To drain or not to drain in minimal invasive ventral hernia surgery.

Purpose: Despite the high prevalence of ventral hernias worldwide, intraoperative drain placement remains a controversial topic. The benefit in reducing postoperative complications has not yet been clearly demonstrated. This study investigates whether a drain prevents postoperative complications after minimally invasive ventral hernia repair using the extended-totally-extraperitoneal-(eTEP)-technique.

Dynamics of organic matter in algal blooms on the Greenland ice sheet.

Surface melting supports the development of pigmented algal blooms on the Greenland Ice Sheet, decreasing albedo and further accelerating melting. The interplay between carbon-fixing algae and carbon-respiring heterotrophic microorganisms ultimately controls the amount and composition of organic matter (OM) and thus the ice and snow color. Yet, the dynamics of microbially-derived OM on the Greenland Ice Sheet remain unclear.

Geographical distribution of two acoustic fin whale () populations across the Weddell Sea.

Understanding and identifying population-specific acoustic features is crucial to passive acoustic monitoring-based remote sensing of population distributions. Fin whales are known to produce 20-Hz pulses, often accompanied by a simultaneous higher frequency (HF) component. The centre frequency of this component has been found to differ regionally, presumably representing a population-specific acoustic characteristic.

Diagnostic and epidemiological landscape of anaerobic bacteria in Europe, 2020-2023 (ANAEuROBE).

Introduction: Despite being implicated in a wide spectrum of community- and healthcare-acquired infections, anaerobes have not yet been incorporated into systematic surveillance programs in Europe.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre retrospective observational study analysing all anaerobic strains isolated from blood cultures in 44 European Hospital Centres over a 4-year period (2020-2023). Diagnostic approach, epidemiology, and antimicrobial susceptibility according to EUCAST v.

Advances in chromosomal microarray analysis: Transforming neurology and neurosurgery.

Over the past two decades, genomics has transformed our understanding of various clinical conditions, with Chromosomal Microarray Analysis (CMA) standing out as a key technique. Offering unparalleled sensitivity, CMA detects submicroscopic chromosomal imbalances, enabling the examination of DNA for copy number variations, deletions, duplications, and other structural differences. In neurology, CMA has revolutionised diagnoses, personalised treatment plans, and patient outcomes.

Music to my ears.

Both psychoacoustic and cochlear measurements of frequency selectivity in humans indicate that persons with substantial active musical experience can show higher selectivity values. The influence of experience on neural networks in the brain is compatible with what is known about learning and development and thus changes in frequency selectivity of elements in the auditory pathway. Assumed changes in cochlear selectivity as the result of experience, however, lack both any known anatomical substrate and precedent.

Real-world analysis of treatment patterns and survival outcome of glioblastoma patients in a German single-center study: Can survival rates of randomized controlled trials be achieved?

Background: The reported survival data for glioblastoma patients vary strongly between different studies. In our study, we therefore examined which data are applicable in a real-world population in a German center and how these real-world data perform in comparison to survival data presented in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: Data of all patients treated with newly diagnosed glioblastoma in a single German center between 2010 and 2019 were analyzed and treatment patterns plus survival rates were matched to existing real-world data and results of RCTs.

Discussion on the validity of commonly used reliability indices in sports medicine and exercise science: a critical review with data simulations.

Apart from objectivity and validity, reliability is considered a precondition for testing within scientific works, as unreliable testing protocols limit conclusions, especially for practical application. Classification guidelines commonly refer to relative reliability, focusing on Pearson correlation coefficients (r) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). On those, the standard error of measurement (SEM) and the minimal detectable change (MDC) are often calculated in addition to the variability coefficient (CV).

Size-specific strategies of sympatric cetaceans to reduce heat loss.

Maintaining a stable core body temperature is essential for endotherms. Cetaceans live in a highly thermally conductive medium, requiring special adaptations to reduce heat loss and maintain homeothermy. We employed a combination of aerial photogrammetry and existing data sources to estimate heat loss rates in five sympatric cetaceans of varying sizes, inhabiting the sub-arctic waters (∼3.

Role of coupling asymmetry in the fully disordered Kuramoto model.

We investigate the dynamics of phase oscillators in the fully disordered Kuramoto model with couplings of defined asymmetry. The mean-field dynamics is reduced to a self-consistent stochastic single-oscillator problem which we analyze perturbatively and by numerical simulations. We elucidate the influence of the asymmetry on the correlation and response function of the system as well as on the distribution of the order parameter.

Predicting survival in malignant glioma using artificial intelligence.

Malignant gliomas, including glioblastoma, are amongst the most aggressive primary brain tumours, characterised by rapid progression and a poor prognosis. Survival analysis is an essential aspect of glioma management and research, as most studies use time-to-event outcomes to assess overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as key measures to evaluate patients. However, predicting survival using traditional methods such as the Kaplan-Meier estimator and the Cox Proportional Hazards (CPH) model has faced many challenges and inaccuracies.

Occurrence and clinical correlates of SARS-CoV-2 viremia in two German patient cohorts.

