Sorafenib Versus Lenvatinib-Based Sequential Systemic Therapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real-World Analysis.

The optimal treatment sequence of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-based therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Therefore, sequential systemic therapy after first-line therapy with sorafenib or lenvatinib was compared in a retrospective real-world cohort. In total, 164 patients with HCC were included.

Brigatinib for Pretreated, ALK-Positive, Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancers: Long-Term Follow-Up and Focus on Post-Brigatinib Lorlatinib Efficacy in the Multicenter, Real-World BrigALK2 Study.

Brigatinib is a next-generation ALK inhibitor (ALKi) that shows efficacy in ALK inhibitor naïve and post-crizotinib ALK+ advanced NSCLCs (aNSCLCs). The efficacy of brigatinib was retrospectively assessed in patients with aNSCLCs included in the brigatinib French Early-Access Program (1 August 2016−21 January 2019). The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (invPFS) and the primary analysis was updated in 2021 with a longer follow-up, focused on post-brigatinib lorlatinib efficacy.

Furosemide and albumin for the treatment of nephrotic edema: a systematic review.

Background: Edema is one of the cardinal clinical features of nephrotic syndrome (NS). It may vary from mild periorbital edema to severe generalized edema (anasarca). In patients where edema does not improve with prednisone therapy, the most common supportive medications are diuretics and albumin.

The emergency department arrival mode and its relations to ED management and 30-day mortality in acute heart failure: an ancillary analysis from the EURODEM study.

Background: Acute heart failure patients are often encountered in emergency departments (ED) from 11% to 57% using emergency medical services (EMS). Our aim was to evaluate the association of EMS use with acute heart failure patients' ED management and short-term outcomes.

Methods: This was a sub-analysis of a European EURODEM study.

Cardio-psycho-metabolic outcomes of bariatric surgery: design and baseline of the WAS trial.

Obesity is a rapidly emerging health problem and an established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Bariatric surgery profoundly reduces body weight and mitigates sequelae of obesity. The open, randomized controlled Würzburg Adipositas Studie (WAS) trial compares the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) vs psychotherapy-supported lifestyle modification in morbidly obese patients.

Osteopathy in Germany: attitudes, beliefs and handling among general practitioners - results of a nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

Background: Osteopathy is a type of complementary medicine based on specific manual techniques. In many countries, including Germany, the profession is not officially regulated, and evidence for the effectiveness of osteopathy is insufficient for most diseases. Nevertheless, many health insurances in Germany offer reimbursement for therapy costs, if osteopathy is recommended by a physician.

Coming together-symbiont acquisition and early development in deep-sea bathymodioline mussels.

How and when symbionts are acquired by their animal hosts has a profound impact on the ecology and evolution of the symbiosis. Understanding symbiont acquisition is particularly challenging in deep-sea organisms because early life stages are so rarely found. Here, we collected early developmental stages of three deep-sea bathymodioline species from different habitats to identify when these acquire their symbionts and how their body plan adapts to a symbiotic lifestyle.

Connecting structure and function from organisms to molecules in small-animal symbioses through chemo-histo-tomography.

Our understanding of metabolic interactions between small symbiotic animals and bacteria or parasitic eukaryotes that reside within their bodies is extremely limited. This gap in knowledge originates from a methodological challenge, namely to connect histological changes in host tissues induced by beneficial and parasitic (micro)organisms to the underlying metabolites. We addressed this challenge and developed chemo-histo-tomography (CHEMHIST), a culture-independent approach to connect anatomic structure and metabolic function in millimeter-sized symbiotic animals.

Exposure to socioenvironmental stress as a predictor of physical and mental health.

The literature demonstrates links between socioenvironmental characteristics, dysregulation of the stress response system, and PTSD, though few studies integrate these factors in one model. In a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected by the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW), structural equation modeling evaluated the relationships between socioenvironmental stress, cumulative biological risk (CBR), and PTSD symptom severity. The model hypothesized that exposure to socioenvironmental stress was associated with PTSD and that this relationship is mediated by increased CBR.

Real-World Clinical Management of Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis-A Retrospective Multicenter Study from Germany.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines for patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) have been recently revised and implemented for well-established response criteria to standard first-line ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy at 12 months after treatment initiation for the early identification of high-risk patients with inadequate treatment responses who may require treatment modification. However, there are only very limited data concerning the real-world clinical management of patients with PBC in Germany.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to evaluate response rates to standard first-line UDCA therapy and subsequent Second-line treatment regimens in a large cohort of well-characterized patients with PBC from 10 independent hepatological referral centers in Germany prior to the introduction of obeticholic acid as a licensed second-line treatment option.

What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use.

Switching completely from cigarettes to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) may reduce health risks for addicted smokers. This paper provides information about perceptions and other factors that may influence smokers' ENDS use and substitution for cigarettes. We conducted 12 online focus groups ( = 61) among smokers who had never tried using ENDS (Never Users, = 11), currently used both cigarettes and ENDS (Dual Users, = 21), used but discontinued ENDS (Rejectors, = 14), and switched completely to ENDS use (Switchers, = 15).

