Publications by authors named "Schwarz P"

Objective: Progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes has been associated with β-cell dysfunction, whereas its remission to normoglycemia has been related to improvement of insulin sensitivity. To understand the mechanisms and identify potential biomarkers related to prediabetes trajectories, we compared the proteomics and metabolomics profile of people with prediabetes progressing to diabetes or reversing to normoglycemia within 1 year.

Research Design And Methods: The fasting plasma concentrations of 1,389 proteins and the fasting, 30-min, and 120-min post-oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) plasma concentrations of 152 metabolites were measured in up to 134 individuals with new-onset diabetes, prediabetes, or normal glucose tolerance.

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Background: A strong association between multiple sclerosis (MS) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been established but the exact role of EBV in MS remains controversial. Recently, molecular mimicry between EBNA1 and specific GlialCAM, CRYAB and ANO2 peptides has been suggested as a possible pathophysiological mechanism. The aim of this study was to analyse anti-EBV antibodies in MS patients against (I) EBV lifecycle proteins, (II) putative cross-reactive peptides, and (III) during treatment.

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Roasting is an efficient way to enhance the aroma of malts. However, the dynamic response of volatile development throughout roasting has been rarely explored. In this study, multiple omics approaches were applied to systematically investigate underlying mechanisms of volatile development at a time-course manner during roasting.

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Background: Digital interventions are promising additions for both usual care and rehabilitation. Evidence and studies for the latter, however, are still rare.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the app/web-based patient education program called "mebix" (previously called "Vision 2 - Gesundes Herz") regarding its effectiveness in relation to the parameters of disease-specific quality of life (HeartQoL), cardiovascular risk profile (Cardiovascular Risk Management [CARRISMA]), and prognostic estimation of early retirement (Screening instrument work and occupation [SIBAR]) in 190 participants from a cardiological rehabilitation clinic.

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There is an unmet need for a biomarker of liver fat. We identified dimethylguanidino valeric acid (DMGV) as a circulating biomarker of liver fat. Here, we assess its two isoforms-symmetric (SDGV) and asymmetric (ADGV)-as biomarkers of steatosis.

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The use of antidepressants is well-documented for several health conditions. The determination of these drugs in biological fluids is often important in intoxication cases. However, appropriate sample preparation needs to be employed, such as dispersive liquid phase microextraction (DSPME).

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  • - Fountain codes, initially designed for reliable multicasting in communication networks, are being adapted for DNA data storage systems despite encountering unique challenges such as different noise models and specific constraints of DNA storage channels.
  • - The article discusses various optimization methods for fountain codes specifically for DNA data storage, including tailored distribution functions that enhance their effectiveness in this unique context.
  • - Evaluations demonstrate that these optimizations notably improve the reliability and capacity of DNA data storage systems, with the new coding schemes and methods made available as open-source software for broader use.
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  • Primary hyperparathyroidism is an endocrine disorder that can cause high calcium levels, often found without symptoms in patients.
  • A 47-year-old male case study highlights the mild presentation of significant hormonal issues, where fasting may have contributed to kidney stone development despite no major symptoms initially.
  • After surgery to remove a large parathyroid adenoma, the patient faced additional complications but ultimately achieved biochemical remission, demonstrating the importance of vigilant monitoring in similar cases.
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  • * Although generally safe, reports indicate acute kidney impairment can occur, particularly in patients with cancer or preexisting kidney issues after high doses.
  • * This report presents two cases of low-risk patients who developed severe kidney impairment requiring dialysis after a single dose of zoledronic acid, emphasizing the importance of monitoring kidney function in all recipients of the drug.
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  • The research investigates the psychological impacts of acromegaly, a rare condition that can lead to anxiety and depression among patients.
  • A systematic review in January 2024 analyzed 55 studies focusing on anxiety, depression, and the potential absence of alexithymia in acromegaly patients, using various medical databases.
  • Findings show that anxiety and depression are prevalent in acromegaly patients, negatively affecting their health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), and highlight the need for early psychological assessment and integrated interventions to improve patient well-being.
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Background: Incomplete attack remission is the main cause of disability in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). Apheresis therapies such as plasma exchange and immunoadsorption are widely used in neuroimmunology. Data on apheresis outcomes in MOGAD attacks remain limited.

