Mindfulness programs for problematic usage of the internet: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Problematic usage of the internet (PUI) is an umbrella term for a range of uncontrolled, excessive, and potentially harmful online behaviors. Recently, numerous studies have examined the potential of mindfulness programs (MPs) for reducing PUI. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis in this emerging field. Methods: We searched eight databases from inception to October 18, 2022, with no language restrictions. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized trials (NRTs). The primary outcome was change in self-reported PUI, the secondary outcome was change in screen time. Results: Of 3,473 identified records, 19 RCTs and 20 NRTs with a total of 1,549 participants were included. Participation in an MPwas associated with large reductions in PUI in between-group analysis in RCTs (k = 19; g = -1.67; 95% CI -2.15, -1.19) and in within-group pre-post analysis in all studies (k = 35; g = -1.67; 95% CI -1.99, -1.36). Screen time showed a medium reduction in within-group pre-post analysis (k = 10; g = -0.65; 95% CI -0.90, -0.41). The effects for PUI remained significant in a series of sensitivity analyses, such as excluding low quality studies, excluding outliers, adjusting for publication bias, or using follow-up data. Heterogeneity between studies was high and the overall quality of evidence was rated low. Discussion and conclusions: MPs are probably effective in reducing PUI and might be effective in reducing screen time. Shortcomings in the quality of evidence highlight the need for high-quality controlled trials with long-term follow-ups to confirm results.

Induction of altered states of consciousness during Floatation-REST is associated with the dissolution of body boundaries and the distortion of subjective time.

Floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) minimizes stimulation of the nervous system by immersing subjects in an environment without sound or light while they effortlessly float in thermoneutral water supersaturated with Epsom salt. Here we investigated the relationship between altered states of consciousness (ASC) and its association with the affective changes induced by Floatation-REST. Using a within-subject crossover design, 50 healthy subjects were randomized to 60 min of Floatation-REST or 60 min of Bed-REST (an active control condition that entailed lying supine on a warm waterbed in a dark and quiet room). Following Floatation-REST, subjects felt significantly more relaxed, less anxious, and less tired than after Bed-REST. Floatation-REST also induced significantly more pronounced ASC characterized by the dissolution of body boundaries and the distortion of subjective time. The loss of body boundaries mediated the loss of anxiety, revealing a novel mechanism by which Floatation-REST exerts its anxiolytic effect.

Efficacy and safety of tixagevimab/cilgavimab as passive immunisation against COVID-19 infections in patients with hematological malignancies.

Monoclonal antibodies, as tixagevimab/cilgavimab, have been introduced as prophylaxis against COVID-19 infections in high-risk populations. However, data on efficacy are limited. This study investigates efficacy and tolerability of tixagevimab/cilgavimab in hematological patients under real-life conditions. Tixagevimab/cilgavimab was administered to 155 hematological patients (March-August 2022) at two Austrian centres. S/RBD-antibody assessments were performed before (T0), four weeks (T1), and six months (T2) after application. Side effects, the occurrence of COVID-19 infections, and the course of S/RBD-antibody titres were analysed retrospectively in relation to clinical variables. 155 hematological patients, who refused tixagevimab/cilgavimab, were included as a control group to compare the frequency of COVID-19 infections. Of all immunised patients (52.3% males; 91% triple vaccinated), 25.8% had a COVID-19 breakthrough infection (76% mild) compared to 43.9% in the control group. Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)/lymphoma were at highest risk of a COVID-19 infection (OR = 2.21; 95% CI 1.05-4.65; p = 0.037). After immunisation, a steep increase in median antibody levels (1193.4BAU/ml, IQR 0-2318.94) was observed in 67.8%, followed by a rapid decrease between T1 and T2 (465.95BAU/ml, IQR 0-1900.65.3) with the greatest declines in CLL/lymphoma (848.7BAU/ml, IQR 0-1949.6, p = 0.026). Side-effects occurred in 21.2% (CTCAE I/II). These real-world data indicate that S/RBD antibodies respond rapidly after passive immunisation in all hematological patients without safety concerns. Given the rapid decline in S/RBD antibodies, early booster immunisations should be considered for future scenarios in this vulnerable group.

