Quantitative genome-wide association study of six phenotypic subdomains identifies novel genome-wide significant variants in autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are highly heritable and are characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviors. Twin studies on phenotypic subdomains suggest a differing underlying genetic etiology. Studying genetic variation explaining phenotypic variance will help to identify specific underlying pathomechanisms.

A century later: Adaptive plasticity and rapid evolution contribute to geographic variation in invasive mosquitofish.

One century after their introduction to Europe, eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) represent a natural experiment to determine the relative contributions of adaptive plasticity and rapid evolutionary change in creating large-scale geographic variation in phenotypes. We evaluated the population-genetic structure and invasion history based on allele length polymorphisms of 15 nuclear microsatellites, which we quantified for N = 660 individuals from 23 populations sampled in 2013 across the invasive range of G. holbrooki in Europe.

Down-regulated miR-21 promotes learning-memory recovery after brain injury.

Background: MicroRNA is anendogenous non-coding single strand RNA which consists of 22 nt. It post-transcriptionally regulates gene expression and development. MicroRNA 21 plays an important role in repairing injured brain tissues.

Health-related preferences of older patients with multimorbidity: an evidence map.

Objectives: To systematically identify knowledge clusters and research gaps in the health-related preferences of older patients with multimorbidity by mapping current evidence.

Design: Evidence map (systematic review variant).

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX, CINAHL and Science Citation Index/Social Science Citation Index/-Expanded from inception to April 2018.

Risk factors for reoperation in primary hand infections: a multivariate analysis.

Introduction: Severe hand infection might cause severe morbidity including stiffness, contracture and possibly amputation. The purpose of this study was to analyse the current epidemiology of adult acute hand infections in a European Hand Surgery Centre and to identify risk factors for secondary surgery.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 369 consecutive patients with primary infection of the hand that were admitted to our department and required operative treatment.

Mandibular biomechanics after marginal resection: Correspondences of simulated volumetric strain and skeletal resorption.

Serious mandibular diseases such as tumor or osteonecrosis often require segmental or marginal mandibulectomy, the latter with improved outcome thanks to preserved mandibular continuity. Nevertheless, gradual osteolytic and/or osteosclerotic skeletal changes frequently indicate repetitive resections. Based on the fundamental adaptivity of bone to mechanical loads, the question arose whether resection-related anatomical alterations trigger relevant pathological skeletal adaptations.

Early Chemical Thromboprophylaxis Does not Increase the Risk of Intracranial Hematoma Progression in Patients with Isolated Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is recognized as a factor of morbidity and mortality in trauma patients suffering from severe blunt traumatic brain injury (TBI). The administration of pharmacological prophylaxis is broadly accepted as an effective therapy to prevent VTE events in trauma patients. Regardless of its ascertained efficacy, the risk of hematoma progression complicates the therapy in patients suffering from TBI: therefore, the optimal time to start prophylactic anticoagulation in these patients remains controversial.

Elevated temperatures translate into reduced dispersal abilities in a natural population of an aquatic insect.

Rising global temperatures force many species to shift their distribution ranges. However, whether or not (and how fast) such range shifts occur depends on species' dispersal capacities. In most ecological studies, dispersal-related traits (such as the wing size or wing loading in insects) are treated as fixed, species-specific characteristics, ignoring the important role of phenotypic plasticity during insect development.

Long-term outcome of fingertip reconstruction with the homodigital neurovascular island flap.

Introduction: Fingertip injuries are frequent and several surgical strategies exist to reconstruct the amputated part and restore function and appearance. Yet, long-term results are rarely published. The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term clinical outcome of neurovascular island flaps for traumatic fingertip amputation of Allen type III/IV injuries.

The Rnf Complex Is an Energy-Coupled Transhydrogenase Essential To Reversibly Link Cellular NADH and Ferredoxin Pools in the Acetogen Acetobacterium woodii.

The Rnf complex is a respiratory enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of reduced ferredoxin to the reduction of NAD, and the negative free energy change of this reaction is used to generate a transmembrane ion gradient. In one class of anaerobic acetogenic bacteria, the Rnf complex is believed to be essential for energy conservation and autotrophic growth. We describe here a methodology for markerless mutagenesis in the model bacterium of this class, , which enabled us to delete the genes and to test their role.

Locator® versus ceramic/electroplated double-crown attachments: a prospective study on the intraindividual comparison of implant-supported mandibular prostheses.

Objectives: Implant-supported overdentures are an established dental treatment mode. The aim of this prospective study was and interindividual comparison of patient satisfaction with restorations retained by a prefabricated and thus inexpensive attachment system (Locator®) or with a technologically complex and thus expensive attachment system (ceramic/electroplated double crowns) with similar retentive performance.

Materials And Methods: Twelve patients received a Locator and a double-crown prosthesis in a crossover study for test periods of 3 months each.

Repeat left ventricular assist device exchange with inflow or outflow correction for recurrent pump thrombosis and cerebral haemorrhage through limited incisions.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) may require subsequent pump exchange due to device thrombosis or thromboembolism. A limited left thoracotomy may offer advantages over standard full sternotomy in redo procedures by preserving pristine median access and decreasing the potential for re-entry injuries, postoperative bleeding and transfusion requirements. We describe repeat LVAD exchange via the left limited thoracotomy with outflow graft anastomosis to the left subclavian artery with the correction of LVAD inflow cannula angulation following recurrent LVAD thromboses.

Salt induction and activation of MtlD, the key enzyme in the synthesis of the compatible solute mannitol in Acinetobacter baumannii.

