Vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibody response: the comparability of S1-specific binding assays depends on epitope and isotype discrimination.

Background: Quantification of the SARS-CoV-2-specific immune response by serological immunoassays is critical for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, neutralizing antibody titers to the viral spike (S) protein have been proposed as a correlate of protection (CoP). The WHO established the First International Standard (WHO IS) for anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (Ig) (NIBSC 20/136) to harmonize binding assays with the same antigen specificity by assigning the same unitage in binding antibody units (BAU)/ml.

Clinical performance evaluation of a SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antibody Test for determining past exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

Objectives: Due to the number of asymptomatic infections and limited access to high-performance antibody tests, the true prevalence and seropositivity of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unknown. To fill this gap, the clinical performance of a point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antibody Assay, a chromatographic immunoassay for detecting IgM/IgG antibodies, in near patient settings was assessed.

Methods: Forty-two anti-SARS-Cov-2 positive (CoV+) and 92 anti-SARS-Cov-2 negative (CoV-) leftover samples from before December 2019 were assessed; the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 was used as the reference assay.

Thrombocytopenia after implantation of the Perceval S aortic bioprosthesis.

Objective: The Perceval S bioprosthesis (LivaNova PLC, London, United Kingdom) is based on the Freedom Solo aortic bioprosthesis (LivaNova PLC), which has been reported to be associated with perioperative thrombocytopenia. We compared platelet counts after aortic valve replacement with the Perceval S with those with other aortic valve bioprostheses.

Methods: A total of 87 patients receiving aortic valve replacement were included in this retrospective study; 25 patients received the Perceval S, 23 patients received the Labcor TLPB-A (Labcor, Belo Horizonte, Brazil), and 39 patients received the Hancock II bioprosthesis (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minn).

[Diabetic foot syndrome - pathogenesis, diagnosis, therapy and prevention].

The diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is a complication of diabetes mellitus, implying a serious impairment in quality of life for patients in advanced stages of the disease. Early detection of risks and stage-appropriate intervention are essential to increase the chances of foot salvage. The pathophysiological conditions for the formation of a DFS and treatment guidelines are currently underestimated.

[Cross-sectional analysis of routine treatment for prostate cancer patients: CAPRIS - a healthcare research project of the IQUO].

Background: Different practices for the treatment of prostate cancer patients exist in Germany.

Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to investigate current practice for the treatment of patients with prostate cancer in urological IQUO partner practices (Interest Group for Quality Assurance in the Work of Office-based Uro-oncologists in Germany) dependent on tumor stage and risk factors. The analysis focused on T1/T2 and T3/T4 patients.

Low-temperature fabrication of spiking soma circuits using nanocrystalline-silicon TFTs.

Spiking neuron circuits consisting of ambipolar nanocrystalline-silicon (nc-Si) thin-film transistors (TFTs) have been fabricated using low temperature processing conditions (maximum of 250 °C) that allow the use of flexible substrates. These circuits display behaviors commonly observed in biological neurons such as millisecond spike duration, nonlinear frequency-current relationship, and spike frequency adaptation. The maximum drive capacity of a simple soma circuit was estimated to be approximately 9200 synapses.

Increased preoperative serum apoptosis marker fas ligand correlates with histopathology and new-onset of atrial fibrillation in patients after cardiac surgery.

Background: We evaluated if preoperative serum apoptosis markers correlate with atrial histological remodeling and postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery.

Methods And Results: A total of 33 patients with sinus rhythm (SR) and without history of atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing cardiac surgery were prospectively enrolled. Serum concentrations of Fas (apoptosis-stimulating fragment ligand) and TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) were measured preoperatively.

Neural learning circuits utilizing nano-crystalline silicon transistors and memristors.

Properties of neural circuits are demonstrated via SPICE simulations and their applications are discussed. The neuron and synapse subcircuits include ambipolar nano-crystalline silicon transistor and memristor device models based on measured data. Neuron circuit characteristics and the Hebbian synaptic learning rule are shown to be similar to biology.

[Vascular ultrasonography].

Vascular ultrasound plays an important role in the visual depiction of arteries, veins, and changes of tissue in lymphatic diseases. In the case of arteries, this ranges from endothelial dysfunction over measuring the increase of intima media thickness to the detection of stenoses, occlusion, or aneurysm. Ultrasound helps to differentiate in functional arterial diseases such as primary and secondary Raynaud's syndrome as well as arterial compression syndromes like entrapment syndrome of different arterial regions or the chronic exceptional compartment syndrome of the lower leg.

One-step selective chemistry for silicon-on-insulator sensor geometries.

A one-step functionalization process has been developed for oxide-free channels of field effect transistor structures, enabling a self-selective grafting of receptor molecules on the device active area, while protecting the nonactive part from nonspecific attachment of target molecules. Characterization of the self-organized chemical process is performed on both Si(100) and SiO(2) surfaces by infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and electrical measurements. This selective functionalization leads to structures with better chemical stability, reproducibility, and reliability than current SiO(2)-based devices using silane molecules.

[Revision of DEGUM ultrasound criteria for grading internal carotid artery stenoses and transfer to NASCET measurement].

Since 1986, German ultrasound criteria for grading carotid stenosis have followed the local diameter reduction percentage consistent with the definition used in the European Carotid Surgery Trial (ECST) definition. To overcome the confusion caused by the coexisting grading method used in the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET), a German interdisciplinary council on carotid artery stenosis has recommended the implementation of the NASCET grading system (distal diameter reduction percentage) as the standard. The multi-parametric German "DEGUM ultrasound criteria" consisting of combined Doppler and imaging criteria have consequently been revised and transferred to the NASCET definition.

[Chronic relapsing compartment syndrome].

Chronic relapsing exertional compartment syndrome is not only found in young athletic subjects. Non-athletic patients can also suffer from exercise dependent pain in the lower limb. The syndrome is defined by increased tissue pressure in between a closed osteo-fibrous space resulting in disturbed microcirculation and finally irreversible neuroischemic damage.

Elevated levels of serum type I collagen C-telopeptide in patients with rapidly destructive osteoarthritis of the hip.

We compared type I collagen degradation using serum cross-linking C-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) in 18 patients with rapidly destructive osteoarthrosis and in 20 patients with slowly progressive osteoarthrosis of the hip. The diagnosis was established by clinical examination and radiographic evaluation. Total hip arthroplasty was performed in all patients.