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Objective Up to 10% of the general population experiences persistent somatic symptoms (PSS). Numerous studies in a variety of health domains are dedicated to identifying factors that are associated with PSS onset. The present study aimed to provide an overview of predictors for PSS onset in the general population and the related health domains. Methods A systematic search was performed identifying longitudinal cohort studies that examined factors associated with PSS onset in the general population. Included studies measured potential predictors before PSS onset and were categorized according to the dynamic biopsychosocial model. Four levels of evidence were discerned for predictors, based on the number of studies and percentage of consistent findings. Results In the 154 articles eligible for analysis, 27 PSS subtypes were studied, with primary focus on fibromyalgia (25.0%) and irritable bowel syndrome (23.3%). Of the >250 predictors of PSS onset, 46 were investigated more than once and showed consistent results. Strong evidence identifies biological (e.g., infections, body weight-related metrics), psychological (e.g., sleep problems, psychopathology), interpersonal (life events, childhood/interpersonal stress), contextual (employment), and health behavioral (health care utilization) predictors. Conclusions The results provide strong evidence for factors from all dynamic biopsychosocial domains, although interpersonal and health behavioral factors are relatively under investigated. Thus, evidence suggests that reduction of predictors of PSS onset to a specific factor/domain may be too restrictive. There is no evidence that this differs per PSS subtype. Exploring all domains and measuring common factors across subtypes are essential to improve the clinical course of PSS.

Music is increasingly used in a wide array of settings, from clinical recovery to sports or well-being interventions. Motivation related to music is often considered as a possible working mechanism for music to facilitate these processes, however this has not previously been systematically evaluated. In the current systematic review, studies were considered that involved music (therapy) interventions, together with measures such as wanting to practice, liking the musical activities, or patient adherence to an intervention. The objective of this review was to examine whether music increases motivation in task performance and/or rehabilitation settings, and whether this is commonly related to better clinical or training outcomes. Seventy-nine studies met the inclusion criteria, the majority of which (85%) indicated an increased level of motivation with music as compared to without. Moreover, in those studies where motivation was increased, clinical or other outcomes were improved in most cases (90%). These results support the notion of motivation as an underlying mechanism of music-based interventions, but more robust evidence is needed to ascertain which mechanisms are crucial in increasing motivation from a behavioural, cognitive, and neurobiological point of view, as well as how motivational mechanisms relate to other factors of effectiveness in music-based paradigms.

Background Glomerulonephritis (GN), including post-transplant IgAN (post-Tx IgAN) is an important contributor to decreased long-term allograft survival. The immunopathological detection of the complement degradation product C4d in glomeruli (C4dG) has been recently described as a risk factor in native kidney IgAN, however little is known about C4dG deposition in post-Tx IgAN. We hypothesized that glomerular C4d may indicate a more aggressive disease course and worse allograft survival in patients with post-Tx IgAN. Methods In this retrospective study we assessed the presence and clinical relevance of C4dG in patients with post-transplant IgAN. We analyzed 885 renal allograft recipients, including 84 patients with post-transplant GN. All patients were transplanted between January 1999 and April 2006 and underwent at least one biopsy for differnt causes. The primary endpoint was death-censored graft survival, with a median follow-up of 9.6 (IQR 3.8–13.2) years. Results The prevalence of post-Tx GN was 9.5%. Twenty-seven patients with post-Tx IgAN were included. C4dG positive patients (N = 18, 66.7%) had significantly worse allograft survival compared to C4dG negative post-Tx IgAN patients and patients without post-Tx IgAN [C4dG positive: 27.8% vs. 55.6% and 66.0%; log-rank: p = 0.01]. C4dG remained a significant risk factor (HR 2.22, 95% CI 1.27–3.87) for allograft loss even after adjustment for T cell mediated rejection (TCMR) and antibody mediated rejection. Conclusion Glomerular C4d deposition is an independent risk factor for worse graft-survival in patients with post-Tx IgAN, even after adjusting for other risk factors such as antibody mediated rejection. Assessment of glomerular C4d deposition may provide a valuable prognostic risk assessment tool to identify high risk patients in post-Tx IgAN. Graphic abstract

Zusammenfassung Um die steigende Komplexität von Hybridfahrzeugen zu beherrschen und deren Potential vollständig auszuschöpfen, ist eine intelligente Betriebsstrategie notwendig. Die mathematische Optimierung solcher Strategien benötigt hohe Rechenleistung und Kenntnis über die vorausliegende Strecke. Da beides nur eingeschränkt im Fahrzeug verfügbar ist, wird in diesem Beitrag vorgeschlagen, die Mobilfunk-Verbindung moderner Fahrzeuge zu nutzen. Die Prädiktion auf Basis von aufgezeichneten Fahrprofilen anderer Fahrzeuge, und die nachfolgende Optimierung der Betriebsstrategie werden auf stationären Backend-Servern durchgeführt.

