E-scooter incidents in Berlin: an evaluation of risk factors and injury patterns.

Background: E-scooters have emerged as a frequently used vehicle in German cities due to their high availability and easy access. However, investigations about the causes and mechanisms of E-scooter incidents and their trauma-specific consequences are rare.

Methods: We analysed all patients involved in E-scooter incidents from June to December 2019 who presented to four inner-city EDs in Berlin.

Impact of the COVID-19 shutdown on orthopedic trauma numbers and patterns in an academic Level I Trauma Center in Berlin, Germany.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the implementation of drastic shutdown measures worldwide. While quarantine, self-isolation and shutdown laws helped to effectively contain and control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the impact of COVID-19 shutdowns on trauma care in emergency departments (EDs) remains elusive.

Methods: All ED patient records from the 35-day COVID-19 shutdown (SHUTDOWN) period were retrospectively compared to a calendar-matched control period in 2019 (CTRL) as well as to a pre (PRE)- and post (POST)-shutdown period in an academic Level I Trauma Center in Berlin, Germany.

Oral intake and plasma citrulline predict quality of life in patients with intestinal failure.

Objective: Chronic intestinal failure (cIF) is a rare medical condition usually treated by long-term parenteral nutrition (PN). Owing to disease-associated symptoms and treatment-specific complications, patients with cIF commonly present with reduced quality of life (QoL) compared with healthy controls. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with QoL in patients with cIF.

Atypical malignancies after intestinal transplantation in children: A European single-centre experience.

Background: Post-transplant malignancies, that is, lymphomas, are a recognized complication in intestinal transplant recipients but are mostly secondary to EBV infection. There is an increased risk for malignancies in unusual sites in intestinal transplant recipients as compared to other solid organ transplants and the general population.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence, course, and outcome of unusual malignancies in children after ITx.

Long-Term Signs of T Cell and Myeloid Cell Activation After Intestinal Transplantation With Cellular Rejections Contributing to Further Increase of CD16 Cell Subsets.

The intestine mediates a delicate balance between tolerogenic and inflammatory immune responses. The continuous pathogen encounter might also augment immune cell responses contributing to complications observed upon intestinal transplantation (ITx). We thus hypothesized that ITx patients show persistent signs of immune cell activation affecting both the adaptive and innate immune cell compartment.

Advanced liver function assessment in patients with intestinal failure on long-term parenteral nutrition.

Background & Aims: Intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD) is one of the leading complications and causes of deaths in adult patients receiving home parenteral nutrition for chronic intestinal failure (CIF). Early diagnosis of IFALD is key to alleviate the progression of hepatic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability of noninvasive liver function tests.

Determinants of Quality of Life in Patients With Intestinal Failure Receiving Long-Term Parenteral Nutrition Using the SF-36 Questionnaire: A German Single-Center Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a life-sustaining therapy for patients with chronic intestinal failure (IF) but inevitably has an impact on patients' quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to examine multiple aspects of QoL by utilizing the standardized Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey.

Methods: Between 2014 and 2017, a total of 90 adult patients with IF who were receiving PN were prospectively enrolled in an observational study.

Revascularization Time in Liver Transplantation: Independent Prediction of Inferior Short- and Long-term Outcomes by Prolonged Graft Implantation.

Background: Strategies for successful transplantation are much needed in the era of organ shortage, and there has been a resurgence of interest on the impact of revascularization time (RT) on outcomes in liver transplantation (LT).

Methods: All primary LT performed in Birmingham between 2009 and 2014 (n = 678) with portal reperfusion first were stratified according to RT (<44 minutes vs ≥44 minutes) and graft quality (standard liver graft [SLG], Donor Risk Index < 2.3 vs marginal liver graft [MLG], Donor Risk Index ≥ 2.

Severe Unresolved Cholestasis Due to Unknown Etiology Leading to Early Allograft Failure Within the First 3 Months of Liver Transplantation.

Background: Causes of severe cholestasis after liver transplantation (LT) are multi-factorial. Although the etiology is predictable in some, others culminate in graft/patient loss without a definitive cause identified. Severe cholestasis is usually associated with overlapped histological findings of rejection and biliary features, and diagnostic interpretation may pose a challenge.

