General practitioners' perspectives on lifestyle interventions for cognitive preservation in dementia prevention.

Background: General practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in identifying cognitive impairment and dementia and providing post-diagnostic care. This study investigates (1) how promising GP consider lifestyle changes to maintain cognitive performance in general, (2) GP beliefs about the power of modifiable health and lifestyle factors to maintain cognitive performance, and (3) whether those beliefs vary by GP age.

Methods: As part of the AgeWell.

Readability Assessment of Patient Education Materials on Uro-oncological Diseases Using Automated Measures.

Background And Objective: Readability of patient education materials is of utmost importance to ensure understandability and dissemination of health care information in uro-oncology. We aimed to investigate the readability of the official patient education materials of the European Association of Urology (EAU) and American Urology Association (AUA).

Methods: Patient education materials for prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular, penile, and urethral cancers were retrieved from the respective organizations.

Expression of immune checkpoint molecules TIGIT and TIM-3 by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes predicts poor outcome in sinonasal mucosal melanoma.

Background: Sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) is a rare but aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis. The co-inhibitory receptors T cell immunoglobulin and mucinodomain containing-3 (TIM-3), lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) and T cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif domain (TIGIT) are promising new targets in anti-cancer immunotherapy. The expression profiles of these immune checkpoint molecules (ICMs) and potential prognostic implications have not been characterized in SNMM yet.

Quality of life in a high-risk group of elderly primary care patients: characteristics and potential for improvement.

Purpose: Quality of Life (QoL) is associated with a bandwidth of lifestyle factors that can be subdivided into fixed and potentially modifiable ones. We know too little about the role of potentially modifiable factors in comparison to fixed ones. This study examines four aspects of QoL and its associations with 15 factors in a sample of elderly primary care patients with a high risk of dementia.

Identifying Optimal Candidates for Primary Tumor Resection Among Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Patients: A Population-Based Predictive Model.

Background: There is a controversy about whether surgery should proceed among metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) patients. A survival benefit was observed in mPC patients who underwent primary tumor resection; however, determining which patients would benefit from surgery is complex. For this purpose, we created a model to identify mPC patients who may benefit from primary tumor excision.

Generative artificial intelligence in surgery.

Generative artificial intelligence is able to collect, extract, digest, and generate information in an understandable way for humans. As the first surgical applications of generative artificial intelligence are applied, this perspective paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current applications and future perspectives for the application of generative artificial intelligence in surgery, from preoperative planning to training. Generative artificial intelligence can be used before surgery for planning and decision support by extracting patient information and providing patients with information and simulation regarding the procedure.

Strategy for Biobanking of Ovarian Cancer Organoids: Addressing the Interpatient Heterogeneity across Histological Subtypes and Disease Stages.

While the establishment of an ovarian cancer biobank from patient-derived organoids along with their clinical background information promises advances in research and patient care, standardization remains a challenge due to the heterogeneity of this lethal malignancy, combined with the inherent complexity of organoid technology. This adaptable protocol provides a systematic framework to realize the full potential of ovarian cancer organoids considering a patient-specific variability of progenitors. By implementing a structured experimental workflow to select optimal culture conditions and seeding methods, with parallel testing of direct 3D seeding versus a 2D/3D route, we obtain, in most cases, robust long-term expanding lines suitable for a broad range of downstream applications.

Prognostic value of venous thromboembolism in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the incidence of VTE and the prognosis of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, as there is currently a lack of systematic research on this topic, despite the prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched until April 9, 2023, to identify studies that explored the relationship between VTE and the prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer. Duplicate publications, studies without full text or sufficient information for data extraction, animal experiments, reviews, and systematic reviews were excluded.

The Impact of Telemedicine in Reducing the Carbon Footprint in Health Care: A Systematic Review and Cumulative Analysis of 68 Million Clinical Consultations.

Context: Carbon footprint (CF) has emerged as an important factor when assessing health care interventions.

Objective: To investigate the reduction in CF for patients utilizing telemedicine.

Evidence Acquisition: The PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were queried for studies describing telemedicine consultation and reporting on carbon emissions saved and the carbon emissions of telemedicine devices as primary outcomes, and travel distance and time and cost savings and safety as secondary outcomes.

Polysomnographic findings in the ultra-rare McLeod syndrome: further documentation of sleep apnea as a possible feature.

Study Objectives: McLeod syndrome is a very rare multisystemic neurodegenerative disease linked to mutations in the gene. It has cardiac, neurologic, and neuromuscular manifestations and shares similarities with Huntington's disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate sleep patterns of patients affected by McLeod syndrome.

Interplay Between Chronic Kidney Disease, Hypertension, and Stroke: Insights From a Multivariable Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

Background And Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases the risk of stroke, but the extent through which this association is mediated by hypertension is unknown. We leveraged large-scale genetic data to explore causal relationships between CKD, hypertension, and cerebrovascular disease phenotypes.

Methods: We used data from genome-wide association studies of European ancestry to identify genetic proxies for kidney function (CKD diagnosis, estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio [UACR]), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and cerebrovascular disease (ischemic stroke and its subtypes and intracerebral hemorrhage).

A multidomain intervention against cognitive decline in an at-risk-population in Germany: Results from the cluster-randomized AgeWell.de trial.

Introduction: We investigated the effectiveness of a multidomain intervention to preserve cognitive function in older adults at risk for dementia in Germany in a cluster-randomized trial.

