Somatic hypermutation introduces bystander mutations that prepare SARS-CoV-2 antibodies for emerging variants.

Somatic hypermutation (SHM) drives affinity maturation and continues over months in SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies (nAbs). However, several potent SARS-CoV-2 antibodies carry no or only a few mutations, leaving the question of how ongoing SHM affects neutralization unclear. Here, we reverted variable region mutations of 92 antibodies and tested their impact on SARS-CoV-2 binding and neutralization.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages exhibit distinct antibody escape patterns.

SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies play a critical role in COVID-19 prevention and treatment but are challenged by viral evolution and the emergence of novel escape variants. Importantly, the recently identified Omicron sublineages BA.2.

Determining the reliability of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection in fully vaccinated individuals.

Background: Rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) are commonly used as SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests both by medical professionals and laypeople. However, the performance of RADT in vaccinated individuals has not been fully investigated.

Objectives: RT-qPCR and rapid antigen detection testing were performed to evaluate the performance of the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Test in detecting SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals.

No substantial preexisting B cell immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in healthy adults.

Preexisting immunity against SARS-CoV-2 may have critical implications for our understanding of COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. The presence and clinical relevance of a preexisting B cell immunity remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of the B cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in unexposed individuals.

Comprehensive analysis of Twitter usage during a major medical conference held virtually versus in-person.

Background: Twitter has become one of the most important social media platforms in science communication. During scientific conferences, Twitter can facilitate the communication between audience and speakers present at the venue and can extend the reach of a conference to participants following along from home. To examine whether Twitter activity can serve as a surrogate parameter for attendance at the RSNA conferences in 2019 and in 2020, and to characterize changes in topics discussed due to the virtual character of the 2020 RSNA conference.

Evaluation of a Rapid Antigen Test To Detect SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Identify Potentially Infectious Individuals.

The identification and isolation of highly infectious SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals is an important public health strategy. Rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) are promising tools for large-scale screenings due to timely results and feasibility for on-site testing. Nonetheless, the diagnostic performance of RADT in detecting infectious individuals is not yet fully determined.

Practical applications of deep learning: classifying the most common categories of plain radiographs in a PACS using a neural network.

Objectives: The goal of the present study was to classify the most common types of plain radiographs using a neural network and to validate the network's performance on internal and external data. Such a network could help improve various radiological workflows.

Methods: All radiographs from the year 2017 (n = 71,274) acquired at our institution were retrieved from the PACS.

Longitudinal Isolation of Potent Near-Germline SARS-CoV-2-Neutralizing Antibodies from COVID-19 Patients.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has unprecedented implications for public health, social life, and the world economy. Because approved drugs and vaccines are limited or not available, new options for COVID-19 treatment and prevention are in high demand. To identify SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies, we analyzed the antibody response of 12 COVID-19 patients from 8 to 69 days after diagnosis.

Amplification of KRAS and its heterogeneity in non-Asian gastric adenocarcinomas.

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the deadliest cancer entities worldwide. While surgery is the only curative treatment option in early tumors, for locally advanced and metastatic patients further therapeutic targets are needed. Several studies not only reported mutations but also amplifications of the KRAS locus in different cancer entities.

Identification of targeted therapy options for gastric adenocarcinoma by comprehensive analysis of genomic data.

Background: So far only trastuzumab, pembrolizumab and ramucirumab have been approved by the FDA for targeted therapy in gastric cancer (GC). Here we report on potential targeted therapy options for gastric adenocarcinoma based on a novel analysis of "The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)" database.

Methods: One hundred two FDA-approved targeted cancer drugs were compiled and molecular targets defined.

Technical Steps and Tips for Linear-Stapled Gastric Bypass Based on Personal Experience and the Classification of Intraoperative Complexity.

The most commonly performed Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) procedure is difficult and has many technical variations. The individual patient's anatomic characteristics, like an exceptionally large left liver lobe, fatty mesentery with limited mobile Roux limb, difficulty in positioning a stapler, etc., can greatly increase the technical difficulty of this procedure.

Video-Assisted Subcutaneous Destruction of the Sinus Tract with Vessel-Loop Drainage as Minimally-Invasive Surgical Treatment for Pilonidal Sinus Disease.

