Trans-bronchial forceps biopsy for COVID-19 related diffuse parenchymal lung abnormalities.

Purpose: The role of lung biopsy for evaluation of persistent chest radiographic abnormalities including secondary organizing pneumonia (OP) in COVID-19 remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of trans-bronchial forceps biopsy (TBFB) in patients with persistent lung abnormalities on thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan following SARS-CoV-2 infection with particular focus on cases with OP and immunocompromised (IC) patients.

Methods: Descriptive retrospective single center analysis of all TBFB performed for diffuse lung parenchymal changes after COVID-19 03-2020 to 06-2023.

Food insecurity and lifestyle behaviours in university students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative survey across three countries.

Background: University students, often unemployed and reliant on low-nutrition foods, are susceptible to food insecurity (FI) with potential physical and mental health challenges. This study explores FI and its impact on lifestyle behaviours among university students.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based study was performed by sending an online questionnaire to university students in Lebanon, Cyprus, and Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exploring correlates of high psychiatric inpatient utilization in Switzerland: a descriptive and machine learning analysis.

Background: This study investigated socio-demographic, psychiatric, and psychological characteristics of patients with high versus low utilization of psychiatric inpatient services. Our objective was to better understand the utilization pattern and to contribute to improving psychiatric care.

Methods: One-hundred and twenty inpatients of the University Psychiatric Clinics (UPK) Basel, Switzerland, participated in this cross-sectional study.

Variable and slow-paced neural dynamics in HVC underlie plastic song production in juvenile zebra finches.

Zebra finches undergo a gradual refinement of their vocalizations, transitioning from variable juvenile songs to the stereotyped song of adulthood. To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying song crystallization-a critical phase in this developmental process-we performed intracellular recordings in HVC (a premotor nucleus essential for song learning and production) of juvenile birds. We then compared these recordings to previously published electrophysiological data from adult birds.

Isolating Synaptic Vesicles from Neurospheres for Proteomics.

This chapter presents an optimized method for isolating synaptic vesicles (SVs) from neurospheres derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). The protocol begins with neurosphere cultivation to achieve mature neurons, which is essential for the functional studies of neuronal activity. Following this, neurosphere-derived synaptosomes are isolated, and SVs are enriched through differential centrifugation.

Meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of vamorolone in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe neuromuscular disorder, often leading to wheelchair dependence by age 13 with limited treatment options, largely relying on glucocorticosteroids. We assessed the efficacy and safety of vamorolone, a modified synthetic corticosteroid, for DMD.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis using seven databases including prospective studies comparing vamorolone with glucocorticosteroids or placebo in DMD patients.

Modification in ICU design may influence circadian serum cholinesterase activities: a proof-of-concept pilot study.

Background: Deficits in cholinergic function are assumed to cause cognitive decline. Studies have demonstrated that changes in serum cholinesterase activities are associated with a higher incidence of delirium in critically ill patients. Additionally, basic research indicates that the cholinergic and circadian systems are interconnected, with each system influencing the functionality of the other.

Harnessing magnetism: evaluation of safety, tolerance and feasibility of magnetic kidney stone retrieval in vivo in porcine models.

The primary objective of urolithiasis therapy is complete stone removal and highest stone-clearance rates possible to minimize recurrence. A novel approach that employs a magnetic suspension and a magnetic probe for the passive collection and removal of small residual fragments was developed. This study assessed the feasibility of this system in porcine models.

CARS 2025 Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery - 40th Anniversary and reflections on the role of modelling and AI.

Purpose: Based on CARS Congress events selected from its 40 year history, this editorial summarises the main challenges and solution concepts encountered, and what the future may hold for a model-centric world view in the specific domain of computer assisted radiology and surgery.

Methods: Altogether some 15,000 publications appeared in the CAR/CARS Congress Proceedings and Journal between 1985 and 2025, comprising approximately 3000 full papers and 12,000 long abstracts. Modelling occupied a central theme in many of these publications, particularly in the 2020s.

Evaluation of BCRP-Related DDIs Between Methotrexate and Cyclosporin A Using Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modelling.

Background And Objective: This study provides a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model-based analysis of the potential drug-drug interaction (DDI) between cyclosporin A (CsA), a breast cancer resistance protein transporter (BCRP) inhibitor, and methotrexate (MTX), a putative BCRP substrate.

Methods: PBPK models for CsA and MTX were built using open-source tools and published data for both model building and for model verification and validation. The MTX and CsA PBPK models were evaluated for their application in simulating BCRP-related DDIs.

Adaptive metal ion transport and metalloregulation-driven differentiation in pluripotent synthetic cells.

