[Treatment-refractory chronic depression in a CADASIL patient with a symptom-free somatic course: a case report].

Depressive disorders are very common psychiatric disorders that are usually well treatable. However, special attention is required if the depressive symptoms do not improve despite guideline-compliant treatment and if brain structural changes can be detected on neuroimaging.We report on a genetically newly diagnosed 63-year-old patient with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) with a two-decade course of severe affective symptoms in the absence of classical somatic disease characteristics although we found a pathogenic variant in the EGFr 4 domain of the NOTCH3 protein.

Effects of acute stress on cue reactivity and implicit cognitions in online compulsive buying-shopping disorder.

Background And Aims: There is a lack of research on the impact of acute stress on the interaction of affective and cognitive processes in online compulsive buying-shopping disorder (CBSD). Therefore, this project addressed stress response, cue reactivity, attentional bias, and implicit associations in individuals with online CBSD.

Methods: Women with CBSD (n = 63) and women with non-problematic online buying-shopping (n = 64) were randomly assigned to the Trier Social Stress Test or a non-stress condition.

Decoding pan-cancer treatment outcomes using multimodal real-world data and explainable artificial intelligence.

Despite advances in precision oncology, clinical decision-making still relies on limited variables and expert knowledge. To address this limitation, we combined multimodal real-world data and explainable artificial intelligence (xAI) to introduce AI-derived (AID) markers for clinical decision support. We used xAI to decode the outcome of 15,726 patients across 38 solid cancer entities based on 350 markers, including clinical records, image-derived body compositions, and mutational tumor profiles.

The impact of temporal distribution on fear extinction learning.

Fear extinction is the foundation of exposure therapy for anxiety and phobias. However, the stability of extinction memory diminishes over time, coinciding with fear recovery. To augment long-term extinction retention, the temporal distribution of extinction learning sessions is critical.

Medical Students' Acceptance of Tailored e-Mental Health Apps to Foster Their Mental Health: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of mental health problems among medical students and physicians, help-seeking remains low. Digital mental health approaches offer beneficial opportunities to increase well-being, for example, via mobile apps.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the acceptance, and its underlying predictors, of tailored e-mental health apps among medical students by focusing on stress management and the promotion of personal skills.

Consequences of COVID-19 for geriatric patients during a pandemic.

To investigate the outcomes of geriatric COVID-19 patients in a German academic setting during the pandemic. This study included 468 consecutive geriatric patients (≥ 70 years) who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were treated at the University of Duisburg-Essen from 2/2020 to 3/2021. 74 patients were transferred to a geriatric hospital and a 12-month follow-up (prospective study) was performed in 51 patients.

Impact of visual presentation of atherosclerotic carotid plaque on cardiovascular risk profile using mHealth technologies.

This randomized, controlled trial evaluated the impact of plaque visualization combined with daily tasks on cardiovascular risk profile and included 240 participants with coronary arterial disease. The intervention group received the PreventiPlaque app during the 12-month study period in addition to standard care. The app contained daily tasks that promoted lifestyle modifications and adherence to prescribed medication.

Disease-modifying strategies: Targeting protein kinases in multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune disorders.

A wide variety of immunomodulatory therapies are already available for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Through fundamental insights from basic research with a gain of knowledge in the pathological processes underlying MS, the exploration of additional medical compounds within clinical trials has been ignited. Emerging novel medications with innovative mechanisms of action are being introduced.

The novel manualized RELIEVE-group treatment for burdened relatives of cancer patients: a feasibility study.

Introduction: The experience of cancer among relatives is characterized by an increase in anxiety and depression, stress, and a reduction in quality of life. However, there is a paucity of psychosocial support programmes for relatives and a dearth of evidence-based, manualized interventions. Accordingly, the present study aims to assess the acceptability, defined as participant drop-out and satisfaction, and feasibility, in terms of mental health improvement, of a novel manualized psycho-educational group intervention.

An android can show the facial expressions of complex emotions.

Trust and rapport are essential abilities for human-robot interaction. Producing emotional expressions in the robots' faces is an effective way for that purpose. Androids can show human-like facial expressions of basic emotions.

C5 complement inhibition versus FcRn modulation in generalised myasthenia gravis.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder affecting neuromuscular junctions, leading to fluctuating muscle weakness. While many patients respond well to standard immunosuppression, a substantial subgroup faces ongoing disease activity. Emerging treatments such as complement factor C5 inhibition (C5IT) and neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) antagonism hold promise for these patients.

PTSD and CPTSD in the new ICD-11 - A latent profile analysis.

In the 11th version of the WHO´s International Classification of Diseases, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is newly recognized as a variant of PTSD, characterized by additional and more severe symptoms and typically arising from prolonged or multiple traumatic experiences. Despite recent research supporting the differentiation between PTSD and CPTSD, studies also identify a third or even a fourth latent profile in trauma patients. This study employs latent profile analysis to identify the number of latent profiles within a clinical trauma population in Germany (N = 588) and aims to investigate their distinct symptomatology.

