Association of validated patient reported outcome measures with patients' self-reported disease status in axial spondyloarthritis.

Objective: In axSpA, validated PROs are well-established in clinical trials, but it remains unclear whether they comprehensively reflect patients' discomfort and disease status. We aimed to investigate how patients' self-reported disease status does compare to validated clinical trial measures during routine clinical visits.

Methods: Data from axSpA patients' initial and last five visits were retrospectively analyzed.

Artificial intelligence-enabled simulation of gluteal augmentation: A helpful tool in preoperative outcome simulation?

Background: While the buttock region is considered an esthetic hallmark, the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) remains controversially discussed in the plastic surgery community. This is due to its contentious safety profile. Thus, informed consent and patient education play a key role in preoperative planning.

How to attract our future? - Perception of plastic surgery among medical students.

Background: There is a mounting body of evidence that underscores the worldwide and US national need for increased plastic surgery recruitment of trainees. Thus, plastic surgery must attract more applicants while maintaining the high-level qualifications of residency candidates.

Methods: A total of 250 (w = 197) medical students rated the prototypical plastic surgeon (PS), general practitioner (GP), and craniomaxillofacial surgeon (CMF) with respect to traits derived from a literature review on the general perception of surgery, favorability, and their intention to pursue a respective career.

The Rise of Facial Palsy on Social Media Over the Last 5 Years.

Background: Social media (SoMe) has become a powerful platform for distributing health information. Facial palsy (FP) results in functional and social impairment and lowers quality of life. Social media may help to raise awareness of FP sequalae.

Three-dimensional super-resolution ultrasound imaging of chicken embryos - A validation framework for analysis of microvascular morphology.

The purpose of this present study was to improve the quantification of microvascular networks depicted in three-dimensional (3D) super-resolution ultrasound (SR-US) images and compare results with matched brightfield microscopy and B-mode ultrasound (US) images. Standard contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) images were collected using a high-frequency US scanner (Vevo 3100, FUJIFILM VisualSonics Inc) equipped with an MX250 linear array transducer. Using a developing chicken embryo as our model system, US imaging was performed after administration of a custom microbubble (MB) contrast agent.

Three-dimensional evaluation of microvascular networks using contrast-enhanced ultrasound and microbubble tracking.

Evaluating tumor microvascular networks with use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging and one-dimensional (1D) linear array transducers have inherit limitations as tumors exist in volume space. The use of a mechanical sweep allows users to overcome this limitation. To that end, we have developed a new method by which a 1D linear array transducer can be mechanically scanned over a region-of-interest to capture a volume of data allowing for the evaluation of microvasculature structures in 3D space.

Tumor Vascular Networks Depicted in Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Images as a Predictor for Transarterial Chemoembolization Treatment Response.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is prevalent worldwide. Among the various therapeutic options, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) can be applied to the tumor vascular network by restricting the nutrients and oxygen supply to the tumor. Unique morphologic properties of this network may provide information predictive of future therapeutic responses, which would be significant for decision making during treatment planning.

Multiscale and morphological analysis of microvascular patterns depicted in contrast-enhanced ultrasound images.

Impaired insulin-induced microvascular recruitment in skeletal muscle contributes to insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic disease. Previously, quantification of microvascular recruitment at the capillary level has been performed with either the full image or manually selected region-of-interests. These subjective approaches are imprecise, time-consuming, and unsuitable for automated processes.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging using pulse inversion spectral deconvolution.

A contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging approach, termed pulse inversion spectral deconvolution (PISD), is introduced. The approach uses two Gaussian-weighted Hermite polynomials to form two inverted pulse sequences. The two inversed pulses are then used to filter ultrasound (US) backscattered data and discrimination of the linear and nonlinear signal components.

Multiscale quantification of tumor microarchitecture for predicting therapy response using dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer with 1 million cases globally. A current clinical challenge is to determine which patients will respond to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as effective delivery of the embolic material may be influenced by the tumor vascular supply. The purpose of this study is to develop a novel image processing algorithm for improved quantification of tumor microvascular morphology features using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) images and to predict the TACE response based on these biomarkers before treatment.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of acute changes in pancreatic cancer following targeted hyaluronan treatment.

The purpose of this study was to monitor acute changes in pancreatic tumor perfusion with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging following targeted hyaluronan (HA) treatment. Intratumoral accumulation of HA is one of contributing factors that can lead to an increased tumor interstitial pressure (TIP). These elevated TIP levels can hinder delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and cause treatment failure.

