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Purpose: To compare the effective lens position (ELP), anterior chamber depth (ACD) changes, and visual outcomes in patients with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) after cataract surgery.
Design: Prospective, randomized, fellow-eye controlled clinical case series.
Methods: This prospective comparative case series enrolled 56 eyes of 56 consecutive patients with (n = 28) or without PEX (n = 28) and clinically significant cataract who underwent standard phacoemulsification and were implanted with single-piece acrylic posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs). The primary outcome parameters were the ACD referring to the distance between the corneal anterior surface and the lens anterior surface, which is an indicator of the postoperative axial position of the IOL (the so-called ELP) and distance corrected visual acuity (DCVA).
Results: Before surgery, the ACD was 2.54 ± 0.42 mm in the PEX group and 2.53 ± 0.38 mm in the control group (p = 0.941). Postoperatively, the ACD was 4.29 ± 0.71 mm in the PEX group and 4.33 ± 0.72 mm in the normal group, respectively (p = 0.533). There was no significant difference in ACD changes between groups (PEX group: 1.75 ± 0.74 mm, control group: 1.81 ± 0.61 mm, p = 0.806) and DCVA pre- (p = 0.469) and postoperatively (PEX group: 0.11 ± 0.13 logMAR, control group: 0.09 ± 0.17 logMAR, p = 0.245) between groups.
Conclusion: Preoperative and postoperative ACD, as an indicator of ELP, between PEX eyes and healthy eyes after cataract surgery showed no significant difference. Phacoemulsification induced similar changes in eyes with PEX compared to healthy eyes.
Many QCD based and phenomenological models predict changes of hadron properties in a strongly interacting environment. The results of these models differ significantly and the experimental determination of hadron properties in nuclear matter is essential. In this paper we present a review of selected physics results obtained at GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH by HADES (High-Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer). The e+e− pair emission measured for proton and heavy-ion induced collisions is reported together with results on strangeness production. The future HADES activities at the planned FAIR facility are also discussed.
The knowledge of baryonic resonance properties and production cross sections plays an important role for the extraction and understanding of medium modifications of mesons in hot and/or dense nuclear matter. We present and discuss systematics on dielectron and strangeness production obtained with HADES on p+p, p+A and A+A collisions in the few GeV energy regime with respect to these resonances.
The High Acceptance DiElectron Spectrometer HADES [1] is installed at the Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung (GSI) accelerator facility in Darmstadt. It investigates dielectron emission and strangeness production in the 1-3 AGeV regime. A recent experiment series focusses on medium-modifications of light vector mesons in cold nuclear matter. In two runs, p+p and p+Nb reactions were investigated at 3.5 GeV beam energy; about 9·109 events have been registered. In contrast to other experiments the high acceptance of the HADES allows for a detailed analysis of electron pairs with low momenta relative to nuclear matter, where modifications of the spectral functions of vector mesons are predicted to be most prominent. Comparing these low momentum electron pairs to the reference measurement in the elementary p+p reaction, we find in fact a strong modification of the spectral distribution in the whole vector meson region.
Photoacids attract increasing scientific attention, as they are valuable tools to spatiotemporally control proton-release reactions and pH values of solutions. We present the first time-resolved spectroscopic study of the excited state and proton-release dynamics of prominent merocyanine representatives. Femtosecond transient absorption measurements of a pyridine merocyanine with two distinct protonation sites revealed dissimilar proton-release mechanisms: one site acts as a photoacid generator as its pKa value is modulated in the ground state after photoisomerization, while the other functions as an excited state photoacid which releases its proton within 1.1 ps. With a pKa drop of 8.7 units to −5.5 upon excitation, the latter phenolic site is regarded a super-photoacid. The 6-nitro derivative exhibits only a phenolic site with similar, yet slightly less photoacidic characteristics and both compounds transfer their proton to methanol and ethanol. In contrast, for the related 6,8-dinitro compound an intramolecular proton transfer to the ortho-nitro group is suggested that is involved in a rapid relaxation into the ground state.
