Regional hyperthermia with cisplatin added to gemcitabine versus gemcitabine in patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: The HEAT randomised clinical trial.

Background: Regional hyperthermia (RHT) with cisplatin added to gemcitabine showed efficacy in gemcitabine-pre-treated patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We conducted a randomised clinical trial to investigate RHT with cisplatin added to gemcitabine (GPH) compared with gemcitabine (G) in the adjuvant setting of resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Methods: This randomised, multicentre, open-label trial randomly assigned patients to either GPH (gemcitabine 1000 mg/m on day 1, 15 and cisplatin 25 mg/m with RHT on day 2, 3 and 15,16) or to G (gemcitabine 1000 mg/m on day 1,8,15), four-weekly over six cycles.

An integrative ENCODE resource for cancer genomics.

ENCODE comprises thousands of functional genomics datasets, and the encyclopedia covers hundreds of cell types, providing a universal annotation for genome interpretation. However, for particular applications, it may be advantageous to use a customized annotation. Here, we develop such a custom annotation by leveraging advanced assays, such as eCLIP, Hi-C, and whole-genome STARR-seq on a number of data-rich ENCODE cell types.

[Compatibility of Work and Family Life: Survey of Physicians in the Munich Metropolitan Area].

Aim: Investigation of the compatibility of work and family life for physicians in the Munich metropolitan area.

Methods: Survey of a representative sample of 1,800 physicians using a questionnaire.

Results: Men were less satisfied (7% very satisfied vs.

Physical Activity and Nutrition in Primary and Tertiary Prevention of Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Lifestyle factors play a pivotal role in the primary and tertiary prevention of colorectal cancer. The purpose of this review article is to summarize data concerning the effect of the lifestyle factors physical activity (PA) and nutrition in primary and, more importantly, tertiary prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: Focusing on the influence of lifestyle factors on prognosis und quality of life (QOL), a comprehensive literature search of clinical studies published mainly in the years 2000 until 2015 was performed and the current knowledge based on these clinical studies reviewed.

Multicenter double-blinded randomized controlled trial of standard abdominal wound edge protection with surgical dressings versus coverage with a sterile circular polyethylene drape for prevention of surgical site infections: a CHIR-Net trial (BaFO; NCT01181206).

Objective: To determine whether circular plastic wound edge protectors (CWEPs) significantly reduce the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) in comparison to standard surgical towels in patients undergoing laparotomy.

Background: SSIs cause substantial morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and costs and remain one of the most frequent surgical complications. CWEPs have been proposed as a measure to reduce the incidence of SSIs.

The structural diversity of ABS₃ compounds with d⁰ electronic configuration for the B-cation.

We use first-principles density functional theory within the local density approximation to ascertain the ground state structure of real and theoretical compounds with the formula ABS3 (A = K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba, Tl, Sn, Pb, and Bi; and B = Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, V, and Nb) under the constraint that B must have a d(0) electronic configuration. Our findings indicate that none of these AB combinations prefer a perovskite ground state with corner-sharing BS6 octahedra, but that they prefer phases with either edge- or face-sharing motifs. Further, a simple two-dimensional structure field map created from A and B ionic radii provides a neat demarcation between combinations preferring face-sharing versus edge-sharing phases for most of these combinations.

Single-port cholecystectomy versus multi-port cholecystectomy: a prospective cohort study with 222 patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare single-port access cholecystectomy (SPA) with the standard laparoscopic technique (LC) regarding the duration of the operation, complications, learning curve, late postoperative quality of life (QoL) and the incidence of incisional hernias.

Methods: Between June 2009 and December 2011, a total of 122 SPA cholecystectomies were performed in our hospital. Simultaneously, 310 patients were operated on with the LC technique.

An investigation of PreMCI: subtypes and longitudinal outcomes.

Background/aims: To investigate the clinical features and rates of progression of conditions that are not considered to be normal, but do not fulfill criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: We longitudinally evaluated 269 elderly subjects who did not meet formal criteria for MCI at baseline but had: (1) a clinical history suggesting MCI without neuropsychological deficits (PreMCI-Clinical); or (2) neuropsychological deficits on one or more memory measures in conjunction with a negative clinical examination (amnestic PreMCI-NP) or were normal on both neuropsychological and clinical examination.

