Molecular and physiologic changes in the SpaceX Inspiration4 civilian crew.

Human spaceflight has historically been managed by government agencies, such as the NASA Twins Study1, but new commercial spaceflight opportunities have opened spaceflight to a broader population. In 2021, the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission launched the first-ever all civilian crew to low Earth orbit, which included the youngest American astronaut (age 29), novel in-flight experimental technologies (handheld ultrasound imaging, smartwatch wearables, and immune profiling), ocular alignment measurements, and new protocols for in-depth, multi-omic molecular and cellular profiling. Here we report the primary findings from the 3-day spaceflight mission, which induced a broad range of physiological and stress responses, neurovestibular changes indexed by ocular misalignment, and altered neurocognitive functioning, some of which match long-term spaceflight2, but almost all of which did not differ from baseline (pre-flight) after return to Earth. Overall, these preliminary civilian spaceflight data suggest that short-duration missions do not pose a significant health risk, and moreover present a rich opportunity to measure the earliest phases of adaptation to spaceflight in the human body at anatomical, cellular, physiologic, and cognitive levels. Finally, these methods and results lay the foundation for an open, rapidly expanding biomedical database for astronauts3, which can inform countermeasure development for both private and government-sponsored space missions.

Side-effect management of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells directed against the B-cell marker CD19 are currently changing the landscape for treatment of patients with refractory and/or relapsed B-cell malignancies. Due to the nature of CAR T cells as living drugs, they display a unique toxicity profile. As CAR T-cell therapy is extending towards other diseases and being more broadly employed in hematology and oncology, optimal management strategies of side-effects associated with CAR T-cell therapy are of high relevance. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), and cytopenias constitute challenges in the treatment of patients with CAR T cells. This review summarizes the current understanding of CAR T-cell toxicity and its management.

All-cause and cause-specific mortality following non-traumatic spinal cord injury: evidence from a population-based cohort study in Switzerland.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To benchmark all-cause and cause-specific mortality following NTSCI to the general population (GP). SETTING: Specialized rehabilitation centers in Switzerland. METHODS: Longitudinal data from the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury (SwiSCI) Medical Record study were probabilistically linked with cause of death (CoD) information from the Swiss National Cohort. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were estimated for all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Competing risk frameworks were used to estimate the probability of death due to specific CoD. RESULTS: One thousand five hundred and one individuals were admitted for first rehabilitation with NTSCI between 1990-2011; CoD information was available for 454 individuals of the 525 individuals that died. Overall, the mortality rate for persons with NTSCI was 1.6 times greater than that of the GP. Deaths due to cardiovascular disease (39.8%), neoplasms (22%), and infection (9.9%) were most often reported. Individuals with an SCI due to a vascular etiology indicated the greatest burden of mortality from infection compared with the GP (SMR 5.4; 95% CI, 3.1 to 9.2). CONCLUSIONS: Cause-specific SMRs varied according to etiology. This supports the need for targeted clinical care and follow-up. Cardiovascular disease, neoplasms, and infection, emerged as main causes of death following NTSCI and should thus be targets for future research and differential clinical management approaches.

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration: Yo antibody alters mitochondrial calcium buffering capacity.

AIM: Neurodegeneration is associated with dysfunction of calcium buffering capacity and thereby sustained cellular and mitochondrial calcium overload. Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD), characterized by progressive Purkinje neurone degeneration following paraneoplastic Yo antibody internalization and binding to cerebellar degeneration-related protein CDR2 and CDR2L, has been linked to intracellular calcium homeostasis imbalance due to calbindin D28k malfunction. Therefore, we hypothesized that Yo antibody internalization affects not only calbindin calcium binding capacity, but also calcium-sensitive mitochondrial-associated signalling, causing mitochondrial calcium overload and thereby Purkinje neurone death. METHODS: Immunohistochemically, we evaluated cerebellar organotypic slice cultures of rat brains after inducing PCD through the application of Yo antibody-positive PCD patient sera or purified antibodies against CDR2 and CDR2L how pharmacologically biased mitochondrial signalling affected PCD pathology. RESULTS: We found that Yo antibody internalization into Purkinje neurons caused depletion of Purkinje neurone calbindin-immunoreactivity, cannabinoid 1 receptor over-activation and alterations in the actions of the mitochondria permeability transition pore (MPTP), voltage-dependent anion channels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Na+ /Ca2+ exchangers (NCX). The pathological mechanisms caused by Yo antibody binding to CDR2 or CDR2L differed between the two targets. Yo-CDR2 binding did not alter the mitochondrial calcium retention capacity, cyclophilin D-independent opening of MPTP or activity of NCX. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that minimizing intracellular calcium overload toxicity either directly with cyclosporin-A or indirectly with cannabidiol or the ROS scavenger butylated hydroxytoluene promotes mitochondrial calcium homeostasis and may therefore be used as future neuroprotective therapy for PCD patients.

