Updated Risk Assessment of Cannabidiol in Foods Based on Benchmark Dose-Response Modeling.

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic main component of the plant, has been approved as a drug in the European Union (EU) under the name "Epidyolex". However, its approval process as a food ingredient under the Novel Food Regulation was paused by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) due to a lack of safety data. Nevertheless, there is a growing, unregulated market in which CBD is advertised with various health claims and dosage instructions.

Risk Assessment of Pulegone in Foods Based on Benchmark Dose-Response Modeling.

This study presents a new risk assessment of pulegone, a substance classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) by the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The analysis used data from a two-year carcinogenicity studies in rats and mice conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) in 2011. Because of the absence of a no-observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) in these studies, the benchmark dose (BMD) approach was employed as an alternative risk assessment method.

Early circulating tumor DNA changes predict outcomes in head and neck cancer patients under re-radiotherapy.

Local recurrence after radiotherapy is common in locally advanced head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Re-irradiation can improve local disease control, but disease progression remains frequent. Hence, predictive biomarkers are needed to adapt treatment intensity to the patient's individual risk.

Clinical implications of DNA methylation-based integrated classification of histologically defined grade 2 meningiomas.

The combination of DNA methylation analysis with histopathological and genetic features allows for a more accurate risk stratification and classification of meningiomas. Nevertheless, the implications of this classification for patients with grade 2 meningiomas, a particularly heterogeneous tumor entity, are only partially understood. We correlate the outcomes of histopathologically confirmed grade 2 meningioma with an integrated molecular-morphologic risk stratification and determine its clinical implications.

Risk Assessment of Isoeugenol in Food Based on Benchmark Dose-Response Modeling.

Isoeugenol has recently been evaluated as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B) by the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In light of this evaluation, an updated risk assessment of this common food constituent was conducted using the benchmark dose (BMD) approach as recommended by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for point of departure (POD) determination, as an alternative to the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL). This approach was specifically chosen, as for the relevant neoplastic endpoints only lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) values are available.

[Exposures to fruit plants in Germany from 2010-2019 : Analysis of the Erfurt joint poison information center database].

Background: Inquiries about fruit plants are a frequent reason for consultation with poison information centers, although it should be emphasized that there are no large systematic studies on toxicity based on exposure data. The aim of this work is to determine the risk of poisoning by fruit plants in Germany.

Methods: Retrospective study of data from the Erfurt Joint Poison Information Center on poisoning inquiries regarding fruit plants (2010-2019) with a detailed presentation of interim results, a tabular handout, plant photos as identification aids, and trend analyses.

Risk Assessment of Chlorogenic and Isochlorogenic Acids in Coffee By-Products.

Chlorogenic and isochlorogenic acids are naturally occurring antioxidant dietary polyphenolic compounds found in high concentrations in plants, fruits, vegetables, coffee, and coffee by-products. The objective of this review was to assess the potential health risks associated with the oral consumption of coffee by-products containing chlorogenic and isochlorogenic acids, considering both acute and chronic exposure. An electronic literature search was conducted, revealing that 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-DCQA) are the major chlorogenic acids found in coffee by-products.

Risk Assessment of Trigonelline in Coffee and Coffee By-Products.

Trigonelline is a bioactive pyridine alkaloid that occurs naturally in high concentrations in coffee (up to 7.2 g/kg) and coffee by-products (up to 62.6 g/kg) such as coffee leaves, flowers, cherry husks or pulp, parchment, silver skin, and spent grounds.

Tumor treating fields as novel combination partner in the multimodal treatment of head and neck cancer.

Background: We aimed to demonstrate the effects of tumor treating fields (TTFields) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells when combined with radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy.

Methods: Two human HNSCC cell lines (Cal27, FaDu) received five different treatments: TTFields, RT +/- TTFields and RT + simultaneous cisplatin +/- TTFields. Effects were quantified using clonogenic assays and flow cytometric analyses of DAPI, caspase-3 activation and γH2AX foci.

Analysis of polymeric nanoparticle properties for siRNA/DNA delivery in a tumor xenograft tissue slice air-liquid interface model.

Background: Classical two-dimensional (2D) cell culture as a drug or nanoparticle test system only poorly recapitulates in vivo conditions. Animal studies are costly, ethically controversial, and preclude large-scale testing.

Methods And Results: We established a three-dimensional (3D) tissue slice air-liquid interface (ALI) culture model for nanoparticle testing.

Circulating adipokine levels and COVID-19 severity in hospitalized patients.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for adverse outcomes in COVID-19, potentially driven by chronic inflammatory state due to dysregulated secretion of adipokines and cytokines. We investigated the association between plasma adipokines and COVID-19 severity, systemic inflammation, clinical parameters, and outcome of COVID-19 patients.