ROP-ET: a prospective phase III trial investigating the efficacy and safety of ropeginterferon alfa-2b in essential thrombocythemia patients with limited treatment options.

Interferon-based therapies, such as ropeginterferon alfa-2b have emerged as promising disease-modifying agents for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including essential thrombocythemia (ET). Current ET treatments aim to normalize hematological parameters and reduce the thrombotic risk, but they do not modify the natural history of the disease and hence, have no impact on disease progression. Ropeginterferon alfa-2b (trade name BESREMi®), a novel, monopegylated interferon alfa-2b with an extended administration interval, has demonstrated a robust and sustained efficacy in polycythemia vera (PV) patients. Given the similarities in disease pathophysiology and treatment goals, ropeginterferon alfa-2b holds promise as a treatment option for ET. The ROP-ET trial is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm phase III study that includes patients with ET who are intolerant or resistant to, and/or are ineligible for current therapies, such as hydroxyurea (HU), anagrelide (ANA), busulfan (BUS) and pipobroman, leaving these patients with limited treatment options. The primary endpoint is a composite response of hematologic parameters and disease-related symptoms, according to modified European LeukemiaNet (ELN) criteria. Secondary endpoints include improvements in symptoms and quality of life, molecular response and the safety profile of ropeginterferon alfa-2b. Over a 3-year period the trial assesses longer term outcomes, particularly the effects on allele burden and clinical outcomes, such as disease-related symptoms, vascular events and disease progression. No prospective clinical trial data exist for ropeginterferon alfa-2b in the planned ET study population and this study will provide new findings that may contribute to advancing the treatment landscape for ET patients with limited alternatives. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EU Clinical Trials Register; EudraCT, 2023-505160-12-00; Registered on October 30, 2023.

Draft genome sequences of two ß-glucuronidase positive strains of Salmonella enterica subspecies salamae isolated from reptile feces in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Two Salmonella enterica isolates obtained from reptile feces displayed ß-glucuronidase activity. Nearly complete genome sequences were obtained after shotgun sequencing and de novo genome assembly. By comparison to reference genomes, both isolates were identified as Salmonella enterica subspecies salamae with the sequence type identified as 1208 and the serotype as 42:r:-.

DNA Barcoding of Central European Gasteruptiidae and the rarely-collected families Evaniidae, Stephanidae, Trigonalidae, and Aulacidae (Hymenoptera, Apocrita).

The study presents DNA barcoding results of five families of Hymenoptera in Germany. DNA barcodes are provided for 24 of the 25 species of Gasteruption occurring in Central Europe, including 18 of the 19 species recorded from Germany. The genetic diversity was higher than expected, with five species exhibiting two or more Barcode Index Number (BINs), whereas BIN sharing occurred in four species. Gasteruptionfoveiceps Semenov, 1892, stat. nov. is removed from synonymy with G.nigrescens Schletterer, 1885 and treated as a distinct species.

Scratching the tip of the iceberg: integrative taxonomy reveals 30 new species records of Microgastrinae (Braconidae) parasitoid wasps for Germany, including new Holarctic distributions.

Substantial parts of the European and German insect fauna still remain largely unexplored, the so-called "dark taxa". In particular, midges (Diptera) and parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) are abundant and species-rich throughout Europe, yet are often neglected in biodiversity research. One such dark taxon is Microgastrinae wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a group of parasitoids of lepidopteran caterpillars with 252 species reported in Germany so far. As part of the German Barcode of Life Project GBOL III: Dark Taxa, reverse DNA barcoding and integrative taxonomic approaches were used to shed some light on the German Fauna of Microgastrinae wasps. In our workflow, DNA barcoding was used for molecular clustering of our specimens in a first step, morphological examination of the voucher specimens in a second step, and host data compared in a third step. Here, 30 species are reported for the first time in Germany, adding more than 10% to the known German fauna. Information for four species is provided in a new Holarctic context, reporting them for the Nearctic or, respectively, Palaearctic region, and 26 additional country records are added from sequenced material available in the collections accessible to us. Molecular clusters that show signs of discrepancies are discussed. Results show that we are just scratching the tip of the iceberg of the unexplored Microgastrinae diversity in Germany.

