The most widely used formalin test to screen antinociceptive drug candidates is still apostrophized as targeting inflammatory pain, in spite of strong opposing evidence published. In our rat skin-nerve preparation ex vivo, recording from all classes of sensory single-fibers (n = 32), 30 units were transiently excited by formaldehyde concentrations 1-100 mM applied to receptive fields (RFs) for 3 min, C and Aδ-fibers being more sensitive (1-30 mM) than Aβ-fibers. From 30 mM on, ~1% of the concentration usually injected in vivo, all RFs were defunctionalized and conduction in an isolated sciatic nerve preparation was irreversibly blocked.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe aimed to characterize knowledge and attitudes about rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS) implementation of a broad constituency of healthcare professionals at hospitals participating in a statewide initiative to implement rWGS for hospitalized neonates and children up to 18 years of age meeting clinical criteria for testing. We surveyed 307 healthcare professionals from eight hospitals about their knowledge and attitudes regarding rWGS. We examined survey internal reliability using exploratory factor analysis and associations between respondent characteristics and attitudes toward rWGS with linear regression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy in the head and neck. The prognosis remains poor and late recurrences often occur after 5 years and later. To date, there are no reliable prognostic markers for ACC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased interest in communication with the public regarding vaccination. Our recent Cochrane qualitative evidence synthesis points to several factors that could influence the implementation and success of healthcare worker communication with older adults about vaccination. However, it is often difficult to assess whether factors identified as potentially important in qualitative studies have been considered in randomized trials because of poor trial reporting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite medical treatment according to evidence-based guidelines, approximately 25-30% of all head and neck tumor patients suffer a disease relapse, depending on tumor stage and entity. The primary goal of systematic follow-up examinations is early detection and treatment of recurrent tumors or metachronous secondary tumors, but it also serves to rule out distant metastasis. Secondary goals are the diagnosis and management of treatment-associated side effects to optimize quality of life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMitochondrial dysfunction can either extend or decrease Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan, depending on whether transcriptionally regulated responses can elicit durable stress adaptation to otherwise detrimental lesions. Here, we test the hypothesis that enhanced metabolic flexibility is sufficient to circumvent bioenergetic abnormalities associated with the phenotypic threshold effect, thereby transforming short-lived mitochondrial mutants into long-lived ones. We find that CEST-2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiofilms can be viewed as tissue-like structures in which microorganisms are organized in a spatial and functional sophisticated manner. Biofilm formation requires the orchestration of a highly integrated network of regulatory proteins to establish cell differentiation and production of a complex extracellular matrix. Here, we discuss the role of the essential Bacillus subtilis biofilm activator RemA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBtk and Vav proteins are all components of the signalosome that builds upon B cell receptor (BCR) activation. However, the role of Vav proteins within the signalosome is quite complex and not yet fully understood. Until now, studies of these have focused predominantly on a deficiency of Vav proteins alone or in combination with other Vav protein family members.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii forms bradyzoite-containing tissue cysts that cause chronic and drug-tolerant infections. However, current in vitro models do not allow long-term culture of these cysts to maturity. Here, we developed a human myotube-based in vitro culture model of functionally mature tissue cysts that are orally infectious to mice and tolerate exposure to a range of antibiotics and temperature stresses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere is a lack of literature on the effects of physical activity and depression on resilience in women living with HIV. This cross-sectional study examined the associations of sociodemographic factors, physical activity, and depression on resilience among 97 women living with HIV using linear regression models. Among these women, the mean resilience score was 70.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: This article presents the methods used to design a prospective cohort study with older adults from a rural area in the far south of Brazil (EpiRural Cohort Study), as well as to describe the cohort profile.
Methods: The cohort study began in 2017 and evaluated older adults (≥60 years) living in rural area. The first follow-up of the cohort was carried out between September 2018 and March 2019.
Food spoilage is associated with pH change. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a pH-sensing film based on the addition of anthocyanin extracted from jaboticaba peel to a biopolymeric matrix. UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis of the anthocyanin extract was performed to detect the color change in a broad pH range (1-11).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a multifactorial inflammatory disease of the paranasal sinus mucosa with eosinophilic inflammation as the most common endotype. The anti-IL5 antibody mepolizumab was approved for the treatment of severe CRSwNP in the EU in November 2021.
