Ultrasound characteristics of follicular and parafollicular thyroid neoplasms: diagnostic performance of artificial neural network.

Background: Ultrasound is the first-line imaging modality for detection and classification of thyroid nodules. Certain features observable by ultrasound have recently been equated with potential malignancy. This retrospective cohort study was conducted to test the hypothesis that radiomics of the four categorical divisions (medullary [MTC], papillary [PTC], or follicular [FTC] carcinoma and follicular thyroid adenoma [FTA]) demonstrate distinctive sonographic characteristics.

Pelvic Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Prevents Dysfunction in Patients With Rectal Cancer: Results From a Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial of a NEUROmonitoring System (NEUROS).

Objective: This NEUROmonitoring System (NEUROS) trial assessed whether pelvic intraoperative neuromonitoring (pIONM) could improve urogenital and ano-(neo-)rectal functional outcomes in patients who underwent total mesorectal excisions (TMEs) for rectal cancer.

Background: High-level evidence from clinical trials is required to clarify the benefits of pIONM.

Methods: NEUROS was a 2-arm, randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial that included 189 patients with rectal cancer who underwent TMEs at 8 centers, from February 2013 to January 2017.

DOG1 overexpression is associated with mismatch repair deficiency and BRAF mutations but unrelated to cancer progression in colorectal cancer.

Introduction: The transmembrane channel protein DOG1 (Discovered on GIST1) is normally expressed in the gastrointestinal interstitial cells of Cajal and also in gastrointestinal stroma tumors arising from these cells. However, there is also evidence for a relevant role of DOG1 expression in colorectal cancers. This study was undertaken to search for associations between DOG1 expression and colon cancer phenotype and key molecular alterations.

Advanced thyroid carcinomas: neural network analysis of ultrasonographic characteristics.

Background: Ultrasound is the first-line imaging modality for detection and classification of thyroid nodules. Certain characteristics observable by ultrasound have recently been identified that may indicate malignancy. This retrospective cohort study was conducted to test the hypothesis that advanced thyroid carcinomas show distinctive clinical and sonographic characteristics.

High density of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes is linked to tumoral PD-L1 expression regardless of the mismatch repair status in colorectal cancer.

Background: Immune checkpoint-inhibitors targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 system are FDA approved in microsatellite instable (MSI) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC). PD-L1 expression is tightly linked to features connected to immune checkpoint inhibitor response, but studies on large subsets of cancers analyzing the correlation between different status of MSI/dMMR, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-L1 expression are still lacking.

Methods: More than 1800 CRC were analyzed for PD-L1 by immunohistochemistry in a tissue microarray format.

Ultrasound Imaging of Cervical Anatomic Variants.

Embryologic developmental variants of the thyroid and parathyroid glands may cause cervical anomalies that are detectable in ultrasound examinations of the neck. For some of these developmental variants, molecular genetic factors have been identified. Ultrasound, as the first-line imaging procedure, has proven useful in detecting clinically relevant anatomic variants.

Total Versus Near-total Thyroidectomy in Graves Disease: Results of the Randomized Controlled Multicenter TONIG-trial.

Background: Previous data suggest that the incidence of hypoparathyroidism after surgery for Graves disease (GD) is lower after subtotal thyroidectomy compared to total thyroidectomy (TT). The present study evaluated the incidence of postoperative hypoparathyroidism after near-total (NTT) versus TT in GD.

Methods/design: In a multicenter prospective randomized controlled clinical trial, patients with GD were randomized intraoperatively to NTT or TT.

MIBI scintigraphy of parathyroid adenomas: correlation with biochemical and histological markers.

Purpose: In this study, we tested the hypothesis that MIBI-positive and MIBI-negative adenomas of parathyroid glands (APGs) have distinct biochemical and histological markers that could help differentiate MIBI-positive from MIBI-negative APGs.

Patients And Methods: 40 patients with 41 APGs were included in the study. Patients were enrolled in the study after MIBI scintigraphy examinations had been carried out.

[Implementation of a Vessel Sealing Device in a Centre for Thyroid Surgery: Risk and Economic Profit].

Background: This study investigated whether the use of the vessel sealing device LigaSure Small Jaw is cost-effective and safe in thyroid surgery despite the high cost of material.

Patients And Methods: We analysed the results of 224 thyroid operations performed by the same surgeon in three time intervals. We included thyroidectomies and bilateral near-total resections (including Dunhill surgery).

Predictive value of routine transcutaneous tissue oxygen tension (tcpO2) measurement for the risk of non-healing and amputation in diabetic foot ulcer patients with non-palpable pedal pulses.

Background: It was evaluated whether transcutaneous tissue oxygen tension (tcpO2) measurement, when assessed in daily routine, can be used to predict the risk of non-healing and amputation in diabetic foot ulcer patients with non-palpable pedal pulses.

Material/methods: Patients were followed up in an outpatient setting according to a comprehensive wound-care protocol. tcpO2 measurements were performed at the dorsum of the forefoot in a standardized setting.

Effects of isoniazid and niacin on experimental wound-healing.

Background: There is a need for effective treatments of ischemic wounds. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that systemic administration of isoniazid or niacin can enhance wound healing in ischemic as well as nonischemic tissues.

Methods: One 8-mm, full-thickness wound was made in a standardized, ischemic skin flap and 1 in adjacent nonischemic skin on the back of male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Everolimus interferes with the inflammatory phase of healing in experimental colonic anastomoses.

