The association of increased pre- and postnatal NO and PM exposure with the infant nasal microbiome composition and respiratory symptoms.

Background: Little is known about the mediating role of nasal microbiome on the association between pre- and postnatal air pollution exposure and subsequent respiratory morbidity in infancy. We aimed to examine the impact of air pollution on microbiome and respiratory symptoms, and whether microbiome mediates the association between air pollution and symptoms.

Methods: Nasal swabs from 270 infants in the prospective Basel-Bern Infant Lung Development cohort were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing.

Pharmacometabolomics via real-time breath analysis captures metabotypes of asthmatic children associated with salbutamol responsiveness.

Asthma is a widespread respiratory disease affecting millions of children. Salbutamol is a well-established bronchodilator available to treat asthma. However, response to bronchodilators is very heterogeneous, particularly in children.

Comparison of nasal microbiota between preterm and full-term infants in early life.

Background: The respiratory microbiota influences infant immune system maturation. Little is known about how perinatal, physiological, and environmental exposures impact the nasal microbiota in preterm infants after discharge, or nasal microbiota differences between preterm and healthy full-term infants.

Methods: Nasal swabs (from 136 preterm and 299 full-term infants at mean postmenstrual age of 45 weeks from the prospective Basel-Bern Infant Lung Development cohort) were analyzed by 16S-rRNA gene amplification and sequencing (Illumina MiSeq).

Early nasal microbiota and subsequent respiratory tract infections in infants with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) drive lung function decline in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). While the respiratory microbiota is clearly associated with RTI pathogenesis in infants without CF, data on infants with CF is scarce. We compared nasal microbiota development between infants with CF and controls and assessed associations between early-life nasal microbiota, RTIs, and antibiotic treatment in infants with CF.

Influence of Anesthetic Regimes on Extracellular Vesicles following Remote Ischemic Preconditioning in Coronary Artery Disease.

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury in aortocoronary bypass surgery, potentially via extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their micro-RNA content. Clinical data implicate that propofol might inhibit the cardioprotective RIPC effect. This prospective, randomized study investigated the influence of different anesthetic regimes on RIPC efficacy and EV micro-RNA signatures.

Optimized algorithm for speed-of-sound-based infant sulfur hexafluoride multiple-breath washout measurements.

Introduction: Major methodological issues with the existing algorithm (WBreath) used for the analysis of speed-of-sound-based infant sulfur hexafluoride (SF) multiple-breath washout (MBW) measurements lead to implausible results and complicate the comparison between different age groups and centers.

Methods: We developed OASIS-a novel algorithm to analyze speed-of-sound-based infant SF MBW measurements. This algorithm uses known context of the measurements to replace the dependence of WBreath on model input parameters.

TOLLIP and MUC5B modulate the effect of ambient NO on respiratory symptoms in infancy.

Background: Current knowledge suggests that the gene region containing MUC5B and TOLLIP plays a role in airway defence and airway inflammation, and hence respiratory disease. It is also known that exposure to air pollution increases susceptibility to respiratory disease. We aimed to study whether the effect of air pollutants on the immune response and respiratory symptoms in infants may be modified by polymorphisms in MUC5B and TOLLIP genes.

Differences in autophagy marker levels at birth in preterm vs. term infants.

Background: Preterm infants are susceptible to oxidative stress and prone to respiratory diseases. Autophagy is an important defense mechanism against oxidative-stress-induced cell damage and involved in lung development and respiratory morbidity. We hypothesized that autophagy marker levels differ between preterm and term infants.

Metabolic trajectories of diabetic ketoacidosis onset described by breath analysis.

Purpose: This feasibility study aimed to investigate the use of exhaled breath analysis to capture and quantify relative changes of metabolites during resolution of acute diabetic ketoacidosis under insulin and rehydration therapy.

Methods: Breath analysis was conducted on 30 patients of which 5 with DKA. They inflated Nalophan bags, and their metabolic content was subsequently interrogated by secondary electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (SESI-HRMS).

