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IntroductionThe evidence for the positive effects of mindfulness-based interventions on psychological well-being and physical health has been convincing in recent years. As a specific form of such an intervention, the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) training program was developed to promote self-compassion and mindfulness. An initial study on an adapted version of the MSC training program considered it to be beneficial in psychiatric inpatient rehabilitation.ObjectivesThe present study aims to further evaluate the link between MSC and psychological symptoms as well as quality of life.MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted from September 2020 to August 2021. A total of 228 patients (64% female, 36% male) participated in a six-week psychiatric rehabilitation program to assess the impact of an adapted MSC training program compared to the control intervention of Progressive Muscle Relaxation training (PMR) on psychological well-being. Both training programs took place once a week for 75 minutes as part of a standardized inpatient rehabilitation program. The participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18), and the Short-Form-Health-Survey-12 (SF-12) pre and post intervention.ResultsAt the moment, statistical analyses are being carried out. Detailed results will be presented on the poster.ConclusionsThe results of this study will contribute to rehabilitation research as they provide further insight into the role of MSC in the treatment of mental disorders. In addition, the clinical implications, and possible effects of changes in the rehabilitation program during the COVID-19 pandemic on the protocol and the results of this study will be discussed.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is increasingly used as a therapeutic tool in various neurological and psychiatric disorders, and we recently found that it has a neuroprotective effect both in vitro and in vivo. However, the neurochemical mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects are still unknown. We investigated the effects of long-term rTMS on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cholecystokinin (CCK), and neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) mRNA in rat brain. In situ hybridization revealed a significant increase in BDNF mRNA in the hippocampal areas CA3 and CA3c, the granule cell layer, as well as in the parietal and the piriform cortex after rTMS. BDNF-like immunoreactivity was markedly increased in the same areas. A significant increase in CCK mRNA was observed in all brain regions examined. NPY mRNA expression, in contrast, was not altered. The present results suggest that BDNF may contribute to the neuroprotective effects of rTMS. Furthermore, the rTMS-induced changes in BDNF and CCK expression are similar to those reported after antidepressant drug treatment and electroconvulsive seizures, suggesting that a common molecular mechanism may underlie different antidepressant treatment strategies.

To model aspects of trait anxiety/depression, Wistar rats were bred for extremes in either hyper (HAB)- or hypo(LAB)-anxiety as measured on the elevated plus-maze and in a variety of additional behavioral tests. Similar to psychiatric patients, HAB rats prefer passive stress-coping strategies, indicative of depression-like behavior, show hyper-reactivity of the hypothalamo-pituitary–adrenal axis, and a pathological response to the dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) challenge test. Here we tested central mRNA expression, release patterns, and receptor binding of neuropeptides critically involved in the regulation of both anxiety-related behavior and the HPA axis. Thus, CRH, arginine-8-vasopressin (AVP), and oxytocin (OXT) were studied in brains of HAB and LAB males both under basal conditions and after exposure to a mild emotional stressor. In HAB rats, CRH mRNA was decreased in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis only. While no significant difference in CRH1-receptor binding was found in any brain area, CRH2-receptor binding was elevated in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the ventromedial hypothalamus, and the central amygdala of HABs compared to LABs. AVP, but not OXT, mRNA expression as well as release of the neuropeptide, were higher in the PVN of HABs, whereas AVP V1a-receptor binding failed to show significant differences in any brain region studied. Remarkably, intra-PVN treatment of HABs with the AVP V1-receptor antagonist d (CH 2 ) 5 Tyr (Me) AVP resulted in a decrease in anxiety/depression-related behavior. The elevated expression and release of AVP within the PVN of HAB rats together with the behavioral effects of the AVP V1-receptor antagonist suggest a critical involvement of this neuropeptide in neuroendocrine and behavioral phenomena associated with trait anxiety/depression.

Abstract The Pas protein plays a key role in the pathogenesis of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), being required for the secretion of the Esp proteins. Here, the transcriptional regulation of the pas gene was analyzed through the construction of a pas::lacZ translational fusion. When bacteria were grown in Luria Bertani medium or tissue culture medium supplemented with HEPES, a bimodal activation curve was observed. The early phase of induction was not significantly modified by the incubation temperature (either 25 or 37°C), whereas the second phase, which overlaps with the late exponential growth phase, was enhanced at 37°C. The early phase was also stimulated by growth on tissue culture medium and by the addition of Ca2+, Mn2+or Mg2+ to the M9-glucose minimal medium. Primer extension analysis showed the presence of two major starts of transcription, which were located 58 and 60 bp upstream of the ATG-start codon of the Pas protein, respectively. Although these sites are very close to each other, the transcripts produced during the early induction phase mainly start on the −60 position, whereas the −58 start was activated during the second induction phase.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa clone C strains, which chronically colonize the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients reorganize their genome structure. In this study, a novel member of the IS3 subfamily of IS elements, ISPa20, was detected which was specific for clone C subclone C13 strains. ISPa20, which was present in high copy number, mediated events of genomic reorganization. ISPa20 was inserted into P. aeruginosa backbone genes leading to adaptation to the cystic fibrosis lung habitat and into DNA acquired through horizontal gene transfer. Further on, large chromosomal inversions were mediated by ISPa20. In contrast to strains of other subclonal linages high rates of genomic rearrangements of subclone C13 strains were observed in vitro. The acquisition of mobile elements by P. aeruginosa clone C strains in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients supports the chronic colonization by insertional mutagenesis and chromosome restructuring leading to microevolution within clone C that reflects macroevolution observed on the species level.

