Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece
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Ocular surface microbiota in primary open angle glaucoma
No full textPrimary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, yet the contribution of the ocular-surface (OS) microbiota remains poorly defined. We conducted a cross-sectional study including 27 POAG patients on chronic hypotensive therapy and 119 healthy Italian controls, profiled by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (Ion GeneStudio S5) and analyzed with QIIME2/phyloseq. POAG samples showed higher α-diversity (Shannon 4.23 vs 2.77; Observed richness 407 vs 154; Wilcoxon q -9) and a distinct β-diversity profile (PERMANOVA p = 0.001; R2 = 0.104). Compositional shifts included depletion of Firmicutes with loss of Staphylococcus in controls' place, and enrichment of Proteobacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas) together with unclassified Enterobacterales and a larger unclassified fraction. Differential-abundance testing identified numerous significant taxa separating groups, consistent with a more diverse yet less defined microbiota in POAG. These findings indicate an ocular-surface dysbiosis associated with POAG in a treatment-exposed cohort, supporting the relevance of host-microbe interactions and motivating longitudinal, treatment-naïve and functional studies before causal or translational inferences.
Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Emergency Radiology: Organizational Models in Swiss and Nordic Hospitals
No full textEmergency radiology (ER) has evolved into a distinct subspecialty over the past four decades, yet its organization varies across healthcare systems. This study aimed to assess the structure and practice of ER in Switzerland and four Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) through a collaborative survey between the Swiss Society of Emergency Radiology (SSER) and the Nordic Forum for Trauma and Emergency Radiology (NordTer).
An on-line survey was sent to radiologists in charge of ER in 50 public hospitals (10 in each country). The survey addressed ER structure, staffing, imaging access, on call-organization and radiologists' main concerns regarding ER. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze categorical responses.
Forty-seven hospitals responded (94%): 10 from Switzerland and 37 from Nordic countries. Overall, 81% institutions had dedicated CT for ER (Switzerland 90%, Nordic 78%), and 51% had dedicated emergency radiologists, more common in Swiss (80%) than Nordic hospitals (43%). In 76% hospitals, on-call neuro-CTs were interpreted by the ER team (60% Swiss, 80% Nordic hospitals). A pediatric radiology team was present in 59% of hospitals, 70% Swiss and 56% Nordic. Access to 24/7 emergency MRI was reported in 58% hospitals, more frequent in Swiss (80%) than Nordic ones (51%). The main concerns in both Swiss and Nordic hospitals were increased workload, on-call coverage, and specific training in ER.
Swiss and Nordic hospitals share similar challenges in ER but differ in infrastructure and staffing models. These data may provide a benchmark to assess further evolution of ER.
Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Person-centred care in congenital heart disease: Intercountry variation in patient-reported experiences across 32 countries
No full textPerson-centred care (PCC) is widely recommended by the World Health Organisation and other leading healthcare organisations. Although individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD) require lifelong follow-up, it remains unclear whether healthcare systems worldwide provide PCC to this population. This study investigated one key component of PCC, autonomy support, using patient-reported experiences in a global sample of adults with CHD.
The study was part of the international cross-sectional APPROACH-IS-II. Data were obtained from 8367 adults with congenital heart disease across 53 centres in 32 countries. Perceived autonomy support was measured using a modified version of the Health Care Climate Questionnaire. A general linear mixed model was used to analyse the data.
Autonomy support scores ranged from 27.9 (SD ± 9.4) to 37.7 (SD ± 6.3) on a six - 42 point scale. A significant clinical difference in perceived autonomy was observed, with calculated effect sizes using Cohen's D exceeding eight in several countries. Higher autonomy scores were associated with having a high school diploma and older age. Patient characteristics accounted for 1.4 % of the variance, while geographical location explained 7.5 %. A large proportion of the variance remained unexplained.
This study highlights significant global differences in perceived autonomy support from healthcare providers among adults with CHD. Education and age were associated with higher levels of perceived autonomy support. The experience of PCC is challenged by diverse expectations of individuals and families, healthcare providers' beliefs and values, institutional policies, and broader sociocultural contexts.
Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Family-Centred Care Rounds in a Neonatal Intensive Care Setting: An Implementation Sciences Feasibility Study
No full textParents of infants hospitalised in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) experience significant stress and require clear, consistent communication. Involving them in family-centred rounds (FCR), a key component of family-centred care (FCC), may help meet these needs.
To assess the feasibility of implementing FCR in a NICU setting in Switzerland.
This one-group pre-post feasibility study was conducted from June to September 2022. Feasibility was evaluated using three dimensions: acceptability (participation rate and duration), implementation (fidelity of the intervention and open-ended questions), as well as limited efficacy. Efficacy was assessed through parent-reported stress and satisfaction (PSS, EMPATHIC-N) before and after participation in FCR and healthcare professional (HCP) reported interprofessional collaboration (AITCS-II) before and after implementation.
A total of 37 rounds were conducted with seven parents (24% participation). FCRs lasted on average 12m13s, compared to 8m49s for traditional rounds (mean difference: 3m24s). Fidelity, observed in 18 FCRs during the study period, showed some variability. Open-ended survey questions from both parents and HCP provided qualitative insights on implementation determinants. Parents reported reduced stress after FCR and increased satisfaction in the 'parental involvement' subscale. Among professionals, only the 'coordination of care' subscale showed significant improvement.