Identification of Plant DNA in Adults of the Phytoplasma Vector Helps Understanding Its Feeding Behavior.

Apple proliferation is an economically important disease and a threat for commercial apple cultivation. The causative pathogen, the bacterium ' Phytoplasma mali', is mainly transmitted by , a phloem-feeding insect that develops on the apple tree ( spp.).

ExploreModelMatrix: Interactive exploration for improved understanding of design matrices and linear models in R.

Linear and generalized linear models are used extensively in many scientific fields, to model observed data and as the basis for hypothesis tests. The use of such models requires specification of a design matrix, and subsequent formulation of contrasts representing scientific hypotheses of interest. Proper execution of these steps requires a thorough understanding of the meaning of the individual coefficients, and is a frequent source of uncertainty for end users.

Coherent Electron Optics with Ballistically Coupled Quantum Point Contacts.

The realization of integrated quantum circuits requires precise on-chip control of charge carriers. Aiming at the coherent coupling of distant nanostructures at zero magnetic field, here we study the ballistic electron transport through two quantum point contacts (QPCs) in series in a three terminal configuration. We enhance the coupling between the QPCs by electrostatic focusing using a field effect lens.

Contact sensitization in metalworkers: Data from the information network of departments of dermatology (IVDK), 2010-2018.

Background: Metalworkers are exposed to a variety of contact allergens by handling tools, metals, metalworking fluids (MWFs), oils and greases, rubber materials, and so on. Most large-scale reports on contact allergy due to MWFs are more than 10-years-old, and there are only few studies on contact allergy in mechanics and other metal workers not exposed to MWFs.

Objectives: To describe a current spectrum of contact sensitization in metalworkers with occupational dermatitis (OD).

Effectiveness of secondary prevention in metalworkers with work-related skin diseases and comparison with participants of a tertiary prevention program: A prospective cohort study.

Background: In Germany, a multistep approach has been established to prevent work-related skin diseases (WRSDs).

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of a secondary individual prevention program (SIP) in metalworkers with WRSD and to compare their characteristics with those of participants of a tertiary individual prevention program (TIP).

Patients And Methods: In a prospective cohort study, metalworkers with WRSD of the hands participating either in the SIP (n = 114) or in the TIP (n = 83) were recruited.

The Clinical and Genetic Spectrum of 82 Patients With Deficiency Including a c.256_257delAA Founder Variant in Slavic Countries.

Variants in recombination-activating genes () are common genetic causes of autosomal recessive forms of combined immunodeficiencies (CID) ranging from severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), Omenn syndrome (OS), leaky SCID, and CID with granulomas and/or autoimmunity (CID-G/AI), and even milder presentation with antibody deficiency. We aim to estimate the incidence, clinical presentation, genetic variability, and treatment outcome with geographic distribution of patients with the defects in populations inhabiting South, West, and East Slavic countries. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected from -deficient patients of Slavic origin via chart review, retrospectively.

Real-World Burden of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Background & Aims: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with an increase in healthcare resource use and poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We assessed the humanistic and economic burden of NASH, disease management, and patient journey.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data, collected from July through November 2017, from the Growth from Knowledge Disease Atlas Real-World Evidence program, reported by physicians in United States, France, and Germany.

Musculoskeletal Multibody Simulation Analysis on the Impact of Patellar Component Design and Positioning on Joint Dynamics after Unconstrained Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Patellofemoral (PF) disorders are considered a major clinical complication after total knee replacement (TKR). Malpositioning and design of the patellar component impacts knee joint dynamics, implant fixation and wear propagation. However, only a limited number of studies have addressed the biomechanical impact of the patellar component on PF dynamics and their results have been discussed controversially.

Trends and current spectrum of contact allergy in Central Europe: results of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) 2007-2018.

Background: Changing patterns of exposure lead to changes in the spectrum of contact allergy in the general population and in patients patch tested for suspected contact allergy. The main contact allergens (haptens) are assembled in the so-called 'baseline series'.

Objectives: To present the current spectrum of contact allergy to baseline series allergens, and its temporal development over the last 12 years, based on data collected by the 56 active departments of the trinational Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK).

Health education decreases incidence of hand eczema in metal work apprentices: Results of a controlled intervention study.

Background: Metal work apprentices (MWAs) frequently develop work-related hand eczema (HE).

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of health education on incidence of work-related HE in MWAs and to assess confounding factors.

Materials/methods: In a prospective controlled intervention study, 131 MWAs received educational training on prevention of HE, whereas 172 MWAs and 118 office work apprentices served as controls.

Comparison of BG-Lure and BG-Sweetscents attractants for field sampling of phlebotomine sand flies.

Phlebotomines are important vectors of bacteria, viruses and protozoan parasites. Protozoans of the genus Leishmania which cause visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases, are among the most important etiologic agents transmitted by sand flies. Different blends of human and animal volatiles have been evaluated for use in surveillance and/or control of hematophagous insects.