Methods: In this multi-centre prospective cross-sectional study, we collected blood samples and clinical data from COVID-19 patients.

Risk Assessment of Coffee Cherry (Cascara) Fruit Products for Flour Replacement and Other Alternative Food Uses.

Coffee bean harvesting incurs various by-products known for their long traditional use. However, they often still end up being a waste instead of being used to their full potential. On the European market, coffee cherry (cascara) products are not yet common, and a novel food approval for beverages made from coffee cherry pulp was issued only recently.

Intensity modulated proton therapy for early-stage glottic cancer: high-precision approach to laryngeal function preservation with exceptional treatment tolerability.

Background: Due to the increasing expertise in transoral laser surgery and image-guided radiation therapy, treatment outcomes have recently improved in patients with early-stage glottic cancer. The objective of the current study was to evaluate intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) as novel treatment option.

Methods: A total of 15 patients with T1-2N0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma, treated between 2017 and 2020, were evaluated.

Toxicological Assessment of Roasted Coffee Silver Skin (Testa of sp.) as Novel Food Ingredient.

Roasted coffee silver skin is a coffee by-product, the uses of which are currently limited, e.g., as fertilizer, for energy production, or animal feed.

Ways to unravel the clinical potential of carbon ions for head and neck cancer reirradiation: dosimetric comparison and local failure pattern analysis as part of the prospective randomized CARE trial.

Background: Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) yields biophysical advantages compared to photons but randomized studies for the reirradiation setting are pending. The aim of the current project was to evaluate potential clinical benefits and drawbacks of CIRT compared to volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in recurrent head and neck cancer.

Methods: Dose-volume parameters and local failure patterns of CIRT compared to VMAT were evaluate in 16 patients from the randomized CARE trial on head and neck cancer reirradiation.

Effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment for pediatric conditions: A systematic review.

Background: Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is commonly used by osteopaths and osteopathic physicians to manage a large variety of pediatric complaints.

Objective: The current study reviewed the literature to determine the effectiveness of OMT for all pediatric complaints.

Methods: A systematic literature search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) unrestricted by language or publication status was performed in July 2020 in electronic and ongoing trials databases.

The Sphingolipid Inhibitors Ceranib-2 and SKI-II Reduce Measles Virus Replication in Primary Human Lymphocytes: Effects on mTORC1 Downstream Signaling.

The bioactive sphingolipids ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) are involved in the regulation of cell homeostasis and activity ranging from apoptosis to proliferation. We recently described that the two compounds ceranib-2 (inhibiting acid ceramidase) and SKI-II [inhibiting the sphingosine kinases 1 and - 2 (SphK1/2)] reduce mTORC1 activity and measles virus (MV) replication in human primary peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) by about one log step. We now further investigated whether mTORC1 downstream signaling and viral protein expression may be affected by ceranib-2 and/or SKI-II.

Prospective Multicenter Observational Cohort Study on Time to Death in Potential Controlled Donation After Circulatory Death Donors-Development and External Validation of Prediction Models: The DCD III Study.

Background: Acceptance of organs from controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD) donors depends on the time to circulatory death. Here we aimed to develop and externally validate prediction models for circulatory death within 1 or 2 h after withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.

Methods: In a multicenter, observational, prospective cohort study, we enrolled 409 potential cDCD donors.

Forensic biomarkers of lethal traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and its accurate diagnosis is an important concern of daily forensic practice. However, it can be challenging to diagnose TBI in cases where macroscopic signs of the traumatic head impact are lacking and little is known about the circumstances of death. In recent years, several post-mortem studies investigated the possible use of biomarkers for providing objective evidence for TBIs as the cause of death or to estimate the survival time and time since death of the deceased.

Amphiphilic Anionic Oligomer-Stabilized Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles with Prospects in siRNA Delivery via Convection-Enhanced Delivery.

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) has been introduced as a concept in cancer treatment to generate high local concentrations of anticancer therapeutics and overcome the limited diffusional distribution, e.g., in the brain.

Risk Assessment of Caffeine and Epigallocatechin Gallate in Coffee Leaf Tea.

Coffee leaf tea is prepared as an infusion of dried leaves of spp. in hot water. It is a traditional beverage in some coffee-producing countries and has been authorized in 2020 within the European Union (EU) according to its novel food regulation.

Assessing Protein Biomarkers to Detect Lethal Acute Traumatic Brain Injuries in Cerebrospinal Fluid.

Diagnosing traumatic brain injury (TBI) from body fluids in cases where there are no obvious external signs of impact would be useful for emergency physicians and forensic pathologists alike. None of the previous attempts has so far succeeded in establishing a single biomarker to reliably detect TBI with regards to the sensitivity: specificity ratio in a post mortem setting. This study investigated a combination of body fluid biomarkers (obtained post mortem), which may be a step towards increasing the accuracy of biochemical TBI detection.