The video-assisted subcutaneous destruction of the sinus tract (VADST) is a novel, minimally-invasive technique for the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease (PSD). This is an advancement of the previously described subcutaneous destruction of the sinus tract and the removal of hairs as well as the long-term vessel-loop drainage of the wound channel (DST). Although the first results of this operation seemed to be promising, some of my colleagues felt that the blind approach to this procedure could be its potential "weak point".

[Register of Difficult Surgical Situations].

Every surgical problem that increases the likelihood of intraoperative and postoperative complications is considered to be a difficult surgical situation. Based on this definition, Korenkov et al. proposed to classify patients according to the following intraoperative difficulty levels (I to IV): (I) ideal situation (easy to operate, no problems), (II) fairly easy/manageable/simple (some minor difficulties may occur), (III) difficult/problematic (difficult to operate; some operative techniques are considerably more difficult than others), and (IV) very difficult (every operative step is difficult/challenging).

Subcutaneous Destruction of Sinus Tract with Long-term Vessel Loop Drainage as a Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment for Primary Pilonidal Sinus.

The surgical management of pilonidal disease ranges from minimally invasive techniques to wide excision with secondary wound healing. Hypothetical counterarguments for using the minimally invasive techniques are that these techniques only incompletely remove the sinus tract and that they allow the formation of subcutaneous cavities as a result of rapid closure of small skin incisions. In order to avoid these problems we used a vessel loop drainage after subcutaneous destruction of the sinus tract.

Individual surgery for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

The management of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) is complex. Local tumor resection with disease-free resection margins without lymphadenectomy is the treatment of choice for primary non-metastatic tumors. This can be achieved with several techniques including wedge resection, transgastric resection, partial gastrectomy, total gastrectomy, and multivisceral resection.

[The impact of preoperative classification of expected intraoperative difficulties. A multicenter study].

Background: This study examined the validity of the classification of intraoperative difficulties and its usefulness in surgical practice.

Material And Methods: Data on general surgical patients were collected in four German hospitals within a multicentre validation study. Before and immediately after surgery, the operating surgeon rated the relative difficulty of the operation using a score of 1 (easy), 2 (not easy), 3 (difficult) and 4 (very difficult).

FTO and INSIG2 Genotyping Combined with Metabolic and Anthropometric Phenotyping of Morbidly Obese Patients.

Obesity is a major health problem worldwide. Associations of obesity with common variants of the fat mass- and obesity-associated gene (FTO) and insulin-induced gene 2 (INSIG2) have been reported in various studies. We aimed to further investigate the association of 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs9939609 in FTO and rs7566605 in INSIG2, with body mass index (BMI) and other anthropometric and metabolic parameters in subjects with morbid obesity (BMI ≥40).

Metabolic programming of MEST DNA methylation by intrauterine exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus.

Epigenetic processes are primary candidates when searching for mechanisms that can stably modulate gene expression and metabolic pathways according to early life conditions. To test the effects of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on the epigenome of the next generation, cord blood and placenta tissue were obtained from 88 newborns of mothers with dietetically treated GDM, 98 with insulin-dependent GDM, and 65 without GDM. Bisulfite pyrosequencing was used to compare the methylation levels of seven imprinted genes involved in prenatal and postnatal growth, four genes involved in energy metabolism, one anti-inflammatory gene, one tumor suppressor gene, one pluripotency gene, and two repetitive DNA families.

Unicentric castleman's disease located in the lower extremity: a case report.

Background: Castleman's disease is a rare form of localized lymph node hyperplasia of uncertain etiology. Although the mediastinum is the most common site of involvement, rare cases occurring in lymph node bearing tissue of other localization have been reported, including only a few intramuscular cases. Unicentric and multicentric Castleman's disease are being distinguished, the latter harboring an unfavorable prognosis.

Laparoscopic gastric banding and individual bariatric surgery.

Different factors (strategic, anatomical, instrumental, etc.) can cause difficult surgical situations, especially in bariatric surgery. In a difficult surgical situation, the surgeon faces a dilemma as to whether to continue the intended operation "at all costs" or to deviate from the initially planned surgical procedure to some alternative technique or procedure.