Association between prenatal glucocorticoid exposure and adolescent neurodevelopment: An observational follow-up study.

Introduction: Prenatal exposure to supraphysiological glucocorticoid (GC) levels may lead to long-lasting developmental changes in numerous biological systems. Our prior study identified an association between prenatal GC prophylaxis and reduced cognitive performance, electrocortical changes, and altered autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity in children aged 8-9 years. This follow-up study aimed to examine whether these findings persisted into adolescence.

Streptobacillus moniliformis and IgM and IgG Immune Response in Patient with Endocarditis.

We describe a case of endocarditis caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis bacteria, a known cause of rat-bite fever, in a 32-year-old woman with pet rats in Germany. The patient had a strong serologic response, with high IgM and IgG titers. Serologic analysis is a promising tool to identify S.

Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri, an uncommon mastitis and respiratory pathogen isolated in a German flock of goats.

Mycoplasma mycoides ssp. capri (Mmc) is one of the etiological microorganisms of contagious agalactia, which is among the diseases causing the highest economical losses in small ruminants. We report a disease outbreak in a German flock that led to significant suffering of goats characterized by mastitis, arthritis, pleuropneumonia and sudden deaths.

First experience with the new extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system Colibrì.

Introduction: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly used for circulatory or pulmonary support not only in-hospital but also out-of-hospital. Small dimensions and a lightweight design are important, especially for out-of-hospital use but also for intra-hospital transportation of patients who require ECMO support. We share our first experience with the new Colibrì ECMO system.

Infection of Endothelial Cells with Acinetobacter baumannii Reveals Remodelling of Mitochondrial Protein Complexes.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an antibiotic-resistant, Gram-negative pathogen that causes a multitude of nosocomial infections. However, pathogenicity mechanisms and the host cell response during infection remain unclear. In this study, we determined virulence traits of A.

Antimicrobial Activity of Ceftolozane-Tazobactam, Ceftazidime-Avibactam, and Cefiderocol against Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Recovered at a German University Hospital.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa increasingly causes health care-associated infections. In this study, we determined the activity of ceftolozane-tazobactam, ceftazidime-avibactam, and cefiderocol against 223 MDR P. aeruginosa clinical isolates recovered from 2013 to 2017 at the University Hospital Frankfurt by using MIC test strips.

Genomic transmission analysis of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria within a newborn unit of a Kenyan tertiary hospital: A four-month prospective colonization study.

Objective: Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO), especially carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO), represent a threat for newborns. This study investigates the colonization prevalence of these pathogens in a newborn unit at a Kenyan tertiary hospital in an integrated approach combining routine microbiology, whole genome sequencing (WGS) and hospital surveillance data.

Methods: The study was performed in the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in 2019 over a four-month period and included 300 mother-baby pairs.

Identification of immunodominant Bartonella bacilliformis proteins: a combined in-silico and serology approach.

Background: Bartonella bacilliformis is the aetiological agent of Carrión's disease, a biphasic and highly lethal illness formerly restricted to the South American Andes that is now spreading to adjacent areas. Reliable serodiagnostic approaches and vaccines are urgently needed. In this study, we aimed to identify immunodominant proteins of B bacilliformis and to establish novel and reliable serodiagnostic tools.

Molecular Surveillance of Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Liver Transplant Candidates.

Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CRGN) cause life-threatening infections due to limited antimicrobial treatment options. The occurrence of CRGN is often linked to hospitalization and antimicrobial treatment but remains incompletely understood. CRGN are common in patients with severe illness (e.

Do judges prefer advisors with dependent or independent errors? Investigating judges' advice selection and advice weighting.

Advice stemming from sources with errors that are dependent on each other is usually less accurate than advice provided by sources with independent errors, while simultaneously exhibiting greater consensus. We investigate whether or not individuals express a preference for advice with dependent errors by choosing it over advice with independent errors and by weighting it more strongly. We test for this preference both in a situation where error interdependence does not negatively affect advice accuracy as well as in a situation where advice with dependent errors is less accurate than advice with independent errors.

Systematic quantitative assessment of motor function in clinically isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder: A diagnostic window into early alpha-synucleinopathies.

Mild motor abnormalities can herald the beginning of Parkinson´s disease but their diagnostic value is limited by multifactorial ageing-related influences on motor function. We characterized mild motor abnormalities in different motor domains by conducting a systematic motor assessment in 20 patients with clinically isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD) without parkinsonian motor signs and 20 healthy controls. We addressed the influence of lifestyle factors and age on motor function, which needs to be distinguished from neurodegenerative motor features, and assessed the diagnostic value of innovative and established quantitative motor tests in iRBD.

The impact of subthalamic deep brain stimulation on belief revision and social validation.

We investigated whether Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) influences social validation as measured by a Judge-Advisor task. In contrast to healthy controls and patients with their DBS OFF, patients with their stimulation switched on do not experience a gain of confidence after receiving competent advice.

