Data-Driven Framework for the Prediction of PEGDA Hydrogel Mechanics.

Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels are biocompatible and photo-cross-linkable, with accessible values of elastic modulus ranging from kPa to MPa, leading to their wide use in biomedical and soft material applications. However, PEGDA gels possess complex microstructures, limiting the use of standard polymer theories to describe them. As a result, we lack a foundational understanding of how to relate their composition, processing, and mechanical properties.

Understanding the Response of Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) Hydrogel Networks: A Statistical Mechanics-Based Framework.

Thanks to many promising properties, including biocompatibility and the ability to experience large deformations, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels are excellent candidate materials for a wide range of applications. Interestingly, the polymerization of PEGDA leads to a network microstructure that is fundamentally different from that of the "classic" polymeric gels. Specifically, PEGDA hydrogels comprise PEG chains that are interconnected by multifunctional densely grafted rod-like polyacrylates (PAs), which serve as cross-linkers.

Phoenix atherectomy for patients with peripheral artery disease.

Background: Endovascular atherectomy enables minimally invasive plaque removal in peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the safety and the long-term effectiveness of the Phoenix atherectomy for the treatment of complex and calcified lesions in PAD patients.

Methods: Consecutive all-comer patients with PAD underwent the Phoenix atherectomy.

Humidity-Driven Supercontraction and Twist in Spider Silk.

Spider silk is a protein material that exhibits extraordinary and nontrivial properties such as the ability to soften, decrease in length (i.e., supercontract), and twist upon exposure to high humidity.

On the Origin of Supercontraction in Spider Silk.

Spider silk is a protein material that exhibits extraordinary and nontrivial properties such as the ability to soften and decrease its length by up to ∼60% upon exposure to high humidity. This process is commonly called supercontraction and is the result of a transition from a highly oriented glassy phase to a disoriented rubbery phase. In this work, we derive a microscopically motivated and energy-based model that captures the underlying mechanisms that give rise to supercontraction.

Molecular Mechanics of Beta-Sheets.

β-Sheet protein structures and domains are widely found in biological materials such as silk. These assemblies play a major role in the extraordinary strength and unique properties of biomaterials. At the molecular level, the single β-sheet structure comprises polypeptide chains in zig-zag conformations that are held together by hydrogen bonds.

Safety, effectiveness and mid-term follow-up in 136 consecutive patients with moderate to severely calcified lesions undergoing phoenix atherectomy.

To investigate the safety and effectiveness of the Phoenix atherectomy device for the treatment of complex and calcified lesions in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). 136 consecutive all-comer patients with chronic PAD underwent Phoenix atherectomy. Safety in terms of vessel injury and embolism, efficacy and clinical success in terms of ≥ 1Rutherford class (RF) improvement during follow-up were systematically analyzed.

Clinical safety of low-dose anticoagulation with fondaparinux in patients undergoing peripheral endovascular treatment due to critical limb-threatening ischaemia - a pilot study.

Aims: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of fondaparinux in addition to dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with critical limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI).

Methods: Fondaparinux (2.5 mg/d) was administered for 1-4 weeks after endovascular procedures together with DAPT ().

Comparison of ante-versus retrograde access for the endovascular treatment of long and calcified, de novo femoropopliteal occlusive lesions.

To compare antegrade versus retrograde recanalization, in terms of procedural time, radiation and contrast agent exposure, number and total length of implanted stents and procedural complications, in long and calcified, de novo femoropopliteal occlusions. We performed retrospective matching of prospectively acquired data by lesion length, occlusion length and lesion calcification by the peripheral arterial calcium scoring system (PACSS) score in patients who were referred for endovascular treatment due to symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD). Forty-two consecutive patients with antegrade and 23 patients with retrograde after failed antegrade recanalization were identified (mean lesion length = 32.

A microscopically motivated model for the swelling-induced drastic softening of hydrogen-bond dominated biopolymer networks.

The penetration of water into rubber-like protein networks such as cross-linked resilin, which is found in insects, can lead to changes in stiffness that range over several orders of magnitude. This softening effect cannot be explained by the volumetric changes associated with pure swelling/deswelling used to describe networks with covalent bonds. Rather, this property stems from the reversible swelling-induced breaking of hydrogen cross-linking bonds that connect the chains in the network.

Successful endovascular treatment in patients with acute thromboembolic ischemia of the lower limb including the crural arteries.

Aim: To examine the efficacy and safety of the 6 French (6F) RotarexS catheter system in patients with acute limb ischemia (ALI) involving thromboembolic occlusion of the proximal and mid-crural vessels.