High-Throughput Miniaturized Synthesis of PROTAC-Like Molecules.

The development of miniaturized high-throughput in situ screening platforms capable of handling the entire process of drug synthesis to final screening is essential for advancing drug discovery in the future. In this study, an approach based on combinatorial solid-phase synthesis, enabling the efficient synthesis of libraries of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) in an array format is presented. This on-chip platform allows direct biological screening without the need for transfer steps.  UV-induced release of target molecules into individual droplets facilitates further on-chip experimentation. Utilizing a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MEK1/2) degrader as a template, a series of 132 novel PROTAC-like molecules is synthesized using solid-phase Ugi reaction. These compounds are further characterized using various methods, including matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) imaging, while consuming only a few milligrams of starting materials in total. Furthermore, the feasibility of culturing cancer cells on the modified spots and quantifying the effect of MEK suppression is demonstrated. The miniaturized synthesis platform lays a foundation for high-throughput in situ biological screening of potent PROTACs for potential anticancer activity and offers the potential for accelerating the drug discovery process by integrating miniaturized synthesis and biological steps on the same array.

On-site CT-derived cFFR in patients with suspected coronary artery disease: Feasibility on a 128-row CT scanner in everyday clinical practice.

PURPOSE: Technical feasibility of CT-based calculation of fractional flow reserve (cFFR) using a 128-row computed tomography scanner in an everyday routine setting. Post-processing and everyday practicability should be analyzed on the scanner on-site in connection with clinical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center retrospective analysis included 230 patients (74 female; mean age 63.8 years) with CCTA within 21 months between 01/2018 and 09/2019 without non-pathological examinations. cFFR values were obtained using a deep learning-based non-commercial research prototype (cFFR Version3.5.0; Siemens Healthineers GmbH, Erlangen). cFFR values were evaluated at two points: at the maximum point of the stenosis and 1.0 cm distal to the stenosis. Comparison with invasive coronary angiography in 57/230 patients (24.7 %) was performed. CT parameters and quality were evaluated. Further subgroup classification concerning criteria of technical postprocessing was performed: no changes necessary, minor corrections necessary, major corrections necessary, and no evaluation was possible. The required time from starting the software to the final result was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 116/448 (25.9 %) mild, 223/448 (49.8 %) moderate, and 109/448 (24.3 %) obstructive stenoses was found. The mean cFFR at the maximum point of the stenosis was 0.92 ±â€Š0.09 and significantly higher than the cFRR value of 0.89 ±â€Š0.13 distal to the stenosis (p < 0.001*). The mean degree of stenosis was 44.02 ±â€Š26.99 % (range: 1-99 %) with an area of 5.39 ±â€Š3.30 mm2. In a total of 45 patients (19.1 %), a relevant reduction in cFFR below 0.80 was determined. Overall, in 57/230 patients (24.8 %), catheter angiography was performed. No significant difference in the degree of maximal stenosis (CAD-RADS 0-2/3/4) was detected between the classification of CCTA and ICA (p = 0.171). The mean post-processing time varied significantly with 8.34 ±â€Š4.66 min. in single-vessel CAD vs. 12.91 ±â€Š3.92 min. in two-vessel CAD vs. 21.80 ± 5.94 min. in three-vessel CAD (each p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Noninvasive onsite quantification of cFFR is feasible with minimal observer interaction in a routine real-world setting on a 128-row scanner. Deep learning-based algorithms allow a robust and semi-automatic on-site determination of cFFR based on data from standard CT scanners. KEY POINTS: · Non-invasive on-site quantification of cFFR is feasible with minimal observer interaction.. · Deep-learning based algorithms allow robust and semi-automatic on-site determination of cFFR.. · The mean follow-up time varied significantly with the extent of vascular CAD..

