Chromosomal radiosensitivity in oncological and non-oncological patients with rheumatoid arthritis and connective tissue diseases.

Background: The risk of developing late radiotoxicity after radiotherapy in patients with high chromosomal radiosensitivity after radiotherapy could potentially be higher compared to the risk in patients with average radiosensitivity. In case of extremely high radiosensitivity, dose reduction may be appropriate. Some rheumatic diseases (RhD), including connective tissue diseases (CTDs) appear to be associated with higher radiosensitivity.

Review and Analysis of German Mobile Apps for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Management Using the Mobile Application Rating Scale: Systematic Search in App Stores and Content Analysis.

Background: Patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) frequently need long-term medical treatment. Mobile apps promise to complement and improve IBD management, but so far there has been no scientific analysis of their quality.

Objective: This study evaluated the quality of German mobile apps targeting IBD patients and physicians treating IBD patients using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS).

Accuracy and usability of a diagnostic decision support system in the diagnosis of three representative rheumatic diseases: a randomized controlled trial among medical students.

Background: An increasing number of diagnostic decision support systems (DDSS) exist to support patients and physicians in establishing the correct diagnosis as early as possible. However, little evidence exists that supports the effectiveness of these DDSS. The objectives were to compare the diagnostic accuracy of medical students, with and without the use of a DDSS, and the diagnostic accuracy of the DDSS system itself, regarding the typical rheumatic diseases and to analyze the user experience.

Effects of Conventional Uric Acid-Lowering Therapy on Monosodium Urate Crystal Deposits.

Objective: Few studies have systematically and quantitatively addressed the impact of urate-lowering therapy on monosodium urate (MSU) deposits. This study was undertaken to analyze the effect of lifestyle measures and conventional urate-lowering therapy on MSU deposits in patients with gout.

Methods: In this prospective study, subjects with gout according to the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria and presence of MSU deposits seen on dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) scans received either lifestyle intervention or conventional urate-lowering therapy for a mean period of 18 months before a follow-up DECT scan.

Cell-in-cell structures are more potent predictors of outcome than senescence or apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Background: This study sheds light on cell inactivating processes with focus on the phenomenon of cell-in-cell (CIC). Cell-in-cell describes a cell process where one cell is being engulfed by another non-professional phagocyte. We determined frequency and prognostic impact of CIC structures (CICs) as well as of senescent and apoptotic cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).

Prognostic Value of Homotypic Cell Internalization by Nonprofessional Phagocytic Cancer Cells.

Background: In this study, we investigated the prognostic role of homotypic tumor cell cannibalism in different cancer types.

Methods: The phenomenon of one cell being internalized into another, which we refer to as "cell-in-cell event," was assessed in 416 cases from five head and neck cancer cohorts, as well as one anal and one rectal cancer cohort. The samples were processed into tissue microarrays and immunohistochemically stained for E-cadherin and cleaved caspase-3 to visualize cell membranes and apoptotic cell death.