Defining intra-tumoral and systemic immune biomarkers for locally advanced head-and-neck cancer - detailed protocol of a prospective, observatory multicenter trial (ImmunBioKHT) and first results of the immunophenotyping of the patients' peripheral blood.

The approval and effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors in head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) highlights the role of the immune system in this tumor entity. HNSCCs not only interacts with the immune system in the tumor tissue, but also induce systemic effects that may be additionally influenced by further factors such as the microbiome. Nonetheless, reliable immunological biomarkers that predict treatment response and outcome in HNSCC patients are lacking.

Transition of patients with Gaucher disease type 1 from pediatric to adult care: results from two international surveys of patients and health care professionals.

Introduction: Gaucher disease (GD) is a rare, autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency in the enzyme glucocerebrosidase. The most common subtype in Europe and the USA, type 1 (GD1), is characterized by fatigue, cytopenia, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, bone disease, and rarely pulmonary disease. Increased life expectancy brought about by improved treatments has led to new challenges for adolescents and their transition to adult care.

Clinical utility analysis of the Hoxb8 mast cell activation test for the diagnosis of peanut allergy.

Background: Peanut allergy is among the most severe and common food allergies. The diagnosis has a significant impact on the quality of life for patients and their families. An effective management approach depends on accurate, safe, and easily implementable diagnostic methods.

Sperm DNA Fragmentation: Unraveling Its Imperative Impact on Male Infertility Based on Recent Evidence.

Male factors may be present in up to 50-70% of infertile couples and the prevalence of male infertility accounts for 20-30% of infertility cases. Understanding the mechanisms and causes behind male infertility remains a challenge, but new diagnostic tools such as DNA fragmentation might aid in cases where the routine semen analysis is insufficient. DNA fragmentation, which refers to damages or breaks of the genetic material of the spermatozoa, is considered one of the main causes of male infertility due to impaired functional capability of sperm.

Neurofilament Light Chain as Biomarker in Encephalitis.

Inflammation of the brain is called encephalitis and may result in acute and chronic brain damage. Encephalitis can be caused by various pathogens, especially neurotropic viruses, or can occur in the context of autoimmune diseases. Encephalitis is often difficult to diagnose and to monitor precisely during the course of the disease.

Phenotypic Variability of LGMD 2C/R5 in a Genetically Homogenous Group of Bulgarian Muslim Roma.

Sarcoglycanopathies are among the most frequent and severe forms of autosomal recessive forms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) with childhood onset. Four subtypes are known: LGMDR3, LGMDR4, LGMDR5 and LGMDR6, which are caused, respectively, by mutations in the , SGCB, and genes. We present the clinical variability of LGMD 2C/R5 among a genetically homogeneous group of 57 patients, belonging to 35 pedigrees.

The significance of stent sizing for parent vessel stenosis after flow diversion of MCA bifurcation aneurysms.

Background: Wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms (WNBA) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) present significant therapeutic challenges. Flow-diverter stents have been increasingly adopted for their management, though they may give rise to adverse outcomes such as in-stent stenosis (ISS). This study explores the association between stent oversizing and the incidence of ISS following flow-diverter stent placement in MCA bifurcation aneurysms.

Avalanche Survival Rates in Switzerland, 1981-2020.

Importance: Survival probability among individuals critically buried by avalanche is highly time dependent, which was demonstrated 30 years ago. However, it remains unclear whether avalanche survival probability has changed over time.

Objective: To assess the avalanche survival rate and probability as well as the rescue probability over the past 4 decades.

Is personal physiology-based rapid prediction digital twin for minimal effective fentanyl dose better than standard practice: a pilot study protocol.

Introduction: Patients with advanced cancer frequently suffer from chronic, severe disabling pain. Opioids such as morphine and fentanyl are commonly used to manage this pain. Transdermal drug delivery systems are important technologies for administering drugs in a non-invasive, continuous and controlled manner.

