11-Oxygenated androgens are not secreted by the human ovary: in-vivo data from four different cases of hyperandrogenism.

Objective: Differentiation of an adrenal from an ovarian source of hyperandrogenemia can be challenging. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of 11-oxygenated C19 steroids to the androgen pool in humans. The aim of this study was to confirm the origin of 11-oxygenated androgens in females and to explore their potential use in the diagnostics of hyperandrogenic disorders.

Radiological evidence of purulent infections in ancient Egyptian child mummies.

Objective: To identify computed tomography (CT) findings of purulent infections in ancient Egyptian child mummies.

Materials: Whole-body CT examination of 21 ancient Egyptian child mummies from German (n = 18), Italian (n = 1), and Swiss museums (n = 2).

Methods: CT examinations were evaluated for estimation of age at death and sex of the children.

Corona again? SSC after a severe COVID-disease.

Secondary sclerosing cholangitis (SSC) is a severe complication of intensive care treatment in critically ill patients. It is characterized by rapid onset and severe chlolestasis with elevation of gGT. In contrast to primary sclerosing cholangitis, SSC-CIP has a distinct and timely well defined trigger and can have a rapid progress to cirrhosis and liver failure.

Embolic Protection in Complex Femoropopliteal Interventions: Safety, Efficacy and Predictors of Filter Macroembolization.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a filter embolic protection device (FEPD) in endovascular interventions of the femoropopliteal arteries.

Methods: Patients who underwent endovascular interventions of the femoropopliteal arteries between 2008 and 2016 and in whom the SpiderFX FEPD was applied were included in this retrospective study. Clinical and angiographic characteristics, filter macroembolization (FME), device-related complications, distal embolization, as well as the early clinical and hemodynamic outcome, were assessed.

Patients With Primary Aldosteronism Respond to Unilateral Adrenalectomy With Long-Term Reduction in Salt Intake.

Context: High dietary salt intake is known to aggravate arterial hypertension. This effect could be of particular relevance in the setting of primary aldosteronism (PA), which is associated with cardiovascular damage independent of blood pressure levels. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of therapy on salt intake in PA patients.

Primary and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Patients with Primary Aldosteronism - Findings From the German Conn's Registry.

Context: Recent studies support a bidirectional interaction between aldosterone and parathyroid hormone (PTH), possibly increasing the individual cardiovascular risk. Primary aldosteronism (PA) and primary hyperparathyroidism can occur simultaneously.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of hyperparathyroidism in PA.

A pitfall of bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling in cyclic Cushing's syndrome.

Background: Clinical care of patients with cyclic Cushing's syndrome (CS) is challenging. Classical pitfalls include incorrect subtyping, unnecessary surgical procedures and delayed definite treatment.

Case Presentation: A 43-year-old female suffered from a rapidly cycling ectopic CS.

Assessment of Disease Activity in Takayasu Arteritis: Potential Role of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound.

Purpose:  To assess the diagnostic value of intima media thickness measurements and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of the supraaortic arteries in the assessment of disease activity in Takayasu arteritis (TA).

Materials And Methods:  Patients with TA and involvement of the carotid and/or subclavian/axillary arteries underwent CEUS imaging in addition to B-mode and color duplex ultrasound. The maximum IMT (mIMT) was measured and high-resolution CEUS of the most prominently thickened vessel segment was performed.

Diagnostic accuracy of positron emission tomography for assessment of disease activity in large vessel vasculitis.

Aim: To determine the diagnostic yield of F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) in disease activity assessment of large vessel vasculitides (LVV).

Methods: Patients with LVV who had undergone PET (between 2004 and June 2010) or PET co-registered with computed tomography (PET/CT; since June 2010) were identified. Clinical disease activity was assessed using established scoring systems.

Cortisol Excess in Patients With Primary Aldosteronism Impacts Left Ventricular Hypertrophy.

Context: Primary aldosteronism (PA) represents the most frequent form of endocrine hypertension. Hyperaldosteronism and hypercortisolism both induce excessive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) compared with matched essential hypertensives. In recent studies frequent cosecretion of cortisol and aldosterone has been reported in patients with PA.

Clinical value of [18F]FDG-PET/CT and 3D-black-blood 3T-MRI for the diagnosis of large vessel vasculitis and single-organ vasculitis of the aorta.

Background: We aimed to investigate the clinical value of a 3D-T1w turbo-spin-echo (TSE) sequence and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F]FDG-PET/CT) for the diagnosis of active large vessel vasculitis (LVV) and single-organ vasculitis (SOV) of the aorta.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with suspected vasculitis who underwent MRI and PET/CT were retrospectively evaluated. MRI was analyzed for concentric contrast enhancement and wall thickening, and flow artifact intensity (4-point-scales).

Relapses in three patients with Takayasu arteritis under tocilizumab treatment detected by contrast enhanced ultrasound.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare large vessel vasculitis, affecting the aorta and its major branches, typically in young women. In this case report, we present three cases of young women of Caucasian descent who experienced relapses while under treatment with the monoclonal humanized antibody to the interleukin 6 receptor, tocilizumab. Active vasculitic lesions of the supraaortic (common carotid and axillary) arteries were detected and characterized via high resolution contrast enhanced ultrasound.

Rationale and design of the RECording COurses of vasculaR Diseases registry (RECCORD registry).

