Optical Bionanosensors for Sepsis Diagnostics.

Sepsis is a global health challenge, characterized by a dysregulated immune response, leading to organ dysfunction and death. Despite advances in medical care, sepsis continues to claim a significant toll on human lives, with mortality rates from 10-25% for sepsis and 30-50% for septic shock, making it a leading cause of death worldwide. Current diagnostic methods rely on clinical signs, laboratory parameters, or microbial cultures and suffer from delays and inaccuracies.

Linear ubiquitination at damaged lysosomes induces local NFKB activation and controls cell survival.

Lysosomes are the major cellular organelles responsible for nutrient recycling and degradation of cellular material. Maintenance of lysosomal integrity is essential for cellular homeostasis and lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) sensitizes toward cell death. Damaged lysosomes are repaired or degraded via lysophagy, during which glycans, exposed on ruptured lysosomal membranes, are recognized by galectins leading to K48- and K63-linked poly-ubiquitination (poly-Ub) of lysosomal proteins followed by recruitment of the macroautophagic/autophagic machinery and degradation.

Topological confinement by a membrane anchor suppresses phase separation into protein aggregates: Implications for prion diseases.

Protein misfolding and aggregation are a hallmark of various neurodegenerative disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms driving protein misfolding in the cellular context are incompletely understood. Here, we show that the two-dimensional confinement imposed by a membrane anchor stabilizes the native protein conformation and suppresses liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and protein aggregation.

Exploratory testing of functional blood oxygenation level dependent-MRI to image the renoprotective effect of Remote Ischaemic PreConditioning during partial nephrectomy.

Urinary biomarker studies in cardiothoracic and kidney-sparing surgery have demonstrated renal protection by Remote Ischaemic PreConditioning (RIPC). RIPC intervention generates cycles of ischaemia and reperfusion of the limbs before the actual ischaemia of the target organ (e.g.

Identifying and understanding the nonlinear behavior of memristive devices.

Nonlinearity is a crucial characteristic for implementing hardware security primitives or neuromorphic computing systems. The main feature of all memristive devices is this nonlinear behavior observed in their current-voltage characteristics. To comprehend the nonlinear behavior, we have to understand the coexistence of resistive, capacitive, and inertia (virtual inductive) effects in these devices.

Training needs of German healthcare professionals regarding sexual health and sex workers: results of a nationwide, cross-sectional survey.

Background: Sexual health is an important aspect of human well-being. In terms of sexual health and healthcare, sex workers might need more specialized care than others, given their higher risk for both discrimination and various sexually transmitted diseases. However, little is known about the quality of healthcare professionals' training regarding sexual health and healthcare of sex workers in Germany.

Giving children a voice: Concept development and foundation of the first Children's council "mental health" in Germany.

Background: As summarized by the Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health (McGorry et al., 2024), the statistics on mental disorders in children are alarming and highlight the need to expand and optimize research on childhood mental health. Although patient and public involvement (PPI) of those affected has the potential to boost both the acceptance and outcomes of research studies, the active involvement of young children, that is, primary school children, in mental health research has been neglected.

Treating anxiety comorbidity: Lessons from exposure generalization studies.

Comorbidity is a characteristic hallmark of anxiety disorders. Presence of comorbid anxiety and depression is challenging to the diagnosis and treatment. Conventional and transdiagnostic treatment options for anxiety disorders strongly depend on the use of exposure.

- a large-scale dataset of 3D medical shapes for computer vision.

Objectives: The shape is commonly used to describe the objects. State-of-the-art algorithms in medical imaging are predominantly diverging from computer vision, where voxel grids, meshes, point clouds, and implicit surface models are used. This is seen from the growing popularity of ShapeNet (51,300 models) and Princeton ModelNet (127,915 models).

Spongy-looking microfabrics in the earliest named stromatolite represent deep burial alteration and incipient metamorphism.

The earliest named stromatolite Cryptozoon Hall, 1884 (Late Cambrian, ca. 490 Ma, eastern New York State), was recently re-interpreted as an interlayered microbial mat and non-spiculate (keratosan) sponge deposit. This "classic stromatolite" is prominent in a fundamental debate concerning the significance or even existence of non-spiculate sponges in carbonate rocks from the Neoproterozoic (Tonian) onwards.

Hazardous effects of heavy metal pollution on Nile tilapia in the aquatic ecosystem of the Eastern Delta in Egypt.

Introduction: Heavy metal pollution threatens the biodiversity and ecological equilibrium of the Nile River. This study investigates the impact of heavy metal pollution on aquatic animals such as Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in the Damietta branch of the River Nile and El-Rayah El-Tawfeeky canal in Benha City in Egypt.

Methods: Fish and water samples were collected from the Damietta branch and El-Rayah El-Tawfeeky during the fall of 2022.

The relationship between callous-unemotional traits and internalizing psychopathology in adolescent psychiatric inpatients: a network analysis.

Background: Numerous studies have investigated the relevance of callous-unemotional traits in relation to externalizing psychopathology among children and adolescents. However, less research has examined the connections between callous-unemotional traits and internalizing psychopathology and findings were inconsistent. Consequently, the present study aimed to elucidate the role of callous-unemotional traits in the context of depression and anxiety while controlling for conduct problems, age, and gender.

Real-world multicentre cohort study on choices and effectiveness of immunotherapies in NMOSD and MOGAD.

