Serum Tau Fragments Predict Return to Play in Concussed Professional Ice Hockey Players

The diagnosis of sports-related concussion is mainly based on subjective clinical symptoms and neuropsychological tests. Therefore, reliable brain injury biomarkers to assess when it is safe to return to play are highly desirable. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of two newly described tau fragments for diagnosis and prognosis of sports-related concussions. This multi-center prospective cohort study involved all 12 teams of the top professional ice hockey league in Sweden. A total of 288 players consented to participate in the study. Thirty-five players sustained concussions, of whom 28 underwent repeated blood samplings at 1, 12, 36, and 144 h after the trauma, or when the player returned to play (7 to >90 days). There was no significant increase in the levels of Tau-A in post-concussion samples compared with preseason values. However, serum levels of Tau-C were significantly higher in post-concussion samples compared with preseason. Further, levels of Tau-A correlated with the duration of post-concussive symptoms. Tau-A in serum, which is newly discovered biomarker, could be used to predict when it is safe to return to play after a sports-related concussion

ARIA-Versorgungspfade für die Allergenimmuntherapie 2019 = 2019 ARIA Care pathways for allergen immunotherapy

Allergen immunotherapy (MT) is a proven therapeutic option for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. Many guidelines or national practice guidelines have been produced but the evidence- based method varies, many are complex and none propose care pathways. This paper reviews care pathways for AIT using strict criteria and provides simple recommendations that can be used by all stakeholders including health professionals. The decision to prescribe MT for the patient should be individualized and based on the relevance of the allergens, the persistence of symptoms despite appropriate medications according to guidelines as well as on the availability of good-quality and efficacious extracts. Allergen extracts cannot be regarded as generics. Immunotherapy is selected by specialists for stratified patients. There are no currently available validated biomaikers that can predict MT success. In adolescents and adults, AIT should be reserved for patients with moderate/severe rhinitis or for those with moderate asthma who, despite appropriate phannacotherapy and adherence, continue to exhibit exacerbations that appear to be related to allergen exposure, except in some specific cases. Immunotherapy may be even more advantageous in patients with multimorbidity. In children, AIT may prevent asthma onset in patients with rhinitis. mHealth tools are promising for the stratification and follow up of patients

Uptake and Transport of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles through Human Brain Capillary Endothelial Cells

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) formed by brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) constitutes a firm physical, chemical, and immunological barrier, making the brain accessible to only a few percent of potential drugs intended for treatment inside the central nervous system. With the purpose of overcoming the restraints of the BBB by allowing the transport of drugs, siRNA, or DNA into the brain, a novel approach is to use superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as drug carriers. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of fluorescent SPIONs to pass through human brain microvascular endothelial cells facilitated by an external magnet. The ability of SPIONs to penetrate the barrier was shown to be significantly stronger in the presence of an external magnetic force in an in vitro BBB model. Hence, particles added to the luminal side of the in vitro BBB model were found in astrocytes cocultured at a remote distance on the abluminal side, indicating that particles were transported through the barrier and taken up by astrocytes. Addition of the SPIONs to the culture medium did not negatively affect the viability of the endothelial cells. The magnetic force-mediated dragging of SPIONs through BCECs may denote a novel mechanism for the delivery of drugs to the brain

First dedicated balloon catheter for magnetic particle imaging

Vascular interventions are a promising application of Magnetic Particle Imaging enabling a high spatial and temporal resolution without using ionizing radiation. The possibility to visualize the vessels as well as the devices, especially at the same time using multi-contrast approaches, enables a higher accuracy for diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases. Different techniques to make devices MPI visible have been introduced so far, such as varnish markings or filling of balloons. However, all approaches include challenges for in vivo applications, such as the stability of the varnishing or the visibility of tracer filled balloons in deflated state. In this contribution, we present for the first time a balloon catheter that is molded from a granulate incorporating nanoparticles and can be visualized sufficiently in MPI. Computed tomography is used to show the homogeneous distribution of particles within the material. Safety measurements confirm that the incorporation of nanoparticles has no negative effect on the balloon. A dynamic experiment is performed to show that the inflation as well as deflation of the balloon can be imaged with MPI

The role of imaging in urinary incontinence

A detailed history, physical examination, symptom and quality-of-life assessment, and urine analysis are unanimously considered essential components of the initial evaluation of urinary incontinence. Beyond these assessments, there are no universally accepted recommendations and, to date, imaging is not recommended in the initial management of urinary incontinence. In selected patients, urodynamics and/or a radiographic evaluation may be indicated. According to International Continence Society guidelines, imaging of the upper and lower urinary tract is indicated only if renal damage or pelvic pathology are suspected; video-urodynamics and voiding cysto-urethrography are considered optional diagnostic tests and continue to be refined; magnetic resonance imaging is considered an important research tool in evaluating lower urinary tract disorders, but at present its clinical role remains investigational