Elevated FDG uptake in non-tumorous lung regions does not predict immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis in lung cancer patients.

Background: Predictors for checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (cinrPneumonitis) are desperately needed. This study aimed to investigate the pretreatment standardized uptake value (SUV) on [F]FDG-PET/CT of non-tumorous lung tissue as a predictive imaging marker for the development of cinrPneumonitis in 239 patients with lung cancer.

Methods: All patients with lung cancer receiving [F]Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) prior to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy were included and retrospectively analyzed.

Changes in prescribing patterns and access to immune checkpoint inhibitors in german lung cancer patients - a claims data analysis.

Background: Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have driven profound changes in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Their rapid integration into clinical routine is crucial for patient outcomes. However, prescribing patterns may not change immediately after authorization.

The impact of comorbidities on the all-cause mortality of surgically treated non-small cell lung cancer patients - visualization with the aid of a comorbidome.

Backgrounds: Lung cancer patients often have multiple comorbidities. This study aimed to determine which comorbidities had an impact on all-cause mortality in lung cancer patients who had undergone surgical treatment.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed data from all lung cancer patients who underwent lobectomy or segmentectomy at the Lung Cancer Center Munich between 2011 and 2020.

Toxicity Profile and Efficacy of Docetaxel Following Paclitaxel- or Pemetrexed-Platinum Chemotherapy Alone or in Combination With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in NSCLC Patients: A Single Institution Retrospective Analysis.

BackgroundDocetaxel alone or in combination with ramucirumab or nintedanib is recommended as second-line treatment in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after progression on first-line platinum-base chemotherapy in combination with immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). The purpose of our study was to compare the toxicity profile and efficacy of docetaxel after paclitaxel- or pemetrexed-platinum chemotherapy alone or in combination with ICI.Patients und MethodsMetastatic NSCLC patients treated with docetaxel after pemetrexed or paclitaxel-platinum with chemotherapy with or without ICI were included in our retrospective analysis.

A deficient CP24 allele defines variation for dynamic nonphotochemical quenching and photosystem II efficiency in maize.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a global crop species in which CO2 assimilation occurs via the C4 pathway. C4 photosynthesis is typically more efficient than C3 photosynthesis under warm and dry conditions; however, despite this inherent advantage, considerable variation remains in photosynthetic efficiency for C4 species that could be leveraged to benefit crop performance.

Donor-derived cell-free DNA for detection of acute rejection in lung transplant recipients.

Introduction: Acute rejection is a significant risk factor for developing chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Current monitoring tools, transbronchial biopsies and HLA antibody determination, have limitations in detecting acute rejection. This study aims to explore the potential utility of donor-derived cell-free DNA (ddcfDNA) as a non-invasive biomarker for detecting acute rejection in lung transplant recipients (LTR).

Central and peripheral nervous system activity and muscle oxygenation in athletes during repeated-sprint exercise in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia.

Aim: To investigate central and peripheral nervous system activity and muscle oxygenation in athletes during repeated-sprint exercise in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia.

Methods: The effects on vastus lateralis muscle strength in a cross-over study were examined in 18 athletes (13 males, 5 females) completing 10 × 6-s cycle sprints. Immediately after and again 5 minutes post-exercise, electromyography (EMG), heart rate variability, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), muscle oxygenation, peak power output, and arterial oxygen saturation were compared to 2 baseline sets named ("Baseline" and "Pre").

Propensity score matched comparison of lymph node upstaging in early-stage lung cancer: open versus minimally invasive surgery with standardized lymphadenectomy.

Background: Lymph node upstaging represents a quality criterion for standardized lymphadenectomy in lung cancer surgery. The aim of the study was to compare whether the quality of standardized lymphadenectomy in lung cancer surgery is comparable in minimally invasive (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) and the open approach (thoracotomy). Furthermore, factors associated with lymph node upstaging were assessed, as was its impact on overall survival and progression-free survival.

Thirty years of lung transplantation: development of postoperative outcome and survival over three decades.

Background: Lung transplantation (LuTX) can be the last resort for patients with end-stage lung diseases. In the last decades, improvements were implemented in transplant medicine, from immunosuppression throughout preservation of the donor organ to enhance lung allograft survival. This retrospective study aims to illustrate the development of the LuTX-program at the University Hospital of Munich, LMU, Munich, Germany, since its launch in 1990 by depicting and comparing postoperative outcome.

Mucus Plug Score Predicts Clinical and Pulmonary Function Response to Biologic Therapy in Patients With Severe Asthma.

Background: Mucus plugging has been identified as an important feature of severe asthma contributing to airway obstruction and disease severity. Recently, improvement in mucus plugging has been found on treatment with several biologic therapies.

Objectives: To analyze associations of baseline characteristic with the mucus plugging score (MPS) and to determine whether the MPS at baseline predicts the clinical and functional response to biologic treatment in patients with severe asthma.

Coenzyme A fueling with pantethine limits autoreactive T cell pathogenicity in experimental neuroinflammation.

Background: Immune cell metabolism governs the outcome of immune responses and contributes to the development of autoimmunity by controlling lymphocyte pathogenic potential. In this study, we evaluated the metabolic profile of myelin-specific murine encephalitogenic T cells, to identify novel therapeutic targets for autoimmune neuroinflammation.

Methods: We performed metabolomics analysis on actively-proliferating encephalitogenic T cells to study their overall metabolic profile in comparison to resting T cells.