Introduction Disseminated infection due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria has been a major factor of mortality and comorbidity in HIV patients. Until 2018, U.S. American guidelines have recommended antimycobacterial prophylaxis in patients with low CD4 cell counts, a practice that has not been adopted in Europe. This study aimed at examining the impact of disseminated NTM disease on clinical outcome in German HIV patients with a severe immunodeficiency. Materials and methods In this retrospective case control study, HIV patients with disseminated NTM disease were identified by retrospective chart review and matched by their CD4 cell counts to HIV patients without NTM infection in a 1:1 alocation. Primary endpoints were mortality and time to first rehospitalisation. In addition, other opportunistic diseases, as well as antimycobacterial and antiretroviral treatments were examined. Results Between 2006 and 2016, we identified 37 HIV patients with disseminated NTM disease. Most of them were suffering from infections due to M. avium complex (n = 31, 77.5%). Time to event analysis showed a non-significant trend to higher mortality in patients with disseminated NTM disease (p = 0.24). Rehospitalisation took place significantly earlier in patients with disseminated NTM infections (median 40.5 days vs. 109 days, p<0.0001). Conclusion In this retrospective case control study, we could demonstrate that mortality is not significantly higher in HIV patients with disseminated NTM disease in the ART era, but that they require specialised medical attention in the first months following discharge.
Background: Acute bleeding requires fast and targeted therapy. Therefore, knowledge of the patient's potential to form a clot is crucial. Point-of-care testing (POCT) provides fast and reliable information on coagulation. Structural circumstances, such as person-bound sample transport, can prolong the reporting of the results. The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic quality and accuracy between POCT INR diagnostics and standard laboratory analysis (SLA) as well as the time advantage between a pneumatic tube and a personal-based transport system. Methods: Two groups of haemorrhagic patients (EG: emergency department; OG: delivery room; each n = 12) were examined in the context of bleeding emergencies using POCT and SLA. Samples were transported via a pneumatic tube system or by a personal transport service. Results: INR results between POCT and SLA showed a high and significant correlation (EG: p < 0.001; OG: p < 0.001). POCT results were reported significantly more quickly (EG: 1.1 vs. 39.6 min; OG: 2.0 vs. 75.0 min; p < 0.001) and required less time for analysis (EG: 0.3 vs. 24.0 min; OG: 0.5 vs. 45.0 min; p < 0.001) compared to SLA. The time for transportation with the pneumatic tube was significantly shorter (8.0 vs. 18.5 min; p < 0.001) than with the personal-based transport system. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that POCT may be a suitable method for the emergency diagnosis and may be used as prognostic diagnostic elements in haemotherapy algorithms to initiate targeted haemotherapy at an early point in time.
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a multidisciplinary intervention including patient assessment and medical actions to promote stabilization, management of cardiovascular risk factors, vocational support, psychosocial management, physical activity counselling, and prescription of exercise training. Millions of people with cardiac implantable electronic devices live in Europe and their numbers are progressively increasing, therefore, large subsets of patients admitted in CR facilities have a cardiac implantable electronic device. Patients who are cardiac implantable electronic devices recipients are considered eligible for a CR programme. This is not only related to the underlying heart disease but also to specific issues, such as psychological adaptation to living with an implanted device and, in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients, the risk of arrhythmia, syncope, and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, these patients should receive special attention, as their needs may differ from other patients participating in CR. As evidence from studies of CR in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices is sparse, detailed clinical practice guidelines are lacking. Here, we aim to provide practical recommendations for CR in cardiac implantable electronic devices recipients in order to increase CR implementation, efficacy, and safety in this subset of patients.
Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of dual-energy CT (DECT) virtual noncalcium (VNCa) reconstructions for assessing thoracic disk herniation compared to standard grayscale CT. Methods: In this retrospective study, 87 patients (1131 intervertebral disks; mean age, 66 years; 47 women) who underwent third-generation dual-source DECT and 3.0-T MRI within 3 weeks between November 2016 and April 2020 were included. Five blinded radiologists analyzed standard DECT and color-coded VNCa images after a time interval of 8 weeks for the presence and degree of thoracic disk herniation and spinal nerve root impingement. Consensus reading of independently evaluated MRI series served as the reference standard, assessed by two separate experienced readers. Additionally, image ratings were carried out by using 5-point Likert scales. Results: MRI revealed a total of 133 herniated thoracic disks. Color-coded VNCa images yielded higher overall sensitivity (624/665 [94%; 95% CI, 0.89–0.96] vs 485/665 [73%; 95% CI, 0.67–0.80]), specificity (4775/4990 [96%; 95% CI, 0.90–0.98] vs 4066/4990 [82%; 95% CI, 0.79–0.84]), and accuracy (5399/5655 [96%; 95% CI, 0.93–0.98] vs 4551/5655 [81%; 95% CI, 0.74–0.86]) for the assessment of thoracic disk herniation compared to standard CT (all p < .001). Interrater agreement was excellent for VNCa and fair for standard CT (ϰ = 0.82 vs 0.37; p < .001). In addition, VNCa imaging achieved higher scores regarding diagnostic confidence, image quality, and noise compared to standard CT (all p < .001). Conclusions: Color-coded VNCa imaging yielded substantially higher diagnostic accuracy and confidence for assessing thoracic disk herniation compared to standard CT.
Objectives: Sphingolipids (SLs) have been implicated as potent regulators of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) life cycle. We investigated the SL biomarker potential regarding virologic endpoints in a prospective subgroup of patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection.
Methods: From 2009–2016 98 patients with HBeAg-negative HBV infection were prospectively followed over four years. Clinical, laboratory and imaging data were evaluated annually. SLs were assessed in available serum probes via liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.
Results: Of those 98 patients, 10 (10.2%) showed HBV reactivation, 13 (13.2%) lost HBsAg and 9 (9.1%) gained status of HBsAg-/HBsAb-coexistence, whereas 66 (67.3%) had no events. Within the four-year analysis sphingosine (p = 0.020), sphinganine (p<0.001), dhS1P (p<0.001), C16DHC (p<0.01) and C20Cer (p<0.001) showed a significant upregulation in patients without virologic events, C18Cer significantly decreased (p<0.001). At baseline decreased S1P-, dhS1P- and C16Cer-levels were observed in patients with upcoming status of HBsAg-/HBsAb-coexistence. S1P and dhS1P levels were elevated HBV genotype D infected patients.
Conclusions: In a prospective cohort of patients with a HBeAg-negative HBV infection, serum SLs associated with the virologic course and HBV genotype D. Further studies are required to elucidate SLs as potential novel predictors of the course of HBeAg-negative HBV infection.
Rationale: Early reperfusion in patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke is critical, especially for patients with large vessel occlusion who have poor prognosis without revascularization. S olitaire™ stent retriever devices have been shown to immediately restore vascular perfusion safely, rapidly, and effectively in acute ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusions.
Aim: The aim of the study was to demonstrate that, among patients with large vessel, anterior circulation occlusion who have received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator, treatment with S olitaire revascularization devices reduces degree of disability 3 months post stroke.
Design: The study is a global multicenter, two‐arm, prospective, randomized, open, blinded end‐point trial comparing functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients who are treated with either intravenous tissue plasminogen activator alone or intravenous tissue plasminogen activator in combination with the Solitaire device. Up to 833 patients will be enrolled.
Procedures:Patients who have received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator are randomized to either continue with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator alone or additionally proceed to neurothrombectomy using the S olitaire device within six‐hours of symptom onset.
Study Outcomes: The primary end‐point is 90‐day global disability, assessed with the modified R ankin S cale (mRS). Secondary outcomes include mortality at 90 days, functional independence (mRS ≤ 2) at 90 days, change in N ational I nstitutes of H ealth S troke S cale at 27 h, reperfusion at 27 h, and thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b/3 flow at the end of the procedure.
Analysis:Statistical analysis will be conducted using simultaneous success criteria on the overall distribution of modified R ankin S cale (R ankin shift) and proportions of subjects achieving functional independence (mRS 0–2).
