Fournier's Gangrene leads to lower Quality of Life and Self-esteem.

Introduction: Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a life-threatening necrotizing infection of the perineal, genital, or perianal regions, often requiring extensive surgical intervention and prolonged recovery. Despite advances in acute management, the long-term impact of FG on patients' self-esteem and quality of life remains underexplored.

Methods: This retrospective study included 48 patients treated for FG at seven urological centres in Austria between 2017 to 2022.

Effects of laser wavelength and pulse energy on the evaporation behavior of TiN coatings in atom probe tomography: A multi-instrument study.

The impact of the laser wavelength on accuracy in elemental composition analysis in atom probe tomography (APT) was investigated. Three different commercial atom probe systems - LEAP 3000X HR, LEAP 5000 XR, and LEAP 6000 XR - were systematically compared for a TiN model coating studying the effect of shorter laser wavelengths, especially in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) range, on the evaporation behavior. The findings demonstrate that the use of shorter wavelengths enhances the accuracy in elemental composition, while maintaining similar electric field strengths.

Effectiveness of the AZD1222 vaccine against COVID-19 hospitalization in Europe: final results from the COVIDRIVE test-negative case-control study.

Marketing authorization holders of vaccines typically need to report brand-specific vaccine effectiveness (VE) to the regulatory authorities as part of their regulatory obligations. COVIDRIVE (now id. DRIVE) is a European public-private partnership for respiratory pathogen surveillance and studies of brand-specific VE with long-term follow-up.

Daphnids can safeguard the use of alternative bioassays to the acute fish toxicity test: A focus on neurotoxicity.

Assessment of potential impacts of chemicals on the environment traditionally involves regulatory standard data requirements for acute aquatic toxicity testing using algae, daphnids and fish (e.g., OECD test guidelines (TG) 201, 202, and 203, respectively), representing different trophic levels.

Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics illuminate bat immunity and barrier tissue evolution.

Bats have adapted to pathogens through diverse mechanisms, including increased resistance - rapid pathogen elimination, and tolerance - limiting tissue damage following infection. In the Egyptian fruit bat (an important model in comparative immunology) several mechanisms conferring disease tolerance were discovered, but mechanisms underpinning resistance remain poorly understood. Previous studies on other species suggested that elevated basal expression of innate immune genes may lead to increased resistance to infection.

Ultrasound-guided minimally invasive thread release of carpal tunnel: a cadaveric study.

Purpose: Thread release of the carpal tunnel is the most recent of several minimally invasive ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release techniques. The purpose of this article is to provide a step-by-step guide for minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided thread release of the carpal tunnel focused on transecting the transverse carpal ligament with minimal damage to the palmar aponeurosis on anatomical specimens.

Methods: Fifteen ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel thread releases were performed on the wrists of soft-embalmed anatomical specimens, which were dissected immediately after the intervention.

CT, MRI, and FDG PET/CT in the Assessment of Lymph Node Involvement in Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma: An Expert Consensus Definition by an International Collaboration on Staging Evaluation and Response Criteria Harmonization for Children, Adolescent, and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma (SEARCH for CAYAHL).

Staging of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma is currently based on the Ann Arbor classification, incorporating the Cotswold modifications and the Lugano classification. The Cotswold modifications provide guidelines for the use of CT and MRI. The Lugano classification emphasizes the importance of CT and PET/CT in evaluating both Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma but focuses on adult patients.

Music moves: Ettlingen dementia study - a pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: Due to the limited effectiveness of pharmacological treatment, there is a growing need to explore non-pharmacological psychosocial interventions such as music therapy when treating the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

Method: We randomised 57 nursing home residents into individual active music therapy plus standard care (aMT), individual receptive music therapy with tactile sound vibration plus standard care (rMT), or the standard care control group (CG). A trained music therapist provided 12 sessions over 6 weeks.

Interaction between breastfeeding duration and an obesity genetic risk score to predict body fat composition in European adolescents: The HELENA study.

Background: Although the genetic interplay with the environment has a major impact on obesity development, little is known on whether breastfeeding could modulate the genetic predisposition to obesity.

Objectives: To investigate whether breastfeeding attenuates the effect of an obesity genetic risk score (GRS) on adiposity in European adolescents.

Methods: Totally 751 adolescents from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) cross-sectional study were included, divided according to breastfeeding status into never breastfed, 1-3 months and ≥4 months.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on musculoskeletal disorders-related sick leave among healthcare workers: a retrospective analysis of Slovenian national data.

Purpose: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the main causes of health-related absenteeism. MSDs were a known problem among healthcare workers (HCWs) even before COVID-19. The pandemic, with its associated stresses and changes in working conditions, may have influenced the incidence and duration of MSDs-related sick leave (SL) among HCWs.

Toward a hyperventilation detection system in freediving: a proof of concept using force sensor technology.

Background And Aim: Hyperventilation before breath-hold diving (freediving) is widely accepted as a risk factor for hypoxic syncope or blackout (BO), but there is no practical way to address it before dives. This study explores the feasibility of using a force sensor to predict end-tidal carbon dioxide ( CO) to assess hyperventilation in freedivers.

