Technology Assessment vs. Technology Appraisal-How to Strengthen the Science/Value Dichotomy with EU HTA?

Many countries around the world use health technology assessment (HTA) to inform reimbursement and pricing decisions. HTA is often split into two steps, called assessment and appraisal. While the term HTA itself has been defined by international consortia, there is heterogeneity in the way different stakeholders use the terms assessment and appraisal.

Disinformation on dietary supplements by German influencers on Instagram.

A significant proportion of the German population regularly consumes dietary supplements (NEM), and the market for these products is growing steadily. Dietary supplements are subject to food law and not pharmaceutical law. There are no official limits for the dosages of vitamins and minerals in Germany-only recommendations from institutions such as the Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR) or the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Comparing NIRS and Pulse Oximetry for Cerebral Oxygen Saturation During Hypoxia Testing.

This study evaluates the suitability of cerebral oximetry using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) compared to traditional pulse oximetry (SpO2) for measuring cerebral oxygen saturation during hypoxia testing, aiming to enhance safety during flight operations and training. The study included 106 participants aged 18-60 years at the Aerospace Medicine Training Center in Königsbrück. Cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) were measured using the INVOS™ 5100C cerebral oximeter and Masimo™ MS5 pulse oximeter, respectively.

Insights to aging prediction with AI based epigenetic clocks.

Over the past century, human lifespan has increased remarkably, yet the inevitability of aging persists. The disparity between biological age, which reflects pathological deterioration and disease, and chronological age, indicative of normal aging, has driven prior research focused on identifying mechanisms that could inform interventions to reverse excessive age-related deterioration and reduce morbidity and mortality. DNA methylation has emerged as an important predictor of age, leading to the development of epigenetic clocks that quantify the extent of pathological deterioration beyond what is typically expected for a given age.

Diversity Deflation: The Effect of Hierarchical Representation on Perceived Diversity, Conflict, and Attraction to Work Teams.

Prior research finds that hierarchical representation-the vertical distribution of minorities across a hierarchy-can influence team attractiveness. Extending these findings, we offer a novel account for why these perceptions arise: teams with minorities clustered in low-ranking positions are perceived as less diverse and more conflict-prone than equally diverse teams with hierarchical representation. Across five studies (N = 2946), participants perceived teams with low hierarchical representation as less attractive than teams with hierarchical representation, regardless of participant race.

Reversible and Ultrasensitive Detection of Nitric Oxide Using a Conductive Two-Dimensional Metal-Organic Framework.

This paper describes the use of a highly crystalline conductive 2D copper(hexaiminobenzene) (Cu(HIB)) as an ultrasensitive (limit of detection of 1.8 part-per-billion), highly selective, reversible, and low power chemiresistive sensor for nitric oxide (NO) at room temperature. The Cu(HIB)-based sensors retain their sensing performance in the presence of humidity, and exhibit strong signal enhancement towards NO over other highly toxic reactive gases, such as NO, HS, SO, NH, CO, as well as CO.

The C-type lectin receptor MINCLE interferes with eosinophil function and protective intestinal immunity in Strongyloides ratti-infected mice.

Strongyloides ratti is a helminth parasite that displays tissue-migrating and intestinal life stages. Myeloid C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) are pattern recognition receptors that recognize pathogen-derived ligands and initiate immune responses. To date, the role of CLRs in S.

Ixodes ricinus ticks survive flooding.

Climate-change induced weather extremes like floods are increasing in frequency and intensity, with potential consequences for disease vector ecology. We report on a flooding event during the winter of 2023/2024 in Hanover city, Germany. Our observations demonstrate that I.

The use and implementation of omalizumab as food allergy treatment: Consensus-based guidance and Work Group Report of the Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Omalizumab was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of any single food allergy or multiple food allergies in children aged 1 year and older and adults. There is currently no formal guidance regarding recommended best practices for omalizumab use in food allergy, including patient selection, anticipated goals and outcomes of therapy, procedure for monitoring patients who elect to start omalizumab therapy, and ways in which omalizumab can be incorporated into the landscape of food allergy management and daily clinical practice. This work group report was developed by the food allergy therapies subcommittee of the Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee within the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Computational Library Enables Pattern Recognition of Noncovalent Interactions and Application as a Modern Linear Free Energy Relationship.

A quantitative and predictive understanding of how attractive noncovalent interactions (NCIs) influence functional outcomes is a long-standing goal in mechanistic chemistry. In that context, better comprehension of how substituent effects influence NCI strengths, and the origin of those effects, is still needed. We sought to build a resource capable of elucidating fundamental origins of substituent effects in NCIs and diagnosing NCIs in chemical systems.

Estimating dementia prevalence using remote diagnoses and algorithmic modelling: a population-based study of a rural region in South Africa.

