False-positive results for pheochromocytoma associated with norepinephrine reuptake blockade.

Measurements of plasma metanephrines and methoxytyramine provide a sensitive test for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma. False-positive results remain a problem, particularly in patients taking norepinephrine reuptake-blocking drugs. Therefore, in this retrospective observational study, we measured plasma metanephrines and methoxytyramine in 61 patients taking norepinephrine reuptake blockers (tricyclic antidepressants or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) and 17 others taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, all without pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma.

Adrenal Crisis - Definition, Prevention and Treatment: Results from a Delphi Survey.

Based on recent data, a total number of about 29 000 patients with adrenal insufficiency can be calculated for Germany, and about 1500 fatalities due to adrenal crises have to be expected within the next decade. Management of adrenal crises is still unsatisfactory. The objectives of this study were to establish consensus for diagnostic criteria, prevention strategies, and treatment recommendations for adrenal crises.

Spectral Similarity Measures for In Vivo Human Tissue Discrimination Based on Hyperspectral Imaging.

Problem: Similarity measures are widely used as an approved method for spectral discrimination or identification with their applications in different areas of scientific research. Even though a range of works have been presented, only a few showed slightly promising results for human tissue, and these were mostly focused on pathological and non-pathological tissue classification.

Methods: In this work, several spectral similarity measures on hyperspectral (HS) images of in vivo human tissue were evaluated for tissue discrimination purposes.

Adhesion GPCR GPR56 Expression Profiling in Human Tissues.

Despite the immense functional relevance of GPR56 (gene ) in highly diverse (patho)physiological processes such as tumorigenesis, immune regulation, and brain development, little is known about its exact tissue localization. Here, we validated antibodies for GPR56-specific binding using cells with tagged GPR56 or eliminated in immunotechniques. Using the most suitable antibody, we then established the human GPR56 tissue expression profile.

The challenge to differentiate between sarcoma or adrenal carcinoma-an observational study.

Background: Adrenal sarcomas are rare malignant tumors with structural and clinical similarities to sarcomatoid adrenocortical carcinoma. Preoperative diagnosis of tumors of the adrenal gland can be challenging and often misleading thus detaining patients from appropriate oncological strategies.

Objective: This analysis of a case series evaluated the predictive capability of the primary clinical diagnosis in case of malignancies of the adrenal gland.

[Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors].

Neuroendocrine tumors (NET), or more generally neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN), represent a very heterogeneous group of rare tumors with varying location which are only defined by their endocrine biology and secretion of synaptophysin and chromogranin A. They originate from mesoderm-derived stem cells. In the last few years, the incidence and prevalence of NEN have been steadily increasing.

Real-World Efficacy and Safety of Multi-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Radioiodine Refractory Thyroid Cancer.

The management of patients with locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) that is refractory to radioiodine (RAI) remains a therapeutic challenge. The multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) sorafenib and lenvatinib have been approved based on phase 3 clinical trials. We aimed at describing the efficacy and safety of TKI treatment of RAI-refractory DTC in a real-world setting at six German referral centers.

Influence of Parathyroidectomy on Kidney Graft Function in Secondary and Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Timing of parathyroidectomy (PTX) remains controversial in candidates for kidney transplant with concomitant renal hyperparathyroidism (HPT). The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the influence of early vs late posttransplant PTX compared to pretransplant PTX on renal graft function and morbidity.

Methods: This single-center cohort study includes 57 patients with renal HPT and kidney transplantation treated between 2007 and 2017.

Adrenal Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients following Liver Resection or Liver Transplantation: Experience from a Tertiary Referral Center.

Introduction: Adrenal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare entity and can be treated by resection, local ablative therapy, or systemic therapy. Unfortunately, data about treatment outcome, especially in liver transplant recipients, are rare.

Patients And Methods: From 2005 to 2015, 990 liver resections and 303 liver transplantations because of HCC were performed at our clinic.

Targeting CXCR4 (CXC Chemokine Receptor Type 4) for Molecular Imaging of Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma.