Radiomics and Clinicopathological Characteristics for Predicting Lymph Node Metastasis in Testicular Cancer.

Accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with testicular cancer is highly relevant for treatment decision-making and prognostic evaluation. Our study aimed to develop and validate clinical radiomics models for individual preoperative prediction of LNM in patients with testicular cancer. We enrolled 91 patients with clinicopathologically confirmed early-stage testicular cancer, with disease confined to the testes. We included five significant clinical risk factors (age, preoperative serum tumour markers AFP and B-HCG, histotype and BMI) to build the clinical model. After segmenting 273 retroperitoneal lymph nodes, we then combined the clinical risk factors and lymph node radiomics features to establish combined predictive models using Random Forest (RF), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM), Support Vector Machine Classifier (SVC), and K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN). Model performance was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). Finally, the decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate the clinical usefulness. The Random Forest combined clinical lymph node radiomics model with the highest AUC of 0.95 (±0.03 SD; 95% CI) was considered the candidate model with decision curve analysis, demonstrating its usefulness for preoperative prediction in the clinical setting. Our study has identified reliable and predictive machine learning techniques for predicting lymph node metastasis in early-stage testicular cancer. Identifying the most effective machine learning approaches for predictive analysis based on radiomics integrating clinical risk factors can expand the applicability of radiomics in precision oncology and cancer treatment.

Segmental quantification of hepatic lipid content based on volumetric MRI data in patients with suspected iron overload.

PURPOSE: To investigate the segmental distribution of hepatic fat fraction, determined with MRI (MR proton density fat fraction, short MR-PDFF) in patients suspected of having liver iron overload. METHODS: The liver of 44 patients examined with MRI using a 3D multi-echo gradient-echo sequence was segmented semiautomatically and subdivided into nine segments (segment 4 divided in 4a and 4b). Segmental fat content was determined on MR-PDFF maps. Whole-liver steatosis grades were compared to those found in individual segments. Segmental MR-PDFF differences were tested for statistical significance. RESULTS: The most common diseases were thalassemia, various forms of anemia, and hereditary hemochromatosis. No patients suffered from fat metabolism disease. Iron overload was present in 37/44 (84 %) patients. For the whole liver, 22 patients showed a steatosis grade of 0, 21 patients were graded S1, and one patient had a steatosis grade of 2. The grade of steatosis was underestimated in 5 of 21 patients (24 %) in segment 8 and in 8 of 21 patients (38 %) in segment 7. Highly significant segmental MR-PDFF differences were detected with p < 0.00 001, e. g., comparing segment 2 to 5. Segments 1 to 3 had the highest fat content, segments 7 and 8 had the lowest. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the storage of fat in the liver is inhomogeneous, so that segment-wise differing fat concentrations were found. Fat distribution in patients with suspected hepatic iron overload was similar to living liver donors. However, it showed significant differences compared with the values published for NAFLD patients, which were less pronounced in the group with high average hepatic MR-PDFF values than in the group with normal lipid content. In patients suspected of having iron overload, segment 8, which is mainly targeted for biopsy, and segment 7 may underestimate steatosis grade. KEY POINTS: · A volumetric analysis of 3D MRI data of patients with suspected hepatic iron overload yielded a markedly elevated MR proton density fat fraction (MR-PDFF) in hepatic segments 1 to 3.. · This hepatic fat distribution, observed for the whole patient cohort, is similar to healthy living liver donors.. · The subgroup of patients with a high average MR-PDFF ≥ 6.5 % shows this effect with lower segmental deviations.. · In patients without fat metabolic disorders, the steatosis grade may be underestimated when taking biopsies in segment 8 or 7..

