Impact of the first COVID lockdown on accident- and injury-related pediatric intensive care admissions in Germany - a multicenter study

Children’s and adolescents’ lives drastically changed during COVID lockdowns worldwide. To compare accident- and injury-related admissions to pediatric intensive care units (PICU) during the first German COVID lockdown with previous years, we conducted a retrospective multicenter study among 37 PICUs (21.5% of German PICU capacities). A total of 1444 admissions after accidents or injuries during the first lockdown period and matched periods of 2017–2019 were reported and standardized morbidity ratios (SMR) were calculated. Total PICU admissions due to accidents/injuries declined from an average of 366 to 346 (SMR 0.95 (CI 0.85–1.05)). Admissions with trauma increased from 196 to 212 (1.07 (0.93–1.23). Traffic accidents and school/kindergarten accidents decreased (0.77 (0.57–1.02 and 0.26 (0.05–0.75)), whereas household and leisure accidents increased (1.33 (1.06–1.66) and 1.34 (1.06–1.67)). Less neurosurgeries and more visceral surgeries were performed (0.69 (0.38–1.16) and 2.09 (1.19–3.39)). Non-accidental non-suicidal injuries declined (0.73 (0.42–1.17)). Suicide attempts increased in adolescent boys (1.38 (0.51–3.02)), but decreased in adolescent girls (0.56 (0.32–0.79)). In summary, changed trauma mechanisms entailed different surgeries compared to previous years. We found no evidence for an increase in child abuse cases requiring intensive care. The increase in suicide attempts among boys demands investigation

Dynamics of polymer electrolyte with LiTFSI via Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering

Most lithium batteries offer a wide range of applications. However, safety issues are still an unresolved issue for several applications. To solve the safety issue of Li-ion batteries, solid polymer electrolyte is a promising candidate to replace commercial liquid electrolyte. A 4-arm star poly(ethylene oxide) polymer with LiTFSI salt as an electrolyte was studied. The dynamics of this polymer were explored with the Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering technique. Furthermore, the influence of temperature and Li salt concentration on the polymer dynamics was investigated. The dynamics of the polymer ends of the arm show much higher flexibility than the core parts making those types of polymers attractive for further studies in battery research

Dynamics of polymer electrolyte with LiTFSI via Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering

Most lithium batteries offer a wide range of applications. However, safety issues are still an unresolved issue for several applications. To solve the safety issue of Li-ion batteries, solid polymer electrolyte is a promising candidate to replace commercial liquid electrolyte. A 4-arm star poly(ethylene oxide) polymer with LiTFSI salt as an electrolyte was studied. The dynamics of this polymer were explored with the Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering technique. Furthermore, the influence of temperature and Li salt concentration on the polymer dynamics was investigated. The dynamics of the polymer ends of the arm show much higher flexibility than the core parts making those types of polymers attractive for further studies in battery research

Localization and Functionality of the Inflammasome in Neutrophils

Neutrophils represent the major fraction of circulating immune cells and are rapidly recruited to sites of infection and inflammation. The inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that regulates the generation of IL-1 family proteins. The precise subcellular localization and functionality of the inflammasome in human neutrophils are poorly defined. Here we demonstrate that highly purified human neutrophils express key components of the NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), and absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasomes, particularly apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), AIM2, and caspase-1. Subcellular fractionation and microscopic analyses further showed that inflammasome components were localized in the cytoplasm and also noncanonically in secretory vesicle and tertiary granule compartments. Whereas IL-1β and IL-18 were expressed at the mRNA level and released as protein, highly purified neutrophils neither expressed nor released IL-1α at baseline or upon stimulation. Upon inflammasome activation, highly purified neutrophils released substantially lower levels of IL-1β protein compared with partially purified neutrophils. Serine proteases and caspases were differentially involved in IL-1β release, depending on the stimulus. Spontaneous activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in neutrophils in vivo affected IL-1β, but not IL-18 release. In summary, these studies show that human neutrophils express key components of the inflammasome machinery in distinct intracellular compartments and release IL-1β and IL-18, but not IL-1α or IL-33 protein. Targeting the neutrophil inflammasome may represent a future therapeutic strategy to modulate neutrophilic inflammatory diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or sepsis

