Biology subjects

Huber, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Huber, R..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2018

Effects and Feasibility of Hyperthermic Baths for Patients with Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Pilot Trial

BackgroundEvaluation of efficacy, safety and feasibility of hyperthermic baths (HTB; head-out-of-water-immersion in 40{degrees}C), twice a week, compared to a physical exercise program (PEP; moderate intensity aerobic exercises) in moderate to severe depression.\n\nMethodSingle-site, open-label randomized controlled 8-week parallel-group pilot study at an university outpatient clinic as part of usual depression care. Medically stable outpatients with depressive disorder (ICD-10: F32/F33) as determined by the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score [≥]18 and a score [≥]2 on item 1 (Depressed Mood) were randomly assigned to receive either two sessions of HTB or PEP per week (40-45 min) provided by two trained doctoral students. An independent biometric center used computer-generated tables to allocate treatments. Primary outcome measure was the change in HAM-D total score from baseline (T0) to the 2-week time point (T1). Linear regression analyses, adjusted for baseline values, were performed to estimate intervention effects on an intention-to-treat (ITT) principle.\n\nFindings45 patients (HTB n = 22; PEP n = 23) were randomized and analyzed according to ITT (mean age = 48.4 years, SD = 11.3, mean HAM-D score = 21.7, SD = 3.2). Baseline-adjusted mean difference was 4.3 points in the HAM-D score in favor of HTB (p<0.001). This improvement was achieved after two weeks. Compliance with the intervention and follow-up was far better in the HTB group (2 vs 13 dropouts). There were no treatment-related serious adverse events. Main limitation: the number of dropouts in the PEP group (13 of 23) was far higher than in other trials investigating exercise in depression (18.1 % dropouts).\n\nConclusionsHTB seems to be a fast-acting, safe and easy accessible method leading to clinically relevant improvement in depressive disorder after two weeks; it is also suitable for persons who have problems performing exercise training.\n\nTrial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) with the registration number DRKS00011013 (registration date 2016-09-19) before onset of the study.

clinical trials↗

bioRxiv2018

Simultaneous CO2 and CO methanation using microbes

In this study, we developed a method for simultaneous bio-methanation of CO2 and CO with H2 in a single bioreactor using a combination of carboxydotrophic bacteria and methanogenic archaea for industrial applications. Methanogenic archaea generally use H2 and CO2 to produce methane, whereas very few methanogenic archaea methanize CO, and these grow slowly and consequently produce low reactant gas turnover rates. Thus, to achieve fast and simultaneous transformation of CO and CO2, we identified a combination of carboxydotrophic and hydrogenogenic bacteria and methanogenic archaea that can produce H2 and CO2 from CO, and then methanize CO2 and H2. The present screening experiments identified carboxydotrophic bacteria and methanogenic archaea that can cohabitate at the same thermophilic temperature and pH ranges and in the same growth medium. In these experiments, combinations of Carboxydocella thermautotrophica (DSM 12326), Carboxydocella sporoproducens (DSM 16521), and three thermophilic rod-shaped methanogenic archaeal cultures from MicroPyros GmbH formed unique microbial co-cultures that transformed CO2, H2, and CO to methane. The successful combination of these microbes could be used to gasify biowastes, such as sewage sludge, as alternative sources of hydrogen for microbial power-to-gas processes. Accordingly, gasification under these conditions produced H2-rich gas containing CO2 and CO, theoretically allowing various types of biowastes to be converted to biomethane, which is CO2-neutral, storable, and widely applicable as an energy source.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2017

Diurnal changes in glutamate/glutamine levels of healthy young adults assessed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Molecular and electrophysiological studies suggest that sleep ensures efficient functioning of the brain by maintaining synaptic homeostasis. The glutamate receptor -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA receptor) is involved in synaptic plasticity processes and it was shown that its expression changes across the sleep wake cycle. Moreover, animal studies have shown that glutamate levels are reduced during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and that the rate of the decrease is positively correlated with sleep EEG slow wave activity (SWA). In this study, we aimed to assess if proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is sensitive to diurnal changes of glutamate + glutamine (GLX) in healthy young adults and if potential overnight changes of GLX are correlated to SWA. 1H-MRS spectra of 16 adult subjects were measured in the parietal lobe in the evening and in the subsequent morning using a 3T MRI scanner. The night between the scans was recorded with high-density EEG. Our results revealed a significant overnight reduction in GLX levels, whereas other metabolites did not show any significant change. Moreover, the decrease in GLX was positively correlated with the decrease of SWA in the course of the night. Our study demonstrates that quantification of diurnal changes in GLX is possible by means of 1H-MRS and indicates a relationship between changes in GLX and SWA, a marker that is closely linked to the restorative function of sleep. This relationship might be of particular interest in clinical populations in which sleep is disturbed.

neuroscience↗