Revealing process and material parameter effects on densification via phase-field studies.

Sintering is an important processing step in both ceramics and metals processing. The microstructure resulting from this process determines many materials properties of interest. Hence the accurate prediction of the microstructure, depending on processing and materials parameters, is of great importance.

Perinatal health in Spain during and after the Great Recession: Educational selection into fertility as a protective factor in high unemployment contexts.

Higher maternal resources have long been associated with superior birth outcomes. This study analyzes the potentially protective role of maternal educational selection into fertility in adverse macroeconomic contexts. We focus on the case of Spain, a country reaching record-high unemployment levels during the Great Recession starting in 2008.

Relative Efficacy of Spironolactone, Eplerenone, and cAnRenone in patients with Chronic Heart failure (RESEARCH): a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

This study aims to assess the comparative benefit and risk profile of treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) with regard to all-cause mortality (primary endpoint), cardiovascular mortality, or heart failure (HF)-related hospitalization (secondary endpoints) and the safety endpoints hyperkalemia, acute renal failure, and gynecomastia in patients with chronic HF. We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis following PRISMA-P and PRISMA-NMA guidelines. From 16 different sources, 14 randomized controlled trials totaling 12,213 patients testing an active treatment of either spironolactone, eplerenone, or canrenone/potassium-canreonate in adults with symptomatic HF due to systolic dysfunction reporting any of the above endpoints were retained.

READY: relative efficacy of loop diuretics in patients with chronic systolic heart failure-a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials.

The majority of patients with chronic heart failure (HF) receive long-term treatment with loop diuretics. The comparative effectiveness of different loop diuretics is unknown. We searched PubMed, clinicaltrials.

Comparative effectiveness of loop diuretics on mortality in the treatment of patients with chronic heart failure - A multicenter propensity score matched analysis.

Background: Loop diuretics are given to the majority of patients with chronic heart failure (HF). Whether the different pharmacological properties of the three guideline-recommended loop diuretics result in differential effects on survival is unknown.

Methods: 6293 patients with chronic HF using either bumetanide, furosemide or torasemide were identified in three European HF registries.

Optical Neuronavigation without Rigid Head Fixation During Awake Surgery.

Objective: Optical neuronavigation without rigid pin fixation of the head may lead to inaccurate results because of the patient's movements during awake surgery. In this study, we report our results using a skull-mounted reference array for optical tracking in patients undergoing awake craniotomy for eloquent gliomas.

Methods: Between March 2013 and December 2014, 18 consecutive patients (10 men, 8 women) with frontotemporal (n = 16) or frontoparietal (perirolandic; n = 2) lesions underwent awake craniotomy without rigid pin fixation.

Retinal Vessel Analysis (RVA) in the Context of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - A Proof of Concept Study.

Background: Timely detection of impending delayed cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is essential to improve outcome, but poses a diagnostic challenge. Retinal vessels as an embryological part of the intracranial vasculature are easily accessible for analysis and may hold the key to a new and non-invasive monitoring technique. This investigation aims to determine the feasibility of standardized retinal vessel analysis (RVA) in the context of SAH.

Decompressive Hemicraniectomy in Malignant Middle Cerebral Artery Infarction: The 'Real World' Beyond Studies.

Background: Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) is life-saving in patients with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction (MMI), but outcome, perspectives and complications after DHC in daily practice are largely unknown.

Methods: From 2008 until 2014, we extracted patient's characteristics as well as complications from our database for patients with MMI who underwent DHC. Additionally, we analysed medical records from the different rehabilitation steps.

Dual Anti-angiogenic Chemotherapy with Temozolomide and Celecoxib in Selected Patients with Malignant Glioma Not Eligible for Standard Treatment.

Aim: Due to their high rate of neo-angiogenesis, malignant gliomas may qualify for treatment with anti-angiogenic substances. We report on a series of patients with malignant glioma not eligible for standard postoperative combined radiochemotherapy due to decreased health status.

Patients And Methods: A total of nine patients with malignant glioma, postoperatively presenting with a Karnofsky performance score (KPS) below 70, were treated with standalone metronomic low-dose chemotherapy with temozolomide and celecoxib (cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor).

A Sandwich Technique for Prevention of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea and Reconstruction of the Sellar Floor after Microsurgical Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are a well-known complication of transsphenoidal surgery. Several autologous and artificial grafts have been used to close the sellar floor in an attempt to prevent postoperative CSF rhinorrhea.

Objective: To evaluate and describe a sandwich technique to close the sellar floor using autologous bone, absorbable gelatin sponge, and coated collagen fleece.

An intra-individual comparison of MRI, [18F]-FET and [18F]-FLT PET in patients with high-grade gliomas.

Objectives: Intra-individual spatial overlap analysis of tumor volumes assessed by MRI, the amino acid PET tracer [18F]-FET and the nucleoside PET tracer [18F]-FLT in high-grade gliomas (HGG).

Methods: MRI, [18F]-FET and [18F]-FLT PET data sets were retrospectively analyzed in 23 HGG patients. Morphologic tumor volumes on MRI (post-contrast T1 (cT1) and T2 images) were calculated using a semi-automatic image segmentation method.

De novo aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage 7 years after initial cryptogenic subarachnoid hemorrhage: a case report and review of the literature.

Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is usually caused by a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Despite the use of initial four-vessel cerebral digital subtraction angiography (DSA), 15 % of all cases remain idiopathic. According to the initial computed tomographic scan, the spontaneous SAH can be divided into a perimesencephalic group associated with a benign nature and a nonperimesencephalic group with a similar clinical course as aneurysmal SAH.

A single-arm phase II Austrian/German multicenter trial on continuous daily sunitinib in primary glioblastoma at first recurrence (SURGE 01-07).

