Progress in Nanotechnology for Treating Ocular Surface Chemical Injuries: Reflecting on Advances in Ophthalmology.

Ocular surface chemical injuries often result in permanent visual impairment and necessitate complex, long-term treatments. Immediate and extensive irrigation serves as the first-line intervention, followed by various therapeutic protocols applied throughout different stages of the condition. To optimize outcomes, conventional regimens increasingly incorporate biological agents and surgical techniques.

The sarcoma ring trial: a case-based analysis of inter-center agreement across 21 German-speaking sarcoma centers.

Purpose: The management of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) at reference centers with specialized multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTB) improves patient survival. The German Cancer Society (DKG) certifies sarcoma centers in German-speaking countries, promoting high standards of care. This study investigated the variability in treatment recommendations for localized STS across different German-speaking tertiary sarcoma centers.

Extensible lateral approach versus sinus tarsi approach for sanders type II and III calcaneal fractures osteosynthesis: a randomized controlled trial of 186 fractures.

Aims: Which is the best extensile lateral (ELA) or sinus tarsi (STA) approach for osteosynthesis displaced intraarticular calcaneal fracture (DIACF) is still debatable. The current RCT's primary objective was to compare the complications incidence after open reduction and internal fixation of DIACFs through STA vs. ELA.

Transcriptome and DNA methylation profiling during the NSN to SN transition in mouse oocytes.

Background: During the latter stages of their development, mammalian oocytes under dramatic chromatin reconfiguration, transitioning from a non-surrounded nucleolus (NSN) to a surrounded nucleolus (SN) stage, and concomitant transcriptional silencing. Although the NSN-SN transition is known to be essential for developmental competence of the oocyte, less is known about the accompanying molecular changes. Here we examine the changes in the transcriptome and DNA methylation during the NSN to SN transition in mouse oocytes.

"We are doing it together, don't worry" - A qualitative study on the implementation of electronic medical records in German hospitals.

Background: The ongoing implementation of electronic medical records (EMRs) in German hospitals is currently slow. Implementation science widely acknowledges the barriers and facilitators to implementation. Thus, specific preconditions are necessary to address the former and to support an effective EMR implementation.

First-line immune-based combinations or sunitinib in favorable-risk metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a real-world retrospective comparison from the ARON-1 study.

Introduction: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common types of urogenital cancer. The introduction of immune-based combinations, including dual immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) or ICI plus tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), has radically changed the treatment landscape for metastatic RCC, showing varying efficacy across different prognostic groups based on the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) criteria.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective multicenter study, part of the ARON-1 project, aimed to evaluate the outcomes of favorable-risk metastatic RCC patients treated with immune-based combinations or sunitinib.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Worldwide, the actual number of 55 million people diagnosed with dementia is estimated to increase to 139 million people affected by dementia in 2050. 61% of these individuals resided in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). Genetic risk factors account for up to 80% of the attributable risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia.

Clinical Manifestations.

Background: Anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) immunotherapies have recently evolved as promising treatment options in patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Meanwhile, accurate patient selection for these treatments might be challenging mirrored by strict selection criteria of the hitherto published clinical trials. Based on a real-world tertiary care sample of post-mortem validated cases, we aimed to identify the patients matching these selection criteria and their proportion showing post-mortem AD pathology.

MVA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates encoding different spike protein conformations induce distinct early transcriptional responses which may impact subsequent adaptive immunity.

Introduction: Vaccine platforms such as viral vectors and mRNA can accelerate vaccine development in response to newly emerging pathogens, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the differential effects of platform and antigen insert on vaccine immunogenicity remain incompletely understood. Innate immune responses induced by viral vector vaccines are suggested to have an adjuvant effect for subsequent adaptive immunity.

Real-world management of patients with complete response under immune-checkpoint inhibition for advanced melanoma.

Background: Up to now, the optimal duration of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has not been evaluated in prospective studies. However, current clinical practice requires decisions to be made regarding the duration of ICI in complete responders.

Material And Methods: A survey was sent to 80 DeCOG skin cancer centers to assess how decisions are made on treatment duration of ICI in melanoma after having reached complete response, and staging intervals after ICI discontinuation.

Optimising (re-)irradiation for locally recurrent head and neck cancer: impact of dose-escalation, salvage surgery, PEG tube and biomarkers on oncological outcomes-a single centre analysis.

Introduction: Locoregional recurrence (LR) is common in locally advanced head and neck cancer (HNSCC), posing challenges for treatment. We analysed outcome parameters and toxicities for patients being treated with radiotherapy (RT) for LR-HNSCC and investigated patient and disease related prognostic factors in this prognostically unfavourable group.

Methods: This analysis includes 101 LR-HNSCC patients treated with RT, radio-chemotherapy (RCT) or radio-immunotherapy (RIT) between 2010 and 2018 at a high-volume tertiary centre.

Service preferences among postpartum women (non-)affected by different types of intimate partner violence: insights from the cross-sectional study INVITE.

