Liquid Biopsy in Low-Grade Glioma: A Systematic Review and a Proposal for a Clinical Utility Score.

Liquid biopsy research on Low-Grade gliomas (LGG) has remained less conspicuous than that on other malignant brain tumors. Reliable serum markers would be precious for diagnosis, follow- up and treatment. We propose a clinical utility score (CUS) for biomarkers in LGG that mirrors their clinical usefulness.

Mental Health Impact of Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Individuals with Pre-Existing Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Research.

In view of disease-related threats, containment measures, and disrupted healthcare, individuals with pre-existing mental illness might be vulnerable to adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous reviews indicated increased mental distress, with limited information on peri-pandemic changes. In this systematic review, we aimed to identify longitudinal research investigating pre- to peri-pandemic and/or peri-pandemic changes of mental health in patients, focusing on the early phase and considering specific diagnoses.

Design, Synthesis and In Vitro Investigation of Cabozantinib-Based PROTACs to Target c-Met Kinase.

(1) Background: This investigation aimed at developing a series of c-Met-targeting cabozantinib-based PROTACs. (2) Methods: Purification of intermediate and target compounds was performed using column chromatography, in vitro antiproliferation activity was measured using a standard MTT assay and a c-Met degradation assay was performed via the immunoblotting technique. (3) Results: Several compounds exhibited antiproliferative activity towards different cell lines of breast cancer (T47D, MDA-MB-231, SKBR3, HCC1954 and MCF7) at the same level as parent cabozantinib and 7-demethyl cabozantinib.

Repetitively burst-spiking neurons in reeler mice show conserved but also highly variable morphological features of layer Vb-fated "thick-tufted" pyramidal cells.

Reelin is a large extracellular glycoprotein that is secreted by Cajal-Retzius cells during embryonic development to regulate neuronal migration and cell proliferation but it also seems to regulate ion channel distribution and synaptic vesicle release properties of excitatory neurons well into adulthood. Mouse mutants with a compromised reelin signaling cascade show a highly disorganized neocortex but the basic connectional features of the displaced excitatory principal cells seem to be relatively intact. Very little is known, however, about the intrinsic electrophysiological and morphological properties of individual cells in the reeler cortex.

Meningeosis Neoplastica in Patients with Glioblastoma: Analysis of 36 Cases.

Background: Meningeosis neoplastica is a rare manifestation of high-grade gliomas and is usually associated with a devastating outcome. The aim of this bicenter series was to investigate the clinical course and outcome of patients with meningiosis neoplastica.

Methods: This case series included patients in whom surgery was performed for World Health Organization grade IV primary and secondary glioblastoma (GBM) at the University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany between 2009 and 2021 and Burdenko Institute of Neurosurgery, Moscow, Russia between 2012 and 2018.

The association of patient age with postoperative morbidity and mortality following resection of intracranial tumors.

Introduction: The postoperative functional status of patients with intracranial tumors is influenced by patient-specific factors, including age.

Research Question: This study aimed to elucidate the association between age and postoperative morbidity or mortality following the resection of brain tumors.

Material And Methods: A multicenter database was retrospectively reviewed.

The mystery of the human proton-organic cation antiporter: One transport protein or many?

About 30% of all small molecular drugs are organic cations (OCs). If these are more or less hydrophilic, they require membrane transporters to pass through biological membranes. Here, the proton-organic cation (H OC) antiporter may play a physiologically most relevant role, particularly concerning passage through the blood-brain barrier.

Substrates of the Human Brain Proton-Organic Cation Antiporter and Comparison with Organic Cation Transporter 1 Activities.

Many organic cations (OCs) may be transported through membranes by a genetically still uncharacterized proton-organic cation (H + OC) antiporter. Here, we characterized an extended substrate spectrum of this antiporter. We studied the uptake of 72 drugs in hCMEC/D3 cells as a model of the human blood-brain barrier.

