Longitudinal analysis of microvascular perfusion and neurodegenerative changes in early type 2 diabetic retinal disease.

Aim: To prospectively monitor subclinical changes in capillary perfusion and retinal layer thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes and early diabetic retinal disease over 2 years.

Methods: In this longitudinal study we performed biannual retinal vascular imaging using optical coherence tomography angiography (RTVue) to analyse the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, perimeter, acircularity index (AI) and parafoveal superficial/deep vessel density (VD). Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (Spectralis) was used to measure the thickness of nine macular layers and the peripapillary nerve fibre layer.

A Randomized Trial of Parenteral Nutrition Using a Mixed Lipid Emulsion Containing Fish Oil in Infants of Extremely Low Birth Weight: Neurodevelopmental Outcome at 12 and 24 Months Corrected Age, A Secondary Outcome Analysis.

Objective: To examine whether parenteral nutrition using a mixed lipid emulsion containing fish oil improves the neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants.

Study Design: The study is a secondary outcome analysis of a double-blind randomized trial of 230 extremely low birth weight infants performed at a single level IV neonatal care unit (Medical University Vienna; June 2012 to June 2015). Participants received either a mixed lipid emulsion composed of soybean oil, medium chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil, or a soybean oil-based lipid emulsion for parenteral nutrition.

Odor Mixtures in Identification Testing Using Sniffin' Sticks: The SSomix Test.

Clinical tests assessing olfactory performance have become indispensable for diagnosing olfactory dysfunction. As time and personnel resources are limited, it would be advantageous to have shorter protocols focusing on singular aspects of olfactory performance, such as odor identification. However, such a unidimensional approach is often inconclusive and needs further tests (and tools).

Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Arterial Puncture and Closure Device Training in a Pulsatile Model.

Objective: The current study assesses the feasibility of in vitro practice of percutaneous puncture techniques in a pulsatile flow-model.

Design: Prospective, controlled, randomized study.

Setting: The percutaneous access to endovascular aortic repair is considered safe, but success rates may be dependent on surgeon experience with the technique.

Viennese risk prediction score for Advanced Gastroesophageal carcinoma based on Alarm Symptoms (VAGAS score): characterisation of alarm symptoms in advanced gastro-oesophageal cancer and its correlation with outcome.

Introduction: The prognostic value of symptoms at disease presentation of advanced gastro-oesophageal cancer is unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterise these symptoms and correlate them with the outcome, so new prognostic markers can be defined.

Methods: We analysed clinical data including symptoms, therapies and survival of patients with stage IV gastro-oesophageal cancer treated between 2002 and 2018 at the Vienna General Hospital, Austria.

Retronasal olfactory testing using candies sent by post and for screening purposes: a feasibility study.

Background: The olfactory system is able to detect external odours through the orthonasal- and internal odours through the retronasal route. Flavour perception strongly relies on the sense of smell and this back route. In contrast to orthonasal, retronasal olfactory tests (ROT) are less frequently applied, although testing should be recommended for several reasons.

Analysis of Running-Related Injuries: The Vienna Study.

Background: This study aimed to provide an extensive and up-to-date analysis of running-related injuries (RRI) and analyze a broad range of contributing factors for a large heterogeneous and non-selected running population from Central Europe.

Methods: Anthropometric, training, footwear, anatomic malalignment, and injury data from 196 injured runners were assessed case-controlled and retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate regression models were developed to identify associated factors for specific injury locations and diagnoses.

Body-Mass-Index Associated Differences in Ortho- and Retronasal Olfactory Function and the Individual Significance of Olfaction in Health and Disease.

Odor (including flavor) perception plays a major role in dietary behavior. Orthonasal olfactory function (OOF) has been shown to decrease in obese subjects. Changes in retronasal olfactory function (ROF) after weight loss and in the individual significance of olfaction (ISO) in obesity are yet to be investigated.

TOPOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF PHOTORECEPTOR LOSS CORRELATED WITH DISEASE MORPHOLOGY IN NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

Purpose: To quantify morphologic photoreceptor integrity during anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy of neovascular age-related macular degeneration and correlate these findings with disease morphology and function.

Methods: This presents a post hoc analysis on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography data of 185 patients, acquired at baseline, Month 3, and Month 12 in a multicenter, prospective trial. Loss of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) was manually quantified in all optical coherence tomography volumes.

PRESENCE OF PERIPHERAL LESIONS AND CORRELATION TO MACULAR PERFUSION, OXYGENATION AND NEURODEGENERATION IN EARLY TYPE II DIABETIC RETINAL DISEASE.

Purpose: The impact of peripheral retinal lesions (PL) visualized with ultra-wide-field imaging on diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the presence of PL and their association with macular microvasculopathy, metabolic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration in patients with Type II diabetes and early retinal disease.

Methods: Forty-five degree color fundus (Topcon) and 200° ultra-wide-field images (Optos) were assessed for the presence and severity of DR.

A Nomogram to Predict the Outcome of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Head and Neck Masses.

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an important diagnostic tool for tumors of the head and neck. However, non-diagnostic or inconclusive results may occur and lead to delay in treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors that predict a successful FNAC.

There are no safe areas for avoiding the perforating arteries along the proximal part of the femur: A word of caution.

Knowledge about the variable course of the perforating arteries near the body of the femur is essential during surgical procedures (e.g., percutaneous cerclage wiring, plate osteosynthesis, Ilizarov technique).

