Publications by authors named "Dittmann M"

Nestmate recognition in ants is regulated through the detection of cuticular hydrocarbons by odorant receptors (ORs) in the antennae. These ORs are crucial for maintaining colony cohesion that allows invasive ant species to dominate colonized environments. In the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, ORs regulating nestmate recognition are thought to be present in a clade of nine-exon odorant receptors, but the identity of the specific genes remains unknown.

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  • Severe COVID-19 patients frequently experience coinfections with bacterial and fungal pathogens, leading to higher mortality rates compared to infections with just one pathogen.
  • A study investigated blood and respiratory samples from hospitalized patients to analyze the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and coinfections, finding no specific lineage associated with COVID-19 but noting trends in the virulence of bloodstream strains.
  • Research using a mouse model demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infection increases susceptibility to subsequent infections with low-cytotoxicity pathogens, highlighting the enhanced risk of severe outcomes from these coinfections.
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  • A new guideline for atopic eczema was published in two parts in August and September 2022, based on the EuroGuiDerm standards, following extensive consensus conferences with experts from twelve European countries.
  • The guideline incorporates recent evidence on new systemic medications, with an update released in October 2022.
  • Italian dermatological societies adapted the original EuroGuiDerm guideline for the Italian healthcare context, adding specific notes to highlight regulations and recommendations from the Italian Ministry of Health and regional authorities.
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SIDeMaST (Società Italiana di Dermatologia Medica, Chirurgica, Estetica e delle Malattie Sessualmente Trasmesse) contributed to the development of the present guideline on the systemic treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. With the permission of EuroGuiDerm, SIDeMaST adapted the guideline to the Italian healthcare context to supply a reliable and affordable tool to Italian physicians who take care of patients affected by atopic dermatitis. The evidence- and consensus-based guideline on atopic eczema was developed in accordance with the EuroGuiDerm Guideline and Consensus Statement Development Manual.

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  • - SIDeMaST developed guidelines for treating chronic plaque psoriasis and adapted them for the Italian healthcare system, aiming to provide a dependable resource for doctors treating atopic dermatitis patients in Italy.
  • - The guideline follows the EuroGuiDerm Manual and was created with the input of 29 experts from 12 European countries, involving four consensus conferences held between December 2020 and July 2021.
  • - It includes comprehensive information on systemic therapies, discussing conventional immunosuppressants, biologics, and Janus kinase inhibitors, while the second part will focus on factors like diet, immunotherapy, and considerations for special patient groups.
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Mutations that perturb leptin-melanocortin signaling are known to cause hyperphagia and obesity, but energy expenditure has not been well studied outside rodents. We report on a common canine mutation in pro-opiomelanocortin (), which prevents production of β-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (β-MSH) and β-endorphin but not α-MSH; humans, similar to dogs, produce α-MSH and β-MSH from the propeptide, but rodents produce only α-MSH. We show that energy expenditure is markedly lower in affected dogs, which also have increased motivational salience in response to a food cue, indicating increased wanting or hunger.

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[F]tetrafluoroborate ([F]TFB) is an emerging PET tracer with excellent properties for human sodium iodide symporter (NIS)-based imaging in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The aim of this study was to compare [F]TFB PET with high-activity posttherapeutic [I]iodine whole-body scintigraphy and SPECT/CT in recurrent DTC and with [F]FDG PET/CT in suspected dedifferentiation. Twenty-six patients treated with high-activity radioactive [I]iodine therapy (range, 5.

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One of the main challenges in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stems from the ongoing evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) into multiple variants. To address this hurdle, research groups around the world have independently developed protocols to isolate these variants from clinical samples. These isolates are then used in translational and basic research-for example, in vaccine development, drug screening or characterizing SARS-CoV-2 biology and pathogenesis.

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Background: The airway epithelium is composed of diverse cell types with specialized functions that mediate homeostasis and protect against respiratory pathogens. Human airway epithelial (HAE) cultures at air-liquid interface are a physiologically relevant in vitro model of this heterogeneous tissue and have enabled numerous studies of airway disease. HAE cultures are classically derived from primary epithelial cells, the relatively limited passage capacity of which can limit experimental methods and study designs.

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Small animal models have been a challenge for the study of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, with most investigators using golden hamsters or ferrets. Mice have the advantages of low cost, wide availability, less regulatory and husbandry challenges, and the existence of a versatile reagent and genetic toolbox. However, adult mice do not robustly transmit SARS-CoV-2.

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We aimed to evaluate the predictive and prognostic value of baseline F-FDG-PET-CT (PET-CT) radiomic features (RFs) for immune checkpoint-inhibitor (CKI)-based first-line therapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In this retrospective study 44 patients were included. Patients were treated with either CKI-monotherapy or combined CKI-based immunotherapy-chemotherapy as first-line treatment.

