Stereoselective Syntheses of Highly Substituted Tetrahydrofurans based on Matteson Homologations.

Deprotonated trimethylsilylethanol is an excellent nucleophile for Matteson homologations. It can be introduced in high yields and the products are stable under the usual basic reaction conditions. After two further homologation steps, the protective group is automatically cleaved off via a six-membered ring O-B coordination, providing highly substituted tetrahydrofurans.

Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation for Refractory Intraocular Pressure Elevation after Penetrating Keratoplasty.

Prcis: Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation significantly reduces intraocular pressure and antiglaucomatous medication use post-penetrating keratoplasty, with low hypotony risk, particularly if delayed. Safe reintervention is feasible for intraocular pressure recurrence.

Purpose: Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) is an established procedure for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP).

Treatment at the end of life in patients with advanced melanoma. A multicenter DeCOG study of 1067 patients from the prospective skin cancer registry ADOReg.

Background: Although systemic therapies have improved considerably over the last decade, up to 50% of patients with metastatic melanoma still die due to disease progression. Oncological treatment at the end-of-life phase is challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and type of systemic therapy received by melanoma patients in their end-of-life phase.

Global Burden of Major Chronic Liver Diseases in 2021.

Background: This study utilised the Global Burden of Disease data (2010-2021) to analyse the rates and trends in point prevalence, annual incidence and years lived with disability (YLDs) for major chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease, cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases.

Methods: Age-standardised rates per 100,000 population for prevalence, annual incidence and YLDs were compared across regions and countries, as well as the socio-demographic index (SDI). Trends were expressed as percentage changes (PC) and estimates were reported with uncertainty intervals (UI).

Efficient and Selective Biosynthesis of a Precursor-Directed FK506 Analogue: Paving the Way for Click Chemistry.

The medically important immunosuppressant FK506 is a structurally complex macrolactone biosynthesized by a combined polyketide synthase and a nonribosomal peptide synthetase enzyme complex. Its acyltransferase domain 4 (AT4) selects an unusual extender unit, resulting in an allyl moiety on carbon 21 of the macrolactone backbone. Based on the AT4 domain, chemobiosynthetic processes have been developed that enable the introduction of diverse moieties at the carbon 21 position.

A Year in Review on Tuberculosis and Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria Disease: A 2025 Update for Clinicians and Scientists.

Background: In the field of tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease we are looking back on an exciting year 2024 with more than 10,000 publications listed in PubMed.

Methods: Our aim, to review the scientific literature of the year 2024, is challenged by the enormous number of publications. Therefore, if your article is not included or your favorite field of mycobacteriology not covered, please forgive us.

Triple-Osteotomy leads to substantially improved quality of life in patients with hip dysplasia.

Purpose: Triple-Osteotomy (TO) is a hip-preserving surgical technique designed to correct symptomatic hip dysplasia by achieving three-dimensional acetabular reorientation and improving femoral head coverage. This procedure has shown promising outcomes in pain reduction, functional recovery, and quality of life, particularly in young, active patients. While periacetabular-osteotomy (PAO) is another well-established method for hip preservation, the specific advantages of TO, especially in early recovery and patient-reported outcomes (PROMs), remain underexplored.

Bundle-Of-Care vs. Single-Intervention RCTs in Neonatology: Clinical Research in Neonatology-Quo Vadis?

Extreme prematurity is a multi-organ medical emergency. Most high-profile studies in this field are done as single-intervention randomised controlled trials (RCTs), often yielding negative or inconclusive results. Given the complexity of extreme prematurity, we suggest applying future RCTs using a bundle-of-care approach.

Conjoint generalized and trajectory-specific coding of task structure by prefrontal neurons.

Neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are spatially tuned. Trajectory-specific firing with distinct spatial tuning on different paths to reward sites as well as generalized spatial tuning with similar responses on separate trajectories have been described. However, it is unclear whether such distinct populations contribute differently to the encoding of task space.

Hot and Cold Fibrosis: The Role of Serum Biomarkers to assess the Immune Mechanisms and ECM-Cell Interactions in Human Fibrosis.

Fibrosis is a pathological condition characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, particularly collagens, leading to tissue scarring and organ dysfunction. In fibrosis, an imbalance between collagen synthesis (fibrogenesis) and degradation (fibrolysis) results in the deposition of fibrillar collagens disrupting the structural integrity of the ECM and, consequently, the tissue architecture. Fibrosis is associated with a wide range of chronic diseases, including liver cirrhosis, kidney fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and autoimmune diseases.

Diagnosis and surgical management of mesenteric cysts in a 10-year-old female patient: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Mesenteric cysts are rare abdominal lesions that can present with varying clinical manifestations. Early diagnosis and management are crucial to prevent complications, especially in pediatric populations.

Case Presentation: A 10-year-old female patient presented to our facility with a palpable abdominal mass localized in the periumbilical region.

Impact of Different Mediastinal Staging Modalities on Target Volume Delineation in Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Secondary Analysis of the Multicenter Randomized PET-Plan Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of different invasive and non-invasive mediastinal staging methods in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy in the prospective XXX trial (XXX; NCTXXX) and to evaluate the impact of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and mediastinoscopy on target volume definition.

Methods: Patients treated per-protocol (n = 172), all receiving isotoxically dose-escalated chemoradiotherapy, were included in this unplanned secondary analysis. Radiation treatment planning was based on an F-FDG PET/CT targeting all CT positive lymph nodes (i.