Mannitol is the major compatible solute, next to glutamate, synthesized by the opportunistic human pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii under low water activities. The key enzyme for mannitol biosynthesis, MtlD, was identified. MtlD is highly similar to the bifunctional mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase/phosphatase from Acinetobacter baylyi.

Protein super-secondary structure and quaternary structure topology: theoretical description and application.

This review comprises theoretical approaches and recent developments to describe the super-secondary and quaternary structure topology of a protein in a mathematically unique way. Based on the advances in experimental exploration of proteins and protein complexes, new extended abstract descriptions that include, for example, ligand information have been developed. A special focus concerns protein complexes and their description at secondary structure level as well as at quaternary structure level.

Cultivation of EPC and co-cultivation with MSC on β-TCP granules in vitro is feasible without fibronectin coating but influenced by scaffolds' design.

Introduction: Meanwhile, the osteoconductive properties of frequently used synthetic bone grafts can be improved by the use of osteoinductive cells and growth factors. Nevertheless, the cultivation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) seems to be difficult and requires a pre-conditioning of the scaffolds with fibronectin. Additionally, the influence of the scaffolds' design on cell cultivation is not fully elucidated.

Results after arthroscopic treatment of central traumatic lesions of the triangular fibrocartilage complex.

Introduction: Injuries of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) are of high clinical relevance; however, the clinical evidence for treatment is poor and long-term results are rarely published. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of symptomatic central traumatic lesions of the TFCC (Palmer 1A) following arthroscopic debridement.

Materials And Methods: Between 2007 and 2013, 87 patients were arthroscopically diagnosed with Palmer 1A lesion and accordingly treated with debridement.

Whither systems medicine?

New technologies to generate, store and retrieve medical and research data are inducing a rapid change in clinical and translational research and health care. Systems medicine is the interdisciplinary approach wherein physicians and clinical investigators team up with experts from biology, biostatistics, informatics, mathematics and computational modeling to develop methods to use new and stored data to the benefit of the patient. We here provide a critical assessment of the opportunities and challenges arising out of systems approaches in medicine and from this provide a definition of what systems medicine entails.

An up to 17-year follow-up retrospective analysis of a minimally invasive, flapless approach: 18 945 implants in 7783 patients.

Background: This study investigates gender, age, jaw, implant position, loading protocol (immediate vs delayed), smoking, and type of surgery (punch vs flap) as influential factors of implant survival in a large patient collective.

Purpose: To evaluate the survival rates of implants in patients using a mucoperiosteal punch for flapless implantation in the majority of cases in order to evaluate its medical efficacy and safety.

Materials And Methods: Between 1994 and 2015 all patients with complete data treated at the Wienerberg Dental Clinic, Vienna, Austria, were included and statistically analyzed in Cox proportional hazard (PH) models.

One Abutment at One Time Concept for Platform-Switched Morse Implants: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the peri-implant vertical bone loss of immediate loading of implant crowns using the one abutment at one time (AOT) protocol and implants with abutment removal (AR). This systematic review with meta-analysis was reported according to the PRISMA statement, with guidance from the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook. A total of 103 publications were identified in the PubMed database and reference lists of examined articles.

Clinical applications and effectiveness of guided implant surgery: a critical review based on randomized controlled trials.

Background: Nowadays implant placement protocols are widespread among clinicians all over the world. However, available literature, only partially analyses what can be potential benefits for the clinicians and patients, often focusing just on specific aspects, such as accuracy. The purpose of this review is to compare computer guided implant placement with conventional treatment protocols.

Common functional variants of the glutamatergic system in Autism spectrum disorder with high and low intellectual abilities.

The genetic architecture underlying Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been suggested to differ between individuals with lower (IQ ≤ 70; LIQ) and higher intellectual abilities (IQ > 70; HIQ). Among the identified pathomechanisms, the glutamatergic signalling pathway is of specific interest in ASD. We investigated 187 common functional variants of this neurotransmitter system for association with ASD and with symptom severity in two independent samples, a German (German-ALL: N = 583 families) and the Autism Genome Project cohort (AGP-ALL: N = 2001 families), split into HIQ, and LIQ subgroups.

Rotational therapy in thoracic injuries: what is the evidence?

Purpose Of Review: To review the current use of continuous lateral rotational therapy (CLRT) in patients with thoracic injuries and its impact on clinical course, complications and outcome.

Recent Findings: Patient positioning is a key factor in the treatment of severe thoracic injuries and CLRT, and intermittent supine and prone position are basic options. There is a lack of randomized controlled studies for trauma patients with chest injury undergoing kinetic therapy as standard of care.

The sneaking ligand approach for cell type-specific modulation of intracellular signalling pathways.

Small molecules interfering with intracellular signalling pathways are used in the treatment of multiple diseases including RA. However, small molecules usually affect signalling in most cell types, not only in those which need to be targeted. This general inhibition of signalling pathways causes often adverse effects, which could be avoided by cell type-specific inhibitors.

Molybdenum Oxide Nitrides of the Mo(O,N,□) Type: On the Way to MoO.

Blue-colored molybdenum oxide nitrides of the Mo(O,N,□) type were synthesized by direct nitridation of commercially available molybdenum trioxide with a mixture of gaseous ammonia and oxygen. Chemical composition, crystal structure, and stability of the obtained and hitherto unknown compounds are studied extensively. The average oxidation state of +5 for molybdenum is proven by Mo K near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy; the magnetic behavior is in agreement with compounds exhibiting MoO units.