Improved quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma response to transarterial chemoembolization.

The purpose of this research project was to improve the quantification of microvascular networks depicted in contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) images of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Due to limited anatomical information in CEUS images, grayscale B-mode ultrasound (US) data is preferred when estimating tissue motion. Transformation functions derived from the B-mode data are one solution for registering a dynamic sequence of CEUS images.

The full-endoscopic uniportal technique for decompression of the anterior craniocervical junction using the retropharyngeal approach: an anatomical feasibility study in human cadavers and review of the literature.

Objective: Acute or progressive myelopathy may necessitate direct anterior decompression of the craniocervical junction and odontoidectomy. Different techniques with individual advantages and disadvantages can be used. In addition to the gold standard-the transoral approach-there is also increasing experience with the endoscopic transnasal technique.

Full-endoscopic uniportal retropharyngeal odontoidectomy for anterior craniocervical infection.

Background: Infections of the anterior craniocervical junction may require surgery. There are various techniques with individual advantages and disadvantages. This study evaluates the full-endoscopic uniportal technique via the anterior retropharyngeal approach for odontoidectomy, decompression, and debridement.

Operation of Soft or Calcified Thoracic Disc Herniations in the Full-Endoscopic Uniportal Extraforaminal Technique.

Background: Surgery for thoracic disc herniation and stenosis is comparatively rare and often demanding. The goal is to achieve sufficient decompression without manipulating the spinal cord and to minimize surgical trauma and its consequences. Individual planning and various surgical techniques and approaches are required.

Surgical treatment of cervical subaxial intraspinal extradural cysts using a full-endoscopic uniportal posterior approach.

Purpose: Symptomatic intraspinal extradural cysts of the cervical subaxial spine are rare, but usually require surgery. Conventional posterior decompression is the gold standard. However, there is increasing experience with endoscopic surgical techniques.

Decompression of the anterior thoracic spinal canal using a novel full-endoscopic uniportal transthoracic retropleural technique-an anatomical feasibility study in human cadavers.

Surgery for thoracic disc herniation and spinal stenosis is comparatively rare and often demanding. The goal is to achieve sufficient decompression without manipulating the spinal cord. Individual planning and various surgical techniques and approaches are required.

Full-endoscopic Uniportal Odontoidectomy and Decompression of the Anterior Cervicomedullary Junction Using the Retropharyngeal Approach.

Study Design: A study of a series of consecutive full-endoscopic uniportal decompressions of the anterior craniocervical junction with retropharyngeal approach.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the direct anterior decompression of the craniocervical junction in patients with bulbomedullary compression using a full-endoscopic uniportal technique via an anterolateral retropharyngeal approach.

Summary Of Background Data: Acute or progressive myelopathy may necessitate direct anterior decompression of the craniocervical junction and odontoidectomy.

Decompression for cervical disc herniation using the full-endoscopic anterior technique.

Objective: Resection of a cervical disc herniation using a full-endoscopic technique with an anterior approach.

Indication: Fresh disc herniation with monoradicular symptoms in the upper extremity.

Contraindications: Pure neck pain, cervical myelopathy, older and calcified disc herniations, higher grade of instability and deformity.

Full-endoscopic posterior foraminotomy surgery for cervical disc herniations.

Objective: Surgery for cervical disc herniation with full-endoscopic posterior access.

Indications: Cervical disc herniation and neuroforaminal pathology with radicular symptoms.

Contraindications: Neck pain alone, cervical myelopathy or pathologies with central nervous system symptoms, instabilities requiring correction/instabilities.

[Decompression for cervical disc herniation using the full-endoscopic anterior technique - German version].

Objective: Resection of a cervical disc herniation using a full-endoscopic technique with an anterior approach.

Indication: Fresh disc herniation with monoradicular symptoms in the upper extremity.

Contraindications: Pure neck pain, cervical myelopathy, older and calcified disc herniations, higher grade of instability and deformity.

Myocardial adaption to HI(R)T in previously untrained men with a randomized, longitudinal cardiac MR imaging study (Physical adaptions in Untrained on Strength and Heart trial, PUSH-trial).

Objective: Although musculoskeletal effects in resistance training are well described, little is known about structural and functional cardiac adaption in formerly untrained subjects. We prospectively evaluated whether short term high intensity (resistance) training (HI(R)T) induces detectable morphologic cardiac changes in previously untrained men in a randomized controlled magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study.

Materials And Methods: 80 untrained middle-aged men were randomly assigned to a HI(R)T-group (n = 40; 43.