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Introduction: The Psychosocial Services in Vienna (PSD) were established four decades ago. They are the largest public provider of outpatient social-psychiatric care for the Viennese population. Their regional, low-threshold and multi-professional institutions work in close collaboration with similarly regionalized in-patient units. The services also include mobile services ("home visits") and psychiatric crisis intervention-thereby reducing stigma, improving inclusion and, above all, patients' individual lives. Objectives: We studied the treatment adherence in patients with severe mental illness in an out-patient setting after receiving inpatient care. Wealso present plans to further improve out-patient care by implementing ACT and FACT teams reaching out to underserved subpopulations. Methods: The follow-up data of 277 in-patients of the Psychiatric Department at the Danube Hospital were evaluated. Qualitative interviews and video statements show overall satisfaction with PSD services. Results: After their in-patient stays (both long-term and acute), all patients (except for 3) received psychiatric care delivered by the PSD (27%), resident psychiatrists (37%), and other institutions (34%). Overall, patients with severe mental illness were satisfied with their long-term treatment and the acute interventions delivered by PSD. The treatment adherence of patients in out-patient care after receiving acute intervention in hospitals can be regarded as good. Conclusions: Future challenges require new ideas and are currently being addressed in pilot projects such as implementing ACT and FACT services into regular out-patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assembly of passive components on flexible electronics is essential for the functionalization of circuits. For this purpose, adhesive bonding technology by isotropic conductive adhesive (ICA) is increasingly used in addition to soldering processes. Nevertheless, a comparative study, especially for bending characterization, is not available. In this paper, soldering and conductive adhesive bonding of 0603 and 0402 components on flexible polyimide substrates is compared using the design of experiments methods (DoE), considering failure for shear strength and bending behavior. Various solder pastes and conductive adhesives are used. Process variation also includes curing and soldering profiles, respectively, amount of adhesive, and final surface metallization. Samples created with conductive adhesive H20E, a large amount of adhesive, and a faster curing profile could achieve the highest shear strength. In the bending characterization using adhesive bonding, samples on immersion silver surface finish withstood more cycles to failure than samples on bare copper surface. In comparison, the samples soldered to bare copper surface finish withstood more cycles to failure than the soldered samples on immersion silver surface finish.

Molecular dynamics simulations of binary dusty plasmas have been performed and their behavior with respect to the phase separation process has been analyzed. The simulated system was inspired by experimental research on phase separation in dusty plasmas under microgravity on parabolic flights. Despite vortex formation in the experiment and in the simulations the phase separation could be identified. From the simulations it is found that even the smallest charge disparities lead to phase separation. The separation is due to the force imbalance on the two species and the separation becomes weaker with increasing mean particle size. In comparison, experiments on the phase separation have been performed and analyzed in view of the separation dynamics. It is found that the experimental results are reproduced by the simulation regarding the dependency on the size disparity of the two particle species.

Three-dimensionally extended dusty plasmas containing mixtures of two particle species of different size have been investigated under microgravity conditions. To distinguish the species even at small size disparities, one of the species is marked with a fluorescent dye, and a modified two-camera video microscopy setup is used for position determination and tracking. Phase separation is found even when the size disparity is below 5%. Particles are tracked to obtain the diffusion flux, and resulting diffusion coefficients are calculated to be about -10^{-6}mm^{2}/s, which is in the expected range for a phase separation process driven by plasma forces. Additionally, a measure for the strength of the phase separation is presented that allows us to quickly characterize measurements. There is a clear correlation between size disparity and phase separation strength.

The phase separation in binary mixtures of charged particles has been investigated in a dusty plasma under microgravity on parabolic flights. A method based on the use of fluorescent dust particles was developed that allows us to distinguish between particles of slightly different size. A clear trend towards phase separation even for smallest size (charge) disparities is observed. The diffusion flux is directly measured from the experiment and uphill diffusion coefficients have been determined.

