Landscape structure, climate variability, and soil quality shape crop biomass patterns in agricultural ecosystems of Bavaria.

Understanding how environmental variability shapes crop biomass is essential for improving yield stability and guiding climate-resilient agriculture. To address this, we compared biomass estimates from a semi-empirical light use efficiency (LUE) model with predictions from a machine learning-remote sensing framework that integrates environmental variables. We applied a combined LUE and random forest (RF) model to estimate the mean biomass of winter wheat and oilseed rape across Bavaria, Germany, from 2001 to 2019.

Investigation into the influence of stimulation area and coil orientation on the results of navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) mapping of lower limb intracortical excitability.

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is widely used to assess corticomotor excitability. Coil orientation and stimulation location are crucial for eliciting motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) and determining resting motor thresholds (RMT). Since the cortical foot area is challenging to examine, identifying the optimal coil angle and location is essential.

Reverse Pupillary Block - a Complication of Sutureless Scleral-fixated Intraocular Lenses.

Reverse pupillary block (RPB) is a posterior bowing of the iris, which is most likely caused by a flap-valve-like mechanism between the lens and the iris. It can lead to iris chafing, pigment dispersion glaucoma and uveitis-glaucoma-hyphema syndrome. In this study we examine patients who underwent sutureless scleral-fixated IOL implantation due to IOL luxation or aphakia.

Assessing genotype-phenotype correlations in colorectal cancer with deep learning: a multicentre cohort study.

Background: Deep learning-based models enable the prediction of molecular biomarkers from histopathology slides of colorectal cancer stained with haematoxylin and eosin; however, few studies have assessed prediction targets beyond microsatellite instability (MSI), BRAF, and KRAS systematically. We aimed to develop and validate a multi-target model based on deep learning for the simultaneous prediction of numerous genetic alterations and their associated phenotypes in colorectal cancer.

Methods: In this multicentre cohort study, tissue samples from patients with colorectal cancer were obtained by surgical resection and stained with haematoxylin and eosin.

The ILIA study: protocol for a randomized-controlled multicenter clinical trial on smartphone- and web-based relapse monitoring for patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Background: Despite the proven efficacy of antipsychotics in relapse prevention in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, every third patient experiences a relapse within less than one year. Relapses can worsen psychosocial and treatment related outcomes and lead to substantial economic costs, primarily due to frequent and prolonged hospitalizations. The aim of this project is to evaluate a smartphone- and web-based digital solution for detecting early warning signs of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder to reduce relapses and subsequent hospitalizations.

A20 (TNFAIP3) Distinguishes Attack From Remission in Pediatric Patients With Monophasic MOGAD.

Background And Objectives: Acquired demyelinating syndromes associated with serum antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein have been recognized as MOG-IgG-associated disorders (MOGADs). Patients with MOGAD show distinct features compared with individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs). Up to 50% of patients experience relapsing disease courses, usually associated with persisting high MOG-IgG titers.

Evaluating the risk of digestive system cancer in autoimmune disease patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on bias assessment.

Background: There is emerging evidence that certain autoimmune diseases can modulate the risk for digestive system cancer. However, limitations of non-experimental studies may lead to diverging results. Thus, the aim was to evaluate the available evidence and provide bias-minimized estimates for the associations between celiac disease (CD), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), and type 1 diabetes (T1D) and different digestive system cancers.

HIBRID: histology-based risk-stratification with deep learning and ctDNA in colorectal cancer.

Although surgical resection is the standard therapy for stage II/III colorectal cancer, recurrence rates exceed 30%. Circulating tumor DNA (ctNDA) detects molecular residual disease (MRD), but lacks spatial and tumor microenvironment information. Here, we develop a deep learning (DL) model to predict disease-free survival from hematoxylin & eosin stained whole slide images in stage II-IV colorectal cancer.

Dissecting Tumor Heterogeneity by Liquid Biopsy-A Comparative Analysis of Post-Mortem Tissue and Pre-Mortem Liquid Biopsies in Solid Neoplasias.

Tumor heterogeneity encompasses genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic diversity, impacting treatment response and resistance. Spatial heterogeneity occurs both inter- and intra-lesionally, while temporal heterogeneity results from clonal evolution. High-throughput technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS) enhance tumor characterization, but conventional biopsies still do not adequately capture genetic heterogeneity.

Comparing intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) and hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HSRT) after brain metastasis surgery: impact on oncological outcome and radionecrosis.

Purpose: Due to significantly lower neurocognitive toxicity, whole-brain irradiation (WBI) has largely been replaced by focal irradiation of the resection cavity following brain metastasis surgery. However, the optimal treatment modality and fractionation scheme remain controversial. This study conducts a comparative analysis of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HSRT) and intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), focusing on clinical outcomes and toxicity profiles.

Biocompatible liquid-infused titanium minimizes oral biofilm adhesion in flow chamber and 3D implant-tissue-biofilm models.

Biomedical implants are susceptible to bacterial colonization, which can lead to challenging implant-associated infections. In particular, dental implant abutments - which are continuously exposed to bacteria within the oral cavity - stand to greatly benefit from strategies which inhibit the development of bacterial biofilms. Liquid-infused titanium surfaces have demonstrated excellent biofilm repellency, but to date have not been analyzed with substances suitable for medical device approval in terms of biocompatibility under conditions mimicking the environment of dental implant abutments.

