Publications by authors named "Urban N"

Unlabelled: The official medical journals of scientific societies advocate for high-quality standards. It's important to assess whether randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in influential journals, such as the hybrid journal of the European Society of , and (), adhere to reporting guidelines and best practices. Therefore, the present scoping review aimed to explore and map the reporting practices and methodological quality in recent RCTs published in the () journal, focusing on identifying gaps in adherence to reporting guidelines and transparency.

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RF-amide peptide receptors including the neuropeptide FF receptor 1 (NPFFR1) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that modulate diverse physiological functions. High conservation of endogenous ligands and receptors makes the identification of selective ligands challenging. Previously identified antagonists mimic the C-terminus of peptide ligands and lack selectivity towards the closely related neuropeptide FF receptor 2 (NPFFR2) or the neuropeptide Y receptor (YR).

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Molecular design based on generative models, such as variational autoencoders (VAEs), has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its efficiency for exploring high-dimensional molecular space to identify molecules with desired properties. While the efficacy of the initial model strongly depends on the training data, the sampling efficiency of the model for suggesting novel molecules with enhanced properties can be further enhanced via latent space optimization (LSO). In this paper, we propose a multi-objective LSO method that can significantly enhance the performance of generative molecular design (GMD).

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The ability of the nervous system to initiate intricate goal-directed behaviors in response to environmental stimuli is essential for metazoan survival. In this study, we demonstrate that the nematode perceives and reacts to dead conspecifics. The exposure to corpses as well as corpse lysates activates sensory neurons AWB and ASH, triggering a glutamate- and acetylcholine-dependent signaling cascade that regulates both immediate (aversion) and long-term (survival) responses to the presence of a death signature.

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Circumventing the limitations of current bioassays, we introduce a light-controlled assay, OptoAssay, toward wash- and pump-free point-of-care diagnostics. Extending the capabilities of standard bioassays with light-dependent and reversible interaction of optogenetic switches, OptoAssays enable a bidirectional movement of assay components, only by changing the wavelength of light. Demonstrating exceptional versatility, the OptoAssay showcases its efficacy on various substrates, delivering a dynamic bioassay format.

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Inhibitory circuits in the mammalian olfactory bulb (OB) dynamically reformat olfactory information as it propagates from peripheral receptors to downstream cortex. To gain mechanistic insight into how specific OB interneuron types support this sensory processing, we examine unitary synaptic interactions between excitatory mitral and tufted cells (MTCs), the OB projection neurons, and a conserved population of anaxonic external plexiform layer interneurons (EPL-INs) using pair and quartet whole-cell recordings in acute mouse brain slices. Physiological, morphological, neurochemical, and synaptic analyses divide EPL-INs into distinct subtypes and reveal that parvalbumin-expressing fast-spiking EPL-INs (FSIs) perisomatically innervate MTCs with release-competent dendrites and synaptically detonate to mediate fast, short-latency recurrent and lateral inhibition.

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Introduction: This scoping review aimed to synthesize the fragmented evidence on ethical concerns related to the use of electrical and magnetic neuromodulation technologies, as well as brain-computer interfaces for enhancing brain function in healthy individuals, addressing the gaps in understanding spurred by rapid technological advancements and ongoing ethical debates.

Methods: The following databases and interfaces were queried: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, PhilPapers, and Google Scholar. Additional references were identified via bibliographies of included citations.

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Article Synopsis
  • Pharmacodynamic (PD) models are mathematical representations of how drugs interact with cellular networks, aimed at predicting the outcomes of new drug therapies.
  • These models often suffer from uncertainty due to insufficient experimental data, which impacts their prediction accuracy.
  • This study introduces a Bayesian approach to experimental design that enhances the predictive capability of PD models and identifies the best experimental setups to reduce uncertainty.
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Cardiomyocytes require the HSP70 chaperone BiP to maintain proteostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) following cardiac stress. The adenylyl transferase (AMPylase) FICD is increasingly recognized to regulate BiP activity through the post-translational addition of an adenosine monophosphate moiety to BiP surface residues. However, the physiological impact of FICD-mediated BiP regulation in the context of cardiovascular health is unknown.

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Background: The 2022 mpox outbreak continues, and while progress has been made in prevention strategies and potential treatment options, data on late sequelae following mpox are scarce.

Objective: This analysis aimed to assess the incidence of scar formation in individuals affected by the 2022 mpox outbreak.

Methods: All individuals diagnosed with mpox at the Department of Dermatology at the Medical University of Vienna in 2022 were included in this analysis.

