Utility of Ultrasound-Guided Attenuation Parameter (UGAP) in Renal Angiomyolipoma (AML): First Results.

Angiomyolipoma (AML) are the most common benign solid renal mass. Differentiation from malignant tumours is essential. Imaging features in ultrasound may overlap between malignant lesions, especially between renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and AML.

Factors influencing the time-intensity curve analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in kidney transplanted patients: Toward a standardized contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination.

Background: Time-intensity curve analysis (TIC analysis) based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) provides quantifiable information about the microcirculation of different tissues. TIC analysis of kidney transplantations is still a field of research, and standardized study protocols are missing though being mandatory for the interpretation of TIC parameters in the clinical context. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different sizes and forms of regions of interest (ROIs) on the variance of different TIC parameters and the level of interoperator variance between the different ROI methods in kidney transplantations.

Assessment of Physiological Rat Kidney Ageing-Implications for the Evaluation of Allograft Quality Prior to Renal Transplantation.

Due to organ shortage and rising life expectancy the age of organ donors and recipients is increasing. Reliable biomarkers of organ quality that predict successful long-term transplantation outcomes are poorly defined. The aim of this study was the identification of age-related markers of kidney function that might accurately reflect donor organ quality.

A Prospective Multicenter Trial to Evaluate Urinary Metabolomics for Non-invasive Detection of Renal Allograft Rejection (PARASOL): Study Protocol and Patient Recruitment.

In an earlier monocentric study, we have developed a novel non-invasive test system for the prediction of renal allograft rejection, based on the detection of a specific urine metabolite constellation. To further validate our results in a large real-world patient cohort, we designed a multicentric observational prospective study (PARASOL) including six independent European transplant centers. This article describes the study protocol and characteristics of recruited better patients as subjects.

Black Aortic Valve: Incidental Finding of Alkaptonuria.

 Alkaptonuria is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder of tyrosine metabolism, which results in accumulation of homogentisic acid in various tissues, including the cardiovascular system.  We report on a 64-year-old man with mixed aortic valve disease who underwent conventional aortic valve replacement. Intraoperative aortotomy revealed black pigmentation of the intima of the ascending aorta and the aortic valve was observed with thickened and calcified dark black leaflets.

Sonographic 3-D Power Doppler Imaging Enhances Rapid Assessment of Morphologic and Pathologic Arteriovenous Fistula Variations.

Early detection of pathologic variations in an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is essential for preventing fistula dysfunction in individuals undergoing hemodialysis. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical applicability of 3-D tomographic ultrasound (tUS) for rapid and simple visualization of AVF morphology and pathology. We assessed 53 AVFs in 50 consecutive patients using 3-D tUS including secondary, blinded reading.

Type 2 diabetes in older patients: an analysis of the DPV and DIVE databases.

Background: The clinical profile differs between old and young patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We explored, based on a large real-world database, patient and disease characteristics and actual treatment patterns by age.

Methods: The analysis was based on the DIVE and DPV registries of patients with T2DM.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography as a Novel Method for the Dynamic Visualization of Blood Flow and Fiber Blockage in Dialyzers: A Feasibility Study.

The capillary dialyzer represents the central element of the extracorporeal blood circuit of a therapy system for hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to assess the blood-flow characteristics of dialyzers with the help of modern ultrasound techniques. Five brand-new dialyzers (FX80 classix, Fresenius Medical Care, Bad Homburg, Germany) and five dialyzers after a dialysis session were analyzed by different ultrasound techniques to detect functional and structural changes.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of cystic renal lesions in comparison to CT and MRI in a multicenter setting.

Purpose: Contrast-enhanced-ultrasound (CEUS) has been frequently used in assessment of cystic renal lesions.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the Bosniak classification in CEUS compared to CT and MRI in a multi-center setting.

Methods: Bosniak classification in CEUS examinations of cystic renal lesions were compared to imaging findings in computed-tomography (ceCT) and magnetic-resonance-imaging (ceMRI).

Radiotherapy for osteoarthritis-an analysis of 295 joints treated with a linear accelerator.

Purpose: Osteoarthritis is a common disease, with a prevalence of symptomatic disease of 8.9%. One treatment option is radiotherapy.

A urinary metabolite constellation to detect acute rejection in kidney allografts.

Background: To validate a novel method for post-transplant surveillance to detect kidney allograft rejection via a characteristic constellation of the urine metabolites alanine, citrate, lactate, and urea investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy a first prospective, observational study was performed.

Methods: Within the UMBRELLA study 986 urine specimens were collected from 109 consecutively enrolled renal transplant recipients, and metabolite constellations were analyzed. A metabolite rejection score was calculated and compared to histopathological results of corresponding indication and protocol allograft biopsies (n = 206).

Characteristics of Patients with Type-1 or Type-2 Diabetes Receiving Insulin Glargine U300: An Analysis of 7268 Patients Based on the DPV and DIVE Registries.

Introduction: Insulin glargine 300 U/ml (U300) was registered based on the EDITION clinical trial program. The aim of this database analysis was to describe the profile of adult U300 recipients with type-1 (T1DM) or type-2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods: The analysis was based on data from the German DIVE/DPV registries.

Identification of a urine metabolite constellation characteristic for kidney allograft rejection.

Introduction: Allograft rejection is still an important complication after kidney transplantation. Currently, monitoring of these patients mostly relies on the measurement of serum creatinine and clinical evaluation. The gold standard for diagnosing allograft rejection, i.

Radiotherapy of epicondylitis humeri : Analysis of 138 elbows treated with a linear accelerator.

Background: Epicondylitis humeri is a common disease with a prevalence of 1.7%. One of the treatment options is radiotherapy.

Is low dose radiotherapy an effective treatment for Baker's cyst?

Purpose: Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common disease, often associated with a Baker's cyst. Besides osteoarthritis, also other joint pathologies of the knee can be causative for a Baker's cyst. Radiotherapy is known to be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis, with an anti-inflammatory effect.

Long-term expression of glomerular genes in diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Although diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common cause for end-stage renal disease in western societies, its pathogenesis still remains largely unclear. A different gene pattern of diabetic and healthy kidney cells is one of the probable explanations. Numerous signalling pathways have emerged as important pathophysiological mechanisms for diabetes-induced renal injury.

Investigation of the acute plantar fasciitis with contrast-enhanced ultrasound and shear wave elastography - first results.

Background: The plantar fasciitis is a common disease with a high prevalence in public and a frequent cause of heel pain.

Objective: In our pilot study, we wanted to characterise the feasibility of shear-wave elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the assessment of the plantar fasciitis.

Methods: 23 cases of painful heels were examined by B-Mode ultrasound, Power Doppler (PD), shear wave elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound before anti-inflammatory radiation.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in renal imaging at an interdisciplinary ultrasound centre: Possibilities of dynamic microvascularisation and perfusion.

Objective: To identify the indications for CEUS in renal imaging in an interdisciplinary ultrasound department.

Methods: 102 CEUS examinations of the kidney in 82 patients between September 2014 and July 2016 were analysed regarding the indication for ultrasound. CEUS was performed by one experienced sonographer agent after bolus injection of 1.