Regulation and function of CX3CR1 and its ligand CX3CL1 in kidney disease.

Attraction, retention, and differentiation of leukocytes to and within the kidney are governed by chemokines. The chemokine CX3CL1 (fractalkine) and its receptor CX3CR1 are exemplary in this regard as they are highly expressed and further upregulated in a range of kidney diseases. CX3CL1 is chiefly produced by renal endothelium and tubular epithelium, where it promotes leukocyte attraction.

Post-diagnostic reliance on plant-compared with animal-based foods and all-cause mortality in omnivorous long-term colorectal cancer survivors.

Background: Plant-rich diets are associated with lower cardiometabolic risks and longer survival in the general population, but their association with mortality in cancer survivors is still unclear.

Objectives: We aimed to examine the associations of 3 postdiagnostic plant-based diet indices with all-cause mortality in omnivorous long-term colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.

Methods: Diet was assessed with FFQs at a median of 6 years after diagnosis in 1404 CRC survivors (56% male; median age, 69 years) in a Northern German prospective cohort study.

Crumbs2 Is an Essential Slit Diaphragm Protein of the Renal Filtration Barrier.

Background: Crumbs2 is expressed at embryonic stages as well as in the retina, brain, and glomerular podocytes. Recent studies identified mutations as a novel cause of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS).

Methods: To study the function of Crb2 at the renal filtration barrier, mice lacking Crb2 exclusively in podocytes were generated.

Validation of a German version of the Cerebellar Cognitive Affective/ Schmahmann Syndrome Scale: preliminary version and study protocol.

Background: Traditionally, cerebellar disorders including ataxias have been associated with deficits in motor control and motor learning. Since the 1980's growing evidence has emerged that cerebellar diseases also impede cognitive and affective processes such as executive and linguistic functions, visuospatial abilities and regulation of emotion and affect. This combination of non-motor symptoms has been named .

Analysis of inositol phosphate metabolism by capillary electrophoresis electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The analysis of myo-inositol phosphates (InsPs) and myo-inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs) is a daunting challenge due to the large number of possible isomers, the absence of a chromophore, the high charge density, the low abundance, and the instability of the esters and anhydrides. Given their importance in biology, an analytical approach to follow and understand this complex signaling hub is desirable. Here, capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is implemented to analyze complex mixtures of InsPs and PP-InsPs with high sensitivity.

Blood Metabolomic Profiling Confirms and Identifies Biomarkers of Food Intake.

Metabolomics can be a tool to identify dietary biomarkers. However, reported food-metabolite associations have been inconsistent, and there is a need to explore further associations. Our aims were to confirm previously reported food-metabolite associations and to identify novel food-metabolite associations.

Adverse interaction effects of chronic and acute sleep deficits on spatial working memory but not on verbal working memory or declarative memory.

The accumulation of chronic sleep deficits combined with acute sleep loss is common in shift workers and increases the risk of errors and accidents. We investigated single and combined effects of chronic and acute sleep loss and recovery sleep on working memory performance (N-back task) and on overnight declarative memory recall (paired-associate lists) in 36 healthy participants. After baseline measurements, the chronic sleep restriction group (n = 21; mean [SD] age 26 [4] years) underwent 5 nights of sleep restriction (5-hr time in bed [TIB]), whereas the control group (n = 15; mean [SD] age 28 [6] years) had 8-hr TIB during those nights.

Factors influencing the bias between blood gas analysis versus central laboratory hemoglobin testing. A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Anemia is the most important complication during major surgery and transfusion of red blood cells is the mainstay to compensate for life threating blood loss. Therefore, accurate measurement of hemoglobin (Hb) concentration should be provided in real-time. Blood Gas Analysis (BGA) provides rapid point-of-care assessment using smaller sampling tubes compared to central laboratory (CL) services.

Primary decompressive craniectomy in poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: long-term outcome in a single-center study and systematic review of literature.

Primary decompressive craniectomy (PDC) in patients with poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) in order to decrease elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is controversially discussed. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of PDC on long-term clinical outcome in these patients in a single-center cohort and to perform a systematic review of literature. Eighty-seven consecutive poor-grade SAH patients (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grades IV and V) were analyzed between October 2012 and August 2017 at the author's institution.

Associations of BMI and Body Fat with Urine Metabolome in Adolescents Are Sex-Specific: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Epidemiologic studies examining the relationship between body composition and the urine metabolome may improve our understanding of the role of metabolic dysregulation in body composition-related health conditions. Previous studies, mostly in adult populations, have focused on a single measure of body composition, body mass index (BMI), and sex-specific associations are rarely explored. We investigate sex-specific associations of two measures of body composition-BMI and body fat (BF)-with the urine metabolome in adolescents.

Improved, Odorless Access to Benzo[1,2-d;4,5-d']- bis[1,3]dithioles and -butyl Arylsulfides via C-S Cross Coupling.

Benzo[1,2-d;4,5-d']bis[1,3]dithioles are important building blocks within a range of functional materials such as fluorescent dyes, conjugated polymers, and stable trityl radicals. Access to these is usually gained via -butyl aryl sulfides, the synthesis of which requires the use of highly malodorous -butyl thiol and relies on SAr-chemistry requiring harsh reaction conditions, while giving low yields. In the present work, S--butyl isothiouronium bromide is successfully applied as an odorless surrogate for -butyl thiol.

