Explore the vast range of titles available.

Background Glucocorticoids (GC) are the standard treatment for giant cell arteritis (GCA), even though they are associated with adverse side effects and high relapse rates. Tocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist, has shown promise in sustaining remission and reducing the cumulative GC dosage, but it increases the risk of infections and is expensive. After discontinuation of TCZ, only about half of patients remain in remission. Additionally, only few studies have been conducted looking at remission maintenance, highlighting the need for alternative strategies to maintain remission in GCA. Methotrexate (MTX) has been shown to significantly decrease the risk of relapse in new-onset GCA and is already a proven safe drug in many rheumatologic diseases. Methods This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MTX in maintaining remission in patients with GCA who have previously been treated with GC and at least 6 months with TCZ. We hypothesize that MTX can maintain remission in GCA patients, who have achieved stable remission after treatment with GC and TCZ, and prevent the occurrence of relapses. The study design is a monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase II trial randomizing 40 GCA patients 1:1 into a MTX or placebo arm. Patients will receive 17.5 mg MTX/matching placebo weekly by subcutaneous injection for 12 months, with the possibility of dose reduction if clinically needed. A 6-month follow-up will take place. The primary endpoint is the time to first relapse in the MTX group versus placebo during the 12-month treatment period. Secondary outcomes include patient- and investigator-reported outcomes and laboratory findings, as well as the prevalence of aortitis, number of vasculitic vessels, and change in intima-media thickness during the study. Discussion This is the first clinical trial evaluating remission maintenance of GCA with MTX after a previous treatment cycle with TCZ. Following the discontinuation of TCZ in GCA, MTX could be a safe and inexpensive drug. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05623592. Registered on 21 November 2022. EU Clinical Trials Register, 2022-501058-12-00. German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00030571.

Background Poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with poor neurological outcome and high mortality. A major factor influencing morbidity and mortality is brain swelling in the acute phase. Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is currently used as an option in order to reduce intractably elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). However, execution and optimal timing of DC remain unclear. Methods PICASSO resembles a multicentric, prospective, 1:1 randomized standard treatment-controlled trial which analyzes whether primary DC (pDC) performed within 24 h combined with the best medical treatment in patients with poor-grade SAH reduces mortality and severe disability in comparison to best medical treatment alone and secondary craniectomy as ultima ratio therapy for elevated ICP. Consecutive patients presenting with poor-grade SAH, defined as grade 4–5 according to the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), will be screened for eligibility. Two hundred sixteen patients will be randomized to receive either pDC additional to best medical treatment or best medical treatment alone. The primary outcome is the clinical outcome according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 12 months, which is dichotomized to favorable (mRS 0–4) and unfavorable (mRS 5–6). Secondary outcomes include morbidity and mortality, time to death, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and hospital stay, quality of life, rate of secondary DC due to intractably elevated ICP, effect of size of DC on outcome, use of duraplasty, and complications of DC. Discussion This multicenter trial aims to generate the first confirmatory data in a controlled randomized fashion that pDC improves the outcome in a clinically relevant endpoint in poor-grade SAH patients. Trial registration DRKS DRKS00017650. Registered on 09 June 2019.

Clinical trials often face challenges with placebo effects that can mask actual drug effects. We evaluated whether briefing the study team members on placebo mechanisms influenced analgesia. In this study, we compared the analgesic effects of oxycodone and placebo in three groups of 32 subjects. The groups were treated by an untrained study team (Arm A), a team trained to maximize (Arm B) and a team trained to minimize placebo effects (Arm C). The primary outcome was the reduction of pain during the cold pressor test, assessed by the area under the pain curve of the visual analog scale before and after blinded administration of oxycodone or placebo. Oxycodone and placebo demonstrated the expected differences in pain reduction across all study arms. Briefing the study team did not significantly affect pain reduction or treatment expectation, regardless of treatment. However, treatment expectations were more pronounced with oxycodone compared to placebo, showing a positive correlation of expectation and treatment effect only in the oxycodone group, possibly reflecting the influence of unblinding due to adverse effects. These findings suggest that a brief training of the study team may not be sufficient to alter treatment expectations and placebo analgesia. This insight will inform future efforts to apply placebo research to optimize blinded trial design and drug treatments in clinical settings. Trial Registration: DRKS 00013586 (German Clinical Trials Register), registered on December, 22nd 2017; URL: https://www.drks.de/drks_web/setLocale_EN.do

Pleating is an optimal way to increase bendability of wood used in diverse industrial applications. It results in the excessive buckling of cell walls and modifications of constitutive polymers. However, thoughtful understanding of the physical–chemical mechanisms of that modification process is very limited. The main purpose of the present study was to identify changes in functional groups of wood polymers induced by longitudinal compression. Four types of wood samples prepared from beech and sessile oak (untreated, steamed, longitudinally compressed and fixated for 1 min as well as longitudinally compressed and fixated for 18 h) were assessed by infrared spectroscopy. The spectra interpretation revealed that changes can be observed in hydroxyl as well as in carbon–oxygen single and carbon-hydrogen functional groups of polysaccharides and lignin. Beech wood seems to be more susceptible to investigated modification processes as compared to oak. Detailed interpretation of infrared spectra allows identification of changes in the hygroscopicity of wood as well as alterations in the linkage between structural elements in the polymer matrix of wood induced by the applied treatments.Graphic Abstract

