SARS-CoV-2 and human retroelements: a case for molecular mimicry?

Background: The factors driving the late phase of COVID-19 are still poorly understood. However, autoimmunity is an evolving theme in COVID-19's pathogenesis. Additionally, deregulation of human retroelements (RE) is found in many viral infections, and has also been reported in COVID-19.

Volumetric tissue changes following combined surgical therapy of peri-implantitis: A 2-year follow-up analysis. A prospective case series.

Aim: To assess volumetric tissue changes following combined surgical therapy of peri-implantitis over a follow-up period of 24 months.

Materials And Methods: A total of 20 patients (n = 28 implants) were diagnosed with peri-implantitis and underwent access flap surgery, implantoplasty, and augmentative therapy at intrabony components (ie, combined therapy) using a natural bone mineral and a native collagen membrane. The peri-implant region of interest (ROI) was intraorally scanned pre-operatively (S0), and after 12 (S3) and 24 (S4) months.

Identification of Mucormycosis by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Targeting Ribosomal RNA in Tissue Samples.

Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection associated with high mortality, partly due to delayed diagnosis and inadequate empiric therapy. As fungal cultures often fail to grow Mucorales, identification of respective hyphae in tissue is frequently needed for diagnosis but may be challenging. We studied fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) targeting specific regions of the fungal ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of Mucorales to improve diagnosis of mucormycosis from tissue samples.

European Expert Opinion on Infrarenal Sealing Zone Definition and Management in Endovascular Aortic Repair Patients: A Delphi Consensus.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to provide a consensus definition of the infrarenal sealing zone and develop an algorithm to determine when and if adjunctive procedure(s) or reintervention should be considered in managing patients undergoing endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Methods: A European Advisory Board (AB), made up of 11 vascular surgeons with expertise in EVAR for AAA, was assembled to share their opinion regarding the definition of preoperative and postoperative infrarenal sealing zone. Information on their current clinical practice and level of agreement on proposed reintervention paths was used to develop an algorithm.

Targeting Cathepsin C in PR3-ANCA Vasculitis.

Background: The ANCA autoantigens proteinase 3 (PR3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) are exclusively expressed by neutrophils and monocytes. ANCA-mediated activation of these cells is the key driver of the vascular injury process in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), and neutrophil serine proteases (NSPs) are disease mediators. Cathepsin C (CatC) from zymogens activates the proteolytic function of NSPs, including PR3.

COVI-Prim Longitudinal Survey: Experiences of Primary Care Physicians During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: General practitioners (GPs) are the mainstay of primary care and play a critical role in pandemics. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, this international study aimed to explore changes in the workload of general practitioners, as well as their interactions with patients and colleagues, and their self-confidence and concerns.

Methods: An online survey was conducted among GPs in Austria and Germany.

Carvacrol Enhance Apoptotic Effect of 5-FU on MCF-7 Cell Line via inhibiting P-glycoprotein: An In-silco and In-vitro Study.

Background: P-glycoprotein (P-gp), is an ATP-dependent efflux transporter and overexpressed in cancer cells which is responsible for drug resistance and transportation of anticancer agents out of cells. Hence, P-gp inhibition is a promising way to reverse multi-drug resistance, finding a suitable inhibitor is essential. Carvacrol, an active compound of thyme, has been shown anticancer properties in several types of cancers but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear.

Injury Patterns after Falling down Stairs-High Ratio of Traumatic Brain Injury under Alcohol Influence.

Falling down a staircase is a common mechanism of injury in patients with severe trauma, but the effect of varying fall height according to the number of steps on injury patterns in these patients has been little studied. In this retrospective study, prospectively collected data from a Level 1 Trauma Center in Germany were analyzed regarding the injury patterns of patients admitted through the trauma room with suspicion of multiple injuries following a fall down a flight of stairs between January 2016 and December 2019. In total 118 patients were examined which where consecutively included in this study.

Ten-Year Stability of Clinical Attachment after Regenerative Treatment of Infrabony Defects and Controls.

Background: A similar long-term stable clinical attachment level (CAL) of infrabony defects (IBDs) after regenerative treatment compared to control teeth would indicate a high level of stability resulting from the regenerative approach.

Methods: Patients with a regeneratively treated IBD were screened 120 ± 12 months postoperatively for eligibility for study participation, and were included if complete baseline and 12-month examinations (plaque (PlI), periodontal probing depth (PPD), CAL) were available and a respective control tooth could be identified. Re-examination included clinical examination (PPD, CAL, PlI/GI, bleeding on probing, plaque control record, gingival bleeding index).

Mutational Analysis of Mycobacterial F-ATP Synthase Subunit δ Leads to a Potent δ Enzyme Inhibitor.

While many bacteria are able to bypass the requirement for oxidative phosphorylation when grown on carbohydrates, is unable to do so. Differences of amino acid composition and structural features of the mycobacterial F-ATP synthase (α:β:γ:δ:ε::::) compared to its prokaryotic or human counterparts were recently elucidated and paved avenues for the discovery of molecules interfering with various regulative mechanisms of this essential energy converter. In this context, the mycobacterial peripheral stalk subunit δ came into focus, which displays a unique N-terminal 111-amino acid extension.

Reducing errors in guided implant surgery to optimize treatment outcomes.

