Lung function-associated exposome profile in the era of climate change: Pooled analysis of 8 population-based European cohorts within the EXPANSE project.

Background: The independent and interrelated long-term effects of the exposome such as air pollution, greenness, and ambient temperature on lung function are not well understood, yet relevant in the light of climate change.

Methods: Pre-bronchodilation FEV1 from five mature birth cohorts (N = 4724) and three adult cohorts (N = 6052) from five European countries were used to assess cross-sectional associations with air pollution, greenness, and ambient temperature, assigned to their residential address. All two-way interactions and square terms were a priori included in building the final elastic net regression model.

The chemokine CX3CL1 promotes intraperitoneal tumour growth despite enhanced T-cell recruitment in ovarian cancer.

T-cell recruiting chemokines are required for a successful immune intervention in ovarian cancer, and also for the efficacy of modern anticancer agents such as PARP inhibitors. The chemokine CX3CL1 recruits tumour-suppressive T-cells into solid tumours, but also mediates cell-cell adhesions, e.g.

Development, optimization and validation of a highly sensitive and selective method for the determination of PFAS in animal-based food.

Perfluorocarboxylic acids and perfluorosulfonic acids accumulate in food webs, thus posing a serious threat to food safety. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) derived a tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of 4.4 ng/kg body weight for the sum of the four so-called EFSA-PFAS in 2020.

Behind closed doors: Homeboundness and psychosocial outcomes. Evidence from a longitudinal study of middle-aged and older adults.

Objectives: To examine how homeboundness is associated with psychosocial outcomes in terms of life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect and loneliness among middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: Longitudinal data were taken from the nationally representative sample German Ageing Survey (wave 1 to wave 4; n = 18,491 observations). This study included community-dwelling individuals aged 40 years and over in Germany.

Assessing learning, behaviour, and stress level in goats while testing a virtual fencing training protocol.

Virtual fencing (VF) is a modern fencing technology using Global Positioning System-enabled collars which emit acoustic signals and, if the animal does not respond, electric pulses. Studies with cattle indicate successful learning and no distinct negative impact on the animals' behaviours and stress level. However, the number of studies testing VF with goats is relatively small.

Supporting rotational grazing systems with virtual fencing: paddock transitions, beef heifer performance, and stress response.

Animal welfare is integral to sustainable livestock production, and pasture access for cattle is known to enhance welfare. Despite positive welfare impacts, high labour requirements hinder the adoption of sustainable grazing practices such as rotational stocking management. Virtual fencing (VF) is an innovative technology for simplified, less laborious grazing management and remote animal monitoring, potentially facilitating the expansion of sustainable livestock production.

People with aphasia show stable Cumulative Semantic Interference (CSI) when tested repeatedly in a web-based paradigm: A perspective for longitudinal assessment.

Retrieving words quickly and correctly is an important language competence. Semantic contexts, such as prior naming of categorically related objects, can induce conceptual priming but also lexical-semantic interference, the latter likely due to enhanced competition during lexical selection. In the continuous naming (CN) paradigm, such semantic interference is evident in a linear increase in naming latency with each additional member of a category out of a seemingly random sequence of pictures being named (cumulative semantic interference/CSI effect).

Revisiting the electrophysiological correlates of valence and expectancy in reward processing - A multi-lab replication.

Two event-related brain potential (ERP) components, the frontocentral feedback-related negativity (FRN) and the posterior P300, are key in feedback processing. The FRN typically exhibits greater amplitude in response to negative and unexpected outcomes, whereas the P300 is generally more pronounced for positive outcomes. In an influential ERP study, Hajcak et al.

On the "direct detection" of gravitational waves.

In this paper, I provide an account of direct (vs. indirect) detection in gravitational-wave astrophysics. In doing so, I highlight the epistemic considerations that lurk behind existing debates over the application of the term "direct".

What influences the distribution of microplastics in the marine environment? An interdisciplinary study reveals key factors driving microplastic in the North Sea.

Microplastics (MP) are known to be ubiquitous. The pathways and fate of these contaminants in the marine environment are receiving increasing attention, but still knowledge gaps exist. In particular, the link between mass-based MP quantification and oceanographic parameters is often lacking.

Protocol for assessing and visualizing cell microaggregate formation in whole blood by imaging flow cytometry.

Blood cell aggregates are clinically useful biomarkers in a number of medical disorders. This protocol provides accurate and quantitative analysis of cell aggregates using a small volume of whole blood and imaging flow cytometry. We describe steps for sample collection, staining, and measurement.

Limited reactivity of pyroxene and plagioclase in batch experiments with supercritical CO in the presence of NaCl and NaHCO in the context of CO sequestration via carbonation.

One-step high-pressure and high-temperature direct aqueous mineral carbonation of tailings derived from mining of Platinum Group Metals in South Africa requires a fundamental understanding of the reactivity of the most dominant mineral phases, i.e. pyroxene and plagioclase (66 wt.

New physiological insights using multi-TE ASL MRI measuring blood-brain barrier water exchange after caffeine intake.