Species identification plays an important role in forensic entomology and is mandatory for an accurate calculation of the minimum post-mortem interval. Many important Diptera and Coleoptera taxa of the cadaver community can already be identified by common barcoding approaches, i.e., by sequencing a 658bp region in the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (coI) gene. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of reference barcodes for species, in particular, that can be found on cadavers at later decomposition stages. Flies of the family Piophilidae illustrate this gap of knowledge perfectly. Due to the fact that a reliable morphological identification key for the immature stages of this flies is still missing and the immature stages of many piophilids cannot be assigned to a certain species, there is need for additional tools to identify forensically relevant taxa. We collected adult piophilid specimens at 10 locations in five European countries: Spain (n=3 locations), Germany (n=3), Portugal (n=2), Poland (n=1) and Switzerland (n=1). Apart from the coI barcoding region, we additionally analyzed a 398bp long region of the nuclear elongation factor 1 alpha (ef1a) and subsequently established the molecular identifier for nine piophilid species. In addition, we present the molecular phylogeny of the examined taxa., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bacterial infections of the residual dentin or infected pulp tissue are responsible for most cases of endodontic treatment failures. Persisting microorganisms in necrotic pulp tissue produce sulphur components such as methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide as well as thioether derivatives. Although there is emerging evidence that these sulphur compounds stimulate immune cells and induce the inflammatory cascade, the immunological mechanisms of local and systemic inflammation have not been described. In this retrospective study we evaluated the ex-vivo immune response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to sulphur compounds in 53 patients with clinical or radiologic endodontic treatment failure, 20 patients with clinical discomfort or radiological findings without previous endodontic treatment and a control group of 31 patients who had received successful endodontic treatment at least five years previously. Patients with endodontic abnormalities showed significantly higher ex-vivo sulphur compound-stimulated interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels as compared to the control group. The association between ex-vivo-stimulated cytokines and endodontically derived sulphur compounds was further substantiated by the fact that the number of IFN-γ and/or IL-10-positive patients decreased significantly 3-8 months after re-treatment of the root canal or tooth extraction. Furthermore, serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were higher in patients than in controls, and at the same time, the TNFA -308 G/A polymorphism was associated with endodontic treatment failure in our study population. We conclude that a cellular immune response to sulphur compounds contributes to the inflammatory process observed in relation to endodontic treatment failures.

Fast and reliable diagnostics of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is an important prerequisite for containing VRE transmission rates and controlling VRE outbreaks among hospital patients. The BD GeneOhm™ VanR Assay (Becton Dickinson Diagnostics, Erembodegem, Belgium) is a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for screening perianal/rectal samples for the presence of vanA or vanB genes that can be associated with VRE. A set of 51 reference strains (vanA-G genotypes) were correctly identified. Performance of the assay was evaluated and compared with culture-based methods and subsequent PCR analysis in 2 university hospitals with a different VRE prevalence. A total of 1786 samples were analyzed. With the use of the BD GeneOhm™ VanR Assay, 88 of 102 vanA-positive specimens, 62 of 67 vanB-positive specimens, 3 of 4 vanA- and vanB-positive specimens, and 1403 of 1613 negative specimens were correctly identified. The overall sensitivity was 93.1%; the specificity was 87.0% mainly due to false-positive vanB results. Results did not differ between study institutions., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Severely opioid-dependent patients are at high risk of both acquiring and spreading the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is uncertain, however, whether these patients are possible candidates for HCV treatment. We therefore explored treatment retention and adherence as well as sustained viral response in co-morbid severely opioid-dependent subjects under heroin maintenance, who previously failed in conventional substitution treatment or were not in any drug treatment., Methods: All patients in heroin maintenance in the German heroin trial, who received standard antiviral HCV therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, were included. Co-consumption of licit and illicit drugs was tolerated as long as it did not interfere with treatment., Results: Twenty-six patients in heroin maintenance were treated for chronic HCV infection. Both the Global Severity Index of the Symptom Checklist 90-R (average score 65.9) and the Opiate Treatment Index (average score 16.6) indicated relevant co-morbidity. Twenty-one patients (81%) were retained in treatment; the adherence rate was 92%. Eighteen patients (69%) achieved a sustained viral response, with a 100% response rate for genotype 2, 90% for genotype 3, and 42% for genotype 1., Discussion: This is the first study that investigates the feasibility of antiviral HCV treatment in a well-defined sample of co-morbid severely opioid-dependent subjects in heroin maintenance treatment. Viral response rates are comparable to non-drug-user populations. Within a need-adapted treatment setting, HCV treatment may even be extended to difficult-to-treat opioid-dependent patients., (Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Nutrition is known to influence the immune system and can thereby modulate resistance to infection. The objective of this clinical trial was to assess the influence of a cascade-fermented food consisting of fruits, nuts, and vegetables rich in polyphenols (Regulat) on the immune system in healthy volunteers., Methods: The clinical trial was double-blinded and placebo-controlled. In total, 48 healthy men 20-48 y of age with a body mass index of 20-28 kg/m(2) were enrolled in the clinical trial. The group was characterized according to lifestyle parameters and only men with regular low to moderate intake of fruit and vegetables were enrolled. The intervention lasted for a period of 4 wk. Volunteers received Regulat twice daily or a placebo product (essence of vinegar)., Results: The intake of Regulat significantly enhanced intracellular glutathione content in lymphocytes (P < 0.05), monocytes (P < 0.05), and natural killer cells (P < 0.01). Furthermore, activation of natural killer cell cytotoxicity in response to interleukin-2 stimulation (P < 0.05), a reduction of total lipid peroxidation, and a reduction of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (P < 0.01) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (P < 0.05) as inflammatory blood markers were found in the Regulat but not in the placebo group., Conclusion: In summary, the results from this intervention study demonstrate promising physiologic effects of immune regulation on the innate immune system and antioxidative and anti-inflammatory parameters after Regulat supplementation. However, these promising results need to be confirmed in more volunteers with a more prolonged application to ensure significant beneficial effects of Regulat in the general population.

Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria (HHRH) is caused by mutations in SLC34A3, the gene encoding the renal sodium-phosphate co-transporter NaPi-IIc. Despite increased urinary calcium excretion, HHRH is typically not associated with kidney stones prior to treatment. However, here we describe two sisters, who displayed nephrolithiasis or nephrocalcinosis upon presentation. The index patient, II-4, presented with short stature, bone pain, and knee X-rays suggestive of mild rickets at age 8.5 years. Laboratory evaluation showed hypophosphatemia, elevated 1,25(OH) (2) vitamin D levels, and hypercalciuria, later also developing vitamin D deficiency. Her sister, II-6, had a low normal serum phosphorous level, biochemically vitamin D deficiency and no evidence for osteomalacia, but had undergone left nephro-ureterectomy at age 17 because of ureteral stricture secondary to renal calculi. Nucleotide sequence analysis of DNA from II-4 and II-6 revealed a homozygous missense mutation c.586G>A (p.G196R) in SLC34A3/NaPi-IIc. Ultrasonographic examinations prior to treatment showed grade I nephrocalcinosis for II-4, while II-6 had grade I-II nephrocalcinosis in her remaining kidney. Four siblings and the mother were heterozygous carriers of the mutation, but showed no biochemical abnormalities. With oral phosphate supplements, hypophosphatemia and hypercalciuria improved in both homozygous individuals. Renal calcifications that are presumably due to increased urinary calcium excretion can be the presenting finding in homozygous carriers of G196R in SLC34A3/NaPi-IIc, and some or all laboratory features of HHRH may be masked by vitamin D deficiency.

In Germany the economical framework of the health system in general and the hospitals in particular has changed dramatically over the last years. The conversion of funding to DRGs has implicated a reduction of budgets. The apportioning of budgets by keys of officially calculating hospitals forces single departments and disciplines to choose financial goals of a hospital as their particular interest and not the financial goals of a department. The calculation of a budget for a department of anaesthesia and/or intensive care medicine is possible from fractions of all DRGs, that have been generated inside a hospital within a period of one year. However, this calculation comprises some problems, because anaesthesia and intensive care medicine are interdisciplinary disciplines, which cannot influence its achievements and its processes solely by its own, but are dependent on efficiency and quality of its partners. Internal cost allocation for improving processes seems not to be sensible in the system of DRGs as long as it is used not only as an instrument of controlling, but also as an instrument of benchmarking.