Comparison of ROTEM parameters from venous and intraosseous blood.

Rotational thromboelastometry is recommended to guide haemostatic therapy in trauma-related coagulopathy. In the case of unsuccessful venepuncture, intraosseous access allows immediate administration of drugs and volume replacement. Feasibility of rotational thromboelastometry from intraosseous blood has not yet been investigated in humans.

Correlation between corneal and retinal neurodegenerative changes and their association with microvascular perfusion in type II diabetes.

Purpose: The pathophysiology of diabetic neurodegeneration and microvasculopathy remains controversial. Neurosensory layer thickness and corneal nerve fibre loss represent potential biomarkers of neuropathy. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the correlation between these neurodegenerative features and their association with retinal microvascular integrity in patients with type II diabetes without retinopathy.

RNA editing of Filamin A pre-mRNA regulates vascular contraction and diastolic blood pressure.

Epitranscriptomic events such as adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing by ADAR can recode mRNAs to translate novel proteins. Editing of the mRNA that encodes actin crosslinking protein Filamin A (FLNA) mediates a Q-to-R transition in the interactive C-terminal region. While FLNA editing is conserved among vertebrates, its physiological function remains unclear.

Long-Term Course of Shoulders After Ultrasound Therapy for Calcific Tendinitis: Results of the 10-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The aim of the study was to follow both the structure- and function-related long-term course of shoulders that had been treated with therapeutic ultrasound for symptomatic calcific tendinitis.

Design: This is a long-term follow-up of 45 shoulders (37 patients) that had been treated for symptomatic calcific tendinitis with either a series of ultrasound or sham ultrasound 10 yrs ago. The main outcome variables were presence of calcium deposits and subacromial impingement on standardized x-ray imaging, shoulder symptoms (Binder score), and function (Constant score).

Combination of first trimester serum afamin levels and three-dimensional placental bed vascularization as a possible screening method to detect women at-risk for adverse pregnancy complications like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus in low-risk pregnancies.

Objective: Aim of the study was to assess the correlation of first trimester serum afamin levels with three-dimensional placental bed vascularization in pregnant women and its prognostic value for predicting pre-eclampsia and future fetal and maternal complications during pregnancy.

Methods: In this nested case-control study all pregnant women registered for delivery during a period of 3 years were routinely screened in the first trimester. Serum afamin levels were assessed in 764 women and correlated to 5 pregnancy outcome groups: gestational hypertension (n = 76), pre-eclampsia (n = 33), intrauterine growth restriction (n = 91), pre-term birth (n = 39), gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 170); In addition, measurements of first trimester myometrial vascularization index were performed and, in combination with afamin tested as a possible screening method to detect women at-risk for the development of adverse complications in low-risk pregnancies at the time of the first trimester.

A Functional Regression Model of the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Healthy Subjects.

Purpose: A new functional regression model is presented to explain the intersubject variability of the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in healthy subjects.

Methods: To evaluate the functional regression approach we used data from 202 healthy volunteers, divided equally into training samples (TS) and validation samples (VS). Covariates included RNFL, fovea distance, fovea angle, optic disk ratio, orientation and area provided by Fourier-domain-optical coherence tomography, age, and refractive error.

Correlation between morphological characteristics in spectral-domain-optical coherence tomography, different functional tests and a patient's subjective handicap in acute central serous chorioretinopathy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify quantitatively measurable morphologic optical coherence tomography (OCT) characteristics in patients with an acute episode of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and evaluate their correlation to functional and psychological variables for their use in daily clinical practice.

Methods: Retinal thickness (RT), the height, area and volume of subretinal fluid (SRF)/pigment epithelium detachments were evaluated using the standardized procedures of the Vienna Reading Center. These morphologic characteristics were compared with functional variables [best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity (CS), retinal sensitivity/microperimetry, fixation stability], and patients' subjective handicap from CSC using the National Eye Institute 25-item Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25).

A Mixed Lipid Emulsion for Prevention of Parenteral Nutrition Associated Cholestasis in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: To examine whether a mixed lipid emulsion reduces the incidence of parenteral nutrition associated cholestasis (PNAC) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW, <1000 g) infants.

Study Design: This double-blind randomized trial of 230 ELBW infants (June 2012-October 2015) was performed at a single level IV neonatal intensive care unit. Patients received either a mixed lipid emulsion composed of soybean oil, medium chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil-(intervention) or a soybean oil-based lipid emulsion (control) for parenteral nutrition.

Regional Patterns of Retinal Oxygen Saturation and Microvascular Hemodynamic Parameters Preceding Retinopathy in Patients With Type II Diabetes.

Purpose: Alterations in retinal oxygen metabolism and retinal microcirculation are signs of impending diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, if specific retinal regions are primarily affected is so far unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate if retinal oxygen saturation (SO2) and microvascular hemodynamic parameters follow a distinct regional pattern in patients with diabetes but no DR.

Surveillance colonoscopy in Austria: Are we following the guidelines?

Background And Study Aim: The European guidelines for quality assurance in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis contain postpolypectomy surveillance recommendations. They recommend follow-up intervals depending on the findings at index colonoscopy, and divide patients into a low-, intermediate- or high-risk group. The aim of this study was to assess the adherence of Austrian endoscopists to the European guidelines and to determine whether sending a reminder letter resulted in better adherence.