Diagnostic accuracy of a new ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscope compared to H&E-stained paraffin slides for micrographic surgery of basal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: For safe excision of malignant skin tumours, complete negative surgical margins are mandatory. The gold standard for analysis is frozen sections or paraffin-embedded haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides. The production of H&E-stained slides is time-consuming (>20 h) while wounds remain unclosed. An upcoming method is confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), a technique that scans unfixed fresh tissue rapidly. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the process to generate and analyse CLSM images and assessment of the accuracy to detect basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tissue. METHODS: Digital microscopic images were generated by the Histolog Scanner v1 from 544 fresh specimens of 148 BCCs that had been stained with a 0.01% proflavine solution. CLSM images were compared to the histological diagnoses of the corresponding H&E-stained slides. RESULTS: A total of 525 images could be analysed. The sensitivity was 73% (95% CI = [65.27%; 80.47%]), and the specificity was 96% (95% CI = [93.40%; 97.60%]). Detection of BCCs in punch biopsies was certainly detected (sensitivity of 100%). The median total time to generate and evaluate a CLSM image was 5.17 min (maximum 20.17 min and minimum 2.05 min). The greatest challenge was flattening the specimen to assure complete representation of the surgical margins. CONCLUSION: Confocal laser scanning microscopy is a time-saving and very effective alternative to classical paraffin-embedded or frozen sections. Patient treatment could be improved due to shorter hospital stays or faster outpatient therapy due to reduced intervals between surgical stages. Diagnostic accuracy of the microscope used still must be improved.

Survival after non-traumatic spinal cord injury: evidence from a population-based rehabilitation cohort in Switzerland.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate survival and life expectancy after NTSCI in Switzerland according to etiology. SETTING: Specialized rehabilitation centers in Switzerland. METHODS: Longitudinal data from the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury (SwiSCI) medical records study were used. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and life expectancies were estimated using flexible parametric survival modeling. RESULTS: One thousand four hundred and fifty individuals were admitted to first rehabilitation for NTSCI between 1990 and 2011, contributing 6137 cumulative person-years at risk and 528 deaths. With reference to persons with a degenerative disc disorder, the HR for mortality in individuals with NTSCIs from infections was 1.42 (95% CI 0.99-2.04), while risk in those with NTSCIs from vascular disorders was 1.28 (95% CI 0.97-1.68). Mortality risk was most pronounced in individuals with NTSCIs from malignant neoplasms (HR 6.32, 95% CI 4.79-8.34). Exemplified for males with an attained age of 60 years, a malignant etiology was associated with 1.7 life years remaining (LYR), as compared to 10.1 LYR for non-malignant etiologies. Males with an attained age of 60 years and a degenerative disc etiology were estimated to have 12.9 LYR. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes an evidence base for risk factors of mortality after NTSCI, reducing a considerable knowledge gap in survival after NTSCI. Survival and life expectancy estimates were highly differential between etiological groups, indicating a need for a heterogeneous clinical approach and dynamic health-care provisions for this growing population.

[Future Trends in Medical Rehabilitation in the Context of Multimorbidity - Part II: Structural Requirements to Manage an Appropriate Rehabilitative Healthcare]. / Die Zukunft der medizinisch-rehabilitativen Versorgung im Kontext der Multimorbidität ­ Teil II: Strukturelle Voraussetzungen und Anforderungen an das rehabilitative Versorgungssystem.

