Astrocyte lineage cells are essential for functional neuronal differentiation and synapse maturation in human iPSC-derived neural networks.

Human astrocytes differ dramatically in cell morphology and gene expression from murine astrocytes. The latter are well known to be of major importance in the formation of neuronal networks by promoting synapse maturation. However, whether human astrocyte lineage cells have a similar role in network formation has not been firmly established.

Shorter hospital stays in epistaxis patients with atrial fibrillation when taking rivaroxaban or apixaban versus phenprocoumon.

Patients taking oral anticoagulants (OACs) currently represent one-third of all patients treated for epistaxis and an upward trend is expected. New direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been on the market for approximately 10 years. DOACs are favoured over Vitamin K-Antagonists (VKAs) in the current guidelines.

A functional genetic variation of SLC6A2 repressor hsa-miR-579-3p upregulates sympathetic noradrenergic processes of fear and anxiety.

Increased sympathetic noradrenergic signaling is crucially involved in fear and anxiety as defensive states. MicroRNAs regulate dynamic gene expression during synaptic plasticity and genetic variation of microRNAs modulating noradrenaline transporter gene (SLC6A2) expression may thus lead to altered central and peripheral processing of fear and anxiety. In silico prediction of microRNA regulation of SLC6A2 was confirmed by luciferase reporter assays and identified hsa-miR-579-3p as a regulating microRNA.

Quality of life in a German cohort of Parkinson's patients assessed with three different measures.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by severe motor and non-motor symptoms reducing patients' quality of life (QoL). Instruments have been well established for QoL assessments in PD, including the EuroQol (EQ-5D), the Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39), or rather uncommon, like the WHOQOL-100. So far, the impact of variables has been investigated for each of these measures separately in different study populations, limiting the comparability of the results.

Impact of Lymph Node Yield on Outcome of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer and pN0 Neck.

Background/aim: The extent of neck dissection in patients with head and neck cancer (HNSCC) and N0 neck remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of lymph node yield on overall survival in patients with pathologically node-negative HNSCC.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 157 pN0 HNSCC patients undergoing primary surgery with neck dissection between 2000 and 2014.

Psychometric Properties of an Abbreviated Version of the Apathy Evaluation Scale for Parkinson Disease (AES-12PD).

Background: Apathy is a frequent symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), substantially aggravating the course of PD. Regarding the accumulating evidence of the key role of apathy in PD, time-efficient assessments are useful for fostering progress in research and treatment. The Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) is widely used for the assessment of apathy across different nosologies.

Altered gyrification in schizophrenia and its relation to other morphometric markers.

Schizophrenia is modelled as a neurodevelopmental disease with high heritability. However, established markers like cortical thickness and grey matter volume are heavily influenced by post-onset changes and thus provide limited possibility of accessing early pathologies. Gyrification on the other side is assumed to be more specifically determined by genetic and early developmental factors.

Antero- vs. retrograde nerve dissection in parotidectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The retrograde approach (RP) to nerve identification is a method seldom used in parotid surgery. A systematic review comparing this method to the standard anterograde approach (AP) with respect to facial nerve palsy (FNP) does not currently exist.

Methods: In a meta-analysis according to the PRISMA statement, eight publications, including one randomized controlled trial, were selected.

Neuroborreliosis and acute encephalopathy: The use of CXCL13 as a biomarker in CNS manifestations of Lyme borreliosis.

We report the case of an 80-year-old patient with acute onset confusion initially suspected to reflect delirium in incipient Alzheimer's disease. Cerebrospinal fluid tests revealed an unusually severe form of neuroborreliosis, which resolved following antibiotic treatment. This was mirrored in the measurement of CXCL13, which is suggested as a complementary biomarker.

Telomerase reverse transcriptase mediates EMT through NF-κB signaling in tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Locoregional lymph nodes metastasis in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma represents one of important and common prognostic factors for poor clinical outcome. The human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) is one of key players in cancer metastasis and stemness, but its exact function in tongue squamous cell carcinoma remains unknown. Here, we aim to understand the role of hTERT by utilizing the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system to deplete hTERT in the SCC-15 cell line.

Modulation of defensive reactivity by GLRB allelic variation: converging evidence from an intermediate phenotype approach.

