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The anatomical deformation in cleft patients requires speech therapy to support cleft patients as best as possible. The aim of this study was to evaluate the standard of knowledge of therapists concerning clefts. Furthermore, the study aimed to determine whether there was a difference between therapists with and without treatment experience in cleft patients as well as among therapists with more or less years of general professional experience. We developed a questionnaire about different areas of speech therapy: “General,” “Speech therapy,” “Development opportunities and influences,” and “Interdisciplinary collaboration.” For a total of 50 questions, we used single-, multiple-choice questions and the visual analog scale (VAS). Speech therapists with experience in treating cleft patients (n = 43) felt more confident regarding their knowledge and abilities than therapists without experience (n = 61), especially concerning nonspecialist disciplines and cleft specifications. No difference was found in therapy duration, indications, influences, and potential for development. Professional experience (years) and cleft experience correlate; with more knowledge in the group with more than 8 years of experience. Cleft centers remain first choice for patients’ care thanks to the higher number of patients, daily treatment routine, the direct contact among examiners, and a common treatment concept.

Objectives Against the background of digitalization, practicing on 3-D models for dental education has become more important. To improve the surgical skills of dental students, this study aimed to develop a 3-D-printed model for osteotomy of a partially retained lower wisdom tooth and evaluate surgical skills of students with practical experience acquired through phantom exercises compared to students who acquired experience only by assisting oral surgeons. Materials and methods We developed a 3-D model that allows dental students to perform an osteotomy of a partially retained real wisdom tooth in region 48. The model was evaluated by oral surgeons (OS; n  = 5), students with phantom experience (PE; n  = 26), and students with experience with clinical assistance (CE; n  = 29). Additionally, student performance was rated. Results The OS, PE, and CE groups all evaluated the model as suitable for student courses, except for the gingiva mask. The CE group developed slightly better. In the exercise, the PE group showed better incision results, while the CE group was slightly better in the preparation of the working field. Conclusions The osteotomy model is suitable for hands-on courses for dental students, but the gingiva should be improved. However, phantom exercise cannot replace clinical experience. Clinical relevance To improve education, knowledge and self confidence of students in dental school.

Aim: This study aimed to compare two-piece zirconia and two-piece titanium implants inserted into the anterior mandible for removable overdentures in a 3-year randomized split-mouth clinical trial. Methods: Twenty fully edentulous mandibular patients received two zirconia and two titanium implants allocated by computer-generated randomization. The primary endpoint was bleeding-on-probing (BOP) at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included implant survival and success (Albrektsson criteria), marginal bone level changes, peri-implant cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα), prosthetic complications, and patient-reported outcomes (PROMs). Results: After 3 years, overall survival was 98.61% and overall success was 84.72%. Titanium implants showed higher success compared with zirconia implants (91.70% vs. 77.78%), while survival was 100% and 97.22%, respectively. Marginal bone loss was significantly greater around zirconia implants at 36 months (p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed in IL-1β, IL-6, or TNFα levels up to 12 months. PROMs revealed a trade-off, with zirconia favored for esthetics and cleaning perception, while titanium was rated superior for stability. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this split-mouth RCT, zirconia implants demonstrated reduced success and inferior marginal bone stability compared with titanium implants in overdenture therapy. Careful case selection and close follow-up appear essential when zirconia implants are used in this indication.

