Repeatability of Microperimetry in Areas of Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Photoreceptor Loss in Geographic Atrophy Supported by Artificial Intelligence-Based Optical Coherence Tomography Biomarker Quantification.

Purpose: Growing interest in microperimetry (MP) or fundus-controlled perimetry as a targeted psychometric testing method in geographic atrophy (GA) is warranted because of the disease subclinical/extrafoveal appearance or preexisting foveal loss with visual acuity becoming unreliable. We provide comprehensive pointwise test-retest repeatability reference values on the most widely used MP devices and combine them with targeted testing in areas of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) as well as photoreceptor (PR) integrity loss, guiding the interpretation of sensitivity loss during the long-term follow-up of patients with GA.

Design: Prospective reliability study.

Effects of oral contrast agent on the viscoelastic properties of the terminal ileum investigated using magnetic resonance elastography.

Background: While standard clinical magnetic resonance (MR) enterography can detect inflammatory bowel disease, it is of limited value in deciding between medical versus surgical treatment. Alternatively, intestinal MR elastography has the potential to contribute additional information to therapeutic decision-making; however, the influence of bowel distension by oral contrast agent on viscoelastic tissue properties remains elusive. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the influence of oral contrast agent-induced bowel distension on the viscoelastic properties of the terminal ileum in healthy volunteers.

Serum chemistry profiling and prognostication in systemic mastocytosis: a registry-based study of the ECNM and GREM.

Certain laboratory abnormalities correlate with subvariants of systemic mastocytosis (SM) and are often prognostically relevant. To assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of individual serum chemistry parameters in SM, 2607 patients enrolled within the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis and 575 patients enrolled within the German Registry on Eosinophils and Mast Cells were analyzed. For screening and diagnosis of SM, tryptase was identified as the most specific serum parameter.

Changing treatment landscape associated with improved survival in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a nationwide, population-based study.

Background And Aims: The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is undergoing a historic transformation with the approval of several new systemic therapies in the last few years. This study aimed to examine the impact of this changing landscape on survival and costs in a Western nationwide, real-world cohort.

Methods: A nationwide representative claims database (InGef) was screened for HCC cases between 2015 and 2020.

Mast cell leukemia: clinical and molecular features and survival outcomes of patients in the ECNM Registry.

Mast cell leukemia (MCL) is a rare subtype of systemic mastocytosis defined by ≥20% mast cells (MC) on a bone marrow aspirate. We evaluated 92 patients with MCL from the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis registry. Thirty-one (34%) patients had a diagnosis of MCL with an associated hematologic neoplasm (MCL-AHN).

CDK4/CDK6 Inhibitors Synergize with Midostaurin, Avapritinib, and Nintedanib in Inducing Growth Inhibition in D816V Neoplastic Mast Cells.

In most patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis (AdvSM), neoplastic mast cells (MC) express D816V. However, despite their disease-modifying potential, KIT D816V-targeting drugs, including midostaurin and avapritinib, may not produce long-term remissions in all patients. Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and CDK6 are promising targets in oncology.

Safety of Simultaneous Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Carotid Endarterectomy Versus Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background And Purpose: The optimal operative strategy in patients with severe carotid artery disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is unknown. We sought to investigate the safety and efficacy of synchronous combined carotid endarterectomy and CABG as compared with isolated CABG.

Methods: Patients with asymptomatic high-grade carotid artery stenosis ≥80% according to ECST (European Carotid Surgery Trial) ultrasound criteria (corresponding to ≥70% NASCET [North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial]) who required CABG surgery were randomly assigned to synchronous carotid endarterectomy+CABG or isolated CABG.

Different prognostic value of circulating and disseminated tumor cells in primary breast cancer: Influence of bisphosphonate intake?

Disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in the bone marrow (BM) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood of breast cancer patients (pts) are known to correlate with worse outcome. Here we demonstrate a different prognostic value of DTCs and CTCs and explain these findings by early clodronate intake. CTCs (n = 376 pts) were determined using the AdnaTest BreastCancer (Qiagen Hannover GmbH, Germany) and DTCs (n = 525 pts) were analyzed by immunocytochemistry using the pan-cytokeratin antibody A45-B/B3.

Tetrodotoxin receptors in membrane fragments: purification from Electrophorus electricus electroplax and binding properties.

A tetrodotoxin receptor-rich preparation of membrane fragments from the electric organ of Electrophorus electricus is described. The specific binding of neurotoxins and freeze-fracture electron microscopy are used as tools to identify and to characterize membrane fractions. Freeze-fracture electron micrographs of the electric organ demonstrate a high density of membrane particles in the extrasynaptic regions.