Primary aldosteronism is the most frequent cause of secondary hypertension and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality compared with hypertensive controls. The central diagnostic challenge is the differentiation between bilateral and unilateral disease, which determines treatment options. Bilateral adrenal venous sampling, currently recommended for differential diagnosis, is an invasive procedure with several drawbacks, making it desirable to develop novel noninvasive diagnostic tools.

Cortisol-related metabolic alterations assessed by mass spectrometry assay in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

Objective: Endogenous hypercortisolism is a chronic condition associated with severe metabolic disturbances and cardiovascular sequela. The aim of this study was to characterize metabolic alterations in patients with different degrees of hypercortisolism by mass-spectrometry-based targeted plasma metabolomic profiling and correlate the metabolomic profile with clinical and hormonal data.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Novel somatic mutations in the catalytic subunit of the protein kinase A as a cause of adrenal Cushing's syndrome: a European multicentric study.

Context: Somatic mutations in PRKACA gene, encoding the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PKA), have been recently found in a high proportion of sporadic adenomas associated with Cushing's syndrome. The aim was to analyze the PRKACA mutation in a large cohort of patients with adrenocortical masses.

Methods: Samples from nine European centers were included (Germany, n = 4; Italy, n = 4; France, n = 1).

The surgical treatment of bilateral benign nodular goiter: balancing invasiveness with complications.

Background: About 100,000 thyroid operations are performed in Germany each year. There is a current trend toward more radical surgery for bilateral euthyroid nodular goiter. In recent years, thyroid specialists and specialty guidelines have recommended total thyroidectomy, because it ensures that nodules will not recur and already provides an adequately radical excision in case an incidental carcinoma is found postoperatively on histological study of the specimen.

Postoperative bile leakage inhibits liver regeneration after 70% hepatectomy in rats.

Background: Postoperative bile leakage is a typical complication in liver surgery. The influence of small bile leakage and concomitant bile peritonitis on the regenerative capacity of the liver remnant has not yet been investigated thoroughly.

Material And Methods: Fifty-four rats were randomized in the following groups: Sham operation (Sh), 70% liver resection (LR), and 70% LR with simultaneous induction of a small bile leakage.

Bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy versus hemithyroidectomy plus subtotal resection (Dunhill procedure) for benign goiter: long-term results of a prospective, randomized study.

Background: Two recent meta-analyses of mostly retrospective studies have shown high recurrence rates following subtotal resection of bilateral multinodular goiter. Therefore, many endocrine centers have changed their operative procedures in favor of thyroidectomy. Consequently, the rate of complications, especially hypoparathyroidism, has increased.

Prevalence, clinical, and molecular correlates of KCNJ5 mutations in primary aldosteronism.

Primary aldosteronism is the most common form of secondary hypertension. Mutations in the KCNJ5 gene have been described recently in aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of KCNJ5 mutations in unselected patients with primary aldosteronism and their clinical, biological and molecular correlates.

Impact of lymphadenectomy on the oncologic outcome of patients with adrenocortical carcinoma.

Objective: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy with an unfavorable prognosis. The impact of a locoregional lymph node dissection (LND) has never been defined in this disease. We report the disease-specific outcome of patients treated with or without LND during primary adrenalectomy.

Curcumin attenuates oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the early phase after partial hepatectomy with simultaneous intraabdominal infection in rats.

Background: Curcumin is a nontoxic, hepatoprotective antioxidant. It has been shown to efficiently scavenge oxygen free radicals, increase intracellular glutathione concentrations, and prevent lipid peroxidation in rat hepatocytes. Moreover, it has strong anti-inflammatory effects.

Prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics in surgery--are they only trendy, truly effective or even dangerous?

Background: Despite advances in surgical technique and intensive care medicine, nosocomial bacterial infections frequently occur in patients after major abdominal surgery and have a negative impact on operative outcome and hospital costs. In parallel, the routine use of antibiotics led to the development of resistance. Some probiotics (living bacteria) and prebiotics (fibers) are able to stabilize the intestinal barrier and prevent bacterial translocation and infections.