Int J Mol Sci
February 2025
Insects make up the largest number of species and individuals in the world [...
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe industrially attractive biopolymer poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is commonly produced by species of the genus by co-feeding different carbon- and nitrogen-sources. Recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of co-metabolization of a rapidly degradable carbon source such as glycerol together with citrate for γ-PGA production, independently fueling biomass generation as well as tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle precursor supply. With this study, we report that the sole presence of citrate in the production medium greatly influences growth behavior, γ-PGA production, and the viscosity of microbial cultures during biopolymer synthesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Person-centred care (PCC) is a fundamental principle in general practice, emphasising practices tailored to individual patient preferences, needs, and values. Despite the importance of PCC, general practitioners (GPs) face obstacles in effectively implementing it, with associated factors remaining unclear.
Objectives: The PACE GP/FP study aims to explore GPs' attitudes towards PCC and the factors facilitating or hindering its implementation in daily practice across European countries.
Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging
February 2025
Purpose: Heterogeneity in clinical phenotypes has led to the description of different phenotypes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Besides the most frequent amnestic variant of AD (aAD), patients presenting with language deficits are diagnosed with logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA), whereas patients presenting with visual deficits are classified as posterior cortical atrophy (PCA).
Methods: This study set out to investigate the value of a multi-parametric [F]PI-2620 tau PET/MRI protocol to distinguish aAD, lvPPA and PCA to support clinical diagnosis in 32 patients.
Introduction: Venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) like deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism are frequent complications in (neuro) critical ill patients. Anticoagulation for VTE after space-occupying brain infarction is a therapeutic dilemma. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the frequency of clinically apparent VTE in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO), its treatment, and the rate of complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExergames have the potential to be used as physical-cognitive training tools. Although numerous studies investigated the physical and motivational effects of Exergaming, a comprehensive summary of training effects in healthy adults is still missing. This scoping review aims to identify available evidence and research gaps on absolute and relative effects of Exergame training on physical indicators (effectiveness) and motivation (attractiveness) compared to no or conventional training in healthy adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe human pathogens Plasmodium and Schistosoma are each responsible for over 200 million infections annually, especially in low- and middle-income countries. There is a pressing need for new drug targets for these diseases, driven by emergence of drug-resistance in Plasmodium and an overall dearth of drug targets against Schistosoma. Here, we explored the opportunity for pathogen-hopping by evaluating a series of quinoxaline-based anti-schistosomal compounds for their activity against P.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes four viral Fc-gamma receptors (vFcγRs) that counteract antibody-mediated activation in vitro, but their role in infection and pathogenesis is unknown. To examine their in vivo function in an animal model evolutionarily closely related to humans, we identified and characterized Rh05, Rh152/151 and Rh173 as the complete set of vFcγRs encoded by rhesus CMV (RhCMV). Each one of these proteins displays functional similarities to their prospective HCMV orthologs with respect to antagonizing host FcγR activation in vitro.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe advent of endovascular thrombectomy has significantly improved outcomes for stroke patients with intracranial large vessel occlusion, yet individual benefits can vary widely. As demand for thrombectomy rises and geographic disparities in stroke care access persist, there is a growing need for predictive models that quantify individual benefits. However, current imaging methods for estimating outcomes may not fully capture the dynamic nature of cerebral ischemia and lack a patient-specific assessment of thrombectomy benefits.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe body contour market has grown rapidly in recent years, due to persistent requests for noninvasive treatments for localized fat adiposities, cellulite, and skin laxity. A variety of different methods are now available to improve body shaping. This review aims to provide an exhaustive compendium of the main recommendations for the optimal use of an innovative device delivering microwaves (MWs) for unwanted fat and cellulite reduction (Onda Coolwaves, DEKA, Florence, Italy), resulting from the experiences of the most expert international users.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEstrogen fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, puberty, postpartum, or in the menopausal transition are associated with cognitive, affective, and behavioral effects. Additionally, estrogens are essential in hormonal contraception, menopausal hormone therapy, or gender-affirming hormone therapy. This systematic review summarizes findings on the role of estrogens for structure, function, and connectivity of human brain networks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The adoption of healthy self-care practices has proven necessary for professional life, as they often serve as a shield against stressors in the workplace. The COVID-19 pandemic created a high strain on general practitioners (GPs), contributing to increased workload, burnout, and anxiety. The present study aimed to identify self-care practices adopted by GPs amid the COVID-19 pandemic; and to explore the relationships between self-care practices and risk of distress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Evidence-based treatment recommendations are helpful in the corresponding discipline-specific treatment but can hardly take data from real-world care into account. In order to make better use of this in everyday clinical practice, including with respect to predictive statements about disease development or treatment success, models with data from treatment must be developed in order to use them for the development of assistive artificial intelligence.
