Are we ready for virtually planned, 3D printed titanium plates for zygoma fractures? - A feasibility study of 16 post-mortem fractures.

The state-of-the-art approach to open reduction and fixation (ORIF) of zygoma fracture fragments is based on manual skills. Achieving high accuracy can be challenging. Our feasibility study on deceased body donors with artificial zygomatic fractures investigated whether virtual repositioning of the fractures and the use of customised 3D-printed titanium osteosynthesis plates was similar in accuracy to the conventional manual procedure, and whether the method was applicable in a clinical setting.

Conotoxin KM-RIIIJ reveals interplay between K1-channels and persistent sodium currents in proprioceptive DRG neurons.

Voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKCs) comprise the largest and most complex families of ion channels. Approximately 70 genes encode VGKC alpha subunits, which assemble into functional tetrameric channel complexes. These subunits can also combine to form heteromeric channels, significantly expanding the potential diversity of VGKCs.

Diazocines as Guests of Cucurbituril Macrocycles: Light-Responsive Binding and Supramolecular Catalysis of Thermal Isomerization.

The photoswitching of supramolecular host-guest complexes is the basis of numerous molecularly controlled macroscopic functions, such as sol-gel transition, photopharmacology, the active transport of ions or molecules, light-powered molecular machines, and much more. The most commonly used systems employ photoactive azobenzene guests and synthetic host molecules, which bind as the stable isomers and dissociate as the forms after exposure to UV light. We present a new, extraordinarily efficient cucurbit[7]uril (CB7)/diazocine host/guest complex with inverted stability that self-assembles under UV irradiation and dissociates in the dark.

Physiological shedding and C-terminal proteolytic processing of TMEM106B.

Genetic variants in TMEM106B, coding for a transmembrane protein of unknown function, have been identified as critical genetic modulators in various neurodegenerative diseases with a strong effect in patients with frontotemporal degeneration. The luminal domain of TMEM106B can form amyloid-like fibrils upon proteolysis. Whether this luminal domain is generated under physiological conditions and which protease(s) are involved in shedding remain unclear.

The epithelial era of asthma research: knowledge gaps and future direction for patient care.

The Epithelial Science Expert Group convened on 18-19 October 2023, in Naples, Italy, to discuss the current understanding of the fundamental role of the airway epithelium in asthma and other respiratory diseases and to explore the future direction of patient care. This review summarises the key concepts and research questions that were raised. As an introduction to the epithelial era of research, the evolution of asthma management throughout the ages was discussed and the role of the epithelium as an immune-functioning organ was elucidated.

GOLD COPD Exacerbation History Categories and Disease Outcomes.

Importance: Previous exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ECOPD) are associated with future events. For more than a decade, patients at high risk have been defined as individuals with a history of 2 or more moderate ECOPD, 1 or more severe ECOPD, or both within 12 months, and treatments have been allocated accordingly, but these cutoffs lack validation.

Objectives: To validate ECOPD history categories by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and explore alternative cutoffs to estimate moderate and severe ECOPD and all-cause mortality in COPD.

Sperm-Borne Mitochondrial Activity Influenced by Season and Age of Holstein Bulls.

Sperm mitochondria are vital organelles for energy production and pre- and post-fertilization sperm functions. The potential influence of the age of the bull and season on the sperm-borne mitochondrial copy number and the transcription activity has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the expression patterns of all protein-coding mitochondrial genes were identified throughout the year along with mitochondrial copy numbers in young and old bulls' spermatozoa.

Sialylation inhibition improves macrophage mediated tumor cell phagocytosis of breast cancer cells triggered by therapeutic antibodies of different isotypes.

Tumor cell phagocytosis by macrophages is considered a relevant mechanism of action for many therapeutic IgG antibodies. However, tumor cells employ several mechanisms to evade immune recognition, including hypersialylation. Here, we describe how reduction of sialic acid exposure on tumor cells promotes antibody-dependent tumor cell phagocytosis (ADCP) by macrophages.

Individuality Through Ecology: Rethinking the Evolution of Complex Life From an Externalist Perspective.

The evolution of complex life forms, exemplified by multicellular organisms, can be traced through a series of evolutionary transitions in individuality, beginning with the origin of life, followed by the emergence of the eukaryotic cell, and, among other transitions, culminating in the shift from unicellularity to multicellularity. Several attempts have been made to explain the origins of such transitions, many of which have been internalist (i.e.