Towards a unification of treatments and interventions for tinnitus patients: The EU research and innovation action UNITI

Tinnitus is the perception of a phantom sound and the patient's reaction to it. Although much progress has been made, tinnitus remains a scientific and clinical enigma of high prevalence and high economic burden, with an estimated prevalence of 10%–20% among the adult population. The EU is funding a new collaborative project entitled “Unification of Treatments and Interventions for Tinnitus Patients” (UNITI, grant no. 848261) under its Horizon 2020 framework. The main goal of the UNITI project is to set the ground for a predictive computational model based on existing and longitudinal data attempting to address the question of which treatment or combination of treatments is optimal for a specific patient group based on certain parameters. Clinical, epidemiological, genetic and audiological data, including signals reflecting ear-brain communication, as well as patients' medical history, will be analyzed making use of existing databases. Predictive factors for different patient groups will be extracted and their prognostic relevance validated through a Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) in which different patient groups will undergo a combination of tinnitus therapies targeting both auditory and central nervous systems. From a scientific point of view, the UNITI project can be summarized into the following research goals: (1) Analysis of existing data: Results of existing clinical studies will be analyzed to identify subgroups of patients with specific treatment responses and to identify systematic differences between the patient groups at the participating clinical centers. (2) Genetic and blood biomarker analysis: High throughput Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) will be performed in well-characterized chronic tinnitus cases, together with Proximity Extension Assays (PEA) for the identification of blood biomarkers for tinnitus. (3) RCT: A total of 500 patients will be recruited at five clinical centers across Europe comparing single treatments against combinational treatments. The four main treatments are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), hearing aids, sound stimulation, and structured counseling. The consortium will also make use of e/m-health applications for the treatment and assessment of tinnitus. (4) Decision Support System: An innovative Decision Support System will be implemented, integrating all available parameters (epidemiological, clinical, audiometry, genetics, socioeconomic and medical history) to suggest specific examinations and the optimal intervention strategy based on the collected data. (5) Financial estimation analysis: A cost-effectiveness analysis for the respective interventions will be calculated to investigate the economic effects of the interventions based on quality-adjusted life years. In this paper, we will present the UNITI project, the scientific questions that it aims to address, the research consortium, and the organizational structure.Fil: Winfried, Schlee. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Stefan, Schoisswohl. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Susanne, Staudinger. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Axel, Schiller. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Astrid, Lehner. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Berthold, Langguth. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Martin, Schecklmann. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Jorge, Simoes. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Patrick, Neff. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Steven, Marcrum. Universitat Regensburg; AlemaniaFil: Myra, Spiliopoulou. Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg; AlemaniaFil: Uli, Niemann. Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg; AlemaniaFil: Miro, Schleicher. Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg; AlemaniaFil: Vishnu, Unnikrishnan. Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg; AlemaniaFil: Clara, Puga. Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg; AlemaniaFil: Lena, Mulansky. University Hospital Wuerzburg; AlemaniaFil: Ruediger, Pryss. University Hospital Wuerzburg; AlemaniaFil: Carsten, Vogel. University Hospital Wuerzburg; AlemaniaFil: Johannes, Allgaier. University Hospital Wuerzburg; AlemaniaFil: Efi, Giannopoulou. Zeincro Egeszegugyi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag; HungríaFil: Katalin, Birki. Zeincro Egeszegugyi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag; HungríaFil: Klairi, Liakou. Zeincro Egeszegugyi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag; HungríaFil: Rilana, Cima. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; BélgicaFil: Johan, Vlaeyen. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; BélgicaFil: Nicolas, Verhaert. Katholikie Universiteit Leuven; BélgicaFil: Saskia, Ranson. Adelante Tinnitus Expertise Centre; Países BajosFil: Birigt, Mazurek. Charite—Universit atsmedizin Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Petra, Brueggemann. Charite—Universit atsmedizin Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Benjamin, Boecking. Charite—Universit atsmedizin Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Nyamaa, Amarjargal. Charite—Universit atsmedizin Berlin; AlemaniaFil: Elgoyhen, Ana Belen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentin