Predictors of Delayed Graft Function in Renal Transplantation.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze our data on delayed graft function (DGF) and to identify associated factors.

Methods: This is a retrospective case-control study of all patients transplanted in our center over a period of 11 years (January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2014) comparing patients with immediate graft function (n = 332) to those with DGF (n = 165). DGF was defined as the need for hemodialysis within the first 7 days after transplantation.

Evaluation of [68Ga]Ga-PSMA PET/CT for therapy response assessment of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA radioligand therapy in metastasized castration refractory prostate cancer and correlation with survival.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the use of [68Ga]Ga-PSMA PET/CT in therapy response assessment (TRA) of mCRPC patients treated with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 and its correlation with overall survival (OS).

Methods: Thirty-nine patients were included in the study. Patient-/lesion-based early and late response assessment (ERA/LRA) was defined as PET2 (after two therapy cycles) vs.

Bilateral paediatric cataract surgery - outcomes of 298 children from Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Introduction: The leading cause of childhood blindness globally is paediatric cataract. Bilateral cataract surgery can help to improve visual performance and to diminish the burden of childhood blindness.

Objective: To report in a retrospective observational cohort study the long-term outcomes of 298 children who had bilateral cataract surgery with IOL implantation from 2001-2016 in Kinshasa.

Lost clips after targeted lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients: Follow-up of the CLIP-study.

Introduction: Clipping and selective removal of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer patients presenting with initially node-positive disease and achieving a nodal downstaging after primary systemic therapy is a less invasive method for axillary staging. An imaging guided localization and successful extirpation of these clipped lymph nodes is not possible in all patients. To date no follow-up data regarding patients with lost clips are available.

Longitudinal observation of anxiety and depression among palliative care cancer patients.

Background: Anxiety and depressive symptoms are commonly reported to have a high prevalence in advanced cancer patients. However, whether the severity of the symptoms change during a stay in a palliative care unit (PCU) and after discharge home has not been studied thus far. This prospective, longitudinal, single-center study screened for anxiety and depression as measured on the German version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) in a palliative care (PC) cancer cohort at three different time points.

3D optical scanning as an objective and reliable tool for volumetry of the foot and ankle region.

Background: Edema development of the foot and ankle region should be evaluated by an objective measurement. We hypothesized, that 3D optical scanning of this region can serve as an alternative to clinically established measurement techniques.

Methods: Two investigators determined the volume by 3D optical scanning and the figure-of-eight method in a random order at 2 separate time points.

Interval estimation of the overall treatment effect in random-effects meta-analyses: Recommendations from a simulation study comparing frequentist, Bayesian, and bootstrap methods.

There exists a variety of interval estimators for the overall treatment effect in a random-effects meta-analysis. A recent literature review summarizing existing methods suggested that in most situations, the Hartung-Knapp/Sidik-Jonkman (HKSJ) method was preferable. However, a quantitative comparison of those methods in a common simulation study is still lacking.

Longitudinal [F]FDG-PET/CT analysis of the glucose metabolism in ApoE-deficient mice.

Background: Strong line of evidence suggests that the increased risk to develop AD may at least be partly mediated by cholesterol metabolism. A key regulator of cholesterol transport is the Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4), which plays a fundamental role in neuronal maintenance and repair. Impaired function of ApoE4 may contribute to altered cerebral metabolism leading to higher susceptibility to neurodegeneration.

Zero-cell corrections in random-effects meta-analyses.

The standard estimator for the log odds ratio (the unconditional maximum likelihood estimator) and the delta-method estimator for its standard error are not defined if the corresponding 2 × 2 table contains at least one "zero cell". This is also an issue when estimating the overall log odds ratio in a meta-analysis. It is well known that correcting for zero cells by adding a small increment should be avoided.

Assessment of the Efficacy of Microinvasive Glaucoma Surgery Techniques using an Oculopression Stress Test.

Background: Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of blindness worldwide. The only evidence-based treatment to slow down the progression of glaucoma is the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) using local medication or through surgery. During the last years, a large number of microinvasive glaucoma surgery techniques (MIGS) has been developed, in order to reduce the IOP in glaucoma patients safely and effectively.

Histopathological Features and Ann Arbor Stage in Periocular Lymphoma.

Background: To evaluate biodata, symptoms/signs, lymphoma type, localization, stage level, treatment choice and outcome of ocular adnexal lymphoma (OAL).

Patients And Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis of 56 patients with OAL was performed from 1998 to 2018.

Results: OAL involved the orbit in 44.

Prevalence and Progression of Cognitive Impairment in Atrial Fibrillation Patients after Treatment with Catheter Ablation or Drug Therapy.

Purpose: In atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, the effect of catheter ablation or drug therapy on cognition is currently not well investigated. Therefore, we prospectively evaluated AF patients who were either treated 'with drug therapy or underwent catheter ablation for the prevalence and progression of cognitive impairment (CI).

Methods: Randomized participants of the CABANA trial (catheter ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for atrial fibrillation) and the CASTLE-AF (catheter ablation versus standard conventional treatment in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and atrial fibrillation) study were assessed twice within 6 months by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in our institution.