Background: Dementia is a leading cause of global death and disability. High-quality data describing dementia prevalence and burden remain scarce in sub-Saharan Africa. Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study in South Africa (HAALSI) fills evidence gaps with longitudinal data on cognition, biomarkers, and everyday function in a population-based cohort of Black South Africans, aged 40 years and older, in a rural subdistrict.

Chemical mixtures of mercury, PCBs, PFAS, and pesticides in freshwater fish in the US and the risks they pose for fish consumption.

Background: Freshwater fish are important food sources that also pose risks to human and wildlife health because of the bioaccumulation of environmental chemicals in their tissues. Although most studies, fish consumption advisories, and regulations focus on individual contaminants, fish consumers are exposed to mixtures of chemicals, including legacy contaminants and contaminants of emerging concern, that can have combined effects. Chemicals of emerging concern represent one source of hazard, but legacy contaminants can still pose threats to fish consumers due to their persistence in the environment.

Development of a metabolome-based respiratory infection prognostic during COVID-19 arrival.

In a new respiratory virus pandemic, optimizing allocation of scarce medical resources becomes an urgent challenge. Infection prognosis takes on particular importance when allocating scarce antiviral antibodies and drugs, which are most effective when administered before the onset of severe disease. During arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic to the United States in 2020, we conducted a prognostic biomarker discovery and validation effort based upon metabolomic profiling with a liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) type used clinically for rapid toxicology.

Implementation of Electronic Medical Record Interventions to Maximize Opioid Disposal after Surgery in Routine Clinical Practice.

Background: Despite guideline directed opioid prescribing after surgery, many patients retain excess opioids. Leftover pills increase the risk for misuse, diversion, and dependency. It is unclear whether interventions applied in routine clinical practice can increase excess opioid disposal rates.

Spatial and temporal distribution of Ixodes scapularis and tick-borne pathogens across the northeastern United States.

Background: The incidence of tick-borne diseases is increasing across the USA, with cases concentrated in the northeastern and midwestern regions of the country. Ixodes scapularis is one of the most important tick-borne disease vectors and has spread throughout the northeastern USA over the past four decades, with established populations in all states of the region.

Methods: To better understand the rapid expansion of I.

Cognitive Intra-individual Variability in Cognitively Healthy APOE ε4 Carriers, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Alzheimer's Disease: a Meta-analysis.

Intra-individual variability (IIV) quantifies an individual's scatter in performances across a test battery (dispersion) or across reaction times within a single task (consistency). No studies have meta-analyzed the cross-sectional IIV literature in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD). An additional aim of this meta-analysis was to examine IIV in APOE ε4 + healthy control (HC) samples.

Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibition and Cardiovascular Outcomes Across the Kidney Function Spectrum: The PARAGON-HF Trial.

Background: Lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) may be one of the major reasons for hesitation or failure to initiate potentially beneficial therapies in patients with heart failure (HF).

Objectives: This study sought to assess if the effects of sacubitril/valsartan (vs valsartan) on cardiovascular outcomes differ according to baseline kidney function in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction.

Methods: The PARAGON-HF (Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ARB Global Outcomes in HF with Preserved Ejection Fraction) trial was global clinical trial of 4,796 patients with chronic HF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥45% randomly assigned to sacubitril/valsartan or valsartan.

Patients Can Administer Mobile Audio Recordings to Increase Knowledge in Advanced Prostate Cancer.

Introduction: Consultation audio recordings improve patient decision-making but are underutilized. Patient-administered recording apps on mobile devices may increase access, but implementation has not been evaluated.

Methods: We conducted a single-arm study delivering education, coaching, and reminders for patients to record their appointment using a mobile recording app.

DataDesc: A framework for creating and sharing technical metadata for research software interfaces.

The reuse of research software is central to research efficiency and academic exchange. The application of software enables researchers to reproduce, validate, and expand upon study findings. The analysis of open-source code aids in the comprehension, comparison, and integration of approaches.

A giant planet transiting a 3-Myr protostar with a misaligned disk.

Astronomers have found more than a dozen planets transiting stars that are 10-40 million years old, but younger transiting planets have remained elusive. The lack of such discoveries may be because planets have not fully formed at this age or because our view is blocked by the protoplanetary disk. However, we now know that many outer disks are warped or broken; provided the inner disk is depleted, transiting planets may thus be visible.

An Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor With a Novel ALK Mutation Leading to Acquired Resistance to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm that can locally recur and potentially metastasize. Approximately 50% of IMTs harbor rearrangements in the gene encoding anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a receptor tyrosine kinase that can be therapeutically targeted with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). With successful application of TKI in ALK-positive nonsmall cell carcinoma (NSCLC), ALK inhibitors are often first-line treatments for patients with unresectable or metastatic IMTs.