Education Research: Competency-Based EEG Education: An Online Routine EEG Examination for Adult and Child Neurology Residents.

Background And Objectives: We recently published expert consensus-based curricular objectives for routine EEG (rEEG) interpretation for adult and child neurology residents. In this study, we used this curriculum framework to develop and validate an online, competency-based, formative and summative rEEG examination for neurology residents.

Methods: We developed an online rEEG examination consisting of a brief survey and 30 multiple-choice questions covering EEG learning objectives for neurology residents in 4 domains: normal, abnormal, normal variants, and artifacts.

Improved diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus with human-derived double-stranded DNA antigen.

Anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies (anti-dsDNA) serve as a crucial serological indicator for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA) is mainly used in clinical diagnosis of SLE, but suffers from low specificity, partially because the use of dsDNA antigens of varied sources in current CIA kits that sometimes led to controversial results. On the basis that anti-dsDNA in healthy individuals tend to selectively bind with dsDNA originating from pathogens, whereas pathogenic anti-dsDNA in SLE patients bind all forms of dsDNA, here we proposed the use of dsDNA fragment derived from human genome as antigen (synthesized via PCR using the human genomic DNA as the template).

Large Language Models for Simplified Interventional Radiology Reports: A Comparative Analysis.

Purpose: To quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate and compare the performance of leading large language models (LLMs), including proprietary models (GPT-4, GPT-3.5 Turbo, Claude-3-Opus, and Gemini Ultra) and open-source models (Mistral-7b and Mistral-8×7b), in simplifying 109 interventional radiology reports.

Methods: Qualitative performance was assessed using a five-point Likert scale for accuracy, completeness, clarity, clinical relevance, naturalness, and error rates, including trust-breaking and post-therapy misconduct errors.

Treatment of Esophageal Atresia in Germany: Analysis of National Hospital Discharge Data From 2016 to 2022.

Background: Esophageal atresia (EA) is a complex malformation. Multidisciplinary management is necessary, with the operative repair being the most challenging step in the treatment algorithm. The complete care structure for children with EA in Germany has not been analyzed yet.

Multimodal Profiling of Peripheral Blood Identifies Proliferating Circulating Effector CD4 T Cells as Predictors for Response to Integrin α4β7-Blocking Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background & Aims: Despite the success of biological therapies in treating inflammatory bowel disease, managing patients remains challenging due to the absence of reliable predictors of therapy response.

Methods: In this study, we prospectively sampled 2 cohorts of patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving the anti-integrin α4β7 antibody vedolizumab. Samples were subjected to mass cytometry; single-cell RNA sequencing; single-cell B and T cell receptor sequencing (BCR/TCR-seq); serum proteomics; and multiparametric flow cytometry to comprehensively assess vedolizumab-induced immunologic changes in the peripheral blood and their potential associations with treatment response.

The Autonomous Fusion Activity of Human Cytomegalovirus Glycoprotein B Is Regulated by Its Carboxy-Terminal Domain.

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoprotein B (gB) is the viral fusogen required for entry into cells and for direct cell-to-cell spread of the virus. We have previously demonstrated that the exchange of the carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of gB for the CTD of the structurally related fusion protein G of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) resulted in an intrinsically fusion-active gB variant (gB/VSV-G). In this present study, we employed a dual split protein (DSP)-based cell fusion assay to further characterize the determinants of fusion activity in the CTD of gB.

The Effect of Ionizing Irradiation on the Autotaxin-Lysophasphatidic Acid Axis and Interleukin-6/8 Secretion in Different Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

Background: The Autotaxin (ATX)-lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) axis is involved in decreasing radiation sensitivity of breast tumor cells. This study aims to further elucidate the effect of irradiation on the ATX-LPA axis and cytokine secretion in different breast cancer cell lines to identify suitable breast cancer subtypes for targeted therapies.

Methods: Different breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 (luminal A), BT-474 (luminal B), SKBR-3 (HER2-positive), MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 (triple-negative)) and the breast epithelial cell line MCF-10A were irradiated.

Short-Term Impact of Newly Imposed Legal Restriction on DSD Surgery in Children in Germany.

Background/objectives: In recent years, changing paradigms, both culturally and scientifically, have fundamentally altered the approach to the treatment of children with Disorders of Sexual Development (DSD) prior to reaching the age of legal consent. In Germany, the situation changed with the introduction of legislation that includes a partial ban on DSD surgery in children in 2021. This study aims to analyze the impact of this legislation on clinical practice.

Common variants increase risk for congenital diaphragmatic hernia within the context of de novo variants.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a severe congenital anomaly often accompanied by other structural anomalies and/or neurobehavioral manifestations. Rare de novo protein-coding variants and copy-number variations contribute to CDH in the population. However, most individuals with CDH remain genetically undiagnosed.

Developing Accurate Repetition Prediction Equations for Trained Older Adults with Osteopenia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate prediction equations to estimate 1RM in different exercises in older men and women with osteopenia/osteoporosis. Forty well-trained older women and men (73 ± 8 years) with osteopenia/osteoporosis performed 1RM dynamic and isometric maximum strength tests on resistance devices. In addition, each participant performed repetitions-to-fatigue (RTF) in the 5-8RM, 9-12RM, and 13-16RM zones.

Independent factors for the development of vasoplegic syndrome in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objective: Vasoplegic syndrome remains a common complication of cardiac surgery. It has serious implications for the healthcare system and individual patients, as it leads to rising healthcare costs and higher mortality. A better understanding of factors triggering vasoplegic syndrome is essential for the development of effective prevention strategies.

On-treatment biopsies to predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Background: Patients with pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for invasive breast cancer (BC) have better outcomes, potentially warranting less extensive surgical and systemic treatments. Early prediction of treatment response could aid in adapting therapies.

Methods: On-treatment biopsies from 297 patients with invasive BC in three randomized, prospective neoadjuvant trials were assessed (GeparQuattro, GeparQuinto, GeparSixto).

Coactivation of the Laryngeal Muscles in Pigs Without External Neural Control Indicates Existence of an Intrinsic Neuronal Network.

Electrophysiological studies of the larynx expose the mechanisms by which voice production is controlled. Previous studies have revealed certain phenomena during laryngeal oscillations that suggest a complex control mechanism. Starting from the principle of agonist-antagonist muscular pairing, the aim of this study was to gain a deeper insight into the function of the cricothyroid (CT) and thyroarytenoid (TA) muscles, both central to voice production.