A promiscuous ancestral enzyme´s structure unveils protein variable regions of the highly diverse metallo-β-lactamase family.

The metallo-β-lactamase fold is an ancient protein structure present in numerous enzyme families responsible for diverse biological processes. The crystal structure of the hyperthermostable crenarchaeal enzyme Igni18 from Ignicoccus hospitalis was solved at 2.3 Å and could resemble a possible first archetype of a multifunctional metallo-β-lactamase.

Convergent Evolution of a Promiscuous 3-Hydroxypropionyl-CoA Dehydratase/Crotonyl-CoA Hydratase in and .

The autotrophic 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate (HP/HB) cycle functions in thermoacidophilic, (micro)aerobic, hydrogen-oxidizing of the order as well as in mesophilic, aerobic, ammonia-oxidizing Notably, the HP/HB cycle evolved independently in these two archaeal lineages, and crenarchaeal and thaumarchaeal versions differ regarding their enzyme properties and phylogeny. These differences result in altered energetic efficiencies between the variants. Compared to the crenarchaeal HP/HB cycle, the thaumarchaeal variant saves two ATP equivalents per turn, rendering it the most energy-efficient aerobic pathway for carbon fixation.

Autopsy findings after long-term treatment of COVID-19 patients with microbiological correlation.

Between April and June 2020, i.e., during the first wave of pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), 55 patients underwent long-term treatment in the intensive care unit at the University Hospital of Regensburg.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels are not associated with severity of liver disease and are inversely related to cholesterol in a cohort of thirty eight patients with liver cirrhosis.

Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is of particular importance in cholesterol metabolism with high levels contributing to hypercholesterolemia. Cholesterol and sphingolipids are low in patients with liver cirrhosis. Purpose of this study was to find associations of plasma PCSK9 with circulating cholesterol and sphingolipid species and measures of liver disease severity in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Two-Dimensional Visualization of the Three-Dimensional Planned Sacroiliac Screw Corridor with the Slice Fusion Method.

Insertion of sacro-iliac (SI) screws for stabilization of the posterior pelvic ring without intraoperative navigation or three-dimensional imaging can be challenging. The aim of this study was to develop a simple method to visualize the ideal SI screw corridor, on lateral two-dimensional images, corresponding to the lateral fluoroscopic view, used intraoperatively while screw insertion, to prevent neurovascular injury. We used multiplanar reconstructions of pre- and postoperative computed tomography scans (CT) to determine the position of the SI corridor.

Management and Mid-Term Outcome After "Real SCIWORA" in Children and Adolescents.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis.

Objective: The SCIWORA Syndrome (Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiographic Abnormalities) is a rare but potentially severe injury with a peak in childhood and adolescence. With a better understanding of injury patterns and advances in MRI, there is ongoing discussion regarding the "Real SCIWORA" syndrome, a clinical picture of neurologic deficits on clinical examination but absence of radiographic pathologies even on MRI.

Olfactory bulb granule cells: specialized to link coactive glomerular columns for percept generation and discrimination of odors.

The role of granule cells in olfactory processing is surrounded by several enigmatic observations, such as the purpose of reciprocal spines and the mechanisms for GABA release, the apparently low firing activity and recurrent inhibitory drive of granule cells, the missing proof for functional reciprocal connectivity, and the apparently negligible contribution to lateral inhibition. Here, we summarize recent results with regard to both the mechanisms of GABA release and the behavioral relevance of granule cell activity during odor discrimination. We outline a novel hypothesis that has the potential to resolve most of these enigmas and allows further predictions on the function of granule cells in odor processing.

COVID-19: Recovery from Chemosensory Dysfunction. A Multicentre study on Smell and Taste.

Objective/hypothesis: With the COVID-19 pandemic, chemosensory dysfunction are among the most prevalent symptoms. Most reports are subjective evaluations, which have been suggested to be unreliable. The objective is to test chemosensory dysfunction and recovery based on extensive psychophysical tests in COVID-19 during the course of the disease.

Understanding adherence to the recording of ecological momentary assessments in the example of tinnitus monitoring.

The recording of Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA) can assist people with chronic diseases in monitoring their health state. However, many users quickly lose interest in their respective EMA platforms. Therefore, we studied the adherence of users of the mHealth app TRACKYOURTINNITUS (TYT).

CT Features of COVID-19 Pneumonia Differ Depending on the Severity and Duration of Disease.

Background: CT is important in the care of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. However, CT morphology can change significantly over the course of the disease. To evaluate the CT morphology of RT-PCR-proven COVID-19 pneumonia in a German cohort with special emphasis on identification of potential differences of CT features depending on duration and severity of disease.

Physical activity and the risk of heart failure: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies.

Although physical activity is an established protective factor for cardiovascular diseases such as ischemic heart disease and stroke, less is known with regard to the association between specific domains of physical activity and heart failure, as well as the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and heart failure. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies to clarify the relations of total physical activity, domains of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness to risk of heart failure. PubMed and Embase databases were searched up to January 14th, 2020.

Local Postsynaptic Signaling on Slow Time Scales in Reciprocal Olfactory Bulb Granule Cell Spines Matches Asynchronous Release.

