RepoMed (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover)
Not a member yet
3024 research outputs found
Sort by
Participant recruiting for focus groups in health research: a meta-research study
No full textBackground: Focus groups (FGs) are an established method in health research to capture the different perspectives on a particular research question. The extent to which they are effective depends, not least, on the composition of the participants. This study aimed to investigate how published FG studies plan and conduct the recruitment of study participants. We looked at which kind of information are reported about recruitment and what this says about the actual recruitment plans and practices in terms of its quality. Data collection: We conducted a systematic search of FG studies in PubMed and Web of Science (January 2022 and October 2024) published between 2018-2024 and randomly selected half of the 153 eligible publications. We used an MS-Excel based text extraction sheet to collect all relevant recruitment information from each study. This included bibliographic information (first author, year, journal, country), information on the recruitment process (how was the recruiting done, by whom, when, with what aim, etc.) and information on the reporting and quality assurance (experience of the researchers who recruited FG participants, use of guidance, patient-public involvement, use of reporting checklists, informed consent, CoI). The data were extracted from the full texts of each included study and analysed by three authors (Cosima John, Simon Wallraf, Jonas Lander). We then coded the extracted text passages using key words and summarised the findings descriptively
Hemopexin alleviates sterile inflammation in ischemia-reperfusion-induced lung injury
No full textIntroduction Pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury (IRI) plays a significant role in various lung disorders and is a key factor in the development of primary graft dysfunction following lung transplantation. Hemopexin (Hx) is the major serum scavenger protein for heme, which is a prooxidant and pro-inflammatory compound. In the current study, we hypothesized that Hx could confer beneficial effects in sterile inflammation induced by IR-mediated lung injury. Methods To examine this hypothesis, we administered Hx in an experimental mouse model of unilateral lung IRI. Results Our results demonstrate that treatment with Hx alleviated histopathological signs of inflammation in ischemic lungs, as evidenced by a reduction in the number of infiltrating neutrophils and decreased levels of perivascular edema. In addition, thrombotic vaso-occlusion in pulmonary blood vessels of IRI lungs was reduced by Hx. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Hx inhibited the up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1, an enzyme highly induced by heme, in ischemic lungs. Finally, Hx administration caused a decrease in the levels of circulating B- and CD8+ T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of mice with pulmonary IRI. Conclusion These findings suggest that the serum heme scavenger protein Hx holds therapeutic promise in alleviating lung IRI-mediated sterile inflammation. Thus, Hx may represent a preemptive therapeutic approach in IR-related lung disorders such as primary graft dysfunction in lung transplantation
Investigations on in vitro decidualization and relaxin effects in human endometrial stromal cells to elucidate mechanisms in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia
No full textPlasmaspiegel von BCMA-positiven extrazellulären Vesikeln korrelieren mit dem Ansprechen und den Nebenwirkungen bei Myelompatienten unter Belantamab-Mafodotin
No full text
Präzisierte Diagnostik von Nierentumoren: einfluss von Immunzellinfiltraten auf Therapieansprechen und Langzeitprognose
No full textDevelopment of a drug delivering round window niche implant for cochlear pharmacotherapy
No full textBackground There exists an unfulfilled requirement for effective cochlear pharmacotherapy. Controlled local drug delivery could lead to effective bioavailability. The round window niche (RWN), a cavity in the middle ear, is connected to the cochlea via a membrane through which drug can diffuse. We are developing individualized drug-eluting RWN implants (RNIs). To test their effectiveness in guinea pigs, a commonly used model in cochlear pharmacology studies, it is first necessary to develop guinea pig RNIs (GP-RNI). Methods Since guinea pigs do not have a RWN such as it is present in humans and to reduce the variables in in vivo studies, a one-size-fits-all GP-RNI model was designed using 12 data sets of Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs. The model was 3D-printed using silicone. The accuracy and precision of printing, distribution of the sample ingredient dexamethasone (DEX), biocompatibility, bio-efficacy, implantability and drug release were tested in vitro. The GP-RNI efficacy was validated in cochlear implant-traumatized guinea pigs in vivo. Results The 3D-printed GP-RNI was precise, accurate and fitted in all tested guinea pig RWNs. DEX was homogeneously included in the silicone. The GP-RNI containing 1% DEX was biocompatible, bio-effective and showed a two-phase and sustained DEX release in vitro, while it reduced fibrous tissue growth around the cochlear implant in vivo. Conclusions We developed a GP-RNI that can be used for precise inner ear drug delivery in guinea pigs, providing a reliable platform for testing the RNI's safety and efficacy, with potential implications for future clinical translation
The future of neuropsychology is digital, theory-driven, and Bayesian: a paradigmatic study of cognitive flexibility
No full textIntroduction This study explores the transformative potential of digital, theory-driven, and Bayesian paradigms in neuropsychology by combining digital technologies, a commitment to evaluating theoretical frameworks, and Bayesian statistics. The study also examines theories of executive function and cognitive flexibility in a large sample of neurotypical individuals (N = 489). Methods We developed an internet-based Wisconsin Card-Sorting Task (iWCST) optimized for online assessment of perseveration errors (PE). Predictions of the percentage of PE, PE (%), in non-repetitive versus repetitive situations were derived from the established supervisory attention system (SAS) theory, non-repetitive PE (%) repetitive PE (%). Results Bayesian t-tests revealed the presence of a robust error suppression effect (ESE) indicating that PE are less likely in repetitive situations than in non-repetitive situations, contradicting SAS theory with posterior model probability p 0.999. We conclude that repetitive situations support cognitive set switching in the iWCST by facilitating the retrieval of goal-directed, instrumental memory that associates stimulus features, actions, and outcomes, thereby generating the ESE in neurotypical individuals. We also report exploratory data analyses, including a Bayesian network analysis of relationships between iWCST measures. Discussion Overall, this study serves as a paradigmatic model for combining digital technologies, theory-driven research, and Bayesian statistics in neuropsychology. It also provides insight into how this integrative, innovative approach can advance the understanding of executive function and cognitive flexibility and inform future research and clinical applications
