Tacrolimus-Induced Neurotoxicity After Transplant: A Literature Review.

Tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor, is an immunosuppressant used globally to prevent rejection after organ transplantation. Although it significantly improves outcomes for solid organ transplant patients, it is associated with various side effects such as nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Tacrolimus-induced neurotoxicity is frequently encountered in clinical practice and can present with a variety of symptoms that may occur even at therapeutic levels.

The current state of artificial intelligence generative language models is more creative than humans on divergent thinking tasks.

The emergence of publicly accessible artificial intelligence (AI) large language models such as ChatGPT has given rise to global conversations on the implications of AI capabilities. Emergent research on AI has challenged the assumption that creative potential is a uniquely human trait thus, there seems to be a disconnect between human perception versus what AI is objectively capable of creating. Here, we aimed to assess the creative potential of humans in comparison to AI.

mTORC1 regulates the metabolic switch of postnatal cardiomyocytes during regeneration.

The metabolic switch from glycolysis to fatty acid oxidation in postnatal cardiomyocytes contributes to the loss of the cardiac regenerative potential of the mammalian heart. However, the mechanisms that regulate this metabolic switch remain unclear. The protein kinase complex mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a central signaling hub that regulates cellular metabolism and protein synthesis, yet its role during mammalian heart regeneration and postnatal metabolic maturation is undefined.

mTORC1 Regulates the Metabolic Switch of Postnatal Cardiomyocytes During Regeneration.

The metabolic switch from glycolysis to fatty acid oxidation in postnatal cardiomyocytes contributes to the loss of the cardiac regenerative potential of the mammalian heart. However, the mechanisms that regulate this metabolic switch remain unclear. The protein kinase complex mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a central signaling hub that regulates cellular metabolism and protein synthesis, yet its role during mammalian heart regeneration and postnatal metabolic maturation is undefined.

Navigating a research career with a disability.

In recent years, we have seen an increasing focus in the academic environment on equity, diversity and inclusion. However, one broad group often left out of these discussions are disabled scientists/scientists with disabilities, who often face severe challenges entering the research profession and navigating their careers. Building on the success of the 2022 Young Embryologist Network's meeting, which included a session on 'Working in science with a disability' ( Morgan, 2023) we learn here from the lived experiences of five biologists who share the challenges and successes of undertaking a scientific career with a disability, as well as accommodations that can make science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) careers more accessible and inclusive.

A cohort study reveals different dynamics of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody formation after Comirnaty and Vaxzevria vaccination.

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disease Pandemic, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has affected millions of people worldwide, prompting a collective effort from the global scientific community to develop a vaccine against it. This study purports to investigate the influence of factors such as sex, age, type of vaccination (Comirnaty, BNT162b2, Pfizer Inc. or Vaxzevria, ChAdOx1-S, Oxford/AstraZeneca), and time since vaccine administration on the process of antibody production.

Hox genes in development and beyond.

Hox genes encode evolutionarily conserved transcription factors that are essential for the proper development of bilaterian organisms. Hox genes are unique because they are spatially and temporally regulated during development in a manner that is dictated by their tightly linked genomic organization. Although their genetic function during embryonic development has been interrogated, less is known about how these transcription factors regulate downstream genes to direct morphogenetic events.

Treatment of status epilepticus with zonisamide: A multicenter cohort study of 34 patients and review of literature.

Introduction: We present a summary of clinical cases of oral zonisamide (ZNS) used to treat refractory and super-refractory episodes of status epilepticus (SE).

Methods: Zonisamide administration in SE was identified in the clinical records of patients treated in Frankfurt and Marburg between 2011 and 2017.

Results: Zonisamide was administered during a total of 37 SE episodes in 34 patients with a mean age of 58.

Treatment of refractory and superrefractory status epilepticus with topiramate: A cohort study of 106 patients and a review of the literature.

Objective: Novel treatments are needed to control treatment-resistant status epilepticus (SE). We present a summary of clinical cases where oral topiramate (TPM) was used in refractory SE (RSE) and superrefractory SE (SRSE).

Methods: A review of medical records was carried out to detect TPM administration in SE patients treated in Frankfurt and Marburg between 2011 and 2016.

A homopolymeric adenosine tract in the promoter region of nspA influences factor H-mediated serum resistance in Neisseria meningitidis.