The Association between the Body Mass Index, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and SUV of the Non-Tumorous Lung in the Pretreatment [F]FDG-PET/CT of Patients with Lung Cancer.

: A debate persists on the prognostic value of the pre-therapeutic standardized uptake value (SUV) of non-tumorous lung tissue for the risk assessment of therapy-related pneumonitis, with most studies lacking significant correlation. However, the influence of patient comorbidities on the pre-therapeutic lung SUV has not yet been systematically evaluated. Thus, we aimed to elucidate the association between comorbidities, biological variables and lung SUVs in pre-therapeutic [F]FDG-PET/CT.

Illuminating stomatal responses to red light: establishing the role of Ci-dependent versus -independent mechanisms in control of stomatal behaviour.

The stomatal response to red light appears to link stomatal conductance (gs) with photosynthetic rates. Initially, it was suggested that changes in intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) provide the main cue via a Ci-dependent response. However, evidence for Ci-independent mechanisms suggests an additional, more direct relationship with photosynthesis.

Effects of triple therapy on disease burden in patients of GOLD groups C and D: results from the observational COPD cohort COSYCONET.

Background: Randomized controlled trials described beneficial effects of inhaled triple therapy (LABA/LAMA/ICS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and high risk of exacerbations. We studied whether such effects were also detectable under continuous treatment in a retrospective observational setting.

Methods: Data from baseline and 18-month follow-up of the COPD cohort COSYCONET were used, including patients categorized as GOLD groups C/D at both visits (n = 258).

Tumor seeding following CT- guided transthoracic needle biopsy in lung cancer. A case report.

As a result of advances in the treatment of lung cancer, the life expectancy of lung cancer patients has improved significantly, but it remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. For decades, most of the initial tumor biopsies have been obtained by bronchoscopy or computed tomography (CT)-guided transthoracic lung biopsy without concerning reports of cancer seeding following the latter. In this case report we discuss the patient history of a 56-year old women with low-differentiated squamous cell lung cancer who developed tumor seeding following a CT-guided transthoracic biopsy 11 months after the intervention.

Early mortality in German patients with lung cancer: risk factors associated with 30-and 60-day mortality.

Despite therapeutic advances, early mortality in lung cancer is still prevalent. In this study, we aimed to assess risk factors for 30- and 60-day mortality in German lung cancer patients. In this retrospective cross-sectional analysis, we used data of lung cancer patients treated at LMU Hospital Munich between 2015 and 2019.

Guideline adherence of tumor board recommendations in lung cancer and transfer into clinical practice.

Purpose: Evaluating patients and treatment decisions in a multidisciplinary tumor board has led to better quality of care and longer survival in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate tumor board recommendations for thoracic oncology patients regarding guideline adherence and transferal of recommendations into clinical practice.

Methods: We evaluated tumor board recommendations of the thoracic oncology tumor board at Ludwig-Maximilians University (LMU) Hospital Munich between 2014 and 2016.

Predictive value of molecular matching tools for the development of donor specific HLA-antibodies in patients undergoing lung transplantation.

Molecular matching is a new approach for virtual histocompatibility testing in organ transplantation. The aim of our study was to analyze whether the risk for de novo donor-specific HLA antibodies (dnDSA) after lung transplantation (LTX) can be predicted by molecular matching algorithms (MMA) and their combination. In this retrospective study we included 183 patients undergoing LTX at our center from 2012-2020.

Comparison of the sensitivity of different criteria to select lung cancer patients for screening in a cohort of German patients.

Introduction: Trials of CT-based screening for lung cancer have shown a mortality advantage for screening in North America and Europe. Before introducing a nationwide lung cancer screening program in Germany, it is important to assess the criteria used in international trials in the German population.

Methods: We used data from 3623 lung cancer patients from the data warehouse of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL).

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome after lung transplantation: Risk factors and management.

Introduction: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a rare neurologic complication that can occur under immunosuppressive therapy with CNI after organ transplantation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 545 patients who underwent lung transplantation between 2012 and 2019. Within this group, we identified 30 patients with neurological symptoms typical of PRES and compared the characteristics of patients who were diagnosed with PRES (n = 11) to those who were not (n = 19).

Response to high-altitude triggers in seasonal asthmatics on and off inhaled corticosteroid treatment.

Background: Due to the effects of climate change, winter sport enthusiasts will be increasingly forced to stay at higher altitudes. High altitude (HA) environmental factors such as cold temperature, physical exertion, and hypoxia with subsequent hypocapnia due to hyperventilation have been shown to induce bronchoconstriction. With bronchial asthma being highly prevalent, asthmatics also will be increasingly exposed to HA environment and might experience increasing symptoms.

Changes in Behavior After Vaccination and Opinions Toward Mask Wearing: Thoracic Oncology Patient-Reported Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 vaccines, face masks, and social distancing are effective interventions to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections. In this study, we aimed to determine lung cancer patients' attitudes toward vaccination, changes in behavior after vaccination, and willingness to continue mask wearing after the pandemic.

Methods: We sent out questionnaires to 220 thoracic oncology patients treated at our lung cancer center in May 2021.

Flv3A facilitates O photoreduction and affects H photoproduction independently of Flv1A in diazotrophic Anabaena filaments.

The model heterocyst-forming filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (Anabaena) is a typical example of a multicellular organism capable of simultaneously performing oxygenic photosynthesis in vegetative cells and O -sensitive N -fixation inside heterocysts. The flavodiiron proteins have been shown to participate in photoprotection of photosynthesis by driving excess electrons to O (a Mehler-like reaction).