Relevance of Religiosity for Coping Strategies and Disability in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

Coping strategies are essential for the outcome of chronic pain. This study evaluated religiosity in a cohort of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), its effect on pain and other symptoms, on coping and FMS-related disability. A total of 102 FMS patients were recruited who filled in questionnaires, a subgroup of 42 patients participated in a face-to-face interview, and data were evaluated by correlation and regression analyses. Few patients were traditionally religious, but the majority believed in a higher existence and described their spirituality as "transcendence conviction". The coping strategy "praying-hoping" and the ASP dimension "religious orientation" (r = 0.5, P < 0.05) showed a significant relationship independent of the grade of religiosity (P < 0.05). A high grade of belief in a higher existence was negatively associated with the choice of ignoring as coping strategy (r = - 0.4, P < 0.05). Mood and affect-related variables had the highest impact on disability (b = 0.5, P < 0.05). In this cohort, the grade of religiosity played a role in the choice of coping strategies, but had no effects on health and mood outcome.

Performance of the Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Aspergillus Galactomannan Lateral Flow Assay With Cube Reader for Diagnosis of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The Aspergillus Galactomannan Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) is a rapid test for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) that has been almost exclusively evaluated in patients with hematologic malignancies. An automated digital cube reader that allows for quantification of results has recently been added to the test kits. METHODS: We performed a retrospective multicenter study on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples obtained from 296 patients with various underlying diseases (65% without underlying hematological malignancy) who had BALF galactomannan (GM) ordered between 2013 and 2019 at the University of California, San Diego, the Medical University of Graz, Austria, and the Mannheim University Hospital, Germany. RESULTS: Cases were classified as proven (n = 2), probable (n = 56), putative (n = 30), possible (n = 45), and no IA (n = 162). The LFA showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.865 (95% confidence interval [CI] .815-.916) for differentiating proven/probable or putative IA versus no IA, with a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 83% at an optical density index cutoff of 1.5. After exclusion of GM as mycological criterion for case classification, diagnostic performance of the LFA was highly similar to GM testing (AUC 0.892 vs 0.893, respectively). LFA performance was consistent across different patient cohorts and centers. CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter study the LFA assay from BALF demonstrated good diagnostic performance for IA that was consistent across patient cohorts and locations. The LFA may serve a role as a rapid test that may replace conventional GM testing in settings where GM results are not rapidly available.

Clustering fibromyalgia patients: A combination of psychosocial and somatic factors leads to resilient coping in a subgroup of fibromyalgia patients.

BACKGROUND: Coping strategies and their efficacy vary greatly in patients suffering from fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify somatic and psychosocial factors that might contribute to different coping strategies and resilience levels in FMS. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Standardized questionnaires were used to assess coping, pain, and psychological variables in a cohort of 156 FMS patients. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) determined gene expression of selected cytokines in white blood cells of 136 FMS patients and 25 healthy controls. Data of skin innervation, functional and structural sensory profiles of peripheral nociceptive nerve fibers of a previous study were included into the statistics. An exploratory factor analysis was used to define variance explaining factors, which were then included into cluster analysis. RESULTS: 54.9% of the variance was explained by four factors which we termed (1) affective load, (2) coping, (3) pain, and (4) pro-inflammatory cytokines (p < 0.05). Considering differences in the emerged factors, coping strategies, cytokine profiles, and disability levels, 118 FMS patients could be categorized into four clusters which we named "maladaptive", "adaptive", "vulnerable", and "resilient" (p < 0.05). The adaptive cluster had low scores in disability and in all symptom categories in contrast to the vulnerable cluster, which was characterized by high scores in catastrophizing and disability (p < 0.05). The resilient vs. the maladaptive cluster was characterized by better coping and a less pro-inflammatory cytokine pattern (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies and an anti-inflammatory cytokine pattern are associated with reduced disability and might promote resilience. Additional personal factors such as low anxiety scores, ability of acceptance, and persistence further favor a resilient phenotype. Individualized therapy should take these factors into account.

