Improved localization of language areas using single voxel signal analysis of unprocessed fMRI data.

Activated brain regions can be visualized and localized with the use of fMRI (functional magnetic imaging). This is based on changes in the blood flow in activated regions, or more precisely on the hemodynamic response function (HRF) and the Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent (BOLD) effect. This study used a task-based fMRI examination with language paradigms in order to stimulate the language areas.

Primary immunosuppressive TNI-based conditioning regimens in pediatric patients treated with haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Purpose: This retrospective analysis aims to address the toxicity and efficacy of a modified total nodal irradiation (TNI)-based conditioning regimen before haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in pediatric patients.

Materials And Methods: Patient data including long-term follow-up were evaluated of 7 pediatric patients with malignant (n = 2) and non-malignant diseases (n = 5) who were treated by a primary TNI-based conditioning regimen. TNI was performed using anterior/posterior opposing fields.

Immune Responses to a Recombinant Glycoprotein E Herpes Zoster Vaccine in Adults Aged 50 Years or Older.

Background: The herpes zoster subunit vaccine (HZ/su), consisting of varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E (gE) and AS01B Adjuvant System, was highly efficacious in preventing herpes zoster in the ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 trials. We present immunogenicity results from those trials.

Methods: Participants (ZOE-50: ≥50; ZOE-70: ≥70 years of age) received 2 doses of HZ/su or placebo, 2 months apart.

Weekend versus weekday transplant surgery and outcomes after kidney transplantation in the USA: a retrospective national database analysis.

Objective: To determine whether kidney transplants performed during a weekend had worse outcomes than those performed during weekdays.

Design: Retrospective national database study.

Setting: United Network for Organ Sharing database of the USA.

Pivotal role of phospholipase D1 in tumor necrosis factor-α-mediated inflammation and scar formation after myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in mice.

Myocardial inflammation is critical for ventricular remodeling after ischemia. Phospholipid mediators play an important role in inflammatory processes. In the plasma membrane they are degraded by phospholipase D1 (PLD1).

Platelets and neurovascular inflammation.

Platelets participate in haemostasis and in thrombus formation in health and disease. Moreover, they contribute to inflammation and cooperate with immune cells in a magnitude of inflammatory/immune responses. Although the inflammatory response has been recognised to be critical in neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or multiple sclerosis and its mouse counterpart, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, the participation of platelets in these diseases is poorly investigated so far.

Very late stent thrombosis 5 years after IVUS-guided drug-eluting stent implantation.

It is well accepted that drug-eluting stents (DES) are effective in reducing restenosis, although implantation of DES may result in increased occurrence of stent thrombosis. The study describes the case of a patient with very late stent thrombosis (VLST) despite intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) control after implantation of a paclitaxel-eluting stent, an adequate response to antiplatelet therapy, and the lack of distinct risk factors for VLST. Stent thrombosis remains a serious complication after stent implantation even after prolonged time, and studies are urgently needed to optimize diagnosis and treatment of VLST.

Oncolytic virotherapy of breast cancer.

The use of replication competent viruses that selectively target and destroy cancer cells has rapidly evolved over the past decade and numerous innovative oncolytic viruses have been created. Many of these promising anti-cancer agents have recently entered into clinical trials (including those on breast cancer) and demonstrated encouraging safety and efficacy. Virotherapeutic strategies are thus of considerable interest to combat breast cancer in both (i) the primary disease situation in which relapse should be avoided as good as possible and (ii) in the metastatic situation which remains incurable to date.

Antifungal agents--clinical pharmacokinetics and drug interactions.

Achievement of therapeutic drug levels appears to be mandatory when antifungal agents are used for the treatment of manifest mycoses. Based on the marked interindividual variability of trough levels, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring is of increasing concern during treatment with itraconazole, voriconazole or posaconazole. In addition, a broad spectrum of potential drug interactions has to be kept in mind during triazole treatment.