Clinical considerations and treatment criteria in implant placement are constantly evolving. Prosthetically driven implant surgery has become the standard of care to improve short and long-term functional and esthetic outcomes. Therefore, implant position and angulation are planned according to the available bone, anatomical structures, and the requirements of the future prosthetic superstructure.

Informing conservation strategies with museum genomics: Long-term effects of past anthropogenic persecution on the elusive European wildcat.

Like many carnivore species, European wildcats () have suffered severe anthropogenic population declines in the past, resulting in a strong population bottleneck at the beginning of the 20th century. In Germany, the species has managed to survive its near extinction in small isolated areas and is currently recolonizing former habitats owing to legal protection and concerted conservation efforts. Here, we SNP-genotyped and mtDNA-sequenced 56 historical and 650 contemporary samples to assess the impact of massive persecution on genetic diversity, population structure, and hybridization dynamics of wildcats.

Targeting Mycobacterial F-ATP Synthase C-Terminal α Subunit Interaction Motif on Rotary Subunit γ.

Mycobacteria regulate their energy (ATP) levels to sustain their survival even in stringent living conditions. Recent studies have shown that mycobacteria not only slow down their respiratory rate but also block ATP hydrolysis of the F-ATP synthase (α:β:γ:δ:ε::::) to maintain ATP homeostasis in situations not amenable for growth. The mycobacteria-specific α C-terminus (α533-545) has unraveled to be the major regulative of latent ATP hydrolysis.

Invasive fish retain plasticity of naturally selected, but diverge in sexually selected traits.

Invasive alien species (IAS) have become a major threat to ecosystems worldwide. From an evolutionary ecological perspective, they allow teasing apart the relative contributions of plasticity and evolutionary divergence in driving rapid phenotypic diversification. When IAS spread across extensive geographic ranges, climatic variation may represent a source of strong natural selection through overwinter mortality and summer heat stress.

Mitral Valve Surgery via Upper Ministernotomy: Single-Centre Experience in More than 400 Patients.

Minimally invasive mitral valve (MV) surgery has emerged as an alternative to conventional sternotomy aiming to decrease surgical trauma. The aim of the study was to describe our experience with minimally invasive MV surgery through partial upper sternotomy (PUS) regarding short- and long-term outcomes. From January 2004 through March 2014, 419 patients with a median age of 58.

Increasing atmospheric temperature implicates increasing risk for acute type A dissection in hypertensive patients.

Background: Acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) is a life-threatening condition with high mortality within 24 hours. We hypothesized if there is a correlation between seasonal weather changes and the occurrence of AAAD. The aim of the present study was to identify seasonal specific weather and patient characteristics predicting the occurrence of AAAD.

Motor Vehicle Accident during Pregnancy with Two Lifes at Risk: A Case Report.

Introduction: Major trauma is the leading non-pregnancy-related cause of maternal and fetal deaths. In particular, traffic accidents account for the majority of accident causes and present the highest mortality for the mother and fetus. Seat belt use has reduced mortality rates for both the mother and the unborn child, however, certain potential patterns of injury occur due to the restraining mechanical forces of the worn seat belts on the body.

Efficacy of alternative or adjunctive measures to conventional non-surgical and surgical treatment of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of alternative or adjunctive measures to conventional non-surgical or surgical treatment of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis.

Material And Methods: Prospective randomized and nonrandomized controlled studies comparing alternative or adjunctive measures, and reporting on changes in bleeding scores (i.e.

DNA binding by pilins and their interaction with the inner membrane platform of the DNA transporter in Thermus thermophilus.

The natural transformation system of Thermus thermophilus has become a model system for studies of the structure and function of DNA transporter in thermophilic bacteria. The DNA transporter in T. thermophilus is functionally linked to type IV pili (T4P) and the major pilin PilA4 plays an essential role in both systems.

The canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways and their crosstalk: A comparative study based on Petri nets.

NF-κB is a protein complex that occurs in almost all animal cell types. It regulates the cellular immune responses to stimuli in the nucleus. Dysregulation of NF-κB can cause severe diseases like chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases or cancer.

Folding dynamics of polymorphic G-quadruplex structures.

G-quadruplexes (G4), found in numerous places within the human genome, are involved in essential processes of cell regulation. Chromosomal DNA G4s are involved for example, in replication and transcription as first steps of gene expression. Hence, they influence a plethora of downstream processes.

Principles of Combined Surgical Therapy for the Management of Peri-Implantitis.

Focused Clinical Question: The purpose of this technical note is to present the principles for combined therapy as well as to illustrate the step-by-step approach of this procedure to efficiently manage peri-implantitis.

Summary: Peri-implantitis is the primary threat that compromises the longevity of dental implants. This entity is regarded as a biofilm-mediated inflammatory condition.

Alcohol dehydrogenases AdhE and AdhB with broad substrate ranges are important enzymes for organic acid reduction in Thermoanaerobacter sp. strain X514.

Background: The industrial production of various alcohols from organic carbon compounds may be performed at high rates and with a low risk of contamination using thermophilic microorganisms as whole-cell catalysts. Thermoanaerobacter species that thrive around 50-75 °C not only perform fermentation of sugars to alcohols, but some also utilize different organic acids as electron acceptors, reducing them to their corresponding alcohols.

Results: We purified AdhE as the major NADH- and AdhB as the major NADPH-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from the cell extract of the organic acid-reducing Thermoanaerobacter sp.