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IntroductionEach individual touches the own body several 100 times a day. While some researchers propose a self-regulatory function of self-touch, others report that self-touching increases nervousness. This controversy appears to be caused by the fact that researchers did not define the kind of self-touch they examined and actually, referred to different types of self-touch. Thus, kinematically defining different types of self-touch, such as phasic (discrete), repetitive, and irregular, and exploring the neural correlates of the different types will provide insight into the neuropsychological function of self-touching behavior.MethodsTo this aim, we assessed hemodynamic responses in prefrontal brain areas using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and behavioral responses with NEUROGES®. Fifty-two participants were recorded during three specific kinematically types of self-touch (phasic, irregular, repetitive) that were to be performed on command. The recently developed toolbox Satori was used for the visualization of neuronal processes.ResultsBehaviorally, the participants did not perform irregular self-touch reliably. Neurally, the comparison of phasic, irregular and repetitive self-touch revealed different activation patterns. Repetitive self-touch is associated with stronger hemodynamic responses in the left Orbitofrontal Cortex and the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex than phasic self-touch.DiscussionThese brain areas have been reported to be associated with self-regulatory processes. Furthermore, irregular self-touch appears to be primarily generated by implicit neural control. Thus, by distinguishing kinematically different types of self-touch, our findings shed light on the controverse discussion on the neuropsychological function of self-touch.

IntroductionSocial interaction is associated with many effects on the psychological level of children such as mental health, self-esteem, and executive functions. Education Outside the Classroom (EOtC) describes regular curricular classes/lessons outside the school building, often in natural green and blue environments. Applied as a long-term school concept, EOtC has the potential to enable and promote social interaction. However, empirical studies on this topic have been somewhat scant.MethodsOne class in EOtC (N = 24) and one comparison class (N = 26) were examined in this study to explore those effects. Statistical Actor-Oriented Models and Exponential Random Graph Models were used to investigate whether there are differences between EOtC and comparison class regarding changes over time in social interaction parameters; whether a co-evolution between social interaction during lessons and breaks and attendant social relatedness and friendships exists; whether students of the same gender or place of residence interact particularly often (homophily).ResultsBesides inconsistent changes in social interaction parameters, no co-evolutional associations between social interaction and social relatedness and friendships could be determined, but grouping was evident in EOtC. Both classes showed pronounced gender homophily, which in the case of EOtC class contributes to a fragmentation of the network over time.DiscussionThe observed effects in EOtC could be due to previously observed tendencies of social exclusion as a result of a high degree of freedom of choices. It therefore seems essential that in future studies not only the quality of the study design and instruments should be included in the interpretation – rather, the underlying methodological-didactic concept should also be evaluated in detail. At least in Germany, it seems that there is still potential for developing holistic concepts with regards to EOtC in order to maximize the return on the primarily organizational investment of implementing EOtC in natural environments.

