Inhibition of myeloperoxidase to treat left ventricular dysfunction in non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NICMP), an incurable disease terminating in systolic heart failure (heart failure with reduced ejection fraction [HFrEF]), causes immune activation, however anti-inflammatory treatment strategies so far have failed to alter the course of this disease. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), the principal enzyme in neutrophils, has cytotoxic, pro-fibrotic and nitric oxide oxidizing effects. Whether MPO inhibition ameliorates the phenotype in NICMP remains elusive.

Single-Port da Vinci Robot-Assisted Cervical Esophagectomy: How to Do It.

Minimally invasive esophagectomies, including robot-assisted procedures, have demonstrated superiority over traditional open surgery. Despite the prevalence of transhiatal and transthoracic approaches, cervical access is less common in minimally invasive esophageal surgery. Advancements in robotic systems, such as the da Vinci Single Port (SP), enable controlled transcervical extrapleural mediastinoscopic access, potentially reducing pulmonary complications and extending surgical options to patients with comorbidities.

Increased risk of subsequent neoplasm after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 5-year survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors are at risk for developing subsequent neoplasms, but there is limited information on long-term risks and risk factors for both subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs) and subsequent non-malignant neoplasms (SNMNs). We analyzed long-term risk and risk factors for SMNs and SNMNs among 3291 5-year ALL survivors from the Dutch Childhood Cancer Survivor Study-LATER cohort (1963-2014). We calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and cumulative incidences and used multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses for analyzing risk factors.

Intraindividual reproducibility of myocardial radiomic features between energy-integrating detector and photon-counting detector CT angiography.

Background: Radiomics is not yet used in clinical practice due to concerns regarding its susceptibility to technical factors. We aimed to assess the stability and interscan and interreader reproducibility of myocardial radiomic features between energy-integrating detector computed tomography (EID-CT) and photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) in patients undergoing coronary CT angiography (CCTA) on both systems.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing clinically indicated CCTA on an EID-CT were prospectively enrolled for a PCD-CT CCTA within 30 days.

Evolving Concepts in Treat-to-Target Strategies for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is characterised by a wide range of symptoms and a risk for irreversible organ damage, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. To improve long-term outcomes, innovative therapeutic goals have been explored, including attainment and maintenance of remission or low disease activity, with minimal use of glucocorticoids. Other goals encompass early diagnosis, potent yet less toxic therapies, appropriate glucocorticoid tapering, and better quality of life for the patients.

Premature cognitive decline in a mouse model of tuberous sclerosis.

Little is known about the influence of (impaired) neurodevelopment on cognitive aging. We here used a mouse model for tuberous sclerosis (TS) carrying a heterozygous deletion of the Tsc2 gene. Loss of Tsc2 function leads to mTOR hyperactivity in mice and patients.

Psychometric evaluation of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) over the course of the pandemic in a large German general population sample.

Background: The Brief Resilience Coping Scale (BRCS) is a brief instrument suitable for epidemiological studies. The aims of this paper were to analyze changes in BRCS depending on time, sex, age group, relationship status, as well as risk of poverty, to test the psychometric properties including test-retest reliability and measurement invariance, and to determine associations with psychosocial stress, depressiveness, anxiety, social support, as well as subjective mental and physical health. As the data from this study was collected during the pandemic, an additional sensitivity analysis was performed with pre-pandemic data.

Lipids and α-Synuclein: adding further variables to the equation.

Aggregation of alpha-Synuclein (αSyn) has been connected to several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), that are collected under the umbrella term The membrane binding abilities of αSyn to negatively charged phospholipids have been well described and are connected to putative physiological functions of αSyn. Consequently, αSyn-related neurodegeneration has been increasingly connected to changes in lipid metabolism and membrane lipid composition. Indeed, αSyn aggregation has been shown to be triggered by the presence of membranes , and some genetic risk factors for PD and DLB are associated with genes coding for proteins directly involved in lipid metabolism.

Change of self-rated physical health predicts mortality in aging individuals: results of a population-based cohort study.

Background: Self-rated physical health (SRPH) is known as an important predictor of mortality. Previous studies mostly used baseline values of self-rated health to predict long-term mortality. The effect of change in self-rated physical health on mortality during the course of aging has rarely been researched.

