Improvement in Temple Hollowing with VYC-20L Hyaluronic Acid Filler: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial of Safety and Effectiveness.

Background: Temple hollowing is characterized by the reduction of volume in the temporal fossa, which can result in a skeletonized look and contribute to an aged appearance. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the VYC-20L injectable gel for improvement of temple hollowing.

Methods: Adults with minimal, moderate, or severe temple hollows were randomized 2:1 to receive VYC-20L or no treatment.

Would Neonatal Healthcare Professionals Disclose Personal Opinions When Counseling Parents About Value-laden Decisions?

Background: To explore the attitudes of neonatal healthcare professionals towards disclosing personal opinions when counseling parents about value-laden decisions using scripted video animations, with a view to comparing these later with the attitudes of parents of preterm infants.

Methods: An exploratory study was conducted during the 5th Annual Meeting of the Joint European Neonatal Societies in Rome. Data were collected via a web-based survey during a live session.

Paediatric rotations in undergraduate medical education in Switzerland: Meeting students' expectations and the goals of the competency-based learning catalogue PROFILES.

Introduction: The competency-based catalogue of learning objectives "Principal Relevant Objectives and Framework for Integrative Learning and Education in Switzerland" (PROFILES) based on Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) was newly introduced in 2018 in undergraduate medical education in Switzerland. Clerkships provide opportunities for students to train clinical skills and competencies within the curriculum. This study aims to assess the students' experiences during paediatric clerkships and whether they achieve the expected competency level of certain EPAs by the end of their training.

Evaluation of the lengthening of the magnetically controlled growing rods in juvenile and early-onset scoliosis.

Introduction: The treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS) has seen significant advancements, particularly with the introduction of magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR). However, a discrepancy between reported and actual rod lengthening during treatment has raised concerns.

Hypothesis: This retrospective study aims to investigate the disparity between reported and actual lengthening of MCGR and to identify factors contributing to the failure of the lengthening process.

Perceived stress among graduate students in health sciences at a military university: a mixed-method approach.

Background: There is a gap in the literature about the experiences of active-duty military students pursuing a graduate degree in health sciences at a university that emphasizes a military context. This exploratory study investigates how graduate students navigate stress in the context of a military university.

Method: The study applied a mixed-methods approach including a survey (N = 59) and in-depth interviews (N = 16) of students enrolled in a graduate program at the School of Medicine (368 students) and School of Nursing (187 students).

NLRP3 inflammasome-induced pyroptosis and serum ASC specks are increased in patients with cardiogenic shock.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is characterized by impaired cardiac function, very high mortality, and limited treatment options. The proinflammatory signaling during different phases of CS is incompletely understood. We collected serum and plasma ( = 44) as well as freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs, = 7) of patients with CS complicating acute myocardial infarction on admission and after revascularization (24, 48, and 72 h) and of healthy controls (serum and plasma, = 75; PBMCs, = 12).

Enhanced identification of endocrine disruptors through integration of science-based regulatory practices and innovative methodologies: The MERLON Project.

The prevalence of hormone-related health issues caused by exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a significant, and increasing, societal challenge. Declining fertility rates together with rising incidence rates of reproductive disorders and other endocrine-related diseases underscores the urgency in taking more action. Addressing the growing threat of EDCs in our environment demands robust and reliable test methods to assess a broad variety of endpoints relevant for endocrine disruption.

The generation gap in endocrine disruption: Can the integrated fish endocrine disruptor test (iFEDT) bridge the gap by assessing intergenerational effects of thyroid hormone system disruption?

Thyroid hormones (THs) act early in ontogenesis, even prior to the differentiation of thyrocytes. Maternal transfer of THs is therefore known to play an essential role in early development. Current OECD test guidelines for the assessment of TH system disruption (THSD) do not address inter- or transgenerational effects.

Development of a Zebrafish Embryo-Based Test System for Thyroid Hormone System Disruption: 3Rs in Ecotoxicological Research.

There is increasing concern regarding pollutants disrupting the vertebrate thyroid hormone (TH) system, which is crucial for development. Thus, identification of TH system-disrupting chemicals (THSDCs) is an important requirement in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) testing framework. The current OECD approach uses different model organisms for different endocrine modalities, leading to a high number of animal tests.

Early Animal Origin of BACE1 APP/Aβ Proteolytic Function.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized, in part, by the accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain. Aβ is produced via the proteolysis of APP by BACE1 and γ-secretase. Since BACE1 is the rate-limiting enzyme in the production of Aβ, and a target for therapeutics, it is of interest to know when its proteolytic function evolved and for what purpose.