Methods: Individuals with a Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia (CAIDE) risk score ≥ 9 aged 60 to 77 years were recruited. After randomization of their general practitioner (GP), patients received a multidomain intervention (including optimization of nutrition and medication, and physical, social, and cognitive activity) or general health advice and GP treatment as usual over 24 months.

Associations of Depressive Symptoms with Subjective Cognitive Decline in Elderly People-A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the AgeWell.de-Study.

To develop effective dementia prevention strategies, it is necessary to understand risk factors, associated factors and early signs of dementia. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is the earliest form of dementia. The aim of this study is to assess depression as a factor that is significantly associated with SCD.

Molecular characteristics of microsatellite stable early-onset colorectal cancer as predictors of prognosis and immunotherapeutic response.

The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC, in patients younger than 50) is increasing worldwide. The specific gene signatures in EO-CRC patients are largely unknown. Since EO-CRC with microsatellite instability is frequently associated with Lynch syndrome, we aimed to comprehensively characterize the tumor microenvironment (TME) and gene expression profiles of EO-CRC with microsatellite stable (MSS-EO-CRC).

Long-Term Pioglitazone Treatment Has No Significant Impact on Microglial Activation and Tau Pathology in P301S Mice.

Neuroinflammation is one disease hallmark on the road to neurodegeneration in primary tauopathies. Thus, immunomodulation might be a suitable treatment strategy to delay or even prevent the occurrence of symptoms and thus relieve the burden for patients and caregivers. In recent years, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has received increasing attention as it is immediately involved in the regulation of the immune system and can be targeted by the anti-diabetic drug pioglitazone.

COVID-19 government measures and their impact on mental health: a cross-sectional study of older primary care patients in Germany.

Background: With the outbreak of COVID-19, government measures including social distancing and restrictions of social contacts were imposed to slow the spread of the virus. Since older adults are at increased risk of severe disease, they were particularly affected by these restrictions. These may negatively affect mental health by loneliness and social isolation, which constitute risk factors for depressiveness.

Psychometric evaluation and Rasch analyses of the German Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS-D).

The Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS) is a 5-item self-report measure that captures symptoms of anxiety and associated functional impairments. This study evaluates a German version (OASIS-D) that was administered to a convenience sample of 1398 primary care patients of whom 419 were diagnosed with panic disorder with/without agoraphobia. Psychometric properties were analyzed using classical test theory as well as probabilistic test theory.

Depression and Anxiety in Old Age during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study of Individuals at Cardiovascular Risk and the General Population.

Our study aims to examine the associations of sociodemographic factors, social support, resilience, and perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic with late-life depression and anxiety symptoms in a cardiovascular risk group and a matched sample from the German general population during the beginning of the pandemic and draw a comparison regarding psychosocial characteristics. Data of = 1236 participants (aged 64-81 years) were analyzed, with = 618 participants showing a cardiovascular risk profile, and = 618 participants from the general population. The cardiovascular risk sample had slightly higher levels of depressive symptoms and felt more threatened by the virus due to pre-existing conditions.

Detecting Medication Risks among People in Need of Care: Performance of Six Instruments.

Introduction: Numerous tools exist to detect potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) and potential prescribing omissions (PPO) in older people, but it remains unclear which tools may be most relevant in which setting.

Objectives: This cross sectional study compares six validated tools in terms of PIM and PPO detection.

Methods: We examined the PIM/PPO prevalence for all tools combined and the sensitivity of each tool.

Social Network and Participation in Elderly Primary Care Patients in Germany and Associations with Depressive Symptoms-A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the AgeWell.de Study.

This study aims to describe social network and social participation and to assess associations with depressive symptoms in older persons with increased risk for dementia in Germany. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in primary care patients (aged 60−77) as part of a multicenter cluster-randomized controlled trial (AgeWell.de).

Static Balance and Chair-Rise Performance in Neurogeriatric Patients: Promising Short Physical Performance Battery-Derived Predictors of Fear of Falling.

Background: Fear of falling (FOF) negatively affects health-related quality of life and is common in neurogeriatric patients, however, related parameters are not well understood. This study investigated the relationship between FOF, physical performance (as assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery and its subscores) and other aspects of sarcopenia in a sample of hospitalized neurogeriatric patients.

Methods: In 124 neurogeriatric patients, FOF was assessed with the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I).

Semiquantitative 3T Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Dynamic Visualization of the Glymphatic-Lymphatic Fluid Transport System in Humans: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: Recently, a novel clearing system for interstitial solutes of the brain was described as a perivascular pathway named the glymphatic system. Furthermore, lymphatic vessels were found in the meninges to drain interstitial fluids. It is hypothesized that interstitial solutes, such as amyloid β, are firstly processed through the brain by the glymphatic system and secondly drained out of the brain by lymphatic vessels (glymphatic-lymphatic fluid transport system [GLS]).

Development of a Prognostic Model Based on Pyroptosis-Related Genes in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Background: The importance of pyroptosis in tumorigenesis and cancer progression is becoming increasingly apparent. However, the efficacy of using pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in predicting the prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) patients is unknown.

Methods: This investigation used two databases to obtain expression data for PAAD patients.

The emerging role of NR2F1-AS1 in the tumorigenesis and progression of human cancer.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts of more than 200 nucleotides that lack the ability to encode protein. Convincing studies have indicated that lncRNAs can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors by regulating gene expression. The novel lncRNA NR2F1-AS1 was recently found to be abnormally expressed in various malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, osteosarcoma, and neuroblastoma.