Simple Summary: This study investigates how frequently breast cancer patients develop mental disorders compared to a control group without breast cancer. We analyzed data from over 11,000 breast cancer patients and nearly 32,000 healthy controls, finding that breast cancer patients were significantly more likely to suffer from mental disorders. Anxiety disorders, hypochondria, adjustment disorders, and depression were particularly common. This study also examined factors such as the type of therapy: endocrine therapy and breast reconstruction were strongly associated with psychological distress, and simple-mastectomy patients showed the lowest rates of mental illness. This work is of particular importance because it highlights how significantly the mental health of breast cancer patients can deteriorate due to their diagnosis and treatment. Thus, psychological counseling should be part of every treatment for breast cancer, especially when endocrine therapy is recommended. The practice of recommending breast reconstruction after mastectomy should be reconsidered, as it could have a negative effect on mental health. Background/Objectives: With breast cancer (BC) survival improving due to optimized therapy, enhancing quality of life has become increasingly important. Both diagnosis and treatment, with their potential side effects, pose risks to mental well-being. Our study aimed to analyze the incidence and potential risk factors for mental disorders in BC patients. Methods: This retrospective analysis used claims data from AOK Baden-Wuerttemberg, including 11,553 BC patients diagnosed via ICD code C50 between 2010 and 2020 and 31,944 age-matched controls. Patients with mental disorders in the 12 months prior to diagnosis were excluded. Mental disorders were categorized into eight groups based on ICD codes: anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, adjustment disorder, dissociative disorder, hypochondriac disorder, affective disorder, mania, and other neuroses. Results: Mental disorders were significantly more common in BC patients than in controls (64.2% vs. 38.1%, p < 0.01, OR 2.91, 95%CI [2.79, 3.04]). In particular, hypochondriac, anxiety, affective, and adjustment disorders occurred significantly more often in BC patients. No differences were found for mania, bipolar disease, other neuroses, obsessive compulsive-, or dissociative disorders. Furthermore, endocrine therapy was associated with psychological comorbidities (OR 1.69, p < 0.001, 95%CI [1.53, 1.86]), while primarily metastasized patients (stage C) had a lower risk than adjuvant patients in stage A (OR 0.55, p < 0.0001, 95%CI [0.49, 0.61]). Regarding surgical treatment, mastectomy patients showed lower rates of mental illnesses (61.2%) than those with breast-conserving treatment (71.6%), or especially breast reconstruction (78.4%, p < 0.01). Breast reconstruction was also associated with more hypochondriac (p < 0.01) and adjustment disorders (p < 0.01). Conclusions: So, BC patients experience significantly more mental disorders than controls, particularly when treated with endocrine therapy and breast reconstructive surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This research analyzed complications during the first pregnancy after breast cancer based on health data in Germany between 2010 and 2020. This study compared pregnancies of 74 women with breast cancer and 222 healthy controls and found no increased risks of preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, and cesarean section to women after breast cancer. But the analyses revealed worse outcomes with a higher risk for small babies, if delivery was in less than 2 years after breast cancer diagnosis. Background/Objectives: Breast cancer may negatively affect later pregnancy and childbirth. We aimed to analyze the impact of previous breast cancer on obstetric outcomes in postdiagnosis pregnancies. Methods: Insurance claims data in Southern Germany were used to identify breast cancer (BC) survivors with at least one subsequent delivery after cancer diagnosis between 2010 and 2020. In total, 74 BC survivors were compared to 222 age-matched controls with frequency matching on their age at their postdiagnosis delivery. Results: Endocrine therapy was associated with a significantly lower probability of birth compared to BC survivors without endocrine therapy (HR 0.36; 95% CI 0.18–0.53; p < 0.0001). The risks of preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, and cesarean section were not significantly increased among BC survivors compared to healthy controls. BC survivors were at an increased risk for a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetus (OR 3.24; 95% CI 1.17–8.97, p = 0.03). Delivery in less than 2 years after diagnosis increased the risk for SGA (OR 5.73; 95% CI 1.37–24.02, p = 0.03) and LBW (OR 4.57; 95% CI 1.32–15.87, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Our findings are encouraging regarding the risks of preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, and cesarean section to women who consider pregnancy after BC. Delivery in less than 2 years after diagnosis was associated with an increased risk for SGA and LBW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being touched by others (social-touch) and touching oneself (self-touch) are common nonverbal behaviors in everyday interaction. The commonalities and differences between these two types of touching behavior are of particular interest for conditions when social-touch is substantially restricted such as during the corona pandemic. Neuropsychologically, pleasant social-touch is associated with increased activation in frontal brain regions such as frontopolar, dorsolateral prefrontal (dlPFC), and orbitofrontal cortices (OFC). However, for these regions a deactivation has also been reported. Likewise, for self-touch the findings are controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study is to shed light on the controversial findings and to elucidate the relation between self-touch and social-touch. From 2021 to 2022, in a quasi-naturalistic setting, in forty-six participants brain oxygenation and deoxygenation was examined during social-touch and self-touch in frontal cortices applying functional NearInfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS). Social-touch compared to self-touch led to a significantly higher brain deoxygenation in the frontopolar areas and in parts of the dlPFC and OFC. In contrast, brain oxygenation in the PFC was significantly increased during self-touch compared to social-touch. The cerebral activation and deactivation pattern in a quasi-naturalistic setting indicates that self-touch cannot achieve the hedonic effects of social-touch, but it can influence internally self-regulating processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background X-linked Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the most frequent human hereditary skeletal muscle myopathy, inevitably leads to progressive dilated cardiomyopathy. We assessed the effect and safety of a combined treatment with the ACE-inhibitor enalapril and the β-blocker metoprolol in a German cohort of infantile and juvenile DMD patients with preserved left ventricular function. Methods Trial design Sixteen weeks single-arm open run-in therapy with enalapril and metoprolol followed by a two-arm 1:1 randomized double-blind placebo-controlled treatment in a multicenter setting. Inclusion criteria: DMD boys aged 10–14 years with left ventricular fractional shortening [LV-FS] ≥ 30% in echocardiography. Primary endpoint: time from randomization to first occurrence of LV-FS

This paper studies the existence of elements of gender justice in the ongoing land restitution process in Colombia, in order to analyse the potential of the Land Restitution Programme to contribute to the elimination of structural violence against women and the resulting gender inequalities. In this context, the sources of the analysis comprises the Victims’ and Land Restitution Law of 2011, the implementation programmes by the Land Restitution Unit, and the sentences by the specialized judges for land restitution. The paper argues that the land restitution programme could contribute to the elimination of structural forms of discrimination and exclusion of women in the Colombian society, if the elements of gender justice are applied in a coherent and systematic way and if it is accompanied by additional measures aimed at reducing the high security risks for internally displaced women in the land restitution process and changing the patriarchal system deeply rooted in the Colombian society.Published online: 11 December 2017