Sc and Y bis(alkyl) complexes supported by bidentate and tridentate amidinate ligands. Synthesis, structure and catalytic activity in polymerization of isoprene and 1-heptene.

A series of bis(alkyl) complexes {(Bu)C[N(2,6-MeCH)]}Ln(CHSiMe)(THF) (Ln = Y, = 1 (1); Ln = Sc, = 1 (2)), {2-[PhP(O)]CHNC(Bu)N(2,6-MeCH)}Sc(CHSiMe) (3), {2-[PhP(NPh)]CHNC(Bu)N(2,6-MeCH)}Sc(CHSiMe) (4) coordinated by bidentate (N,N) and tridentate (N,N,O; N,N,N) amidinate ligands are synthesized using an alkane elimination approach. Yttrium complex 1 demonstrated a half-life of ∼2.5 days at room temperature in benzene-D6 (CD) solution, whereas scandium complexes proved to be much more stable (25 d (2), 30 d (3) and 42 d (4)).

Development of Cellular and Enzymatic Bioluminescent Assay Systems to Study Low-Dose Effects of Thorium.

Thorium is one of the most widespread radioactive elements in natural ecosystems, along with uranium, it is the most important source of nuclear energy. However, the effects of thorium on living organisms have not been thoroughly studied. Marine luminescent bacteria and their enzymes are optimal bioassays for studying low-dose thorium exposures.

How do psychostimulants enter the human brain? Analysis of the role of the proton-organic cation antiporter.

Background: Although psychostimulants apparently do cross the BBB, it is poorly understood how these hydrophilic and positively charged molecules can pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB). That may be mediated by a genetically still uncharacterized H/OC antiporter with high activity at the BBB.

Methods: We studied the uptake of 16 psychostimulants and hallucinogens with hCMEC/D3 cells using the prototypic inhibitor imipramine (cis-inhibition), exchange transport with diphenhydramine and clonidine (trans-stimulation), proton dependency of the uptake, and we characterized the concentration-dependent uptake.

A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Online Survey on the Treatment of COVID-19-ARDS: High Variance in Standard of Care in German ICUs.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has recently dominated scientific literature. Incomplete understanding and a lack of data concerning the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and optimal treatment of the disease has resulted in conflicting recommendations. Adherence to existing guidelines and actual treatment strategies have thus far not been studied systematically.

Targeted Minimal Staff-to-Patient Ratios Are Unachievable - A Nationwide Survey in German ICUs During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction Adequate staffing in the intensive care units (ICUs) is the most important factor to provide optimal care and ensure favorable outcomes in critically ill patients. Recently, the need for ICU beds has reached unprecedented levels and the management and treatment of critically ill patients has been in focus. The aim of the study was to assess the targeted and actual nurse-to-patient (NPR) and physician-to-patient ratios (PPR) regarding patients with and without COVID-19.

Infection control, prophylactic antibiotics, and testing for SARS-CoV-2 and PPE on German intensive care units: results from a national mixed methods survey.

Recommendations on hygiene measures, personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation, and antibiotic prophylaxis were developed during the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic and have been revised several times to date. Some of the underlying literature indicates a large evidence gap. We suspect that this leads to a large variance of measures on German intensive care units (ICU).

Implantation of Carmustine wafers after resection of malignant glioma with and without opening of the ventricular system.

Objective: Implantation of biodegradable Carmustine wafers in patients with malignant glioma is not generally recommended when the ventricular system is opened during tumor resection. Thrombin/fibrinogenn-covered collagen fleeces showed promising results in sufficiently closing ventricular defects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the postoperative morbidity in patients with implanted Carmustine wafers either with opened or intact ventricular system.

Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Malignancies Based on the Analysis of Markers in Exhaled Air.

Novel non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of malignancies should be effective for early diagnosis, reproducible, inexpensive, and independent from the human factor. Our aim was to establish the applicability of the non-invasive method, based on the analysis of air exhaled by patients who are at different stages of oropharyngeal, larynx and lung cancer. The diagnostic device includes semiconductor sensors capable of measuring the concentrations of gas components in exhaled air, with the high sensitivity of 1 ppm.