Background: The prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) is increasing worldwide. Revascularization procedures constitute a cornerstone of the therapy in PAD, not only in critical limb ischaemia but increasingly also in patients with intermittent claudication. The German Society of Angiology - Society for Vascular Medicine is establishing a nationwide, prospective, multicentre registry to address the lack of contemporary real life data regarding current practice of medical and interventional care in vascular patients and its subsequent long-term outcome.

B-mode sonography wall thickness assessment of the temporal and axillary arteries for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis: a cohort study.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of B-mode compression sonography of the temporal arteries (tempCS) and B-mode sonographic measurement of the axillary artery intima media thickness (axIMT) for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: After having established measurement of tempCS and axIMT in our routine diagnostic workup, 92 consecutive patients with a suspected diagnosis of GCA were investigated. Clinical characteristics were recorded and wall thickening of the temporal arteries (tempCS) and axillary arteries (axIMT) was measured (mm).

Evolution of patency rates of self-expandable bare metal stents for endovascular treatment of femoro-popliteal arterial occlusive disease: Does stent design matter?

Objective: To analyse the patency rates of femoro-popliteal stenting with different self-expandable Nitinol stent-designs.

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-two patients (142 (64%) male; age 72.4 ± 11.

Altered renal functions in patients with occlusion of an accessory renal artery after endovascular stenting of an infrarenal aneurysm.

Objective: Coverage of an accessory renal artery (ARA) during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) may result in renal infarction (RI) or decline in renal function. Until now, it remains vague which patients are at risk to develop these complications. We therefore analyzed the effect of ARA sealing by EVAR with respect to the occurrence of RI and renal function.

Worsening of lipid metabolism after successful treatment of primary aldosteronism.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) describes the most frequent cause of secondary arterial hypertension. Recently, deterioration of lipid metabolism after adrenalectomy (ADX) for aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) has been described. We analysed longitudinal changes in lipid profiles in a large prospective cohort of PA patients.

Ultrasound Assisted Endovascular Thrombolysis in Adolescents: 2 Case Reports.

Descending iliofemoral thrombosis in children is a rare event. Anticoagulation therapy with low-molecular-weight-heparin is standard of care. However, patency cannot be achieved in all cases, increasing the risk for rethrombosis and postthrombotic syndrome.

Combined Carotid Endarterectomy and Retrograde Stenting of the Supra-Aortic Trunk: Does Cervical Block Offer Advantages?

Background: Atherosclerosis of the carotid artery is a major source of stroke. In some cases, atherosclerosis occurs at several positions within the carotid artery. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in combination with retrograde balloon angioplasty and stenting of a brachiocephalic or common carotid artery stenosis has been described as efficacious and safe procedure to prevent stroke in these cases.

Mass Spectrometry-Based Adrenal and Peripheral Venous Steroid Profiling for Subtyping Primary Aldosteronism.

Background: Differentiating patients with primary aldosteronism caused by aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) from those with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH), which is essential for choice of therapeutic intervention, relies on adrenal venous sampling (AVS)-based measurements of aldosterone and cortisol. We assessed the utility of LC-MS/MS-based steroid profiling to stratify patients with primary aldosteronism.

Methods: Fifteen adrenal steroids were measured by LC-MS/MS in peripheral and adrenal venous plasma from AVS studies for 216 patients with primary aldosteronism at 3 tertiary referral centers.

Genotype-Specific Steroid Profiles Associated With Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas.

Primary aldosteronism comprises 2 main subtypes: unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Somatic KCNJ5 mutations are found in APA at a prevalence of around 40% that drive and sustain aldosterone excess. Somatic APA mutations have been described in other genes (CACNA1D, ATP1A1, and ATP2B3) albeit at a lower frequency.

Safety and efficiency of femoral artery access closure with a novel biodegradable closure device: a prospective single-centre pilot study.

Objectives: Vascular closure devices can accelerate haemostasis after arteriotomy, but induce scarring. The aim of the study was to prospectively analyse the feasibility of a novel biodegradable arterial closure device (CD).

Methods: Two hundred fifty-five patients (183 male; age 36-98 years) with an access vessel diameter >3 mm received the biodegradable CD after endovascular therapy.

Coexisting Prolactinoma and Primary Aldosteronism: Is There a Pathophysiological Link?

Context: Coexisting prolactinoma-primary aldosteronism (PA) is infrequently reported.

Objective: The objective of the study was to identify patients with prolactinoma-PA and test the hypothesis that elevated prolactin (PRL) concentrations play a role in PA pathogenesis.

Setting And Design: Hyperprolactinemia/prolactinoma was diagnosed in PA patients from two referral centers (Munich, Germany, and Turin, Italy) and in essential hypertensive (EH) patients from one center (Turin).

Typical exposure parameters, organ doses and effective doses for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair: Comparison of Monte Carlo simulations and direct measurements with an anthropomorphic phantom.

Objectives: Radiation exposure of patients during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedures ranks in the upper sector of medical exposure. Thus, estimation of radiation doses achieved during EVAR is of great importance.

Material And Methods: Organ doses (OD) and effective doses (ED) administered to 17 patients receiving EVAR were determined (1) from the exposure parameters by performing Monte Carlo simulations in mathematical phantoms and (2) by measurements with thermoluminescent dosimeters in a physical anthropomorphic phantom.