Dental and oral health assessments in the German National Cohort (NAKO).

Background: Despite considerable improvements in oral health in recent decades, caries and periodontitis are still widespread, ranking among the most prevalent diseases worldwide and requiring future research. The German National Cohort (NAKO Gesundheitsstudie, NAKO) is a large-scaled, multidisciplinary, nationwide, multi-centre, population-based, prospective cohort study with oral examinations that aims to provide a resource to study risk factors for major diseases. The aim of the present article is to provide the methodological background, to report on the data quality, and to present initial results of the oral examinations.

Whole-body networks: a holistic approach for studying aging.

Aging is a multi-organ disease, yet the traditional approach has been to study each organ in isolation. Such organ-specific studies have provided invaluable information regarding its pathomechanisms. However, an overall picture of the whole-body network (WBN) during aging is still incomplete.

Associations between common genetic variants and income provide insights about the socio-economic health gradient.

We conducted a genome-wide association study on income among individuals of European descent (N = 668,288) to investigate the relationship between socio-economic status and health disparities. We identified 162 genomic loci associated with a common genetic factor underlying various income measures, all with small effect sizes (the Income Factor). Our polygenic index captures 1-5% of income variance, with only one fourth due to direct genetic effects.

Strength of Genetic Associations with Thyrotropin Values Differs Between Populations with Similarity to African and European Reference Populations.

Epidemiological data suggest the population distribution of thyrotropin (TSH) values is shifted toward lower values in self-identified Black non-Hispanic individuals compared with self-identified White non-Hispanic individuals. It is unknown whether genetic differences between individuals with genetic similarities to African reference populations (GSA) and those with similarities to European reference populations (GSE) contribute to these observed differences. We aimed to compare genome-wide associations with TSH and putative causal TSH-associated variants between GSA and GSE groups.

Providing care to cancer patients parenting minor children: A qualitative study on healthcare professionals' communication practice.

Aim: To explore healthcare professionals' (HCPs) experiences when communicating about child- and family-related aspects in cancer care and their attitudes about the importance of including these aspects in cancer care.

Methods: We conduced semi-structured interviews with HCPs working in oncology. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Kuckartz's method for qualitative content analysis.

The Role of Impella in Cardiogenic Shock Complicated by an Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Meta-Analysis.

Emerging evidence suggests the role of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices in the therapy of refractory cardiogenic shock (CS). However, largerandomized trials addressing the role of Impella in the therapy of infarct-associated CS are sparse. As such, evidence coming from comprehensive retrospective studies or meta-analyses is of major importance in order to clarify the role of the Impella device in this setting.

Effect of Different Working Settings of Sandblasting on Resin Composite Repair Bond Strength.

To investigate the effect of different sandblasting settings on the shear bond strength (SBS) in the repair of resin composite, specimens (resin composite, enamel, and dentin; each group = 16) were sandblasted by varying the parameters of air pressure (0.2/0.3/0.

Shattering the Amyloid Illusion: The Microbial Enigma of Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis-From Gut Microbiota and Viruses to Brain Biofilms.

For decades, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) research has focused on the amyloid cascade hypothesis, which identifies amyloid-beta (Aβ) as the primary driver of the disease. However, the consistent failure of Aβ-targeted therapies to demonstrate efficacy, coupled with significant safety concerns, underscores the need to rethink our approach to AD treatment. Emerging evidence points to microbial infections as environmental factors in AD pathoetiology.

Meeting Cancer Detection Benchmarks in MRI/Ultrasound Fusion Biopsy for Prostate Cancer: Insights from a Retrospective Analysis of Experienced Urologists.

Background: The relationship between case volume and clinical outcomes is well established for most urological procedures but remains underexplored in prostate ultrasound/MRI fusion biopsy (UMFB). UMFB aims to detect clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) by adhering to cancer detection benchmarks for PI-RADS lesions identified via multiparametric MRI (mpMRI). These benchmarks, defined by Ahmed et al.

Imaging the Brainstem Raphe in Medication-Overuse Headache: Pathophysiological Insights and Implications for Personalized Care.

: Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a disabling condition affecting patients with chronic migraine resulting from excessive use of acute headache medication. It is characterized by both pain modulation and addiction-like mechanisms involving the brainstem raphe, a region critical to serotonergic signaling. This study investigates whether alterations in the brainstem raphe, assessed via transcranial sonography (TCS), are associated with MOH and independent of depressive symptoms, aiming to explore their utility as a biomarker.

Erroneous Classification and Coding as a Limitation for Big Data Analyses: Causes and Impacts Illustrated by the Diagnosis of Clavicle Injuries.

: Clavicle injuries are common and seem to be frequently subject to diagnostic misclassification. The accurate identification of clavicle fractures is essential, particularly for registry and Big Data analyses. This study aims to assess the frequency of diagnostic errors in clavicle injury classifications.

Diurnal timing of physical activity in relation to obesity and diabetes in the German National Cohort (NAKO).

Background: Physical activity supports weight regulation and metabolic health, but its timing in relation to obesity and diabetes remains unclear. We aimed to assess the diurnal timing of physical activity and its association with obesity and diabetes.

Methods: We cross-sectionally analyzed hip-worn accelerometry data from 61,116 participants aged 20-75 in the German National Cohort between 2015 and 2019.

Long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in a population-based pediatric cohort.

During the omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines becoming available, seroprevalence rates rose in children and adolescents. This study investigated the impact of both SARS-CoV-2 infections and vaccinations on the incidence of acute and prolonged symptoms in real-world conditions during the transition from the pandemic to the endemic phase. Participants from a pediatric population based seroprevalence study (CorKID study) were followed up at least two and for almost four years by survey of health status features and symptoms suggestive of post-COVID syndrome (PCS).