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Simulation-based learning is an integral part of hands-on learning and is often done through role-playing games or patients simulated by professional actors. In this article, we present the use of a humanoid robot as a simulation patient for the presentation of disease symptoms in the setting of medical education. In a study, 12 participants watched both the patient simulation by the robotic patient and the video with the actor patient.

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  • Breast cancer patients experience a heightened risk of cardiometabolic diseases, exacerbated by adjuvant therapies that alter inflammatory and metabolic health markers.
  • A study measured inflammatory cytokines and metabolic health parameters in 51 postmenopausal early breast cancer patients over two years, revealing significant increases in cytokines immediately after chemotherapy.
  • Although cytokine levels returned to near baseline within six months, patients continued to show worsened lipid profiles and insulin resistance for up to a year post-treatment.
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  • Conventional therapy for hypoparathyroidism helps with hypocalcemia symptoms but doesn't fix low parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels; TransCon PTH (palopegteriparatide) is being studied as a potential long-term treatment.
  • A Phase 3 trial involved 82 adults across 21 sites in North America and Europe, with participants receiving TransCon PTH daily during a 156-week open-label period after an initial 26-week placebo-controlled phase.
  • Results showed that by week 52, 81% of participants achieved normal serum calcium levels without needing conventional therapy, improved their quality of life, and experienced mostly mild to moderate side effects, indicating the treatment's sustained efficacy and safety.
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In prion diseases (PrDs), aggregates of misfolded prion protein (PrPSc) accumulate not only in the brain but also in extraneural organs. This raises the question whether prion-specific pathologies arise also extraneurally. Here we sequenced mRNA transcripts in skeletal muscle, spleen and blood of prion-inoculated mice at eight timepoints during disease progression.

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  • The study explored the impact of clinical psychological factors on Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) in patients suffering from Severe Allergic Asthma (SAA) and Hymenoptera Venom Anaphylaxis (HVA).
  • Results indicated that patients with SAA had significantly lower HR-QoL scores and higher depressive symptoms compared to those with HVA.
  • Additionally, higher levels of alexithymia—difficulty identifying emotions—were linked to greater depression and anxiety, as well as lower vitality and mental health scores among participants.
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Blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) arises from a physiological and physical cascade of events taking place at the level of the cortical microvasculature which constitutes a medium with complex geometry. Several analytical models of the BOLD contrast have been developed, but these have not been compared directly against detailed bottom-up modeling methods. Using a 3D modeling method based on experimentally measured images of mice microvasculature and Monte Carlo simulations, we quantified the accuracy of two analytical models to predict the amplitude of the BOLD response from 1.

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  • - The study aimed to assess whether plasma Vitamin D levels (25(OH)D) can predict the onset of type 2 diabetes in a large cohort of over 222,000 individuals from Denmark's primary healthcare system.
  • - Analyzed data showed that out of the participants, 3.4% developed type 2 diabetes, and those affected had significantly lower Vitamin D levels compared to those who did not develop the condition.
  • - The results indicated a 15% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes for every 10 nmol/L decrease in Vitamin D level, suggesting a need for further research to explore causation and potential benefits of Vitamin D supplementation.
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  • * Blood samples from 24 healthy young men were collected every three hours over a 24-hour period to analyze these blood markers and their changes throughout the day.
  • * Results showed significant fluctuations in total calcium, phosphate, and PTH levels throughout the day, suggesting that the timing of blood tests for these markers is crucial in clinical practice.
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Unlabelled: Bone and muscle impairment, named osteoporosis and sarcopenia, may co-occur with age, and patients with both disorders might exhibit physical frailty. One-hundred sixty-three patients were included. 14.

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  • This study investigated thyroid function changes in women with early breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy and examined the relationship to weight gain and autoimmune conditions.* -
  • Results showed increased thyroid-stimulating hormone and decreased free-thyroxine levels post-chemotherapy, but no significant changes in body weight or evidence of autoimmune thyroiditis were found.* -
  • The researchers concluded that while thyroid hormone changes occurred, they didn't indicate clinically significant thyroid dysfunction, and further research is necessary to explore long-term effects following treatment.*
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Extracellularly released molecular inflammasome assemblies -ASC specks- cross-seed Aβ amyloid in Alzheimer's disease. Here we show that ASC governs the extent of inflammation-induced amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis, a systemic disease caused by the aggregation and peripheral deposition of the acute-phase reactant serum amyloid A (SAA) in chronic inflammatory conditions. Using super-resolution microscopy, we found that ASC colocalized tightly with SAA in human AA amyloidosis.

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