Cross-sectional study on the impact of adverse childhood experiences on psychological distress in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

Objective: Previous studies implied detrimental effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) on cardiovascular disease and mental health. Still, data on the influence of ACE on psychological distress in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) are lacking.

Methods: We prospectively recruited 423 patients with an ICD.

What motivates critical care nurses to stay in their job? - Structural aspects for empowering intrinsic motivation in permissive professional contexts: A scoping review.

Objective: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of critical care nurses have left their positions, citing overload, burnout, and moral distress. This scoping review is not just a theoretical exploration but a timely and crucial investigation into the aspects and structures of critical care nursing that can make the job fulfilling and appealing, thereby promoting intrinsic motivation and staff retention.

Methodology: A scoping review of studies reporting on factors that allow critical care nurses to fall back on their intrinsic job motivation.

Towards a better understanding of sorption of persistent and mobile contaminants to activated carbon: Applying data analysis techniques with experimental datasets of limited size.

The complex sorption mechanisms of carbon adsorbents for the diverse group of persistent, mobile, and potentially toxic contaminants (PMs or PMTs) present significant challenges in understanding and predicting adsorption behavior. While the development of quantitative predictive tools for adsorbent design often relies on extensive training data, there is a notable lack of experimental sorption data for PMs accompanied by detailed sorbent characterization. Rather than focusing on predictive tool development, this study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of sorption by applying data analysis methods to a high-quality dataset.

Characterization of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae from blood cultures in Gaza Strip hospitals, Palestine.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a difficult to treat organism owing to limited therapeutic options. So far, little is known about the molecular characteristics of CRKP in Palestine.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial resistance patterns, multilocus sequence types (ST) and resistance genes among clinical K.

Is preoperative imaging of sentinel lymph node in breast cancer necessary? A retrospective case control study.

Objective: The necessity of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy before intraoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of SLN imaging on intraoperative SLN detection in breast cancer patients.

Methods: Retrospective, comparative, single center study of patients with breast cancer stage pT1 and pT2 who underwent axillary staging.

Harnessing the dynamics of plant organic acids metabolism following abiotic stresses.

Plants encounter various environmental stresses throughout development, including shade, high light, drought, hypoxia, extreme temperatures, and metal toxicity, all of which adversely affect growth and productivity. Organic acids (OAs), besides serving as intermediates in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, play crucial roles in multiple metabolic pathways and cellular compartments, including mitochondrial metabolism, amino acid metabolism, the glyoxylate cycle, and the photosynthetic mechanisms of C4 and CAM plants. OAs contribute to stress tolerance by acting as root chelating agents, regulating ATP production, and providing reducing power for detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Clavicle height asymmetry: A common problem for planning reduction mammoplasties - A correlational study.

The distance between the mid-clavicle and nipple (MCN) is crucial in planning reduction mammoplasties. MCN has been shown to be superior in achieving nipple-areola complex symmetry. However, there is great variability in clavicle anatomy.

Detection of Echinococcus spp. and other taeniid species in lettuces and berries: Two international multicenter studies from the MEmE project.

Cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are severe zoonotic diseases characterized by long asymptomatic periods lasting months or years. Viable Echinococcus spp. eggs released into the environment through the feces of canids can infect humans through accidental ingestion via hand-to-mouth contact or consumption of contaminated food or water.

Harnessing gut microbial communities to unravel microbiome functions.

The gut microbiome impacts human health in direct and indirect ways. While many associations have been discovered between specific microbiome compositions and diseases, establishing causality, understanding the underlying mechanisms, and developing successful microbiome-based therapies require novel experimental approaches. In this opinion, we discuss how in vitro cultivation of diverse communities enables systematic investigation of the individual and collective functions of gut microbes.

Neglect symptoms are related to a prediction-hypersensitivity in ipsilesional space.

The precise cognitive mechanisms underlying spatial neglect are not fully understood. Recent studies have provided the first evidence for aberrant behavioral and electrophysiological prediction and prediction error responses in patients with neglect, but also in right-hemispheric (RH) stroke patients without neglect. For prediction-dependent attention, as assessed with Posner-type cueing paradigms with volatile cue-target contingencies, studies in healthy volunteers point to a crucial role of the right temporo-parietal junction (rTPJ) - as part of a network commonly disrupted in neglect.

In vitro evaluation of bioabsorbable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) warp-knitted spacer fabric scaffolds for osteogenic differentiation.

Bioabsorbable textile scaffolds are promising for bone tissue engineering applications. Their tuneable, porous, fibre based architecture resembles that of native extracellular matrix, and they can sustain tissue growth while being gradually absorbed in the body. In this work, immortalized mouse calvaria preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in vitro on two warp-knitted bioabsorbable spacer fabric scaffolds made of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB), to investigate their osteogenic properties.

Preliminaries to artificial consciousness: A multidimensional heuristic approach.

The pursuit of artificial consciousness requires conceptual clarity to navigate its theoretical and empirical challenges. This paper introduces a composite, multilevel, and multidimensional model of consciousness as a heuristic framework to guide research in this field. Consciousness is treated as a complex phenomenon, with distinct constituents and dimensions that can be operationalized for study and for evaluating their replication.

Results of F-choline and C-methionine positron emission tomography/computed tomography for the preoperative localization of hyperfunctional parathyroid glands in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Preoperative localization of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands in primary hyperparathyroidism is essential for successful parathyroid surgery, particularly in patients with previous negative imaging or reoperations.

