Comparison of intraoperative versus preoperative ERCP with laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystocholedocholithiasis: a 3-year study at Kepler University Hospital.

Background: Preoperative ERCP followed by cholecystectomy is a common treatment for cholecystocholedocholithiasis. However, intraoperative ERCP has been used more frequently over the last two decades, with few studies assessing various aspects of both methods. We evaluated and compared the management and outcomes of intraoperative ERCP and preoperative ERCP.

Improved Outcomes in Myelofibrosis after Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplantation in the Era of Ruxolitinib Pretreatment and Intensified Conditioning Regimen-Single-Center Analysis.

(1) Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is the only treatment with the potential for cure in patients with myelofibrosis (MF). However, the risk of graft rejection, which is particularly high in MF, and the risk of significant non-relapse mortality must be considered. (2) Methods: In this retrospective, single-center study, we compared allo-HSCT outcomes in 36 adult patients with MF transplanted at two-time intervals (2001-2015 versus 2016-2021).

Perioperative and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Synchronous Carotid Endarterectomy and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Single-Center Experience.

Introduction: Patients requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can be managed with staged (CEA before CABG), reverse staged (CABG before CEA) or synchronous treatment. This single-center retrospective study evaluated the outcomes in patients undergoing planned synchronous CEA and CABG.

Methods: Between 2000 and 2020 a total of 185 patients with symptomatic triple-vessel or left main coronary artery disease associated with 70-99% asymptomatic or 50-99% symptomatic uni- or bilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis underwent synchronous CEA and CABG at our institution.

Tailored Intraoperative MRI Strategies in High-Grade Glioma Surgery: A Machine Learning-Based Radiomics Model Highlights Selective Benefits.

Background And Objectives: In high-grade glioma (HGG) surgery, intraoperative MRI (iMRI) has traditionally been the gold standard for maximizing tumor resection and improving patient outcomes. However, recent Level 1 evidence juxtaposes the efficacy of iMRI and 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), questioning the continued justification of iMRI because of its associated costs and extended surgical duration. Nonetheless, drawing from our clinical observations, we postulated that a subset of intricate HGGs may continue to benefit from the adjunctive application of iMRI.

Pilot Study to Gain First Indications for the Impact of a 3-Month's Oral Intake of a Sucrosomial Iron Supplement on Hemoglobin in Iron-Deficient Blood Donors.

Introduction: Regular whole blood donors often suffer from iron deficiency (ID) or iron deficiency anemia due to the loss of 200-300 mg of iron with each donation. Hemoglobin (Hb) as donor eligibility criterion reflects iron stores only poorly. ID in blood donors is typically prevented or treated with orally administered ferrous salts, which frequently cause gastrointestinal side effects.

Obsidian ASG® Autologous Platelet-Rich Fibrin Matrix and Colorectal Anastomotic Healing: A Preliminary Study.

Introduction: Anastomotic leakage (AL) following colorectal resection is a devastating complication affecting morbidity, mortality, and quality of life of patients in the long term. Different tissue sealants and biologic glues were tested showing conflicting results regarding their influence on anastomotic healing and leak prevention. Application of autologous platelet-rich fibrin (Vivostat A/S, Alleroed, Denmark), which acts as a source of angiogenic growth factors and cytokines, showed promising results in an in-vivo porcine model.

N,N-Dimethylglycine in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis: result of a pilot double-blind, placebo, controlled randomized clinical trial.

Oral administration of N,N-Dimethylglycine (DMG), a tertiary amino acid, presumably enhances oxygen utilization by tissue and complex with free radicals. Beneficial effects are improved endurance performance and reduction fatigue in humans and animals. This pilot study reports the results over a one-year double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of DMG in 30 randomized patients with progressive multiple sclerosis.

The application of an allogeneic bone screw for osteosynthesis in hand and foot surgery: a case series.

Introduction: The allogeneic bone screw transplant is a new osteosynthesis device making the use of foreign fixation material obsolete for various kinds of indications. Moreover, it is integrated into the recipient bone by natural bone remodeling without harming the surrounding tissue. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of the transplant for osteotomy and arthrodesis in hand and foot surgery and to evaluate the clinical importance of the device.

Impact of platelets on major thrombosis in patients with a normal white blood cell count in essential thrombocythemia.

Objectives: Cell counts have a significant impact on the complex mechanism of thrombosis in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET). We recently demonstrated a considerable impact of white blood cell (WBC) counts on thrombotic risk in patients with optimized platelet counts by analysing a large anagrelide registry. In contrast, the current analysis of the registry aimed to estimate the influence of platelet counts on thrombotic risk in patients with optimized WBC counts.

[Bioavailability of natural versus synthetic B vitamins and their effects on metabolic processes].

Background: Owing to the widespread use of vitamin supplements to prevent and compensate for deficiencies, the equivalence of natural versus synthetic vitamins with respect to their bioavailability and metabolic influence is discussed controversially.

Method: Thirty healthy female (n=22) and male participants (n=8) were investigated in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study over a supplementation period of 6 weeks for each condition. The participants received a daily dose of a complex of the 8 natural B vitamins (group N), determined by the natural composition of quinoa seedlings, resp.

