University Hospital Heidelberg

Allocation of TSPO-PET signals to cellular and extracellular compartments in dependence of blood-brain barrier disruption in experimental glioblastoma

BACKGROUND: Translocator protein (TSPO)-PET imaging facilitates monitoring of glioblastoma in preclinical models and patients. However, specificity of TSPO-PET signals remains to be investigated. In this study, we aimed to decipher exact contributions of cellular and extracellula...

Green space exposure predicts manic episodes in bipolar disorder: one year longitudinal analysis using smartphone-derived GPS data

Abstract Urban living is linked to increased psychiatric morbidity, while green spaces may protect mental health via stress-buffering effects. Yet, the role of green space exposure in the onset of affective episodes in bipolar disorder (BD) remains unclear. Using 12 months of GPS...

Divergent medulloblastoma chromatin states disclose KDM2B as a selective dependency

Abstract Medulloblastoma is a biologically heterogeneous childhood cerebellar tumor harboring frequent chromatin-modifying gene alterations. How these alterations promote transcriptional programs governing malignancy remains poorly defined. To address this knowledge gap, we evalu...

Prophylactic vs Therapeutic Anticoagulation in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19

Importance Coagulopathy in the context of COVID-19 is a major threat due to deep vein thromboses and pulmonary embolisms. Objective To assess whether therapeutic anticoagulation on top of standard of care (SOC) compared with prophylactic anticoagulation as part of SOC can improve...

Effect of prehospital cervical spine immobilization on mortality and neurological outcome in trauma patients: an observational cohort study with propensity score matching based on the trauma registry of the German trauma society (TraumaRegister DGU®)

Abstract Background Prehospital cervical spine immobilization is standard trauma care intended to prevent secondary spinal cord injury, yet evidence for its effectiveness is limited, and adverse effects are increasingly recognized. Large registry-based comparisons accounting for...

Reindeer health and supplementary feeding practices – a survey among herders in Norway and Sweden

Abstract Background The well-being, health and nutrition of reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus tarandus ) and the practice of reindeer husbandry in Fennoscandia are strongly affected by climate change and the loss and fragmentation of pastures. Supplementary feeding has become increasi...

Classification of recurrence status after surgical treatment of chronic subdural hemorrhage – A machine learning approach

Background Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) recurrence requiring reoperation occurs in 5–33% of cases. Predicting recurrence could enable risk-stratified surveillance, reducing imaging in low-risk patients while maintaining monitoring for high-risk individuals. We evaluated wheth...

Towards network-based care: a three-phase study to explore the Networkintake as an entry point into network-oriented mental health services

Background A systemic transformation toward recovery-oriented, network-based care is essential to address persistent challenges in mental health services. To catalyze this transformation, the Networkintake approach has been developed to support a participatory approach to a compr...

Quantitative and qualitative lung parameters in photon-counting CT: comparison of ultra-low-dose with standard low-dose protocols

Abstract Objectives Photon-counting CT (PCCT) enables dose reduction beyond energy-integrating CT, but ultra-low-dose acquisitions may impair assessment of airways and lung parenchyma. We evaluated the impact of ultra-low-dose (ULD) PCCT on quantitative and qualitative lung param...

Assessment of Horizontal Semicircular Canal and Graviceptive Perception Before and After Cochlear Implantation

Background/Objectives: Cochlear implantation (CI) effectively treats severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss, but its vestibular effects remain under investigation. This retrospective study assessed perioperative changes in horizontal canal function (video head impulse test...

Clinical efficacy/effectiveness, safety, and health-related quality of life associated with relapsed/refractory pediatric low-grade glioma treatments: systematic literature review

Abstract Background Patients with relapsed/refractory pediatric low-grade glioma (R/R pLGG) face considerable long-term morbidity. Most cases are driven by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway alterations, for which several targeted agents have been evaluated. Systemat...

Belantamab mafodotin plus venetoclax in t(11;14)-positive relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma – the BELI(E)VE trial

Abstract Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is a widely incurable B-cell malignancy that predominantly affects older adults, representing 10% of hematologic cancers. Despite advancements in therapy that have significantly extended median overall survival (OS), MM remains a clinical...

COVID-19 lockdown and coverage of maternal health and nutrition care in rural West Bengal, India: a single interrupted time-series analysis

Abstract While COVID-19 lockdowns globally disrupted healthcare, the extent of changes in India’s maternal health and nutrition services coverage in rural settings requires further empirical investigation. Utilizing data from 57,371 pregnancies recorded between January 2012 and D...

Exhaled breath aerosol sampling for detection of pulmonary tuberculosis in adults: a study protocol for an exploratory diagnostic accuracy study

Introduction Tuberculosis remains a major global health challenge, causing over one million deaths annually. Current diagnostic techniques depend on restrictive sputum sampling. Better sampling methods are needed to enable early detection and effective management. This study intr...

Development of a Core Outcome Measurement Set for studies of community pharmacist-led medication reviews in older patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy

Abstract Introduction A Core Outcome Set (COS) can harmonize outcome reporting. For medication review (MR) studies targeting older, multi-morbid patients with polypharmacy, a COS with seven outcomes is available: Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL), pain relief, overuse, under...

Non-invasive biofeedback-assisted vs. conventional pelvic floor muscle training combined with high-effort resistance training for urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Radical prostatectomy (RP) often leads to urinary incontinence (UI). There is sufficient evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that pelvic floor muscle and sphincter training (PFMT) are effective interventions to reduce UI. Objective To compare the...

Patient-derived 3D organotypic co-cultures as a long-term ex vivo model for pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland

Abstract Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign salivary gland tumor and most frequently arises in the parotid gland. Although benign, it can recur and may undergo malignant transformation, underscoring the need for experimental models that preserve native tissue features...

Annual Research Review: Sex differences in conduct disorder – revisiting existing evidence and exploring future directions

Conduct disorder (CD) is a common psychiatric disorder in youth, characterized by severe and recurrent aggressive and antisocial behaviors and associated with substantial healthcare and societal costs. Rates of CD increase during adolescence in both sexes, with the male‐to‐female...

Pulse-resolved spatial dosimetry of ultra-high dose rate electron FLASH beams using optical imaging

PURPOSE: Ultra-high dose rate FLASH radiotherapy has shown the potential to reduce normal tissue toxicity while maintaining tumor control. However, investigating the underlying radiobiological mechanisms requires dosimetry systems capable of resolving spatial and temporal charact...

Impact of surface structuring on antibiotic elution from bone cement in two-stage revision for periprosthetic joint infection

Abstract Purpose Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a serious complication after total joint arthroplasty and the leading cause of revision surgery. Two-stage revision with prosthesis removal, radical debridement, and interim antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) spacers is t...