Amyloid fibrils found in plaques in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains are composed of amyloid-β peptides. Oligomeric amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ42) is thought to play a critical role in neurodegeneration in AD. Here, we determine how size and conformation affect neurotoxicity and internalisation of Aβ42 assemblies using biophysical methods, immunoblotting, toxicity assays and live-cell imaging. We report significant cytotoxicity of Aβ42 oligomers and their internalisation into neurons. In contrast, Aβ42 fibrils show reduced internalisation and no toxicity. Sonicating Aβ42 fibrils generates species similar in size to oligomers but remains nontoxic. The results suggest that Aβ42 oligomers have unique properties that underlie their neurotoxic potential. Furthermore, we show that incubating cells with Aβ42 oligomers for 24 h is sufficient to trigger irreversible neurotoxicity.

The aim of this study was to examine the microbial composition of early (after 3days, D3) and mature biofilms (after 31days, D31) on materials typically used in implant/abutment buildups. Implant/abutment materials with different surface roughness values (R

) were compared to detect differences in the quantity and quality of bacterial composition.

Four different materials were investigated rough implant surface (sand-blasted acid-etched titanium, Ti-p), implant collar (machined titanium, Ti-m), titanium abutment (Ti6Al4V), and zirconium dioxide abutment (ZrO

). Fourteen periodontally healthy subjects received mandibular acrylic devices with four disks (one for each material) facing the anterior lingual area. The total bacterial count was analyzed using RT-qPCR. Both presence and proliferation of 20 selected bacterial species were assessed with microarrays.

The highest mean total cell counts (x10

±standard deviation) were detected at D3 on ZrO

(5.63±4.83; R

=0.74µm), followed by Ti-p (4.53±5.00ow surface roughness showed less biofilm accumulation.

The aim of the study was to assess insurants’ views on various forms of medical rehabilitation of the German Federal Pension Insurance (DRV).

In ten focus groups, participants (n=78, 65% female, M=52.2 years) discussed the advantages and disadvantages of inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, rehabilitation parallel to work, and case management. Central to discussion were treatment modalities such as setting, duration and cooperation with other actors in the health care system. The focus groups were transcribed and analyzed qualitatively (Mayring, 2008).

Many participants expressed the need to be removed from their daily routine in order to concentrate on rehabilitative treatment. The perceived lower treatment intensity and double pressure of outpatient rehabilitation are feared to have a negative effect on treatment outcome. According to participants, the fit between the rehabilitation form and the needs of the rehabilitant is crucial.

The qualitative data can be used to adjust rehabilitation treatment to insurants’ needs.

The qualitative data can be used to adjust rehabilitation treatment to insurants’ needs.

Work-related interventions and alliances between healthcare institutions and companies that aim to support employees with common mental disorders (CMD) returning to work are still quite rare in Germany. The present study examines a small sample of existing alliances and interventions with the aim to describe their cooperation forms and treatment approaches, to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and thus to provide guidance for their further development and dissemination.

Five alliances/interventions were selected on the basis of a web search. Subsequently 11 group discussions and 17 qualitative interviews with involved health care professionals and occupational stakeholders (n=44) as well as employees with CMD (n=17) were conducted and evaluated by documentary method and qualitative content analysis.

The examined interventions follow either a person oriented self-management or a systemic case management approach. The self-management approach focusses on what has to be done by the person him-/herse and dissemination.

The findings show how the RTW of employees with CMD can be supported by more collaborative and work-related interventions. However, they also reveal limits and barriers of existing interventions and therefore provide useful hints for their further development and dissemination.The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, as well as profound effects on society. COVID-19 patients have an increased risk of thromboembolic (TE) complications, which develop despite pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. The mechanism behind COVID-19-associated coagulopathy remains unclear. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL), a pattern recognition molecule that initiates the lectin pathway of complement activation, has been suggested as a potential amplifier of blood coagulation during thromboinflammation. Here we describe data from a cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients (n = 65) treated at a tertiary hospital center intensive care unit (ICU). A subset of patients had strongly elevated MBL plasma levels, and activity upon ICU admission, and patients who developed symptomatic TE (14%) had significantly higher MBL levels than patients without TE. MBL was strongly correlated to plasma D-dimer levels, a marker of COVID-19 coagulopathy, but showed no relationship to degree of inflammation or other organ dysfunction. In conclusion, we have identified complement activation through the MBL pathway as a novel amplification mechanism that contributes to pathological thrombosis in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Pharmacological targeting of the MBL pathway could be a novel treatment option for thrombosis in COVID-19. Laboratory testing of MBL levels could be of value for identifying COVID-19 patients at risk for TE events.Seit Mitte Mai wird berichtet, dass die Maßnahmen oder die Angst vor einer Infektion mit SARS-CoV-2 zu einem sekundären Gesundheitsrisiko führen könnten, weil Diagnosen, z. B. von Krebs- oder Herz-Kreislauferkrankungen, verspätet gestellt und Therapien, z. B. komplizierte operative Eingriffe mit Intensivpflege, verzögert durchgeführt werden (COVIDSurg Collaborative, Br J Surg 2020; DOI 10.1002/bjs.11746; Kuhlen R et al., Dtsch Arztebl Int 2020; 117 488-489). In der Kinder- und Jugendmedizin stehen die Fragen und Probleme des Schulunterrichts, der fehlenden sozialen Kontakte innerhalb der peer group und der häuslichen Gewalt im Vordergrund der Fragen zur Auswirkung der Pandemie auf die Gesundheit (Wade M et al., Psychiatry Res 2020; 290113-143). Mögliche Auswirkungen auf die Umsetzung der Richtlinie des Gemeinsamen Bundesausschuss (G-BA) über die Früherkennung von Krankheiten bei Kinder (Vorsorge-Untersuchungen U1-U9) sind bislang nicht bekannt. Im Rahmen der SARS-CoV2 Kontaktbeschränkungen hatte der G-BA die Toleranzzeiten (Abrechnungsfristen) für die Vorsorge-Untersuchungen U6-U9 bis zum Ablauf von 3 Monaten nach Beendigung einer epidemischen Lage von nationaler Tragweite aufgehoben (BAnz AT 29.05.2020 B6).

