Regulatory networks of KRAB zinc finger genes and transposable elements changed during human brain evolution and disease.

Evidence indicates that transposable elements (TEs) can contribute to the evolution of new traits, with some TEs acting as deleterious elements while others are repurposed for beneficial roles in evolution. In mammals, some KRAB-ZNF proteins can serve as a key defense mechanism to repress TEs, offering genomic protection. Notably, the family of KRAB-ZNF genes evolves rapidly and exhibits diverse expression patterns in primate brains, where some TEs, including autonomous LINE-1 and non-autonomous Alu and SVA elements, remain mobile.

Is a Response to Intraoperative Electrical Nerve Stimulation Associated With Recovery After Stretch Injury in the Rat Median Nerve?

Background: Peripheral nerve injury commonly results in pain and long-term disability for patients. Recovery after in-continuity stretch or crush injury remains inherently unpredictable. However, surgical intervention yields the most favorable outcomes when performed shortly after injury.

Biparametric vs Multiparametric MRI for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: The PRIME Diagnostic Clinical Trial.

Importance: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with or without prostate biopsy, has become the standard of care for diagnosing clinically significant prostate cancer. Resource capacity limits widespread adoption. Biparametric MRI, which omits the gadolinium contrast sequence, is a shorter and cheaper alternative offering time-saving capacity gains for health systems globally.

Neural alpha oscillations and auditory steady-state responses during adaptation to a cochlear implant.

The human auditory system must distinguish relevant sounds from noise. Severe hearing loss can be treated with cochlear implants (CIs), but how the brain adapts to electrical hearing remains unclear. This study examined adaptation to unilateral CI use in the first and seventh months after CI activation using speech comprehension measures and electroencephalography recordings, both during passive listening and an active spatial listening task.

Statistical parametric mapping: a catalyst for cognitive neuroscience.

Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) is a statistical framework and open source software package for neuroimaging data analysis. Originally created by Karl Friston in the early 1990s, it has been used by a vast number of scientific studies over the last three decades. SPM has not only revolutionized the analysis of neuroimaging data but also catalyzed the development of cognitive neuroscience.

Dual and Single-species Nematode Infections Distinctly Modulate Defense Metabolism in Brassica nigra Roots.

Plant roots are exposed to various organisms that significantly impact plant productivity. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) such as Meloidogyne spp. and Pratylenchus spp.

Global challenges in diabetes research and care: which way forward? An appraisal from the EASD Global Council.

This review article, developed by the EASD Global Council, addresses the growing global challenges in diabetes research and care, highlighting the rising prevalence of diabetes, the increasing complexity of its management and the need for a coordinated international response. With regard to research, disparities in funding and infrastructure between high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are discussed. The under-representation of LMIC populations in clinical trials, challenges in conducting large-scale research projects, and the ethical and legal complexities of artificial intelligence integration are also considered as specific issues.

The role of assistive devices and technologies in the activities and participation in everyday life of children with cerebral palsy - a scoping review.

Objectives: Many studies investigate the impact of assistive devices and technologies (AD/AT) on physical outcomes. The role of AD/ATs in everyday activities and participation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) has received much less attention. This review scopes the impact of AD/ATs by the activities and participation components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model.

Maximum likelihood estimation of log-affine models using detailed-balanced reaction networks.

A fundamental question in the field of molecular computation is what computational tasks a biochemical system can carry out. In this work, we focus on the problem of finding the maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) for log-affine models. We revisit a construction due to Gopalkrishnan of a mass-action system with the MLE as its unique positive steady state, which is based on choosing a basis for the kernel of the design matrix of the model.

Indirect treatment comparison of two pulsed field ablation systems for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Catheter ablation is beneficial in patients with symptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF), and pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a promising energy source to safely and durably create ablation lesions. However, catheter-specific "PFA waveforms and designs" result in effectiveness and safety profiles that are not transferable to other PFA technologies. A head-to-head comparison between the dual-energy, wide-footprint lattice-tip (Sphere-9, Medtronic) and pentaspline PFA catheter (Farawave, Boston Scientific) is not yet available.

Long-term outcomes of modern radiation therapy for pituitary adenoma - different techniques: single institute experience.

Background: Pituitary adenomas are relatively common benign intracranial tumors that may cause significant hormonal imbalances and visual impairments. Radiotherapy (RT) remains an important treatment option, particularly for patients with residual tumor after surgery, recurrent disease, or ongoing hormonal hypersecretion. This study summarizes long-term clinical outcomes and radiation-associated toxicities in patients with pituitary adenomas treated with contemporary radiotherapy techniques at a single institution.

Monitoring of shallow groundwater in Lower Saxony, Germany-spatial variability of redox conditions and benefit of the redox proxy ∆.