Background: Delayed wound healing is a serious side effect of mTOR inhibitor-based immunosuppression after solid organ transplantation. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the mTOR inhibitor everolimus interferes with the inflammatory phase of healing in experimental colonic anastomoses.

Materials And Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats received a colonic anastomosis.

The impact of a micro-lightguide spectrophotometer on the intraoperative assessment of hepatic microcirculation: a pilot study.

Introduction: The intraoperative measurement of the peripheral microperfusion after liver transplantation is connected with quite an effort and a continuous evaluation in the postoperative follow up is not possible till now.

Patients And Methods: Before mobilization of the liver during surgical intervention the following parameters were measured on the surface of the right (segment 7/8) and the left (segment 2/3) liver lobe with a probe, combining laser-Doppler-flowmetry and tissue-spectrometry: the oxygen saturation (SO2), the relative capillary hemoglobin concentration (rHB), the blood flow (flow) and the blood flow velocity (velo). In addition the peripheral oxygen saturation (SPO2), the central venous pressure (ZVP), the positive endexspiratory pressure (PEEP) and the hemoglobin (HB) were documented.

M.A.I.D.: a prognostic score estimating probability of healing in chronic lower extremity wounds.

Objective: To evaluate a wound-based prognostic score for chronic lower extremity wounds suitable for daily routine use capable of predicting long-term healing.

Summary Background Data: The main obstacle in the treatment of chronic wounds is to estimate long-term clinical outcome. For diabetic foot ulcers, several ulcer, and nonulcer-related risk factors associated with impaired healing have been described in the past.

Aging influences wound healing in patients with chronic lower extremity wounds treated in a specialized Wound Care Center.

With the dramatic increase in the aging population, the study and care of wounds in the elderly have become priority topics for both researchers and clinicians. The effects of aging on wound healing in humans have remained controversial. The study was a 5-year epidemiological evaluation of standardized data collected regularly during patients' visits at a specialized Wound Care Center with the aim to determine the key factors influencing the healing of chronic lower extremity wounds.

Fifty percent area reduction after 4 weeks of treatment is a reliable indicator for healing--analysis of a single-center cohort of 704 diabetic patients.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate whether an area reduction greater than 50% within the first 4 weeks of treatment is associated with a higher long-term probability of healing.

Patients And Methods: We treated diabetic foot ulcers according to a comprehensive interdisciplinary wound care protocol. Follow-up was documented through a special wound documentation system.

Lactate modulates gene expression in human mesenchymal stem cells.

Purpose: Surgical wounds are characterised by elevated tissue lactate concentrations. This accumulated lactate is capable of stimulating collagen synthesis and new vessel growth as well. Recently, it has been shown in vivo that lactate is also able to favour homing of stem cells.

Self-expanding nitinol stents for treatment of infragenicular arteries following unsuccessful balloon angioplasty.

The feasibility of self-expanding nitinol stents for treatment of infragenicular arteries following unsuccessful balloon angioplasty was assessed. Options for lower limb percutaneous revascularization are limited, especially for complex vessel obstruction. Depending on the lesion and the experience of the interventionalist, the failure rate of balloon angioplasty (PTA) ranges between 10 and 40%.

Stimulation of steroid-suppressed cutaneous healing by repeated topical application of IGF-I: different mechanisms of action based upon the mode of IGF-I delivery.

Background: Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is accepted as a potent stimulus of wound healing when applied in combination with its binding proteins. However, there is only one study published that has investigated the effect of repeated topical application of unbound IGF-I on ischemic wound healing. The aim of this study was to show the effect of daily topical IGF-I therapy on cutaneous ulcer healing in a steroid-suppressed wound model.

A new wound-based severity score for diabetic foot ulcers: A prospective analysis of 1,000 patients.

Objective: Several well-accepted classification systems are available for diabetic foot ulcers. However, there are only a few and scientifically not validated severity scores. The aim of this study was to establish a new wound-based clinical scoring system for diabetic foot ulcers suitable for daily clinical practice anticipating chances for healing and risk of amputation.

Efficacy of topical pale sulfonated shale oil in the treatment of venous leg ulcers: a randomized, controlled, multicenter study.

Background: Venous leg ulcers are a growing socioeconomic burden. Pale sulfonated shale oils (PSSO) are used for therapy of inflammatory skin diseases and have been shown to enhance wound healing in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PSSO is capable of enhancing venous ulcer healing beyond compression therapy alone.

IGF-I-induced VEGF expression in HUVEC involves phosphorylation and inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) has been shown to promote angiogenesis by enhancing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. However, how IGF-I-induces VEGF expression is not yet fully understood. With this investigation, we propose a new possible mechanism involving downregulation of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (pADPR).

Experimental ischemic wounds: correlation of cell proliferation and insulin-like growth factor I expression and its modification by different local IGF-I release systems.

We investigated cell proliferation and local insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) expression in ischemic wounds after topical application of IGF-I through different delivery systems. IGF-I dressings were fabricated from an IGF-I containing polyvinyl alcohol film placed on a standard hydrogel dressing. In vitro, the release of IGF-I from this dressing was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Skin grafting of venous ulcers: a review of its current role.

As a therapeutic option, grafting of venous ulcers has not been very successfully received despite the different types of grafting methods. Currently, there are only a few controlled randomized trials offering clear guidance to clinicians. The development of artificially bioengineered skin constructs has led to a renewed interest in wound bed preparation, and preliminary successes suggest that the role of skin grafting could be studied in the current context.