Use of Prophylactic or Therapeutic Anticoagulation in Critically Ill Patients With Pre-existing Atrial Fibrillation.

The optimal anticoagulation regimen for atrial fibrillation (AF) in critically ill patients is challenging as these patients may be at an increased risk for bleeding and clotting despite an absence or presence of anticoagulation. The purpose of this study was to compare bleeding and thrombotic rates in critically-ill adults with pre-existing AF receiving therapeutic anticoagulation versus chemical or mechanical venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. A retrospective, observational study was conducted.

The Differentiation between Progressive Disease and Treatment-Induced Effects with Perfusion-Weighted Arterial Spin-Labeling in High-Grade Gliomas.

Background And Purpose: Treatment-induced effects are difficult to differentiate from progressive disease in radiologically progressing diffuse gliomas after treatment. This retrospective, single-center cohort study investigated the diagnostic value of arterial spin-labeling perfusion in differentiating progressive disease from treatment-induced effects in irradiated patients with a high-grade glioma.

Materials And Methods: Adults with a high-grade glioma diagnosed between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2018, with a new or increasing contrast-enhancing lesion after radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy and arterial spin-labeling were consecutively included.

Quantification of Hydrogen Isotopes Utilizing Raman Spectroscopy Paired with Chemometric Analysis for Application across Multiple Systems.

Online and real-time analysis of a chemical process is a major analytical challenge that can drastically change the way the chemical industry or chemical research operates. With analyses, a new and powerful understanding of chemistry can be gained; however, building robust tools for long-term monitoring faces many challenges, including compensating for instrument drift, instrument replacement, and sensor or probe replacement. Accounting for these changes by recollecting calibration data and rebuilding quantification models can be costly and time-consuming.

Clinical significance of the anti-Nucleolar Organizer Region 90 antibodies (NOR90) in systemic sclerosis: Analysis of the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) cohort and a systematic literature review.

Background: The anti-Nucleolar Organizer Region 90 antibodies (NOR90) are rare antinuclear antibodies (ANA) reported in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Especially due to low prevalence, the clinical relevance of NOR90 in SSc remains uncertain.

Objectives: To analyze the clinical associations of NOR90 in patients with SSc in a multicentric cohort.

Efficacy of methylprednisolone in very early systemic sclerosis: results of the "Hit hard and early'' randomized controlled trial.

Objective: We hypothesized that glucocorticoids would induce remission in very early Systemic Sclerosis patients by inhibition of inflammation driving the disease. We examined the efficacy and safety of methylprednisolone in very early Systemic Sclerosis.

Methods: In this trial adults with puffy fingers for less than three years, specific auto-antibodies and meeting the Very Early Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis criteria were randomly assigned (2:1) to methylprednisolone 1000 mg intravenously or placebo for 3 consecutive days 3 times with monthly intervals.

FLAVOUR Study: FLow profiles And postoperative VasOplegia after continUous-flow left ventriculaR assist device implantation.

This study aims to associate the incidence of postoperative vasoplegia and short-term survival to the implantation of various left ventricular assist devices differing in hemocompatibility and flow profiles. The overall incidence of vasoplegia was 25.3% (73/289 patients) and 30.

An electrochemical technique for sensing uranium adsorption and desorption.

Uranium is a toxic, heavy metal that can pose elevated health risks if leached into the environment. Uranium mobility is dependent on many factors, including speciation, solution pH, ligands in solution, and presence of surfaces. Surface adsorption is one phenomenon that inhibits uranium mobility in the environment and is studied as a naturally occurring phenomenon as well an intentional tool for environmental remediation.

Nailfold capillaroscopy and candidate-biomarker levels in systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary hypertension: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Pulmonary hypertension is one of the leading causes of death in systemic sclerosis. Early detection and treatment of pulmonary hypertension in systemic sclerosis is crucial. Nailfold capillaroscopy microscopy, vascular autoantibodies AT1R and ETAR, and several candidate-biomarkers have the potential to serve as noninvasive tools to identify systemic sclerosis patients at risk for developing pulmonary hypertension.

Effect of P2Y12 platelet reactivity level on peri- and postoperative outcomes of cardiac surgery patients.

Background: Evidence surrounding P2Y12 platelet reactivity units (PRU) impact on bleeding outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass is varied. This study sought to assess whether on-pump CABG procedures result in increased bleeding in patients with high compared to low PRUs.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study compared those with a PRU level ≤237 (low PRU group) to >237 (high PRU group).

A Small Set of Nuclear Markers for Reliable Differentiation of the Two Closely Related Oak Species and .

and are, in addition to , the main economically used deciduous tree species in Europe. Identification of these two species is crucial because they differ in their ecological demands. Because of a changing climate, foresters must know more than ever which species will perform better under given environmental conditions.