We study infinite resistor networks perturbed by line defects, in which the resistances are periodically modified along a single line. Using the Sherman–Morrison identity applied to the lattice Laplace operator, we develop a general analytical framework for computing the Green’s function and the equivalent resistance between arbitrary nodes. The resulting expression is a one-dimensional integral that is evaluated exactly in special cases. While our analysis is carried out for the square lattice, the method readily extends to other lattice geometries and networks with general impedances. Therefore, this framework is useful for studying the boundary behavior of topolectrical circuits, which serve as classical analogs of topological insulators.

This study investigates the color variations of Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) wood originating from different regions in Hungary and different growing site types. Samples were collected from pure and mixed stands under both good and poor growing conditions across several regions. Color parameters were monitored and presented using the CIE L*a*b* color measurement system. Significant differences were detected between sapwood and heartwood, with sapwood being lighter and more yellowish. Growing site type had a marked effect on color parameters, especially on lightness (L*), confirming the influence of site quality and stand composition. Within-tree color homogeneity was generally high, although mixed stands under poor conditions exhibited greater variation, up to 17.6%. Pure stands produced more uniform color, indicating their higher suitability for industrial uses requiring visual consistency. These results contribute to our understanding of Turkey oak’s esthetic and material properties, and support its broader utilization in furniture and interior applications.

In this paper, a method for dimensional stabilization of wood through bulk hydrophobization was investigated using a sol–gel process resulting in in-situ formation of microporous SiO 2 aerogel. Two different wood species, beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) and Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ) were investigated. The incorporation of microporous silica aerogel inside the cell wall and lumen was verified by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. A leaching test using paper as model material proved the bonding of the aerogel to the cellulose component of the cell wall, which indicates a long-lasting effect of the treatment. The modification of wood with silica aerogel significantly improved its hygroscopicity and dimensional stability, decreased the equilibrium moisture content and water uptake beside a low weight percent gain. Permeability was reduced as a result of the silica aerogel deposition in the macro- and micropores of the modified wood. The treatment resulted in an obvious colour change as well.

Among fast-growing wood species, poplars (Populus spp.) can be grown well. Thanks to their valuable wood, they also play an important role in the world. In Europe, regarding poplar forest areas, Hungary is ranked second, where the territorial proportion of poplars has not changed in the past ten years, and currently, two-thirds of them are constituted by two species. The proportion of grey poplar (P. × canescens) is 42%, while the proportion of ’Pannonia’ hybrid (P. × euramericana cv. Pannonia) is 22%. With regard to gross wood production, they are second after black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and their standing tree volume is significant for up to 30 years of age. The average age of hybrid poplars is 21 years, while that of the natives is 26 years. Its wood is used by the packaging industry (pallets and boxes) and the furniture industry (700,000 m3), the plywood industry (200,000 m3), and the fiber industry (300,000 m3), but it is also an important source for energetic purposes (150,000 m3).

The black locust tree is a plantation-grown species that occupies a large area in Hungary. Due to variations in the growth environment of trees across different locations, the anatomical features of wood may differ. This study investigated the variability in fiber properties (fiber length, width, wall thickness, vessel length, and width) and growth rate of Robinia pseudoacacia L. from five counties and in three specific growing conditions. The parameters were investigated based on a sample of discs taken from the trees at breast height. The statistical analysis revealed significant differences in wood fiber and vessel dimensions, as well as ring width, between counties and growth conditions. Nearly all examined parameters showed the lowest values in Bács-Kiskun County, whereas the highest values were observed in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Vas. Regarding the growth conditions, wood in poor growth conditions (mixed trees) and good growth conditions produced superior wood fiber properties and ring widths.

The aim of this research was to improve the dimensional stability of wood through bulk hydrophobization, as a result of impregnation with fluorinated silica nanoparticles. The wood species European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) were used. The characterization of the modified wood was performed using analytical methods, including scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The effect of fluorinated silica nanoparticles on the anti-swelling efficiency, water uptake, equilibrium moisture content, and water contact angle were investigated. The surface of the cell walls was discontinuously covered with fluorinated silica nanoparticles forming a rough surface coating. The presence of the hydrophobic silica nanoparticles improved the dimensional stability by permanently increasing the hydrophobicity of wood, besides a low weight percent gain. Furthermore, the treatment significantly decreased the equilibrium moisture content and water uptake. The modified wood surfaces showed significantly higher water contact angles, which was the main reason of the improved dimensional stability.