Evaluation of the lengthening of the magnetically controlled growing rods in juvenile and early-onset scoliosis.

Introduction: The treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS) has seen significant advancements, particularly with the introduction of magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR). However, a discrepancy between reported and actual rod lengthening during treatment has raised concerns.

Hypothesis: This retrospective study aims to investigate the disparity between reported and actual lengthening of MCGR and to identify factors contributing to the failure of the lengthening process.

EFFects of Exposure and Cognitive behavioral Therapy for chronic BACK pain ("EFFECT-BACK"): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Chronic back pain is a widespread medical condition associated with high socioeconomic costs and increasing prevalence. Despite the advanced implementation of multidisciplinary approaches, providing a satisfactory treatment offer for those affected is often not possible. Exposure therapy (EXP) promises to be an effective and economical form of treatment and in a previous pilot study showed to be superior to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in reducing perceived limitations of movement.

Dosimetric benefit of online treatment plan adaptation in stereotactic ultrahypofractionated MR-guided radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer.

Background: Apart from superior soft tissue contrast, MR-guided stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) offers the chance for daily online plan adaptation. This study reports on the comparison of dose parameters before and after online plan adaptation in MR-guided SBRT of localized prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: 32 consecutive patients treated with ultrahypofractionated SBRT for localized prostate cancer within the prospective SMILE trial underwent a planning process for MR-guided radiotherapy with 37.

Long-term trends in hepatitis C prevalence, treatment uptake and liver-related events in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Background And Aims: Treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections changed dramatically in the last decade. We assessed changes in the prevalence of replicating HCV infection, treatment uptake and liver-related morbidity and mortality in persons with HIV (PWH) and hepatitis C in the Swiss HIV cohort study.

Methods: We included all cohort participants between 2002 and 2021.

Protocol of a randomised controlled phase II clinical trial investigating PREoperative endoscopic injection of BOTulinum toxin into the sphincter of Oddi to reduce bile leakage after hepatic resection: the PREBOT-II trial.

Introduction: Bile leakage represents a major cause of morbidity following hepatic resection. Although most patients can be managed non-operatively, this complication requires diagnostics and therapeutic interventions. Preoperative endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin (BTX) into the sphincter of Oddi represents an innovative approach to prevent bile leakage.

Prevalence and influencing factors for artifact development in breast MRI-derived maximum intensity projections.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides high diagnostic sensitivity for breast cancer. However, MRI artifacts may impede the diagnostic assessment. This is particularly important when evaluating maximum intensity projections (MIPs), such as in abbreviated MRI (AB-MRI) protocols, because high image quality is desired as a result of fewer sequences being available to compensate for problems.

Involving, Empowering, and Training End Users with Disabilities to Fully Participate in the Web Accessibility Directive Objectives First Results from the UPowerWAD Project.

In this paper, we present the first results from the UPowerWAD Project - a project which aims to raise awareness and to empower and train people with disabilities to take active participation in the implementation of the Web Accessibility Directive (WAD). We give an overview of the results on how to capture and categorize feedback from users in the context of web accessibility and present best practices for structuring and reporting web accessibility issues. The results will be discussed focusing on the relevance and implications for further steps in the project.

MELD-Na Alterations on the Liver Transplant Waiting List and Their Impact on Listing Outcome.

Background: Dynamic MELD deterioration (Delta MELD) during waiting time was shown to have significant impact on post-transplant survival. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of MELD-Na score alterations on waiting list outcomes in liver transplant candidates.

Method: 36,806 patients listed at UNOS for liver transplantation in 2011-2015 were analyzed according to their delisting reasons.

Vascular impulse technology versus elevation for reducing the swelling of upper and lower extremity joint fractures.

Soft-tissue conditioning due to posttraumatic oedema after complicated joint fractures is a central therapeutic aspect both pre- and postoperatively. On average, 6-10 days pass until the patient is suitable for surgery. This study compares the decongestant effect of vascular impulse technology (VIT) with that of conventional elevation.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody-containing plasma improves outcome in patients with hematologic or solid cancer and severe COVID-19: a randomized clinical trial.

Patients with cancer are at high risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with high morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, impaired humoral response renders severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines less effective and treatment options are scarce. Randomized trials using convalescent plasma are missing for high-risk patients.

Long-term follow-up MRI shows no hastening of adjacent segment degeneration following cervical disc arthroplasty.

Cervical disc arthroplasty is an established procedure, but studies with data on long-term clinical outcome, reoperation for symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration (sASD), and degenerative changes based on MRI findings are rare. Thus, a file review was performed and patients with complete documentation of neurological status at preoperative, postoperative, 12 month, 3-4 years follow-up including surgical reports for reoperation with a minimum follow-up of 9 years were included. Final follow-up assessment included a physical examination, assessment of pain levels, Odoms criteria, Neck disability index.

Monotonicity conditions for avoiding counterintuitive decisions in basket trials.

In a basket trial, a new treatment is tested in different subgroups, called the baskets. In oncology, the baskets usually comprise patients with different primary tumor sites but a common biomarker. Most basket trials are uncontrolled phase II trials and investigate a binary endpoint such as tumor response.