Background: Recurrent attacks in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) can lead to severe disability. We aimed to analyse the real-world use of immunotherapies in patients with NMOSD and MOGAD, focusing on changes in treatment strategies, effects on attack rates (ARR) and risk factors for attacks.

Methods: This longitudinal registry-based cohort study included 493 patients (320 with aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG) seropositive NMOSD (65%), 44 with AQP4-IgG seronegative NMOSD (9%) and 129 MOGAD (26%)) with 1247 treatments from 19 German and one Austrian centre from the registry of the neuromyelitis optica study group (NEMOS).

Sex differences in the reactivity of gastric myoelectrical activity and heart rate variability as putative psychophysiological markers in human pain research.

Background: This study explored the potential of electrogastrography (EGG) and heart rate variability (HRV) as psychophysiological markers in experimental pain research related to the gut-brain axis. We investigated responses to the experience of pain from the visceral (rectal distension) and somatic (cutaneous heat) pain modalities, with a focus on elucidating sex differences in EGG and HRV responses.

Methods: In a sample of healthy volunteers (29 males, 43 females), EGG and ECG data were collected during a baseline and a pain phase.

Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Sputum Eosinophils Are Complementary Tools for Diagnosing Occupational Asthma.

Background: Exposure-related changes in exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and sputum eosinophils have not been thoroughly compared in the investigation of occupational asthma.

Objective: This study aimed at comparing the accuracies of the changes in FeNO concentrations and sputum eosinophil counts in identifying asthmatic reactions induced by occupational agents during specific inhalation challenges (SICs).

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included 321 subjects who completed an assessment of FeNO and sputum eosinophils before and 24 h after SICs with various occupational agents, of whom 156 showed a positive result.

Practical recommendations for therapy and monitoring of mogamulizumab patients in Germany.

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are the most common subtypes of the heterogeneous group of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL). With the expansion of the biologic treatment landscape, new treatment options have become available in recent years, most notably the C-C chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4)-directed monoclonal antibody mogamulizumab. Based on the phase III pivotal trial, mogamulizumab is recommended by the German S2k guidelines for the second-line treatment of stage IB and above SS and MF, after at least one prior systemic therapy.

Incidence and predictors of readmission following hospitalization for thoracic disc herniation.

Objective: Symptomatic thoracic disc herniations (TDH) are relatively rare and can be discovered incidentally on neuroimaging. Surgical interventions for TDH represent only 4 % of all surgeries performed for intervertebral disc pathologies, which are most commonly indicated for myelopathy and radiculopathy. Given the absence of publications on rates of readmissions following hospitalization for TDH, we aim to establish baseline metrics for the 90-day all-cause readmission rates and pertinent risk factors.

Dual-layer dual-energy CT characterization of thrombus composition in acute pulmonary embolism and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

To evaluate dual-layer dual-energy computed tomography (dlDECT)-based characterization of thrombus composition for differentiation of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). This retrospective single center cohort study included 49 patients with acute PE and 33 patients with CTEPH who underwent CT pulmonary angiography on a dlDECT from 06/2016 to 06/2022. Conventional images), material specific images (virtual non-contrast [VNC], iodine density overlay [IDO], electron density [ED]), and virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) were analyzed.

Resting-State Network Plasticity Following Category Learning Depends on Sensory Modality.

Learning new categories is fundamental to cognition, occurring in daily life through various sensory modalities. However, it is not well known how acquiring new categories can modulate the brain networks. Resting-state functional connectivity is an effective method for detecting short-term brain alterations induced by various modality-based learning experiences.

Bronchoscopic biopsies - a novel source for primary airway epithelial cells in respiratory research.

Background: Using primary airway epithelial cells (AEC) is essential to mimic more closely different types and stages of lung disease in humans while reducing or even replacing animal experiments. Access to lung tissue remains limited because these samples are generally obtained from patients who undergo lung transplantation for end-stage lung disease or thoracic surgery for (mostly) lung cancer. We investigated whether forceps or cryo biopsies are a viable alternative source of AEC compared to the conventional technique.

Clinical outcomes from robotic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair in patients under and over 70 years old: a single institution retrospective cohort study with a comprehensive systematic review on behalf of TROGSS - The Robotic Global Surgical Society.

Aim: This study aimed to assess and compare outcomes of robotic inguinal hernia repair (RIHR) in patients under and over 70 years old, performed by a fellowship-trained robotic surgeon at a single institution.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing robotic primary transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair between 2020 and 2022 was conducted. Patients were categorized into two age groups: those under 70 years and 70 years and older.

Contrasting genetic burden for bipolar disorder: Early onset versus late onset in an older adult bipolar disorder sample.

Older Adults with Bipolar Disorder (OABD) represent a heterogeneous group, including those with early and late onset of the disorder. Recent evidence shows both groups have distinct clinical, cognitive, and medical features, tied to different neurobiological profiles. This study explored the link between polygenic risk scores (PRS) for bipolar disorder (PRS-BD), schizophrenia (PRS-SCZ), and major depressive disorder (PRS-MDD) with age of onset in OABD.

Effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation in diabetic patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia: small cohort study.

Background: Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is the most severe form of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a faster progression of PAD and a fourfold increased risk of CLTI compared to patients without DM. Epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been used as a method to improve microcirculation, relieve ischemic pain and reduce the number of amputations in patients with PAD.