Psychometric properties of the German version of the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Code

Motivational interviewing (MI) is effective in the treatment of addictions. To evaluate MI adherence of therapists, the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Code (MITI) was developed. MI is used in German-speaking countries, but there is no equivalent to the MITI. Our aim was to adapt the MITI for use in German language settings (MITI-d). Twenty-eight session tapes of Alcoholism Specific Psychotherapy utilizing MI were rated by two student raters and the MITI-d instructor. To evaluate interrater reliability, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were computed. ICCs were good to excellent for relevant MI constructs, except for Complex Reflections, MI-nonadherent Behaviors, Empathy, and MI Spirit. The evaluation of test-retest reliability for the student raters showed good to excellent results. The MITI-d is a psychometrically sound instrument for evaluating basic MI competence in German language settings.     

Nectin-1 (HveC) is expressed at high levels in neural subtypes that regulate radial migration of cortical and cerebellar neurons of the developing human and murine brain

Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) produce age-dependent encephalitis characterized by more severe involvement of the cerebral cortex in younger hosts. To elucidate the potential role of the major neural entry receptor of HSV, nectin-1, in age-dependent susceptibility of cortical neurons to viral encephalitis, the authors examined the anatomical distribution of the receptor protein in the developing human and mouse cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum by immunohistochemistry. Nectin-1 is expressed at high levels in guiding cells (radial glial cells and Cajal-Retzius cells) that regulate radial migration of neurons in cortical lamination, at lower levels in migrating neurons, and at variable levels in the transient ventricular and marginal zones of the cerebral cortical wall. These results may have implications regarding the selective spatiotemporal tropism of HSV to specific neuronal populations, and for the better understanding of neurodevelopmental defects caused by fetal HSV infections.     

Hodgkin-lymphoma-derived cells show high sensitivity to dactinomycin and paclitaxel

Depending on stage and risk factors, up to 30% of patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) progress or relapse. Patients with pleural effusions have a particularly poor prognosis and this stage of HL is regularly resistant to chemotherapy. All currently available HL cell lines are derived from late stage HL patients. In the present study we measured the sensitivity of these HL lines against the 26 most frequently used cytostatic drugs. We used a novel fluorescent short-term survival assay where the cell was incubated with the drugs for 4 days. The precise number of differentially stained live and dead cells was determined using a custom-built automated laser confocal fluorescent microscope. We found that HL cells, independently of their origin, showed very similar sensitivity patterns for several of the drugs. All HL cell lines were highly sensitive to dactinomycin, paclitaxel and etoposide. Our data suggest that the inclusion of dactinomycin and paclitaxel into chemotherapy protocols against late stage Hodgkin lymphoma with pleural effusion may be justified.     

Distribution of type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1)-immunoreactive axons in the mouse hypothalamus

Type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1) is the principal receptor for endocannabinoids in the brain; it mainly occurs in preterminal/terminal axons and mediates retrograde neuronal signaling mechanisms. A large body of physiological and electrophysiological evidence indicates the critical role of CB1 in the regulation of hypothalamic functions. Conversely, the distribution of CB1-containing axons in the hypothalamus is essentially unknown. Therefore, we have analyzed the distribution and the ultrastructural characteristics of the CB1-immunoreactive (IR) axons in the mouse hypothalamus by using an antiserum against the C-terminal 31 amino acids of the mouse CB1. We found that CB1-IR axons innervated densely the majority of hypothalamic nuclei, except for the suprachiasmatic and lateral mammillary nuclei, in which only scattered CB1-IR fibers occurred. CB1-IR innervation of the arcuate, ventromedial, dorsomedial, and paraventricular nuclei and the external zone of the median eminence corroborated the important role of CB1 in the regulation of energy homeostasis and neuroendocrine functions. Ultrastructural studies to characterize the phenotype of CB1-IR fibers established that most CB1 immunoreactivity appeared in the preterminal and terminal portions of axons. The CB1-IR boutons formed axospinous, axodendritic, and axosomatic synapses. Analysis of labeled synapses in the paraventricular and arcuate nuclei detected approximately equal numbers of symmetric and asymmetric specializations. In conclusion, the study revealed the dense and differential CB1-IR innervation of most hypothalamic nuclei and the median eminence of the mouse brain. At the ultrastructural level, CB1-IR axons established communication with hypothalamic neurons via symmetric and asymmetric synapses indicating the occurrence of retrograde signaling by endocannabinoids in hypothalamic neuronal networks.     

Role of hyperlipidemia in atherosclerotic plaque formation in the internal carotid artery

PURPOSE: The role of hyperlipidemia in atherosclerotic changes of the carotid artery is controversial. The aims of this retrospective study were to assess (1) the relationship between total serum cholesterol and triglyceride and the grade of internal carotid artery stenosis and (2) whether total serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels are independent risk factors for internal carotid artery atherosclerosis. METHODS: The files of 1,934 acute ischemic stroke patients were investigated retrospectively. The atherosclerotic involvement of the internal carotid artery was assessed via duplex sonography as percent of stenosis and was graded as follows: group 1, no plaque; group 2, <30% stenosis; group 3, 30-99% stenosis; and group 4, occlusion. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 66.9 +/- 12.8 years. Patients without any plaque had significantly lower cholesterol levels compared with those with any degree of internal carotid artery stenosis. Univariate analysis revealed that age (p < 0.001), sex (p < 0.001), hypertension (p < 0.05), cholesterol (p < 0.01), triglycerides(p < 0.05), and smoking (p < 0.001) were significant contributors to atherosclerosis. In the ordinal logistic regression model, age (p < 0.001), sex (p < 0.001), smoking(p < 0.001), and cholesterol (p < 0.05) remained independent predictors of internal carotid artery atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Total serum cholesterol level seems to be an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis in the carotid artery.     

The Vicious Cycle of Family Atmosphere,Interpersonal Self-concepts,and Paranoia in Schizophrenia—A Longitudinal Study

Recent cognitive models of paranoid delusions highlight the role of self-concepts in the development and maintenance of paranoia. Evidence is growing that especially interpersonal self-concepts are relevant in the genesis of paranoia. In addition, negative interpersonal life-experiences are supposed to influence the course of paranoia. As dysfunctional family atmosphere corresponds with multiple distressing dyadic experiences, it could be a risk factor for the development and maintenance of paranoia. A total of 160 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were assessed twice within 12 months. Standardized questionnaires and symptom rating scales were used to measure interpersonal self-concepts, perceived family atmosphere, and paranoia. Data were analyzed using longitudinal cross-lagged structural equation models. Perceived negative family atmosphere was associated with the development of more pronounced negative interpersonal self-concepts 12 months later. Moreover, paranoia was related to negative family atmosphere after 12 months as well. As tests revealed that reversed associations were not able to explain the data, we found evidence for a vicious cycle between paranoia, family atmosphere, and interpersonal self-concepts as suggested by theoretical/cognitive model of paranoid delusions. Results suggest that broader interventions for patients and their caretakers that aim at improving family atmosphere might also be able to improve negative self-concepts and paranoia.Key words: self-schema, psychosis, structural equation modelling, relatives, social cognition