Human airway epithelium controls infection via inducible nitric oxide synthase.

Introduction: Airway epithelial cells play a central role in the innate immune response to invading bacteria, yet adequate human infection models are lacking.

Methods: We utilized mucociliary-differentiated human airway organoids with direct access to the apical side of epithelial cells to model the initial phase of respiratory tract infection.

Results: Immunofluorescence of infected organoids revealed that invades the epithelial barrier and subsequently proliferates within the epithelial space.

Myeloperoxidase and N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide as predictors for atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients undergoing redo ablation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressively developing arrhythmia. Electroanatomic remodeling may play an important role, both in the development of the disease and in the perpetuation and thus in the recurrence of AF.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate potential biomarkers myeloperoxidase (MPO), N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide (NT-proANP), intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and their predictive value for AF recurrence in patients undergoing redo ablation.

Aggressive Lymphoma after CD19 CAR T-Cell Therapy.

The development of a fatal, clonal, autonomously proliferating CD4-CD8- chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)+ peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) occurred 1 month after a patient received treatment with tisagenlecleucel for relapsed primary central nervous system lymphoma. The PTCL had a clonal T-cell receptor rearrangement, which was already detectable in the apheresis product for CAR T-cell manufacturing and 7 months earlier for autologous transplantation. Somatic and mutations in CD34+ stem cells and their progeny were detected in the PTCL, in the apheresis specimen that was obtained for CAR T-cell production, and in the autotransplant.

Evaluating culture-free targeted next-generation sequencing for diagnosing drug-resistant tuberculosis: a multicentre clinical study of two end-to-end commercial workflows.

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis remains a major obstacle in ending the global tuberculosis epidemic. Deployment of molecular tools for comprehensive drug resistance profiling is imperative for successful detection and characterisation of tuberculosis drug resistance. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a new class of molecular diagnostics for drug-resistant tuberculosis.

B Cell Differentiation and the Origin and Pathogenesis of Human B Cell Lymphomas.

Immunoglobulin (IG) gene remodeling by V(D)J recombination plays a central role in the generation of normal B cells, and somatic hypermutation and class switching of IG genes are key processes during antigen-driven B cell differentiation in the germinal center reaction. However, errors of these processes are involved in the development of B cell lymphomas. IG locus-associated translocations of proto-oncogenes are a hallmark of many B cell malignancies.

Reductions in inpatient and outpatient mental health care in germany during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic - What can we learn for a better crisis preparedness?

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, reports from several European mental health care systems hinted at important changes in utilization. So far, no study examined changes in utilization in the German mental health care inpatient and outpatient mental health care system comprehensively.

Methods: This longitudinal observational study used claims data from two major German statutory health insurances, AOK PLUS and BKK, covering 162,905 inpatients and 2,131,186 outpatients with mental disorders nationwide.

Long/post-COVID in children and adolescents: symptom onset and recovery after one year based on healthcare records in Germany.

Purpose: Evidence on the incidence and persistence of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) among children and adolescents is still limited.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 59,339 children and adolescents with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in 2020 and 170,940 matched controls were followed until 2021-09-30 using German routine healthcare data. Incidence rate differences (ΔIR) and ratios (IRR) of 96 potential PASC were estimated using Poisson regression.

Transient colonizing microbes promote gut dysbiosis and functional impairment.

Species composition of the healthy adult gut microbiota tends to be stable over time. Destabilization of the gut microbiome under the influence of different factors is the main driver of the microbial dysbiosis and subsequent impacts on host physiology. Here, we used metagenomics data from a Swedish longitudinal cohort, to determine the stability of the gut microbiome and uncovered two distinct microbial species groups; persistent colonizing species (PCS) and transient colonizing species (TCS).

Towards an understanding of physical activity-induced post-exertional malaise: Insights into microvascular alterations and immunometabolic interactions in post-COVID condition and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Background: A considerable number of patients who contracted SARS-CoV-2 are affected by persistent multi-systemic symptoms, referred to as Post-COVID Condition (PCC). Post-exertional malaise (PEM) has been recognized as one of the most frequent manifestations of PCC and is a diagnostic criterion of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Yet, its underlying pathomechanisms remain poorly elucidated.

