Cortical atrophy patterns in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease.

Objectives: Global brain volume changes in patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease compared with healthy controls (HC) could be revealed by magnetic resonance imaging, but specific atrophy patterns of cortical structures and relation to cognitive impairment are not yet comprehensively known. Thus, we aimed to investigate cortical thickness differences in patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease compared with HC.

Methods: 3-Tesla brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 23 patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease and 49 HC for voxel-wise group comparisons and neuropsychological testing in patients.

COPD is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk independent of phenotype.

Background And Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death worldwide that frequently presents with concomitant cardiovascular diseases. Despite the pathological distinction between individual COPD phenotypes such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, there is a lack of knowledge about the impact of COPD phenotype on cardiovascular disease risk. Thus, this study aimed to utilize a nationally representative sample to investigate cardiovascular disease prevalence in patients with COPD with emphysema and chronic bronchitis phenotypes.

Greater cortical thinning and microstructural integrity loss in myotonic dystrophy type 1 compared to myotonic dystrophy type 2.

Background: Myotonic dystrophy is a multisystem disorder characterized by widespread organic involvement including central nervous system symptoms. Although myotonic dystrophy disease types 1 (DM1) and 2 (DM2) cover a similar spectrum of symptoms, more pronounced clinical and brain alterations have been described in DM1. Here, we investigated brain volumetric and white matter alterations in both disease types and compared to healthy controls (HC).

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the young children participation and environment measure for its use in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

Background: Concepts such as participation and environment may differ across cultures. Consequently, cultural equivalence must be assured when using a measure like the Young Children Participation and Environment Measure (YC-PEM) in other settings than the original English-speaking contexts. This study aimed to cross-culturally translate and adapt the YC-PEM into German as it is used in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Automatic estimation of brain parenchymal fraction in patients with multple sclerosis: a comparison between synthetic MRI and an established automated brain segmentation software based on FSL.

Purpose: We aimed to validate the estimation of the brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (SyMRI) by comparison with software tools of the FMRIB Software Library (FSL). In addition to a cross-sectional method comparison, longitudinal volume changes were assessed to further elucidate the suitability of SyMRI for quantification of disease-specific changes.

Methods: MRI data from 216 patients with MS and 28 control participants were included for volume estimation by SyMRI and FSL-SIENAX.

Parents' perceptions: Participation patterns and desires for change for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder-A descriptive population-based study from Switzerland.

Background: Low participation in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been reported, but age-related and contextual information is rare.

Objective: This study aimed to describe, from parental perspectives, two patterns of participation and parental desires for change of children (age: 5-11) and adolescents (age: 12-17) with ASD in Switzerland.

Method: A cross-sectional design used the German version of the Participation and Environment Measure-Child and Youth to describe and juxtapose the participation results of 60 children and 55 adolescents with ASD in 45 activities at home, school and in the community and parental desires for change.

"Beyond waking and walking. Intensive rehabilitation in patients requiring extended durations of advanced mechanical circulatory support: A case series".

Physical therapy (PT) utilization in patients requiring mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been reported; however, little is known about intensive rehabilitation and associated outcomes in patients requiring extended complex MCS and/or ECMO support. Authors sought to explore safety, feasibility and outcomes associated with active rehabilitation in patients requiring prolonged advanced MCS/ECMO support. Single-center retrospective series evaluated functional, clinical, and longitudinal outcomes of sample of eight critically ill, adult (≥18 years of age) patients who underwent a intensive rehabilitation while receiving prolonged MCS/ECMO through advanced configurations including: venovenous (VV-ECMO), venoarterial (VA-ECMO), oxygenator with right ventricular assist device (Oxy-RVAD) and right ventricular assist device (RVAD).

Parents' Perceptions: Environments and the Contextual Strategies of Parents to Support the Participation of Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Descriptive Population-Based Study from Switzerland.

Environments have a modifying effect on the participation of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in all areas of life. This cross-sectional study investigated parental perspectives on supportive or hindering environments and the daily contextual strategies parents used to enhance their children's participation. Qualitative and quantitative data gathered from 115 parents from German-speaking Switzerland using the participation and environment measure-child and youth (PEM-CY) were analyzed.

Validation of mobile-based funduscope for diabetic retinopathy screening in Estonia.

Aim: To validate mobile-based funduscope for diabetic retinopathy screening in Estonia.

Methods: Quality validation comparison of HEINE iC2 funduscope and Zeiss Visucam camera with image scoring and diagnostic test accuracy measurement by sensitivity and specificity. Study took place from January 2020 until March 2020 in East-Tallinn Central Hospital's eye clinic.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY) into German: a qualitative study in three countries.

Background: Concepts such as participation and environment may differ across cultures. Consequently, to use a measure like the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY) in other than the original English-speaking contexts, cultural adaptation needs to be assured. The aim of this study was to cross-culturally translate and adapt the PEM-CY into German as it is used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Environmental pre-requisites and social interchange: the participation experience of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in Zurich.

Aim: Participation of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder hardly occurs in settings outside of home and school. Little is known about how their participation is influenced by environmental factors. This study explored how and why adolescents with autism spectrum disorder perceive aspects of their environment as facilitators or barriers to their participation outside of home and school.

Supporting and hindering environments for participation of adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review.