Cancer Diagnosis by Neural Network Analysis of Data from Semiconductor Sensors.

"Electronic nose" technology, including technical and software tools to analyze gas mixtures, is promising regarding the diagnosis of malignant neoplasms. This paper presents the research results of breath samples analysis from 59 people, including patients with a confirmed diagnosis of respiratory tract cancer. The research was carried out using a gas analytical system including a sampling device with 14 metal oxide sensors and a computer for data analysis.

Development and external validation of a clinical prediction model for functional impairment after intracranial tumor surgery.

Objective: Decision-making for intracranial tumor surgery requires balancing the oncological benefit against the risk for resection-related impairment. Risk estimates are commonly based on subjective experience and generalized numbers from the literature, but even experienced surgeons overestimate functional outcome after surgery. Today, there is no reliable and objective way to preoperatively predict an individual patient's risk of experiencing any functional impairment.

Antioxidant Activity and Toxicity of Fullerenols via Bioluminescence Signaling: Role of Oxygen Substituents.

Fullerenols are nanosized water-soluble polyhydroxylated derivatives of fullerenes, a specific allotropic form of carbon, bioactive compounds, and perspective basis for drug development. Our paper analyzes the antioxidant activity and toxicity of a series of fullerenols with different number of oxygen substituents. Two groups of fullerenols were under investigation: (1) CO(OH), CO(OH), where x + y = 24-28 and (2) CO(OH), FeCO(OH), Gd@CO(OH), where x + y = 40-42.

Combined Applications of Repurposed Drugs and Their Detrimental Effects on Glioblastoma Cells.

Background/aim: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a malignant primary brain tumor with high rates of recurrence. This study aimed to investigate the effect of repurposed drug combinations on GBM.

Materials And Methods: Viability of U87 MG and 11ST patient-derived GMB cell lines, after valproic acid, tranylcypromine or riluzole alone, in different combinations, as well as combined with standard temozolomide chemotherapy was examined using the MTT assay.

Predictors of ventricular tension pneumocephalus after posterior fossa surgery in the sitting position.

Background: Ventricular pneumocephalus is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of cranial surgery in the sitting position.

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the incidence and risk factors of postoperative ventricular pneumocephalus.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 307 consecutive patients (147 men, 160 women) treated at our institution by intracranial surgery in the sitting position from January 2010 to October 2014.

On mechanism of antioxidant effect of fullerenols.

Fullerenols are nanosized water-soluble polyhydroxylated derivatives of fullerenes, specific allotropic form of carbon, bioactive compounds and perspective pharmaceutical agents. Antioxidant activity of fullerenols was studied in model solutions of organic and inorganic toxicants of oxidative type - 1,4-benzoquinone and potassium ferricyanide. Two fullerenol preparations were tested: СО(ОН) and mixture of two types of fullerenols СО(ОН)+СО(ОН).

Bioluminescent Enzymatic Assay as a Tool for Studying Antioxidant Activity and Toxicity of Bioactive Compounds.

A bioluminescent assay based on a system of coupled enzymatic reactions catalyzed by bacterial luciferase and NADH:FMN-oxidoreductase was developed to monitor toxicity and antioxidant activity of bioactive compounds. The assay enables studying toxic effects at the level of biomolecules and physicochemical processes, as well as determining the toxicity of general and oxidative types. Toxic and detoxifying effects of bioactive compounds were studied.

Intracortical Network Effects Preserve Thalamocortical Input Efficacy in a Cortex Without Layers.

Layer IV (LIV) of the rodent somatosensory cortex contains the somatotopic barrel field. Barrels receive much of the sensory input to the cortex through innervation by thalamocortical axons from the ventral posteromedial nucleus. In the reeler mouse, the absence of cortical layers results in the formation of mispositioned barrel-equivalent clusters of LIV fated neurons.