Although usually asymptomatically colonizing the human nasopharynx, the Gram-negative bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) can spread to the blood stream and cause invasive disease. For survival in blood, N. meningitidis evades the complement system by expression of a polysaccharide capsule and surface proteins sequestering the complement regulator factor H (fH).

Asymptomatic carriage of Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus among adults aged 65 years and older.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, group A Streptococcus (GAS), and Staphylococcus aureus in asymptomatic elderly people and to unravel risk factors leading to colonization.

Methods: A multi-centre cross-sectional study was conducted including 677 asymptomatic adults aged 65 years or more, living at home or in nursing homes. Study areas were Greater Aachen (North-Rhine-Westphalia) and Wuerzburg (Bavaria), both regions with medium to high population density.

Corynebacterium species nasopharyngeal carriage in asymptomatic individuals aged ≥ 65 years in Germany.

Purpose: The prevalence of protective anti-diphtheria toxin antibodies decreases with age. Therefore, the elderly might serve as reservoir for potentially toxigenic Corynebacterium (C.) species (C.

Costs and cost-driving factors for acute treatment of adults with status epilepticus: A multicenter cohort study from Germany.

Objective: To provide first data on inpatient costs and cost-driving factors due to nonrefractory status epilepticus (NSE), refractory status epilepticus (RSE), and super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE).

Methods: In 2013 and 2014, all adult patients treated due to status epilepticus (SE) at the university hospitals in Frankfurt, Greifswald, and Marburg were analyzed for healthcare utilization.

Results: We evaluated 341 admissions in 316 patients (65.

Treatment of contralateral hydrocele in neonatal testicular torsion: Is less more?

Objective: Treatment of neonatal testicular torsion has two objectives: salvage of the involved testicle (which is rarely achieved) and preservation of the contralateral gonad. The second goal universally involves contralateral testicular scrotal fixation to prevent the future occurrence of contralateral torsion. However, there is controversy with regards to management of a synchronous contralateral hydrocele.

Efficacy and safety of deferasirox in non-thalassemic patients with elevated ferritin levels after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Elevated serum ferritin contributes to treatment-related morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The multicenter DE02 trial assessed the safety, efficacy and impact of deferasirox on iron homeostasis after allogeneic HSCT. Deferasirox was administered at a starting dose of 10 mg/kg per day to 76 recipients of allogeneic HSCT, with subsequent dose adjustments based on efficacy and safety.

Validation of a bowel dysfunction instrument for adolescents with spina bifida.

Introduction: Existing survey instruments for bowel dysfunction in the pediatric population are either parent-reported or focus on non-neurogenic bowel dysfunction.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an adolescent-reported survey to assess the severity of bowel dysfunction in spina bifida patients and examine its impact on quality of life (QOL).

Study Design: We performed a cross-sectional study of patients in our Myelodysplasia Program, aged 11-17 years, with a history of constipation and/or fecal incontinence (FI) from November 2010 to June 2013.

Long-term outcomes of catheterizable continent urinary channels: What do you use, where you put it, and does it matter?

Introduction: Appendicovesicostomy (APV) and Monti ileovesicostomy (Monti) are commonly used catheterizable channels with similar outcomes on short-term follow-up. Their relative long-term results have not been previously published.

Objective: Our goal was to assess long-term durability of APV and Monti channels in a large patient cohort.

Urinary incontinence in spina bifida: Initial instrument validation.

The purpose of this study was to perform a psychometric assessment of the Incontinence Symptom Index-Pediatric (ISI-P) in a cohort of adolescents with spina bifida (SB) and neuropathic urinary incontinence (UI) to test its validity and reliability. The ISI-P, an 11-item instrument with domains for symptom severity and impairment, was self-administered by subjects 11-17 years old with SB and UI. Controls were 11-17 years old, with nephrolithiasis and no history of UI.

Long-term renal functional outcomes after primary gastrocystoplasty.

Purpose: We assessed long-term renal function, morbidities and mortality in 50 patients who had undergone primary gastrocystoplasty at our institution.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients 21 years or younger who had undergone primary gastrocystoplasty between 1984 and 2004. Patients who underwent secondary gastrocystoplasty or primary composite augmentation or had cloacal exstrophy were excluded.