Publications database

Climate change, pollution, and resource depletion pose significant challenges to modern society, including the healthcare sector. While the delivery of health services inherently entails energy and resource utilization, the health care sector has a relevant role to play for sustainable development, since it is estimated to account for approximately 4.7% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU whilst also contributing to natural resource depletion, toxic chemical release, and the generation of non-compostable waste. [...]

Sinonasal carcinomas are rare but aggressive malignancies. A subset is associated with high-risk HPV, but risk factors for HPV-associated sinonasal carcinoma (HPV-SNC) and HPV-independent disease remain poorly understood.To evaluate behavioral and clinical risk factors, including sexual history and substance use, and HPV antibody seropositivity in patients with HPV-SNC and HPV-independent SNC.This multi-institutional case-case-control study was conducted from 2021 to 2024 at two NCI-designated cancer centers. [...]

A large proportion of Europeans are exposed to high levels of transportation noise, which can cause physiological and psychological stress, leading to negative health impacts. Few studies have examined the association between transportation noise and self-rated health (SRH), a summary indicator of morbidity.We aimed to assess the associations of SRH with both annual average road traffic noise exposure and nighttime transportation noise annoyance, examine geographic differences, evaluate potential effect modification and interaction by sex, and investigate whether annoyance mediates the relationship between road traffic noise and self-rated health.Using NAKO baseline data (n = 174,956), we implemented a cross-sectional study using logistic regression to analyze associations of road traffic noise ≥ 55 dB(A) and nighttime transportation noise annoyance with poor SRH, adjusting for relevant sociodemographic characteristics and environmental co-exposures, including air pollution and greenness. [...]

The halophilic marine-derived fungus Aspergillus ruber CBS 135680 was systematically investigated for its secondary metabolite potential through genome mining. A total of 36 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) were identified, including four non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) clusters, eight NRPS-like clusters, eight type I polyketide synthase (T1PKS) clusters, ten terpene clusters, four hybrid clusters, and two siderophore clusters. [...]

Cerebellar organoids present promising tools for the modelling of human cerebellar development and diseases. As this young field grows, robust standards and transparent reporting practices are needed to ensure the reproducibility and utility of the generated cerebellar organoid models. [...]

Artificial intelligence (AI) in surgical disciplines has the potential to support all areas of patient care, with the goal of improving treatment quality and patient safety. A group of multidisciplinary experts discussed the current situation as well as steps required to successfully integrate AI into surgical disciplines in the context of a consensus conference at the second Digital Health Summit (Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany) in August 2024.A modified Delphi procedure was performed with 16 multidisciplinary physicians and scientists on the topic of AI in surgical disciplines and beyond. [...]

Cardiac tumors are exceedingly rare with metastatic involvement representing the most frequent form of malignancy within the heart. In patients presenting with inoperable primary or recurrent malignant cardiac sarcomas or cardiac/epicardial/pericardial metastases, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) serves as an alternative local treatment to surgery or may, in some cases, constitute the sole viable local treatment modality. [...]

Gliomas can appear radiologically diffuse or sharply delineated on MRI. This can be quantified by the T1/T2 ratio, a quotient of the T1 hypointense to T2 hyperintense tumor volume. [...]

Lymph node (LN) colonization in cancer is linked to poor prognosis. Evidence suggests that LN colonization induces systemic immunosuppression, facilitating distant metastasis. [...]