A Randomized Pilot Trial to Evaluate the Bioavailability of Natural versus Synthetic Vitamin B Complexes in Healthy Humans and Their Effects on Homocysteine, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidant Levels.

The vitamin B complex comprises 8 different water-soluble constituents that humans must sequester from the diet. This pilot study compared natural versus synthetic vitamin B complexes for their bioavailability, accumulation, and their impact on antioxidants, homocysteine levels, and oxidative stress. We conducted a double-blind randomized clinical trial with thirty healthy participants.

Open Heart Surgery in Jehovah's Witnesses: A Propensity Score Analysis.

Background: Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) refuse allogeneic blood transfusions and therefore pose a unique challenge in case of major surgery. This retrospective study reviewed an experience with JW patients who were undergoing open heart surgery.

Methods: By using patient blood management strategies, 35 adult JW patients underwent cardiac surgery at Kepler University Hospital in Linz, Austria between 2008 and 2017.

External Prosthetic Reinforcement of the Pulmonary Autograft.

Background: Neo-aortic root dilatation accounts for the majority of reoperations needed after the Ross procedure with implantation of the pulmonary autograft as complete root replacement. This study evaluates early results of external prosthetic reinforcement of the autograft.

Methods: From July 2015 to October 2017, 16 adolescent and adult patients received a Ross procedure at our department by this technique.

Impact of white blood cells on thrombotic risk in patients with optimized platelet count in essential thrombocythemia.

Objectives: Risk of thrombosis is significantly enhanced by both elevated platelet (PLT) and white blood cell (WBC) counts according to a retrospective analysis of a large anagrelide registry in thrombocythemic MPN patients. We were interested in the impact of elevated WBC counts on thrombosis risk in patients where PLT counts were reduced below the calculated cutoff of 574.5 G/L by treatment with anagrelide.

Valve-sparing root replacement for freestanding pulmonary autograft aneurysm after the Ross procedure.

Objective: Autograft dilatation is the main long-term complication following the Ross procedure using the freestanding root replacement technique. We reviewed our 25-year experience with the Ross procedure with a special emphasis on valve-sparing reoperations.

Methods: From 1991 to 2016, 153 patients (29.

Long-term Evaluation of the Ross Procedure in Acute Infective Endocarditis.

Optimal valve substitute for young patients with aortic valve endocarditis remains controversial. Given its better resistance to infection, the Ross procedure is an attractive alternative to prosthetic valve replacement or homograft implantation. The objective of this study was to assess long-term outcomes of the Ross procedure in this indication.

Early active rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a prospective randomized pilot study.

Objective: To compare two different rehabilitation strategies, primary passive motion versus early isometric loading of the rotator cuff.

Design: Prospective randomized controlled observer-blinded pilot study.

Setting: Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Effective cerebrovascular thrombectomy requires well-organized structures : Real world experiences of a regional stroke network between 2012-2015.

Background: The objective of this study was to analyse the Neurothrombectomy Network registry of the Neuromed Campus (NMC) of the Kepler University Hospital in Linz (Austria). The data were compared to the results of recently published thrombectomy trials (MR CLEAN, ESCAPE, EXTEND-IA, SWIFT-PRIME, REVASCAT and THRACE).

Methods: We retrospectively studied 246 patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent thrombectomy between January 2012 and December 2015 at the NMC in Upper Austria.

Optimizing odor identification testing as quick and accurate diagnostic tool for Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate odor identification testing as a quick, cheap, and reliable tool to identify PD.

Methods: Odor identification with the 16-item Sniffin' Sticks test (SS-16) was assessed in a total of 646 PD patients and 606 controls from three European centers (A, B, and C), as well as 75 patients with atypical parkinsonism or essential tremor and in a prospective cohort of 24 patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (center A). Reduced odor sets most discriminative for PD were determined in a discovery cohort derived from a random split of PD patients and controls from center A using L1-regularized logistic regression.

Influence of platelet and white blood cell counts on major thrombosis - analysis from a patient registry in essential thrombocythemia.

Objectives: Although guidelines recommend normalization of platelet counts as an appropriate endpoint for treatment in high-risk essential thrombocythemia (ET), retrospective studies could not prove a correlation of diagnostic platelet counts with an increased thrombotic rate. There is, however, an increasing evidence that leukocytosis is an important risk factor for arterial thrombosis in myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Methods: This study considers the Austrian cohort of a European registry regarding the platelet-lowering therapeutic anagrelide.

Efficacy Management of Urolithiasis: Flexible Ureteroscopy versus Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of flexible ureterscopy (fURS) and extracorporal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) in the treatment of urolithiasis, complemented by a subgroup analysis of lower pole calyx.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients treated by fURS or SWL was performed by independent variables such as gender, age, nephrolith size, double-J stent (DJ stent) and stone localisation.

Results: Out of 326 patients, 165 were treated by SWL and 161 by fURS.

Clinical Outcome after Colonic Resection in Women with Endometriosis.

Background: In severe forms of endometriosis, the colon or rectum may be involved. This study evaluated the functional results and long-term outcome after laparoscopic colonic resection for endometriosis.

Patients And Methods: Questionnaire survey with 24 women who had experienced typical symptoms, including pelvic pain, infertility, and endometriotic lesions in the bowel and undergone laparoscopic surgery, including low anterior resection, from 2009 to 2012, was conducted.