Representing a phylogenetically old and very basic mechanism of inhibitory neurotransmission, glycine receptors have been implicated in the modulation of behavioral components underlying defensive responding toward threat. As one of the first findings being confirmed by genome-wide association studies for the phenotype of panic disorder and agoraphobia, allelic variation in a gene coding for the glycine receptor beta subunit (GLRB) has recently been associated with increased neural fear network activation and enhanced acoustic startle reflexes. On the basis of two independent healthy control samples, we here aimed to further explore the functional significance of the GLRB genotype (rs7688285) by employing an intermediate phenotype approach.

c-REL and IκB Govern Common and Independent Steps of Regulatory T Cell Development from Novel CD122-Expressing Pre-Precursors.

Foxp3-expressing regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential regulators of immune homeostasis and, thus, are prime targets for therapeutic interventions of diseases such as cancer and autoimmunity. c-REL and IκB are important regulators of Foxp3 induction in Treg precursors upon γ-chain cytokine stimulation. In c-REL/IκB double-deficient mice, Treg numbers were dramatically reduced, indicating that together, c-REL and IκB are pivotal for Treg development.

Resting-state functional reorganization in Parkinson's disease: An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Studies using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate underlying pathophysiology of motor and non-motor symptoms in PD yielded largely inconsistent results. This quantitative neuroimaging meta-analysis aims to identify consistent abnormal intrinsic functional patterns in PD across studies.

Addressing unmet needs in understanding asthma mechanisms: From the European Asthma Research and Innovation Partnership (EARIP) Work Package (WP)2 collaborators.

Asthma is a heterogeneous, complex disease with clinical phenotypes that incorporate persistent symptoms and acute exacerbations. It affects many millions of Europeans throughout their education and working lives and puts a heavy cost on European productivity. There is a wide spectrum of disease severity and control.

Psychometric properties of the apathy evaluation scale in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) frequently entails non-motor symptoms, worsening the course of the disease. Apathy is one of the core neuropsychiatric symptoms that has been investigated in recent years; research is however hampered by the limited availability of well-evaluated apathy scales for these patients. We evaluated the psychometric properties of the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) in a sample of PD patients.

Whole-Body Vibration Training During a Low Frequency Outpatient Exercise Training Program in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate whether whole-body vibration training (WBVT) can be applied beneficially within an outpatient low frequency exercise program.

Methods: In a prospective, controlled, randomized study, WBVT effectiveness and safety were investigated in COPD stage II-IV patients undergoing a 3-month training program. Participants took part in a 90-min circuit training once a week.

Regulation of Polyhydroxybutyrate Accumulation in Sinorhizobium meliloti by the -Encoded Small RNA MmgR.

Riboregulation has a major role in the fine-tuning of multiple bacterial processes. Among the RNA players, -encoded untranslated small RNAs (sRNAs) regulate complex metabolic networks by tuning expression from multiple target genes in response to numerous signals. In , over 400 sRNAs are expressed under different stimuli.

Effects on pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD or ILD: A retrospective analysis of clinical and functional predictors with particular emphasis on gender.

Background: The response of patients in a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is essentially good. However, not all patients benefit from PR to the same extent. In this analysis we wanted to identify the impact of gender and other factors on PR outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Enhancement on Wingate Anaerobic Test Performance With Hyperventilation.

Unlabelled: Relatively long-lasting metabolic alkalizing procedures such as bicarbonate ingestion have potential for improving performance in long-sprint to middle-distance events. Within a few minutes, hyperventilation can induce respiratory alkalosis. However, corresponding performance effects are missing or equivocal at best.

The pan-deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat affects angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma models via modulation of CTGF expression.

Post-translational modifications of chromatin components are significantly involved in the regulation of tumor suppressor gene and oncogene expression. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is an epigenetically regulated growth factor with functions in angiogenesis and cell-matrix interactions and plays a pivotal role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pharmacologic inhibition of histone and protein deacetylases represents a new approach to interfere with pathways of apoptosis and angiogenesis.

Taking Personalized Medicine Seriously: Biomarker Approaches in Phase IIb/III Studies in Major Depression and Schizophrenia.

The success rate in the development of psychopharmacological compounds is insufficient. Two main reasons for failure have been frequently identified: 1) treating the wrong patients and 2) using the wrong dose. This is potentially based on the known heterogeneity among patients, both on a syndromal and a biological level.

Overweight and Obesity before, during and after Pregnancy: Part 2: Evidence-based Risk Factors and Interventions.

Overweight and obesity have become a global health problem. Obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy have a serious impact on maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes. Pre-conceptional obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy are associated with weight gain in women following childbirth leading to associated risks such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.