The influence of a person's environment and its modifying potential on participation is well recognized for most childhood disabilities, but scarcely studied for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A scoping review was conducted, the aim of which was to map the existing literature about supporting and hindering environments for the participation of adolescents with ASD. Sources of scientific evidence were searched for in four databases.

Survival outcomes of patients with germ cell tumors treated with high-dose chemotherapy for refractory or relapsing disease.

Introduction: Male patients with metastatic germ cell tumors can be cured in up to 96% of cases depending on stage and IGCCCG prognosis group. Treatment in relapse consists of conventional or high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) combined with local treatment modalities.

Results: Most patients were classified as poor risk according to IGCCCG ( = 24; 52%) and as intermediate ( = 12), high ( = 16), or very high risk ( = 9) at time of first relapse according to IPFSG criteria.

Four alpha ganglion cell types in mouse retina: Function, structure, and molecular signatures.

The retina communicates with the brain using ≥30 parallel channels, each carried by axons of distinct types of retinal ganglion cells. In every mammalian retina one finds so-called "alpha" ganglion cells (αRGCs), identified by their large cell bodies, stout axons, wide and mono-stratified dendritic fields, and high levels of neurofilament protein. In the mouse, three αRGC types have been described based on responses to light steps: On-sustained, Off-sustained, and Off-transient.

Growth differentiating factor-15 (GDF-15): A potential biomarker and therapeutic target for cancer-associated weight loss.

Growth differentiating factor-15 (GDF-15), also known as macrophage inhibiting factor-1, is a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, which has been implicated in cancer-associated weight loss. The present study investigated the association between cancer-associated weight loss and plasma GDF-15 concentration, as well as other biomarkers, in patients with metastatic lung or exocrine pancreatic cancer. A total of 218 patients were enrolled over a 1-year period.

MAP3K11/GDF15 axis is a critical driver of cancer cachexia.

Background: Cancer associated cachexia affects the majority of cancer patients during the course of the disease and thought to be directly responsible for about a quarter of all cancer deaths. Current evidence suggests that a pro-inflammatory state may be associated with this syndrome although the molecular mechanisms responsible for the development of cachexia are poorly understood. The purpose of this work was the identification of key drivers of cancer cachexia that could provide a potential point of intervention for the treatment and/or prevention of this syndrome.

Plasma growth differentiation factor 15 is associated with weight loss and mortality in cancer patients.

Background: Cancer-related weight loss is associated with increased inflammation and decreased survival. The novel inflammatory mediator growth differentiation factor (GDF)15 is associated with poor prognosis in cancer but its role in cancer-related weight loss (C-WL) remains unclear. Our objective was to measure GDF15 in plasma samples of cancer subjects and controls and establish its association with other inflammatory markers and clinical outcomes.

Vascular Health Profile predicts cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes.

Background: We previously reported the development of a novel high dimensional cytomic assay, the Vascular Health Profile (VHP) based on measurements of angiogenic circulating hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (CHSPC ) and extracellular vesicles (EVs), that discovered a unique signature, differentiating the vascular status of diabetics and normal healthy controls. Here, we present data from a 3-year follow-up to evaluate the power of the VHP to identify individuals at risk for cardiovascular (CV) events.

Methods: The original data were generated as previously described by measuring a broad panel of progenitor cells and EVs and profiled using cytometric fingerprinting.

Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction: Early Operative versus Observational Management.

We assessed the nonoperative and operative management of adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) and compared complication rates and surgical outcomes. ASBO is a common complication of abdominopelvic surgery. Although patients may respond to nonoperative management, many require surgery.

Motoneuron loss is associated with sarcopenia.

Objectives: Sarcopenia, age-related muscle wasting, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in the affected individuals. The pathogenesis of sarcopenia is not yet fully understood. A multifactorial concept is currently favored.

The differentiation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from asthma: a review of current diagnostic and treatment recommendations.

Aim: Global and regional data have shown that chronic airway diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are increasing in incidence and prevalence, with detrimental consequences to healthcare resources and the quality of life of patients. A firm diagnosis of COPD or asthma is important because the natural history, treatment, and outcomes differ between the two respiratory diseases. The aim of this review is to provide nurse practitioners (NPs) with the requisite facts to understand and improve the diagnosis and treatment of affected individuals.

Becoming a member of the work force: perceptions of adults with Asperger Syndrome.

Objective: Research has shown that comparatively few adults with Asperger Syndrome (AS) participate in the competitive work force. The purpose of this study was to gain in-depth knowledge about contextual factors, which contribute to successful labor market participation in some adults with AS.

Participants: This study was conducted by indepth-interviewing six adults with AS working in the competitive job market in Switzerland.

Assignment of protonation states in proteins and ligands: combining pKa prediction with hydrogen bonding network optimization.

Among the many applications of molecular modeling, drug design is probably the one with the highest demands on the accuracy of the underlying structures. During lead optimization, the position of every atom in the binding site should ideally be known with high precision to identify those chemical modifications that are most likely to increase drug affinity. Unfortunately, X-ray crystallography at common resolution yields an electron density map that is too coarse, since the chemical elements and their protonation states cannot be fully resolved.

The use of silver nylon in preventing surgical site infections following colon and rectal surgery.

Background: Patients who undergo colorectal surgery have up to a 30% chance of developing a surgical site infection postoperatively. Silverlon is a silver nylon dressing designed to prevent surgical site infections, but only anecdotal evidence has previously supported its efficacy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of silver nylon dressings in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.