Visual quality of life in NMOSD and MOGAD: profiles, dynamics and associations with ageing and vision.

Objective: In this multicentric study, we were interested in the vision-related quality of life and its association with visual impairment in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) in comparison to multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls.

Methods: We analysed extracted data from the German NEMOS registry including National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) scores, high and low contrast visual acuity (HCVA, LCVA), visually evoked potentials (VEP) and the scores for the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and other neurological tests which assessed their disease-related impairment. The mean follow-up time of our patients was 1.

Long term functional outcome for the cubital tunnel syndrome after endoscopic assisted release of the ulnar nerve.

Introduction: The endoscopic assisted release for cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS) gained popularity in recent years with unclear long-term results. This study aims to evaluate long term results regarding functional and subjective outcomes after endoscopic assisted release for the CuTS.

Materials And Methods: Thirty one patients who have been treated by endoscopic assisted release for CuTS between 2006 and 2013 were followed up both clinically and with a questionnaire with a mean follow up of 152 months (range 120-204 months).

Examining the Effects of Different Exertion Levels and Reference Standards on the Diagnostic Accuracy of Exercise ECG for Detecting Coronary Artery Disease - A Pilot Study.

Background: Exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) is frequently used for evaluating patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). However, it has been downgraded in international guidelines due to a limited sensitivity and specificity, compared with other non-invasive tests.

Methods: We hypothesized, that a sufficient exertion going beyond 85% of the age predicted maximal heart rate (APMHR), by considering the achieved level of workload can improve sensitivity and specificity of the exercise ECG.

Exploration of histone protein γ-H2AX as a prognostic factor in soft tissue sarcomas and its association with biological behavior, immune cell environment and survival in leiomyosarcoma.

This study evaluates the H2AX/γ-H2AX expression in soft tissue sarcomas (STS), its implications for biological behavior and immune environment, and its potential as a prognostic biomarker. RNA-Seq data from 237 STS were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas project. Patients were stratified by H2AX mRNA expression using a survival-associated cutoff.

The New Tumour Biomarker miRNA-371-3p Influences Cisplatin Sensitivity of Testicular Germ Cell Tumour Cell Lines.

Cisplatin is used to treat a variety of malignancies, including testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs). Although cisplatin-based chemotherapy yields high response rates, a subset of patients develop cisplatin resistance, limiting treatment options and worsening prognosis. Therefore, there is a high clinical need for new therapeutic strategies targeting cisplatin-resistant TGCTs.

Age-associated changes in transcriptional elongation and their effects on homeostasis.

Cellular homeostasis declines with age due to the declining fidelity of biosynthetic processes and the accumulation of molecular damage. Yet, it remains largely elusive how individual processes are affected during aging and what their specific contribution to age-related functional decline is. This review discusses a series of recent publications that has shown that transcription elongation is compromised during aging due to increasing DNA damage, stalling of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), erroneous transcription initiation in gene bodies, and accelerated RNAPII elongation.

Correlation Between Progression-Free and Overall Survival in Patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Comprehensive Analysis of Individual Patient Data from Randomized GHSG Trials.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the correlation of progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) after first-line treatment of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and the potential of PFS to serve as a surrogate parameter for OS.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed individual patient data obtained during and after treatment with polychemotherapy within nine randomized phase III trials (GHSG HD7-HD15) between 01/93 - 08/18. Effects of 16 experimental treatments on PFS and OS on trial level were evaluated by estimation of the treatment effects with Cox proportional hazards (PH) regression and a linear weighted least squares regression.

Fibre type differences in the organisation of mononuclear cells and myonuclei at the tips of human myofibres.

The myotendinous junction (MTJ) is a weak link in the musculoskeletal system. Here, we isolated the tips of single myofibres from healthy human hamstring muscles for confocal microscopy (n=6) and RNAscope in situ hybridisation (n=6) to gain insight into the profiles of cells and myonuclei in this region, in a fibre type manner. A marked presence of mononuclear cells was observed coating the myofibre tips (confirmed by serial block face scanning electron microscopy and cryosection immunofluorescence), with higher numbers for type I (median 29; range 16-63) than type II (16; 9-23) myofibres (p<0.

Efficacy of CTLA-4 checkpoint therapy is dependent on IL-21 signaling to mediate cytotoxic reprogramming of PD-1CD8 T cells.

The mechanisms underlying the efficacy of anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) therapy are incompletely understood. Here, by immune profiling responding PD-1CD8 T (T) cell populations from patients with advanced melanoma, we identified differential programming of T cells in response to combination therapy, from an exhausted toward a more cytotoxic effector program. This effect does not occur with anti-PD-1 monotherapy.

Role of ZFHX4 in orofacial clefting based on human genetic data and zebrafish models.

Orofacial clefting (OFC) is a frequent congenital anomaly and can occur either in the context of underlying syndromes or in isolation (nonsyndromic). The two common OFC phenotypes are cleft lip with/without cleft palate (CL/P) and cleft palate only (CPO). In this study, we searched for penetrant CL/P genes, by evaluating de novo copy number variants (CNV) from an exome sequencing dataset of 50 nonsyndromic patient-parent trios.

SGLT2-Inhibition in Patients With Alport Syndrome.