Methods: The files of patients in our department with ALI between 2015 and 2017 were examined. In seven patients, the RotarexS catheter was used in the proximal segment of the crural arteries.

Successful recanalization of long femoro-crural occlusive disease after failed bypass surgery.

Patients with critical limb ischemia necessitate immediate intervention to restore blood flow to the affected limb. Endovascular procedures are currently preferred for these patients. We describe the case of an 80-year-old female patient who presented to our department with ischemic rest pain and ulceration of the left limb.

Toughening elastomers using mussel-inspired iron-catechol complexes.

Materials often exhibit a trade-off between stiffness and extensibility; for example, strengthening elastomers by increasing their cross-link density leads to embrittlement and decreased toughness. Inspired by cuticles of marine mussel byssi, we circumvent this inherent trade-off by incorporating sacrificial, reversible iron-catechol cross-links into a dry, loosely cross-linked epoxy network. The iron-containing network exhibits two to three orders of magnitude increases in stiffness, tensile strength, and tensile toughness compared to its iron-free precursor while gaining recoverable hysteretic energy dissipation and maintaining its original extensibility.

Long-term response after stopping tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in non-cirrhotic HBeAg-negative patients - FINITE study.

Background & Aims: There is currently no virological cure for chronic hepatitis B but successful nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy can suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA replication and, in some cases, result in HBsAg loss. Stopping NA therapy often leads to viral relapse and therefore life-long therapy is usually required. This study investigated the potential to discontinue tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) therapy in HBeAg-negative patients.

Successful carbon dioxide angiography guided endovascular thrombectomy of the superficial femoral artery in a young patient with critical limb ischemia.

Currently, the treatment of thromboembolic ischemia of the lower extremities includes percutaneous rotational thrombectomy and aspiration devices. However, the standard approach for endovascular treatment requires the administration of iodine contrast agents, which is problematic in patients with pre-existing renal disease and diabetes. Herein, we describe a case of a CO angiography guided endovascular thrombectomy of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) in a young patient with critical limb ischemia.

Outcomes and Costs of Treating Hepatitis C Patients in the Era of First Generation Protease Inhibitors - Results from the PAN Study.

1 Objective: Chronic hepatitis C virus infections (HCV) cause a significant public health burden. Introduction of telaprevir (TVR) and boceprevir (BOC) has increased sustained virologic response rates (SVR) in genotype 1 patients but were accompanied by higher treatment costs and more side effects. Aim of the study was to assess outcomes and costs of treating HCV with TVR or BOC in routine care.

Microbiology and resistance in first episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: implications for management and prognosis.

Purpose: International guidelines for antibiotic treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) are based on studies conducted decades ago and do not reflect regional differences of bacterial epidemiology.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed epidemiology of agents, antibiotic resistance patterns, and survival in liver cirrhosis patients with their first episode of SBP during the years 2007-2013.

Results: Of the 311 patients included, 114 patients had a positive ascites culture, and 197 had an ascitic neutrophil count >250 μL.

Effectiveness and Safety of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Chronic Hepatitis B: A 3-Year Prospective Field Practice Study in Germany.

Background And Aims: Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, long-term efficacy and safety data for TDF in real-life clinical practice are limited.

Methods: Prospective German field practice study in CHB-mono-infected patients.

Early virological response may predict treatment response in sofosbuvir-based combination therapy of chronic hepatitis c in a multi-center "real-life" cohort.

Background: The combination of sofosbuvir (SOF), ribavirin (RBV) and peg-interferon-alfa-2a (peg-IFN-alfa-2a) as well as the combination of SOF and RBV for the treatment of patients infected with hepatitis c virus (HCV) has improved rates of sustained virological response (SVR) considerably in recent trials. However, there is only limited data concerning the efficacy and safety in a "real-life" cohort.

Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 119 patients with chronic HCV infection treated at four investigational sites in Germany.

Microphase Behavior and Enhanced Wet-Cohesion of Synthetic Copolyampholytes Inspired by a Mussel Foot Protein.

Numerous attempts have been made to translate mussel adhesion to diverse synthetic platforms. However, the translation remains largely limited to the Dopa (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) or catechol functionality, which continues to raise concerns about Dopa's inherent susceptibility to oxidation. Mussels have evolved adaptations to stabilize Dopa against oxidation.

Survival in patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed by screening colonoscopy.

Background: In Germany, screening colonoscopy was first established in 2002 as part of the national cancer screening program.

Objective: To evaluate whether colorectal cancer (CRC) survival differs when CRC is diagnosed by screening colonoscopy (S-CRC) versus diagnostic colonoscopy (D-CRC).

Design: Long-term, retrospective, multicenter, observational study.