Impairment of Inspiratory Muscle Function after COVID-19.

Background: Persistent symptoms after acute coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) are common, and there is no significant correlation with the severity of the acute disease. In long-COVID (persistent symptoms >4 weeks after acute COVID-19), respiratory symptoms are frequent, but lung function testing shows only mild changes that do not explain the symptoms. Although COVID-19 may lead to an impairment of the peripheral nervous system and skeletal muscles, respiratory muscle function has not been examined in this setting.

[Transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma].

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is used as palliative and neoadjuvant treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TACE should be offered as palliative treatment to patients with intermediate stage large or multinodular HCC if no curative treatment option is available by resection or thermoablation and if extrahepatic metastases and tumor infiltration of main portal and systemic veins has been excluded. TACE is possible only in patients with preserved liver function (Child-Pugh A-B, best up to 7 points) and with good performance status (ECOG 0).

Meta-analysis in metastatic uveal melanoma to determine progression free and overall survival benchmarks: an international rare cancers initiative (IRCI) ocular melanoma study.

Background: Despite the completion of numerous phase II studies, a standard of care treatment has yet to be defined for metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM). To determine benchmarks of progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), we carried out a meta-analysis using individual patient level trial data.

Methods: Individual patient variables and survival outcomes were requested from 29 trials published from 2000 to 2016.

Targeted Temperature Management for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Excellent Outcome After Severe Vasospasm-A Case Series.

Targeted temperature management (TTM) might improve outcome of patients with severe subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in which vasospasm, delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and increased intracranial pressure (ICP) are frequent and severe complications. A series of patients ( = 3) with severe aneurysmatic SAH were treated by TTM if they developed ICP crisis and/or severe vasospasm diagnosed by angiography. Once these complications were detected, body core temperature (BCT) was rapidly decreased to 35°C or 33°C, if necessary.

Safety and Feasibility of Chemoembolization with Doxorubicin-Loaded Small Calibrated Microspheres in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results of the MIRACLE I Prospective Multicenter Study.

Purpose: The MIRACLE I pilot study was designed as a preliminary investigation of safety and efficacy of Embozene TANDEM microspheres loaded with doxorubicin for treatment of locally untreatable (i.e., unresectable and not suitable for local thermal ablation) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

German guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral artery disease - a comprehensive update 2016.

The prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) is increasing worldwide and is strongly age-related, affecting about 20 % of Germans over 70 years of age. Recent advances in endovascular and surgical techniques as well as clinical study results on comparative treatment methods strengthened the need for a comprehensive review of the published evidence for diagnosis, management, and prevention of PAD. The interdisciplinary guideline exclusively covers distal aorta and atherosclerotic lower extremity artery disease.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Vascular Disease.

Background: In peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), arterial stenosis or occlusion impairs perfusion in the territory of the distal portion of the aorta and the iliac and leg arteries. In Germany, the prevalence of PAOD rises with age, reaching 20% among persons over age 70.

Methods: This guideline was prepared by a collaboration of 22 medical specialty societies and two patient self-help organizations on the basis of pertinent publications that were retrieved by a systematic search in PubMed for articles that appeared from 2008 to April 2014, with a subsequent update to May 2015.

Adenomyosis and endometriosis. Re-visiting their association and further insights into the mechanisms of auto-traumatisation. An MRI study.

Purpose: In a series of publications, we had developed the concept that uterine adenomyosis and pelvic endometriosis as well as endometriotic lesions at distant sites of the body share a common pathophysiology with endometriosis constituting a secondary phenomenon. Uterine auto-traumatization and the initiation of the mechanism of tissue injury and repair (TIAR) were considered the primary events in the disease process. The present MRI study was undertaken (1) to corroborate this concept by re-visiting, in view of discrepant results in the literature, the association of adenomyosis with endometriosis and (2) to extend our views concerning the mechanisms of uterine auto-traumatization.

[Diagnosis of and therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma].

The interdisciplinary guidelines at the S3 level on the diagnosis of and therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitute an evidence-and consensus-based instrument that is aimed at improving the diagnosis of and therapy for HCC since these are very challenging tasks. The purpose of the guidelines is to offer the patient (with suspected or confirmed HCC) adequate, scientifically based and up-to-date procedures in diagnosis, therapy and rehabilitation. This holds not only for locally limited or focally advanced disease but also for the existence of recurrences or distant metastases.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) of colorectal cancer liver metastases by irinotecan-eluting microspheres in a salvage patient population.

Purpose: This prospective study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of TACE using irinotecan loaded superabsorbent polymer (SAP) microspheres for treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CCLM) in a salvage setting of patients.

Methods: A total of 71 TACE procedures were performed in 29 patients with liver only or liver-dominant CCLM. In all patients, systemic chemotherapy before TACE had failed.

Current concepts in transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has the potential to improve survival in patients with intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Careful selection of patients is mandatory to gain survival benefit and safe quality of life. Basic principles of TACE in HCC include selective treatment via intrahepatic and extrahepatic arteries, proper management of side effects and continuation of treatment guided by imaging.

Endovascular therapy of carotid artery stenosis: a prospective case study.

Carotid artery stenting was carried out in a prospective consecutive case study. All interventions were done by the same investigator (PH), and one type of stenting device was used. Additionally, periprocedural monitoring was carried out for at least 24 h.

[S3 guidelines for diagnostics and treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease].

This report summarizes the most important aspects of the new German S3 guidelines for the diagnostics and treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) from March 2009. The guidelines include definitions and epidemiology of peripheral arterial occlusive disease, diagnostic methods including clinical and technical procedures as well as imaging methods, treatment by non-invasive, interventional and surgical methods and patient care during follow-up. In key messages recommendations are given which are graded corresponding to the scientific evidence concluded from the literature.