The Focal Induction of Reactive Oxygen Species in Rats as a Trigger of Aortic Valve Degeneration.

Background: Degenerative aortic valve disease (DAVD) is a multifactorial process. We developed an animal model to analyze the isolated, local effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on its pathophysiology.

Methods: We utilized a photodynamic reaction (PDR) as a source of ROS in the aortic valve by aiming a laser at the aortic valve for 60 min after the administration of a photosensitizer 24 h prior.

No Matter When or Where: Addressing the Need for Continuous Family Planning Services During Shocks and Stressors.

Global progress on meeting family planning needs is threatened by worsening, intersecting crises. We call on global, national, and local partners to strengthen emergency preparedness to facilitate continuous family planning services, no matter when or where they are needed, to support sexual and reproductive health.

Complex Dysautonomia in a Patient With Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Due to a KRIT1 Pleiotropic Gene Mutation.

Dysautonomia is a disruption of the body's autonomic processes. Symptoms vary among patients, depending on the underlying disease pathways. Given that symptoms can affect all organ functions, dysautonomia often significantly impacts quality of life.

Predisposition to Type 2 Diabetes in Aspects of the Glycemic Curve and Glycated Hemoglobin in Healthy, Young Adults: A Cross-sectional Study.

Objectives: Our aim in this study was to identify predictors for diabetes among the characteristics of the glycemic curve and glycated hemoglobin (A1C) in healthy, young adults.

Methods: We used a cross-sectional study to establish predictors for diabetes based on earlier studies and evaluated occurrence of the condition in 81 healthy, young adult subjects. These volunteers underwent analysis of fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance test plasma glucose, A1C, and inflammatory markers (leukocytes, monocytes, and C-reactive protein).

Guidelines for mouse and human DC functional assays.

This article is part of the Dendritic Cell Guidelines article series, which provides a collection of state-of-the-art protocols for the preparation, phenotype analysis by flow cytometry, generation, fluorescence microscopy, and functional characterization of mouse and human dendritic cells (DC) from lymphoid organs and various non-lymphoid tissues. Recent studies have provided evidence for an increasing number of phenotypically distinct conventional DC (cDC) subsets that on one hand exhibit a certain functional plasticity, but on the other hand are characterized by their tissue- and context-dependent functional specialization. Here, we describe a selection of assays for the functional characterization of mouse and human cDC.

Guidelines for DC preparation and flow cytometry analysis of mouse lymphohematopoietic tissues.

This article is part of the Dendritic Cell Guidelines article series, which provides a collection of state-of-the-art protocols for the preparation, phenotype analysis by flow cytometry, generation, fluorescence microscopy, and functional characterization of mouse and human DC from lymphoid organs, and various non-lymphoid tissues. Within this chapter, detailed protocols are presented that allow for the generation of single-cell suspensions from mouse lymphohematopoietic tissues including spleen, peripheral lymph nodes, and thymus, with a focus on the subsequent analysis of DC by flow cytometry. However, prepared single-cell suspensions can be subjected to other applications including sorting and cellular enrichment procedures, RNA sequencing, Western blotting, and many more.

Guidelines for DC preparation and flow cytometry analysis of mouse nonlymphoid tissues.

This article is part of the Dendritic Cell Guidelines article series, which provides a collection of state-of-the-art protocols for the preparation, phenotype analysis by flow cytometry, generation, fluorescence microscopy and functional characterization of mouse and human dendritic cells (DC) from lymphoid organs and various nonlymphoid tissues. DC are sentinels of the immune system present in almost every mammalian organ. Since they represent a rare cell population, DC need to be extracted from organs with protocols that are specifically developed for each tissue.

The Role of Interaction with in the Determination of Root Metabolome at Early Stages of AM Symbiosis.

The nature of plant-fungi interaction at early stages of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) development is still a puzzling problem. To investigate the processes behind this interaction, we used the MlS-1 line that forms high-efficient AM symbiosis with . AM fungus actively colonizes the root system of the host plant and contributes to the formation of effective AM as characterized by a high mycorrhizal growth response (MGR) in the host plant.