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Inhibitory circuits in the mammalian olfactory bulb (OB) dynamically reformat olfactory information as it propagates from peripheral receptors to downstream cortex. To gain mechanistic insight into how specific OB interneuron types support this sensory processing, we examine unitary synaptic interactions between excitatory mitral and tufted cells (MTCs), the OB projection cells, and a conserved population of anaxonic external plexiform layer interneurons (EPL-INs) using pair and quartet whole-cell recordings in acute mouse brain slices. Physiological, morphological, neurochemical, and synaptic analyses divide EPL-INs into distinct subtypes and reveal that parvalbumin-expressing fast-spiking EPL-INs (FSIs) perisomatically innervate MTCs with release-competent dendrites and synaptically detonate to mediate fast, short-latency recurrent and lateral inhibition.

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Background: Highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) has been an excellent bearing for total hip arthroplasty (THA) due to improved wear characteristics compared to conventional materials. Patients 50 years of age or younger are at high risk for wear-related complications of their THA, and few studies have followed these patients who have HXPLE into the third decade.

Methods: In a retrospective review of 88 consecutive THAs performed in 77 patients aged 50 years and younger (mean 41; range, 20 to 50), in which HXLPE was utilized, they were evaluated for their clinical and radiographic results at an average of 20-year follow-up (range, 18 to 24).

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Aims: Oxidized zirconium (OxZi) and highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) were developed to minimize wear and risk of osteolysis in total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, retrieval studies have shown that scratched femoral heads may lead to runaway wear, and few reports of long-term results have been published. The purpose of this investigation is to report minimum ten-year wear rates and clinical outcomes of THA with OxZi femoral heads on HXLPE, and to compare them with a retrospective control group of cobalt chrome (CoCr) or ceramic heads on HXLPE.

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Background: Leishmaniasis is caused by infection with intracellular protozoans of the genus Leishmania. Transmission occurs predominantly by the bite of phlebotomine sandflies, other routes, including congenital transmission, are rare. The disease manifests as either cutaneous, visceral or mucosal/mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.

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Head-mounted miniscopes have allowed for functional fluorescence imaging in freely moving animals. However, current capabilities of state-of-the-art technology can record only up to two, spectrally distinct fluorophores. This severely limits the number of cell types identifiable in a functional imaging experiment.

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Intermittent fasting (IF) is a promising strategy to counteract ageing shown to increase the number of adult-born neurons in the dentate gyrus of mice. However, it is unclear which steps of the adult neurogenesis process are regulated by IF. The number of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) decreases with age in an activation-dependent manner and, to counteract this loss, adult NSCs are found in a quiescent state which ensures their long-term maintenance.

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Background: Increasing evidence has sparked a debate on the loss of sensitivity of scabies mites to conventional permethrin therapy. Mutations in the voltage-sensitive sodium channels (VSSC) were associated with knockdown resistance (kdr) in many arthropods, but have never been identified in Sarcoptes scabiei variatio (var.) hominis mites.

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Background And Purpose: In macrophages, transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2) channel contributes to various cellular processes such as cytokine production, differentiation, phagocytosis and migration. Due to a lack of selective pharmacological tools, its function in immunological processes is not well understood and the identification of novel and selective TRPV2 modulators is highly desirable.

Experimental Approach: Novel and selective TRPV2 modulators were identified by screening a compound library using Ca influx assays with human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells heterologously expressing rat TRPV2.

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To understand single neuron computation, it is necessary to know how specific physiological parameters affect neural spiking patterns that emerge in response to specific stimuli. Here we present a computational pipeline combining biophysical and statistical models that provides a link between variation in functional ion channel expression and changes in single neuron stimulus encoding. More specifically, we create a mapping from biophysical model parameters to stimulus encoding statistical model parameters.

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Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) and its deuterated analog (DKDP) are unique nonlinear optical materials for high power laser systems. They are used widely for frequency conversion and polarization control by virtue of the ability to grow optical-quality crystals at apertures suitable for fusion-class laser systems. Existing methods for freeform figuring of KDP/DKDP optics do not produce surfaces with sufficient laser-induced-damage thresholds (LIDT's) for operation in the ultraviolet portion of high-peak-power laser systems.

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COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse events are mostly minor to moderate, and serious events are rare. Single cases of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in temporal proximity to COVID-19 vaccination have been reported. Demographic data, medical history, and detailed information regarding vaccination status and RP characteristics were obtained from patients with confirmed RP after COVID-19 vaccination.

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with reduced adult hippocampal neurogenesis and impaired hippocampal-dependent behaviors. Li et al. report that stimulating adult neurogenesis combined with new-born neuron activation ameliorates behavioral symptoms and plaque deposition in AD mouse models.

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