Case report: A successful second autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in refractory systemic sclerosis, with positive effect on skin involvement, pulmonary function and microcirculation.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation, vasculopathy and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Treatment with autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for progressive SSc has improved overall and event-free survival rates significantly, but unfortunately disease progression after HCT is seen in a subset of patients. Data on the efficacy and safety of second HCT is scarce.

The mitochondrial genome sequence of Abies alba Mill. reveals a high structural and combinatorial variation.

Background: Plant mitogenomes vary widely in size and genomic architecture. Although hundreds of plant mitogenomes of angiosperm species have already been sequence-characterized, only a few mitogenomes are available from gymnosperms. Silver fir (Abies alba) is an economically important gymnosperm species that is widely distributed in Europe and occupies a large range of environmental conditions.

Tree Genetic Engineering, Genome Editing and Genomics.

In this Special Issue [...

Gabapentin to treat acute alcohol withdrawal in hospitalized patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Gabapentin is an antiepileptic medication with evidence of benefit in alcohol use disorder patients. The mechanism of action of gabapentin may also benefit patients suffering from acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to examine if gabapentin can effectively replace/reduce the use of benzodiazepines for the treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms in hospitalized patients.

ARR17 controls dioecy in by repressing B-class MADS-box gene expression.

The number of dioecious species for which the genetic basis of sex determination has been resolved is rapidly increasing. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms downstream of the sex determinants remain largely elusive. Here, by RNA-sequencing early-flowering isogenic aspen () lines differing exclusively for the sex switch gene , we show that a narrowly defined genetic network controls differential development of female and male flowers.

Interventional, Quasi-Experimental Study of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Education Care Plan for Hospital Discharge.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and reduced quality of life for patients. Proper use of inhaler devices is critical for effective drug delivery and prevention of COPD progression. The primary endpoint of this study was a mean percent increase in correct steps associated with inhaler technique after pharmacist education.

Transcriptome analysis of North American sweet birch (Betula lenta) revealed a higher expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites than European silver birch (B. pendula).

The North American Betula lenta L. (sweet birch) has been used for medicinal reasons for centuries by native Americans. Although sophisticated technologies have rapidly been developed, a large information gap has been observed regarding genetic regulators of medicinally important compounds in sweet birch.

European oak chemical diversity - from ecotypes to herbivore resistance.

Climate change is increasing insect pressure and forcing plants to adapt. Although chemotypic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity in spatially separated tree populations are known for decades, understanding their importance in herbivory resistance across forests remains challenging. We studied four oak forest stands in Germany using nontarget metabolomics, elemental analysis, and chemometrics and mapped the leaf metabolome of herbivore-resistant (T-) and herbivore-susceptible (S-) European oaks (Quercus robur) to Tortrix viridana, an oak pest that causes severe forest defoliation.

How are social stressors at work related to well-being and health? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Social relationships are crucial for well-being and health, and considerable research has established social stressors as a risk for well-being and health. However, researchers have used many different constructs, and it is unclear if these are actually different or reflect a single overarching construct. Distinct patterns of associations with health/well-being would indicate separate constructs, similar patterns would indicate a common core construct, and remaining differences could be attributed to situational characteristics such as frequency or intensity.

Autoantibody profiles in systemic sclerosis; a comparison of diagnostic tests.

Objectives: Autoimmune antibody profiling plays a prominent role in both classification and prognosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). In the last years novel autoantibodies have been discovered and have become available in diagnostic assays. However, standardization in autoimmune serology is lacking, which may have a negative impact on the added value of autoantibodies in diagnosis and prognosis of SSc.

The Diversity and Dynamics of Sex Determination in Dioecious Plants.

The diversity of inflorescences among flowering plants is captivating. Such charm is not only due to the variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and flowers displayed, but also to the range of reproductive systems. For instance, hermaphrodites occur abundantly throughout the plant kingdom with both stamens and carpels within the same flower.

Photoacoustic and high-frequency ultrasound imaging of systemic sclerosis patients.

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis starts with an early phase characterized by Raynaud's phenomenon, puffy fingers/hands, autoantibodies, and a scleroderma nailfold microscopic pattern. Alterations in the nailfold microscopic pattern are not evident in all early SSc patients. Photoacoustics (PA) and high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) could fulfill this need.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of L. (Pinaceae).

The Swiss pine () is a montane tree in Central Europe and, therefore, known for its hardiness against severe winter colds. The seeds are harvested and eaten as pine nuts. We assembled and characterized the complete chloroplast genome of to serve as a valuable resource in future genetic studies.