Geosocial Media's Early Warning Capabilities Across US County-Level Political Clusters: Observational Study.

Background: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) sparked significant health concerns worldwide, prompting policy makers and health care experts to implement nonpharmaceutical public health interventions, such as stay-at-home orders and mask mandates, to slow the spread of the virus. While these interventions proved essential in controlling transmission, they also caused substantial economic and societal costs and should therefore be used strategically, particularly when disease activity is on the rise. In this context, geosocial media posts (posts with an explicit georeference) have been shown to provide a promising tool for anticipating moments of potential health care crises.

Surrogate End Points for Overall Survival in Neoadjuvant Randomized Clinical Trials for Early Breast Cancer.

Purpose: To assess trial-level surrogacy value for overall survival (OS) of the pathologic complete response (pCR) and invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) for early breast cancer (BC).

Methods: Individual patient data of neoadjuvant RCTs with available data on pCR, iDFS, and OS were included in the analysis. We used the coefficient of determination from weighted linear regression models to quantify the association between treatment effects on OS and on the surrogate end points.

Genome recombination on demand.

Large genome rearrangements in mammalian cells can be generated at scale.

Tailoring anaesthetic strategies for diabetes research: Acepromazine vs. medetomidine in Aachen minipigs.

Pre-established anaesthetic protocols in animal models might unexpectedly interfere with the main outcome of scientific projects and therefore they need to account for the specific research goals. We aimed to optimize the anaesthetic protocol and animal handling strategies in a diabetes-related-study exemplifying how the anaesthetic approach must be adjusted for individual research targets. Aachen minipigs were used as a model to test long-lasting skin glucose sensors for diabetic human patients.

Risk factors for survival after lung transplantation in cystic fibrosis: impact of colonization with multidrug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Background: Lung transplantation is the ultimate treatment option for patients with advanced cystic fibrosis. Chronic colonization of these recipients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens may constitute a risk factor for an adverse outcome. We sought to analyze whether colonization with MDR pathogens, as outlined in the German classification of multiresistant Gram-negative bacteria (MRGN), was associated with the success of lung transplantation.

The microsurgical infratentorial supracerebellar approach for lesions of the pineal gland: feasibility, morbidity, and functional outcomes from a single-center experience.

Pineal gland lesions pose a significant surgical challenge due to the deep-seated nature of the pineal gland, as well as the limited field of view, and the complex vascular anatomy. The mainstay of surgical treatment, when necessary, is always histopathological clarity and gross total resection (GTR). We evaluate the surgical outcomes for pineal gland lesions, shedding light on functional outcomes, histological findings, and surgical complications.

The impact of updated imaging software on the performance of machine learning models for breast cancer diagnosis: a multi-center, retrospective study.

Purpose: Artificial Intelligence models based on medical (imaging) data are increasingly developed. However, the imaging software on which the original data is generated is frequently updated. The impact of updated imaging software on the performance of AI models is unclear.

Identifying metabolomic mediators of the physical activity and colorectal cancer relationship.

Background: Current evidence suggests higher physical activity (PA) levels are associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mediating role of the circulating metabolome in this relationship remains unclear.

Methods: Targeted metabolomics data from 6,055 participants in the EPIC cohort were used to identify metabolites associated with PA and derive a metabolomic signature of PA levels.

Examining priorities and investments made through the Global Financing Facility for maternal and newborn health: a sub-analysis on quality.

Improving quality of care could avert most of the 4.5 million maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths that occur each year. The Global Financing Facility (GFF) aims to catalyse the national scale-up of maternal and newborn health (MNH) interventions through focused investments.

Haptoglobin polymorphism, vitamin E and mortality: the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health Study.

Objective: In humans, haptoglobin (Hp) exists in two allelic forms, Hp1 and Hp2, that differ significantly in their ability to protect the organism from oxidative stress. It has been proposed that in patients with diabetes mellitus carriers of the Hp2-2 genotype may benefit from vitamin E supplementation. Aim of our study was to investigate if there is evidence regarding a potential interaction between the Hp polymorphism and vitamin E with regard to mortality in individuals at medium-to-high cardiovascular risk with and without diabetes mellitus.

Characterization of cognitive functioning in complex PTSD compared to non-complex PTSD.

Background: Previous research has indicated cognitive impairments in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), specifically in attention, memory, and executive functioning. However, there is limited knowledge about the cognitive profile of individuals with complex PTSD (cPTSD), a new diagnosis in ICD-11. Moreover, predictors of cognitive impairment remain unclear.

Oxygenation and intestinal perfusion and its association with perturbations of the early life gut microbiota composition of children with congenital heart disease.

Background: Early life gut microbiota is known to shape the immune system and has a crucial role in immune homeostasis. Only little is known about composition and dynamics of the intestinal microbiota in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) and potential influencing factors.

Methods: We evaluated the intestinal microbial composition of neonates with CHD ( = 13) compared to healthy controls (HC,  = 30).