Estimating mortality attributable to alcohol or tobacco - a cohort study from Germany.

Background: Little is known about mortality from four disorder combinations: fully attributable to alcohol or tobacco, partly attributable to both alcohol and tobacco, to tobacco only, to alcohol only.

Aim: To analyze whether residents who had disclosed risky alcohol drinking or daily tobacco smoking had a shorter time to death than non-risky drinkers and never daily smokers twenty years later according to the disorder combinations.

Methods: A random adult general population sample (4,075 study participants) of a northern German area had been interviewed in the years 1996-1997.

Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of PHAROS, a perioperative pharmaceutical management intervention for older adults - a qualitative interview study from the perspective of healthcare providers.

Background: Number of drugs are increasing with older age and present a risk factor for various adverse health outcomes. A comprehensive medication therapy management (MTM) before admission for elective surgery may help reduce unnecessary and potentially inadequate medications (PIM) and thus improve patient health. Our goal was to evaluate the implementation of PHAROS, a perioperative MTM intervention study, from the perspective of health care providers.

How does an intervention work?-English Version : Development of an effect model for a complex intervention to prevent recurring or persistent pain using the example of PAIN 2.0.

In addition to the usual evaluation approach (usually a clinical randomized trial in the sense of the question: does an intervention work), complex interventions require further systematic investigations to prove their effectiveness. The role of the context in which the intervention is delivered is essential here, as is consideration of the question of why an intervention works (or does not work). Detailed recommendations exist for the planning and implementation of effectiveness studies on complex interventions, to which interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy undoubtedly belongs.

Outcomes of coronary artery aneurysms: insights from the Coronary Artery Ectasia and Aneurysm Registry (CAESAR).

Background: Coronary artery ectasias and aneurysms (CAE/CAAs) are among the less common forms of coronary artery disease, with undefined long-term outcomes and treatment strategies.

Aims: To assess the clinical characteristics, angiographic patterns, and long-term outcomes in patients with CAE, CAA, or both.

Methods: This 15-year (2006-2021) retrospective single-centre registry included 281 patients diagnosed with CAE/CAA via invasive coronary angiography.

Applicability of Retrospective and Prospective Gender Scores for Clinical and Health Data: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: Gender is known to have a strong influence on human health and disease. Despite its relevance to treatment and outcome, gender is insufficiently considered in current health research. One hindering factor is the poor representation of gender information in clinical and health (meta) data.

Treating episodic migraine with precision: the evolving landscape of targeted therapies driven by insights in disease biology.

Introduction: Migraine is a disabling neurological disorder with a complex neurobiology. It appears as a cyclic disorder of sensory processing, affecting multiple systems beyond nociception. Overlapping mechanisms, including dysfunctional processing of sensory input from brain structures are involved in the generation of attacks.

Efficiency of glass ionomer sealant application in reducing hypersensitivity in MIH-molars in schoolchildren immediately and after 12 weeks.

Aim: This prospective clinical study aimed to clinically investigate the efficiency of (GIC) glass-ionomer cement application (Ionostar Plus + Easy Glaze, VOCO) in reducing hypersensitivity in permanent molars affected by molar incisor hypomineralisation when assessed immediately (15 min) and 12 weeks after its application.

Materials And Methods: Children with at least one hypersensitive MIH-affected permanent molar (MIH-TNI-3 or 4). The pre-treatment status was evaluated and only included if they did not receive a tooth-specific in-office desensitizing treatment within one month.

App-Based Coaching to Prevent Addictive Behaviors in Vocational School Students: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

Purpose: This two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of an app-based addiction prevention program in German vocational school students.

Methods: Schools from 5 German federal states were recruited. No eligibility criteria for classes were applied; enrollment decisions were made by school heads or teachers.

Lumbopelvic hyperlordosis is linked to higher femoral head coverage, lower femoral anteversion and younger age at periacetabular osteotomy.

Purpose: The dynamic alignment of the lumbar spine, pelvis and femur is increasingly studied in hip preservation surgery. However, the interaction between lumbopelvic alignment, acetabular and femoral morphology and its influence on patients' preoperative symptom burden remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether lumbopelvic malalignment affects osseous hip morphology and exacerbates preoperative patient-reported joint functionality in patients undergoing periacetabular osteotomy (PAO).

Modifiable risk factors and symptom progression in dementia over up to 8 years-Results of the DelpHi-MV trial.

Introduction: This study investigated the association between modifiable factors and symptom progression in dementia over up to 8 years.

Methods: Multilevel growth curve models assessed the role of modifiable risk factors (low education, hearing impairment and its treatment, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes and its treatment, smoking, hypertension and its treatment, obesity, alcohol consumption, social isolation, and visual impairment) on cognitive and functional trajectories in 353 people with dementia.

Results: Higher education was associated with higher initial cognitive status but faster decline.

Achieving room air quality of room class Ib in the aseptic area using a mobile sterile ventilation unit in a room class II surgical unit.

Introduction: Room air class (RC) Ib may be necessary for surgical procedures in aseptic working areas. The aim of the study was to examine whether a mobile, three-stage sterile ventilation unit (MSVU) can replace a room ventilation system (RVS) with turbulent mixed flow (TMF) in the area of the operating field and on the instrument table from hygienic-microbiological point of view.

Method: During 26 surgeries (varicose vein stripping or treatment of umbilical and inguinal hernias), the microbial load was recorded at 4 measuring points (M1-M4) during regular operations by setting up sedimentation plates and measuring the particle concentration.