Tumor budding and lymphovascular invasion as prognostic factors in p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

Background: We aimed to validate the prognostic significance of tumor budding (TB) in p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC).

Methods: We analyzed digitized H&E-stained slides from a multicenter cohort of five large university centers consisting of n = 275 cases of p16-positive OPSCC. We evaluated TB along with other histological parameters (morphology, tumor-stroma-ratio, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), perineural invasion) and calculated survival outcomes using both univariate and multivariate analyses.

Factors influencing calving difficulty and gestation length in dairy cows inseminated with beef sires.

Producing calves with higher economic value by utilising semen from beef breeds in dairy herds (Beef-on-Dairy, BoD) has become more common in recent times. Such crossbreed calves promise better carcass conformation and higher consumer acceptance due to the better flavour, but the widespread adaptation of BoD requires careful consideration of the sire breed to maximise the benefits. In this regard, two major traits of interest are calving difficulty and gestation length due to associated costs.

The C-type lectin receptor MINCLE interferes with eosinophil function and protective intestinal immunity in Strongyloides ratti-infected mice.

Strongyloides ratti is a helminth parasite that displays tissue-migrating and intestinal life stages. Myeloid C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) are pattern recognition receptors that recognize pathogen-derived ligands and initiate immune responses. To date, the role of CLRs in S.

Experimental and Theoretical Insights on Gas Trapping of Noble Gases in MFU-4-Type Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Isostructural metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), namely MFU-4 and MFU-4-Br, in which the pore apertures are defined by anionic side ligands (Cl and Br, respectively), were synthesized and loaded with noble gases. By selecting the type of side ligand, one can fine-tune the pore aperture size, allowing for precise regulation of the entry and release of gas guests. In this study, we conducted experiments to examine gas loading and release using krypton and xenon as model gases, and we complemented our findings with computational modeling.

Cover crop monocultures and mixtures enhance bacterial abundance and functionality in the maize root zone.

Cover cropping is an effective method to protect agricultural soils from erosion, promote nutrient and moisture retention, encourage beneficial microbial activity, and maintain soil structure. Re-utilization of winter cover crop root channels by maize roots during summer allows the cash crop to extract resources from distal regions in the soil horizon. In this study, we investigated how cover cropping during winter followed by maize ( L.

Retromuscular, periprosthetic drainage after hernioplasty with sublay mesh reinforcement in ventral hernias results in less retromuscular fluid collections but longer hospital stay and analgetic use with unclear effect on clinical outcome - a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To determine whether periprosthetic drain insertion for hernioplasty using sublay mesh augmentation influences retromuscular fluid collections (RFC) and the clinical course.

Methods: Forty-two patients with open repair of midline hernias (M2-4, W1, European Hernia Society classification) were allocated to groups with or without retromuscular drains. Subcutaneous drainages were used in both groups to avoid confounding from surgical site occurrences due to superficial, subcutaneous fluid collections.

Nutritional value and environmental aspects of high-protein ultra-processed foods on the German market.

Objective: To compare nutritional value and aspects with environmental impact of high-protein (HP) and 'normal-protein' (NP) ultra-processed foods (UPF).

Design: 299 HP and 286 NP products were evaluated regarding aspects of nutritional value, energy density, Nutri-Score, number of additives as well as hyper-palatability and price. Environmental impact of HP UPF was addressed by analysing protein sources and the use of environmentally persistent non-nutritive artificial sweeteners.

as an Alternative Model to Higher Organisms for In Vivo Lung Research.

COPD and asthma are lung diseases that cause considerable burden to more than 800 million people worldwide. As both lung diseases are so far incurable, it is mandatory to understand the mechanisms underlying disease development and progression for developing novel therapeutic approaches. Exposures to environmental cues such as cigarette smoke in earliest life are known to increase disease risks in the individual's own future.

Plekhg5 controls the unconventional secretion of Sod1 by presynaptic secretory autophagy.

Increasing evidence suggests an essential function for autophagy in unconventional protein secretion (UPS). However, despite its relevance for the secretion of aggregate-prone proteins, the mechanisms of secretory autophagy in neurons have remained elusive. Here we show that the lower motoneuron disease-associated guanine exchange factor Plekhg5 drives the UPS of Sod1.