Increase of nitrous oxide-induced neurological disorders - a German multicenter experience.

Background: Nitrous oxide (N₂O), commonly known as laughing gas, is widely recognized for its anesthetic and analgesic effects, and is frequently used in medical contexts. However, its misuse can lead to significant neurological complications, which are often under-recognized in clinical practice. Recent data on such cases in Germany are rare.

Room-temperature phosphorescence and static excimer excitation of pyrene-modified () pincer bismuth complexes.

We present the synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of two pyrene-modified () pincer bismuth complexes, where the pyrenyl residues are either part of the cyclometalating pincer ligand (1) or bound as monodentate ligands to the Bi ion (2). Both complexes are dually emissive at 77 K. For complex 2, pyrenyl phosphorescence persists at r.

Technical Advances Drive the Molecular Understanding of Effectors from Wheat and Barley Powdery Mildew Fungi.

Pathogens manipulate host physiology through the secretion of virulence factors (effectors) to invade and proliferate on the host. The molecular functions of effectors inside plant hosts have been of interest in the field of molecular plant-microbe interactions. Obligate biotrophic pathogens, such as rusts and powdery mildews, cannot proliferate outside of plant hosts.

Development of Ni-ZnO-ACE-2 peptide hybrids as electrochemical devices for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein detection.

Owing to fast SARS-CoV-2 mutations, biosensors employing antibodies as biorecognition elements have presented problems with sensitivity and accuracy. To face these challenges, antibodies can be replaced with the human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), where it has been shown that the affinity between ACE-2 and the receptor binding domain (RBD) increases with the emergence of new variants. Herein, we report on Ni-doped ZnO nanorod electrochemical biosensors employing an ACE-2 peptide (IEEQAKTFLDKFNHEAEDLFYQS-NH) as a biorecognition element for detecting Spike (S) Wild-Type (WT) protein.

Stabilizing Schottky-to-Ohmic Switching in HfO-Based Ferroelectric Films via Electrode Design.

The discovery of ferroelectric phases in HfO-based films has reignited interest in ferroelectrics and their application in resistive switching (RS) devices. This study investigates the pivotal role of electrodes in facilitating the Schottky-to-Ohmic transition (SOT) observed in devices consisting of ultrathin epitaxial ferroelectric HfYO (YHO) films deposited on LaSrMnO-buffered Nb-doped SrTiO (NbSTO|LSMO) with Ti|Au top electrodes. These findings indicate combined filamentary RS and ferroelectric switching occurs in devices with designed electrodes, having an ON/OFF ratio of over 100 during about 10 cycles.

Relationship Between ABO Blood Groups and Mental Disorders.

Previous research has unveiled an intriguing positive association between the AB blood group and mental disorders in general. In this study, we compared ABO blood groups with five major groups of mental disorders to attain a higher level of specificity. The analyses were conducted using data from the CoLaus|PsyCoLaus study (N=5111).

[Platelet Concentrates - Indication, Informed Consent, Transfusion and Adverse Events].

Transfusion of platelet concentrates (PC) can be a life-saving measure in case of severe thrombocytopenia or thrombocytopathy, particularly in bleeding patients. Although acaryote, platelets are involved in several important functions including immunomodulation, but their most important function is in primary and secondary haemostasis. In this German review, apheresis and whole blood derived PC are compared and indications as well as transfusion triggers and dosage of PC are discussed.

An experimental chimeric hepatitis E virus vaccine elicits both local and systemic immune responses.

Introduction: The development of a hepatitis E virus (HEV) vaccine is critical, with ORF2 capsid protein as the main target. We previously demonstrated that oral coadministration of recombinant ORF2 with immunomodulatory bacterium-like-particles (IBLP) induces a specific immune response in mice, particularly using IBLP derived from IBL027 (IBLP027), which was effective in eliciting a local humoral response. IBLP are non-live bacteria with adjuvant and carrier properties, serving as a platform for exposing proteins or antigens fused to LysM (lysine motif) domains, protein modules that bind to cell wall polysaccharides like peptidoglycan.

Avirulence depletion assay: Combining R gene-mediated selection with bulk sequencing for rapid avirulence gene identification in wheat powdery mildew.

Wheat production is threatened by multiple fungal pathogens, such as the wheat powdery mildew fungus (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, Bgt).

[Diabetes mellitus and total joint arthroplasty-What should be considered?].

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is on the rise in the population. Approximately 10% of adults suffer from DM. Over two-thirds of patients are over 60 years old, and thus it particularly affects patients who have to undergo total joint arthroplasty.

Fecal Nervonic Acid as a Biomarker for Diagnosing and Monitoring Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background/objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic immune-mediated pathology associated with the dysregulation of lipid metabolism. The administration of nervonic acid, a very long-chain fatty acid, has been shown to improve colonic inflammation in a mouse model of colitis. Our study aimed to quantify fecal levels of nervonic acid, as well as the very long-chain fatty acids, lignoceric acid, and pentacosanoic acid, to identify associations with IBD activity.

Virtual reality-based Harms tangent screen test for strabismus measurement.

Purpose: Our study presents a virtual reality-based tangent screen test (VTS) to measure subjective ocular deviations including torsion in nine directions of gaze. The test was compared to the analogous Harms tangent screen test (HTS).

Methods: We used an Oculus Go controller and head-mounted-display with rotation sensors to measure patient's head orientation for the VTS.

Cerebrovascular regulation in patients with active tumors and an acute ischemic stroke: a retrospective analysis.