Hypoxemia of the lower limbs during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in Trendelenburg position.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess frequency and risk factors for intraoperative hypoxemia of the lower limbs during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Trendelenburg position during RARP may contribute to hypoxemia and compartment syndrome (CS) of the lower limbs as a major but rare complication.

Patients And Methods: This prospective study included patients undergoing RARP for prostate cancer.

The Aquaporin 3 Polymorphism (rs17553719) Is Associated with Sepsis Survival and Correlated with IL-33 Secretion.

Sepsis is a common life-threatening disease caused by dysregulated immune response and metabolic acidosis which lead to organ failure. An abnormal expression of aquaporins plays an important role in organ failure. Additionally, genetic variants in aquaporins impact on the outcome in sepsis.

Turn down your thermostats - A contribution to overcoming the European gas crisis? The example of Germany.

Europe's current gas crisis requires rapid government intervention to curtail natural gas consumption and mitigate expenses for consumers. This study aims to comprehensively assess the impact of adjusting thermostats, with single-family houses in Germany serving as a case study. A unique bottom-up approach for approximating gas consumption at the level of building archetypes reveals that decreasing temperature setpoints from 21 °C to 19 °C and 17 °C can save about 14 and 30 TWh/a of gas, respectively.

AQP3 and AQP9-Contrary Players in Sepsis?

Sepsis involves an immunological systemic response to a microbial pathogenic insult, leading to a cascade of interconnected biochemical, cellular, and organ-organ interaction networks. Potential drug targets can depict aquaporins, as they are involved in immunological processes. In immune cells, AQP3 and AQP9 are of special interest.

Preservation of exhaled breath samples for analysis by off-line SESI-HRMS: proof-of-concept study.

Secondary electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry (SESI-HRMS) is an established technique in the field of breath analysis characterized by its short analysis time, as well as high levels of sensitivity and selectivity. Traditionally, SESI-HRMS has been used for real-time breath analysis, which requires subjects to be at the location of the analytical platform. Therefore, it limits the possibilities for an introduction of this methodology in day-to-day clinical practice.

Influence of the Anesthetic Technique on Circulating Extracellular Vesicles in Bladder Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy: A Prospective, Randomized Trial.

Anesthetics have been shown to alter tumor progression and seem to influence surgical cancer outcome. Circulating extracellular vesicles as mediators of intercellular communication are involved in cancer progression and may be influenced by anesthetics. In this prospective, randomized study, effects of anesthetics on extracellular vesicles and associated micro-RNAs in bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy were tested.

Hypotension Prediction Index and Incidence of Perioperative Hypotension: A Single-Center Propensity-Score-Matched Analysis.

(1) Background: Intraoperative hypotension is common and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The Hypotension Prediction Index (HPI) is an advancement of arterial waveform analysis and allows preventive treatments. We used a propensity-score-matched study design to test whether application of the HPI reduces hypotensive events in non-cardiac surgery patients; (2) Methods: 769 patients were selected for propensity score matching.

Prediction of systemic free and total valproic acid by off-line analysis of exhaled breath in epileptic children and adolescents.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of medications with a narrow therapeutic window is a common clinical practice to minimize toxic effects and maximize clinical outcomes. Routine analyses rely on the quantification of systemic blood concentrations of drugs. Alternative matrices such as exhaled breath are appealing because of their inherent non-invasive nature.

Antibiotics in pregnancy influence nasal microbiome and respiratory morbidity in infancy.

Background: The effects of prenatal antibiotic exposure on respiratory morbidity in infancy and the involved mechanisms are still poorly understood. We aimed to examine whether prenatal antibiotic exposure in the third trimester is associated with nasal microbiome and respiratory morbidity in infancy and at school age, and whether this association with respiratory morbidity is mediated by the nasal microbiome.

Methods: We performed 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing (regions V3-V4) on nasal swabs obtained from 296 healthy term infants from the prospective Basel-Bern birth cohort (BILD) at age 4-6 weeks.