Discharge of iodine-containing contrast media into the environment - problem analysis and implementation of measures to reduce discharge by means of separation toilets - experience from a pilot project. / Herausforderung Eintrag jodhaltiger Röntgenkontrastmitteln in die Umwelt ­ Problemanalyse sowie Umsetzung erster Maßnahmen zur Reduktion des Eintrags mittels Trenntoiletten ­ Erfahrungen aus einem Pilotprojekt.

PURPOSE: Environmental aspects and sustainability are becoming increasingly important. In addition to energy consumption, the consumption and environmental discharge of contrast agents pose a particular challenge. Because of their desired stability, X-ray contrast agents (XCAs) are deposited in surface water at a rate of up to 400 tons per year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a pilot project, a set of measures (installation of specific separation toilets, the establishment of feedback systems, interviews, questionnaires, and observation) was implemented to sensitize patients and staff to the problem of XCAs during outpatient CT examinations and a retention and recovery system for XCAs was evaluated. RESULTS: In the initial baseline phase, a separation toilet with an additional collection system and a feedback/button system was installed. The built-in feedback system indicated that the separation toilets were used by approx. 16 % of patients without measures. In two subsequent intervention phases, accompanying measures significantly (p < 0.01) increased the use of these separation toilets to 21 % and 25 %, respectively. The measures to reduce the discharge of XCAs were positively assessed by both staff and patients. CONCLUSION: Measures to reduce the discharge of XCAs into the environment have a high acceptance among staff and patients. The subsequent installation of separation toilets is one possibility to achieve on-site retention of XCAs. However, this measure is likely to be of high value only if patients stay on site for a correspondingly long time, as is the case in cardiology, for example. KEY POINTS: · The input of X-ray contrast agents into the environment is relevant in light of the quantity. · Measures to reduce the discharge of X-ray contrast agents into the environment have been investigated in pilot projects. · The (subsequent) installation of separation toilets is possible and allows retention of X-ray contrast agents. · This measure is considered useful by patients and staff. · The financing of these measures needs to be clarified. CITATION FORMAT: · Beer M, Schuler J, Kraus E et al. Discharge of iodine-containing contrast media into the environment - problem analysis and implementation of measures to reduce discharge by means of separation toilets - experience from a pilot project. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2023; 195: 1122 - 1127.

Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors-Current Status and Advances in Diagnostic Imaging.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasia (GEP-NEN) is a heterogeneous and complex group of tumors that are often difficult to classify due to their heterogeneity and varying locations. As standard radiological methods, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) are available for both localization and staging of NEN. Nuclear medical imaging methods with somatostatin analogs are of great importance since radioactively labeled receptor ligands make tumors visible with high sensitivity. CT and MRI have high detection rates for GEP-NEN and have been further improved by developments such as diffusion-weighted imaging. However, nuclear medical imaging methods are superior in detection, especially in gastrointestinal NEN. It is important for radiologists to be familiar with NEN, as it can occur ubiquitously in the abdomen and should be identified as such. Since GEP-NEN is predominantly hypervascularized, a biphasic examination technique is mandatory for contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging. PET/CT with somatostatin analogs should be used as the subsequent method.

Abundant, diverse, unknown: Extreme species richness and turnover despite drastic undersampling in two closely placed tropical Malaise traps.

Arthropods account for a large proportion of animal biomass and diversity in terrestrial systems, making them crucial organisms in our environments. However, still too little is known about the highly abundant and megadiverse groups that often make up the bulk of collected samples, especially in the tropics. With molecular identification techniques ever more evolving, analysis of arthropod communities has accelerated. In our study, which was conducted within the Global Malaise trap Program (GMP) framework, we operated two closely placed Malaise traps in Padang, Sumatra, for three months. We analyzed the samples by DNA barcoding and sequenced a total of more than 70,000 insect specimens. For sequence clustering, we applied three different delimitation techniques, namely RESL, ASAP, and SpeciesIdentifier, which gave similar results. Despite our (very) limited sampling in time and space, our efforts recovered more than 10,000 BINs, of which the majority are associated with "dark taxa". Further analysis indicates a drastic undersampling of both sampling sites, meaning that the true arthropod diversity at our sampling sites is even higher. Regardless of the close proximity of both Malaise traps (< 360 m), we discovered significantly distinct communities.