FCR implementation was feasible and showed potential to improve parental stress, satisfaction and interprofessional collaboration. Further evaluation of whether FCRs can be sustained over time is warranted.
FCR may enhance family partnerships in NICUs and improve care experiences for both families and healthcare teams, and promote a family-centred care environment.
© 2025 The Author(s). Nursing in Critical Care published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Association of Critical Care Nurses
Vaccine Immunity Against Pneumococcus in Children With Sickle Cell Disease: A Retrospective Single-center Study
No full textSickle cell disease (SCD) patients are at a higher risk of pneumococcal invasive diseases. Vaccination is the central strategy for protecting these children, along with penicillin prophylaxis. However, it is unclear how often these children should be revaccinated with pneumococcal vaccines. This retrospective study aimed to describe the pneumococcal vaccination status of children with SCD in a high-income country with access to vaccines, to see if the national vaccination guidelines are followed and effective at inducing good vaccine seroprotection. We also wanted to assess the longitudinal vaccine immunity and the effect of booster doses on vaccine seroprotection.
Electronic medical records of 42 children with SCD diagnosed between 2009 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical demographic data and pneumococcal serologies were analyzed.
Of the 42 patients included in the study, 34 (81%) had available vaccine records. All of these patients had completed the age-appropriate vaccination schedule. Among them, 15 (44%) had received at least 1 booster dose, with a mean age of 3.47 years at the time of the booster. A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant decline in seroprotection after the age of 5 years following completion of the vaccination series.
Our findings suggest that a booster vaccination may be necessary 5 years after the completion of the primary pneumococcal vaccination series. Further large-scale prospective studies are required to better define the optimal frequency of booster doses throughout life and to identify individual factors that contribute to the loss of serological protection.
Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc
Sex-Specific Effects of Hypocretin Receptor Signaling in Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Neurons on Alcohol Drinking, Anxiety, and Extended Amygdala Neuronal Excitability
No full textAlcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by compulsive alcohol consumption and negative emotional states during withdrawal, often perpetuating a cycle of addiction through arousal dysfunction. The hypocretin/orexin (HCRT) neuropeptide system is a key regulator of arousal that is implicated in these processes, particularly in its interactions with corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST).
Using CRF-specific genetic deletion of Hcrt r 1 and/or Hcrt r 2 receptors in mice combined with behavioral and electrophysiological approaches, we investigated the role of HCRT receptor signaling in CRF neurons in modulating alcohol intake, anxiety behaviors, and BNST excitability, with a focus on sex-specific differences.
We found that deletion of Hcrt r 1 significantly reduced alcohol intake, with sex-specific effects on BNST excitability and synaptic drive. CRF-specific Hcrt r 2 deletion, while not affecting alcohol consumption, decreased baseline anxiety-like behaviors in males relative to females. Moreover, the double deletion of both HCRT receptors from CRF neurons led to reduced alcohol drinking in males (while tending to increase alcohol drinking in females) and dampened anxiety behaviors and BNST excitability in both sexes during protracted withdrawal.
These findings suggest that HCRT signaling in CRF neurons plays a critical role in the persistence of excessive alcohol consumption and the development of negative affective states, with distinct contributions from HcrtR1 and HcrtR2. The observed sex-specific differences underscore the need for tailored therapeutic approaches targeting the HCRT system in the treatment of AUD.
© 2025 The Authors
DNA Bioconjugation with Polymer Beads Using SNAP-tag® Technology
No full textPolymer beads (such as Dynabeads) are commonly used to capture and isolate DNA and proteins, relevant for many applications in biochemistry and nanobiology. Current approaches to link DNA with beads involve non-covalent attachments such as biotin-streptavidin which pose a risk of spontaneous dissociation, potentially influencing data interpretation. We present a protocol to circumvent this risk by exploiting SNAP-tag technology to establish stable covalent anchoring (bioconjugate) between DNA and Dynabeads. We describe steps for generating benzylguanylated (BG) closed covalent circular DNA (BG-cccDNA), conjugating DNA with SNAP-tag and with beads, and enzymatic treatment and elution of conjugated DNA. We have successfully employed this technique to study the effect of Dynabeads as micrometer-scale DNA roadblocks on the motor activity of bacterial SMC Wadjet complex.
© 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
High-resolution mapping of the actin fusion focus reveals myosin V-dependent formin transport for aster formation
No full textMany processes such as polarized growth and secretion require specific actin networks. In fungi, cell-cell fusion requires cell wall digestion mediated by local secretion of lytic enzymes. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the myosin V Myo52 transports enzyme-containing secretory vesicles on the actin fusion focus, an aster-like actin network assembled by the condensate-forming formin Fus1. The fusion focus also concentrates proteins regulating cell polarity, communication, cytoskeleton, exocytosis, and membrane merging. Here, using centroid tracking and averaging, we present a spatiotemporal map of the fusion site with 8-nm precision. We show that a pool of vesicles remains at constant distance from the membrane as the actin structure condenses. Unexpectedly, Myo52 detaches from this pool and colocalizes with Fus1 closer to the membrane. We show that Myo52 binds Fus1 and transports it along actin filaments, and that Myo52 and Fus1 actin assembly activity contribute to focus compaction. Thus, myosin V-driven transport of formin Fus1 along Fus1-nucleated actin filaments underlies positive feedback for actin aster formation.
© 2025 Thomas et al