Objectives: Caffeine, a known neurostimulant and adenosine antagonist, affects brain physiology by decreasing cerebral blood flow. It interacts with adenosine receptors to induce vasoconstriction, potentially disrupting brain homeostasis. However, the impact of caffeine on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability to water remains underexplored.

Novel Surgical Initiatives in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours.

Purpose Of Review: Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) are rare entities arising from hormone producing cells in the gastroentero-pancreatic (GEP) tract. Surgery is the most common treatment of GEP-NETs.

Recent Findings: Improvements in surgical techniques allow for more locally advanced and metastasised GEP-NETs to be resected.

Diaphragmatic stripping versus full-thickness diaphragmatic resection in cytoreductive surgery: a meta-analysis of the current evidence.

Purpose: The primary objective was to compare the intra- and postoperative outcomes of diaphragmatic stripping versus full-thickness diaphragmatic resection in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis who underwent cytoreductive surgery.

Methods: According to the PRSIMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted for studies comparing postoperative pulmonary complications as well as intra- and postoperative outcomes of diaphragmatic stripping versus full-thickness diaphragmatic resection in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis necessitating cytoreductive surgery. Data from eligible studies were extracted, qualitatively assessed, and included in a meta-analysis.

What does the patients' perception of alignment tell us about alignment targets in total knee arthroplasty?

Introduction: Knee alignment significantly impacts the outcome of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Understanding patient perceptions of their knee alignment in relation to objective measurements is essential to ensure optimal surgical outcomes and to meet patients' expectations. This study reports patients' perception of pre- and postoperative knee alignment in relation to radiographic alignment measurements.

Impact of a new image enhancement technology on the nuchal translucency thickness.

Objective: To examine the impact of a new image enhancement technique on the distribution of NT measurements.

Methods: In this retrospective study, nuchal translucency (NT) images that were taken with the GE Voluson E22 ultrasound machine between May and September 2024 were collected. One operator took manual and automated NT measurements in an NT image without radiant enhancement mode followed by automated measurements in NT images with minimum, medium and maximum radiant mode.

Unmet clinical needs in women with polycystic ovary syndrome regarding fertility and obesity: a cross-sectional study from the patient's perspective.

Purpose: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, often leading to anovulatory infertility. Obesity exacerbates the reproductive, metabolic and psychological features of PCOS, making fertility treatment and patient satisfaction difficult. Despite guidelines from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) emphasizing lifestyle modifications and specific treatments, there remains a significant gap in adherence to these guidelines by both healthcare providers and patients.

Exosome: an overview on enhanced biogenesis by small molecules.

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that received attention for their potential use in the treatment of various injuries. They communicate intercellularly by transferring genetic and bioactive molecules from parent cells. Although exosomes hold immense promise for treating neurodegenerative and oncological diseases, their actual clinical use is very limited because of their biogenesis and secretion.

Which patients with negative PSMA-PET imaging can safely avoid biopsy for prostate cancer? a novel step towards PSMA-based biopsy-free strategy.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify if a subset of men can safely avoid or delay prostate biopsy based on negative results of prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA-PET).

Materials And Methods: Among 341 consecutive cases in a prospective biopsy cohort (NCT05073653), 111 treatment-naïve men with negative PSMA-PET (PRIMARY-score 1/2) were included. All participants underwent PSMA-PET and histopathological examinations.

Predictors of functional recovery following surgical repair of quadriceps tendon rupture: insights from a German multicentre study.

Introduction: More extensive and cohesive studies on quadriceps tendon rupture (QTR) repair surgery are required to guide effective treatment strategies. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify predictors of subjective functional recovery following QTR repair surgery.

Materials And Methods: This multicentre retrospective cohort study enrolled 191 adults (age ≥ 18 years) who underwent surgical unilateral QTR repair (2010-2022) and had ≥ 1-year postoperative follow-up at three trauma centres in Germany.

Deep learning for forensic age estimation using orthopantomograms in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Objectives: Forensic age estimation from orthopantomograms (OPGs) can be performed more quickly and accurately using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), making them an ideal extension to standard forensic age estimation methods. This study evaluates improvements in forensic age prediction for children, adolescents, and young adults by training a custom CNN from a previous study, using a larger, diverse dataset with a focus on dental growth features.

Methods: 21,814 OPGs from 13,766 individuals aged 1 to under 25 years were utilized.

Effect of artificial intelligence-aided differentiation of adenomatous and non-adenomatous colorectal polyps at CT colonography on radiologists' therapy management.

Objectives: Adenomatous colorectal polyps require endoscopic resection, as opposed to non-adenomatous hyperplastic colorectal polyps. This study aims to evaluate the effect of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted differentiation of adenomatous and non-adenomatous colorectal polyps at CT colonography on radiologists' therapy management.

Materials And Methods: Five board-certified radiologists evaluated CT colonography images with colorectal polyps of all sizes and morphologies retrospectively and decided whether the depicted polyps required endoscopic resection.