The efficacy of hybrid neuroprostheses in the rehabilitation of upper limb impairment after stroke, a narrative and systematic review with a meta-analysis.

Background: Paresis of the upper limb (UL) is the most frequent impairment after a stroke. Hybrid neuroprostheses, i.e.

Microplastics analytics: why we should not underestimate the importance of blank controls.

Unlabelled: Recent years have seen considerable scientific attention devoted towards documenting the presence of microplastics (MPs) in environmental samples. Due to omnipresence of environmental microplastics, however, disentangling environmental MPs from sample contamination is a challenge. Hence, the environmental (collection site and laboratory) microplastics contamination of samples during processing is a reality that we must address, in order to generate reproducible and reliable data.

The Rho-kinase inhibitor Y27632 promotes ureteral relaxation in an in vivo rat model for partial ureteral obstruction.

Purpose: Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravenous Y27632 (a ROK inhibitor) on intra-ureteral pressures and on blood pressure in an in vivo rat model for unilateral partial ureteral obstruction (PUO).

Methods: 15 Male Sprague Dawley rats were used. Under isofluran anesthesia, saline was continuously infused via polyethylene (PE)-10 catheters inserted in the ureters beneath the kidney pelvis.

Patient-reported, health economic and psychosocial outcomes in patients with Friedreich ataxia (PROFA): protocol of an observational study using momentary data assessments via mobile health app.

Introduction: Friedreich ataxia (FA) is the most common hereditary ataxia in Europe, characterised by progressively worsening movement and speech impairments with a typical onset before the age of 25 years. The symptoms affect the patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychosocial health. FA leads to an increasing need for care, associated with an economic burden.

Concomitant Drug Use among Opioid-Dependent Patients with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Does Methylphenidate Merit a Trial?

Introduction: Concomitant drug use is common among opioid-dependent patients in maintenance therapy. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a common comorbidity among opioid users, is associated with a higher risk of concomitant drug use. Earlier studies showed that methylphenidate (MPH) can reduce cocaine consumption among patients with ADHD.

An in-depth analysis of parameter settings and probability distributions of specific ordinal patterns in the Shannon permutation entropy during different states of consciousness in humans.

As electrical activity in the brain has complex and dynamic properties, the complexity measure permutation entropy (PeEn) has proven itself to reliably distinguish consciousness states recorded by the EEG. However, it has been shown that the focus on specific ordinal patterns instead of all of them produced similar results. Moreover, parameter settings influence the resulting PeEn value.

Sham-controlled randomized multicentre trial of transcranial direct current stimulation for prolonged disorders of consciousness.

Background And Purpose: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to improve signs of consciousness in a subset of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). However, no multicentre study confirmed its efficacy when applied during rehabilitation. In this randomized controlled double-blind study, the effects of tDCS whilst patients were in rehabilitation were tested at the group level and according to their diagnosis and aetiology to better target DoC patients who might repond to tDCS.

The evolutionary ecology of variation in labile traits: selection on its among- and within-individual components.

Closer integration between behavioral ecology and quantitative genetics has resulted in a recent increase in studies partitioning sources of variation in labile traits. Repeatable between-individual differences are commonly documented, and their existence is generally explained using adaptive arguments, implying that selection has shaped variation at the among- and within-individual level. However, predicting the expected pattern of non-adaptive phenotypic variation around an optimal phenotypic value is difficult, hampering our ability to provide quantitative assessments of the adaptive nature of observed patterns of phenotypic variation within a population.

Global burden and drivers of hyperglycemia: Estimates and predictions from 1990 to 2050.

Hyperglycemia is a key risk factor for death and disability worldwide. To better inform prevention strategies, we aimed to delineate and predict the temporal, spatial, and demographic patterns in mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and their related disease burden globally. Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, we estimated the distributions of mean FPG levels and high FPG-related disease burden by age, sex, year, socioeconomic status (SES), and geographical region from 1990 to 2050.

Selected bacteria in sheep stool depending on breed and physiology state.

One of the important factors influencing the microbial community of ruminants, besides environment or diet, are breed and physiology. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess these changes in the levels of basic microbial phyla and families. For this study, qPCR analysis was performed to determine the level of bacteria (Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria clusters and Clostridiaceae, Lactobacillaceae families) in the feces of ewes of three native Polish sheep breeds (Polish Lowland Sheep (PON), Świniarka Sheep (SW), and synthetic line BCP) at different physiological periods (conception, early pregnancy, lambing, end of lactation).

Explainable ML models for a deeper insight on treatment decision for localized prostate cancer.

