Early orthodontic treatment need over a 10-year period and evaluation of short-term intervention stability.

Objective: Early orthodontic treatment with cost reimbursement within the framework of the German statutory health insurance (GKV) is only possible for a strictly defined malocclusion group as defined by the orthodontic indication groups (KIG). It is not yet clear whether the application of the KIG criteria and corresponding successful early orthodontic interventions result in no or significantly less need for treatment in the late mixed dentition or in the permanent dentition. This study therefore investigated short-term intervention stability from a 10-year-period.

Autologous DNA mobilization and multiplication expedite natural products discovery from bacteria.

The transmission of antibiotic-resistance genes, comprising mobilization and relocation events, orchestrates the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. Inspired by this evolutionarily successful paradigm, we developed ACTIMOT, a CRISPR-Cas9-based approach to unlock the vast chemical diversity concealed within bacterial genomes. ACTIMOT enables the efficient mobilization and relocation of large DNA fragments from the chromosome to replicative plasmids within the same bacterial cell.

Predisposition footprints in the somatic genome of Wilms tumours.

Ten percent of children with cancer harbour a mutation in a predisposition gene. In children with the kidney cancer, Wilms tumour, the prevalence is as high as 30%. Certain predispositions are associated with defined histological and clinical features, suggesting differences in tumourigenesis.

Independent Effects of Emotional Expression and Group Membership in the Evaluative Priming Task.

Research on automatic evaluative responses to faces varying in emotional expression and ethnicity has yielded conflicting results. Some paradigms, like the Approach/Avoidance task, demonstrated interactive evaluation. In contrast, recent studies using the Evaluative Priming Task (EPT) yielded independent effects of expression and ethnicity.

Printed Thin Magnetic Films via Ternary Hybrid Diblock Copolymer Films Containing Magnetic Iron Oxide and Nickel Nanoparticles.

Ternary hybrid thin films composed of a diblock copolymer templating two types of nanoparticles (NPs) expand the functionality of binary systems, which renders them interesting for magnetic sensing or magnetic data storage applications. Herein, one-pot slot-die printed hybrid polystyrene--poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS--PMMA) thin films are prepared with iron oxide (magnetite, FeO, = 20 nm) and nickel NPs (Ni, = 46 nm) in one step by the advanced slot-die coating technique, which facilitates upscaling of fabrication. The evolution of the hybrid film morphology is probed with in situ grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering and compared to that of a PS--PMMA thin film without NPs.

Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction by Classical Eyelid Hygiene Measures With and Without Additional Lipid Substitution for Tear Film Stabilization.

Objective: This study aimed to document the treatment success of eyelid hygiene with liposomal suspension using new diagnostic tools and to determine whether additional lipid substitution provided measurable benefits in meibomian gland dysfunction.

Methods: A single-center controlled, partially single masked study was conducted. Group A used eyelid hygiene only, whereas group B additionally applied a liposomal eye spray.

Development of a homotrimeric PSMA radioligand based on the NOTI chelating platform.

Background: The NOTI chelating scaffold can readily be derivatized for bioconjugation without impacting its metal complexation/radiolabeling properties making it an attractive building block for the development of multimeric/-valent radiopharmaceuticals. The objective of the study was to further explore the potential of the NOTI chelating platform by preparing and characterizing homotrimeric PSMA radioconjugates in order to identify a suitable candidate for clinical translation.

Results: Altogether, three PSMA conjugates based on the NOTI-TVA scaffold with different spacer entities between the chelating unit and the Glu-CO-Lys PSMA binding motif were readily prepared by solid phase-peptide chemistry.

Prevalence and Severity of Corneal Guttata After Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Purpose: The postoperative occurrence of corneal guttae (CG) in patients after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) can lead to a significant reduction in visual acuity (VA) with the subsequent need for repeat DMEK. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and clinical significance of CG in transplanted corneas after DMEK.

Methods: The prevalence and progression of CG after DMEK of 1657 patients were examined using endothelial specular microscopy images.

Operationalization of the social cognitive theory to explain and predict physical activity in Germany: a scale development.

Introduction: Social cognitive theory is one of the most prominent psychological theories regarding human behavior. Previous research tested and confirmed parts of the theory concerning the explanatory and predictive value of the theory, both in specific populations and in selected domains of physical activity. However, the value of this research is limited as researchers often use their own item sets rather than validated scales.

Studies on the Stability and Microbial Biotransformation of Five Deschloroketamine Derivatives as Prerequisite for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Screening.

Wastewater (WW)-based epidemiology (WBE) is a powerful tool for screening and surveillance of drugs (of abuse) or new psychoactive substances (NPSs) in larger population. Since the drug market changes frequently, it is crucial for WBE to define screening and surveillance biomarkers considering drug metabolism and (microbial) stability. The aims of the presented work were first to identify metabolites, potentially serving as a WBE biomarker of five deschloroketamine derivatives (DCKDs) in rat feces samples after oral administration in addition to already known urinary metabolites, and second to elucidate the microbial biotransformation and WW stability of five DCKDs and their metabolites detected in urine and feces.

Comparison of pulmonary and aortic root and cusp dimensions in normal adults using computed tomography: potential implications for Ross procedure planning.

