Protease-activated receptor 2 deficient mice develop less angiotensin II induced left ventricular hypertrophy but more cardiac fibrosis.

Aims: Activation of Protease Activated Receptor 2 (PAR2) has been shown to be involved in regulation of injury-related processes including inflammation, fibrosis and hypertrophy. In this study we will investigate the role of PAR2 in cardiac injury in a mouse model of hypertension using continuous infusion with angiotensin II.

Methods: Hypertension was induced in 12 weeks old wildtype (wt, n = 8) and PAR2 deficient mice (n = 9) by continuous infusion with angiotensin II for 4 weeks using osmotic minipumps.

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells are a non-redundant source of interleukin-5 required for development and function of murine B1 cells.

Tissue-resident immune cells, such as innate lymphoid cells, mediate protective or detrimental immune responses at barrier surfaces. Upon activation by stromal or epithelial cell-derived alarmins, group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are a rapid source of type 2 cytokines, such as IL-5. However, due to the overlap in effector functions, it remains unresolved whether ILC2s are an essential component of the type 2 response or whether their function can be compensated by other cells, such as T cells.

NFATc1 in CD4 T cells and CD11c dendritic cells drives T2-mediated eosinophilic inflammation in allergic asthma.

Background: Asthma, a chronic lung disease, is a significant public health problem worldwide. It is marked by increased T2 response resulting in eosinophil accumulation. The pathophysiology of asthma involves various cell types, including epithelial cells, dendritic cells (DCs), innate lymphoid cells, B cells, and effector cells.

Sufficiency health-wise: sustainable paths towards planetary and public health.

Planet Earth is threatened by the human population. Energy and resource use are far beyond the planet's carrying capacity. Planetary Health suggests an alternative idea of prosperity as the best possible human health for all within planetary boundaries.

Massive parallel sequencing of head and neck conventional squamous cell carcinomas: A comprehensive review.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and is a cause of significant mortality and morbidity. The epidemiology of this cancer varies worldwide due to either genetic differences in populations or differences in carcinogen exposure. The application of massive parallel sequencing-based techniques in HNSCC should provide a helpful understanding of the genetic alterations that eventually lead to HNSCC development and progression, and ideally, could be used for personalized therapy.

Three-dimensional digital imaging analysis of the palatal bone thickness for orthodontic mini-implant insertion - determination of the safe zone and angulation.

Background: In order to successfully perform orthodontic mini-implant procedures successfully for the subsequent anchoring of orthodontic appliances, it is crucial to know the palatal bone thickness. This is usually assessed using two-dimensional radiographs. The purpose of this study was to use a three-dimensional digital imaging measurement method to provide information on palatal bone volume and bone thickness and to make recommendations on the optimal and safe insertion site and angle for palatal mini-implants.

Durable all inorganic perovskite tandem photovoltaics.

All-inorganic perovskites prepared by substituting the organic cations (e.g. methylammonium (MA) and formamidinium (FA)) with inorganic cations (e.

Effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on kidney and cardiovascular disease outcomes: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Background: GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and can also have kidney benefits. However, whether GLP-1 receptor agonists improve clinically important kidney outcomes remains uncertain. We aimed to comprehensively assess the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on kidney and cardiovascular disease outcomes by performing a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Abbreviated or Standard Antiplatelet Therapy After PCI in Diabetic Patients at High Bleeding Risk.

Background: Abbreviated antiplatelet therapy (APT) reduces bleeding without increasing ischemic events in largely unselected high bleeding risk (HBR) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with higher ischemic risk, and its impact on the safety and effectiveness of abbreviated APT in HBR PCI patients remains unknown.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the comparative effectiveness of abbreviated (1 month) vs standard (≥3 months) APT in HBR patients with and without DM after biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting coronary stent implantation.

Conditional flux balance analysis toolbox for python: application to research metabolism in cyclic environments.

Summary: We present py_cFBA, a Python-based toolbox for conditional flux balance analysis (cFBA). Our toolbox allows for an easy implementation of cFBA models using a well-documented and modular approach and supports the generation of Systems Biology Markup Language models. The toolbox is designed to be user-friendly, versatile, and freely available to non-commercial users, serving as a valuable resource for researchers predicting metabolic behaviour with resource allocation in dynamic-cyclic environments.