Mycorrhiza-Induced Alterations in Metabolome of Leaves during Symbiosis Development.

The present study is aimed at disclosing metabolic profile alterations in the leaves of the MlS-1 line that result from high-efficiency arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis formed with under condition of a low phosphorus level in the substrate. A highly effective AM symbiosis was established in the period from the stooling to the shoot branching initiation stage (the efficiency in stem height exceeded 200%). Mycorrhization led to a more intensive accumulation of phosphates (glycerophosphoglycerol and inorganic phosphate) in leaves.

Relation of retinal and hippocampal thickness in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and healthy controls.

Objective: Investigating retinal thickness may complement existing biological markers for dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. Although retinal thinning is predictive for cognitive decline, it remains to be investigated if and how this feature aligns with neurodegeneration elsewhere in the brain, specifically in early disease stages.

Methods: Using optical coherence tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, we examined retinal thickness as well as hippocampal structure in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and healthy controls.

An Open-Label, 8-Week Study of Safety and Efficacy of Pimavanserin Treatment in Adults with Parkinson's Disease and Depression.

Background: Many patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience depression.

Objective: Evaluate pimavanserin treatment for depression in patients with PD.

Methods: Pimavanserin was administered as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor in this 8-week, single-arm, open-label phase 2 study (NCT03482882).

Outcome assessment in dermatology clinical trials and cochrane reviews: call for a dermatology-specific outcome taxonomy.

Background: Standardized outcome reporting is crucial for trial evidence synthesis and translation of findings into clinical decision-making. The OMERACT 2.0 Filter and COMET outcome domain taxonomy propose frameworks for consistent reporting of outcomes.

Assessment of biomechanical properties of the extracellular and pericellular matrix and their interconnection throughout the course of osteoarthritis.

During osteoarthritis (OA)-triggered cartilage degeneration, the chondrocytes spatially rearrange from single to double strings, and then to small and finally big clusters. Both the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the pericellular matrix (PCM) progressively degrade in osteoarthritis, changing the overall mechanical properties of the cartilage. We investigated the mechanical properties particularly elasticity of the ECM and PCM and their interconnection as a function of chondrocyte spatial organisation.

Drafting a Surgical Procedure Using a Computational Anatomy Driven Approach for Precise, Robust, and Safe Vestibular Neuroprosthesis Placement-When One Size Does Not Fit All.

Objective: To design and evaluate a new vestibular implant and surgical procedure that should reach correct electrode placement in 95% of patients in silico.

Design: Computational anatomy driven implant and surgery design study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Cochrane Reviews and Dermatological Trials Outcome Concordance: Why Core Outcome Sets Could Make Trial Results More Usable.

Evidence-based health care requires that relevant outcomes for patients are included in clinical trials investigating treatment effects, allowing subsequent systematic reviews to summarize all relevant evidence to guide clinical practice. Currently, no gold standard of outcome choice for dermatology trials and reviews exists. We systematically assessed concordance between efficacy outcomes in a random sample of 10 Cochrane Skin systematic reviews and the 220 dermatology trials included.

The posterior cerebellum, a new organ at risk?

Eekers et al. have recently proposed a neuro-oncology atlas, which was co-authored by most centers associated in the European Proton Therapy Network (EPTN; Figure 1). With the introduction of new treatment techniques, such as integrated magnetic resonance imaging and linear accelerators (MR-linac) or particle therapy, the prediction of clinical efficacy of these more costly treatment modalities becomes more relevant.

Core outcome sets in dermatology: report from the second meeting of the International Cochrane Skin Group Core Outcome Set Initiative.

Results of clinical trials are the most important information source for generating external clinical evidence. The use of different outcomes across trials, which investigate similar interventions for similar patient groups, significantly limits the interpretation, comparability and clinical application of trial results. Core outcome sets (COSs) aim to overcome this limitation.

Developing a core outcome domain set to assessing effectiveness of interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy: the VAPAIN consensus statement on core outcome domains.

Interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT) is a biopsychosocial treatment approach for patients with chronic pain that comprises at least psychological and physiotherapeutic interventions. Core outcome sets (COSs) are currently developed in different medical fields to standardize and improve the selection of outcome domains, and measurement instruments in clinical trials, to make trial results meaningful, to pool trial results, and to allow indirect comparison between interventions. The objective of this study was to develop a COS of patient-relevant outcome domains for chronic pain in IMPT clinical trials.

[What does pain intensity mean from the patient perspective? : A qualitative study on the patient perspective of pain intensity as an outcome parameter in treatment evaluation and on the interpretability of pain intensity measurements].

Background: Pain intensity (PI) is a common outcome parameter in effectiveness studies on interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT), despite the fact that IMPT highlights dealing with rather than reducing chronic pain. Moreover, the measurement of pain intensity as a highly subjective experience is problematic. Patient participation is absolutely essential to examine the relevance of PI as a criterion of treatment success as well as to select/develop suitable measurement methods.

[Epidemiology and prediction of the risk of falling in patients in acute care settings: Analysis of routine data from a university hospital].

Background: Falls are a relevant issue of inpatient treatment. Epidemiological analysis concerning incidence, risk factors for falls and the quality of risk assessments are missing.

Methods: In a routine data-based cross-sectional study all patients hospitalized in the University Hospital Dresden, Germany, during 2012 and 2013 were analyzed according to fall incidence and risk factors (items of Dresden fall risk assessment [Dresden-FRA], age, sex, severity of disease, and length of stay.

Study protocol: combining experimental methods, econometrics and simulation modelling to determine price elasticities for studying food taxes and subsidies (The Price ExaM Study).

Background: There is a need for accurate and precise food price elasticities (PE, change in consumer demand in response to change in price) to better inform policy on health-related food taxes and subsidies.

Methods/design: The Price Experiment and Modelling (Price ExaM) study aims to: I) derive accurate and precise food PE values; II) quantify the impact of price changes on quantity and quality of discrete food group purchases and; III) model the potential health and disease impacts of a range of food taxes and subsidies. To achieve this, we will use a novel method that includes a randomised Virtual Supermarket experiment and econometric methods.

[Development of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza in Highly Responsive and Mycotrophic Host Plant-Black Medick (Medicago lupulina L.)].

The main phases of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) development were analyzed in black medick (Medicago lupulina) with Glomus intraradices. Methods of light and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate AM. The first mycorrhization was identified on the seventh day after sowing.

Influence of adenosine on ventricular function measurements as part of a comprehensive stress perfusion magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Stress-rest perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become one of the major indications for cardiovascular MRI. Standard multibreath hold short-axis image acquisition is the gold standard for LV function assessment and part of a comprehensive stress-rest perfusion MRI study, but takes up to 10 min. The total scan time could significantly be shortened when cine imaging would be performed between stress and rest perfusion.

Effect of mutations in the pea genes Sym33 and Sym40. II. Dynamics of arbuscule development and turnover.

Two symbiotic pea (Pisum sativum L.) mutants SGEFix(-)-1 (sym40) and SGEFix(-)-2 (sym33) with abnormalities in infection thread formation in symbiotic root nodules were characterised with respect to dynamics of arbuscule development at 15 degrees C and 24 degrees C. Mutation of sym33 decreased mycorrhiza colonisation at both temperatures and delayed arbuscule development at 15 degrees C, whereas mutation of sym40 accelerated mycorrhiza colonisation and arbuscule senescence at 24 degrees C.

Effect of mutations in the pea genes Sym33 and Sym40. I. Arbuscular mycorrhiza formation and function.

Two pea (Pisum sativum L.) symbiotic mutants SGEFix(-)-1 (sym40) and SGEFix(-)-2 (sym33) with abnormalities in infection thread development and function in symbiotic root nodules have been characterised in terms of mycorrhizal colonisation of roots, shoot and root biomass accumulation and shoot and root phosphorus (P) content. The mutation in gene sym33 decreased mycorrhizal colonisation of roots (except arbuscule abundance in mycorrhizal root fragments, which increased) but did not change the effectiveness of mycorrhiza function.