Longitudinal assessment of diffusion-weighted imaging during magnetic resonance-guided radiotherapy in head and neck cancer.

Background: For radiotherapy of head and neck cancer (HNC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a pivotal role due to its high soft tissue contrast. Moreover, it offers the potential to acquire functional information through diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) with the potential to personalize treatment. The aim of this study was to acquire repetitive DWI during the course of online adaptive radiotherapy on an 1.

Development and application of a clinical core data set for deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease, dystonia or tremor: from data collection to data exchange and data sharing.

Background: Comprehensive clinical data regarding factors influencing the individual disease course of patients with movement disorders treated with deep brain stimulation might help to better understand disease progression and to develop individualized treatment approaches.

Methods: The clinical core data set was developed by a multidisciplinary working group within the German transregional collaborative research network ReTune. The development followed standardized methodology comprising review of available evidence, a consensus process and performance of the first phase of the study.

Prospective multi-centre analysis of rural trauma team development training for medical trainees and traffic law enforcement professionals in Uganda: an interrupted time series study.

Background: Research shows that trauma team formation could potentially improve effectiveness of injury care in rural settings. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of rural trauma team training amongst medical trainees and traffic law enforcement professionals in Uganda.

Methods: Prospective multi-centre interrupted time series analysis of an interventional training based on the 4th edition of rural trauma team development course of the American College of Surgeons.

Neurocognitive impact of different irradiation modalities for patients with grade I-II skull base meningioma: a prospective multi-arm cohort study (CANCER COG).

Background: Radiotherapy as a complement or an alternative to neurosurgery has a central role in the treatment of skull base grade I-II meningiomas. Radiotherapy techniques have improved considerably over the last two decades, becoming more effective and sparing more and more the healthy tissue surrounding the tumour. Currently, hypo-fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for small tumours and normo-fractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or proton-therapy (PT) for larger tumours are the most widely used techniques.

Extracellular matrix stiffness regulates colorectal cancer progression via HSF4.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) has high incidence and mortality rates, with severe prognoses during invasion and metastasis stages. Despite advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, the impact of the tumour microenvironment, particularly extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness, on CRC progression and metastasis is not fully understood.

Methods: This study included 107 CRC patients.

The implementation and side effect management of immune checkpoint inhibitors in gynecologic oncology: a JAGO/NOGGO survey.

Background: The integration of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) into routine gynecologic cancer treatment requires a thorough understanding of how to manage immune-related adverse events (irAEs) to ensure patient safety. However, reports on real-world clinical experience in the management of ICIs in gynecologic oncology are very limited. The aim of this survey was to provide a real-world overview of the experiences and the current state of irAE management of ICIs in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

Challenges and adaptations in pancreatic cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in a high-volume center.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected healthcare systems worldwide, disrupting elective surgeries including those for cancer treatment. This study examines the effects of the pandemic on outcomes of pancreatic cancer surgeries at a specialized high-volume surgery center.

Materials And Methods: This study compared surgical volume and outcomes of pancreas resections between the pre-pandemic (January 2019 to February 2020), early pandemic (March 2020 to January 2021), and late pandemic (February 2021 to December 2021) periods.

Intradermal Advanced Glycation End-products Relate to Reduced Sciatic Nerve Structural Integrity in Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Cardiovascular risk management is beneficial, but stringent glycemic control does not prevent the progression of distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN). Persistent hyperglycemia-induced alterations and cardiovascular factors may contribute to diabetes-associated nerve damage. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between skin auto-fluorescence (sAF), an indicator of dermal advanced glycation end-product (AGE) accumulations, cardiovascular risk, and changes in peripheral nerve integrity.

Prognostic scores for predicting overall survival in patients with metastatic renal and urothelial cancer undergoing immunotherapy - which one to use?

Purpose: Evaluation of the prognostic significance of four different scoring systems in a real-world cohort of patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) or renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) undergoing immunotherapy (IO).

Methods: For 120 patients with mUC (n = 67) and mRCC (n = 53) who received IO between July 2016 and December 2020 at the tertiary Urological University Medical Centre Mannheim, the following scores were recorded at pre-treatment baseline: modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratio (NER). Overall survival (time between the beginning of IO until the patients' death or last contact) was determined for every patient.

Spatially resolved transcriptomics and graph-based deep learning improve accuracy of routine CNS tumor diagnostics.

The diagnostic landscape of brain tumors integrates comprehensive molecular markers alongside traditional histopathological evaluation. DNA methylation and next-generation sequencing (NGS) have become a cornerstone in central nervous system (CNS) tumor classification. A limiting requirement for NGS and methylation profiling is sufficient DNA quality and quantity, which restrict its feasibility.

New Artisse intrasaccular device for intracranial aneurysm treatment: short term clinical and angiographic result from the prospective registry INSPIRE-A.

Background: Intrasaccular devices have broadened treatment options for wide necked aneurysms. This study presents the preliminary experience with the Artisse 2.0 device.