25(OH)D-but not 1,25(OH)D-Is an independent risk factor predicting graft loss in stable kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) or vitamin D insufficiency is common in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The impact of VDD on clinical outcomes in KTRs remain poorly defined and the most suitable marker for assessing vitamin D nutritional status in KTRs is unknown so far.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study including 600 stable KTRs (367 men, 233 women) and a meta-analysis to pool existing evidence to determine whether 25(OH)D or 1,25(OH)D predicted graft failure and all-cause mortality in stable KTRs.

From thigh to pelvis: female genital prolapse repair with an autologous semitendinosus tendon transplant : Data of the German multicenter trial.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The use of synthetic mesh for prolapse and incontinence surgery is discussed controversially and in several countries is either no longer used or permissible. Previous approaches with autologous tissue did not show from a patient´s perspective convincing long-term results. As there have been repeatedly significant complications with synthetic mesh, a new approach is urgently needed.

Optimization of anastomotic technique and gastric conduit perfusion with hyperspectral imaging and machine learning in an experimental model for minimally invasive esophagectomy.

Introduction: Esophagectomy is the mainstay of esophageal cancer treatment, but anastomotic insufficiency related morbidity and mortality remain challenging for patient outcome. Therefore, the objective of this work was to optimize anastomotic technique and gastric conduit perfusion with hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for total minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) with linear stapled anastomosis.

Material And Methods: A live porcine model (n = 58) for MIE was used with gastric conduit formation and simulation of linear stapled side-to-side esophagogastrostomy.

Why should clinical practitioners ask about their patients' concerns about falling?

Concerns (or 'fears') about falling (CaF) are common in older adults. As part of the 'World Falls Guidelines Working Group on Concerns about Falling', we recommended that clinicians working in falls prevention services should regularly assess CaF. Here, we expand upon these recommendations and argue that CaF can be both 'adaptive' and 'maladaptive' with respect to falls risk.

Association of branched-chain amino acids with mortality-the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are effectors of metabolic diseases, but their impact on mortality is largely unknown. We investigated the association of BCAA with risk factors and mortality in 2,236 participants of the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study using linear and Cox regression. Adiponectin, hemoglobin, C-peptide, hemoglobin A, and homoarginine showed the strongest association with BCAA concentration (all p < 0.

Validation of a novel testing machine for the investigation of the biomechanical properties of lumbar vertebrae in an osteoporotic rat model.

Background: For the investigation of the biomechanical properties of bone, various testing devices have been described. However, only a limited number have been developed to test the vertebral body of small animals. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a new bone testing device, which investigates the different biomechanical properties in small-animal vertebrae as a whole, three-dimensional unit, respecting its anatomical structure.

Quality of therapy in early ovarian cancer: results of the quality assurance program of the AGO Study Group.

Objective: The quality assurance program for ovarian cancer (QS-OVAR) evaluates the implementation of treatment standards and impact on survival for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I ovarian cancer.

Methods: Patients with a first diagnosis of ovarian cancer, diagnosed in the third quarter of 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016, were documented. Surgical quality was categorized as optimal (maximum one surgical item missing) versus suboptimal (≥2 surgical items missing).

Positron Emission Tomography-Based Immunoimaging for Cancer Patient Stratification: Toward a More Holistic Approach.

Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) changed the treatment management in several solid metastatic tumors with very poor prognosis, in particular in melanoma stage IV since its introduction in 2011. However, it is not yet fully understood why some patients respond to ICIs and others not, and it is also unclear why melanomas are the most sensitive tumors to ICI treatment. Selection criteria for patient stratification are needed and several approaches are under evaluation.

Pulmonary perfusion defect volume on dual-energy CT: prognostic marker of adverse events in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

To assess whether quantification of pulmonary perfusion defects on dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) relates to adverse events beyond clinical parameters and traditional embolus detection in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). We included consecutive patients who underwent DECT to rule out acute PE in 2018-2020 and recorded incident adverse events, defined as a composite of short-term (< 30 days) in-hospital all-cause mortality or admission to intensive care unit. Relative perfusion defect volume (PDV) was measured on DECT and indexed by total lung volume.

Non-muscle myosin II drives critical steps of nematocyst morphogenesis.

Nematocysts are generated by secretion of proteins into a post-Golgi compartment. They consist of a capsule that elongates into a long tube, which is coiled inside the capsule matrix and expelled during its nano-second discharge deployed for prey capture. The driving force for discharge is an extreme osmotic pressure of 150 bar.

Immunosuppressive capacity of circulating MDSC predicts response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in melanoma patients.

Purpose: Although the treatment of advanced melanoma patients with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) significantly increased the therapeutic efficiency, many patients remain resistant to ICI that could be due to immunosuppression mediated by myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). These cells are enriched and activated in melanoma patients and could be considered as therapeutic targets. Here we studied dynamic changes in immunosuppressive pattern and activity of circulating MDSC from melanoma patients treated with ICI.

Humoral SARS-CoV-2 Immune Response in COVID-19 Recovered Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Individuals Related to Post-COVID-Syndrome.

Background: The duration of anti-SARS-CoV-2-antibody detectability up to 12 months was examined in individuals after either single convalescence or convalescence and vaccination. Moreover, variables that might influence an anti-RBD/S1 antibody decline and the existence of a post-COVID-syndrome (PCS) were addressed.

Methods: Forty-nine SARS-CoV-2-qRT-PCR-confirmed participants completed a 12-month examination of anti-SARS-CoV-2-antibody levels and PCS-associated long-term sequelae.

Structural similarities between the metacyclic and bloodstream form variant surface glycoproteins of the African trypanosome.