In the vertebrate olfactory bulb (OB), axonless granule cells (GC) mediate self- and lateral inhibitory interactions between mitral/tufted cells via reciprocal dendrodendritic synapses. Locally triggered release of GABA from the large reciprocal GC spines occurs on both fast and slow time scales, possibly enabling parallel processing during olfactory perception. Here we investigate local mechanisms for asynchronous spine output.

Hepatic lipid profile in mice fed a choline-deficient, low-methionine diet resembles human non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Emerging data support a role for lipids in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in humans. With experimental models such data can be challenged or validated. Mice fed a low-methionine, choline-deficient (LMCD) diet develop NASH and, when injected with diethylnitrosamine (DEN), HCC.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Self-Reported Health.

Background: The pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the countermeasures taken to protect the public are having a substantial effect on the health of the population. In Germany, nationwide protective measures to halt the spread of the virus were implemented in mid-March for 6 weeks.

Methods: In May, the impact of the pandemic was assessed in the German National Cohort (NAKO).

Absence of nuclear receptors LXRs impairs immune response to androgen deprivation and leads to prostate neoplasia.

Chronic inflammation is now a well-known precursor for cancer development. Infectious prostatitis are the most common causes of prostate inflammation, but emerging evidence points the role of metabolic disorders as a potential source of cancer-related inflammation. Although the widely used treatment for prostate cancer based on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) effectively decreases tumor size, it also causes profound alterations in immune tumor microenvironment within the prostate.

No Effect of Dietary Fish Oil Supplementation on the Recruitment of Brown and Brite Adipocytes in Mice or Humans under Thermoneutral Conditions.

Scope: Brown and brite adipocytes within the mammalian adipose organ provide non-shivering thermogenesis and thus, have an exceptional capacity to dissipate chemical energy as heat. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the n3-series, abundant in fish oil, have been repeatedly demonstrated to enhance the recruitment of thermogenic capacity in these cells, consequently affecting body adiposity and glucose tolerance. These effects are scrutinized in mice housed in a thermoneutral environment and in a human dietary intervention trial.

The Effect of Non-Personalised Tips on the Continued Use of Self-Monitoring mHealth Applications.

Chronic tinnitus, the perception of a phantom sound in the absence of corresponding stimulus, is a condition known to affect patients' quality of life. Recent advances in mHealth have enabled patients to maintain a 'disease journal' of ecologically-valid momentary assessments, improving patients' own awareness of their disease while also providing clinicians valuable data for research. In this study, we investigate the effect of non-personalised tips on patients' perception of tinnitus, and on their continued use of the application.

Side effects of twistflex retainers-3D evaluation of tooth movement after retainer debonding.

Purpose: Evaluation of tooth movement after retainer debonding in retainer-associated misalignment cases.

Methods: This pilot study is based on a retrospective data analysis. Adult patients (age 25.

Circulating Interleukin-4 Is Associated with a Systemic T Cell Response against Tumor-Associated Antigens in Treatment-Naïve Patients with Resectable Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Spontaneous T cell responses to tumor-associated antigens (TAs) in the peripheral blood of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be relevant for postoperative survival. However, the conditions underlying these T cell responses remain unclear. We quantified the levels of 27 cytokines in the peripheral blood and tumor tissues from treatment-naïve patients with NSCLC ( = 36) and analyzed associations between local and systemic cytokine profiles and both TA-specific T cell responses and clinical parameters.

The genetic landscape of choroid plexus tumors in children and adults.

Background: Choroid plexus tumors (CPTs) are intraventricular brain tumors predominantly arising in children but also affecting adults. In most cases, driver mutations have not been identified, although there are reports of frequent chromosome-wide copy-number alterations and TP53 mutations, especially in choroid plexus carcinomas (CPCs).

Methods: DNA methylation profiling and RNA-sequencing was performed in a series of 47 CPTs.

Patient-reported outcome after patient-specific unicondylar knee arthroplasty for unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Unicondylar knee arthroplasty was introduced in the late 1960s and remains a topic of controversial discussion. Patient-specific instruments and patient-specific implants are not yet the standard of care. The question remains whether this time-consuming and costly technique can be beneficial for the patient.

Buildup and release from proactive interference - Cognitive and neural mechanisms.

Interference from related memories is generally considered one of the major causes of forgetting in human memory. The most prevalent form of interference may be proactive interference (PI), which refers to the finding that memory of more recently studied information can be impaired by the previous study of other information. PI is a fairly persistent effect, but numerous studies have shown that there can also be release from PI.

Factors influencing the fascial closure rate after open abdomen treatment: Results from the European Hernia Society (EuraHS) Registry : Surgical technique matters.

Purpose: Definitive fascial closure is an essential treatment objective after open abdomen treatment and mitigates morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of evidence on factors that promote or prevent definitive fascial closure.

Methods: A multi-center multivariable analysis of data from the Open Abdomen Route of the European Hernia Society included all cases between 1 May 2015 and 31 December 2019.

Non-Invasive Prediction of Mutation in Patients with Glioma WHO II/III/IV Based on F-18-FET PET-Guided In Vivo H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Machine Learning.

( mutation is an important prognostic factor and a potential therapeutic target in glioma. Immunohistological and molecular diagnosis of mutation status is invasive. To avoid tumor biopsy, dedicated spectroscopic techniques have been proposed to detect D-2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG), the main metabolite of , directly in vivo.