Preclinical studies have demonstrated that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in the protection against intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer (CRC); however, human data are scarce. We determined members of the ECS and related components of the ‘endocannabinoidome’ in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and CRC, and compared them to control subjects. Anandamide (AEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA) were increased in plasma of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) patients while 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) was elevated in patients with CD, but not UC. 2-AG, but not AEA, PEA and OEA, was elevated in CRC patients. Lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) 18:0 showed higher levels in patients with IBD than in control subjects whereas LPI 20:4 was elevated in both CRC and IBD. Gene expression in intestinal mucosal biopsies revealed different profiles in CD and UC. CD, but not UC patients, showed increased gene expression for the 2-AG synthesizing enzyme diacylglycerol lipase alpha. Transcripts of CNR1 and GPR119 were predominantly decreased in CD. Our data show altered plasma levels of endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-like lipids in IBD and CRC and distinct transcript profiles in UC and CD. We also report alterations for less known components in intestinal inflammation, such as GPR119, OEA and LPI.
In the upcoming years, the internet of things (IoT)will enrich daily life. The combination of artificial intelligence(AI) and highly interoperable systems will bring context-sensitive multi-domain services to reality. This paper describesa concept for an AI-based smart living platform with open-HAB, a smart home middleware, and Web of Things (WoT) askey components of our approach. The platform concept con-siders different stakeholders, i.e. the housing industry, serviceproviders, and tenants. These activities are part of the Fore-Sight project, an AI-driven, context-sensitive smart living plat-form.
Malignant germ cell tumors (GCT) are the most common malignant tumors in young men between 18 and 40 years. The correct identification of histological subtypes, in difficult cases supported by immunohistochemistry, is essential for therapeutic management. Furthermore, biomarkers may help to understand pathophysiological processes in these tumor types. Two GCT cell lines, TCam-2 with seminoma-like characteristics, and NTERA-2, an embryonal carcinoma-like cell line, were compared by a quantitative proteomic approach using high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) in combination with stable isotope labelling by amino acid in cell culture (SILAC). We were able to identify 4856 proteins and quantify the expression of 3936. 347 were significantly differentially expressed between the two cell lines. For further validation, CD81, CBX-3, PHF6, and ENSA were analyzed by western blot analysis. The results confirmed the MS results. Immunohistochemical analysis on 59 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) normal and GCT tissue samples (normal testis, GCNIS, seminomas, and embryonal carcinomas) of these proteins demonstrated the ability to distinguish different GCT subtypes, especially seminomas and embryonal carcinomas. In addition, siRNA-mediated knockdown of these proteins resulted in an antiproliferative effect in TCam-2, NTERA-2, and an additional embryonal carcinoma-like cell line, NCCIT. In summary, this study represents a proteomic resource for the discrimination of malignant germ cell tumor subtypes and the observed antiproliferative effect after knockdown of selected proteins paves the way for the identification of new potential drug targets.
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute to cardiac (patho)physiology. Aging is the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease with cardiomyocyte apoptosis as one underlying cause. Here, we report the identification of the aging-regulated lncRNA Sarrah (ENSMUST00000140003) that is anti-apoptotic in cardiomyocytes. Importantly, loss of SARRAH (OXCT1-AS1) in human engineered heart tissue results in impaired contractile force development. SARRAH directly binds to the promoters of genes downregulated after SARRAH silencing via RNA-DNA triple helix formation and cardiomyocytes lacking the triple helix forming domain of Sarrah show an increase in apoptosis. One of the direct SARRAH targets is NRF2, and restoration of NRF2 levels after SARRAH silencing partially rescues the reduction in cell viability. Overexpression of Sarrah in mice shows better recovery of cardiac contractile function after AMI compared to control mice. In summary, we identified the anti-apoptotic evolutionary conserved lncRNA Sarrah, which is downregulated by aging, as a regulator of cardiomyocyte survival.