Objectives: The Ross procedure is currently receiving renewed interest. Its function and durability depend on preservation of pulmonary valve anatomy; limited data exist on normal pulmonary valve geometry. The objective was to compare aortic and pulmonary root and cusp dimensions in adults with normal tricuspid aortic and pulmonary valves.

MIBiG 4.0: advancing biosynthetic gene cluster curation through global collaboration.

Specialized or secondary metabolites are small molecules of biological origin, often showing potent biological activities with applications in agriculture, engineering and medicine. Usually, the biosynthesis of these natural products is governed by sets of co-regulated and physically clustered genes known as biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). To share information about BGCs in a standardized and machine-readable way, the Minimum Information about a Biosynthetic Gene cluster (MIBiG) data standard and repository was initiated in 2015.

Unravelling the Information Contained in the Single Items of the COPD Assessment Test for Different Outcomes and Smoking Status in Patients with COPD: Results from COSYCONET.

Background: The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) comprises eight questions. We evaluated the information that each of the questions and the total score contributed to outcomes and characteristics of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), including their dependence on smoking status.

Methods: Patients with COPD of the COSYCONET cohort with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grades 1-4 and the former grade 0 were included.

High interobserver variability of PTEN immunohistochemistry defining PTEN status in low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer: results of the first German ring trial.

The prognostication of individual disease trajectory and selection of optimal therapy in patients with localized, low-grade prostate cancer often presents significant difficulty. The phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome 10 (PTEN) has emerged as a potential novel biomarker in this clinical context, based on its demonstrated prognostic significance in multiple retrospective studies. Incorporation into standard clinical practice necessitates exceptional diagnostic accuracy, and PTEN's binary readout-retention or loss-suggests its suitability as a biomarker.

Symptom Burden and Quality of Life in Long-Term Survivors with Head and Neck Cancer.

In this study, long-term survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC) were evaluated regarding their symptom burden and quality of life (QoL). This prospective study was performed during the regular follow-up consultations at one of Germany's largest tertiary referral centers for HNC. The assessment included demographic, clinical, and oncological data, as well as the MIDOS(2) and the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW QoL) questionnaires.

Association of Patients' Knowledge on the Disease and Its Management with Indicators of Disease Severity and Individual Characteristics in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Results from COSYCONET 2.

Background: In patients with chronic diseases, including those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), knowledge on the disease and its self-management is considered as relevant for improving disease control and long-term outcome. We studied to which extent components of knowledge depended on potential predictors, such as participation in educational programs and disease severity. For example, the perception of exacerbations or GOLD grade might modulate the content and reliability of COPD understanding.

Improved survival of advanced melanoma patients receiving immunotherapy with concomitant antithrombotic therapy - A multicenter study on 2419 patients from the prospective skin cancer registry ADOReg.

Background: Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized melanoma treatment, but the high number of non-responders still emphasizes the need for improvement of therapy. One potential avenue for enhancing anti-tumor treatment is through the modulation of coagulation and platelet activity. Both have been found to play an important role in the tumor microenvironment, tumor growth and metastasis.

Efficacy of radiotherapy combined with atezolizumab or docetaxel in patients with previously treated NSCLC.

Radiotherapy showed synergy with immunotherapy, yet the comparative effectiveness of combining immunotherapy (iRT) or chemotherapy (CRT) after platinum therapy failure in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unexplored. We analyzed 163 patients (iRT:  = 120 vs. CRT:  = 43) eligible for combination radiotherapy.

Exquisite selectivity of griselimycin extends to beta subunit of DNA polymerases from Gram-negative bacterial pathogens.

Griselimycin, a cyclic depsidecapeptide produced by Streptomyces griseus, is a promising lead inhibitor of the sliding clamp component of bacterial DNA polymerases (β-subunit of Escherichia coli DNA pol III). It was previously shown to inhibit the Mycobacterium tuberculosis β-clamp with remarkably high affinity and selectivity - the peptide lacks any interaction with the human sliding clamp. Here, we used a structural genomics approach to address the prospect of broader-spectrum inhibition, in particular of β-clamps from Gram-negative bacterial targets.

Monitoring individualized glucose levels predicts risk for bradycardia in type 2 diabetes patients with chronic kidney disease: a pilot study.

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) exhibit an elevated risk for cardiac arrhythmias, such as bradycardia, which may potentially lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD). While hypoglycemia, defined as a critical drop in glucose levels below the normal range, has long been associated with adverse cardiovascular events, recent studies have highlighted the need for a comprehensive reevaluation of its direct impact on cardiovascular outcomes, particularly in high-risk populations such as those with DM and CKD. In this study, we investigated the association between glucose levels and bradycardia by simultaneously monitoring interstitial glucose (IG) and ECG for 7 days in insulin-treated patients with DM and CKD.

Segmented, Side-Emitting Hydrogel Optical Fibers for Multimaterial Extrusion Printing.

Side-emitting optical fibers allow light to be deliberately outcoupled along the fiber. Introducing a customized side-emission profile requires modulation of the guiding and emitting properties along the fiber length, which is a particular challenge in continuous processing of soft waveguides. In this work, it is demonstrated that multimaterial extrusion printing can generate hydrogel optical fibers with tailored segments for light-side emission.