Pluripotent cells can yield different cell types determined by the specific sequence of differentiation signals that they encounter as the cell activates or deactivates functions and retains memory of previous inputs. Here, we achieved pluripotency in synthetic cells by incorporating three dormant apo-metalloenzymes such that they could differentiate towards distinct fates, depending on the sequence of specific metal ion transport with ionophores. In the first differentiation step, we selectively transported one of three extracellular metal ion cofactors into pluripotent giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), which resulted in elevation of intracellular pH, hydrogen peroxide production or GUV lysis.

Polygenic prediction of occupational status GWAS elucidates genetic and environmental interplay in intergenerational transmission, careers and health in UK Biobank.

Socioeconomic status (SES) impacts health and life-course outcomes. This genome-wide association study (GWAS) of sociologically informed occupational status measures (ISEI, SIOPS, CAMSIS) using the UK Biobank (N = 273,157) identified 106 independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms of which 8 are novel to the study of SES. Genetic correlations with educational attainment (r = 0.

The relationship between the youth-led Fridays for Future climate movement and voting, politician and media behaviour in Germany.

We study the relationship between the Fridays for Future climate protest movement in Germany and citizen political behaviour. In 2019, crowds of young protesters, mostly under voting age, demanded immediate climate action. Exploiting cell-phone-based mobility data and hand-collected information on nearly 4,000 climate protests, we created a highly disaggregated measure of protest participation.

Stable isotope evidence for pre-colonial maize agriculture and animal management in the Bolivian Amazon.

Over the past decade, multidisciplinary research has seen the Amazon Basin go from a context perceived as unfavourable for food production and large-scale human societies to one of 'garden cities', domestication, and anthropogenically influenced forests and soils. Nevertheless, direct insights into human interactions with particular crops and especially animals remain scarce across this vast area. Here we present new stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data from 86 human and 68 animal remains dating between CE ~700 and 1400 from the Llanos de Mojos, Bolivia.

Socioeconomic position interacts with the genetic effect of a CRP gene common variant to influence C-reactive protein values.

Objectives: C-Reactive Protein (CRP) values are partly determined by variation at the CRP gene locus, but also influenced by socioeconomic position (SEP) and related lifestyle factors. As gene-by-SEP interactions have been suggested for traits associated with CRP and SEP (e.g.

Increasing incidence of normal pressure hydrocephalus in Germany: an analysis of the Federal Statistical Office Database from 2005 to 2022.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a reversible cause of gait disturbances and dementia in the elderly, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. In Germany, the epidemiology and surgical management of NPH are not well understood. This study aimed to characterise epidemiological trends and evaluate surgical management strategies for NPH in Germany.

Influence of biopsychosocial factors on a functionally delayed ageing process.

Purpose: Increasing life expectancy and rising populations create new challenges for science, economy, politics, society and each individual. The bio-functional status (BFS) as a theoretical model incorporates the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) and the concept of active and healthy ageing (AHA). This study addresses the question of which the strengths and resources have the greatest positive impact on bio-functional age (BFA) and might be influencable.

Lower extremity lymphedema in patients with gynecologic cancer: Validation of the Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire (GCLQ) in German language and investigation of lymphedema real-world treatment.

Purpose: The Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire (GCLQ) is an established patient-reported outcome measure for lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) in gynecologic oncology. We aimed to validate the GCLQ in German language (GCLQ-GER) for lymphedema detection in German-speaking patients and also investigated real-world patterns of lymphedema treatment.

Methods: The GCLQ was translated from English into German in accordance with the standards of a professional translation process.

Migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola.

Migratory animals rely on multiple sites during their annual cycles. Deteriorating conditions at any site can have population-level consequences, with long-distance migrants seen as especially susceptible to such changes. Reduced adult survival caused by persecution at non-breeding sites has been suggested a major reason for the catastrophic decline of a formerly abundant, long-distance migratory songbird, the Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola.

Diagnostic performance of Uromonitor and TERTpm ddPCR urine tests for the non-invasive detection of bladder cancer.

Uromonitor and urinary telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutation droplet digital PCR (uTERTpm ddPCR) are non-invasive tests designed to detect bladder cancer in urine. We aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of uTERTpm ddPCR, Uromonitor and urine cytology in detecting bladder cancer. Urine samples were collected prospectively from patients diagnosed with primary (n = 74) and recurrent bladder cancer (n = 20) or benign urological conditions (n = 48) prior to surgical resection.

Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma associated with gastric ulcers in alpacas.

In pathological examinations, gastric ulcers are often detected in South American camelids. The aetiology cannot be clarified in every case. However, tumour-related gastric ulcers are observed repeatedly.