Background: Ribavirin (RBV) remains part of several interferon-free treatment strategies even though its mechanisms of action are still not fully understood. One hypothesis is that RBV increases responsiveness to type I interferons. Pegylated Interferon alpha (PEG-IFNa) has recently been shown to alter natural killer (NK) cell function possibly contributing to control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the effects of ribavirin alone or in combination with IFNa on NK cells are unknown.
Methods: Extensive ex vivo phenotyping and functional analysis of NK cells from hepatitis C patients was performed during antiviral therapy. Patients were treated for 6 weeks with RBV monotherapy (n = 11), placebo (n = 13) or PEG-IFNa-2a alone (n = 6) followed by PEG-IFNa/RBV combination therapy. The effects of RBV and PEG-IFNa-2a on NK cells were also studied in vitro after co-culture with K562 or Huh7.5 cells.
Results: Ribavirin monotherapy had no obvious effects on NK cell phenotype or function, neither ex vivo in patients nor in vitro. In contrast, PEG-IFNa-2a therapy was associated with an increase of CD56bright cells and distinct changes in expression profiles leading to an activated NK cell phenotype, increased functionality and decline of terminally differentiated NK cells. Ribavirin combination therapy reduced some of the IFN effects. An activated NK cell phenotype during therapy was inversely correlated with HCV viral load.
Conclusions: PEG-IFNa activates NK cells possibly contributing to virological responses independently of RBV. The role of NK cells during future IFN-free combination therapies including RBV remains to be determined.
Background & Aims: Phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitors (PDE‐5‐I) are used for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), which is common in patients with cirrhosis. They may improve portal hypertension (PH), but contradictory data on efficacy and side‐effects have been reported. Non‐selective beta blockers (NSBB) reduce portal pressure, but might aggravate ED. Thus, we evaluated the combination of PDE‐5‐I with NSBB and its impact on PH and ED in experimental cirrhosis.
Methods: ED was assessed in cirrhotic patients (n = 86) using standardized questionnaire. Experimental cirrhosis was induced by bile‐duct‐ligation or carbon‐tetrachloride intoxication in rats. Corpus cavernosum pressure – a surrogate of ED ‐, as well as systemic and portal haemodynamics, were measured in vivo and in situ after acute administration of udenafil alone or in combination with propranolol. mRNA and protein levels of PDE‐5 signalling were analysed using PCR and western Blot.
Results: ED in humans was related to severity of liver disease and to NSBB treatment. PDE‐5 was mainly expressed in hepatic stellate cells and upregulated in human and experimental cirrhosis. Propranolol reduced corpus cavernosum pressure in cirrhotic rats and it was restored by udenafil. Even though udenafil treatment improved PH, it led to a reduction of mean arterial pressure. The combination of udenafil and propranolol reduced portal pressure and hepatic resistance without systemic side‐effects.
Conclusions: ED is common with advanced cirrhosis and concomitant NSBB treatment. The combination of PDE‐5‐I and NSBB improves ED and PH in experimental cirrhosis.
Acute deterioration of liver cirrhosis (e.g., infections, acute‐on‐chronic liver failure [ACLF]) requires an increase in cardiac contractility. The insufficiency to respond to these situations could be deleterious. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV‐GLS) has been shown to reflect left cardiac contractility in cirrhosis better than other parameters and might bear prognostic value. Therefore, this retrospective study investigated the role of LV‐GLS in the outcome after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and the development of ACLF. We included 114 patients (48 female patients) from the Noninvasive Evaluation Program for TIPS and Their Follow‐Up Network (NEPTUN) cohort. This number provided sufficient quality and structured follow‐up with the possibility of calculating major scores (Child, Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease [MELD], Chronic Liver Failure Consortium acute decompensation [CLIF‐C AD] scores) and recording of the events (development of decompensation episode and ACLF). We analyzed the association of LV‐GLS with overall mortality and development of ACLF in patients with TIPS. LV‐GLS was independently associated with overall mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.123; 95% confidence interval [CI],1.010‐1.250) together with aspartate aminotransferase (HR, 1.009; 95% CI, 1.004‐1.014) and CLIF‐C AD score (HR, 1.080; 95% CI, 1.018‐1.137). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analysis for LV‐GLS for overall survival showed higher area under the curve (AUC) than MELD and CLIF‐C AD scores (AUC, 0.688 versus 0.646 and 0.573, respectively). The best AUROC‐determined LV‐GLS cutoff was −16.6% to identify patients with a significantly worse outcome after TIPS at 3 months, 6 months, and overall. LV‐GLS was independently associated with development of ACLF (HR, 1.613; 95% CI, 1.025‐2.540) together with a MELD score above 15 (HR, 2.222; 95% CI, 1.400‐3.528). Conclusion: LV‐GLS is useful for identifying patients at risk of developing ACLF and a worse outcome after TIPS. Although validation is required, this tool might help to stratify risk in patients receiving TIPS.
