Prolonged survival by combination treatment with a standardized herbal extract from Japanese Kampo-medicine (Juzentaihoto) and gemcitabine in an orthotopic transplantation pancreatic cancer model.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by its poor prognosis. Traditional Japanese herbal medicine (Kampo), such as Juzentaihoto (a standardized combination of 10 herbal extracts), has shown immune modulatory effects, modulation of microcirculation, and amelioration of fatigue. It is administered to patients to prevent deterioration of cachexia and counteract side effects of chemotherapy.

Lost and found: dynamics of relationship and employment status over time in people with affective and psychotic spectrum disorders.

Background: Employment and relationship are crucial for social integration. However, individuals with major psychiatric disorders often face challenges in these domains.

Aims: We investigated employment and relationship status changes among patients across the affective and psychotic spectrum - in comparison with healthy controls, examining whether diagnostic groups or functional levels influence these transitions.

A scoping review of participatory approaches in child maltreatment research across Europe.

Background: Participatory approaches in child maltreatment (CM) research increasingly focus on involving children, youth, and adults as co-researchers. However, little is known about their use in Europe.

Objective: To review the European literature on participatory approaches in CM research.

Chronology versus centrality: uncovering age-related differences in order effects during the retrieval of autobiographical memories.

Despite the crucial role that the recall of autobiographical memories (AMs) plays for identity, the process of how we recall AMs, and whether retrieval processes undergo , has received little attention. The present study thus examined the order of AMs during recall, with a specific focus on time and centrality as guiding dimensions. A total of 364 participants (aged 18-89 years) recalled up to ten positive and negative AMs.

Establishing the Research Priorities of ADHD Professionals: An International Delphi Study.

Objectives: To determine ADHD research priorities from the perspective of ADHD professionals internationally.

Method: A two-stage modified Delphi design was used. In Stage 1 (qualitative), participants listed research questions relating to ADHD that they perceived to be most important ( = 132).

PRIO - a prospective integrative oncology registry: trial protocol.

Background: Integrative Oncology (IO) - the use of lifestyle modifications, mind-body practices and natural products in oncology - is increasingly asked for by patients. The evidence base of IO is growing and IO measures are included in national guidelines. Still, many questions about IO remain unanswered or still show a poor evidence base.

The Association Between Longitudinal Changes in Body Mass Index and Longitudinal Changes in Hours of Screen Time, and Hours of Physical Activity in German Children.

Introduction: The association of screen time and physical activity with body weight in children has been investigated in cross-sectional and prospective studies, as well as randomized controlled trials. The present study extends previous research by examining how longitudinal within-person changes in screen time and physical activity relate to changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) in children, and how changes in screen time and physical activity relate to each other.

Methods: The data for the present study came from the PIER Youth Study.

Reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages with lipid nanosystems reduces PDAC tumor burden and liver metastasis.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) requires innovative therapeutic strategies to counteract its progression and metastatic potential. Since the majority of patients are diagnosed with advanced metastatic disease, treatment strategies targeting not only the primary tumor but also metastatic lesions are needed. Tumor-Associated Macrophages (TAMs) have emerged as central players, significantly influencing PDAC progression and metastasis.

Adjuvant Therapy with Pembrolizumab in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Real-World Experiences from a Retrospective, Multi-Institutional Cohort.

Introduction: Adjuvant pembrolizumab versus placebo significantly improved disease-free survival (DFS) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients at high risk (HR) of recurrence following nephrectomy in KEYNOTE-564 trial (NCT03142334). The objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of adjuvant pembrolizumab in a real-world setting.

Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, RCC patients receiving adjuvant pembrolizumab between 01/22 and 10/23 at seven tertiary referral centers were included.

Longitudinal Efficacy of Nusinersen Treatment on Health-Related Quality of Life and Independence in Children With Later-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Introduction/aims: The rising use of disease-modifying therapy is progressively impacting the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in their daily lives. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in HRQoL and independence in children with later-onset SMA receiving longitudinal treatment with nusinersen.

Methods: Forty-nine pediatric patients with later-onset SMA (symptom onset after 6 months of age) and their caregivers were enrolled.

Safety of BI 1358894 in patients with major depressive disorder: Results and learnings from a phase II randomized decentralized clinical trial.

The feasibility of conducting a fully remote, interventional, phase II decentralized clinical trial (DCT) was investigated in major depressive disorder (MDD). Key learnings were collated to improve future DCTs. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, DCT enrolled adult MDD patients with inadequate response to first-line antidepressant monotherapy (ongoing ≥8 weeks) and a Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale total score (MADRS) ≥22 at screening.