Superior Pyrimidine Derivatives as Selective ABCG2 Inhibitors and Broad-Spectrum ABCB1, ABCC1, and ABCG2 Antagonists.

In the search for highly effective modulators addressing ABCG2-mediated MDR, 23 pyrimidines were synthesized and biologically assessed. Seven derivatives with (a) nitrogen- and/or halogen-containing residue(s) had extraordinary potencies against ABCG2 (IC < 150 nM). The compounds competitively inhibited ABCG2-mediated Hoechst 33342 transport but were not substrates of ABCG2.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery in University Hospitals in Germany: Results of a Nationwide Survey.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to assess the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on orthopaedic and trauma surgery departments in university hospitals in Germany in order to clarify current challenges.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, an online-based anonymous survey was conducted within the Convention of University Professors of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery in Germany from April 3 to April 11, 2020. A bipolar 5-point Likert scale (with possible responses of "totally disagree," "rather disagree," "neutral," "rather agree," and "totally agree") was applied.

Effects of a partially perforated flooring system on animal-based welfare indicators in broiler housing.

Alternative flooring designs in broiler housing have been the subject of intensive research. Research comparing different floor types with a focus on animal-based welfare indicators might be of special interest to meet the animal's needs. This case-control study investigated the effect of a partially perforated vs.

Lessons learned from 40 novel PIGA patients and a review of the literature.

Objective: To define the phenotypic spectrum of phosphatidylinositol glycan class A protein (PIGA)-related congenital disorder of glycosylation (PIGA-CDG) and evaluate genotype-phenotype correlations.

Methods: Our cohort encompasses 40 affected males with a pathogenic PIGA variant. We performed a detailed phenotypic assessment, and in addition, we reviewed the available clinical data of 36 previously published cases and assessed the variant pathogenicity using bioinformatical approaches.

MicroRNAs As Master Regulators of Atherosclerosis: From Pathogenesis to Novel Therapeutic Options.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Accumulating evidence indicates that atherosclerosis and its sequelae, coronary artery disease, contribute to the majority of cardiovascular deaths. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arteries in which atherosclerotic plaques form within the vessel wall.

Toxicity of fluoride: critical evaluation of evidence for human developmental neurotoxicity in epidemiological studies, animal experiments and in vitro analyses.

Recently, epidemiological studies have suggested that fluoride is a human developmental neurotoxicant that reduces measures of intelligence in children, placing it into the same category as toxic metals (lead, methylmercury, arsenic) and polychlorinated biphenyls. If true, this assessment would be highly relevant considering the widespread fluoridation of drinking water and the worldwide use of fluoride in oral hygiene products such as toothpaste. To gain a deeper understanding of these assertions, we reviewed the levels of human exposure, as well as results from animal experiments, particularly focusing on developmental toxicity, and the molecular mechanisms by which fluoride can cause adverse effects.

Covid-19 pandemic by the "real-time" monitoring: the Tunisian case and lessons for global epidemics in the context of 3PM strategies.

Covid-19 is neither the first nor the last viral epidemic which societies around the world are, were and will be affected by. Which lessons should be taken from the current pandemic situation? The Covid-19 disease is still not well characterised, and many research teams all over the world are working on prediction of the epidemic scenario, protective measures to populations and sub-populations, therapeutic and vaccination issues, amongst others. Contextually, countries with currently low numbers of Covid-19-infected individuals such as Tunisia are intended to take lessons from those countries which already reached the exponential phase of the infection distribution as well as from those which have the exponential phase behind them and record a minor number of new cases such as China.

Cancer-Selective Treatment of Cancerous and Non-Cancerous Human Cervical Cell Models by a Non-Thermally Operated Electrosurgical Argon Plasma Device.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment is developing as a promising option for local anti-neoplastic treatment of dysplastic lesions and early intraepithelial cancer. Currently, high-frequency electrosurgical argon plasma sources are available and well established for clinical use. In this study, we investigated the effects of treatment with a non-thermally operated electrosurgical argon plasma source, a Martin Argon Plasma Beamer System (MABS), on cell proliferation and metabolism of a tissue panel of human cervical cancer cell lines as well as on non-cancerous primary cells of the cervix uteri.

Associations between self-reported sleep characteristics and incident mild cognitive impairment: The Heinz Nixdorf Recall Cohort Study.

Associations of sleep characteristics with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have been examined in cross-sectional, but rarely in longitudinal studies. Incident MCI and sleep characteristics were assessed in 1,890 participants of the first and second follow-up of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study, a population-based cohort study in Germany (age at first follow-up 50-80 years, mean follow-up 5.2 years).

Heparanase in Cancer Metastasis - Heparin as a Potential Inhibitor of Cell Adhesion Molecules.

Tumor progression associated with hematogenous metastatic spread is a multistep process based on a cross-talk between tumor and stromal cells in a tumor microenvironment. In the blood circulation, tumor cells interact with blood cells through receptors such as selectin and integrins that promote tumor cells survival. At the metastatic sites, heparanase secreted by tumor or stromal cells is an important modifier of the tumor microenvironment while promoting tumor invasiveness and angiogenesis.