Background Up to 80% of breast cancer patients suffer from Cancer Related Cognitive Impairments (CRCI). Exercise is suggested as a potential supportive care option to reduce cognitive decline in cancer patients. This study will investigate the effects of a high-intensity interval endurance training (HIIT) on CRCI in breast cancer patients. Potentially underlying immunological and neurobiological mechanisms, as well as effects on patients’ self-perceived cognitive functioning and common cancer related side-effects, will be explored. Methods A single-blinded randomized controlled trial will be carried out. The impact of HIIT on CRCI will be compared to that of a placebo-intervention (supervised myofascial release training). Both interventions will be conducted simultaneously with the patients’ first-line chemotherapy treatment typically lasting 12–18 weeks. Fifty-nine women with breast cancer will be included in each of the two groups. The study is powered to detect (α = .05, β = .2) a medium effect size difference between the two groups (d = .5) in terms of patients’ change in cognitive testing performances, from baseline until the end of the exercise-intervention. The cognitive test battery, recommended by the International Cancer and Cognition Task Force to assess CRCI, will be used as primary measure. This includes the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (learning/verbal memory), the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (verbal fluency) and the Trail-Making-Test A/B (attention/set-switching). The following endpoints will be assessed as secondary measures: Go-/No-Go test performance (response inhibition), self-perceived cognitive functioning, serum levels of pro- and antiinflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor alpha, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-1 alpha, Interleukin-1 beta, C-reactive protein, Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and Interleukin-10), serum levels of neurotrophic and growth factors (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor), as well as common cancer-related side effects (decrease in physical capacity, fatigue, anxiety and depression, sleep disturbances, quality of life and chemotherapy compliance). Discussion This study will provide data on the question whether HIIT is an effective supportive therapy that alleviates CRCI in breast cancer patients. Moreover, the present study will help shed light on the underlying mechanisms of potential CRCI improving effects of exercise in breast cancer patients. Trial registration DRKS.de, German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), ID: DRKS00011390 , Registered on 17 January 2018.

Nonhost resistance (NHR) of plants to fungal pathogens comprises different defense layers. Epidermal penetration resistance of Arabidopsis to Phakopsora pachyrhizi requires functional PEN1, PEN2 and PEN3 genes, whereas post-invasion resistance in the mesophyll depends on the combined functionality of PEN2, PAD4 and SAG101. Other genetic components of Arabidopsis post-invasion mesophyll resistance remain elusive. We performed comparative transcriptional profiling of wild-type, pen2 and pen2 pad4 sag101 mutants after inoculation with P. pachyrhizi to identify a novel trait for mesophyll NHR. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis and microscopic analysis confirmed the essential role of the candidate gene in mesophyll NHR. UDP-glucosyltransferase UGT84A2/bright trichomes 1 (BRT1) is a novel component of Arabidopsis mesophyll NHR to P. pachyrhizi. BRT1 is a putative cytoplasmic enzyme in phenylpropanoid metabolism. BRT1 is specifically induced in pen2 with post-invasion resistance to P. pachyrhizi. Silencing or mutation of BRT1 increased haustoria formation in pen2 mesophyll. Yet, the brt1 mutation did not affect NHR to P. pachyrhizi in wild-type plants. We assign a novel function to BRT1, which is important for post-invasion NHR of Arabidopsis to P. pachyrhizi. BRT1 might serve to confer durable resistance against P. pachyrhizi to soybean.

Background Despite the public health relevance of analgesic use, large-scale studies on this topic in Germany are lacking. This study describes the prevalence, trends, associations and patterns of use of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics, focusing on five of the most common agents: aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen and paracetamol. Methods Data from two representative population-based surveys: The German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998 (GNHIES98 n  = 7099) and the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults 2008–2011 (DEGS1 n  = 7091) was investigated. Information on all medicines consumed in the previous 7 days was collected via computer-assisted personal interviews with adults aged 18–79 years. Associations between analgesic use and socio-demographic and health-behaviour factors were analysed using logistic regression models. Results Analgesic use has increased over the last decade from 19 to 21 %. This was exclusively due to the rise in OTC analgesic use from 10.0 to 12.2 %. Prescribed analgesic use remained constant (7.9 %). Findings from DEGS1 indicate that ibuprofen is the most commonly used analgesic followed by aspirin and paracetamol. OTC analgesic use is higher among women and smokers, but lower among older adults (65–79 years). Prescribed analgesics use is higher among women, older adults, smokers and obese adults with medium or high socio- economic status. Adults performing more than 2 h/week of physical exercise use fewer analgesics. Discussion Among the adult population of Germany, the prevalence of OTC analgesic use has significantly increased over the last decade. We found differences between adults consuming OTC and prescribed analgesics (or both) concerning their health behaviour and health conditions. International direct comparison between prevalence rates of analgesic use was limited due to varying availability of analgesics between countries and methodological differences. Conclusions About one in five community dwelling adults aged 18–79 years in Germany use analgesics in a given week. Considering the potential harms of analgesic use, monitoring of prevalence, patterns and determinants of use at the population level are important steps to inform disease prevention and health promotion policies.