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitative health care is paying increasing attention to multimorbid people with 2 and more coexistent chronic diseases of sociomedical relevance. METHODS: Terms, requirements, design, configuration, challenges and supply of sociomedical rehabilitation were described in part I. A project group of the Medical Advisory Board of the Federal Rehabilitation Council describes manifold fields of actions to be taken in the rehabilitation of persons with multimorbidity. RESULTS: The actions proposed range from reviewing existing forms of management to identifying rehabilitative needs and initiating accurately fitting interventions, sensitizing and enlarging competences of involved personnel, considering multimorbidity in guidelines and further research on questions still open.

[Future Trends in Medical Rehabilitation in the Context of Multimorbidity - Part I: Definition of Terms, Issues and Challenges]. / Die Zukunft der medizinisch­rehabilitativen Versorgung im Kontext der Multimorbidität ­ Teil I: Begriffsbestimmung, Versorgungsfragen und Herausforderungen.

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitative health care is increasingly focusing its attention on multimorbid people with 2 and more coexistent chronic diseases of sociomedical relevance. METHODS: After defining the term "multimorbidity" in the context of rehabilitative health care, an exploratory overview of the prevalence and clinical implication of this condition as reported in the literature was drafted. Based on a case history, special attention was paid to general as well as special challenges regarding design, configuration and supply of sociomedical rehabilitative care. Consensus was achieved with the Health Advisory Board of the German Federal Rehabilitation Council. RESULTS: The proposed actions necessary for the healthcare of persons with multimorbidity include specific function-oriented individual assessment of needs via the distinctive allocation, selection and performance of rehabilitative procedures as well as post-rehabilitative care until the patient's reintegration into his social environment.

[Correction: Future Trends in Medical Rehabilitation in the Context of Multimorbidity - Part I: Definition of Terms, Issues and Challenges]. / Errata: Die Zukunft der medizinisch­rehabilitativen Versorgung im Kontext der Multimorbidität ­ Teil I: Begriffsbestimmung, Versorgungsfragen und Herausforderungen.

W. SEGER, W. CIBIS, A. DEVENTER, S. GROTKAMP, N. LüBKE, P.-W. SCHöNLE, M. SCHUBERT. DIE ZUKUNFT DER MEDIZINISCH-REHABILITATIVEN VERSORGUNG IM KONTEXT DER MULTIMORBIDITäT - TEIL I: BEGRIFFSBESTIMMUNG, VERSORGUNGSFRAGEN UND HERAUSFORDERUNGEN KüNSTLERISCHE THERAPEUTEN IM GESUNDHEITSWESEN. GESUNDHEITSWESEN 2016;: Bei diesem Beitrag fehlte ein Autor und die zugehörige Institutsangabe. Nachfolgend die ergänzten Autoren und Institute: AUTOREN:: W. Seger1, W. Cibis2, A. Deventer3, S. Grotkamp4, N. Lübke5, P.-W. Schönle6, M. Schmidt-Ohlemann7, M. Schubert2 INSTITUTE:: 1 MDK Niedersachsen, Hannover 2 Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft für Rehabilitation (BAR), Frankfurt 3 Praxis für Physikalische und Rehabilitative Medizin, Hamburg 4 MDK Niedersachsen, SEG 1, Hannover 5 Kompetenz-Centrum Geriatrie (KCG), Hamburg 6 Maternus Kliniken, Bad Oeynhausen 7 Diakonie Bad Kreuznach, Rehabilitationsklinik, Bad Kreuznach.

Electron holography on HfO2/HfO2-x bilayer structures with multilevel resistive switching properties.

Unveiling the physical nature of the oxygen-deficient conductive filaments (CFs) that are responsible for the resistive switching of the HfO2-based resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices represents a challenging task due to the oxygen vacancy related defect nature and nanometer size of the CFs. As a first important step to this goal, we demonstrate in this work direct visualization and a study of physico-chemical properties of oxygen-deficient amorphous HfO2-x by carrying out transmission electron microscopy electron holography as well as energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy on HfO2/HfO2-x bilayer heterostructures, which are realized by reactive molecular beam epitaxy. Furthermore, compared to single layer devices, Pt/HfO2/HfO2-x /TiN bilayer devices show enhanced resistive switching characteristics with multilevel behavior, indicating their potential as electronic synapses in future neuromorphic computing applications.