Gastrointestinal function and pain outcomes following segmental resection or discoid resection for low rectal endometriosis.

Introduction: This study aims to examine the effect of full thickness discoid resection (FTDR) and modified, limited nerve-vessel sparing segmental bowel resection (NVSSR) in symptomatic patients with low rectal deep endometriosis (DE) within 7 cm from the anal verge.  Presurgical and postsurgical evaluation of gastrointestinal (GI) function reflected by low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) and gastrointestinal function-related quality of life index (GIQLI) scores, complication rates, pain scores/visual analog scale (VAS) and endometriosis health profile (EHP-30) was performed.

Methods: In this prospective multicenter cohort study, 63 premenopausal patients with symptomatic low (within 7 cm from the anal verge) colorectal endometriosis, undergoing low modified limited nerve vessel sparing rectal segmental bowel resection (NVSSR) and full thickness discoid resection (FTDR) were evaluated.

Vascular supply of the radial nerve and its terminal branches: an anatomical study.

Purpose: The aim of this cadaveric study was to further describe the vascular supply of the radial, posterior interosseous and superficial radial nerves.

Methods: 11 cadaveric upper limbs, injected with colored latex, were dissected. Vascular afferents to the radial nerve, superficial radial nerve (SRN) and posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) were described and located.

Blood pressure, brain lesions and cognitive decline in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: The influence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and blood pressure (BP) on brain lesions and cognitive function is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association of BP with different types of brain lesions and cognitive decline in patients with AF.

Methods: Overall, 1,213 AF patients underwent standardized brain magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and after 2 years, as well as yearly neurocognitive testing.

Cohort profile: the Swiss Mother and Child HIV Cohort Study (MoCHiV).

Purpose: Prospective, multicentric observational cohort study in Switzerland investigating measures to prevent mother-to-child transmission in pregnant women with HIV (WWH) and assessing health and development of their exposed children as well as of children with HIV (CWH) in general.

Participants: Between January 1986 and December 2022, a total of 1446 mother-child pairs were enrolled. During the same period, the study also registered 187 CWH and 521 HIV-exposed but uninfected children (HEU), for whom detailed maternal information was not available.

High-throughput identification of repurposable neuroactive drugs with potent anti-glioblastoma activity.

Glioblastoma, the most aggressive primary brain cancer, has a dismal prognosis, yet systemic treatment is limited to DNA-alkylating chemotherapies. New therapeutic strategies may emerge from exploring neurodevelopmental and neurophysiological vulnerabilities of glioblastoma. To this end, we systematically screened repurposable neuroactive drugs in glioblastoma patient surgery material using a clinically concordant and single-cell resolved platform.

Efficacy of albumin use in decompensated cirrhosis and real-world adoption in Australia.

The current treatment approach to patients with liver cirrhosis relies on the individual management of complications. Consequently, there is an unmet need for an overall therapeutic strategy for primary and secondary prevention of complications. The clinical potential of long-term albumin infusions supported by recent clinical trials has expanded its indications and holds promise to transform the management and secondary prevention of cirrhosis-related complications.

Establishing the Patient-Acceptable Symptom State for the Numeric Rating Scale-Pain Score in a Postoperative Non-Shoulder Hand and Upper-Extremity Population.

Purpose: The patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS) is a threshold score on a patient-reported outcome measurement beyond which patients consider themselves "well." Our purpose was to establish the PASS for the numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain in a 1-year postoperative hand surgery population.

Methods: This retrospective study included adult patients undergoing non-shoulder upper-extremity surgery at a single, tertiary medical center identified over a 9-month period.

Gender Disparities in Statin Prescriptions in People With HIV With Low/Moderate to High Cardiovascular Risk.

The REPRIEVE trial suggests that primary cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention could be considered among people with HIV at low CVD risk. We found cisgender women with low/moderate and high CVD risk are less likely to receive statins than cisgender men. Efforts are needed to guarantee equal access to statin-based CVD prevention.