5-15 x 7 ms, pulse delay: 1-8 ms, fluence: 30-45 J/cm(2). RESULTS: Very good (> or =76% hair reduction) and good treatment efficacies (hair reduction: 51-75%) were observed in the majority of treated patients (n = 18; 42.9%; n = 14; 33.3% respectively), four patients (9.5%) had only moderate (hair reduction: 26-50%) and six (14.3%) patients had no (hair reduction < or =25%) treatment response. Side-effects (reversible erythema, leukotrichia) were sparse. More favourable long-term therapy outcomes were observed for higher SPT (III and IV), medium or coarse black hair and younger patients. CONCLUSION: The VPL System is a relatively efficient and safe treatment for long-term hair removal. Higher SPT (III and IV) with black and medium to coarse hair, and younger age of the patients appear to be factors of significant importance predicting long-term efficacy.