Digital assistance systems in the field of incontinence care for individuals in need of long-term care (EASY): study protocol of a stratified randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In general, urinary and faecal incontinence is a multifaceted problem that is associated with increasing burdens for those affected, a massive impairment of quality of life and economic consequences. Incontinence is associated with a high level of shame, which in particular reduces the self-esteem of those being incontinent and leads to additional vulnerability. Those affected by incontinence often perceive incontinence and the care they receiveas humiliating, hence they can no longer control their own urination; nursing care and cleansing support then lead to additional dependency. People with incontinence in need of care not uncommonly experience a poor communication and many taboos surrounding the issue as well as the use of force when incontinence products are changed. AIMS AND METHODS: This RCT aims to validate the benefits of using a digital assistance system to optimise incontinence care and to enable statements concerning the effect of the assistance technology on nursing and social structures and processes as well as on the quality of life from the perspective of the person in need of care. In a two-arm, stratified, randomised, controlled interventional study, primarily incontinence-affected residents of four inpatient nursing facilities will be examined (n = 80). One intervention group will be equipped with a sensor-based digital assistance system, which will transmit care-related information to the nursing staff (via smartphone). The collected data will be compared to the data of the control group. Primary endpoints are falls occurring; secondary endpoints are quality of life and sleep, sleep disturbances and material consumption. In addition, nursing staff (n = 15-20) will be interviewed regarding the effects, experience, acceptance and satisfaction. DISCUSSION: The RCT aims at the applicability and effect of assistance technologies on nursing structures and processes. It is assumed that, amongst other things, this technology may lead to a reduction of unnecessary checks and material changes, an improvement of life quality, an avoidance of sleep disturbances and thus an improvement of sleep quality as well as to a reduced risk of falling for people with incontinence in need of care. The further development of incontinence care systems is of social interest as this offers the prospect of improving the quality of care for nursing home residents with incontinence. TRAIL REGISTRATION: Approval of the RCT is granted by the Ethics Committee at the University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg (Reg.-Nr.: HSNB/190/22). This RCT is registered at the German Clinical Trials Register on July 8th, 2022, under the identification number DRKS00029635.

DNA barcoding data release for the Phoridae (Insecta, Diptera) of the Halimun-Salak National Park (Java, Indonesia).

Launched in 2015, the large-scale initiative Indonesian Biodiversity Discovery and Information System (IndoBioSys) is a multidisciplinary German-Indonesian collaboration with the main goal of establishing a standardised framework for species discovery and all associated steps. One aspect of the project includes the application of DNA barcoding for species identification and biodiversity assessments. In this framework, we conducted a large-scale assessment of the insect fauna of the Mount Halimun-Salak National Park which is one of the largest tropical rain-forest ecosystems left in West Java. In this study, we present the results of processing 5,034 specimens of Phoridae (scuttle flies) via DNA barcoding. Despite limited sequencing success, we obtained more than 500 clusters using different algorithms (RESL, ASAP, SpeciesIdentifier). Moreover, Chao statistics indicated that we drastically undersampled all trap sites, implying that the true diversity of Phoridae is, in fact, much higher. With this data release, we hope to shed some light on the hidden diversity of this megadiverse group of flies.

Quantitative Evaluation of COVID-19 Pneumonia CT Using AI Analysis-Feasibility and Differentiation from Other Common Pneumonia Forms.

