Single-centre, randomised and double-blind clinical trial on the efficacy of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in preventing and treating primary headache in children and adolescents: a study protocol.

Introduction: Primary headaches pose a significant burden on children and adolescents, highlighting the need for effective non-pharmacological interventions. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a non-invasive modality that has demonstrated efficacy in adult populations with primary headaches and has shown safety in adolescents with mental health disorders. However, its effectiveness in managing acute headache episodes and preventing recurrences in paediatric populations remains underexplored.

Fat absorption and metabolism after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

Background: Triacylglycerol (TAG) plasma excursions after a high-fat meal are blunted after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We studied TAG absorption and metabolism in 12 RYGB-operated individuals and 12 unoperated controls (CON) matched on sex, age, and BMI.

Methods: Participants followed a 7-day controlled diet and on day 4 underwent H-MR Spectroscopy of liver TAG and a high-fat liquid meal with oral and intravenous labeled stable isotope metabolites, subcutaneous abdominal fat biopsies, and indirect calorimetry.

Phosphatidylcholine synthesis and remodeling in brain endothelial cells.

Mammalian cells synthesize hundreds of different variants of their prominent membrane lipid phosphatidylcholine (PC), all differing in the side chain composition. This batch is constantly remodeled by the Lands cycle, a metabolic pathway replacing one chain at the time. Using the alkyne lipid lyso-phosphatidylpropargylcholine (LpPC), a precursor and intermediate in PC synthesis and remodeling, we study both processes in brain endothelial bEND3 cells.

Enhancing Martini3 for Protein Self-Interaction Simulations.

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations are highly valuable for studying protein-protein interactions. Unfortunately, commonly used force fields often overestimate these interactions. Here, we investigate the performance of the Martini 3 force field in predicting the self-interaction behavior of lysozyme and subtilisin using Metadynamics.

[Gender Disparities in Urolithiasis with a Special Focus on Oxalate Metabolism in the Liver].

The incidence and prevalence of urolithiasis are increasing in industrialized countries. In particular, an increase has been observed among young adults and women. The gender gap is closing, and gender equality (1:1) with regard to urolithiasis has already been documented for the USA.

Measurements of Lung Size in Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia - A Comparison of Prenatal Imaging Techniques.

To investigate the correlation between different prenatal imaging techniques in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and their prognostic value.209 fetuses with CDH were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. The prenatal ultrasound-based and MRI-based (MRI: magnetic resonance imaging) observed-to-expected lung-to-head ratio (o/e-LHR) and MRI-based relative fetal lung volume (rFLV) were evaluated and compared.

Role of mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease: Rouge of brain kinases.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the chief cause of dementia and related mortality worldwide due to progressive accumulation of amyloid peptide (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau protein. These neuropathological changes lead to cognitive impairment and memory dysfunction. Notably, most Food drug Administration (FDA) approved anti-AD medications such as tacrine and donepezil are engaged with symptomatic relief of cognitive impairment but do not reverse the underlying AD neuropathology.

Raster Scan optoacoustic Mesoscopy for detecting microvascular complications in diabetes mellitus: A narrative brief review.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) may lead to microvascular and macrovascular complications. Screening for these complications is crucial and non-invasive methods with high-dissemination potential are needed. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is particularly challenging to screen due to the lack of reliable clinical markers and endpoints.

The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: Changed Results Using Different Drinking Solutions?

The impact of different drinking solutions used for an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) on 2-h glucose values and gastrointestinal side effects are not clear. This study compared a commercially produced solution (Accu-Chek Roche solution) and a standardized pharmacy solution (NRF 13.8.

Mental Health After Childbirth in Women with Previous Bariatric Surgery: The SPOtMom Pilot Study.

Currently, no data are available using standardized instruments for evaluating the postpartum mental health of women with previous bariatric surgery. The aim of this pilot study was to assess postpartum mental health in women following bariatric surgery and to establish appropriate tools for a prospective registry study in the future. In this survey, the mental health of 22 women during the first weeks postpartum was examined (T1) and their status at least 6 months after childbirth was prospectively assessed (T2).

Comprehensive Course on Clinical Study Data Management for Medical Informatics Students.

Background:  Effective data management is critical in medical informatics research, ensuring the success and integrity of clinical studies. However, students often lack comprehensive training in this area, highlighting the need for tailored educational programs.

Objectives:  This study aims to introduce a proposed course focused on data management for medical informatics students.

Real-world experience of cannabidiol in conjunction with clobazam for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome: Results from a retrospective multicentre chart review in Germany.

Background: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS) are rare and debilitating forms of epilepsy, characterised by recurrent, severe, drug-resistant seizures and neurodevelopmental impairments. A non-euphoric, plant-derived, highly purified formulation of cannabidiol (CBD; Epidyolex®, 100 mg/mL oral solution) is approved in the European Union and United Kingdom for use in patients aged ≥2 years for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with LGS or DS in conjunction with clobazam (CLB), and for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex in patients aged ≥2 years.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with treatment-resistant epilepsies who were treated with adjunctive CBD at six epilepsy centres in Germany.