Surveillance monitoring of shallow groundwater revealed that redox conditions can vary on a small scale. Therefore, the aim of this study was to categorize redox conditions in the groundwater of Lower Saxony, Germany, and to analyze the spatial distribution and trends of parameters related to redox conditions during surveillance monitoring from 1957 to 2015 in Lower Saxony, Germany. Methodically, trends were considered by applying the Mann-Kendall test and redox conditions of groundwater were classified according to the scheme of Jurgens et al.

The evolution of targeted intra operative radiotherapy in early breast cancer.

Targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) delivers a single dose of radiation to a fresh tumour bed immediately after lumpectomy, commonly used to treat early breast cancer (EBC). It is delivered during the same sitting, with improved patient compliance and better sparing of adjacent healthy tissue, compared to conventional adjuvant radiotherapy to the whole breast. The recently published 12-year results (median follow up of 8.

Poor fracture alignment equals poor outcome? Analysis of conservatively managed distal radius fractures.

Purpose: The NOM (non-operative management) of distal radius fractures (DRF) is influenced by various factors. This study seeks to determine whether poor fracture alignment correlates with poor outcome.

Methods: Over a period of three years, a study was conducted on conservatively treated DRF involving 127 patients, 104 women (81.

Impact of diagnostic laparoscopy on resectability and treatment strategy in FIGO III-IV ovarian cancer.

Objective: To investigate the clinical utility of diagnostic laparoscopy in guiding treatment strategy and surgical outcomes for patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer, specifically regarding operability assessment and the likelihood of complete cytoreduction.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 183 patients with histologically confirmed International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage III-IV ovarian cancer treated with curative intent between January 2018 and December 2023 at a tertiary referral center. Patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy prior to primary treatment (n = 80) and those managed without laparoscopy (n = 103).

Impact of diabetes on outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Diabetic patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are at an increased risk of cardiovascular events as compared to non-diabetic patients. This analysis investigated outcomes of diabetic patients presenting with multivessel disease (MVD) and STEMI in a contemporary trial and the relevance of an immediate versus staged multivessel PCI strategy in this high-risk population.

Methods: Patients enrolled in the MULTISTARS AMI trial were stratified according to the presence/absence of diabetes.

Fulminant myocarditis: outcome predictors in an international cohort study.

Background And Aims: Fulminant myocarditis (FM) is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by acute myocardial inflammation and cardiogenic shock. Evidence on long-term outcomes, mortality risk factors, and targeted treatment options remains limited.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included consecutive adult patients admitted for FM between January 2012 and November 2022 at 26 European tertiary centres.

Transition of patients with hereditary nephropathies from pediatric to adult care.

Adolescents and young adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly those with genetic kidney diseases, face unique challenges as they transition from pediatric to adult nephrology care. This period is marked not only by changes in healthcare providers but also by significant developmental, psychosocial, and medical complexities. In response, the ERA Working Group on Genes and Kidney and the ESPN Working Group on Inherited Kidney Diseases have collaborated to develop practical advice for healthcare professionals involved in transition care across Europe and beyond.

Monaural and binaural speech-recognition curves for the freiburg monosyllabic speech test in quiet.

Objective: Determination of monaural and binaural speech-recognition curves for the Freiburg monosyllabic speech test (FMST) in quiet to update and supplement existing normative data.

Design: Monaural and binaural speech-recognition tests were performed in free field at five speech levels in two anechoic test rooms at two sites (Lübeck and Oldenburg, Germany). For the monaural tests, one ear was occluded with a foam earplug.

Low-Dimensional Semiconducting Silver (Germanium, Tin) Polyphosphides - Incommensurately Modulated Derivates of the HgPbP Structure Type.

Semiconductors with one-dimensional (1D) substructures are promising for next-generation optical and electronic devices due to their directional transport and flexibility. Representatives of this class include HgPbP-type materials. This study investigates the related semiconductors AgGeP and AgSnP.

Manual therapy and exercise targeted to the neck and orofacial regions for patients with orofacial pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To summarize the evidence on the effectiveness of manual therapy (MT) and exercise targeted to the neck or jaw and neck (combined) in the management of orofacial pain (OFP).

Material And Methods: The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021227490). Electronic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and CINAHL.

Tender x-ray microfocus beamline employing a combined double crystal/multilayer grating monochromator.

A new x-ray beamline at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt laboratory at BESSY II provides monochromatized radiation in the energy range from 1 to 10 keV, with a typical focus size of 20 μm. It is not only optimized for high-resolution x-ray spectrometry and microscopy but also enables scattering experiments and radiometric measurements. The innovative monochromator consists of a plane grating monochromator module equipped with multilayer-coated blazed gratings for x-ray energies up to 4 keV and an integrated double-crystal monochromator module equipped with silicon (111) crystals for x-ray energies ranging from 2.