Risk factors for substantial weight retention at 1 year postpartum: evidence from a German birth cohort study (KUNO-Kids).

Purpose: Postpartum weight retention (PPWR) increases the risk of overweight and obesity. This study aims to identify risk factors for substantial weight retention (≥ 5 kg) at 1 year postpartum.

Methods: Data were obtained from N = 747 mothers participating in the KUNO-Kids birth cohort study.

STAR LIGHT Study: XBB.1.5 COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Boost Systemic but Not Mucosal Immunity Against the SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 Variant in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease.

Background: Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) have impaired vaccine immunogenicity and an excess risk of severe COVID-19. While variant-adapted COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are recommended for vulnerable individuals, their efficacy in patients with CLD has not been studied.

Methods: We present the first evaluation of XBB.

Coronary artery microfistulae, Thebesian veins, or vessels of Wearn?

We present the case of a 73-year-old woman with coronary artery-left ventricular multiple microfistulae, who was admitted with symptoms and ECG suggestive of coronary artery disease. Coronary angiography revealed tortuous coronary arteries with multiple microfistulae between the left coronary artery and the left ventricle, as well as between the right coronary artery and the left ventricle. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was also able to clearly demonstrate the presence of the microfistulae with their direction of blood flow towards the left ventricle.

Revisiting the Atrioventricular Conduction Axis for the 21st Century.

In this review, we summarise the ongoing debate surrounding the anatomy of the atrioventricular conduction axis and its relevance to pacing. We highlight previous disagreements and emphasise the importance of understanding the anatomical location of the axis. We give credit and support to the initial descriptions by His and Tawara, in particular their attention to the relationship of the atrioventricular conduction axis with the membranous septum.

Endovascular therapy for cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: Single-center experience in a high-volume neurovascular unit.

Introduction: Despite targeted standard therapy, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) frequently leads to cerebral vasospasms (CVS) of large cerebral arteries, reduced oxygen supply of brain tissue, known as delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), subsequent development of manifest cerebral infarction and poor neurological outcome.

Research Question: The primary aim was to evaluate the efficacy of endovascular spasmolysis (eSL) as a rescue therapy for delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DIND) occurring despite maximum conservative treatment, with the potential benefit of preventing permanent ischemic deficits, and thus, improving overall neurological outcomes.

Material And Methods: In our retrospective, monocentric study, we included 310 patients developing CVS during hospitalization and evaluated their clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Triple inhaled therapy in asthma: Beliefs, behaviours and doubts.

Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) in association with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABA) are recommended by the GINA report as further option in step 4 and first choice in step 5 treatment. Despite consistent evidence of its efficacy and safety, inhaled triple therapy (ITT) is still not largely used in patients with asthma. With the aim to explore belief and behaviours of asthma specialists, an ad hoc survey has been developed by a panel of Interasma Scientific Network (INESnet) experts and subsequently defined by two Delphi rounds among an international group of physicians.

HIV-1 low-level viremia predicts viral failure in participants on antiretroviral therapy in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Background: Most individuals on combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) have HIV plasma viral loads below the limit of detection. However, episodes of low-level viremia (LLV) are observed in subsets of individuals, risk factors and clinical significance of which remain debated.

Methods: We included participants enrolled in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, starting ART between July 1999 and April 2023, with HIV RNA <200 copies/ml six months post ART initiation.

Centralized Investigator Review of Radiological and Functional Imaging Reports in Real-World Oncology Studies: The SACHA-France Experience.

SACHA-France (NCT04477681) is a prospective real-world study that collects clinical safety and efficacy data of novel anticancer therapies prescribed off-label or on compassionate use to patients <25 years. From March 2020 until February 2024, 640 patients with solid tumors or lymphomas were included, with 176 (28%) reported objective tumor responses. Centralized medical monitoring of local radiological/functional imaging reports by the SACHA coordinating investigator led to response modification in 45 out of 176 cases (26%), highlighting the relevance of the medical review of study data.

Transcriptional profile of infection in people living with HIV.

In people with HIV-1 (PWH), (MTB) infection poses a significant threat. While active tuberculosis (TB) accelerates immunodeficiency, the interaction between MTB and HIV-1 during asymptomatic phases remains unclear. Analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) transcriptomic profiles in PWH, with and without controlled viral loads, revealed distinct clustering in MTB-infected individuals.

Nonstandardized High-Intensity Dialysis Dose Improves Survival in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease.

Introduction One of the most important critical determinants of quality of life and adequacy of hemodialysis (HD) performed in patients is the recorded survival and mortality rates. Nowadays, as an adequately performed HD dialysis, we accept the one with reaching values for the index single pool Kt/V (spKt/V) higher than 1.2.

Residual Retrosternal Goiter and Thymolipoma After Cervical Thyroid Resection.

Retrosternal goiters (RGs) are thyroid enlargements that extend into the mediastinum, representing 1%-20% of all goiters. While typically benign, their anatomical location can lead to significant clinical symptoms due to the compression of surrounding structures such as the trachea, esophagus, and major vessels. Surgical resection is the preferred treatment, particularly in symptomatic cases or when malignancy is suspected.

Dysrupted microbial tryptophan metabolism associates with SARS-CoV-2 acute inflammatory responses and long COVID.

Protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and risk of long COVID has been associated with the depletion or over-abundance of specific taxa within the gut microbiome. However, the microbial mechanisms mediating these effects are not yet known. We hypothesized that altered microbial production of tryptophan and its downstream derivatives might contribute to inappropriate immune responses to viral infection.

Word of caution: clinically apparent coronary spasm following pulsed field cavotricuspid isthmus ablation despite nitroglycerin prophylaxis - a case report.

Background: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a novel ablation technology. A rare side-effect is the occurrence of mostly subclinical coronary spasms when PF energy is applied in proximity to coronary arteries. However, it has been described that prior application of nitroglycerin attenuates these effects.

Development and validation of a cost-effective DIY simulation model for McDonald cerclage training.

Purpose: The prevention of preterm birth is a challenging task for obstetricians. Cervical cerclage, used as both a primary and secondary prevention method for spontaneous preterm birth, is a crucial surgical intervention. It is essential that obstetricians can learn this procedure in a simulated environment before performing the stitches on high-risk patients.