Introduction: Large-scale trials showed positive outcomes of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Whether the use of SGLT2i is safe and effective in patients with the common hereditary CKD Alport syndrome (AS) has not yet been investigated specifically in larger cohorts.

Methods: This observational, multicenter, international study (NCT02378805) assessed 112 patients with AS after start of SGLT2i.

Editorial: From adolescence into young adulthood - the importance of a longitudinal perspective across development in child and adolescent mental health.

The transition from adolescence into adulthood is a pivotal phase in a person's life, marking a period of significant social, psychological, and biological changes that can profoundly impact an individual's well-being and developmental trajectory. During this period, adolescents and young adults face increasing environmental demands from academic or occupational responsibilities and social interactions, including the pursuit of romantic partners. These changes are inherently related to stress, which is essential for adolescents and young adults to develop their personality and form an identity.

Comparison of Pain and Functional Outcomes Among Geriatric and Nongeriatric Adults Following Full Endoscopic Spine Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Pathology.

Background: Full endoscopic spine surgery (FESS) champions a rapid recovery and a low rate of overall complications. However, its efficacy in geriatric patients that might yield additional benefits from minimized invasiveness remains underexplored.

Methods: A multi-institutional prospective cohort study was conducted involving patients undergoing elective lumbar FESS.

Molecular identification and characterization of waterborne protozoa among stranded Dugong dugon.

The Persian Gulf hosts the second-largest population of Dugongs. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists them as Vulnerable to Extinction species. Incidental fishing, vessel strikes, environmental pollution, habitat degradation, and infectious diseases currently threaten these sirenians.

Respiratory syncytial virus infection in patients with haematological diseases: a retrospective multicentre study.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in patients with haematological diseases. It seeks to analyse the relevance of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of RSV infections.

Methods: A multi-centre, retrospective study was conducted across University Hospitals in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bonn, and the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf between Jan 2016 and Aug 2023.

Implementation of the Oxygen Saturation Index as a Predictor of Outcome in Prenatally Diagnosed CDH Neonates in the First 24 Hours of Life.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the Oxygen Saturation Index (OSI) as a noninvasive measure for early postnatal management and outcome prediction in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Additionally, the study analyzed the correlation and predictive ability of OSI, Oxygenation Index (OI), Horovitz Index (HI), and partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO) regarding mortality and the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Methods: A retrospective, single-center study using data from 2013 to 2020.

Image Quality Assessment and Reliability Analysis of Artificial Intelligence-Based Tumor Classification of Stimulated Raman Histology of Tumor Biobank Samples.

Background: Stimulated Raman histology (SRH) is a label-free optical imaging method for rapid intraoperative analysis of fresh tissue samples. Analysis of SRH images using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) has shown promising results for predicting the main histopathological classes of neurooncological tumors. Due to the relatively low number of rare tumor representations in CNN training datasets, a valid prediction of rarer entities remains limited.

Psychometric properties of the parent-rated assessment scale of positive and negative parenting behavior (FPNE) in a German sample of school-aged children.

Background: The aim of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate a parent-rated parenting assessment scale including positive and negative dimensions of parenting. Factorial validity, reliability, measurement invariance, latent mean differences and construct validity of the Assessment Scale of Positive and Negative Parenting Behavior (FPNE) were tested in a pooled sample of five studies of 1,879 school-aged children (6.00 to 12.

Anterior segment OCT for imaging PAUL glaucoma implant patch grafts: a useful method for follow-up and risk management.

Aim: To evaluate a useful, non-contact method for the follow-up of pericardium patch graft changes in patients undergoing PAUL Glaucoma Implant (PGI) surgery using high-resolution anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) to predict tube erosions.

Methods: Prospective analysis over six months of tube pericardium patch graft thickness of PGI surgical cases at the University Eye Hospital Bonn, Germany, from November 2021 to August 2022. In all eyes, Tutopatch (RTI Surgical, United States) pericardium was used to cover the implant intra-operatively.

GrandQC: A comprehensive solution to quality control problem in digital pathology.

Histological slides contain numerous artifacts that can significantly deteriorate the performance of image analysis algorithms. Here we develop the GrandQC tool for tissue and multi-class artifact segmentation. GrandQC allows for high-precision tissue segmentation (Dice score 0.

A critical role of action-related functional networks in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.

Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS) is a chronic tic disorder, characterized by unwanted motor actions and vocalizations. While brain stimulation techniques show promise in reducing tic severity, optimal target networks are not well-defined. Here, we leverage datasets from two independent deep brain stimulation (DBS) cohorts and a cohort of tic-inducing lesions to infer critical networks for treatment and occurrence of tics by mapping stimulation sites and lesions to a functional connectome derived from 1,000 healthy participants.

KIRA6 is an Effective and Versatile Mast Cell Inhibitor of IgE-mediated Activation.

Mast cell (MC)-driven allergic diseases are constantly expanding and require the development of novel pharmacological MC stabilizers. Allergen/antigen (Ag)-triggered activation via crosslinking of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcεRI) is fundamentally regulated by SRC family kinases, for example, LYN and FYN, exhibiting positive and negative functions. We report that KIRA6, an inhibitor for the endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor IRE1α, suppresses IgE-mediated MC activation by inhibiting both LYN and FYN.