Performance characteristics of optical coherence tomography in assessment of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer: systematic review.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can generate high-resolution images of the esophagus that allows cross-sectional visualization of esophageal wall layers. We conducted a systematic review to assess the utility of OCT for diagnosing of esophageal intestinal metaplasia (IM; Barrett's esophagus BE)), dysplasia, cancer and staging of early esophageal cancer. English language human observational studies and clinical trials published in PubMed and Embase were included if they assessed any of the following: (i) in-vivo features and accuracy of OCT at diagnosing esophageal IM, sub-squamous intestinal metaplasia (SSIM), dysplasia, or cancer, and (ii) accuracy of OCT in staging esophageal cancer. Twenty-one of the 2,068 retrieved citations met inclusion criteria. In the two prospective studies that assessed accuracy of OCT at identifying IM, sensitivity was 81%-97%, and specificity was 57%-92%. In the two prospective studies that assessed accuracy of OCT at identifying dysplasia and early cancer, sensitivity was 68%-83%, and specificity was 75%-82%. Observational studies described significant variability in the ability of OCT to accurately identify SSIM. Two prospective studies that compared the accuracy of OCT at staging early squamous cell carcinoma to histologic resection specimens reported accuracy of >90%. Risk of bias and applicability concerns was rated as low among the prospective studies using the QUADAS-2 questionnaire. OCT may identify intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia, but its accuracy may not meet recommended thresholds to replace 4-quadrant biopsies in clinical practice. OCT may be more accurate than EUS at staging early esophageal cancer, but randomized trials and cost-effective analyses are lacking.

Cavity-enhanced optical Hall effect in two-dimensional free charge carrier gases detected at terahertz frequencies.

The effect of a tunable, externally coupled Fabry-Perot cavity to resonantly enhance the optical Hall effect signatures at terahertz frequencies produced by a traditional Drude-like two-dimensional electron gas is shown and discussed in this Letter. As a result, the detection of optical Hall effect signatures at conveniently obtainable magnetic fields, for example, by neodymium permanent magnets, is demonstrated. An AlInN/GaN-based high-electron mobility transistor structure grown on a sapphire substrate is used for the experiment. The optical Hall effect signatures and their dispersions, which are governed by the frequency and the reflectance minima and maxima of the externally coupled Fabry-Perot cavity, are presented and discussed. Tuning the externally coupled Fabry-Perot cavity strongly modifies the optical Hall effect signatures, which provides a new degree of freedom for optical Hall effect experiments in addition to frequency, angle of incidence, and magnetic field direction and strength.

Collective Modes and Structural Modulation in Ni-Mn-Ga(Co) Martensite Thin Films Probed by Femtosecond Spectroscopy and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy.

The origin of the martensitic transition in the magnetic shape memory alloy Ni-Mn-Ga has been widely discussed. While several studies suggest it is electronically driven, the adaptive martensite model reproduced the peculiar nonharmonic lattice modulation. We used femtosecond spectroscopy to probe the temperature and doping dependence of collective modes, and scanning tunneling microscopy revealed the corresponding static modulations. We show that the martensitic phase can be described by a complex charge-density wave tuned by magnetic ordering and strong electron-lattice coupling.

Tailoring the strain in Si nano-structures for defect-free epitaxial Ge over growth.

We investigate the structural properties and strain state of Ge nano-structures selectively grown on Si pillars of about 60 nm diameter with different SiGe buffer layers. A matrix of TEOS SiO2 surrounding the Si nano-pillars causes a tensile strain in the top part at the growth temperature of the buffer that reduces the misfit and supports defect-free initial growth. Elastic relaxation plays the dominant role in the further increase of the buffer thickness and subsequent Ge deposition. This method leads to Ge nanostructures on Si that are free from misfit dislocations and other structural defects, which is not the case for direct Ge deposition on these pillar structures. The Ge content of the SiGe buffer is thereby not a critical parameter; it may vary over a relatively wide range.

