Cryoprobe biopsy increases the diagnostic yield in endobronchial tumor lesions.

Objective: Forceps biopsy is the standard method to obtain specimens in endoscopically visible lesions. It is common to combine forceps biopsy with cytology methods to increase the diagnostic yield. Although the flexible cryoprobe has been established for bronchoscopic interventions in malignant stenosis, the obtained biopsies, called "cryobiopsies," have not been investigated in a large cohort of patients.

Endobronchial tumor debulking with a flexible cryoprobe for immediate treatment of malignant stenosis.

Objective: In addition to use of a laser, argon plasma coagulation, electrocautery, or coring with a rigid bronchoscope, tumor debulking with a flexible cryoprobe is used for therapeutic bronchoscopy with an immediate effect for endobronchial pathologies. We performed this analysis to determine the usefulness, efficacy, and safety of the flexible cryorecanalization in a large population under routine conditions.

Methods: We identified 225 bronchoscopic interventions that were done as cryorecanalization with a flexible cryoprobe.

Transbronchial cryobiopsy: a new tool for lung biopsies.

Background: Specimens from transbronchial lung biopsies lack sufficient quality due to crush artifact and are generally too small for diagnosis of diffuse lung diseases. Flexible cryoprobes have been shown to be useful in therapeutic bronchoscopy. We introduce a novel technique for obtaining lung biopsies bronchoscopically, using a flexible cryoprobe.

Old meets modern: the use of traditional cryoprobes in the age of molecular biology.

Background: Endobronchial forceps biopsies are often small and are associated with a relevant extent of artifacts. To overcome these limitations is an important task. Especially when considering predictive factors for pharmacological therapies of lung cancer (ERCC1, RRM1) a development of biopsy techniques seems to be essential.

Cryorecanalization: a new approach for the immediate management of acute airway obstruction.

Objectives: Endobronchial cryotherapy is an established recanalization method for stenoses of the respiratory tract. However, previous applications of cryotherapy have not been immediately effective, requiring a second clean-up procedure several days later to finally obtain sufficient recanalization. In this study we demonstrate a newly developed cryoprobe allowing recanalization of tumor stenoses during a single intervention.

Coordinated activation of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 is a potent arteriogenic stimulus leading to enhancement of regional perfusion.

Objective: The process of arteriogenesis is driven by various growth factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, which mediates its activity through VEGFR-2 (Flk-1/KDR) on endothelial cells and through VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) on endothelial cells and monocytes. The purpose of this study was to identify which of the VEGF receptors are involved in arteriogenesis in vivo.

Methods: Collateral vessel growth was induced by femoral artery ligation in a mouse model of hindlimb ischemia.