FLASH Bragg-Peak Irradiation With a Therapeutic Carbon Ion Beam: First In Vivo Results.

Purpose: In recent years, ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) irradiation has emerged as a promising innovative approach to cancer treatment. Characteristic feature of this regimen, commonly referred to as FLASH effect, demonstrated primarily for electrons, photons, or protons, is the improved normal tissue sparing, whereas the tumor control is similar to the one of the conventional dose-rate (CDR) treatments. The FLASH mechanism is, however, unknown.

A computed tomography-based morphometric analysis of thoracic pedicles in a European population.

Purpose: The goal of this retrospective study was to perform a CT imaging assessment of thoracic pedicles to provide a representative understanding of pedicle morphology for pedicle-based fixation systems commonly used in orthopedics, trauma and neurosurgery. This study aimed to better understand the morphology of the spine and give spine surgeons a better understanding of thoracic spine anatomy.

Methods: In this study, we retrospectively measured the thoracic spine pedicles of a total of 16 males and 16 females, totaling in 768 individual pedicles.

Robust optogenetic inhibition with red-light-sensitive anion-conducting channelrhodopsins.

Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-gated ion channels widely used to optically activate or silence selected electrogenic cells, such as individual brain neurons. Here, we describe identifying and characterizing a set of anion-conducting ChRs (ACRs) from diverse taxa and representing various branches of the ChR phylogenetic tree. The ACR (MsACR1) showed high sensitivity to yellow-green light ( at 555 nm) and was further engineered for optogenetic applications.

Clinical and device-based predictors of improved experience of activities of daily living after a multidisciplinary inpatient treatment for people with Parkinson's disease: a cohort study.

Background: The inpatient Parkinson's Disease Multimodal Complex Treatment (PD-MCT) is an important therapeutical approach to improving gait and activities of daily living (ADL) of people with PD (PwP). Wearable device-based parameters (DBP) are new options for specific gait analyses toward individualized treatments.

Objectives: We sought to identify predictors of perceived ADL benefit taking clinical scores and DBP into account.

Automatic measurement of departing times in smartphone alerting systems: A pilot study.

Aim: Smartphone alerting systems (SAS) alert volunteers in close vicinity of suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Some systems use sophisticated algorithms to select those who will probably arrive first. Precise estimation of departing times and travel times may help to further improve algorithms.

Impact of the blood group on postoperative CRP and leukocyte levels after primary total hip and knee arthroplasty.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP)- and leukocyte levels are common parameters to evaluate the inflammatory response after orthopaedic surgery and rule out infectious complications. Nevertheless, both parameters are vulnerable to disturbing biases and therefore leave room for interpretation.

Objective: Since blood groups are repeatedly discussed to influence inflammatory response, our aim was to observe their impact on CRP and leukocyte levels after total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA).

A correction factor is needed for the intraoperative measurement of cup inclination in total hip arthroplasty.

Background: The cup inclination in total hip arthroplasty is key to minimising complications. Stereometric effects (parallax) in two-dimensional projections can alter angle measurements. Even for different approaches, fluoroscopy causes different results in the measurement of inclination.

Calcium-permeable channelrhodopsins for the photocontrol of calcium signalling.

Channelrhodopsins are light-gated ion channels used to control excitability of designated cells in large networks with high spatiotemporal resolution. While ChRs selective for H, Na, K and anions have been discovered or engineered, Ca-selective ChRs have not been reported to date. Here, we analyse ChRs and mutant derivatives with regard to their Ca permeability and improve their Ca affinity by targeted mutagenesis at the central selectivity filter.

Gating and ion selectivity of Channelrhodopsins are critical for photo-activated orientation of Chlamydomonas as shown by in vivo point mutation.

The green unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with two photoreceptors called channelrhodopsins is a model organism that gave birth to a new scientific field of biomedical studies, optogenetics. Although channelrhodopsins are helping to decipher the activity of the human brain, their functionality has never been extensively studied in the organism of origin, mainly due to the difficulties connected to reverse genetic interventions. In this study, we present a CRISPR-Cas9-based technique that enables a precise in vivo exchange of single amino acids in a selected gene.

Iatrogenic atrial septal defects after transseptal puncture for percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion and their hemodynamic effects.

Background: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) requires puncture of the interatrial septum. The immediate hemodynamic effects of iatrogenic atrial septal defects (iASD) after LAAO have not been examined so far. We aimed at evaluating these effects through invasive measurements of pressure and oxygen saturation.

The Reliability of Preoperative Total Knee Arthroplasty Planning -a Comparison of Two Calibration Markers.