Introduction: Ischemic stroke in patients with a systemic tumor disease or cancer not in remission (active tumors) is less well understood. Some aspects of such paraneoplastic strokes remind on a generalized cerebrovascular disorder. We hypothesized that cerebrovascular regulation in active tumor patients with a stroke is different from other patients with stroke who have no active tumor disease.

RNA Modifications and Their Role in Regulating KSHV Replication and Pathogenic Mechanisms.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus is an oncogenic gammaherpesvirus that plays a major role in several human malignancies, including Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman's disease. The complexity of KSHV biology is reflected in the sophisticated regulation of its biphasic life cycle, consisting of a quiescent latent phase and virion-producing lytic replication. KSHV expresses coding and noncoding RNAs, including microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs, which play crucial roles in modulating viral gene expression, immune evasion, and intercellular communication.

[A new validated ophthalmic patient questionnaire for cataract and lens surgery : CLOQ: cataract and lens ophthalmic questionnaire].

Background: The new patient cataract and lens ophthalmic questionnaire (CLOQ) determines subjective patient satisfaction before and after cataract surgery according to item response theory (IRT).

Methods: A total of 317 patients with bilateral cataract surgery and implantation of different intraocular lens (IOL) types were included. The questionnaire (37 questions) is divided into questions on visual acuity-relevant quality of life (VRQoL), quality of vision (QoV), spectacle dependence, and general satisfaction.

[Perioperative management with consumption of alcohol and nicotine in patients with hip and knee arthroplasty].

Excessive consumption of nicotine and alcohol has been proven to effect the organ system. Both stimulants are consumed in the population to a not insignificant extent. The question therefore arises as to what effect the consumption of nicotine and alcohol has on the complication rates and to what extent this should be reduced or stopped before performing a joint arthroplasty? A literature search was carried out to answer these questions.

Pretreatment Cranial Computed Tomography Perfusion Predicts Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation Changes in Acute Hemispheric Stroke Patients Having Undergone Recanalizing Therapy: A Retrospective Study.

Objectives: Blood pressure (BP) management is challenging in patients with acute ischemic supratentorial stroke undergoing recanalization therapy due to the lack of established guidelines. Assessing dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) may address this need, as it is a bedside technique that evaluates the transfer function phase in the very low-frequency (VLF) range (0.02-0.

Evaluation of Photoplethysmography-Based Monitoring of Respiration Rate During High-Intensity Interval Training: Implications for Healthcare Monitoring.

Monitoring respiration rate (RR) is crucial in various healthcare settings, particularly during demanding (physical) activities where respiratory dynamics are critical indicators of health status. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of photoplethysmography (PPG)-based monitoring of RR during high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and its potential applications in healthcare. Between January and March 2024, healthy volunteers participated in a cycling HIIT session with increasing resistance levels.

Comparison of procalcitonin levels with blood culture results and foci of infection in septic patients.

Background And Aim: Large number of studies proved undisputable role of procalcitonin (PCT) in sepsis diagnosis. Moreover, potential of procalcitonin to predict blood culture results according to Gram staining, different types of pathogens and foci of infection is discussed lately. The primary aim of our study was to compare the PCT levels in septic patients with documented Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteraemia.

Hypertension and orthostatic hypotension in the elderly: a challenging balance.

Hypertension and orthostatic hypotension (OH) frequently coexist in the older population, both stemming from impaired blood pressure (BP) regulation. Managing hypertension in patients with OH presents a significant clinical challenge, particularly in frail older adults who are also prone to falls. Hypertension treatment is often suboptimal in this population due to concerns over the potential increased risk of falls associated with treatment.

Novel Amazonian Ceratomyxa species (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) with amoeboid plasmodial motility.

Myxosporeans are a diverse group of cnidarian endoparasites of aquatic animals, with more than 2600 described species. The genus Ceratomyxa includes some 270 species that are mostly coelozoic and infect the gall bladders of mainly marine fish. During our survey in Tapajós River in the Brazilian Amazon, two Ceratomyxa species were discovered in the gallbladders of the anostomid fishes Schyzodon fasciatus and Schyzodon vittatus.

Antibacterial Coatings of Poly(ethylenimine)/Poly(l-lactide)-Grafted Hyaluronic Acid Multilayers Surface-Functionalized with Bacteriophages.

The infestation of tissue after implantation is a major problem as a bacterial biofilm can form on the surface of the implants, leading to implant-associated infections (IAIs). One approach to prevent such IAI is to apply antibacterial coatings consisting of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) and bacteriophages (PHAGs). PEM were constructed by alternately adsorbing oppositely charged polyelectrolytes on a substrate according to the layer-by-layer concept.

First results from a multimodal psychosomatic post-COVID treatment approach - a prospective longitudinal study.

Background: Clinical experiences using a psychosomatic-oriented multimodal treatment approach in patients with post-COVID are promising. We established a half-day multimodal treatment program for post-COVID patients at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine at General Hospital Nuremberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Germany.

Methods: This observational study between January 2022 and March 2023 comprised baseline documentation of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQD), ICD-10 Symptom Rating (ISR), Fatigue Scale (FS) and Health Status Questionnaire (SF-12) at admission and discharge of 65 patients suffering from post-COVID.

A position and wave spectra dataset of Marginal Ice Zone dynamics collected around Svalbard in 2022 and 2023.

Sea ice is a key element of the global Earth system, with a major impact on global climate and regional weather. Unfortunately, accurate sea ice modeling is challenging due to the diversity and complexity of underlying physics happening there, and a relative lack of ground truth observations. This is especially true for the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ), which is the area where sea ice is affected by incoming ocean waves.