MiR103a-3p and miR107 are related to adaptive coping in a cluster of fibromyalgia patients.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNA (miRNA) mainly inhibit post-transcriptional gene expression of specific targets and may modulate disease severity. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify miRNA signatures distinguishing patient clusters with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We previously determined four FMS patient clusters labelled "maladaptive", "adaptive", "vulnerable", and "resilient". Here, we cluster-wise assessed relative gene expression of miR103a-3p, miR107, miR130a-3p, and miR125a-5p in white blood cell (WBC) RNA of 31 FMS patients and 16 healthy controls. Sum scores of pain-, stress-, and resilience-related questionnaires were correlated with miRNA relative gene expression. A cluster-specific speculative model of a miRNA-mediated regulatory cycle was proposed, and its potential targets verified by the online tool "target scan human". RESULTS: One-way ANOVA revealed lower gene expression of miR103a-3p, miR107, and miR130a-3p in FMS patients compared to controls (p < 0.05). Follow-up post-hoc tests indicated the highest peak of gene expression of miR103a-3p for the adaptive cluster (p < 0.05), i.e. in patients with low disability in all symptom categories. Gene expression of miR103a-3p correlated with FMS related disability and miR107 with the score "physical abuse" of the trauma questionnaire (p < 0.05). Target scan identified sucrose non-fermentable serine/threonine protein kinase, nuclear factor kappa-b, cyclin dependent kinase, and toll-like receptor 4 as genetic targets of the miR103a/107 miRNA family. CONCLUSION: We show an association between upregulated gene expression of miR103a, tendentially of miR107, and adaptive coping in FMS patients. Validation of this pair of miRNA may enable to identify a somatic resilience factor in FMS.

Characterization of dermal skin innervation in fibromyalgia syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: We characterized dermal innervation in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) as potential contribution to small fiber pathology. METHODS: Skin biopsies of the calf were collected (86 FMS patients, 35 healthy controls). Skin was immunoreacted with antibodies against protein gene product 9.5, calcitonine gene-related peptide, substance P, CD31, and neurofilament 200 for small fiber subtypes. We assessed two skin sections per patient; on each skin section, two dermal areas (150 x 700 µm each) were investigated for dermal nerve fiber length (DNFL). RESULTS: In FMS patients we found reduced DNFL of fibers with vessel contact compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). There were no differences for the other nerve fiber subtypes. DISCUSSION: We found less dermal nerve fibers in contact with blood vessels in FMS patients than in controls. The pathophysiological relevance of this finding is unclear, but we suggest the possibility of a relationship with impaired thermal tolerance commonly reported by FMS patients.

Pain-associated Mediators and Axon Pathfinders in Fibromyalgia Skin Cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the expression of cytokine, nociception-associated ion channel, and axon guidance genes in patients with skin cell fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) differs from healthy controls, potentially contributing to pain and small-fiber degeneration in FMS. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 128 patients and 26 healthy controls. All study participants underwent neurological examination, and a skin punch biopsy was obtained from the lateral calf and thigh. Skin samples were processed to histologically determine intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) and for primary fibroblast and keratinocyte cell cultures. Gene expression of selected pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines, nociception-associated ion channels, and axon guidance cues was assessed with quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: In fibroblasts, transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) gene expression was higher in patients with FMS compared to controls (calf and thigh: p < 0.001). Also, expression was higher in patients than in controls for these variables: hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel 2 (calf: p < 0.01), ephrin-A4 (EFNA4; calf: p < 0.05, thigh: p < 0.001), and ephrin receptor-A4 (EPHA4; thigh: p < 0.05). In keratinocytes, interleukin 10 gene expression was higher in patients with FMS than in controls (thigh: p < 0.05). While no intergroup difference was found for nociception-associated ion channels, EFNA4 and EPHA4 (calf: p < 0.01 each) expression was higher in patients with FMS than in controls. Axon guide expression did not correlate with IENFD. CONCLUSION: In FMS, skin cells may contribute to cutaneous nociception by differentially expressing membrane-bound and soluble pain mediators and axon pathfinders.

Reduced association between dendritic cells and corneal sub-basal nerve fibers in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

In our study, we aimed at investigating corneal langerhans cells (LC) in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and small fiber neuropathy (SFN) as potential contributors to corneal small fiber pathology. We enrolled women with FMS (n = 134) and SFN (n = 41) who underwent neurological examination, neurophysiology, prostaglandin analysis in tear fluid, and corneal confocal microscopy (CCM). Data were compared with those of 60 age-matched female controls. After screening for dry eye disease, corneal LC were counted and sub-classified as dendritic (dLC) and non-dendritic (ndLC) cells with or without nerve fiber association. We further analyzed corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), length (CNFL), and branch density (CNBD). Neurological examination indicated deficits of small fiber function in patients with SFN. Nerve conduction studies were normal in all participants. Dry eye disease was more prevalent in FMS (17%) and SFN (28%) patients than in controls (5%). Tear fluid prostaglandin levels did not differ between FMS patients and controls. While corneal LC density in FMS and SFN patients was not different from controls, there were fewer dLC in association with nerve fibers in FMS and SFN patients than in controls (P < .01 each). Compared to controls, CNFL was lower in FMS and SFN patients (P < .05 each), CNFD was lower only in FMS patients (P < .05), and CNBD was lower only in SFN patients (P < .001). There was no difference in any CCM parameter between patients with and without dry eyes. Our data indicate changes in corneal innervation and LC distribution in FMS and SFN, potentially based on altered LC signaling.

