Differential effects of bifrontal tDCS on arousal and sleep duration in insomnia patients and healthy controls

Background

Arousal and sleep represent basic domains of behavior, and alterations are of high clinical importance.

Junges Forum der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Thorax-, Herz- und Gefäßchirurgie e. V.

The Young Forum of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (GSTCVS) was founded during the 41st annual meeting of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Freiburg in 2012. The idea was to establish a stronger representation of the needs and problems of young colleagues within the GSTCVS and to improve the communication between residents, students and representatives of the GSTCVS. The aims are to improve residency programs in Germany in general and in particular, to improve the clinical and scientific exchange of residents in Germany, Europe and foreign countries. Attempts will also be made to find solutions that could lead to a better work-life balance in cardiothoracic surgery and therefore make this field more attractive for young physicians.     

Clarification and guidance on the proper usage of virus and virus species names

A pivotal step in the development of a consistent nomenclature for virus classification was the introduction of the virus species concept by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) in 1991. Yet, almost two decades later, many virologists still are unable to differentiate between virus species and actual viruses. Here we attempt to explain the origin of this confusion, clarify the difference between taxa and physical entities, and suggest simple measures that could be implemented by ICTV Study Groups to make virus taxonomy and nomenclature more accessible to laboratory virologists.     

Gibt es wirklich einen kutanen Lupus erythematodes?

It should be obvious today that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are better treated in an interdisciplinary approach. Nonetheless, the question remains as to whether cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) indeed constitutes a disease entity of its own rather than the only recognized manifestation of oligosymptomatic SLE. The ACR criteria, designed for classification rather than diagnosis, are of limited value in answering this question. However, the concept of specific autoantibodies and immune complexes as inducers of various organ manifestations and analogous ideas on other autoantibody-mediated problems within and outside SLE argue for CLE as an existing entity. This is relevant for understanding the underlying immunopathogenesis, while less important for the appropriate therapy.     

Particulate matter inhalation during hay storing activity induces systemic inflammation and platelet aggregation

The aim of this study was to investigate possible pathomechanisms behind the cardiovascular morbidity caused by inhalation of particulate matter (PM₁₀). For that purpose, healthy volunteers were exposed to high PM₁₀ concentrations during a 2 h hay storing activity. Blood was drawn in the evening before and after PM₁₀ exposure and in the morning and evening of the day after exposure. The leukocyte count increased after PM₁₀ exposure with an initial increase of segmented neutrophils followed by banded forms. C-reactive protein increased over time. Fibrinogen and plasma viscosity became increased in the evening of the day after PM₁₀ exposure. Platelet aggregation was increased in the evening after PM₁₀ exposure. At the same time von Willebrand factor and factor VIII were increased, reflecting endothelial activation. These results confirm that acute inhalative exposure to high PM₁₀ concentrations during hay storage activity leads to a systemic inflammatory reaction, endothelial activation, and platelet aggregation.     

Active immunization against de novo hepatitis B virus infection in pediatric patients after liver transplantation

The shortage of donor organs occasionally mandates the use of hepatic allografts from anti-HBc (+) donors. HBIG and/or lamivudine are recommended for the prevention of de novo HBV infection in naive patients, but there are attendant problems, such as mutant strain emergence and high cost. Active immunization presents a better alternative than the use of HBIG or lamivudine, if it can be proven to be effective. Accordingly, we investigated the outcome of HBV vaccination in pediatric hepatic transplant recipients. Between July 1999 and October 2001, 19 pediatric recipients were administered HBV vaccinations after liver transplantation at Seoul National University Hospital. Nine patients received a graft from anti-HBc (+) donors and 10 from anti-HBc (-) donors. When steroid was withdrawn, recombinant HBV vaccine was administered. The median follow-up period after vaccination was 10.0 +/- 5.2 months. Seventeen of the 19 patients showed a positive response to vaccination. In 9 patients who received grafts from anti-HBc (+) donors, 2 patients showed no response, 4 patients low response (peak HBsAb titer <1,000 IU/L), and 3 patients high response (peak HBsAb titer >/=1,000 IU/L). De novo HBV infection developed in 1 of 2 patients who showed no response to vaccination. In 10 patients who received grafts from anti-HBc (-) donors, 5 showed a low response and 5 a high response. In conclusion, HBV vaccination in pediatric patients after liver transplantation appeared to exhibit some effectiveness at protecting young children that received a graft from anti-HBc (+) donors from de novo HBV infection.