Results: The rate of progression to MCI or dementia over an average of 2- to 3 years was 3.

Human hepatocytes: isolation, culture, and quality procedures.

The use of isolated human liver cells in research and development has gained increasing interest during the past years. The possible application may vary between elucidation of new biochemical pathways in liver diseases, drug development, safety issues, and new therapeutic strategies up to direct clinical translation for liver support. However, the isolation of human liver cells requires a well-developed logistic network among surgeons, biologists, and technicians to obtain a high quality of cells.

Polarization dependence of palladium deposition on ferroelectric lithium niobate (0001) surfaces.

We investigate the effect of ferroelectric polarization direction on the geometric properties of Pd deposited on the positive and negative surfaces of LiNbO(3) (0001). We predict preferred geometries and diffusion properties of small Pd clusters using density functional theory, and use these calculations as the basis for kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of Pd deposition on a larger scale. Our results show that on the positive surface, Pd atoms favor a clustered configuration, while on the negative surface, Pd atoms are adsorbed in a more dispersed pattern due to suppression of diffusion and agglomeration.

Pre-MCI and MCI: neuropsychological, clinical, and imaging features and progression rates.

Objective: To compare clinical, imaging, and neuropsychological characteristics and longitudinal course of subjects with pre-mild cognitive impairment (pre-MCI), who exhibit features of MCI on clinical examination but lack impairment on neuropsychological examination, to subjects with no cognitive impairment (NCI), nonamnestic MCI (naMCI), amnestic MCI (aMCI), and mild dementia.

Methods: For 369 subjects, clinical dementia rating sum of boxes (CDR-SB), ApoE genotyping, cardiovascular risk factors, parkinsonism (UPDRS) scores, structural brain MRIs, and neuropsychological testing were obtained at baseline, whereas 275 of these subjects received an annual follow-up for 2-3 years.

Results: At baseline, pre-MCI subjects showed impairment on tests of executive function and language, higher apathy scores, and lower left hippocampal volumes (HPCV) in comparison to NCI subjects.

Cognitive change on the repeatable battery of neuropsychological status (RBANS) in Parkinson's disease with and without bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation surgery.

Cognitive change following bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in those with Parkinson's disease (PD) has led to equivocal results. The current study applied a standardized regression-based (SRB) method based on 20 medically managed PD patients and 20 STN DBS PD surgical patients who were administered the Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Of the medically managed PD participants, 94% remained stable compared to 73% of the DBS group.

Postoperative care following pancreatic surgery: surveillance and treatment.

Background: After pancreatic surgery, some patients have complications that require treatment.

Method: Review article based on a selective literature search and the German S3 guideline on pancreatic carcinoma.

Results: Detailed knowledge of the surgical procedure and its potential early and late complications is a prerequisite for the recognition and treatment of problems occurring after pancreatic surgery.

Physical activity in the prevention and treatment of colorectal carcinoma.

Background: Colorectal carcinoma is the most common type of tumor in Western countries. The risk of developing colorectal carcinoma depends both on genetic factors (familial predisposition) and on lifestyle-related factors such as body-mass index, level of physical activity, and nutritional behavior. Regular physical activity is important in primary prevention, and there is also evidence that the prognosis after treatment of a colorectal carcinoma can be improved by exercise.

Combined targeted treatment to eliminate tumorigenic cancer stem cells in human pancreatic cancer.

Background & Aims: Pancreatic cancers contain exclusively tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are highly resistant to chemotherapy, resulting in a relative increase in CSC numbers during gemcitabine treatment. Signaling through sonic hedgehog and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), respectively, may be essential for CSC self-renewal and could represent putative targets for novel treatment modalities.

Methods: We used in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic cancer to examine the effects of sonic hedgehog inhibition (cyclopamine/CUR199691) and mTOR blockade (rapamycin) on the tumorigenic CSC population.

Poroelastic modeling of seismic boundary conditions across a fracture.

Permeability of a fracture can affect how the fracture interacts with seismic waves. To examine this effect, a simple mathematical model that describes the poroelastic nature of wave-fracture interaction is useful. In this paper, a set of boundary conditions is presented which relate wave-induced particle velocity (or displacement) and stress including fluid pressure across a compliant, fluid-bearing fracture.