Methods And Results: Twenty-one freedivers volunteered to participate during two national competitions.

Personalized auricular vagus nerve stimulation: beat-to-beat deceleration dominates in systole-gated stimulation during inspiration - a pilot study.

Neuromodulation comes into focus as a non-pharmacological therapy with the vagus nerve as modulation target. The auricular vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS) has emerged to treat chronic diseases while re-establishing the sympathovagal balance and activating parasympathetic anti-inflammatory pathways. aVNS leads still to over and under-stimulation and is limited in therapeutic efficiency.

The impact of cycling on the physical and mental health, and quality of life of people with disabilities: a scoping review.

Adaptive cycling holds potential for promoting physical and mental health among individuals with disabilities, who often face barriers to traditional cycling and other forms of exercise. This scoping review systematically examines existing scientific literature to assess the effects of adaptive cycling on the physical and mental health of individuals with disabilities. Following a widely recognized methodological scoping review framework, 35 qualitative and quantitative studies were identified through comprehensive database searches and manual screenings.

Improving students' performance via case-based e-learning.

Background: The integration of interdisciplinary clinical reasoning and decision-making into the medical curriculum is imperative. Novel, high-quality e-learning environments, encompassing virtual clinical and hands-on training, are essential. Consequently, we evaluated the efficacy of a case-based e-learning approach.

Psychometric comparison of two short versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4) in a representative sample of the German population.

Perceived stress is a construct of crucial importance to health and well-being, necessitating the provision of economic, psychometrically sound instruments to assess it in routine clinical practice and large-scale survey studies. Two competing short versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), each consisting of four items, have been proposed. In the present study, we compare the two in a sample representative of the German general population ( = 2,527).

Bile acids and incretins as modulators of obesity-associated atherosclerosis.

Obesity is one of the major global health concerns of the 21st century, associated with many comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and early and aggressive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. Bile acids (BAs) and incretins are gut hormones involved in digestion and absorption of fatty acids, and insulin secretion, respectively. In recent years BAs and incretins are increasingly recognized as key signaling molecules, which target multiple tissues and organs, beyond the gastro-intestinal system.

How to facilitate peer support - learnings from the development of a peer support program for people with T2DM via instant messaging service to improve diabetes self-management.

This study explores the use of Instant Messaging Services (IMS) for peer support among individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Leveraging the popularity of IMS within the affected age group, the DiabPeerS study implemented a peer support intervention aimed at improving long-term blood glucose levels (HbA1c) in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). This article describes the development and acceptance of the IMS intervention used in the DiabPeerS study.

Lived experiences of migrant and refugee parents: Challenges encountered during their journey and settlement in Europe.

Parenting in the context of migration presents a unique set of challenges for refugee parents, who must navigate the cultural norms and expectations of both their home and resettlement countries while balancing their daily parenting responsibilities and practices. This study aims to provide a critical analysis of the experiences, needs, and challenges faced by migrant and refugee parents during their journey and settlement in Europe, as recounted through their personal narratives. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the researchers collected twenty-seven life narratives of migrant and/or refugee parents through purposive sampling.

Exploring utilities of [64Cu]Cu-DOTA-trastuzumab immunoPET in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

[64Cu]Cu-DOTA-trastuzumab represents a novel immunopositron emission tomography (immunoPET) agent with emerging diagnostic applications in human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-expressing breast cancer (BC). This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the current diagnostic utilities of [64Cu]Cu-DOTA-trastuzumab PET/computed tomography (CT) and explores tumor uptake metrics in HER2-positive BC lesions. A systematic literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Ovid databases was conducted using relevant keywords to identify eligible studies.

En bloc resection of large bladder tumor: is it feasible and reasonable?

Purpose Of Review: Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) remains the basis of bladder tumor diagnosis and an effective means of treating nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). There are several limitations to this procedure: TURBT may cause free floating of malignant cells in the bladder and as a result re-implantation and early recurrence. Also, it does not allow the pathologist to define the correct spatial orientation of the specimen.

Differences in lasers and laser technologies: what does a clinician need to know?

Purpose Of Review: This review focuses on recent advancements in laser technologies used in urology, particularly in enucleation, vaporization, lithotripsy, and focal laser ablation (FLA). The growing use of the thulium fiber laser (TFL) and the development of pulsed thulium lasers (p-Tm:YAG) highlight the relevance of this review, as these innovations aim to improve precision and outcomes in urological procedures.

Recent Findings: Recent studies have shown the advantages of TFL in achieving precise tissue ablation, reduced retropulsion offered by the Moses technology in holmium lasers, and the potential of pulsed thulium lasers for more precise control of the effects on tissues.

Characterization of the colostrum proteome of primiparous Holstein cows and its association with colostrum immunoglobulin G concentrations.

Background: The objective was to characterize the colostrum proteome of primiparous Holstein cows in association with immunoglobulin G (IgG) content. Immediately after calving, colostrum samples were collected from 18 cows to measure IgG concentration. Based on colostrum IgG content, samples were classified through cluster analysis and were identified as poor, average, and excellent quality.