Growth and evolution of nickel germanide nanostructures on Ge(001).

Nickel germanide is deemed an excellent material system for low resistance contact formation for future Ge device modules integrated into mainstream, Si-based integrated circuit technologies. In this study, we present a multi-technique experimental study on the formation processes of nickel germanides on Ge(001). We demonstrate that room temperature deposition of ∼1 nm of Ni on Ge(001) is realized in the Volmer-Weber growth mode. Subsequent thermal annealing results first in the formation of a continuous NixGey wetting layer featuring well-defined terrace morphology. Upon increasing the annealing temperature to 300 °C, we observed the onset of a de-wetting process, characterized by the appearance of voids on the NixGey terraces. Annealing above 300 °C enhances this de-wetting process and the surface evolves gradually towards the formation of well-ordered, rectangular NixGey 3D nanostructures. Annealing up to 500 °C induces an Ostwald ripening phenomenon, with smaller nanoislands disappearing and larger ones increasing their size. Subsequent annealing to higher temperatures drives the Ni-germanide diffusion into the bulk and the consequent formation of highly ordered, {111} faceted Ni-Ge nanocrystals featuring an epitaxial relationship with the substrate Ni-Ge (101); (010) || Ge(001); (110).

[Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw]. / Bisphosphonat-assoziierte Kiefernekrosen.

BACKGROUND: Bisphosphonates (BP) are used in the treatment of severe osteoporosis and metastasis of malignant diseases. A possible relationship between the occurrence of osteonecrosis of the jaw and BP therapy was first described in 2003. Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is difficult to treat. In some cases the condition of the patients is so compromised that only minimally invasive surgery is possible. Histopathologically, osteonecrosis shows the features of chronic sequestered osteomyelitis, which can be found in different areas of the upper and lower jaw. Sometimes extensive resections of the jaw are necessary. Thus, BRONJ can cause mutilation, impairment of function and esthetics in the orofacial system and, thereby, compromise the life quality of the patients. Triggering factors are often tooth extraction without surgical plastic wound closure of the alveoli, but can also be associated with bruises from denture or other minor wounds. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to present results from our own patient collective, including therapy regime, success rate, and therapy recommendations. METHODS: The patient populations at three German hospitals were analyzed using a standard questionnaire. The patients in the study group, entered into a follow-up system for early detection of possible BRONJ, were evaluated for treatement outcome. RESULTS: The success rate for prophylactic surgery in asymptomatic patients was very high at 96 %. In the group with symptomatic BRONJ, the outcome was significantly lower (76.4 %). CONCLUSIONS: Because of the complex symptoms, close cooperation between oncologists, dentists, and maxillofacial surgeons is required in the treatment of BRONJ. Before starting therapy with bisphosphonates and during the therapy, dental treatment and monitoring of the patient' oral health is necessary.

[On the Differential Diagnosis of Intractable Psychogenic Chronic Cough: Neuropathic Larynx Irritable - Gabapentin's Antitussive Action]. / Zur Differenzialdiagnose des quälenden psychogenen chronischen Hustens: neuropathischer Larynx irritable - Gabapentin als Antitussivum.