Timing of reconstruction of the lower urinary tract in pediatric kidney transplant recipients: A CERTAIN multicenter analysis of current practice.

Background: Preexistent LUTD are considered a hostile environment, which might negatively impact KTx survival. In such cases, surgical reconstruction of the bladder is required. However, there is still disagreement on the optimal timing of the reconstruction procedure.

Potential of blood-based biomarker approaches in endometrium and breast cancer: a case-control comparison study.

Purpose: Endometrial carcinoma is the second most common gynecological malignancy. Until today lacking a screening tool. A blood-based biomarker could help address this need.

Publication rate and research topics of studies in pediatric kidney transplantation.

Background: The quality of medical care for pediatric kidney transplant recipients depends on sound evidence from published clinical trials.

Methods: We examined the publication rate, time to publication, and factors associated with publication of studies in pediatric kidney transplantation registered on ClinicalTrials.gov from 1999 to 2020.

Pregnancy with inflammatory bowel disease: Outcomes for mothers and their children at a European tertiary care center.

Aim: The study aimed at investigating pregnancy complications, birth outcomes, and postnatal child development in pregnancies of women with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs).

Methods: This is an uncontrolled retrospective single-center study between 2014 and 2019. It is a mixed-method cross-sectional study using data from (1) electronic patient records and (2) questionnaires and copies of mothers' and children's health booklets.

Estimands-A Basic Element for Clinical Trials.

Background: Clinical trials are of central importance for the evaluation and comparison of treatments. The transparency and intelligibility of the treatment effect under investigation is an essential matter for physicians, patients, and health-care authorities. The estimand framework has been introduced because many trials are deficient in this respect.

Rationale and design of the 2 by 2 factorial design GnG-trial: a randomized phase-III study to compare two schedules of gemtuzumab ozogamicin as adjunct to intensive induction therapy and to compare double-blinded intensive postremission therapy with or without glasdegib in older patients with newly diagnosed AML.

Background: Overall survival remains poor in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with less than 10% being alive after 5 years. In recent studies, a significant improvement in event-free, relapse-free and overall survival was shown by adding gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO), a humanized antibody-drug conjugate directed against CD33, to intensive induction therapy once or in a sequential dosing schedule. Glasdegib, the small-molecule inhibitor of smoothened (SMO), also showed improved overall survival in patients not eligible for intensive chemotherapy when combined with low-dose cytarabine compared to low-dose cytarabine alone.

Role of fecal calprotection in predicting endoscopic recurrence in postoperative Crohn's disease.

Background And Aims: Fecal calprotectin (fCP) has been shown to correlate with endoscopic disease activity in Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to evaluate its role in predicting early endoscopic recurrence in postoperative CD.

Methods: Patients who underwent CD-related intestinal resection with ileocolonic anastomosis were prospectively followed up until ileocolonoscopy was performed around 12 months post-surgery.

Outbreaks of publications about emerging infectious diseases: the case of SARS-CoV-2 and Zika virus.

Background: Outbreaks of infectious diseases generate outbreaks of scientific evidence. In 2016 epidemics of Zika virus emerged, and in 2020, a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused a pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We compared patterns of scientific publications for the two infections to analyse the evolution of the evidence.

Topographic Distribution and Progression of Soft Drusen Volume in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Implicate Neurobiology of Fovea.

Purpose: To refine estimates of macular soft drusen abundance in eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and evaluate hypotheses about drusen biogenesis, we investigated topographic distribution and growth rates of drusen by optical coherence tomography (OCT). We compared results to retinal features with similar topographies (cone density and macular pigment) in healthy eyes.

Methods: In a prospective study, distribution and growth rates of soft drusen in eyes with AMD were identified by human observers in OCT volumes and analyzed with computer-assistance.

Intraretinal microvascular changes after ERM and ILM peeling using SSOCTA.

Background: To prospectively investigate retinal vascular changes in patients undergoing epiretinal membrane (ERM) and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling using swept source optical coherence tomography angiography (SSOCTA).

Methods: Consecutive patients were grouped based on ERM severity and followed using SSOCTA up to month 3 after surgical intervention. Superficial and deep foveal avascular zone (s/dFAZ) as well as foveal and parafoveal vessel density (VD) were correlated with ERM severity and visual acuity.

[Lactic Acidosis and Other Misunderstandings].

Lactic Acidosis and Other Misunderstandings Lactic acidosis is a frequently encountered clinical problem in intensive care medicine. Nevertheless, many of the underlying biochemical processes are insufficiently understood, which leads to various misconceptions. Physiologically, lactate is an important, continuously produced carrier of energy and by no means a metabolic 'waste product'.

COVID-19 in a Patient with Accidental Drug-Induced Neutropenia.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents with a wide range of illness severity, from asymptomatic disease to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Immunosuppression is considered a risk factor for severe COVID-19, but there are only few reports on disease progression in immunocompromised patients.

Case Summary: We report the case of a 50-year-old patient with acute COVID-19 pneumonia, who had iatrogenic, clinically relevant bone marrow suppression due to accidental overdose with hydroxyurea, and decreased lung capacity due to a left-sided pneumonectomy 6 months earlier.