Comparative analysis of neurofilaments and biomarkers of muscular damage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Diagnosis of the fatal neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is challenging. Neurofilaments, indicative of neuronal damage, along with creatine kinase, creatinine, myoglobin, and troponin T, representing muscular damage, have been identified as promising fluid biomarkers. This study aims to comprehensively assess and compare their diagnostic and prognostic potential in a 'real-world' cohort of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Prospective exploratory evaluation of Cepheid Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis host response cartridge: a focus on adolescents and young adults.

Background: An accurate, rapid, non-sputum-based triage test for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) is needed.

Methods: A prospective evaluation of the Xpert-MTB-HR cartridge, a prototype blood-based host-response mRNA signature assay, among individuals presenting with TB-like symptoms was performed in Pakistan and results were compared to three reference standards: Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, bacteriological confirmation (Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and/or culture positivity), and composite clinical diagnosis (clinician diagnosis, treatment initiation, Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, and/or culture positivity). Analyses were conducted both for the entire study cohort and separately in the adolescent and young adult cohort (ages 10-24).

Impact of Physical Activity in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Catheter Ablation: The Multicenter Randomized BE-ACTION Trial.

Background: Arrhythmia recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is common. We conducted a multicenter, randomized trial to determine the impact of increased physical activity on atrial fibrillation recurrence after PVI.

Methods: From 2018 to 2020, we randomly assigned 200 patients with atrial fibrillation to the ACTION or NO-ACTION group in 4 different centers in the local country of Brandenburg, Germany.

Detection of Subclinical Rejection in Pediatric Kidney Transplantation: Current and Future Practices.

Introduction: The successes in the field of pediatric kidney transplantation over the past 60 years have been extraordinary. Year over year, there have been significant improvements in short-term graft survival. However, improvements in longer-term outcomes have been much less apparent.

Fostering Organizational Excellence through Inclusive Leadership: Practical Guide for Radiology Leaders.

Inclusive leadership styles value team members, invite diverse perspectives, and recognize and support the contributions of employees. The authors provide guidance to radiology leaders interested in developing inclusive leadership skills and competencies to improve workforce recruitment and retention and unlock the potential of a rapidly diversifying health care workforce. As health care organizations look to attract the best and brightest talent, they will be increasingly recruiting millennial and Generation Z employees, who belong to the most diverse generations in American history.

Epidemiology and risk factors of community-acquired pneumonia in patients with different causes of immunosuppression.

Immunosuppression constitutes a significant risk for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Nevertheless, specific causes of immunosuppression and their relevance for incidence, etiology and prognosis of CAP are insufficiently investigated.We conducted a population-based cohort study within a statutory health insurance in Germany from 2015 to 2018.

Study of the Long-Term High-Temperature Structural Stability of RuAl Electrodes for Microelectronic Devices.

The high-temperature stability of RuAl-based electrodes for application in microelectronic devices is analyzed for long-term duration. The electrodes are prepared on CaTaGaSiO (CTGS) substrates using SiO and Al-N-O cover and barrier layers as oxidation protection. The samples are annealed at 600, 700, or 800 °C in air for 192 h.

Identification of novel snoRNA-based biomarkers for clear cell renal cell carcinoma from urine-derived extracellular vesicles.

Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of RCC with high rates of metastasis. Targeted therapies such as tyrosine kinase and checkpoint inhibitors have improved treatment success, but therapy-related side effects and tumor recurrence remain a challenge. As a result, ccRCC still have a high mortality rate.

Personalized identification and characterization of genome-wide gene expression differences between patient-matched intracranial and extracranial melanoma metastasis pairs.

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer that frequently spreads to other organs of the human body. Especially melanoma metastases to the brain (intracranial metastases) are hard to treat and a major cause of death of melanoma patients. Little is known about molecular alterations and altered mechanisms that distinguish intra- from extracranial melanoma metastases.

Dopamine‑iron homeostasis interaction rescues mitochondrial fitness in Parkinson's disease.

Imbalances of iron and dopamine metabolism along with mitochondrial dysfunction have been linked to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). We have previously suggested a direct link between iron homeostasis and dopamine metabolism, as dopamine can increase cellular uptake of iron into macrophages thereby promoting oxidative stress responses. In this study, we investigated the interplay between iron, dopamine, and mitochondrial activity in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived dopaminergic neurons differentiated from a healthy control and a PD patient with a mutation in the α-synuclein (SNCA) gene.