Viremia defined as detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the blood is a potential marker of disease severity and prognosis in COVID-19 patients. Here, we determined the frequency of viremia in serum of two independent COVID-19 patient cohorts within the German National Pandemic Cohort Network (German: tionales andemie horten etzwerk, NAPKON) with diagnostic RT-PCR against SARS-CoV-2. A cross-sectional cohort with 1122 COVID-19 patients (German: , SUEP) and 299 patients recruited in a high-resolution platform with patients at high risk to develop severe courses (German: , HAP) were tested for viremia.

Hydrocarbon biodegradation processes at a historic oil production site - A signature metabolite study.

Decades of research demonstrated that microbes can remediate petroleum-contaminated environments through biodegradation of hydrocarbons. Recent studies have applied signature metabolite analysis to investigate hydrocarbon-contaminated sites, focusing primarily on aquifer systems and metabolites of relatively water-soluble monoaromatic hydrocarbons. However, the number of studies involving non-targeted analysis and identification of individual metabolites in environmental samples is limited.

Machine learning to identify environmental drivers of phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Baltic Sea.

Phytoplankton blooms exhibit varying patterns in timing and number of peaks within ecosystems. These differences in blooming patterns are partly explained by phytoplankton:nutrient interactions and external factors such as temperature, salinity and light availability. Understanding these interactions and drivers is essential for effective bloom management and modelling as driving factors potentially differ or are shared across ecosystems on regional scales.

A wireless optogenetic setup in freely moving mice for evaluation of cortical spreading depolarization in a chronic disease model.

Background: Spreading depolarization (SD) is an electrophysiological phenomenon of massive neuronal depolarization that occurs in a multitude of brain injuries. Clinical studies and experimental data have linked the occurrence of SDs with secondary brain damage. However, there is a translational gap because of methodological limitations between clinical and experimental approaches focusing on short-term effects.

Superior hypophyseal artery aneurysm: microsurgical vs. endovascular treatment.

This study aimed to provide an updated evidence of superior hypophyseal artery (SHA) aneurysms management, including their clinical implications, predictive factors for rupture, therapeutic approaches, and post-treatment outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis, following PRISMA guidelines, assessed the literature on superior hypophyseal artery aneurysms. Studies were selected based on predefined criteria, focusing on coiling and clipping interventions.

Perfusion-MRI for differentiating cerebral metastatic lesions and gliomas: An evidence-based review.

Background: Lesions affecting the brain are variable and have multiple pathologies. Brain metastasis is a common entity of lesions that can be misleading in diagnosis. Brain metastasis affects the patient's life and survival in about 40% of cases; all patients with metastatic brain lesions are indicated for surgery, so proper diagnosis is crucial for each patient.

Is preoperative imaging of sentinel lymph node in breast cancer necessary? A retrospective case control study.

Objective: The necessity of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy before intraoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of SLN imaging on intraoperative SLN detection in breast cancer patients.

Methods: Retrospective, comparative, single center study of patients with breast cancer stage pT1 and pT2 who underwent axillary staging.

The impact of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on anterior cingulate cortex activity in a cognitive control task.

Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) offers a non-invasive method to enhance noradrenergic neurotransmission in the human brain, thereby increasing cognitive control. Here, we investigate if changes in cognitive control induced by tVNS are mediated through locus coeruleus-induced modifications of neural activity in the anterior cingulate cortex. Young healthy participants engaged in a simple cognitive control task focusing on response inhibition and a more complex task that involved both response inhibition and working memory, inside a magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

The Contrasting Role of Marine- and Land-Terminating Glaciers on Biogeochemical Cycles in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard.

This case study of Kongsfjorden, western coastal Svalbard, provides insights on how freshwater runoff from marine- and land-terminating glaciers influences the biogeochemical cycles and distribution patterns of carbon, nutrients, and trace elements in an Arctic fjord system. We collected samples from the water column at stations along the fjord axis and proglacial river catchments, and analyzed concentrations of dissolved trace elements, together with dissolved nutrients, as well as alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon. Statistical tools were applied to identify and quantify biogeochemical processes within the fjord that govern the constituent distributions.

The impact of weight loss after bariatric surgeries on the patient's body image, quality of life, and self-esteem.

Objectives: The objective of this web-based study is to analyze the attributes of bariatric surgery cases ensuing health implications. Additionally, the study seeks to delve into the factors influencing post-bariatric psychological evaluations and the impact of various bariatric surgeries on weight loss and psycho-social assessment scores for patients who had undergone bariatric surgeries within a specific bariatric surgery center in Egypt between January 2017 and January 2024.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study recruited 411 adults who had undergone different bariatric procedures by the same surgical team.

How a Dysphonia App Can Promote the Motivation of Speech Therapists and Patients in the Long Term-A Qualitative Study in the LAOLA Project.

Objective: The care of patients with dysphonia will change due to the growing shortage of specialists, demographic change, and digitalization. To counteract the associated problems in patient care, the LAOLA app demonstrator is to be developed. In the future, patients will receive exercise videos for their training from their treating speech and language pathologist (SLP) via LAOLA.