Microscopic Origin of Reduced Magnetic Order in a Frustrated Metal.

Although magnetic frustration in metals provides a promising avenue for novel quantum phenomena, their microscopic interpretation is often challenging. Here, we use the face-centered cubic intermetallic HoInCu_{4} as model material to show that Hamiltonians neglecting the charge degree of freedom are appropriate for frustrated metals possessing low density of states at the Fermi surface. Through neutron scattering techniques we determine matching magnetic exchange interactions in the paramagnetic and field-polarized states using an effective spin-1 Heisenberg Hamiltonian, for which we identify antiferromagnetic nearest and next-nearest-neighbor interactions J_{1} and J_{2} that are close to the critical ratio J_{2}/J_{1}=1/2.

Beauty Under Pressure: The Impact of Hypertension on Outcomes in 54,000 Cases of Esthetic Breast Surgery.

Background: Hypertension affects nearly one-third of the global adult population and is associated with increased postoperative morbidity. However, its specific impact on outcomes of esthetic breast surgery (EBS) remains poorly understood.

Methods: Data from the multi-institutional American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program between 2008 and 2022 were analyzed.

Drug-Drug Interactions Between Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Other Medications in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism: Results from the Lungenembolie Augsburg (LEA).

Background And Aim: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are now a well-established class of medication for blood clot prevention and treatment. So far, literature evaluating real-world data on the drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between DOACs and other medications in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) is limited. This study aims to investigate these interactions in patients with PE to address this and improve patient care.

Prognostic impact of the choice of chemotherapy after first-line CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy in patients with metastatic hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

Introduction: Whereas CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) are the standard first-line therapy for patients with hormone receptor-positive (HRpos), HER2-negative (HER2neg) metastatic breast cancer, guidelines on treatment options after progression on CDK4/6i are more diverse. Chemotherapy is recommended if a patient develops endocrine resistance or experiences a visceral crisis. However, the impact of the choice of chemotherapy remains unknown.

Observation of distorted tilted conical phase at the surface of a bulk chiral magnet with resonant elastic x-ray scattering.

We report on various magnetic configurations including spirals and skyrmions at the surface of the magnetic insulator Cu OSeO at low temperatures with a magnetic field applied along 100 using resonant elastic X-ray scattering (REXS). We observe a well-ordered surface state referred to as a distorted tilted conical spiral (dTC) phase over a wide range of magnetic fields. The dTC phase shows characteristic higher harmonic magnetic satellites in the REXS reciprocal space maps.

Redefining AT1 Receptor PET Imaging: Introducing the Radiotracer [F]DR29.

Background: AT1R (angiotensin II type 1 receptors) are central to the renin-angiotensin system and are involved in regulating blood pressure and renal physiology. This study introduces [F]DR29, a fluorine-18-labeled radiotracer for positron emission tomography imaging, to enable noninvasive visualization of AT1R expression. Its potential applications in understanding AT1R-associated renal processes are explored in healthy and hypertensive rat models.

Theta burst stimulation of temporo-parietal cortex regions for the treatment of persistent auditory hallucinations: a multicentre, randomised, sham-controlled, triple-blind phase 3 trial in Germany.

Background: Auditory verbal hallucinations are a major burden for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and are often resistant to pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the temporo-parietal cortex has been proposed as a treatment for persistent auditory verbal hallucinations. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of bilateral continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS), a brief and efficient form of rTMS, in adults with auditory verbal hallucinations versus sham cTBS.

Impact of Baseline β-Catenin Comutations on Prognosis in EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancer.

Purpose: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are a main actionable driver in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the clinical significance of catenin beta-1 (CTNNB1) comutations remains unclear. This study evaluated outcomes of patients with EGFR/CTNNB1 comutated NSCLC in a dual-center cohort.

Association of psychosis and oral health: case-control study.

Objectives: Roughly one in eight individuals presents with psychiatric disorders which were proposed to significantly affect oral health. This study compared oral health of 112 patients (mean 28 years), 31 with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) or 33 with major depression/bipolar disorders (MDD/BD) to 52 healthy controls (HCG).

Materials And Methods: Oral health parameters, including caries experience (decayed-missed-filled teeth/surfaces-index DMFT/DMFS), the presence of plaque (plaque-index PI) and periodontal health (bleeding on probing BOP, periodontal probing depths PPD%), were evaluated by examiners blinded to psychiatric diagnoses.

Nationwide analysis of surgical and interventional uterine fibroid treatments over the past decades in Germany.

Background: Uterine artery embolization (UAE) has been a valid tool in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids for a quarter of a century by now. This study aims to examine the impact of this treatment and its development since its introduction in Germany.

Materials And Methods: All patients that received inpatient treatment for uterine fibroids (ICD-10 code D25) as primary diagnosis or the primary symptoms of hypermenorrhea/menorrhagia (N92) or dysmenorrhea (N94) with a secondary diagnosis of uterine fibroids from 2005 until 2023 were included.