Less Pain with Intra-Articular Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis Compared to Placebo: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

The present meta-analysis investigated the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injections for knee osteoarthritis. The outcomes of interest were the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario McMaster Osteo-Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. This study was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA statement.

Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum: A Lifeline to Quality of Life.

: Pectus excavatum, a deformity of the chest wall, can lead to significant emotional and social challenges, adversely affecting an individual's overall well-being. While the Nuss procedure is a well-established treatment, this study evaluates the impact of a modified, minimally invasive approach on patients' quality of life. : This retrospective study analyzed patients who underwent minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair (MIRPE) from 1 January 2010 to 31 January 2024.

Modifying the Glycocalyx of Melanoma Cells via Metabolic Glycoengineering Using -Acetyl-d-glucosamine Analogues.

Tumor cells are decorated with aberrant glycan structures on cell surfaces. It is well known that the glycocalyx serves as a main cellular regulator, although its role in cancer is still not completely understood. Over recent decades, several non-natural monosaccharides carrying clickable groups have been introduced in melanoma cells.

Comparative Analysis of Host Cell Entry Efficiency and Neutralization Sensitivity of Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Lineages KP.2, KP.2.3, KP.3, and LB.1.

New SARS-CoV-2 lineages continue to evolve and may exhibit new characteristics regarding host cell entry efficiency and potential for antibody evasion. Here, employing pseudotyped particles, we compared the host cell entry efficiency, ACE2 receptor usage, and sensitivity to antibody-mediated neutralization of four emerging SARS-CoV-2 lineages, KP.2, KP.

Finite Element Combined Design and Material Optimization Addressing the Wear in Removable Implant Prosthodontics.

Wear at the male-female interface of retentive elements in implant-supported removable prostheses is the most frequent complication in such applications. The lack of an ideal/optimal insertion path, as well as the fabrication inaccuracies, are the primary contributors to this issue. A male attachment with a common ball anchor enhanced by lateral flexibility was investigated as a solution, compared to the widely used rigid ball anchor design.

Quantitative Macromolecular Modeling Assay of Biopolymer-Based Hydrogels.

The rubber elasticity theory has been lengthily applied to several polymeric hydrogel substances and upgraded from idealistic models to consider imperfections in the polymer network. The theory relies solely on hyperelastic material models in order to provide a description of the elastic polymer network. While this is also applicable to polymer gels, such hydrogels are rather characterized by their water content and visco-elastic mechanical properties.

Triskelion-Shaped Hexabenzocoronenes: Synthesis and Characterization of Tris-Substituted HBC Derivatives.

The synthesis of unprecedented triskelion-shaped hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes with C, C or D symmertry is reported. We present a new, five step synthetic access to tris-iodinated HBC derivatives carrying different solubilizing moieties (tert-butyl and mesityl), which serve as suitable building blocks for further functionalization. These molecules can undergo Sonogashira cross coupling reactions to obtain a series of seven ethynyl tris-substituted HBCs.

Associations between Psychosocial Working Conditions and Work-Specific Self-Efficacy Beliefs Among Employees Receiving Psychotherapeutic Consultation at Work.

Purpose: By considering work-related aspects during early intervention and treatment of employees with (subclinical) symptoms of common mental disorders, psychotherapeutic consultation at work (PT-W) aims to increase work-specific self-efficacy (SE) to finally reduce sickness absence and contribute to successful return to work. This study, thus, aims to investigate interrelations between working conditions and work-specific SE among employees before receiving PT-W.

Methods: The study uses baseline data of a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of PT-W in Germany (n = 535).

Systematizing the risk management process in clinical radiotherapy practice: Recommendations of the working group on risk management of the DGMP.

Purpose: The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Medizinische Physik [German Society of Medical Physics] has recently published two coherent reports, No. 25 and No. 28, detailing the design and implementation of a risk management (RM) process for German radiotherapy (RT) departments.