Inactivity of Stat3 in sensory and non-sensory cells of the mature cochlea.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) plays a role in various cellular processes such as differentiation, inflammation, cell survival and microtubule dynamics, depending on the cell type and the activated signaling pathway. Stat3 is highly expressed in the hair cells and supporting cells of the cochlea and is essential for the differentiation of mouse hair cells in the early embryonic stage. However, it is unclear how Stat3 contributes to the correct function of cells in the organ of Corti postnatally.

Radical vaginal trachelectomy: long-term oncologic and fertility outcomes in patients with early cervical cancer.

Objective: Radical vaginal trachelectomy is a fertility-preserving treatment for patients with early cervical cancer. Despite encouraging oncologic and fertility outcomes, large studies on radical vaginal trachelectomy are lacking.

Method: Demographic, histological, fertility, and follow-up data of consecutive patients who underwent radical vaginal trachelectomy between March 1995 and August 2021 were prospectively recorded and retrospectively analyzed.

Peer-mentorship and first-year inclusion: building belonging in higher education.

Background: An inclusive academic environment is pivotal to ensure student well-being and a strong sense of belonging and authenticity. Specific attention for an inclusive learning environment is particularly important during a student's transition to higher education. At Utrecht University's Medical School, explorative interviews with students from minority groups indicated they did not always feel included during the orientation programme of their academic education.

Evaluation of CIN2/3 Lesion Regression in GynTect DNA Methylation-Marker-Negative Patients in a Longitudinal Study.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2/3 has a high spontaneous regression rate, especially among women ≤29 years of age. To reduce overtreatment, reliable prognostic biomarkers would be helpful. The main aim of this study was to analyze the negative predictive value of the methylation marker panel GynTect for lesion regression.

CoCoss-Trial: Concurrent Comparison of Self-Sampling Devices for HPV-Detection.

High-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) infection of the cervicovaginal tract is known to be the major cause of cervical cancer. Similar to various other countries, Germany introduced an organized combined screening including cytology and HPV testing in 2020. The participation rate was around 70% in the past.