A binary system in the S cluster close to the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A.

High-velocity stars and peculiar G objects orbit the central supermassive black hole (SMBH) Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). Together, the G objects and high-velocity stars constitute the S cluster. In contrast with theoretical predictions, no binary system near Sgr A* has been identified.

Estimated glomerular filtration rate predicts 30-day mortality in medical emergency departments: Results of a prospective multi-national observational study.

Background: Renal failure is common in patients seeking help in medical emergency departments. Decreased renal function is associated with increased mortality in patients with heart failure or sepsis. In this study, the association between renal function (reflected by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at the time of admission) and clinical outcome was evaluated.

What Are They Worth? Six 30-Day Readmission Risk Scores for Medical Inpatients Externally Validated in a Swiss Cohort.

Background: Several clinical risk scores for unplanned 30-day readmission have been published, but there is a lack of external validation and head-to-head comparison.

Objective: Retrospective replication of six clinical risk scores (LACE, HOSPITAL, SEMI, RRS, PARA, Tsui et al.)f DESIGN: Models were fitted with the original intercept and beta coefficients as reported.

Relationship of Nutritional Status, Inflammation, and Serum Albumin Levels During Acute Illness: A Prospective Study.

Background: Low serum albumin levels resulting from inflammation-induced capillary leakage or disease-related anorexia during acute illness are associated with poor outcomes. We investigated the relationship of nutritional status and inflammation with low serum albumin levels and 30-day mortality in a large cohort.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled adult patients in the medical emergency department of a Swiss tertiary care center and investigated associations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 as markers of inflammation and poor nutritional status, respectively, with low serum albumin levels and mortality using multivariate regression analyses.

Metabolomics and Their Ability to Distinguish Thyroid Disorders: A Retrospective Pilot Study.

Early diagnosis of thyroid disorders is key to further treatment. We assessed the ability of a high-throughput proton NMR metabolomic profile to distinguish disease type amongst of Graves' disease (n=87), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (n=17), toxic goiter (n=11), and autoimmune thyroiditis [i. e.

Combination of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) and inflammatory biomarkers for early risk stratification in emergency department patients: results of a multinational, observational study.

Objectives: The National Early Warning Score (NEWS) helps to estimate mortality risk in emergency department (ED) patients. This study aimed to investigate whether the prognostic value of the NEWS at ED admission could be further improved by adding inflammatory blood markers (ie, white cell count (WCC), procalcitonin (PCT) and midregional-proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM).

Design: Secondary analysis of a multinational, observational study (TRIAGE study, March 2013-October 2014).

Validation of the hospital frailty risk score in a tertiary care hospital in Switzerland: results of a prospective, observational study.

Objectives: Recently, the Hospital Frailty Risk Score based on a derivation and validation study in the UK has been proposed as a low-cost, systematic screening tool to identify older, frail patients who are at a greater risk of adverse outcomes and for whom a frailty-attuned approach might be useful. We aimed to validate this Score in an independent cohort in Switzerland.

Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective, observational study (TRIAGE study).

Metabolomics for Prediction of Relapse in Graves' Disease: Observational Pilot Study.

There is a lack of biochemical markers for early prediction of relapse in patients with Graves' disease [GD], which may help to direct treatment decisions. We assessed the prognostic ability of a high-throughput proton NMR metabolomic profile to predict relapse in a well characterized cohort of GD patients. Observational study investigating patients presenting with GD at a Swiss hospital endocrine referral center and an associated endocrine outpatient clinic.

Octopamine in male aggression of Drosophila.

Background: In mammals and humans, noradrenaline is a key modulator of aggression. Octopamine, a closely related biogenic amine, has been proposed to have a similar function in arthropods. However, the effect of octopamine on aggressive behavior is little understood.