Different Influence Pattern of Conventional and Alternative Sources of Smoking on Adhesion Molecules and Cytokine Secretion in THP-1 Monocytes.

Background/aim: Tobacco is a carcinogen that is closely associated with the occurrence of lung cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The consumption of tobacco is also leading to alterations in different immune cell subtypes. However, the impact of different conventional and alternative smoking sources on human monocytes remains elusive.

The water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus in the Danube River Basin: Exploring scenarios and implications of maize irrigation.

The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus concept postulates that water, energy production, agriculture and ecosystems are closely interlinked. In transboundary river basins, different sectors and countries compete for shared water resources. In the Danube River Basin (DRB), possible expansion of agricultural irrigation is expected to intensify water competition in the WEFE nexus, however, trade-offs have not yet been quantified.

Differential Effects of Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Checkpoint Inhibitors on Adhesion Molecules and Cytokine Secretion by THP-1 Monocytes.

Background/aim: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have improved the treatment regimen for human cancers in recent years. Particularly, inhibitors of the checkpoint molecules PD-1/PD-L1 have emerged as promising therapeutic treatments by preventing T-cell anergy and exhaustion. However, the impact of different anti-PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors on human monocytes remains elusive.

Nosocomial COVID-19 Incidence and Secondary Attack Rates among Patients of Tertiary Care Center, Zurich, Switzerland.

Of 1,118 patients with COVID-19 at a university hospital in Switzerland during October 2020-June 2021, we found 83 (7.4%) had probable or definite healthcare-associated COVID-19. After in-hospital exposure, we estimated secondary attack rate at 23.

Ecological Sustainability Assessment of Water Distribution for the Maintenance of Ecosystems, their Services and Biodiversity.

Water provision and distribution are subject to conflicts between users worldwide, with agriculture as a major driver of discords. Water sensitive ecosystems and their services are often impaired by man-made water shortage. Nevertheless, they are not sufficiently included in sustainability or risk assessments and neglected when it comes to distribution of available water resources.

Major adverse limb events in patients with femoro-popliteal and below-the-knee peripheral arterial disease treated with either sirolimus-coated balloon or standard uncoated balloon angioplasty: a structured protocol summary of the "SirPAD" randomized controlled trial.

Background: Peripheral arterial disease is a progressive atherosclerotic disease with symptoms ranging from an intermittent claudication to acute critical limb ischemia and amputations. Drug-coated balloons and stents were developed to prevent neo-intimal proliferation and restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Randomized controlled trials showed that drug-coated, notably paclitaxel-coated, devices reduce restenosis, late lumen loss, and the need for target lesion re-vascularization compared with uncoated ones.

Relationship Between Rhinitis, Asthma, and Eczema and the Presence of Sensitization in Young Swiss Adults.

Background: Rhinitis is a very common disease with allergies being the most frequent causative factor. It can co-occur together with asthma and eczema in atopic as well as in nonatopic patients.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of allergic sensitization within patient groups with rhinitis in consideration of the co-occurring disorders of asthma and eczema.

Food as a trigger for abdominal angioedema attacks in patients with hereditary angioedema.

Background: Hereditary angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) is a rare inherited disease. In most HAE-affected subjects, defined trigger factors precede angioedema attacks. Mechanisms of how trigger factors stimulate the contact activation pathway with bradykinin generation are not well elucidated.

Occurrence of occult CSF leaks during standard FESS procedures.

Objective: To determine the incidence of occult cerebrospinal fluid leaks (CSF) after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of beta2-transferrin in blood-contaminated conditions.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: An analysis of 57 intraoperative samples using hydrogel 6 beta2-transferrin assay after FESS was undertaken.

Atopy and related clinical symptoms among Swiss medical students from 2007 to 2015.

Background: Atopic allergy is a widespread disease with increasing prevalence in the second half of the twentieth century and is most often associated with clinical symptoms, like rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma or eczema. This study explored the prevalence of atopy and polysensitization in nine cohorts of Swiss medical students during the period of 2007-2015. Furthermore, the self-reported allergic symptoms, such as rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma and eczema, among students with and without atopy were assessed.