We present the case of a 76 year old female inpatient who suffered from a chronic intractable cough which arose simultaneously to a severe major depression and was secondary to an exorbitant psychological distress. Chronic cough had never been experienced before and was initially considered to have a mere psychogenic origin since a comprehensive and guideline-based diagnostic screening did not reveal any underlying somatic cause. However, several factors cast doubt on the solitary psychic genesis of the chronic cough: i) occurrence immediately after a penetrant cold, ii) embedding in other complaints of laryngeal hyperreagibility (larynx irritable), such as persistent globus pharyngeus sensation, throat clearing and episodic dysphonia, iii) first occurrence on old life, iv) erupting from sleep as well, v) persistence despite remission of the major depression, and v) no sustaining benefit from specific psychotherapy and speech therapy. Therefore, diagnostics were extended to apparative tools for objective evaluation of swallowing by using fiberoptic videoendoscopic (FEES) and videofluoroscopic (VFS) techniques, which revealed signs of laryngeal neuropathy but without evidence of penetration or aspiration. A co-existing small goiter and an impaired glucose tolerance along with a putative intracellular vitamin B12 or folate deficiency (as indirectly derived from an apparent hyperhomocysteinemia) were assumed to be responsible for the neuropathy and underwent specific treatments. The impaired glucose tolerance and putative vitamin deficit were compatible with a distal symmetric sensorimotoric, even subclinical polyneuropathy of the lower extremities. The larynx irritable improved under gabapentin being confirmed by drug removals several times, and finally calmed down almost completely under gabapentin, which was in line with the scant literature of this topic. Re-examination of the larynx per FEES nine months later showed no deficits any more under the well-tolerated treatment (gabapentin, levothyroxine, vitamin B12 and folic acid substitution, weight reduction and physical training). All in all, the larynx irritable as well as the chronic cough were most probably induced by a laryngeal neuropathy and were not solely of psychic origin. Due to good treatment options a larynx irritable should be regularly taken into consideration of the investigation of intractable chronic cough. Therefore, an apparative evaluation of deglutition is recommended in the diagnostic toolbox of chronic cough - even if embedded in a psychiatric disorder or distress - before diagnosing a sole psychic origin. An hypothetical scheme of the development of a larynx irritable caused by neuropathic and non-neuropathic ("nociceptive") conditions is proposed.

Caloric restriction increases serum testosterone concentrations in obese male subjects by two distinct mechanisms.

The concentration of serum testosterone is mainly regulated by the testicular function, which is under control of the central hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. A certain amount of testosterone is converted into ß-estradiol by adipose tissue. Obesity in men is often associated with decreased androgen levels. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of caloric restriction on serum testosterone levels in obese men. Dietary intervention study was performed with a very low calorie diet (800 kcal/d) for 12 weeks. Thirteen obese human male subjects (median body mass index: 42.7 kg/m2) were included. Body composition was assessed by impedance analysis. Insulin sensitivity was estimated by leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (LAR). Testosterone (T), ß-estradiol, albumin, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), LH, and FSH serum concentrations were measured by enzyme immunoassays. Statistical analysis was performed on baseline and values after 3 months. Caloric restriction significantly increased total testosterone (6.97 nmol/l to 13.21 nmol/l; p=0.001) and SHBG (22.11 nmol/l to 42.12 nmol/l; p=0.001) concentrations in serum. This is caused by a significant improvement of the testicular function (LH/T: 0.36-0.20; p=0.005) and a significant reduction of the T/ß-estradiol conversion rate (73.59-104.29; p=0.003). There was a significant negative correlation of improvement of testicular function and LAR (rs=-0.683 (p=0.042)). In obese men caloric restriction significantly increases the serum testosterone concentration. This is achieved by 2 distinct mechanisms, that is, improvement of testicular function and reduced conversion of testosterone to ß-estradiol by aromatase activity of the adipose tissue.

Impact of prescribed fire on soil microbial communities in a Southern Appalachian Forest clear-cut.

Escalating wildfire frequency and severity, exacerbated by shifting climate patterns, pose significant ecological and economic challenges. Prescribed burns, a common forest management tool, aim to mitigate wildfire risks and protect biodiversity. Nevertheless, understanding the impact of prescribed burns on soil and microbial communities in temperate mixed forests, considering temporal dynamics and slash fuel types, remains crucial. Our study, conducted at the University of Tennessee Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center in Oak Ridge, TN, employed controlled burns across various treatments, and the findings indicate that low-intensity prescribed burns have none or minimal short-term effects on soil parameters but may alter soil nutrient concentrations, as evidenced by significant changes in porewater acetate, formate, and nitrate concentrations. These burns also induce shifts in microbial community structure and diversity, with Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria increasing significantly post-fire, possibly aiding soil recovery. In contrast, Verrucomicrobia showed a notable decrease over time, and other specific microbial taxa correlated with soil pH, porewater nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate concentrations. Our research contributes to understanding the intricate relationships between prescribed fire, soil dynamics, and microbial responses in temperate mixed forests in the Southern Appalachian Region, which is valuable for informed land management practices in the face of evolving environmental challenges.