Methods: A literature search was performed to analyze the immunology of CRSwNP and determine the available evidence by searching Medline, Pubmed, and the German national and international trial and guideline registries and the Cochrane Library.
Objective: Asprosin is a recently discovered hormone associated with obesity and diabetes mellitus. Little is known about asprosin's role during pregnancy, but a contribution of asprosin to pregnancy complications resulting from maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is conceivable. We assessed the potential effects of obesity, GDM and other clinical parameters on maternal and fetal umbilical plasma asprosin concentrations and placental asprosin expression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is triggered by vaccination against COVID-19 with adenovirus vector vaccines (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19; Ad26.COV2-S). In this observational study, we followed VITT patients for changes in their reactivity of platelet-activating antiplatelet factor 4 (PF4) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies by an anti-PF4/heparin IgG enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and a functional test for PF4-dependent, platelet-activating antibodies, and new thrombotic complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfections by the pathogenic gut bacterium Clostridioides difficile cause severe diarrhoeas up to a toxic megacolon and are currently among the major causes of lethal bacterial infections. Successful bacterial propagation in the gut is strongly associated with the adaptation to changing nutrition-caused environmental conditions; e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Most antibiotics prescribed in primary care are for acute, and often self-limiting, conditions. Patients' expectations of needing antibiotics are an influential driver of general practitioners' (GPs') prescribing behaviour. Better managing patient expectations in consultations for acute infections may be important for reducing prescribing, particularly for self-limiting conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe C-terminal pro-fibrillin-1 propeptide asprosin is described as white adipose tissue derived hormone that stimulates rapid hepatic glucose release and activates hunger-promoting hypothalamic neurons. Numerous studies proposed correlations of asprosin levels with clinical parameters. However, the enormous variability of reported serum and plasma asprosin levels illustrates the need for sensitive and reliable detection methods in clinical samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To determine whether acute respiratory infection (ARI) decision aids and a general practitioner (GP) training package reduces antibiotic dispensing rate and improves GPs' knowledge of antibiotic benefit-harm evidence.
Methods: A cluster randomized trial of 27 Australian general practices (13 intervention, 14 control) involving 122 GPs. Intervention group GPs were given brief decision aids for 3 ARIs (acute otitis media, acute sore throat, acute bronchitis) and video-delivered training.
Background: Shared decision making is a means of translating evidence into practice and facilitating patient-centred care by helping patients to become more active in the decision-making process. Shared decision making is a collaborative process that involves patients and clinicians making health-related decisions after discussing the available options; the benefits and harms of each option; and considering the patient's values, preferences, and personal circumstances.
Methods: This paper describes what shared decision making is, why it is important, when it is appropriate, and key elements.
In vitro transcribed messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) constitutes an emerging therapeutic class with several clinical applications. This study presents a systematic comparison of different technologies-intradermal injection, microneedle injection, jet injection, and fractional laser ablation-for the topical cutaneous delivery of mRNA. Delivery of Cy5 labeled mRNA and non-labeled enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) expressing mRNA was investigated in a viable ex vivo porcine skin model and monitored for 48 h.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) are often associated with the involvement of various organs. However, data regarding organ manifestation and organ spread are rare. To close this knowledge gap, this cross-sectional study was initiated to evaluate the extent of solid organ manifestations in newly diagnosed IRD patients, and to present a structured systematic organ screening algorithm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This year's American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting included interesting data on first-line therapy of nasopharyngeal carcinomas with PD‑1 inhibitors and on checkpoint inhibition in various clinical constellations. At the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting, the results of the CheckMate-651 study were presented.
Materials And Methods: All abstracts and presentations from the ASCO and ESMO meetings 2021 on immunotherapy in head and neck cancer (HNSCC) were evaluated for their relevance.
Inguinal hernias are some of the most frequently diagnosed conditions in clinical practice and inguinal hernia repair is the most common procedure performed by general surgeons. Studies of inguinal hernias in non-European populations are lacking, though it is expected that such studies could identify novel loci. Further, the cumulative lifetime incidence of inguinal hernia is nine times greater in men than women, however, it is not clear why this difference exists.
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