Baseline and average platelet count can predict the outcome of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Baseline values and the change of platelet count (PLT) during disease were reported to be associated with prognosis of patients with cancer and intensive care treatment. We aimed to evaluate the association between PLT with the course and prognosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Methods: Admission (AdmPLT) and the 14-days mean PLT (MeanPLT) values of 763 SAH patients treated between 01/2005 and 06/2016 were recorded and, for further analysis, divided into four categories: <150, 150-260, 261-400 and > 400 × 10/L.

Feels good, and less bad: Problematic use of the Internet is associated with heightened experiences of both gratification and compensation.

Background: During the development of addictive behaviors, theoretical models assume a shift from experience of gratification being a driver in early stages to experience of compensation which dominates at later stages of addiction development. Initial studies show a trend in this direction; however, this shift has not yet been investigated in clinical samples. We assume experienced gratification to be highest in individuals with risky use (indicating the beginning of the addiction process), and compensation to be highest in individuals with pathological use.

Analyzing temporal imaging patterns in acute ischemic stroke via DICOM-timestamps.

Acute stroke management is time-sensitive, making time data crucial for both research and quality management. However, these time data are often not reliably captured in routine clinical practice. In this proof-of-concept study we analysed image-based time data automatically captured in the DICOM format.

Training needs of German healthcare professionals regarding sexual health and sex workers: results of a nationwide, cross-sectional survey.

Background: Sexual health is an important aspect of human well-being. In terms of sexual health and healthcare, sex workers might need more specialized care than others, given their higher risk for both discrimination and various sexually transmitted diseases. However, little is known about the quality of healthcare professionals' training regarding sexual health and healthcare of sex workers in Germany.

Sex differences in the reactivity of gastric myoelectrical activity and heart rate variability as putative psychophysiological markers in human pain research.

Background: This study explored the potential of electrogastrography (EGG) and heart rate variability (HRV) as psychophysiological markers in experimental pain research related to the gut-brain axis. We investigated responses to the experience of pain from the visceral (rectal distension) and somatic (cutaneous heat) pain modalities, with a focus on elucidating sex differences in EGG and HRV responses.

Methods: In a sample of healthy volunteers (29 males, 43 females), EGG and ECG data were collected during a baseline and a pain phase.

Influence of HLA-G 3' Untranslated Region Haplotypes and SNP +3422 Gene Variants as Host Genetic Factors on the Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Infection During Acute and Post-Acute Phases in a German Cohort.

HLA-G, an important immune-checkpoint (IC) molecule that exerts inhibitory signalling on immune effector cells, has been suggested to represent a key player in regulating the immune response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the HLA-G 3'untranslated region (UTR), which arrange as haplotypes, are crucial for the regulation of HLA-G expression, we analysed the contribution of these genetic variants as host factors in SARS-CoV-2 infection during acute and post-acute phases. HLA-G gene polymorphisms in the 3'UTR were investigated by sequencing in an unvaccinated Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cohort during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (N = 505) and in the post-acute phase (N = 253).

Impact of progestin type on the risk of drug interactions between combined oral contraceptives and psychotropic drugs: A pooled analysis of real-world data.

Objectives: To assess the risk of contraceptive failure and adverse events (AEs) associated with the type of progestin when coadministered with psychotropic drugs within a routine clinical practice setting.

Study Design: A pooled analysis of four large, prospective, multinational cohort studies including women with a new prescription of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and concomitant psychotropic drug use from 13 European countries and the United States. We determined the frequency of contraceptive failures and AEs within 6 months after COC initiation by progestin type.

In vitro model of retinoblastoma derived tumor and stromal cells for tumor microenvironment (TME) studies.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is an intraocular tumor arising from retinal cone progenitor cells affecting young children. In the last couple of years, RB treatment evolved towards eye preserving therapies. Therefore, investigating intratumoral differences and the RB tumor microenvironment (TME), regulating tumorigenesis and metastasis, is crucial.

Acceptance, Needs, and Demands for Nutritional mHealth Support in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death globally. Managing risk factors and preventing atherosclerosis and its progress, especially with lifestyle changes, are highly important. Smartphone-based mobile health (mHealth) strategies allow easily accessible assistance for healthy nutrition.

Regulation of Sexual Behavior and Health in German Prisons and Forensic Psychiatric Hospitals.

Individuals housed in prisons or forensic hospitals experience significant restrictions on their sexual rights. There is a lack of data on how sexual behavior and sexual health of institutionalized persons are managed and to what extent they are based on shared guidelines or decisions of the individual staff. Using a standardized online questionnaire, the heads of 35 prisons and 32 forensic psychiatric hospitals across 14 German federal states were surveyed, reflecting the situation of 16,902 inmates and patients.