Damages with High Consequences: Analysis of Perforations in Surgical Latex Operation Gloves from Orthopedic Surgeries.

Introduction: To prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) during operation, the use of sterile surgical latex gloves is common. The aim of this study was to examine the damage of the gloves in surgeries with different mechanical stress and the influence on the kind of damages. Gloves were collected during primary arthroplasty, revision arthroplasty (hip and knee), and arthroscopy (shoulder, hip, and knee).

Paclitaxel-coated stents to prevent hyperplastic proliferation of ureteral tissue: from in vitro to in vivo.

Ureteric stents have become an indispensable tool in the armamentarium of every urologist. However, they carry their own morbidity resulting mostly from infectious or abacterial fouling and biofilm formation, and/or urothelial hyperplastic reaction. All of these may interact and lead to clinical complications.

Parameters influencing hand grip strength measured with the manugraphy system.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether sex, hand length and the individual training status affect hand strength and whether these measurements differ if they are recorded using the Jamar dynamometer or a new cylindrical measuring system.

Methods: For this purpose, 152 healthy adults were examined using a new manugraphy measuring system (novel, Munich, Germany) comprising two measuring cylinders of different sizes and a Jamar electronic dynamometer with two grip positions corresponding approximately to the sizes of the cylinders. A descriptive analysis was performed as well as a correlation analysis using the Pearson correlation coefficient.

Cardiac Function Improvement and Bone Marrow Response -: Outcome Analysis of the Randomized PERFECT Phase III Clinical Trial of Intramyocardial CD133 Application After Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: The phase III clinical trial PERFECT was designed to assess clinical safety and efficacy of intramyocardial CD133 bone marrow stem cell treatment combined with CABG for induction of cardiac repair.

Design: Multicentre, double-blinded, randomised placebo controlled trial.

Setting: The study was conducted across six centres in Germany October 2009 through March 2016 and stopped due slow recruitment after positive interim analysis in March 2015.

Stem cell registry programme for patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: what benefits does it derive?

Aims: Standardization of stem cell therapy requires application of appropriate methods to evaluate safety and efficacy, including long-term pharmacovigilance. To accomplish this objective, a long-term registry programme was installed.

Methods And Results: We analysed 150 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, who received intramyocardial CD133+ bone marrow mononuclear stem cell treatment combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or CABG alone.

Biomechanics of the osteoporotic spine, pain, and principles of training.

Introduction: A fracture is a clinical manifestation of osteoporosis and is one of the main causes of functional limitations and chronic pain in patients with osteoporosis. Muscle and coordination training are recommended to the patients as general measures. We inquired whether sling training is better than traditional physiotherapy in relieving pain and improving abilities of daily living.

Low-Dose Radiation Therapy for Benign Painful Skeletal Disorders: The Typical Treatment for the Elderly Patient?

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the short-term and long-term efficacy of low-dose radiation therapy (RT) for calcaneodynia, achillodynia, painful gonarthrosis, and painful bursitis trochanterica in elderly patients aged ≥70 years.

Methods And Materials: Between October 2011 and October 2013, patients aged ≥70 years with painful degenerative disorders of joints were recruited for a prospective trial. Single doses of 0.

Load distribution of the hand during cylinder grip analyzed by Manugraphy.

Study Design: Clinical measurement and basic research.

Introduction: Manugraphy allows assessing dynamically all forces applied perpendicular to a cylinder surface by the whole contact area of the hand with a high spatial resolution.

Purpose Of The Study: To identify the physiological load distribution of the whole contact area of the hand during cylinder grip.

Upper Urinary Tract Tumors: Which Diagnostic Methods Are Needed?

Objectives: We reviewed the data of patients with upper urinary tract (UUT) tumors to evaluate the effectiveness of diagnostic procedures.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated tumor characteristics, imaging procedures, epidemiological and follow-up data of 113 patients. We analyzed the importance of non-invasive and endoscopic diagnosis in addition to imaging as well as the influence of stage and grade on recurrence rate.

Prospective data collection and analysis of perforations and tears of latex surgical gloves during primary endoprosthetic surgeries.

Surgical gloves are used to prevent contamination of the patient and the hospital staff with pathogens. The aim of this study was to examine the actual effectiveness of gloves by examining the damage (perforations, tears) to latex gloves during surgery in the case of primary hip and knee prosthesis implantation. Latex surgical gloves used by surgeons for primary hip and knee replacement surgeries were collected directly after the surgery and tested using the watertightness test according to ISO EN 455-1:2000.

The effects of hydrogen sulfide on platelet-leukocyte aggregation and microvascular thrombolysis.

The volatile transmitter hydrogen sulfide (HS) is known for its various functions in vascular biology. This study evaluates the effect of the HS-donor GYY4137 (GYY) on thrombus stability and microvascular thrombolysis. Human whole blood served for all in vitro studies and was analyzed in a resting state, after stimulation with thrombin-receptor activating peptide (TRAP) and after incubation with 10 or 30 mM GYY or its vehicle DMSO following TRAP-activation, respectively.