Stereotactic ultrahypofractionated MR-guided radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer - Acute toxicity and patient-reported outcomes in the prospective, multicenter phase II trial.

Background: Due to superior image quality and daily adaptive planning, MR-guided stereotactic body radiation therapy (MRgSBRT) has the potential to further widen the therapeutic window in radiotherapy of localized prostate cancer. This study reports on acute toxicity rates and patient-reported outcomes after MR-guided adaptive ultrahypofractionated radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer within the prospective, multicenter phase II trial.

Materials And Methods: A total of 69 patients with localized prostate cancer underwent MRgSBRT with daily online plan adaptation.

The benefits of validation of methods for toxicity testing outweigh its costs.

The 4th Annual Forum on Endocrine Disrupters organized by the European Commission brought together the authors of this article around the topic: “From bench to validated test guidelines: (pre)val­idation of test methods”. Validation activities are meant to demonstrate the relevance and reliability of methods and approaches used in regulatory safety testing. These activities are essential to facil­itate regulatory use, still they are largely underfunded and unattractive to the scientific community.

Magnetic graphene derivates for efficient herbicide removal from aqueous solution through adsorption.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is an herbicide and is among the most widely distributed pollutant in the environment and wastewater. Herein is presented a complete comparison of adsorption performance between two different magnetic carbon nanomaterials: graphene oxide (GO) and its reduced form (rGO). Magnetic functionalization was performed employing a coprecipitation method, using only one source of Fe, requiring low energy, and potentially allowing the control of the amount of incorporated magnetite.

EFFects of Exposure and Cognitive behavioral Therapy for chronic BACK pain ("EFFECT-BACK"): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Chronic back pain is a widespread medical condition associated with high socioeconomic costs and increasing prevalence. Despite the advanced implementation of multidisciplinary approaches, providing a satisfactory treatment offer for those affected is often not possible. Exposure therapy (EXP) promises to be an effective and economical form of treatment and in a previous pilot study showed to be superior to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in reducing perceived limitations of movement.

Dosimetric benefit of online treatment plan adaptation in stereotactic ultrahypofractionated MR-guided radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer.

Background: Apart from superior soft tissue contrast, MR-guided stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) offers the chance for daily online plan adaptation. This study reports on the comparison of dose parameters before and after online plan adaptation in MR-guided SBRT of localized prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: 32 consecutive patients treated with ultrahypofractionated SBRT for localized prostate cancer within the prospective SMILE trial underwent a planning process for MR-guided radiotherapy with 37.

Mental Health in Elite Coaches.

Context: Coaches play an important role in promoting mental health in elite sports. However, they themselves are exposed to risks affecting their mental health, and their fears and worries are often overlooked. Moreover, it remains unclear how coaches' mental health affects their athletes' mental health.

A Novel Transgenic Model to Study Thyroid Axis Activity in Early Life Stage Medaka.

Identifying endocrine disrupting chemicals in order to limit their usage is a priority and required according to the European Regulation. There are no Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guidelines based on fish available for the detection of Thyroid axis Active Chemicals (TACs). This study aimed to fill this gap by developing an assay at eleuthero-embryonic life stages in a novel medaka () transgenic line.

SARS-CoV-2 particles promote airway epithelial differentiation and ciliation.

The Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, enters the human body via the epithelial cells of the airway tract. To trap and eject pathogens, the airway epithelium is composed of ciliated and secretory cells that produce mucus which is expelled through a process called mucociliary clearance. This study examines the early stages of contact between SARS-CoV-2 particles and the respiratory epithelium, utilizing 3D airway tri-culture models exposed to ultraviolet light-irradiated virus particles.

Long-term trends in hepatitis C prevalence, treatment uptake and liver-related events in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Background And Aims: Treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections changed dramatically in the last decade. We assessed changes in the prevalence of replicating HCV infection, treatment uptake and liver-related morbidity and mortality in persons with HIV (PWH) and hepatitis C in the Swiss HIV cohort study.

Methods: We included all cohort participants between 2002 and 2021.

Protocol of a randomised controlled phase II clinical trial investigating PREoperative endoscopic injection of BOTulinum toxin into the sphincter of Oddi to reduce bile leakage after hepatic resection: the PREBOT-II trial.

Introduction: Bile leakage represents a major cause of morbidity following hepatic resection. Although most patients can be managed non-operatively, this complication requires diagnostics and therapeutic interventions. Preoperative endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin (BTX) into the sphincter of Oddi represents an innovative approach to prevent bile leakage.