Detection of Vancomycin Resistant Genes in Intrinsically Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria from the Gut Microbiota of Indonesian Individuals.

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a global public health concern that has been exacerbated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, leading to the emergence of resistant bacteria. The gut microbiota, often influenced by antibiotic usage, plays a crucial role in overall health. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of antibiotic resistant genes in the gut microbiota of Indonesian coastal and highland populations, as well as to identify vancomycin-resistant bacteria and their resistant genes.

Implementation of a Mobile Application in Acute Stroke Care Documentation.

Acute stroke care is a time-critical process. Improving communication and documentation process may support a positive effect on medical outcome. To achieve this goal, a new system using a mobile application has been integrated into existing infrastructure at Hannover Medical School (MHH).

Clinical Diffusion Mismatch to Select Pediatric Patients for Embolectomy 6 to 24 Hours After Stroke: An Analysis of the Save ChildS Study.

Objective: To determine whether thrombectomy is safe in children up to 24 hours after onset of symptoms when selected by mismatch between clinical deficit and infarct.

Methods: A secondary analysis of the Save ChildS Study (January 2000-December 2018) was performed, including all pediatric patients (<18 years) diagnosed with arterial ischemic stroke who underwent endovascular recanalization at 27 European and United States stroke centers. Patients were included if they had a relevant mismatch between clinical deficit and infarct.

Intratympanic application of triamcinolone in sudden hearing loss-radiologic anatomy in cone beam CT and its' correlation to clinical outcome.

Purpose: To evaluate temporal bone cone-beam CT in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) being treated with primary and secondary intratympanic (IT) triamcinolone and to possibly correlate these results to the clinical outcome.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients treated with IT triamcinolone for ISSNHL at our department in 2018. Pre- and post-therapeutic audiologic examinations included four-tone average (FTA) at 0.

Does Device Selection Impact Recanalization Rate and Neurological Outcome?: An Analysis of the Save ChildS Study.

Background and Purpose- The recent Save ChildS study provides multicenter evidence for the use of mechanical thrombectomy in children with large vessel occlusion arterial ischemic stroke. However, device selection for thrombectomy may influence rates of recanalization, complications, and neurological outcomes, especially in pediatric patients of different ages. We, therefore, performed additional analyses of the Save ChildS data to investigate a possible association of different thrombectomy techniques and devices with angiographic and clinical outcome parameters.

ADAMTS13 activity is associated with early neurological improvement in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

Although intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with recombinant tissue-plasminogen-activator represents a highly effective treatment in acute ischemic stroke patients, not every patient benefits. We hypothesized that pretreatment levels of mediators of hemostasis (VWF and ADAMTS13) and dimethylarginines (ADMA and SDMA) are associated with early neurological improvement and outcome after IVT in ischemic stroke. Moreover we aimed to investigate the link between ADAMTS13 and markers of inflammation (CRP, IL-6, MMP-9 and MCP-1).

Cochlear implantation in children with meningitis related deafness: The influence of electrode impedance and implant charge on auditory performance - A case control study.

Objectives: Bacterial meningitis can cause a labyrinthitis. Consequences often are intracochlear soft tissue neoformation (cochlear obliteration) or intracochlear osteoneogenesis (cochlear ossification) and deafness. Cochlear implantation becomes challenging and hearing rehabilitation is complicated.

ADAMTS-13 Activity Predicts Outcome in Acute Ischaemic Stroke Patients Undergoing Endovascular Treatment.

Background: Endovascular treatment improves outcome in patients with acute ischaemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion in general. But outcome in some of these patients is jeopardized by recanalization failure or bleeding.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine a possible association of mediators of inflammation and haemostasis (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, matrix metalloproteinase-9, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, asymmetric dimethylarginine [ADMA], symmetric dimethylarginine, von Willebrand factor and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif 13 [ADAMTS-13]) with the post-intervention grade of reperfusion, complications and clinical outcome in patients who underwent endovascular treatment of ischaemic stroke.

Inner ear anatomy in Waardenburg syndrome: radiological assessment and comparison with normative data.

Objective: As patients with Waardenburg syndrome (WS) represent potential candidates for cochlear implantation, their inner ear anatomy is of high significance. There is an ongoing debate whether WS is related to any inner ear dysplasias. Our objective was to evaluate radiologically the inner ear anatomy in patients with WS and identify any temporal bone malformations.

Aplasia of the cochlea: radiologic assessment and options for hearing rehabilitation.

Objective: Hearing rehabilitation of patients with severe inner ear malformations remains controversial. Our objective was to describe the radiologic findings of aplasia of the cochlea (AC) and evaluate the existing therapeutic options in such patients.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Improved imaging of cochlear nerve hypoplasia using a 3-Tesla variable flip-angle turbo spin-echo sequence and a 7-cm surface coil.

Objective/hypothesis: Magnetic resonance imaging of the temporal bone has an important role in decision making with regard to cochlea implantation, especially in children with cochlear nerve deficiency. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the combination of an advanced high-resolution T2-weighted sequence with a surface coil in a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner in cases of suspected cochlear nerve aplasia.

Study Design: Prospective study.

MRI safety of a programmable shunt assistant at 3 and 7 Tesla.