PURPOSE: To implement the technical feasibility of an AI-based software prototype optimized for the detection of COVID-19 pneumonia in CT datasets of the lung and the differentiation between other etiologies of pneumonia. METHODS: This single-center retrospective case-control-study consecutively yielded 144 patients (58 female, mean age 57.72 ± 18.25 y) with CT datasets of the lung. Subgroups including confirmed bacterial (n = 24, 16.6%), viral (n = 52, 36.1%), or fungal (n = 25, 16.6%) pneumonia and (n = 43, 30.7%) patients without detected pneumonia (comparison group) were evaluated using the AI-based Pneumonia Analysis prototype. Scoring (extent, etiology) was compared to reader assessment. RESULTS: The software achieved an optimal sensitivity of 80.8% with a specificity of 50% for the detection of COVID-19; however, the human radiologist achieved optimal sensitivity of 80.8% and a specificity of 97.2%. The mean postprocessing time was 7.61 ± 4.22 min. The use of a contrast agent did not influence the results of the software (p = 0.81). The mean evaluated COVID-19 probability is 0.80 ± 0.36 significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in patients with fungal pneumonia (p < 0.05) and bacterial pneumonia (p < 0.001). The mean percentage of opacity (PO) and percentage of high opacity (PHO ≥ -200 HU) were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in healthy patients. However, the total mean HU in COVID-19 patients was -679.57 ± 112.72, which is significantly higher than in the healthy control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The detection and quantification of pneumonia beyond the primarily trained COVID-19 datasets is possible and shows comparable results for COVID-19 pneumonia to an experienced reader. The advantages are the fast, automated segmentation and quantification of the pneumonia foci.

A revision of the Encarsia mexicana species-group (=Dirphys Howard) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), gregarious endoparasitoids of whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in the Neotropical Region.

The genus Dirphys Howard 1914 syn. n. is synonymized with Encarsia Förster, and treated as a species-group of Encarsia, referred to henceforth as the Encarsia mexicana species-group. The monophyly of Encarsia is discussed in relation to Dirphys. The new synonymy is based on phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear ribosomal 28S-D2 gene region (43 taxa, 510 bp). The Encarsia mexicana species-group is recovered as strongly monophyletic within Encarsia. All species of the Encarsia mexicana species-group are revised. The group includes six previously described species, and fourteen newly described species. All species are described (or redescribed) and illustrated. Detailed distributional data, and, where available, plant associate and host records are provided for all species. Encarsia myartsevae Kresslein and Polaszek nom. nov. is here proposed as a replacement name for Encarsia mexicana Myartseva, now preoccupied by Encarsia mexicana (Howard). A dichotomous identification key, supplemented by an online multiple-entry key, is provided for all species.

Spatial Omics Imaging of Fresh-Frozen Tissue and Routine FFPE Histopathology of a Single Cancer Needle Core Biopsy: A Freezing Device and Multimodal Workflow.

The complex molecular alterations that underlie cancer pathophysiology are studied in depth with omics methods using bulk tissue extracts. For spatially resolved tissue diagnostics using needle biopsy cores, however, histopathological analysis using stained FFPE tissue and the immunohistochemistry (IHC) of a few marker proteins is currently the main clinical focus. Today, spatial omics imaging using MSI or IRI is an emerging diagnostic technology for the identification and classification of various cancer types. However, to conserve tissue-specific metabolomic states, fast, reliable, and precise methods for the preparation of fresh-frozen (FF) tissue sections are crucial. Such methods are often incompatible with clinical practice, since spatial metabolomics and the routine histopathology of needle biopsies currently require two biopsies for FF and FFPE sampling, respectively. Therefore, we developed a device and corresponding laboratory and computational workflows for the multimodal spatial omics analysis of fresh-frozen, longitudinally sectioned needle biopsies to accompany standard FFPE histopathology of the same biopsy core. As a proof-of-concept, we analyzed surgical human liver cancer specimens using IRI and MSI with precise co-registration and, following FFPE processing, by sequential clinical pathology analysis of the same biopsy core. This workflow allowed for a spatial comparison between different spectral profiles and alterations in tissue histology, as well as a direct comparison for histological diagnosis without the need for an extra biopsy.