Strukturelle Rahmenbedingungen, wie geringe Bevolkerungsdichte und disperse Siedlungsstrukturen, beeinflussen die Mobilitatssituation im landlichen Raum wesentlich. So steigt mit abnehmender Siedlungsdichte die Abhangigkeit vom Auto. Diese wiederum belastet die Haushalte finanziell und/oder beeintrachtigt die Teilhabe am sozialen Leben von Personen ohne eigenen Pkw. Auf dem Weg hin zu einer nachhaltigeren Mobilitat bestehen im landlichen Raum sowohl aus okonomischer als auch aus okologischer und sozialer Sicht zahlreiche Herausforderungen, fur deren Losung neue Ansatze erforderlich sind. Ein moglicher Losungsansatz stellt Carsharing, die geteilte Nutzung von Pkws, dar. Da Carsharing-Angebote bisher jedoch hauptsachlich im urbanen Gebiet vorzufinden sind, ist es das Ziel dieses Beitrages, die Anwendbarkeit von Carsharing im landlichen Raum zu untersuchen und zu klaren, welche Faktoren fur eine erfolgreiche Umsetzung entscheidend sind. Um diese Fragen zu beantworten, wurden ExpertInneninterviews gefuhrt und erfolgreiche Carsharing-Projekte im landlichen Raum analysiert. Es stellte sich heraus, dass die Wahl des geeigneten Betreibermodells und die Anpassung des Modells an die spezifischen Gegebenheiten vor Ort ausschlaggebend fur den Erfolg des Carsharing-Angebotes sind.

Although iron sucrose and iron gluconate are generally well tolerated in patients who are treated for renal anemia, recent clinical studies and cell culture experiments suggested significant toxicity and long-term side effects arising from the use of these iron complexes. Because of the possible role of iron in infection or cardiovascular disease, it was theorized that parenteral iron compounds influence endothelial and PMN interaction in vitro. A well-established double-chamber method was used to assess the effect of different concentrations of iron sucrose and iron gluconate (1, 25, 50, and 100 micro g/ml) on the transendothelial migration of PMN. Preincubation of PMN and endothelial cells as well as preincubation of PMN alone with 25, 50, or 100 micro g/ml iron resulted in a significant decrease in PMN migration. In contrast, after incubation of the endothelial cells alone with iron, no reduction in the transendothelial migration of PMN was observed. Preincubation of PMN and/or endothelial cells with 1 micro g/ml iron did not lead to any decrease in the rate of migrated PMN. The only significant change in experiments with 1 micro g/ml was an increase in PMN migration after preincubation of endothelial cells and PMN with iron gluconate. A four-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of the iron concentration (P0.000001), of type of iron complex (P0.005), of the preincubation of endothelial cell (P0.001), and of the preincubation of PMN with iron (P0.000001) on PMN diapedesis. It is concluded that iron sucrose and iron gluconate cause a significant inhibition of transendothelial migration of PMN.

A single-agent dose escalating phase I and pharmacokinetic study with Cilengitide, an inhibitor of the integrins alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5, was performed to determine its safety and toxicity. Cilengitide was administered as a one-hour infusion twice weekly without interruption to patients with histologically- or cytologically-confirmed metastatic solid tumours. Plasma pharmacokinetics were determined at days 1 and 15. 37 patients were enrolled into the study. Dose levels studied were 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, 400, 600, 850, 1200, and 1600 mg/m(2)/infusion. There was no dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Pharmacokinetics were dose-independent and time-invariant. Apparent terminal half-life ranged from 3 to 5 h. At 120 mg/m(2)/infusion, peak plasma concentrations were attained that optimally inhibited tumour growth in preclinical models. Cilengitide can be safely administered using a continuous twice-weekly infusion regimen. As DLT was not reached, future trials should explore Cilengitide at different doses.