Sortilin is dispensable for secondary injury processes following traumatic brain injury in mice.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is characterized by complex secondary injury processes involving the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), which has been proposed as a possible therapeutic target. However, the pathogenic role of the p75NTR co-receptor sortilin in TBI has not been investigated. In this study, we examined whether sortilin contributes to acute and early processes of secondary injury using a murine controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of TBI.

Changes in modifiable risk factors in women at increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Modifiable lifestyle factors exert a substantial influence on the development of various diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the implementation of containment measures to mitigate the viral spread, which affected the maintenance of healthy habits.

Methods: Changes in lifestyle factors (e.

Iron-sulfur cluster loss in mitochondrial CISD1 mediates PINK1 loss-of-function phenotypes.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. Familial cases of PD are often caused by mutations of PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) and the ubiquitin ligase Parkin, both pivotal in maintaining mitochondrial quality control. CISD1, a homodimeric mitochondrial iron-sulfur-binding protein, is a major target of Parkin-mediated ubiquitination.

Combined Resection of Liver and Hilar Bifurcation for Colorectal Liver Metastasis: A Single-Center Experience and Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) infiltrating the hilar bifurcation is rarely described. We investigated the outcome of partial hepatectomy combined with resection of the hilar bifurcation.

Methods: Data collection for patients who underwent resection for CRLM at our institution was performed prospectively from January 2008 to August 2021.

Emergent Surgical Replacement of a Tendyne Prosthesis for Bioprosthetic Valve Thrombosis.

A 66-year-old woman with a complex medical history underwent transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVI) owing to mitral insufficiency. Risk factors and noncompliance led to bioprosthetic valve thrombosis (BPVT) within 3 years. Emergent surgery indicated by an ad hoc heart team successfully managed the situation, showcasing challenges in BPVT management after TMVI.

Surgical cystectomy training using human cadavers embalmed using Thiel's method: a pilot study.

Objectives: To develop the use of Thiel soft embalmed human cadavers (TeC) in open radical cystectomy (ORC) training for the first time, to investigate the effect of cadaveric training on surgical trainees' technical skills/performance and to determine how trainees perceive the use of cadaveric workshops.

Methods: A 3-day hands-on workshop was organised. Ten trainees performed ORC on five TeC, supervised by five experts.

Evaluation of four chatbots in autoimmune liver disease: A comparative analysis.

Introduction And Objectives: Autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs) are rare and require precise evaluation, which is often challenging for medical providers. Chatbots are innovative solutions to assist healthcare professionals in clinical management. In our study, ten liver specialists systematically evaluated four chatbots to determine their utility as clinical decision support tools in the field of AILDs.

Cytomegalovirus inhibitors of programmed cell death restrict antigen cross-presentation in the priming of antiviral CD8 T cells.

CD8 T cells are the predominant effector cells of adaptive immunity in preventing cytomegalovirus (CMV) multiple-organ disease caused by cytopathogenic tissue infection. The mechanism by which CMV-specific, naïve CD8 T cells become primed and clonally expand is of fundamental importance for our understanding of CMV immune control. For CD8 T-cell priming, two pathways have been identified: direct antigen presentation by infected professional antigen-presenting cells (pAPCs) and antigen cross-presentation by uninfected pAPCs that take up antigenic material derived from infected tissue cells.

Morphology and root canal configuration of maxillary canines: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This study assessed the internal morphology of maxillary canines (MxC) through a systematic review of existing literature.

Methods: Research articles up to June 2024 were retrieved from five electronic databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Scopus, LILACS, and Cochrane). Predefined search terms and keywords were used, and potential studies were identified by cross-referencing and bibliographies of the selected articles reviewed.

High Parathyroid Hormone Rather than Low Vitamin D Is Associated with Reduced Event-Free Survival in Childhood Cancer.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is linked to poor cancer outcomes but the impact of its consequence, elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH), remains understudied. PTH receptor activation influences cancer progression in vitro, yet the effect of elevated PTH on pediatric cancer survival is unexamined.

Methods: This retrospective study examines associations between PTH, 25-OH vitamin D (25OHD), and event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with pediatric cancer.