 Collaboration has been shown to be beneficial when we have complex problems and highly specialized groups, such as in head and neck reconstruction. Otolaryngology, plastic surgery, and oral maxillofacial surgeons perform head and neck reconstruction research. While the specialties represent unique backgrounds, the degree of interdisciplinary collaboration and subtopic focus is unknown. We sought to describe the frequency of interinstitutional interdisciplinary collaboration and examine the association of specialty with research subtopics.

 Oral presentations from 2014 to 2018 focused on head and neck reconstruction or associated principles at the main reconstructive academic meetings in otolaryngology (American Head and Neck Society), plastic surgery (American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery), and oral maxillofacial surgery (American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons) were reviewed. Author specialty and institution data were recorded. All abstracts were assigned a research subtopic, chosen based on identified themes. Subtopic frequencies among the specialties were compared.

 Thirteen of 88 (15%) US institutions participate in interdisciplinary collaboration in head and neck reconstruction research. Of the remaining institutions, 23 (31%) have researchers performing parallel work and not collaborating. Certain research subtopics were more often presented by each specialty, representing differing interests.

 Collaboration among head and neck reconstruction research at the US institutions is low compared with the potential. Specialties focus on different research subtopics, and therefore can benefit from working together.

 Collaboration among head and neck reconstruction research at the US institutions is low compared with the potential. Specialties focus on different research subtopics, and therefore can benefit from working together.

 Although microsurgery fellowships have existed since the 1980s, there is no established curriculum. Microsurgery fellowships vary greatly in clinical caseload, case diversity, and training resources, and there is no consensus on the appropriate composition of a microsurgery fellowship. This study surveys fellowship directors (FD) and recent microsurgery fellows (MFs), graduates, to describe the ideal microsurgery fellowship program.

 A 15-item questionnaire was sent to 38 FDs and 90 recent microsurgery fellowship graduates. This questionnaire addressed program attributes, case volumes and compositions, ideal experiences, and time allocation to different fellowship experiences. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics,

-tests, and Chi-squared tests.

 The FD and MF surveys had a response rate of 47 and 49%, respectively. Both MF and FD agreed that exposure to microsurgical breast reconstruction is the most important characteristic of a microsurgery fellowship (

 = 0.94). MF ranked replantation on making.

 Venous congestion is the most common perfusion-related complication of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap. Several hydraulic constructs can be created for venous superdrainage in case of flap venous engorgement or as a preventive measure. These can be classified based on the choice of the draining vein of the flap, either a second deep inferior epigastric vein (DIEV) or a superficial inferior epigastric vein (SIEV), and of the recipient vein, either a vein of the chest or the DIEV.

 We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature review in Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar to find publications that reported on venous congestion in DIEP flap. The keywords used were DIEP Flap, breast reconstruction, venous congestion, supercharging, superdrainage, SIEV, and DIEV.

 Based on the studies found in the literature, we developed an algorithm to guide the surgeon’s decision when choosing the veins for the superdrainage anastomosis.

 Several alternatives for venous anastomosis in superdrainage are available. We propose an algorithm to simplify the choice. The use of the ipsilateral SIEV to be connected to a vein of the chest appears to be advantageous. The anatomical position that allows the easiest anastomosis dictates which chest vein to favor.

 Several alternatives for venous anastomosis in superdrainage are available. We propose an algorithm to simplify the choice. The use of the ipsilateral SIEV to be connected to a vein of the chest appears to be advantageous. The anatomical position that allows the easiest anastomosis dictates which chest vein to favor.