Prognostic serum biomarkers of synaptic, neuronal and glial injury in patients with acute ischemic stroke of the anterior circulation.

Background: We aimed to investigate the prognostic role of β-synuclein in comparison to that of neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) for predicting functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods: We measured serum concentrations of β-synuclein, NfL and GFAP 24 h after hospital admission in 213 consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe AIS. We investigated the association between serum biomarkers and radiological/clinical characteristics, 3-months mortality and functional outcome on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).

Patient-Derived Xenografts of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Enable Deconvolution and Prediction of Chemotherapy Responses.

Combination chemotherapy remains essential for clinical management of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Consequently, responses to multiple single agents cannot be delineated at the single patient level, even though some patients might not require all drugs in the combination. Herein, we conduct multi-omic analyses of orthotopic TNBC patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) treated with single agent carboplatin, docetaxel, or the combination.

Workshop report: Clinical training and integration of genetic counselors into interprofessional teams in the German-speaking countries.

In spring 2022, the inaugural cohort of Genetic and Genomic Counseling MSc students graduated from the Medical University of Innsbruck, representing a significant milestone for the establishment of the genetic counselor (GC) profession in the German-speaking countries. A pivotal component of their education was a 15-week clinical training period. The placement experiences of both students and supervisors offered valuable insights into the attitudes of medical geneticists toward the profession.

Urbanization Shifts Immunometabolism in a Common Bumblebee.

The growing urbanization process is accompanied by the emergence of new habitats for wildlife, and cities are sometimes seen as refuges for pollinators such as wild bees compared to intensively cultivated rural habitats. However, the contrasting living conditions that combine high fragmentation, exposure to pollutants, and heat island effects, with low pesticide use and potentially high availability of resources, make it difficult to predict the overall effect of urban living on the health of wild bees. Moreover, if the responses of wild bee populations in terms of species richness and diversity have been the focus of many recent studies, individual responses to urbanization have been more rarely investigated.

Lateral entry into general practice - an explorative analysis of general practice trainees in the competence centre for postgraduate medical education Baden-Württemberg.

Objective: To aid the shortage of general practitioners (GPs) in Germany, since 2011 medical specialists from other fields may switch specialisation by undergoing a slim-lined training programme (lateral entry) into general practice (GP). Available published qualitative and quantitative data on lateral entrants (LEs) is scarce. Aim of the study was an explorative analysis of LEs in the competence centre for postgraduate medical education Baden-Wuerttemberg (KWBW).

First results from a multimodal psychosomatic post-COVID treatment approach - a prospective longitudinal study.

Background: Clinical experiences using a psychosomatic-oriented multimodal treatment approach in patients with post-COVID are promising. We established a half-day multimodal treatment program for post-COVID patients at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine at General Hospital Nuremberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Germany.

Methods: This observational study between January 2022 and March 2023 comprised baseline documentation of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQD), ICD-10 Symptom Rating (ISR), Fatigue Scale (FS) and Health Status Questionnaire (SF-12) at admission and discharge of 65 patients suffering from post-COVID.

Corticospinal and Clinical Effects of Muscle Tendon Vibration in Neurologically Impaired Individuals. A Scoping Review.

This review verified the extent, variety, quality and main findings of studies that have tested the neurophysiological and clinical effects of muscle tendon vibration (VIB) in individuals with sensorimotor impairments. The search was conducted on PubMed, CINAHL, and SportDiscuss up to April 2024. Studies were selected if they included humans with neurological impairments, applied VIB and used at least one measure of corticospinal excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Protective effects of Mycobacterium vaccae ATCC 15483 against "Western"-style diet-induced weight gain and visceral adiposity in adolescent male mice.

The prevalence of noncommunicable inflammatory disease is increasing in modern urban societies, posing significant challenges to public health. Novel prevention and therapeutic strategies are needed to effectively deal with this issue. One promising approach is leveraging microorganisms such as Mycobacterium vaccae ATCC 15483, known for its anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, and stress-resilience properties.

Immunodeficiency-related high-grade B-cell lymphoma with 11q aberration: Further evidence for a lymphoma entity from a patient with simultaneous papillary renal cell carcinoma following pediatric kidney transplant.

Various aggressive lymphomas entities have been associated with immunodeficiency. To provide further evidence that also MYC-negative high-grade B-cell (formerly Burkitt-like) lymphoma with 11q aberrations comprises an immunodeficiency-related subtype, we here conducted a comprehensive pathological and genetic workup of a 25-year-old patient with this type of lymphoma and simultaneous papillary renal cell carcinoma. The patient developed both malignancies following extensive childhood immunosuppression and a kidney transplant.