A leap forward in geographic scale for forest ectomycorrhizal fungi

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Anti-viral action against type 1 diabetes autoimmunity: The GPPAD-AVAnT1A study protocol

\ua9 2025 The AuthorsViral infections in the first year of life are associated with islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes risk. The Anti-Viral Action against Type 1 Diabetes Autoimmunity (AVAnT1A)- study is a clinical phase IV investigator initiated, randomised, controlled, multicentre, primary prevention trial conducted to determine whether vaccination against COVID-19 from 6 months of age reduces the cumulative incidence of islet autoantibodies or type 1 diabetes in children with elevated genetic risk. Additionally, it investigates the role of viral infections in the etiology of islet autoimmunity by intense surveillance within the first two years of life. Infants aged 3.00–4.00 months from Germany, Belgium, UK and Sweden are eligible if they have a >10 % expected risk to develop islet autoantibodies by age 6 years as determined by HLA DR/DQ genotype, polygenic risk score and family history of type 1 diabetes. A total of 2252 eligible children are randomized 1:1 to COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty\uae 3 μg Omicron XBB.1.5 or future new variants) or placebo (0.9 % Sodium Chloride) administered three times. Children are followed until the minimum age of 2.5 years and maximum age of 6 years. The intervention is accompanied by analyses of immune and metabolic parameters to determine changes induced by viral infections and to investigate mechanisms by which viral infection may lead to islet autoimmunity. The Sponsor is the Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich. The study was approved by Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS, EU Trial number: 2023-507348-35-00) and by Integrated Research Application System (IRAS, IRAS-ID: 1009668)

Emerging role of insulin with incretin therapies for management of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive disease warranting intensification of treatment, as beta-cell function declines over time. Current treatment algorithms recommend metformin as the first-line agent, while advocating the addition of either basal-bolus or premixed insulin as the final level of intervention. Incretin therapy, including incretin mimetics or enhancers, are the latest group of drugs available for treatment of T2DM. These agents act through the incretin axis, are currently recommended as add-on agents either as second-or third-line treatment, without concurrent use of insulin. Given the novel role of incretin therapy in terms of reducing postprandial hyperglycemia, and favorable effects on weight with reduced incidence of hypoglycemia, we explore alternative options for incretin therapy in T2DM management. Furthermore, as some evidence alludes to incretins potentially increasing betacell mass and altering disease progression, we propose introducing these agents earlier in the treatment algorithm. In addition, we suggest the concurrent use of incretins with insulin, given the favorable effects especially in relation to weight gain

Reproducibility of Transcranial Doppler ultrasound in the middle cerebral artery

Abstract Background Transcranial Doppler ultrasound remains the only imaging modality that is capable of real-time measurements of blood flow velocity and microembolic signals in the cerebral circulation. We here assessed the repeatability and reproducibility of transcranial Doppler ultrasound in healthy volunteers and patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Methods Between March and August 2017, we recruited 20 healthy volunteers and 20 patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. In a quiet temperature-controlled room, two 1-h transcranial Doppler measurements of blood flow velocities and microembolic signals were performed sequentially on the same day (within-day repeatability) and a third 7–14 days later (between-day reproducibility). Levels of agreement were assessed by interclass correlation co-efficient. Results In healthy volunteers (31±9 years, 11 male), within-day repeatability of Doppler measurements were 0.880 (95% CI 0.726–0.950) for peak velocity, 0.867 (95% CI 0.700–0.945) for mean velocity, and 0.887 (95% CI 0.741–0.953) for end-diastolic velocity. Between-day reproducibility was similar but lower: 0.777 (95% CI 0.526–0.905), 0.795 (95% CI 0.558–0.913), and 0.674 (95% CI 0.349–0.856) respectively. In patients (72±11 years, 11 male), within-day repeatability of Doppler measurements were higher: 0.926 (95% CI 0.826–0.970) for peak velocity, 0.922 (95% CI 0.817–0.968) for mean velocity, and 0.868 (95% CI 0.701–0.945) for end-diastolic velocity. Similarly, between-day reproducibility revealed lower values: 0.800 (95% CI 0.567–0.915), 0.786 (95% CI 0.542–0.909), and 0.778 (95% CI 0.527–0.905) respectively. In both cohorts, the intra-observer Bland Altman analysis demonstrated acceptable mean measurement differences and limits of agreement between series of middle cerebral artery velocity measurements with very few outliers. In patients, the carotid stenoses were 30–40% (n = 9), 40–50% (n = 6), 50–70% (n = 3) and > 70% (n = 2). No spontaneous embolisation was detected in either of the groups. Conclusions Transcranial Doppler generates reproducible data regarding the middle cerebral artery velocities. However, larger studies are needed to validate its clinical applicability. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov (ID NCT 03050567), retrospectively registered on 15/05/2017