The interactions of mesangial cells (MC) with their environment are important events in glomerular physiology and pathology, yet a detailed characterization of the MC-surface antigens mediating these interactions is still lacking. In this study, a comparative phenotype analysis of primary human MC in culture using 191 monoclonal antibodies directed against 108 antigens was performed by flow-cytometry. The MC were grown on three different surfaces (human matrix, fibronectin, polystyrene) and cultured in the presence or absence of IL-1alpha. Seventy-one antibodies recognizing 35 different antigens (integrins: CD29, 49b, 49c, 49e, 51, 61; immunoglobulin gene family: CD54, 58, 90, 106, 146, 147, 166; growth factor receptors: CD105, 140b; apoptosis related: CD95; hemostatis related: CD141, 142; miscellaneous: CD44, 109, 138, 151, 157, 165, and 11 nonclustered antigens) reacted with mesangial cells. CD58, 109, 146, 147, 151, 157, 165, and 166 are reported for the first time to be present on human mesangial cells. In comparison to growth on polystyrene, CD44, 54, 95, 105, 109, 140b, 146, 147, 157, 165 and 166, were up-regulated on fibronectin, and CD44, 54, 90, 95, 105, 106, 109, 138, 140b, 141, 142, 146, 147, 151, 157, 165 and 166 were up-regulated on human matrix. The stimulation by IL-1alpha up-regulated CD44, 49e, 51, 54, 61, 106 on MC on polystyrene; CD49e, 51, 61, 106, 146, 165 on MC on fibronectin, and CD49e, 51, 54 on MC grown on human matrix. This analysis of surface antigen expression provides new information to enable a better understanding of the role of mesangial cells in glomerular pathophysiology.