Background: Preoperative templating is the gold standard in planning elective total knee arthroplasty. This retrospective study analyses preoperative templating by using two different calibration devices.

Methods: Preoperative radiographic templating with TraumaCad using two different calibration devices was performed in 231 patients.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion in a frail, high-risk, octogenarian patient population, after having undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) represents an alternative stroke prevention method in patients with atrial fibrillation and an increased bleeding risk, chronic kidney disease or contraindications to oral anticoagulants. Aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous LAAO in high-risk, frail patients having undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: Thirty-one patients having undergone TAVI and scheduled for LAAO were prospectively included in our study.

First detection of primary cilia in injured human anterior cruciate ligament: A pilot study with pathophysiological reflections.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) plays a significant role in knee stability, protects the joint under multiple loading conditions and shows complex biomechanics. Beside mechanical stability, the ACL seems to play a crucial role in proprioception, and it is well known, that ACL injuries can cause functional deficits due to decreased proprioception. However, the mechanism of proprioception is not completely understood yet.

Parkinson's disease multimodal complex treatment improves gait performance: an exploratory wearable digital device-supported study.

Background: Wearable device-based parameters (DBP) objectively describe gait and balance impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD). We sought to investigate correlations between DBP of gait and balance and clinical scores, their respective changes throughout the inpatient multidisciplinary Parkinson's Disease Multimodal Complex Treatment (PD-MCT), and correlations between their changes.

Methods: This exploratory observational study assessed 10 DBP and clinical scores at the start (T1) and end (T2) of a two-week PD-MCT of 25 PD in patients (mean age: 66.

The aspects of sex, age and nationality in winter swimming performance.

Objective: Winter swimming is a new sport discipline. Very little is known, however, about the sex differences, origin, participation and performance of the world's best winter swimmers. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate sex differences in performance and age.

FLASH with carbon ions: Tumor control, normal tissue sparing, and distal metastasis in a mouse osteosarcoma model.

Background And Purpose: The FLASH effect is a potential breakthrough in radiotherapy because ultra-high dose-rate irradiation can substantially widen the therapeutic window. While the normal tissue sparing at high doses and short irradiation times has been demonstrated with electrons, photons, and protons, so far evidence with heavy ions is limited to in vitro cell experiments. Here we present the first in vivo results with high-energy C-ions delivered at an ultra-high dose rate.

Sex Difference in Female and Male Ice Swimmers for Different Strokes and Water Categories Over Short and Middle Distances: A Descriptive Study.

Background: Winter swimming developed from a national tradition into a health-improving sport with international competitions. The difference in performance between women and men was thoroughly examined in various sporting disciplines; however, there is little data on winter swimming events. Therefore, this study aims to compare the sex differences in female and male winter swimmers for a distinct stroke over distances of 25 m and 200 m in ice water, freezing water and cold water in the multiple stages of the Winter Swimming World Cup, hosted by the International Winter Swimming Association (IWSA) since 2016.

Effect of different forearm positions on fragment rotation in extra-articular distal radius fractures: A cadaveric study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of different arm positions (hand pronation/supination and elbow flexion/extension) on fragment rotation in extra-articular distal radius fractures in a cadaveric model.

Methods: In this study, ten fresh-frozen cadaveric upper extremities from five donors with a mean age of 69 ± 12 years were used. Two cortical pins were inserted in the radius and the ulna.

Short-term radiological results after spheroid-based autologous chondrocyte implantation in the knee are independent of defect localisation.

Background: Lesions of articular cartilage represent a crucial risk factor for the early development of osteoarthritis. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a well-established procedure in therapy of those lesions in the knee. The aim of the presented study is to detect differences in short-term radiological outcome depending on defect localization (femoral condyle vs.

Expression and Localization of Thrombospondins, Plastin 3, and STIM1 in Different Cartilage Compartments of the Osteoarthritic Varus Knee.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial disease which is characterized by a change in the homeostasis of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM is essential for the function of the articular cartilage and plays an important role in cartilage mechanotransduction. To provide a better understanding of the interaction between the ECM and the actin cytoskeleton, we investigated the localization and expression of the Ca-dependent proteins cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), plastin 3 (PLS3) and stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1).

Viscoelastic properties of the human A2 finger pulley.

Introduction: Biomechanical evaluation of the viscoelastic properties tissue deformation, stiffness, and maximum breaking load of the human A2 pulley. We hypothesized that the A2 pulleys of index, middle, and ring fingers exhibit no difference regarding the aforementioned biomechanical parameters.

Methods: Forty-one A2 pulleys of 14 upper extremities (8 body donors) were assessed.