Objective: Several new shunt technologies have been developed to optimize hydrocephalus treatment within the past few years. Overdrainage, however, still remains an unresolved problem. One new technology which may reduce the frequency of this complication is the use of a programmable shunt assistant (proSA).

Radiological diagnosis of incomplete partition type I versus type II: significance for cochlear implantation.

Objectives: To investigate an extended cohort of patients with incomplete partition (IP) and examine the adequacy of the existing classifications based on radiological criteria and on their implications for cochlear implantation.

Methods: Patients with IP admitted to a tertiary referral centre during the period 2000-2010 were retrospectively examined. The subjects were initially classified into IP-I, IP-II and atypical cases.

The vestibulocochlear nerve: aplasia and hypoplasia in combination with inner ear malformations.

Objective: To determine features of hypoplasia and aplasia of the vestibulocochlear nerve (VCN) in combination with inner ear malformations (IEMs).

Methods: Index cases were retrospectively selected from all IEMs collected since 1995. CT and MRI data were reviewed by two neuroradiologists.

Controlling the position and the dislocation of the middle ear transducer with high-resolution computed tomography and digital volume tomography: implications for the transducers' design.

A minimal tip dislocation of the middle ear transducer (MET(®), Otologics Ltd) may result in poor hearing performance. Our objective was to examine if a defined MET dislocation can be diagnosed by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) or digital volume tomography (DVT). A human cadaver head was sequentially implanted with different MET tips (incus application) including a ceramic tip (T 1c), a titanium tip (T 1t), a new, thinner titanium tip (T 2), and a spherical titanium tip (Ts).

Aberrant course of the intracranial facial nerve in cases of atresia of the internal auditory canal (IAC).

Introduction: The aim of this study is to describe the morphology of the rare malformation that is atresia of the internal auditory canal (IAC) and determine the course of the facial nerve in cases of normal facial nerve function.

Methods: Index cases were retrospectively selected from our electronic database in which all inner ear malformations presenting to a tertiary referral center between 1995 and 2010 are collected. Computed tomography (CT) data and magnetic resonance (MR) images were reviewed by two neuroradiologists.

Persistent petrosquamosal sinus: high incidence in cases of complete aplasia of the semicircular canals.

Purpose: To determine the frequency and to describe the morphologic characteristics and associated skull base anomalies of the petrosquamosal sinus (PSS) in cochlear implant candidates with complete aplasia of the semicircular canals (SCCs).

Materials And Methods: Ethics committee approval was obtained. Index cases were retrospectively selected from an electronic database in which all inner ear malformations observed in patients presenting to a tertiary referral center between 1995 and 2010 were collected.

Ear and further anatomic anomalies in children undergoing stapedotomy.

Purpose: Aim of this study was to examine any stapes fixation-related clinical, intraoperative and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings in children undergoing stapedotomy.

Procedures: Detailed diagnostic assessment was performed in 12 children (18 ears) who underwent stapedotomy within the period 2005-2008.

Results: Ear malformations such as malleus-incus anomalies, malleus-epitympanum fixation and absence of the stapedius tendon, small external auditory canal and auricle malformations were clinically and/or intraoperatively diagnosed.

Appearance of hypoplastic cochleae in CT and MRI: a new subclassification.

Introduction: Hypoplastic cochleae are among the inner ear malformations more frequently encountered by radiologists; little detailed information is available on these, however. We present the first large series of hypoplastic cochleae and document imaging findings to better characterize this anomaly radiologically.

Methods: We used our electronic database to search for inner ear malformations described between 1995 and 2009 and extracted 81 ears (of 47 patients) with hypoplastic cochleae out of 289 patients with inner ear malformations.

From labyrinthine aplasia to otocyst deformity.

Introduction: Inner ear malformations (IEMs) are rare and it is unusual to encounter the rarest of them, namely labyrinthine aplasia (LA) and otocyst deformity. They do, however, provide useful pointers as to the early embryonic development of the ear. LA is characterised as a complete absence of inner ear structures.

Ca2+-dependent functions in peptidoglycan-stimulated mouse dendritic cells.

Peptidoglycans (PGN) from bacterial cell walls may modify the course of an infection with bacterial pathogens. The present study explored the effect of PGN on cytosolic Ca2+ activity, cytokine production and phagocytosis of mouse dendritic cells (DCs), essential cells in the initiation and direction of antigen-specific T cell responses. Exposure of DCs to PGN was followed by a rapid increase in cytosolic Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i), which was due to Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and influx of extracellular Ca2+ across the cell membrane.

Forensic imaging of projectiles using cone-beam computed tomography.

In patients with gunshot injuries, it is easy to detect a projectile within the body due to the high-density of the object, but artefacts make it difficult to obtain information about the deformation and the exact location of the projectile in surrounding tissues. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a new radiological imaging modality that allows radio-opaque objects to be localised and assessed in three dimensions. The full potential of the use of CBCT in forensic medicine has not yet been explored.

Staphylococcus aureus-induced plasmacytoid dendritic cell activation is based on an IgG-mediated memory response.

Type I IFNs represent a major antimicrobial defense mechanism due to their property of enhancing immune responses by priming both innate and adaptive immune cells. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are the major source of type I IFN in the human body and represent innate immune cells involved in first-line defense against invading pathogens. Although pDC activation has been extensively studied upon stimulation with synthetic TLR ligands, viruses, and intracellular bacteria, there is only scarce information on extracellular bacteria.