Methods: A multicenter registry study was performed in 776 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism from 53 hospitals in Germany and Austria who underwent parathyroid surgery after preoperative F-choline or C-methionine positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Results: In 683 of 776 patients (88%) (78% female, aged 15-86 years), primary hyperparathyroidism was caused by a single-gland parathyroid adenoma.

Neural network surrogate and projected gradient descent for fast and reliable finite element model calibration: A case study on an intervertebral disc.

Accurate calibration of finite element (FE) models is essential across various biomechanical applications, including human intervertebral discs (IVDs), to ensure their reliability and use in diagnosing and planning treatments. However, traditional calibration methods are computationally intensive, requiring iterative, derivative-free optimization algorithms that often take days to converge. This study addresses these challenges by introducing a novel, efficient, and effective calibration method demonstrated on a human L4-L5 IVD FE model as a case study using a neural network (NN) surrogate.

Heavy metal(loid)s accumulation and human health risk assessment in wheat after long-term application of various urban and rural organic fertilizers.

Composting urban and rural wastes into organic fertilizers for land application is considered the best way to dispose of and recycle waste resources. However, there are some concerns about the long-term effects of applying various organic fertilizers on soils, food safety, and health risks derived from heavy metal(loid)s (HMs). A long-term field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of continuous application of chicken manure compost (CM), sewage sludge compost (SSC), and domestic waste compost (DWC) for wheat on the accumulation, transfer, and health risks of HMs.

Structural brain basis of latent factors of executive functions in childhood.

Executive functions can be classified into processes of inhibition, working memory and shifting, which together support flexible and goal-directed behaviour and are crucial for both current and later-life outcomes. A large body of literature has identified distinct brain regions critical to performing each of these functions. These findings are however predicated on a piecemeal and single-task approach.

Sound-symbol learning and the relationship to spelling in first-grade children.

Early spelling depends on the ability to understand the alphabetic principle and to translate speech sounds into visual symbols (letters). Thus, the ability to associate sound-symbol pairs might be an important predictor of spelling development. Here, we examined the relation between sound-symbol learning (SSL) and early spelling skills.

Status of Sepsis Care in European Hospitals: Results from an International Cross-Sectional Survey.

Rationale: Early detection, standardized therapy, adequate infrastructure and strategies for quality improvement should constitute essential components of every hospital's sepsis plan.

Objectives: To investigate the extent to which recommendations from the sepsis guidelines are implemented and the availability of infrastructure for the care of patients with sepsis in acute hospitals.

Methods: A multidisciplinary cross-sectional questionnaire was used to investigate sepsis care in hospitals.

Business Venturing in Regulated Markets-Taxonomy and Archetypes of Digital Health Business Models in the European Union: Mixed Methods Descriptive and Exploratory Study.

Background: Digital health technology (DHT) has the potential to revolutionize the health care industry by reducing costs and improving the quality of care in a sector that faces significant challenges. However, the health care industry is complex, involving numerous stakeholders, and subject to extensive regulation. Within the European Union, medical device regulations impose stringent requirements on various ventures.

Kinetic Oscillation Stimulation for the Preventive Treatment of Chronic Migraine: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial.

Background And Objectives: The Chordate System administers kinetic oscillation stimulation (K.O.S) into the nasal cavity thereby potentially modulating the activity of trigemino-autonomic reflex.

Time-resolved effects of short-term overfeeding on energy balance in mice.

To curb the obesity epidemic, it is imperative that we improve our understanding of the mechanisms controlling fat mass and body weight regulation. While great progress has been made in mapping the biological feedback forces opposing weight loss, the mechanisms countering weight gain remain less well defined. Here, we integrate a mouse model of intragastric overfeeding with a comprehensive evaluation of the regulatory aspects of energy balance, encompassing food intake, energy expenditure, and fecal energy excretion.

225Ac-PSMA-617 Augmentation After Insufficient Response Under 177Lu-PSMA-617 Radioligand Therapy in mCRPC: Evaluation of Outcome and Safety From a Prospective Registry (REALITY Study).

Background: Even though the introduction of 177Lu-PSMA-617 RLT represents a major milestone in the treatment of mCRPC, there are still patients who do not respond adequately to this therapy and for whom there are only limited options left. Augmenting 177Lu-PSMA-617 RLT with the alpha-emitter 225Ac-PSMA-617 may present an escalating treatment option to increase efficacy. In this study, we aim to evaluate outcome and safety of 225Ac-PSMA-617 augmentation to 177Lu-PSMA-617 RLT in patients who present insufficient response to monotherapy with 177Lu-PSMA-617 RLT.

Impact of Left Ventricular Size on Outcomes Following HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: Analysis of the European Registry for Patients With Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS).

We investigated the association of preimplant left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) with outcomes after HeartMate 3 (HM3) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Patients from the European Registry for Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support (EUROMACS) registry who underwent HM3 implantation from August 2014 to February 2023 (n = 834) were analyzed according to preoperative LVEDD: less than or equal to 65 (n = 251), 65-80 (n = 441), and greater than or equal to 80 mm (n = 142). The mean age was 54.

Oral microbiome dysbiosis is associated with precancerous lesions and disorders of upper gastrointestinal tract: A population-based study.

Background And Aims: Oral microbiota may contribute to the development of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) disorders. We aimed to study the association between the microbiome of saliva, subgingival and buccal mucosa, and UGI disorders, particularly precancerous lesions. We also aimed to determine which oral site might serve as the most effective biomarker for UGI disorders.