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The airway epithelium is composed of diverse cell types with specialized functions that mediate homeostasis and protect against respiratory pathogens. Human airway epithelial cultures at air-liquid interface (HAE) are a physiologically relevant model of this heterogeneous tissue, enabling numerous studies of airway disease . HAE cultures are classically derived from primary epithelial cells, the relatively limited passage capacity of which can limit experimental methods and study designs.

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The emergence of recombinant viruses is a threat to public health, as recombination may integrate variant-specific features that together result in escape from treatment or immunity. The selective advantages of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 isolates over their parental lineages remain unknown. We identified a Delta-Omicron (AY.

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Unlabelled: Serine Protease Inhibitors (SERPINs) regulate protease activity in various physiological processes such as inflammation, cancer metastasis, angiogenesis, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, their potential in combating viral infections, where proteases are also crucial, remains underexplored. This is due to our limited understanding of SERPIN expression during viral-induced inflammation and of the SERPINs' full spectrum of target proteases.

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  • Gut microbiome dysbiosis is linked to COVID-19 severity, but a direct causal relationship has not been proven yet.
  • Research shows that SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to changes in gut bacteria in mice, which could compromise gut barrier function and increase infection risk.
  • Analysis of samples from 96 COVID-19 patients indicates that altered gut bacteria can enter the bloodstream, potentially causing severe secondary infections in these patients.
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Co-opting host cell protein synthesis is a hallmark of many virus infections. In response, certain host defense proteins limit mRNA translation globally, albeit at the cost of the host cell's own protein synthesis. Here, we describe an interferon-stimulated helicase, DDX60, that decreases translation from viral internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs).

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Small animal models have been a challenge for the study of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, with most investigators using golden hamsters or ferrets . Mice have the advantages of low cost, wide availability, less regulatory and husbandry challenges, and the existence of a versatile reagent and genetic toolbox. However, adult mice do not robustly transmit SARS-CoV-2 .

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  • Exosomes, specifically a subset called defensosomes, play a crucial role in intercellular communication and are involved in immune responses during infections, including COVID-19.
  • These defensosomes are triggered by bacterial infections and contain receptors that can inhibit harmful toxins, suggesting they also help combat viral infections like SARS-CoV-2.
  • In critically ill COVID-19 patients, higher levels of ACE2-containing defensosomes were linked to shorter ICU stays, indicating their potential protective effects against the virus by blocking its entry into cells.*
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The evidence- and consensus-based guideline on atopic eczema was developed in accordance with the EuroGuiDerm Guideline and Consensus Statement Development Manual. Four consensus conferences were held between December 2020 and July 2021. Twenty-nine experts (including clinicians and patient representatives) from 12 European countries participated.

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Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of gene expression, yet their contribution to immune regulation in humans remains poorly understood. Here, we report that the primate-specific lncRNA is induced by influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2 infection and coordinates the expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) that execute antiviral responses. depletion in human macrophages reduces histone acetylation at regulatory regions of ISG loci and attenuates ISG expression in response to microbial stimuli.

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  • A guideline on atopic eczema was created based on evidence and consensus from 29 experts across 12 European countries, following the EuroGuiDerm framework, with four consensus conferences held from December 2020 to July 2021.
  • The first part of the guideline outlines its goals, target audience, and treatment recommendations, focusing on which patients need systemic therapies and detailing various systemic drugs such as immunosuppressives, biologics, and janus kinase inhibitors.
  • The upcoming second part will cover a range of topics including environmental factors, diet, educational interventions, and special considerations for children, pregnant women, and those breastfeeding.
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  • In 2021, the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 became the dominant strain globally, leading to an increase in breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals, though vaccines still effectively prevented severe illness and death.
  • The study investigated the distribution, evolution, and genetic changes of SARS-CoV-2 variants in relation to vaccination status in New York and found that Delta predominantly replaced other variants, with specific mutations being more common in vaccinated people experiencing breakthroughs.
  • Results indicated that Delta infections were more prevalent among younger individuals with lower hospitalization rates, and as time since vaccination increased, breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals rose similarly to those in unvaccinated individuals, hinting at some adaptation of the Delta genome in the context of decreasing vaccine effectiveness
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Background: The emergence of recombinant viruses is a threat to public health. Recombination of viral variants may combine variant-specific features that together catalyze viral escape from treatment or immunity. The selective advantages of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 isolates over their parental lineages remain unknown.

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  • The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants threatens the effectiveness of immunity from previous infections or vaccinations.
  • To tackle this issue, the NIH launched the SARS-CoV-2 Assessment of Viral Evolution (SAVE) program for real-time assessment of variant risks that might impact transmission and vaccine efficacy.
  • The program focuses on gathering and analyzing data on emerging variants and their effects on immunity, using animal models, while also addressing future challenges in monitoring rapidly evolving viruses.
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