During infection of mammalian hosts, African trypanosomes thwart immunity using antigenic variation of the dense Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) coat, accessing a large repertoire of several thousand genes and pseudogenes, and switching to antigenically distinct copies. The parasite is transferred to mammalian hosts by the tsetse fly. In the salivary glands of the fly, the pathogen adopts the metacyclic form and expresses a limited repertoire of VSG genes specific to that developmental stage.

Vitamin D level and low-energy fracture risk in children and adolescents: a population-based case-control study of 45 cases.

The objective of this study is to document the rate of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among children with low-energy fractures and compare it to fracture-free control group. We included all children under 15 years presenting to the emergency department with low-energy fractures; controls were children without history of fractures from the outpatient department. Conventional X-ray and laboratory blood tests were performed.

Long-term effects of exercise interventions on physical activity in breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Benefits of exercise interventions for cancer patients are well established. This systematic review aimed to investigate the sustainability of exercise interventions with respect to physical activity behaviour of breast cancer patients in the longer term.

Methods: The databases Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, or combined exercise interventions in breast cancer patients and assessing physical activity at least 2 months after the intervention.

Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Recruits Macrophages and Microglia and Induces a Pro-Tumorigenic Phenotype That Favors Glioma Progression.

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain tumor in adults. Treatment failure is predominantly caused by its high invasiveness and its ability to induce a supportive microenvironment. As part of this, a major role for tumor-associated macrophages/microglia (TAMs) in glioblastoma development was recognized.

Normal Fetal Growth Profile at 10-41 Weeks of Gestation - An Update Based on 10225 Normal Singleton Pregnancies and Measurement of the Fetal Parameters Using 3D Ultrasound.

Objective:  To construct new growth charts and tables for the following fetal growth parameters: biparietal diameter (BPD), occipitofrontal diameter (OFD), head circumference (HC), abdominal transverse diameter (ATD), abdominal sagittal diameter (ASD), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (Fe), tibia length (Ti), fibula length (Fi), humerus length (Hu), radius length (Ra), and ulna length (Ul).

Patients And Methods:  This prospective study was conducted at a level III ultrasound center as a population-based cross-sectional study on 10 225 normal singleton pregnancies with a gestational age between 10 and 41 completed weeks. Gestational age was confirmed in all cases by an ultrasound examination with crown-rump measurement before 10 weeks of gestation.

Integrin Expression in Localized Prostate Cancer: A TCGA and MSKCC Cohort-based Exploratory Analysis.

Background/aim: Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in localized prostate cancer (PC) are insufficient. Treatment stratification relies on prostate-specific antigen, clinical tumor staging and International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grading, whereas molecular profiling remains unused. Integrins (ITG) have an important function in bidirectional signaling and are associated with progression, proliferation, perineural invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, neuroendocrine differentiation, and a more aggressive disease phenotype in PC.

Reversal of cold intolerance by testosterone in orchiectomized mice after tibial nerve transection.

Cold intolerance is a debilitating effect of nerve injury, has a strong impact on the life of patients and no advisable treatment exists against it. Testosterone influences pain pathways and has analgesic effects. A recent study showed testosterone as being an agonist of TRPM8, the predominant ion channel that contributes to cold hypersensitivity after injury.

Impact of Empagliflozin in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction in Patients With Ischemic Versus Nonischemic Cause.

Background Outcomes and treatment effects of therapy may vary according to the cause of heart failure (HF). Methods and Results In this post hoc analysis of the EMPEROR-Reduced (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction) trial, the effect of empagliflozin on cardiovascular and renal outcomes was assessed according to the cause of HF. The cause of HF was investigator reported and stratified as ischemic or nonischemic.

Publication activities relating to digital teaching and learning in the GMS Journal for Medical Education - a descriptive analysis (1984-2020).

Aims And Objectives: Digital teaching, learning and assessment have been part of medical education and continuing education for decades. The objective of this review paper is to highlight developments and perspectives in these areas in the GMS Journal for Medical Education (GMS JME).

Methodology: In the spring of 2020, we conducted a systematic literature search of the Journal for Medical Education (JME) and analysed the articles with regard to different categories such as article type, digital tools used or mode of data collection.

Fluoxetine Enhances Synaptic Vesicle Trafficking and Energy Metabolism in the Hippocampus of Socially Isolated Rats.

Chronic social isolation (CSIS)-induced alternation in synaptic and mitochondrial function of specific brain regions is associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite the wide number of available medications, treating MDD remains an important challenge. Although fluoxetine (Flx) is the most frequently prescribed antidepressant, its mode of action is still unknown.

Empagliflozin reduces kidney fibrosis and improves kidney function by alternative macrophage activation in rats with 5/6-nephrectomy.

Background: Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors originally developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes are clinically very effective drugs halting chronic kidney disease progression. The underlying mechanisms are, however, not fully understood.

Methods: We generated single-cell transcriptomes of kidneys from rats with 5/6 nephrectomy before and after SGLT2 inhibitors treatment by single-cell RNA sequencing.

Identification of outcome domains in immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced inflammatory arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica: A scoping review by the OMERACT irAE working group.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), increasingly used cancer therapeutics, can cause off-target inflammatory effects called immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including ICI-induced inflammatory arthritis (ICI-induced IA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (ICI-induced PMR). There are no validated classification criteria or outcome measures for these conditions, and adaptation of treatment recommendations from corresponding rheumatic diseases may not be appropriate. We summarized clinical descriptors of ICI-induced IA and ICI-induced PMR and aggregated domains used for these conditions in order to inform the development of a core set of outcome domains.