Urm1 from yeast is a unique ubiquitin-like protein with dual functionality. It has been shown to operate in tRNA thiolation and protein urmylation, combining features typical of bacterial sulfur carriers and classical ubiquitin-like modifiers. Hence, in evolutionary terms, Urm1 may be placed at the crossroad of prokaryotic sulfur transfer and eukaryotic protein conjugation pathways. Prompted by Urm1-like proteins identified in Archaea, we examined Urm1 functional conservation using URM1 gene shuffle from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius to Saccharomyces cerevisiae . We find that archaeal Urm1 conjugates to peroxiredoxin Ahp1, a bona fide urmylation target in yeast, but cannot support tRNA thiolation. Ahp1 conjugation requires sulfur transfer onto the archaeal Urm1 modifier from Uba4, the E1-like urmylation activator in yeast. Thus, thioactivation of archaeal Urm1 and urmylation-like conjugation are conserved and exchangeable processes between Sulfolobus and Saccharomyces . Our survey underlines that Urm1 likely occupies a key role in the evolution of the ubiquitin-like protein family. URM1 gene shuffle from S. acidocaldarius to S. cerevisiae has uncovered that dual-functional sulfur carrier roles for Urm1 in tRNA thiolation and protein urmylation can be separated from one another by expressing an archaeal Urm1 homolog in yeast.

Wheat blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae pv. Triticum is an upcoming threat to wheat cultivation worldwide. The disease crossing over to wheat first gained attention in South America, with increasing interest coming from its more recent appearance in the big wheat-growing areas of Asia. The increasing economic relevance of the disease and the lack of genetic resistance in current wheat breeding material, besides fungicide resistance already present in fungal pathogen populations, highlighted the need to evaluate the potential of isotianil as an alternative plant protection measure. Isotianil is already registered in Asia for the protection of rice against M. oryzae, but because the agronomic practices and disease development of blast differ between rice and wheat, the efficacy of isotianil against wheat blast was hard to predict. Testing isotianil in the currently available formulations, applied either as seed treatment or soil drench, resulted in a significant reduction of disease severity. The efficacy was comparably high, on different wheat cultivars and using several fungal isolates with different degrees of virulence. Microscopic analyses revealed that isotianil treatment can prevent invasive growth of the pathogen. No phytotoxicity from isotianil treatment was observed on wheat plants. Importantly, isotianil not only protects wheat plants at the seedling stage but also on spikes thereby preventing losses due to this most severe disease syndrome. In summary, the results showed the high potential of isotianil to protect against wheat blast.

Nonhost resistance ( NHR ) of plants to fungal pathogens comprises different defense layers. Epidermal penetration resistance of Arabidopsis to Phakopsora pachyrhizi requires functional PEN 1 , PEN 2 and PEN 3 genes, whereas post‐invasion resistance in the mesophyll depends on the combined functionality of PEN 2 , PAD 4 and SAG 101 . Other genetic components of Arabidopsis post‐invasion mesophyll resistance remain elusive. We performed comparative transcriptional profiling of wild‐type, pen2 and pen2 pad4 sag101 mutants after inoculation with P. pachyrhizi to identify a novel trait for mesophyll NHR . Quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) analysis and microscopic analysis confirmed the essential role of the candidate gene in mesophyll NHR . UDP ‐glucosyltransferase UGT 84A2/bright trichomes 1 ( BRT 1) is a novel component of Arabidopsis mesophyll NHR to P. pachyrhizi . BRT 1 is a putative cytoplasmic enzyme in phenylpropanoid metabolism. BRT 1 is specifically induced in pen2 with post‐invasion resistance to P. pachyrhizi . Silencing or mutation of BRT 1 increased haustoria formation in pen2 mesophyll. Yet, the brt1 mutation did not affect NHR to P. pachyrhizi in wild‐type plants. We assign a novel function to BRT 1, which is important for post‐invasion NHR of Arabidopsis to P. pachyrhizi . BRT1 might serve to confer durable resistance against P. pachyrhizi to soybean.