Reduction of skin innervation is associated with a severe fibromyalgia phenotype.

OBJECTIVE: To assess patterns and impact of small nerve fiber dysfunction and pathology in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). METHODS: One hundred seventeen women with FMS underwent neurological examination, questionnaire assessment, neurophysiology assessment, and small fiber tests: skin punch biopsy, corneal confocal microscopy, microneurography, quantitative sensory testing including C-tactile afferents, and pain-related evoked potentials. Data were compared with those of women with major depressive disorder and chronic widespread pain (MD-P) and healthy women. RESULTS: Intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) was reduced at different biopsy sites in 63% of FMS patients (MD-P: 10%, controls: 18%; p < 0.001 for each). We found 4 patterns of skin innervation in FMS: normal, distally reduced, proximally reduced, and both distally and proximally reduced (p < 0.01 for each compared to controls). Microneurography revealed initial activity-dependent acceleration of conduction velocity upon low frequencies of stimulation in 1A fibers, besides 1B fiber spontaneous activity and mechanical sensitization in FMS patients. FMS patients had elevated warm detection thresholds (p < 0.01), impaired C-tactile afferents (p < 0.05), and reduced amplitudes (p < 0.001) of pain-related evoked potentials compared to controls. Compared to FMS patients with normal skin innervation, those with generalized IENFD reduction had higher pain intensity and impairment due to pain, higher disease burden, more stabbing pain and paresthesias, and more anxiety (p < 0.05 for each). FMS patients with generalized IENFD reduction also had lower corneal nerve fiber density (p < 0.01) and length (p < 0.05). INTERPRETATION: The extent of small fiber pathology is related to symptom severity in FMS. This knowledge may have implications for the diagnostic classification and treatment of patients with FMS. ANN NEUROL 2019;86:504-516.

A systematic database-derived approach to improve indexation of transpulmonary thermodilution-derived global end-diastolic volume.

Global end-diastolic volume (GEDV) has been indexed to body surface area (BSA). However, data validating this indexation of GEDV are scarce. Furthermore, it has been suggested to index GEDV to "predicted BSA" based on predicted body weight. Therefore, we aimed to identify biometric parameters independently associated with GEDV. We analyzed a database including 3812 TPTD measurements in 234 patients treated in the ICU of a German university hospital. GEDVI indexed to actual BSA was significantly lower than GEDVI indexed to predicted BSA (748 ± 179 vs. 804 ± 190 mL/m2; p < 0.001). GEDV was independently associated with older age, male sex, height, and actual body weight. In a regression model for the estimation of GEDV, age and height were the most important parameters: Each year in age and each cm in height increased GEDV by 9 and 15 mL, respectively. In addition to height and weight also age and sex should be considered for indexation of GEDV.

Applicability of stroke volume variation in patients of a general intensive care unit: a longitudinal observational study.

Sinus rhythm (SR) and controlled mechanical ventilation (CV) are mandatory for the applicability of respiratory changes of the arterial curve such as stroke volume variation (SVV) to predict fluid-responsiveness. Furthermore, several secondary limitations including tidal volumes <8 mL/kg and SVV-values within the "gray zone" of 9-13% impair prediction of fluid-responsiveness by SVV. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of these four conditions in general ICU-patients. This longitudinal observational study analyzed a prospectively maintained haemodynamic database including 4801 transpulmonary thermodilution and pulse contour analysis measurements of 278 patients (APACHE-II 21.0 ± 7.4). The main underlying diseases were cirrhosis (32%), sepsis (28%), and ARDS (17%). The prevalence of SR and CV was only 19.4% (54/278) in the first measurements (primary endpoint), 18.8% (902/4801) in all measurements and 26.5% (9/34) in measurements with MAP < 65 mmHg and CI < 2.5 L/min/m2 and vasopressor therapy. In 69.1% (192/278) of the first measurements and in 65.9% (3165/4801) of all measurements the patients had SR but did not have CV. In 1.8% (5/278) of the first measurements and in 2.5% (119/4801) of all measurements the patients had CV but lacked SR. In 9.7% (27/278) of the first measurements and in 12.8% (615/4801) of all measurements the patients did neither have SR nor CV. Only 20 of 278 (7.2%) of the first measurements and 8.2% of all measurements fulfilled both major criteria (CV, SR) and both minor criteria for the applicability of SVV. The applicability of SVV in ICU-patients is limited due to the absence of mandatory criteria during the majority of measurements.