Accurate and precise Th/Th isotope ratio measurement by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using a pre-cell mass filter for collision/reaction cell (MC-ICP-MS/MS).

In this paper we present the high-precision and accurate Th/Th isotope ratio measurement by a novel multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer with a pre-cell mass filter and a MS/MS collision/reaction cell (Neoma™ MC-ICP-MS/MS). No tailing correction is needed for the Th signal, as the tailing of an adjacent high intensity peak (abundance sensitivity) is effectively reduced due to high extent of Ar-based ion removal before the electrostatic analyser/magnetic sector. The obtained abundance sensitivity at m-2 (i.

Acquisition of object and temperature series in medium resolution off-axis electron holography with live drift correction.

Collecting and averaging large datasets is a common practice in transmission electron microscopy to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Averaging data in off-axis electron holography requires automated tools capable of correcting both the drift of the interference fringes and the drift of the specimen. This can be achieved either off-line, by post-processing hologram series, or on-line, through real-time microscope control.

IAEA activities to support the member states in the production of targeted alpha therapy radiopharmaceuticals.

Due to the growing interest of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Member States in implementing targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) in general, the demand for alpha-emitting radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals is enormous. As an international platform for peaceful applications of radionuclides, the IAEA has been implementing several activities focusing on the production and quality control of alpha emitters and radiopharmaceuticals as well as capacity building in the field, through Technical Meetings, Workshops, Publications and Conference Supports, IAEA-Coordinated Research Projects (CRP) and Technical Cooperation Program (TC). This review article summarises the IAEA activities on the production and quality control of alpha emitter radiopharmaceuticals for targeted alpha therapy (TAT) and a roadmap to future steps including but not limited to the ongoing CRP on Ac-radiopharmaceuticals.

Imaging and quantification of placental terminal villi microvasculature and nuclear characteristics in preeclampsia.

Globally, at least 10 % of maternal deaths, caused by obstetric complications during pregnancy, are linked to preeclampsia or eclampsia. Preeclampsia-induced placental hypoxia leads to vascular injury and syncytial knot formation in terminal villi. Early delivery of preeclampsia placentas complicates comparisons with normotensive term placentas, while the placenta's non-planar structure limits the effectiveness of 2D histology for vascular analysis.

Influence of Ibuprofen on glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids in context of Alzheimer´s Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial disorder associated with neuroinflammation, elevated oxidative stress, lipid alterations as well as amyloid-deposits and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Ibuprofen, a globally used analgesic, is discussed to influence disease progression due to its anti-inflammatory effect. However, changes in lipid-homeostasis induced by Ibuprofen have not yet been analyzed.

The novel lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1-selective antagonist, ACT-1016-0707, has unique binding properties that translate into effective antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory activity in different models of pulmonary fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis encompasses different chronic interstitial lung diseases, and the predominant form, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, remains to have a poor prognosis despite 2 approved therapies. Although the exact pathobiological mechanisms are still incompletely understood, epithelial injury and aberrant wound healing responses contribute to the gradual change in lung architecture and functional impairment. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-induced lysophosphatidic receptor 1 (LPA1) signaling was proposed to be a driver of lung fibrosis, and LPA1 antagonists have shown promising antifibrotic profiles in early clinical development.

Estimation of inlet flow rate in simulations of left atrial flows: A proposed optimized and reference-based algorithm with application to sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation.

Medical image-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a valuable tool for studying cardiovascular hemodynamics and its role in vascular pathologies. However, patient-specific flow rate measurements are rare. As a remedy, individual flow rates are typically estimated using anatomical features.

Prediction of Basic Robotic Competence for Robotic Visceral Operations Using the O-Score within the "Robotic Curriculum for Young Surgeons" (RoCS).

Introduction: Surgical residency programs lack structured assessments of robotic surgery. The validated O-Score is an assessment tool for tracking robotic operative proficiency consisting of 9 items on a 5 point Likert scale. Surgical autonomy is one comprehensive binary item.

A battle of surgical strategies: Clinically enlarged lateral lymph nodes in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer; extended mesorectal excision (e-TME) versus traditional surgery (TME-alone) a meta-analysis.

Background: The infiltration of lateral lymph nodes (LLN) plays a crucial role in the staging and treatment of individuals with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of extended mesorectal excision (eTME) versus traditional mesorectal excision (TME-alone) in patients with clinically enlarged (LLN) concomitant neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

Methods: This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023457805).

A floating collagen matrix triggers ring formation and stemness characteristics in human colorectal cancer organoids.

Intestinal organoids reflect the 3D structure and function of their original tissues. Organoid are typically cultured in Matrigel, an extracellular matrix (ECM) mimicking the basement membrane, which is suitable for epithelial cells but does not accurately mimic the tumour microenvironment of colorectal cancer (CRC). The ECM and particularly collagen type I is crucial for CRC progression and invasiveness.