University of Bern

Dual Delivery from a Multilayer Buccal Film: Rational Design of a Combination Product for Localized Treatment of Oral Fibrosis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic, progressive, and potentially malignant disorder characterized by severe oral cavity remodeling. The condition is driven by a painful burning sensation and a pathognomonic restriction of mouth opening (trismus), severely diminishing pati...

Tracking eco-evolutionary patterns among oropharyngeal pathobiome members in a pediatric cystic fibrosis cohort

ABSTRACT Polymicrobial airway colonization is common in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). Pathogen communities typically follow an ecological succession in which early colonizers, such as Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus, are later joined by Pseudomonas aerug...

Diastolic Pressure- and Heart Rate-Dependent Modulation of Arterial Wave Reflection in a Biophysical Cardiovascular Model

Arterial pressure waveforms are shaped by vascular biomechanics and wave reflection, processes that become increasingly relevant in hypertension and vascular aging. This study aimed to investigate how heart rate (pump frequency) and baseline diastolic pressure modulate pressure w...

The impact of COVID-19 on all-cause mortality and life expectancy: findings from a population-based cohort in uMkhanyakude district, northern KwaZulu-natal

Abstract Background Despite the comprehensive death reporting system in South Africa, significant gaps persist in our understanding of the pandemic’s impact in rural areas. Methods We computed monthly death counts stratified by demographic factors from a population-based demograp...

Volumetric Wear of Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene Sockets in Total Hip Arthroplasty Differs Among Brands: A Retrieval Study

Outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA) remain limited by wear and wear particle reaction. Although highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) mitigated this issue, there are major differences among the various brands available. This study quantified, for the first time, the vo...

Investigating the transfer of physical stimuli to the dreamed body: A comparative study of muscular, vestibular, and haptic stimulation on dream incorporation

The relationship between the dreamed body and the physical body remains an open question in sleep and dream research. This study examined whether somatosensory stimulation applied during REM sleep modulates the corresponding dream content under controlled conditions. Using a with...

Effect of Sevoflurane, Propofol, and Remifentanil on Hemodynamic Response to Pneumoperitoneum and Laparoscopic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Although the interaction of sevoflurane, propofol, and opioids has been investigated regarding motor response to laryngoscopy, their hemodynamic impact during surgical stimulation remains unexplored. We therefore assessed the effect of sevoflurane, propofol, and remif...

Convergent genome streamlining accompanies independent miniaturization in the world’s smallest fishes

Miniaturization, the reduction of adult body size to an extreme degree, has evolved repeatedly across vertebrates. Yet its genomic underpinnings remain poorly understood. Cypriniformes, the most species-rich order of freshwater fishes, contains multiple miniaturized lineages that...

Sex work or male-with-male sexual activity and the risks of HIV and hepatitis C acquisition among people who inject drugs: a global systematic review and meta-analysis

Background People who inject drugs (PWID) may engage in sexual behaviours that increase their HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) risk, including sex work and male-with-male sexual activity. We undertook a global systematic review to assess whether PWID who engage in these behaviours...

Aquatic vegetation promotes prey diversity but not the diversification of predator phenotypes

Freshwater fish have evolved to forage in a range of habitats, from open water in lakes to benthic shorelines and streams. Much research has focused on how prey differences, such as zooplankton versus benthic macroinvertebrates, might select for divergence in predator traits acro...

Technical note: A physically based correction of WRF temperature using atmospheric lapse rates for high-resolution hydrological simulations in a glacierized catchment

Abstract. High-elevation alpine catchments are particularly affected by the global rise in temperature. Understanding the drivers of climate-induced changes in the hydrological response of these catchments in the past is relevant for developing future adaptation strategies for wa...

Long-term results of the modified Dunn procedure in slipped capital femoral epiphysis

Aims: In situ fixation for slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) prevents further displacement, but fails to correct the proximal femoral deformity, which may lead to femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and early osteoarthritis (OA). The modified Dunn procedure (MDP) restores p...

Accuracy of visual estimation of coronary artery calcifications on low-dose CT from oncologic FDG PET/CT

To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of visual ordinal coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring on low-dose, non-gated CT scans acquired as part of oncologic PET/CT, using CAC scoring from ECG-gated non-contrast cardiac CT as the reference standard. 210 oncological patients who...

Chronic alanine aminotransferase elevation in people with HIV : Time trends over 22 years and genetic predisposition

Abstract Introduction Chronic elevation of alanine aminotransferase (cALT) is common in people with HIV. Published reports on cALT prevalence time trends have not been uniform. It is unknown whether genetic background is associated with cALT in people with HIV. Methods cALT was d...

Grazing intensity regulates cattle movement and forage-use-efficient behavioral patterns through vegetation and abiotic pathways in a temperate meadow steppe

Livestock movement and time allocation are key behavioral processes linking grazing pressure to grassland use efficiency, yet how these behaviors respond to quantified grazing intensity and associated vegetation and abiotic conditions remains insufficiently understood. In this st...

Advancing Biotherapeutic Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis Using Lipid Mesophases: Formulation Design and Preclinical Validation

ABSTRACT Biotherapeutics are required to achieve high remission rates in patients with severe ulcerative colitis (UC); however, adverse effects, complex dosing regimens, administration routes, and low patient compliance limit their widespread clinical use. Given the localized nat...

Th2/Th17 Inflammation: Pathogenic Drivers and Therapeutic Targets in Darier and Hailey‐Hailey Diseases

ABSTRACT Background The inherited acantholytic dermatoses Darier disease (DD) and Hailey‐Hailey disease (HHD) are characterized by a barrier dysfunction of the epidermis susceptible to inflammation and microbial infections. Objectives This study aimed at investigating the express...

A cognitive-behavioral and exercise intervention to reduce fear of falling in older adults in assisted living facilities: a pilot study

Abstract Background Fear of falling (FoF) is common in assisted living facilities (ALFs) and contributes to reduced mobility and well-being. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and exercise interventions are effective, but no culturally adapted programs exist for German-speaking A...

Surface Quadrilateral Meshing from Integrable Odeco Fields

Abstract We present a method for generating orthogonal quadrilateral meshes subject to user‐defined feature alignment and sizing constraints. The approach relies on computing integrable orthogonal frame fields, whose symmetries are implicitly represented using orthogonally decomp...

Recent and Cumulative Cannabis Use and Sleep in Middle-Aged Adults

Importance Cannabis is widely used and often promoted as a sleep aid, but evidence of its long-term implications for sleep is limited. Objective To examine the associations of cumulative cannabis exposure from young adulthood to middle age and recent cannabis use with objective a...