Although there are several decision aids for the treatment of localized prostate cancer (PCa), there are limitations in the consistency and certainty of the information provided. We aimed to better understand the treatment decision process and develop a decision-predicting model considering oncologic, demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic factors. Men newly diagnosed with localized PCa between 2010 and 2015 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Prostate with Watchful Waiting database were included (n = 255,837).

The additive value of CA19.9 monitoring in a pancreatic cyst surveillance program.

Background: Surveillance of pancreatic cysts focuses on the detection of (mostly morphologic) features warranting surgery. European guidelines consider elevated CA19.9 as a relative indication for surgery.

Imaging Characteristics of Meningiomas.

Contemporary neuroimaging of meningiomas has largely relied on computed tomography, and more recently magnetic resonance imaging. While these modalities are frequently used in nearly all clinical settings where meningiomas are treated for the routine diagnosis and follow-up of these tumors, advances in neuroimaging have provided novel opportunities for prognostication and treatment planning (including both surgical planning and radiotherapy planning). These include perfusion MRIs, and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging modalities.

Whole-body cellular mapping in mouse using standard IgG antibodies.

Whole-body imaging techniques play a vital role in exploring the interplay of physiological systems in maintaining health and driving disease. We introduce wildDISCO, a new approach for whole-body immunolabeling, optical clearing and imaging in mice, circumventing the need for transgenic reporter animals or nanobody labeling and so overcoming existing technical limitations. We identified heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin as a potent enhancer of cholesterol extraction and membrane permeabilization, enabling deep, homogeneous penetration of standard antibodies without aggregation.

Cryo-EM structure of GABA transporter 1 reveals substrate recognition and transport mechanism.

The inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is cleared from the synaptic cleft by the sodium- and chloride-coupled GABA transporter GAT1. Inhibition of GAT1 prolongs the GABAergic signaling at the synapse and is a strategy to treat certain forms of epilepsy. In this study, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of Rattus norvegicus GABA transporter 1 (rGAT1) at a resolution of 3.

Stratospheric water vapor affecting atmospheric circulation.

Water vapor plays an important role in many aspects of the climate system, by affecting radiation, cloud formation, atmospheric chemistry and dynamics. Even the low stratospheric water vapor content provides an important climate feedback, but current climate models show a substantial moist bias in the lowermost stratosphere. Here we report crucial sensitivity of the atmospheric circulation in the stratosphere and troposphere to the abundance of water vapor in the lowermost stratosphere.

The impact of previous inguinal mesh hernioplasty on oncological and patient-reported outcomes following radical prostatectomy.

Background: The impact of previous inguinal mesh hernioplasty (MH) with non-resorbable mesh prostheses on surgical performance of radical prostatectomy (RP) has been controversially discussed, with unknown impact of MH on oncologic outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following RP. We therefore aimed to assess the influence of previous MH on metastasis-free survival (MFS), biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS), and HRQOL following RP.

Methods: We identified 344 patients with previous MH prior RP within our prospectively assessed institutional database of 6275 patients treated with RP for PC (2008-2019).

Antiviral CD8 T-cell immune responses are impaired by cigarette smoke and in COPD.

Background: Virus infections drive COPD exacerbations and progression. Antiviral immunity centres on the activation of virus-specific CD8 T-cells by viral epitopes presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules of infected cells. These epitopes are generated by the immunoproteasome, a specialised intracellular protein degradation machine, which is induced by antiviral cytokines in infected cells.

Oncologic Outcomes of Lymph Node Dissection at Salvage Radical Prostatectomy.

Background: Lymph node invasion (LNI) represents a poor prognostic factor after primary radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (PCa). However, the impact of LNI on oncologic outcomes in salvage radical prostatectomy (SRP) patients is unknown.

Objective: To investigate the impact of lymph node dissection (LND) and pathological lymph node status (pNX vs.

Camera-Based Respiration Monitoring of Unconstrained Rodents.

Animal research has always been crucial for various medical and scientific breakthroughs, providing information on disease mechanisms, genetic predisposition to diseases, and pharmacological treatment. However, the use of animals in medical research is a source of great controversy and ongoing debate in modern science. To ensure a high level of bioethics, new guidelines have been adopted by the EU, implementing the 3R principles to replace animal testing wherever possible, reduce the number of animals per experiment, and refine procedures to minimize stress and pain.

Cefepime Population Pharmacokinetics, Antibacterial Target Attainment, and Estimated Probability of Neurotoxicity in Critically Ill Patients.

Cefepime has been reported to cause concentration-related neurotoxicity, especially in critically ill patients with renal failure. This evaluation aimed to identify a dosing regimen providing a sufficient probability of target attainment (PTA) and the lowest justifiable risk of neurotoxicity in critically ill patients. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed based on plasma concentrations over four consecutive days obtained from 14 intensive care unit (ICU) patients.