Background: Due to the redundancy of molecular pathways simultaneously involved in glioblastoma growth and angiogenesis, therapeutic approaches intervening at multiple levels seem particularly appealing.

Methods: This prospective, multicenter, single-arm phase II trial was designed to evaluate the antitumor activity of sunitinib, an oral small-molecule inhibitor of several receptor tyrosine kinases, in patients with first recurrence of primary glioblastoma using a continuous once-daily dosing regimen. Patients received a starting dose of sunitinib 37.

Perfusion characteristics of Moyamoya disease: an anatomically and clinically oriented analysis and comparison.

Background And Purpose: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is characterized by unique angiographic features of collateralization. However, a detailed quantification as well as comparative analysis with cerebrovascular atherosclerotic disease (CAD) and healthy controls have not been performed to date.

Methods: We reviewed 67 patients with MMD undergoing Xenon-enhanced computed tomography, as well as 108 patients with CAD and 5 controls.

Distribution of TERT promoter mutations in pediatric and adult tumors of the nervous system.

Hot spot mutations in the promoter region of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) have recently been described in several human tumor entities. These mutations result in an upregulation of the telomerase complex activity and thus constitute a relevant mechanism for immortalization of tumor cells. Knowledge of the TERT promoter status in tumors is likely to be of interest for molecular classification and as a potential target for therapy.

Risk profile in extracranial/intracranial bypass surgery--the role of antiplatelet agents, disease pathology, and surgical technique in 168 direct revascularization procedures.

Objective: Cerebral revascularization procedures are a treatment option in moyamoya disease patients, but recent studies failed to show an immediate benefit in cerebrovascular atherosclerotic disease. To facilitate optimal efficacy of the procedure, a detailed characterization of a representative perioperative complication rate and the role of potential risk factors such as underlying pathology, antiplatelet therapy, and the type of surgery performed is warranted and the purpose of this study.

Methods: We included 158 consecutive patients with moyamoya disease or cerebrovascular atherosclerotic disease undergoing 168 direct revascularization procedures.

Routine postoperative imaging early after lumbar decompression surgery: a prospective evaluation.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Objective: To determine the value of routine postoperative magnetic resonance imaging early after lumbar decompression in patients with nonspecific symptoms.

Summary Of Background Data: Imaging after lumbar surgery may be performed more readily in patients even with nonspecific symptoms and without neurological deficit.

Characterization of squamous cell cancers of the vulvar anterior fourchette by human papillomavirus, p16INK4a, and p53.

Objective: The incidence of vulvar squamous cell carcinomas located between the clitoris and urethra in young women is rising in distinct geographic regions, but characteristics of the tumors indicating certain carcinogenic mechanisms are unknown. The present study aimed at characterizing these vulvar cancers for their human papillomavirus (HPV), p16(INK4a), and p53 status, revealing potential pathways of carcinogenesis.

Materials And Methods: Squamous cell vulvar cancers of the anterior fourchette were retrospectively collected from 8 German hospitals, with additional squamous cell cancers located at other sites of the vulva from 2 of the hospitals.

[18F]-fluoro-ethyl-L-tyrosine PET: a valuable diagnostic tool in neuro-oncology, but not all that glitters is glioma.

Background: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of [(18)F]-fluoro-ethyl-l-tyrosine ((18)F-FET) PET in brain tumors and various non-neoplastic neurologic diseases.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated (18)F-FET PET scans from 393 patients grouped into 6 disease categories according to histology (n = 299) or distinct MRI findings (n = 94) (low-grade/high-grade glial/nonglial brain tumors, inflammatory lesions, and other lesions). (18)F-FET PET was visually assessed as positive or negative.

Distance to the neurooncological center: a negative prognostic factor in patients with glioblastoma multiforme. An epidemiological study.

Background: Regardless of current multimodal treatment strategies, the prognosis of patients harboring glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is still dismal. The introduction of concomitant radiochemotherapy and adjuvant cyclic temozolomide has significantly improved the overall survival, compared to postoperative radiotherapy-alone. Furthermore this regimen shows a lower toxicity profile compared to previous nitrosourea-based chemotherapy and can easily be applied on an outpatient basis, thus potentially facilitating chemotherapy in rural and more remote areas.

Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety and tolerability of APG101, a CD95-Fc fusion protein, in healthy volunteers and two glioma patients.

APG101 is a glycosylated fusion protein consisting of the extracellular domain of human CD95 (APO-1/Fas) and the Fc domain of human IgG1. Administration of APG101 blocks the interaction between CD95 and its cognate ligand CD95L, thereby inhibiting various pathways involved in e.g.

Perfusion Characteristics in Chronic Cerebrovascular Insufficiency : An Anatomically and Clinically Oriented XeCT Analysis of Cerebrovascular Atherosclerotic Disease.

Xenon-enhanced computed tomography (XeCT) allows quantification of hemodynamic insufficiency in the setting of cerebrovascular atherosclerotic disease (CAD). However, data regarding the relationship between hemodynamic indices [cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reserve capacity (CVRC)] and normal subjects (with aging) and pathology (progression of CAD or development of stroke symptoms) are limited. In this study, we analyzed 103 consecutive patients undergoing XeCT according to age, anatomical location and disease severity.

Prolonged administration of temozolomide in adult patients with anaplastic glioma.

Purpose: Prolonged administration of temozolomide is widely used in patients with glioblastoma; whereas the treatment of anaplastic glioma differs between neurooncological centres. The safety, feasibility and efficacy of prolonged temozolomide administration in patients with anaplastic gliomas was evaluated.

Patients And Methods: Forty-two patients with primary, recurrent or secondary anaplastic glioma were retrospectively analysed for the course of their disease.