Evaluating inter- and intra-rater reliability in assessing upper limb compensatory movements post-stroke: creating a ground truth through video analysis?

Background: Compensatory movements frequently emerge in the process of motor recovery after a stroke. Given their potential for unfavorable long-term effects, it is crucial to assess and document compensatory movements throughout rehabilitation. However, clinically applicable assessment tools are currently limited.

Hydration alters viscosity of nasal secretions in postnasal drip.

In our recent study, increased viscosity, delayed mucociliary clearance as well as hyposensitivity/dysesthesia of the nasopharynx seemed to play a relevant role in the pathophysiology of postnasal drip (PND) (1). Earlier concepts of PND, regarding an increased volume of secretions and atopy, do not seem to hold true since our latest analyses showed no significant difference between cases and controls (1). However, to this day its therapy is debated and the evidence for an effective treatment of PND is lacking so far.

Ferric carboxymaltose with or without phosphate substitution in iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia before elective surgery - The DeFICIT trial.

Background: Iron deficiency anemia in the perioperative setting is treated predominantly with intravenous iron formulation, of which ferric carboxymaltose may induce hypophosphatemia by modulating fibroblast growth factor 23.

Methods: In this single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind trial, we consented 92 adult patients scheduled for elective major abdominal or thoracic surgery. These patients either had isolated iron deficiency (plasma ferritin <100 ng/mL or transferrin saturation < 20 %) or iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin (Hb) 100-130 g/L with plasma ferritin <100 ng/mL or transferrin saturation < 20 %).

Discrepancy between antibiotic pack sizes and guideline recommendations: a real-world analysis based on claims data.

Purpose: Antibiotics are often only available in predefined pack sizes, which may not align with guideline recommendations. This can result in leftover pills, leading to inappropriate self-medication or waste disposal, which can both foster the development of antibiotic resistance. The magnitude of inappropriate pack sizes is largely unknown.

Diverse roles of Primary Health Care in COVID-19 vaccination across 28 European countries - Insights from the Eurodata study.

Background: The COVID-19 vaccination campaign in several European countries involved collaboration between public health and Primary Health Care (PHC).

Objective: To highlight the role of PHC professionals in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, specifically in terms of vaccine administration, communication and contributing to vaccination population coverage.

Methods: A descriptive retrospective study of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign across 28 European countries was conducted, covering data from December 2020 to November 2021.

Prescriber-level surveillance of outpatient antimicrobial consumption to enable targeted antimicrobial stewardship: a nationwide observational study, Switzerland, 2015 to 2022.

BackgroundIn Europe and other high-income countries, antibiotics are mainly prescribed in the outpatient setting, which consists of primary, specialist and hospital-affiliated outpatient care. Established surveillance platforms report antimicrobial consumption (AMC) on aggregated levels and the contribution of the different prescriber groups is unknown.AimTo determine the contribution of different prescribers to the overall outpatient AMC in Switzerland.

Histopathological assessment of the viability of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.

Aims: Infections by the larval stage of the tape worms Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus s.l. are potentially fatal zoonoses affecting humans as dead-end hosts.

Fas (CD95) expression in adipocytes contributes to diet-induced obesity.

Objective: Induction of browning in white adipose tissue (WAT) increases energy expenditure and may be an attractive target for the treatment of obesity. Since activation of Fas (CD95) induces pathways known to blunt expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), we hypothesized that Fas expression in adipocytes inhibits WAT browning and thus contributes to the development of obesity.

Methods: Adipocyte-specific Fas knockout (Fas) and control littermate (Fas) mice were fed a regular chow diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 20 weeks.

Single-cell atlas of the human brain vasculature across development, adulthood and disease.

A broad range of brain pathologies critically relies on the vasculature, and cerebrovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. However, the cellular and molecular architecture of the human brain vasculature remains incompletely understood. Here we performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of 606,380 freshly isolated endothelial cells, perivascular cells and other tissue-derived cells from 117 samples, from 68 human fetuses and adult patients to construct a molecular atlas of the developing fetal, adult control and diseased human brain vasculature.

Natural language processing analysis of the theories of people with multiple sclerosis about causes of their disease.

Background: While potential risk factors for multiple sclerosis (MS) have been extensively researched, it remains unclear how persons with MS theorize about their MS. Such theories may affect mental health and treatment adherence. Using natural language processing techniques, we investigated large-scale text data about theories that persons with MS have about the causes of their disease.

Late-Onset Sepsis among Extremely Preterm Infants of 24-28 Weeks Gestation: An International Comparison in 10 High-Income Countries.

Introduction: Despite advances in neonatal care, late-onset sepsis remains an important cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Neonatal late-onset sepsis rates have decreased in some countries, while in others they have not. Our objective was to compare trends in late-onset sepsis rates in 9 population-based networks from 10 countries and to assess the associated mortality within 7 days of late-onset sepsis.

Laparoscopic Roux-Y-gastric bypass versus laparoscopic one-anastomosis gastric bypass for obesity: clinical & metabolic results of a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Background: One anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) has been proposed as an effective alternative to the current standard procedure in Switzerland, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Prospective data comparing both procedures are scarce. Therefore, we performed a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness and safety of these 2 operative techniques.

A new type of blood-brain barrier aminoacidopathy underlies metabolic microcephaly associated with SLC1A4 mutations.

Mutations in the SLC1A4 transporter lead to neurodevelopmental impairments, spastic tetraplegia, thin corpus callosum and microcephaly in children. SLC1A4 catalyses obligatory amino acid exchange between neutral amino acids, but the physiopathology of SLC1A4 disease mutations and progressive microcephaly remain unclear. Here, we examined the phenotype and metabolic profile of three Slc1a4 mouse models: a constitutive Slc1a4-knockout mouse; a knock-in mouse with the major human Slc1a4 mutation (Slc1a4-K256E); and a selective knockout of Slc1a4 in brain endothelial cells (Slc1a4tie2-cre).

Interrater reliability of the Fugl-Meyer Motor assessment in stroke patients: a quality management project within the ESTREL study.

Introduction: The Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FMMA) is recommended for evaluating stroke motor recovery in clinical practice and research. However, its widespread use requires refined reliability data, particularly across different health professions. We therefore investigated the interrater reliability of the FMMA scored by a physical therapist and a physician using video recordings of stroke patients.