Multidrug-resistance gene 1-type P-glycoproteins (ABCB1-type P-gps) protect the brain against the accumulation of many toxic xenobiotics and drugs. We recently could show that the access of the endogenous glucocorticoids corticosterone and cortisol to the brain are regulated by ABCB1-type P-gps in vivo . ABCB1-type P-gp function, therefore, is likely to exert a profound influence on the regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) system. Hyperactivity of the HPA system is frequently observed in human affective disorder, and a considerable amount of evidence has been accumulated suggesting that normalization of the HPA system might be the final step necessary for stable remission of the disease. To examine whether blood–brain barrier (BBB) function influences neuroendocrine regulation, we investigated HPA system activity in abcb1ab (−/−) mice under basal conditions and following stress. Abcb1ab (−/−) mice showed consistently lower plasma ACTH levels and lower evening plasma corticosterone levels. CRH mRNA expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus was decreased and pituitary POMC mRNA expressing cells were significantly reduced in number in abcb1ab (−/−) mutants; however, they showed a normal activation of the HPA system following CRH stimulation. Lower doses of dexamethasone were required to suppress plasma corticosterone levels in mutants. Our data thus provide evidence for a sustained suppression of the HPA system at the hypothalamic level in abcb1ab (−/−) mice, suggesting that BBB function significantly regulates HPA system activity. Whether naturally occurring polymorphisms in the human ABCB1 gene might result in persistent changes in the responsiveness and regulation of the HPA system will be the subject of future investigations, correlating both genetic information with individual characteristics of the neuroendocrine phenotype.

The Pas protein plays a key role in the pathogenesis of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), being required for the secretion of the Esp proteins. Here, the transcriptional regulation of the pas gene was analyzed through the construction of a pas::lacZ translational fusion. When bacteria were grown in Luria Bertani medium or tissue culture medium supplemented with HEPES, a bimodal activation curve was observed. The early phase of induction was not significantly modified by the incubation temperature (either 25 or 37°C), whereas the second phase, which overlaps with the late exponential growth phase, was enhanced at 37°C. The early phase was also stimulated by growth on tissue culture medium and by the addition of Ca 2+, Mn 2+or Mg 2+ to the M9-glucose minimal medium. Primer extension analysis showed the presence of two major starts of transcription, which were located 58 and 60 bp upstream of the ATG-start codon of the Pas protein, respectively. Although these sites are very close to each other, the transcripts produced during the early induction phase mainly start on the −60 position, whereas the −58 start was activated during the second induction phase.

Machine-learned interatomic potentials enable realistic finite temperature calculations of complex materials properties with first-principles accuracy. It is not yet clear, however, how accurately they describe anharmonic properties, which are crucial for predicting the lattice thermal conductivity and phase transitions in solids and, thus, shape their technological applications. Here we employ a recently developed on-the-fly learning technique based on molecular dynamics and Bayesian inference in order to generate an interatomic potential capable to describe the thermodynamic properties of zirconia, an important transition metal oxide. This machine-learned potential accurately captures the temperature-induced phase transitions below the melting point. We further showcase the predictive power of the potential by calculating the heat transport on the basis of Green–Kubo theory, which allows to account for anharmonic effects to all orders. This study indicates that machine-learned potentials trained on the fly offer a routine solution for accurate and efficient simulations of the thermodynamic properties of a vast class of anharmonic materials.

Nucleic acid material of adequate quality is crucial for successful high-throughput sequencing (HTS) analysis. DNA and RNA isolated from archival FFPE material are frequently degraded and not readily amplifiable due to chemical damage introduced during fixation. To identify optimal nucleic acid extraction kits, DNA and RNA quantity, quality and performance in HTS applications were evaluated. DNA and RNA were isolated from five sarcoma archival FFPE blocks, using eight extraction protocols from seven kits from three different commercial vendors. For DNA extraction, the truXTRAC FFPE DNA kit from Covaris gave higher yields and better amplifiable DNA, but all protocols gave comparable HTS library yields using Agilent SureSelect XT and performed well in downstream variant calling. For RNA extraction, all protocols gave comparable yields and amplifiable RNA. However, for fusion gene detection using the Archer FusionPlex Sarcoma Assay, the truXTRAC FFPE RNA kit from Covaris and Agencourt FormaPure kit from Beckman Coulter showed the highest percentage of unique read-pairs, providing higher complexity of HTS data and more frequent detection of recurrent fusion genes. truXTRAC simultaneous DNA and RNA extraction gave similar outputs as individual protocols. These findings show that although successful HTS libraries could be generated in most cases, the different protocols gave variable quantity and quality for FFPE nucleic acid extraction. Selecting the optimal procedure is highly valuable and may generate results in borderline quality specimens.