Objectives: We explore the importance of SARS-CoV-2 sentinel surveillance testing in primary care during a regional COVID-19 outbreak in Austria.
Design: Prospective cohort study.
Setting: A single sentinel practice serving 22 829 people in the ski-resort of Schladming-Dachstein.
Participants: All 73 patients presenting with mild-to-moderate flu-like symptoms between 24 February and 03 April, 2020.
Intervention: Nasopharyngeal sampling to detect SARS-CoV-2 using real-time reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).
Outcome measures: We compared RT-qPCR at presentation with confirmed antibody status. We split the outbreak in two parts, by halving the period from the first to the last case, to characterise three cohorts of patients with confirmed infection: early acute (RT-qPCR reactive) in the first half; and late acute (reactive) and late convalescent (non-reactive) in the second half. For each cohort, we report the number of cases detected, the accuracy of RT-qPCR, the duration and variety of symptoms, and the number of viral clades present.
Results: Twenty-two patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 (eight early acute, seven late acute and seven late convalescent), 44 patients tested SARS-CoV-2 negative and 7 were excluded. The sensitivity of RT-qPCR was 100% among all acute cases, dropping to 68.1% when including convalescent. Test specificity was 100%. Mean duration of symptoms for each group were 2 days (range 1–4) among early acute, 4.4 days (1–7) among late acute and 8 days (2–12) among late convalescent. Confirmed infection was associated with loss of taste. Acute infection was associated with loss of taste, nausea/vomiting, breathlessness, sore throat and myalgia; but not anosmia, fever or cough. Transmission clusters of three viral clades (G, GR and L) were identified.
Conclusions: RT-qPCR testing in primary care can rapidly and accurately detect SARS-CoV-2 among people with flu-like illness in a heterogeneous viral outbreak. Targeted testing in primary care can support national sentinel surveillance of COVID-19.
Activation of Mitochondrial complex II-dependent respiration is beneficial for α-Synucleinopathies
(2015)
Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies are major challenges in research and clinical medicine world-wide and contribute to the most common neurodegenerative disorders. Previously, specific mitochondrial polymorphisms have been found to enhance clearance of amyloid-β from the brain of APP-transgenic mice leading to beneficial clinical outcome. It has been discussed whether specific mitochondrial alterations contribute to disease progression or even prevent toxic peptide deposition, as seen in many neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we investigated α-synuclein-transgenic C57BL/6J mice with the A30P mutation, and a novel A30P C57BL/6J mouse model with three mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms in the ND3, COX3 and mtRNAArg genes, as found in the inbred NOD/LtJ mouse strain. We were able to detect that the new model has increased mitochondrial complex II-respiration which occurs in parallel to neuronal loss and improved motor performance, although it exhibits higher amounts of high molecular weight species of α-synuclein. High molecular weight aggregates of different peptides are controversially discussed in the light of neurodegeneration. A favourable hypothesis states that high molecular weight species are protective and of minor importance for the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders as compared to the extreme neurotoxic monomers and oligomers. Summarising, our results point to a potentially protective and beneficial effect of specific mitochondrial polymorphisms which cause improved mitochondrial complex II-respiration in α-synucleinopathies, an effect that could be exploited further for pharmaceutical interventions.