Goal: The aim of the Use Case 1 of the medical informatics hub in Saxony (MiHUBx) is the development of a model based on treatment and research data for a treatment algorithm supported by biomarkers and also the development of the necessary digital infrastructure.
Antimicrobial resistance remains a global issue, hindering the control of bacterial infections. This study examined the antimicrobial properties of 2,3-N,N-diphenyl quinoxaline derivatives against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and Mycobacterium species. Two quinoxaline derivatives (compounds 25 and 31) exhibited significant activity against most strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, and Enterococcus faecalis tested, with MIC values ranging from 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProviding health care is a balancing act among human resources, financial pressures and system-intrinsic factors. Understanding the utilization behaviour of primary and secondary care facilities [general practitioners (GPs) vs. specialists, as well as in- and outpatient hospital care] is crucial for a country like Austria, which has free access to all levels of care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Cushing's syndrome (CS) results in increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Subtype-specific differences and possible reversibility after biochemical cure are not well investigated.
Design: Prospective cohort study evaluating the CV status in different forms of endogenous cortisol excess.
The evaluation of real-world data (RWD) enables insights to be gained from a wide range of patient data collected in routine clinical practice. In addition, multicenter analyses represent a broad and representative patient population and have the potential to capture the actual treatment situation. As a basis for this, the definition of datasets and an infrastructure for data exchange is necessary.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAltered intestinal immune homeostasis leads to chronic inflammation in Crohn's disease (CD). To address disease- and tissue-specific alterations, we performed a T cell-centric mass cytometry analysis of peripheral and intestinal lymphocytes from patients with CD and healthy donors' PBMCs. Chronic intestinal inflammation enforced activation, exhaustion, and terminal differentiation of CD4 and CD8 T cells and a relative enrichment of CD4 regulatory T (Treg) cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This article aims to examine patient safety in general practice during COVID-19.
Methods: In total, 5489 GP practices from 37 European countries and Israel filled in the online self-reported PRICOV-19 survey between November 2020 and December 2021. The outcome measures include 30 patient safety indicators on structure, process, and outcome.
Background: Long COVID-19 challenges health and social systems globally. International research finds major inequalities in prevalence and healthcare utilization as patients describe difficulties with accessing health care. In order to improve long-term outcomes it is vital to understand any underlying access barriers, for which relevant evidence on long COVID-19 is thus far lacking in a universal healthcare system like Austria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur Arch Otorhinolaryngol
February 2025
Purpose: Modern facial surgery can improve eye closure and address facial functional and emotional expression disabilities in case of severe acute facial paralysis with low probability of recovery and in cases of chronic flaccid facial paralysis. Reports on outcome typically originate from specialized tertiary care centers, whereas population-based data from routine care beyond specialized centers is sparse.
Methods: Therefore, patients' characteristics, surgical techniques, postoperative complications, and patients' satisfaction with the final outcome were analyzed for all inpatients with facial paralysis undergoing facial surgery in Thuringia, a federal state in Germany, between 2006 and 2022.