Intragraft and Systemic Immune Parameters Discriminating Between Rejection and Long-Term Graft Function in a Preclinical Model of Intestinal Transplantation.

Background: The pathology and diagnosis of acute and chronic rejection in intestinal transplantation (ITX) are far from being completely understood. We established models of acute and chronic intestinal graft rejection and analyzed peripheral and intragraft immune responses.

Methods: We performed ITX from Dark Agouti into Lewis rats applying single-dose tacrolimus (TAC) at varying concentrations.

Non-HLA Antibodies May Accelerate Immune Responses After Intestinal and Multivisceral Transplantation.

Background: Non-HLA alloantibodies and autoantibodies are involved in allograft rejection in kidney and heart transplantation. Their role in intestinal transplantation has not yet been described. We examined the development of antiangiotensin II type I receptor antibodies (anti-AT1R) and antiendothelin type A receptor antibodies associated with the clinical course and histopathological findings of intestinal transplantation recipients.

Skype clinics after intestinal transplantation - follow-up beyond post codes.

The follow-up after intestinal transplantation (ITX) is complex and limited to specialized centers. ITX recipients often travel all over the country to be seen in the outpatient clinic of specialized centers which is costly and time-consuming. Videoconferences through Skype have been implemented to eliminate travel time, costs, and to improve patient compliance without jeopardizing safety.

Short-term TNF-alpha inhibition reduces short-term and long-term inflammatory changes post-ischemia/reperfusion in rat intestinal transplantation.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibition was shown to reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) after intestinal transplantation (ITX). We studied the effects of different TNFα inhibitors on acute IRI and long-term inflammatory responses in experimental ITX.

Methods: Orthotopic ITX was performed in an isogenic ischemia/reperfusion model in Lewis rats.

Clinical relevance of the de novo production of anti-HLA antibodies following intestinal and multivisceral transplantation.

Despite a negative pretransplant cross-match, intestinal transplant recipients can mount humoral immune responses soon after transplantation. Moreover, the development of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSAs) is associated with severe graft injury. Between June 2000 and August 2011, 30 patients (median age 37.

Elevation of CD4+ differentiated memory T cells is associated with acute cellular and antibody-mediated rejection after liver transplantation.

Background: It is now well known that the outcome after allogeneic transplantation, such as incidence of acute rejections, very much depends on the individual's immune reactivity status. There is also increasing evidence that the presence of preexisting memory T cells can affect antigraft immune responses.

Methods: In a prospective study, we monitored peripheral CD4 and CD8 central memory, effector memory, and terminal differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) T cells in 55 patients who underwent deceased liver transplantation and received conventional immunosuppressive treatment with or without basiliximab induction.

Waitlist characteristics of patients at a single-center intestinal and multivisceral transplant program.

Intestinal transplantation (ITX) can be a successful treatment for patients with irreversible intestinal failure and associated severe complications. Because of long waiting periods and organ shortages, the precise identification of eligible patients and their early referral to centers that perform ITX is important. We retrospectively analyzed all patients who were referred to our center between 2000 and 2011 concerning their referral criteria, waitlist characteristics, and outcome.

Technical advances for abdominal wall closure after intestinal and multivisceral transplantation.

Purpose Of Review: Abdominal wall closure after intestinal transplantation (ITX) or multivisceral transplantation (MVTX) is challenging because of the loss of abdominal domain and wall elasticity as a result of previous operations and donor-to-recipient weight and height mismatch.

Recent Findings: We report on abdominal wall closure management in 30 ITX and MVTX recipients. In 60% of patients (n = 18), a primary abdominal closure (PAC) was achieved, in 40% (n = 12) a staged closure (SAC) was necessary.

Aspergillus spondylodiscitis after multivisceral transplantation.

Background: Although spondylodiscitis is rare, it is increasingly described in patients with compromised immunity due to malignancy, chemotherapy or immunosuppression. Typical pathogens are staphylococcus aureus and enterobacteria; fungal spondylodiscitis is uncommon.

Case Report: We present a case of aspergillus spondylodiscitis following pulmonary aspergillosis in a patient with multivisceral and kidney transplantation.