Enhanced detection of the algal toxin PbTx-2 in marine waters by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

Rationale: Karenia brevis, a marine dinoflagellate, biosynthesizes a unique class of polyether toxins called brevetoxins that produce significant health, environmental and economic impacts in and along coastal waters. Previous application of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for detection of the most common brevetoxin, PbTx-2, has relied almost exclusively upon electrospray ionization (ESI). A different ionization source is proposed in this study with improved sensitivity ultimately leading to lower limit of detection compared to (+) ESI.

Ash pollen allergy: reliable detection of sensitization on the basis of IgE to Ole e 1.

: Alongside hazel, alder and birch pollen allergies, ash pollen allergy is a relevant cause of hay fever during spring in the European region. For some considerable time, ash pollen allergy was not routinely investigated and its clinical relevance may well have been underestimated, particularly since ash and birch tree pollination times are largely the same. Ash pollen extracts are not yet well standardized and diagnosis is therefore sometimes unreliable.

Accuracy of different temperature devices in the postpartum population.

Objectives: To determine if different temperature monitoring devices routinely used in postpartum mothers and newborns provide similar temperatures and to compare the rectal and axillary routes for temperature monitoring in newborns.

Design: A method comparison design with randomization of the temperature device sequence was used to evaluate the level of agreement between the 3 different types of thermometers used.

Setting: A Level 3 (high risk) postpartum unit with 6,200 deliveries per year in a 450-bed, not-for-profit hospital in the Pacific Northwest.

Angiographic follow-up of vertebrobasilar artery aneurysms treated with detachable coils.

Endovascular treatment of ruptured vertebrobasilar artery aneurysms with Gugliemi detachable coils (GDC) has become an alternative to surgery. Mid-term angiographic follow-up can now be reported. Of 111 vertebrobasilar aneurysms in 110 patients we treated with GDC since 1992, 53 underwent angiography within 1 year and 59 after more than 18 months.

Atypical focal MRI lesions in a case of juvenile Alexander's disease.

We present a juvenile case of Alexander's disease with atypical focal magnetic resonance imaging-detected lesions and elevated levels of lactate in cerebrospinal fluid. The diagnosis was based on the neuropathological finding of a diffuse accumulation of Rosenthal fibers within the brain and the spinal cord. The diagnosis was confirmed by detection of a mutation in exon 1 at nucleotide position 249 of glial fibrillary acidic protein cDNA, a finding previously reported in cases of infantile Alexander's disease.

Preoperative embolization of intracranial meningiomas with a fibrin glue preparation.

Background And Purpose: Preoperative embolization expands the spectrum of meningioma that can be operated on safely. Our goal was to achieve the distalmost loading of the vascular bed and confluent tumor necrosis with a fibrin glue preparation in the preoperative embolization of meningiomas.

Methods: Between 1992 and 1997, 80 patients with a meningioma had diagnostic angiography with a standard transfemoral Seldinger technique, performed with a 6F guiding catheter and digital subtraction angiography.

[Treatment of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, HLH, with bone marrow transplantation].

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare disease of infancy and young childhood. The clinical presentation includes recurrent unexplained fever with hepatosplenomegaly. Cytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia and/or hypertriglyceridemia and hemophagocytosis in bone marrow, spleen and lymphnode confirm the diagnosis.

[CT-angiography for diagnostic assessment of intracranial vascular aneurysms].

Intracranial aneurysms bear a high risk of morbidity and mortality especially when they have become symptomatic due to rupture or represent a space occupying lesion. Therefore operative treatment is aimed at the obliteration of the aneurysm to eliminate the risk of hemorrhage. Planning of treatment requires a diagnostic resolution capable of showing aneurysms and their anatomic relationship to the adjacent structures.

Congenital clivus chordoma.

The authors report a case of a congenital clivus chordoma that caused cranial nerve palsy and hydrocephalus within a few days after birth. The tumor was well demonstrated by sonography, CT, and MR; the preoperative diagnosis was histologically confirmed after subtotal resection.

Intracranial chordoma in a neonate.

We report the first case of a congenital intracranial chordoma. Hydrocephalus, sixth and seventh cranial nerve palsy, and torticollis were observed shortly after birth. The tumour was delineated by sonography, CT scans and MRI and the diagnosis confirmed after subtotal resection at the end of the newborn period.

Radiologic long-term results after cervical vertebral interbody fusion with polymethyl methacrylat (PMMA).

Long-term results of cervical interbody fusion with PMMA were evaluated in a retrospective study. X-ray films of 83 patients were obtainable. Post-operative follow-up in this series was between 15 and 20 years.