Does change of responsibility reduce escalating commitment? A replication and theoretical extension.

Reassigning responsibility is the most prominent and best-replicated intervention against escalating commitment (i.e., the failure to withdraw from losing courses of action).

Sequential Bayes Factor designs in developmental research: Studies on early word learning.

Developmental research, like many fields, is plagued by low sample sizes and inconclusive findings. The problem is amplified by the difficulties associated with recruiting infant participants for research as well as the increased variability in infant responses. With sequential testing designs providing a viable alternative to paradigms facing such issues, the current study implemented a Sequential Bayes Factor (SBF) design on three findings in the developmental literature.

Colonization with multidrug-resistant organisms is associated with in increased mortality in liver transplant candidates.

Objectives: Rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) is a major health problem in patients with liver cirrhosis. The impact of MDRO colonization in liver transplantation (LT) candidates and recipients on mortality has not been determined in detail.

Methods: Patients consecutively evaluated and listed for LT in a tertiary German liver transplant center from 2008 to 2018 underwent screening for MDRO colonization including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria (MDRGN), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).

A test of synergy in dynamic system control tasks.

Individual performance in controlling complex dynamic systems such as managing production in a company or keeping ecosystems in balance is often suboptimal. In this article, we provide the first unequivocal test of whether groups are superior to individuals when controlling dynamic systems. In addition, we test to what extent performance advantages of groups are simply the result of statistically aggregating a larger number of individual opinions and to what extent they represent true synergy attributable to within-group interaction.

G-I transfer in multicue judgment tasks: Discussion improves group members' knowledge about target relations.

One benefit of working in groups is that group members can learn from each other how to perform the task, a phenomenon called group-to-individual transfer (G-I transfer). In the context of quantitative judgments, G-I transfer means that group members improve their individual accuracy as a consequence of exchanging task-relevant information. This improved individual accuracy allows groups to outperform the average of a comparable number of individuals, that is, G-I transfer leads to synergy.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Phylogenetic Relations in a German Cohort Infected with Mycobacterium abscessus.

is a highly antibiotic-resistant opportunistic pathogen causing clinically challenging infections in patients with preexisting lung diseases or under immunosuppression. Hence, reliable antibiotic susceptibility data are required for effective treatment. Aims of this study were to investigate (i) the congruence of genotypic and phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing, (ii) the relationship between resistance profile and clinical course, and (iii) the phylogenetic relations of in a German patient cohort.

Complete Genome Sequence of Bartonella alsatica Strain IBS 382 (CIP 105477).

causes bacteremia in rabbits and, rarely, human infections. Here, we announce the complete and closed genome of IBS 382 (CIP 105477), generated by long-read Pacific Biosciences single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. The availability of this genome sequence allows future work on understanding the zoonotic potential of this pathogen.

Comparative analysis of phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic susceptibility patterns in Mycobacterium avium complex.

Objective: Phenotypic (Sensititre Myco, pDST) and genotypic drug susceptibility testing (GenoType NTM DR, gDST) in M. avium complex (MAC) have become available as standardized assays, but comparable data is needed. This study aimed to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic drug susceptibility patterns in MAC clinical isolates.

Emergence and suppression of cooperation by action visibility in transparent games.

Real-world agents, humans as well as animals, observe each other during interactions and choose their own actions taking the partners' ongoing behaviour into account. Yet, classical game theory assumes that players act either strictly sequentially or strictly simultaneously without knowing each other's current choices. To account for action visibility and provide a more realistic model of interactions under time constraints, we introduce a new game-theoretic setting called transparent games, where each player has a certain probability of observing the partner's choice before deciding on its own action.

Complete Genome Sequence of Bartonella bacilliformis Strain KC584 (ATCC 35686).

is the biological agent of Carrion's disease, a vector-borne, life-threatening human bartonellosis restricted to South America. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of KC584 (ATCC 35686). Although it is commonly used as a reference strain, to date, its complete genome has not been published.

An 82-Year-Old Man With Sleep-Onset Insomnia, Breathing Arrest, and Heart Failure.

An 82-year-old man presented with 6 months of difficulties of falling asleep. He described a feeling of fading breath culminating in breathing arrest when he becomes drowsy. These recurrent events prevented him from falling asleep.

The secRNome of Listeria monocytogenes Harbors Small Noncoding RNAs That Are Potent Inducers of Beta Interferon.

Cellular sensing of bacterial RNA is increasingly recognized as a determinant of host-pathogen interactions. The intracellular pathogen induces high levels of type I interferons (alpha/beta interferons [IFN-α/β]) to create a growth-permissive microenvironment during infection. We previously demonstrated that RNAs secreted by (comprising the secRNome) are potent inducers of IFN-β.