W��re es nicht hilfreich im Fall einer Naturkatastrophe eine Art `Erste-Hilfe-Ausr��stung- als Pr��ventivma��nahme in einer gef��hrdeten Stadt schon verteilt vorzufinden? Diese werden mit allt��glichen Funktionen bespielt und genutzt, und w��hrend der Regenerationsphase ��bernehmen sie eine unterst��tzende Rolle, wie die St��rkung des Zusammenhaltes innerhalb der Gemeinschaft. In Regionen, die von zahlreichen Katastrophen heimgesucht werden, werden Strategien zur Risikominderung und Sicherheitsma��nahmen gro��geschrieben. Durch fortschrittliche technologische Kenntnisse ist es heutzutage m��glich den Grad, der durch Naturkatastrophen entstehenden Sch��den, minimal zu halten. Einer der wesentlichen Punkte stellt der Personenschutz dar, der besonders ber��cksichtigt werden muss. Wie k��nnen gef��hrdete Gebiete sich vor einer Katastrophe besser sch��tzen? Das Stichwort hei��t `Selbsthilfe- anstatt nur auf Hilfe von au��en angewiesen zu sein. Die Grundbed��rfnisse der Katastrophenopfer, wie medizinische Versorgung, Nahrungsmittel und vor allen Dingen ein Dach ��ber dem Kopf, sollten sofort zur Verf��gung stehen. Besonders einem Land wie Japan mit hoher seismischer Aktivit��t w��re mit solch einer pr��ventiven Ma��nahme geholfen und das Sicherheitsgef��hl w��rde unter den Einwohnern wieder gest��rkt werden. Die Geschichte von ,Pocket House- ist vielseitig. Das `Pocket House- selbst ist einfach. Es ist eine kleine Holzbox, die in gewissen Mengen in unsicherem Gebiet zur Pr��vention aufgestellt wird - in dieser Geschichte in der Stadt Yabuki in der Pr��fektur Fukushima/ Japan. Am 11. M��rz 2011 traf einer der verheerendsten Erdbeben in Japans Geschichte mit folgenschwerem Tsunami die Nordostk��ste der Insel schwer. Durch das Studieren einiger Wiederaufbauprojekte von japanischen Architekten, konnte eine neue Planungsstrategie f��r Notunterk��nfte und allgemeine Wiederaufbauprojekte entwickelt werden. Die ,Pocket Houses- werden mit allt��glichen Funktionen ausgestattet und in der Stadt verstreut. W��hrend dieser Phase k��nnen Nutzer und Objekt eng zusammenwachsen, bis pl��tzlich die Katastrophe passiert. Diese k��nnen sofort in tempor��re Unterk��nfte umgewandelt werden - von Jedermann. Durch die Selbsthilfema��nahmen und starken Zusammenhalt, regeneriert sich die Gemeinschaft schneller. Parallel kann der Wiederaufbau begonnen werden, indem die flexiblen Teile des ,Pocket Houses- als charakteristische und permanente Dachlandschaft ausformuliert werden. So entsteht nicht nur ein nachhaltiges Geb��ude, sondern es wird auch ein Zeichen f��r die vergangene Katastrophe gesetzt., Wouldn-t it be helpful to have some kind of `emergency kits- already spread all over the endangered city, if a natural catastrophe happens? They will pervade public purpose in everyday life and furthermore fulfil interpersonal functions, like improving social cohesion during the recovery period. In disaster-affected regions, risk mitigation and security measures have always been a topic. Due to improvement of technological knowledge, nowadays it is possible to limit the level of destruction in a significant degree. Foremost, personal security is one aspect that has to be considered in first case. How can endangered areas prepare better for the next catastrophe? The keyword is `self-help- in small steps instead of being depended on support from elsewhere. In case of a disaster people-s basic needs, such as medical care, water/ food and especially temporary shelters should be provided instantly. Hence, in a country with high seismic activities like Japan, people can live in the certainty of being in a safe environment instead of living in anxiety. The story of `Pocket House- is multifaceted. The `Pocket House- itself is simple. It is a small, wooden box that is placed in a certain amount in a disaster-endangered area as a prevention - in this story it is earthquake-suffered Yabuki town in Fukushima prefecture, Japan. 11th March 2011, the most devastating earthquake ever recorded in Japan-s history and a resulting tsunami hit the north-eastern coastline of the island. Learning from other regeneration projects by japanese architects, a new way of solving problems concerning common concepts of emergency shelters and post-disaster architecture could be achieved. By placing the `Pocket Houses- in a town with everyday-functions, the bound between the user and the object can grow up to the point when suddenly the catastrophe happens. They can be transformed into temporary housing units instantly - by anyone. The state of emergency is shorter, since the community can recover much quicker due to self-help and the tight connection among themselves. Parallel to this, the reconstruction can be initiated, as the two parts of the `Pocket House- can be converted into a characteristic and permanent roofscape within the town. As a result not only a sustainable building is erected, but at the same time, the new structure marks the event of catastrophe like a reminder.

vorgelegt von Magdalena Perschl Zsfassung in engl. und dt. Sprache Graz, Univ., Masterarb., 2014

The adoptive transfer of in vitro generated tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) is considered a promising perspective in cancer therapy. One possible drawback lies in the inappropriate homing of in vitro cultured lymphocytes, which could be circumvented by introducing the appropriate targeting molecules. Here we describe a protocol that allows a rapid and stable transfection of cytotoxic T cell clones. As a model system we used a CTL clone specific for the melanoma-associated antigen gp100 and a cDNA encoding for murine CD14 containing the variant exen v10 which is supposed to facilitate lymphocyte homing towards the skin. CD44v10 cDNA was ligated into the retroviral vector pMV-7, which was used to transfect the ecotropic GP-E-86 and the amphotropic PA317 cells. After several cycles of transduction to increase the viral titre, supernatants of the amphotropic PA317-CD44v10 line were used for transduction of CD44v10 into a human CTL clone. After three cycles of transduction at 12-h intervals, low but stable expression of CD44v10 was observed throughout the culture period of 10 weeks. The phenotype of the transduced CTL clone was unaltered and the cytotoxic potential was only slightly reduced as compared to the parental clone. The efficiency of stable transduction within a period of 1 week makes the protocol well suited for the in vivo transfer of transduced cells and, in the special case, should guarantee appropriate homing of the transduced CTL clone.

This article discusses the diagnosis system shell VADIAG which is part of a decision support system (DSS) for chemical plant operators. The shell integrates signal based, model based and knowledge based methods for detection and diagnosis of single and multiple faults. A dedicated analysis and design method is proposed for knowledge engineering for developement of an application specific shell configuration. Several prototype applications have demonstrated the diagnosis system's advanced capabilties.