Borderline personality disorder and antisocial traits in justice-involved males: Associations with aggression, violent crime, and adverse childhood experiences.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial traits are common in justice-involved samples, but research on their dynamics, precursors, and aftereffects regarding aggressive and violent behavior is scarce. In order to enlarge the current knowledge needed for effective risk assessment and reduction, the present study examined patterns of BPD and antisocial traits in a sample of 315 justice-involved males who had undergone psychological/psychiatric evaluation, focusing on their relations with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), self-reported physical aggression, as well as officially registered previous and future violent crime. Based on a comprehensive analysis of psychiatric/psychological evaluation reports and individuals' self-ratings, latent class analysis identified three distinct classes with (1) high probability of BPD and antisocial traits (n = 63), (2) high probability of antisocial traits only (n = 150), and (3) low probability of either (n = 102).

Minced cartilage for focal cartilage defects-A comprehensive systematic review of surgical techniques in clinical studies, animal studies and basic research studies.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether the minced cartilage procedure for treating focal cartilage defects is already a standardized technique.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE and Google Scholar to include all relevant studies (clinical studies, animal studies and basic research) investigating minced cartilage for treating focal cartilage defects.

Results: A total of 8 clinical studies, 14 animal studies and 17 basic research studies met the inclusion criteria.

Prospective Evaluation of Structure-Based Simulations Reveal Their Ability to Predict the Impact of Kinase Mutations on Inhibitor Binding.

Small molecule kinase inhibitors are critical in the modern treatment of cancers, evidenced by the existence of over 80 FDA-approved small-molecule kinase inhibitors. Unfortunately, intrinsic or acquired resistance, often causing therapy discontinuation, is frequently caused by mutations in the kinase therapeutic target. The advent of clinical tumor sequencing has opened additional opportunities for precision oncology to improve patient outcomes by pairing optimal therapies with tumor mutation profiles.

The prevalence of Charles-Bonnet syndrome in ophthalmic patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) involves visually impaired yet mentally healthy individuals experiencing visual hallucinations (VH) while being aware of the hallucinations' unreality. Its prevalence varies across different conditions, with low vision, bilateral vision loss and advanced age being established as risk factors. This meta-analysis aims to comprehensively assess CBS literature with regard to CBS prevalence in ophthalmic patients.

ApoM and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). APOM plays a critical role in reverse cholesterol transport by facilitating the formation of pre-β-HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and enabling the binding of S1P (sphingosine-1-phosphate) to HDL, a complex involved in several antiatherogenic processes. In this study, we sought to investigate the potential association between plasma APOM levels and the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with CKD.

How pore formation in complex biological membranes is governed by lipid composition, mechanics, and lateral sorting.

The primary function of biological membranes is to enable compartmentalization among cells and organelles. Loss of integrity by the formation of membrane pores would trigger uncontrolled depolarization or influx of toxic compounds, posing a fatal threat to living cells. How the lipid complexity of biological membranes enables mechanical stability against pore formation while, simultaneously, allowing for ongoing membrane remodeling is largely enigmatic.

Reversibly Charge-Switching Polyzwitterionic/Polycationic Coatings for Biomedical Applications: Optimizing the Molecular Structure for Improved Stability.

Materials that can be switched between a polycationic/antimicrobial and a polyzwitterionic/protein-repellent state have important applications, e.g., as biofilm-reducing coatings in medical devices.

Is there a predisposition for developing corneal hydrops in keratoconus?-Tomographic and biomechanical analysis of the fellow eyes.

Aim: Fellow eyes (FE) of 73 keratoconus (KC) patients with acute corneal hydrops (ACH) and 130 KC patients without ACH (total 236 eyes, 110 more severely affected), serving as control groups, were retrospectively analysed to identify potential risk factors associated with the development of ACH.

Methods: Tomographic (Pentacam) and biomechanical analysis (Corvis ST, both Oculus, Germany) were performed. Tomographic parameters are as follows: K-max, thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), Belin/Ambrósio deviation (BAD-D) and the tomographic ABCDE-staging.

The proteomic landscape of trophoblasts unravels calcium-dependent syncytialization processes and beta-chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) production.

Background: The syncytiotrophoblast (STB) layer of the placenta is formed by cell fusion of cytotrophoblasts, acts as a feto-maternal barrier, is required for the production of pregnancy hormones such as chorionic gonadotropin, estradiol and progesterone and is also responsible for feto-maternal mineral exchange such as calcium. Adequate mineral supply and placental hormone production are essential for the maintenance of pregnancy, and disturbances in trophoblast integrity are associated with pregnancy complications. Since knowledge about the identity and expression levels of proteins in trophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast cells is limited so far, we analyzed the proteomes of trophoblast-like and syncytiotrophoblast-like BeWo cells under different calcium conditions.

Effects of marijuana and tobacco on male fertility and their relationship to genetic variation of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase genes.

Although tobacco smoking declined among men at reproductive age, the use of cannabis increased. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of tobacco and cannabis on sperm quality, sperm DNA integrity tested by Chromomycin A3 (CMA3) and acridine orange (AO) and their association to genetic variants in the Cytochrome C Oxidase 1, 2 and 3 genes (MT-CO1, MT-CO2, and MT-CO3). Semen samples were collected and divided into 37 non-smokers (NS), 39 tobacco smokers (TS), and 37 cannabis smokers (CS).

Umbrella Review on the Relationship Between Vitamin D Intake and Cancer.

Cancer is a major public health problem and the second leading cause of mortality in the European Union. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to cancer via several pathways. However, umbrella reviews on the extra-skeletal effects of vitamin D have largely overlooked its connection to cancer.