Background: Women in the postpartum period are at greater risk of intimate partner violence (IPV), which may cause physical, sexual, or psychological harm and have a long-lasting negative impact on mother and child. Seeking help in case of IPV in the postpartum period can be difficult.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine service preferences among postpartum women in Germany (non-)affected by IPV.

Comparison of CT-like MRI sequences for preoperative planning of cochlear implantation using super-high-resolution CT as a reference.

Background: We evaluated the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) computed tomography (CT)-like sequences compared to normal-resolution CT (NR-CT) and super-high-resolution CT (SHR-CT) for planning of cochlear implantation.

Methods: Six cadaveric temporal bone specimens were used. 3-T MRI scans were performed using radial volumetric interpolated breath-hold (STARVIBE), pointwise-encoding time reduction with radial acquisition (PETRA), and ultrashort time of echo (UTE) sequences.

Risk factors analysis and nomogram for predicting recurrence in periocular basal cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Aim to develop a nomogram to effectively predict the potential for recurrence after surgical resection in patients with periocular basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving 329 patients with eyelid BCC. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional risk regression was used to screen for independent factors affecting BCC recurrence.

Evaluation of early metabolic changes following vorasidenib using FET PET in patients with -mutant gliomas.

The phase-3 INDIGO trial demonstrated that the isocitrate dehydrogenase () inhibitor vorasidenib significantly prolonged progression-free survival and delayed intervention in patients with CNS WHO grade 2 gliomas. However, conventional MRI showed limited response, with only 11% of patients having objective responses. Studies suggest that serial PET imaging with radiolabeled amino acids, such as -(2-[ F]-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (FET) PET, may provide earlier and more informative assessments of treatment response than MRI.

Treatment and counselling preferences of postpartum women with and without symptoms of (childbirth-related) PTSD: findings of the cross-sectional study INVITE.

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the postpartum period is a prevalent yet under-researched mental health condition. To date, many women who suffer from postpartum PTSD remain unrecognized and untreated. To enhance the accessibility of help for these women, it is crucial to offer tailored treatment and counselling services that align with their needs.

Early changes of peripheral circulating immune subsets induced by PD-1 inhibitors in patients with advanced malignant melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including those targeting PD-1, are currently used in a wide range of tumors, but only 20-40% of patients achieve clinical benefit. The objective of our study was to find predictive peripheral blood-based biomarkers for ICI treatment.

Methods: In 41 patients with advanced malignant melanoma (MM) and NSCLC treated with PD-1 inhibitors, we analyzed peripheral blood-based immune subsets by flow cytometry before treatment initialization and the second therapy dose.

Polygenic score distribution differences across European ancestry populations: implications for breast cancer risk prediction.

Background: The 313-variant polygenic risk score (PRS) provides a promising tool for clinical breast cancer risk prediction. However, evaluation of the PRS across different European populations which could influence risk estimation has not been performed.

Methods: We explored the distribution of PRS across European populations using genotype data from 94,072 females without breast cancer diagnosis, of European-ancestry from 21 countries participating in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) and 223,316 females without breast cancer diagnosis from the UK Biobank.

Fatal dengue virus infection in an unvaccinated traveler.

Dengue is an increasing threat to individuals living in or visiting endemic countries. Effective vaccines have become available, but their use in travelers is typically only recommended to individuals with documented prior infection. We present a fatal case of severe dengue in an unvaccinated traveler without known prior dengue virus infection but longitudinal serologic and molecular evidence for secondary infection.

Forecast of total health expenditure on China's ageing population: a system dynamics model.

Background: China is currently at a turning point as its total population has started to decline, and therefore faces issues related to caring for an ageing population, which will require an increase in Total Health Expenditure (THE). Therefore, the ability to forecast China's future THE is essential.

Methods: We developed two THE System Dynamics (SD) models using Stella Architect 3.

Global incidence and prevalence in uveal melanoma.

Purpose: The most common intraocular cancer in adults is uveal melanoma (UM). This study aimed to investigate and report the incidence and prognosis of UM in different regions of the world.

Methods: We retrieved relevant data on UM from the PubMed database and analyzed its global incidence and prognosis.

Specialist training in infectious diseases in Europe.

Objectives: The objectives were to determine the structure of training programmes and assessment of physicians training to become infectious disease (ID) specialists in Europe in early 2024, and to document the provision of specialists, trainees and training centres in each country.

Methods: Delegates to the ID Section and Board of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) entered national data on a web-based survey tool in late 2023-early 2024. Results were compared to UEMS recommendations on the structure and content of postgraduate training in ID in Europe (2018), and to results of a similar survey in early 2021.

Clinical confocal laser endomicroscopy for imaging of autofluorescence signals of human brain tumors and non-tumor brain.

Purpose: Analysis of autofluorescence holds promise for brain tumor delineation and diagnosis. Therefore, we investigated the potential of a commercial confocal laser scanning endomicroscopy (CLE) system for clinical imaging of brain tumors.

Methods: A clinical CLE system with fiber probe and 488 nm laser excitation was used to acquire images of tissue autofluorescence.