Sensing of Continuum Robots: A Review.

The field of continuum robotics is rapidly developing. The development of new kinematic structures, locomotion principles and control strategies is driving the development of new types of sensors and sensing methodologies. The sensing in continuum robots can be divided into shape perception and environment perception.

Galanin System in the Human Bile Duct and Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is characterised by poor outcomes. Early diagnosis is essential for patient survival. The peptide galanin (GAL) and its receptors GAL are expressed in various tumours.

Evaluation of circulating cell-free KRAS mutational status as a molecular monitoring tool in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic carcinoma carries a devastating prognosis and is the 4th leading cause for cancer related death in the US and most European countries. Apart from imaging and CA 19-9, pancreatic carcinoma is still lacking reliable markers to assess tumor dynamics and to monitor treatment response over time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of cell free tumor-DNA (cft-DNA), respectively KRAS mutation in peripheral blood, detection as a prognostic and predictive value for chemotherapy monitoring.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on the utilization of acute surgical care in the State of Salzburg, Austria: retrospective, multicenter analysis.

Background: Some medical disciplines have reported a strong decrease of emergencies during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; however, the effect of the lockdown on general surgery emergencies remains unclear.

Methods: This study is a retrospective, multicenter analysis of general surgery emergency operations performed during the period from 1 March to 15th 2020 lockdown and in the same time period of 2019 in three medical centers providing emergency surgical care to the area Salzburg-North, Austria.

Results: In total 165 emergency surgeries were performed in the study period of 2020 compared to 287 in 2019.

Clinical Outcomes After Total Pancreatectomy: A Prospective Multicenter Pan-European Snapshot Study.

Objective: To assess outcomes among patients undergoing total pancreatectomy (TP) including predictors for complications and in-hospital mortality.

Background: Current studies on TP mostly originate from high-volume centers and span long time periods and therefore may not reflect daily practice.

Methods: This prospective pan-European snapshot study included patients who underwent elective (primary or completion) TP in 43 centers in 16 European countries (June 2018-June 2019).

Expression of the microRNA-200 Family, microRNA-205, and Markers of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition as Predictors for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection over Esophagectomy in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Single-Center Experience.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an effective treatment of early esophageal adenocarcinomas (EACs). The decision of ESD over esophagectomy is based on clinical evaluation of tumor depth and invasion. On a molecular level, tumor invasion is strongly associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Role of -Benzoquinone in the Synthesis of a Conducting Polymer, Polyaniline.

Polyaniline (PANI) and 2,5-dianilino--benzoquinone both are formed by oxidation of aniline in an acidic aqueous environment. The aim of this study is to understand the impact of addition of -benzoquinone on the structure of PANI prepared by the oxidation of aniline hydrochloride with ammonium peroxydisulfate and to elucidate the formation of low-molecular-weight byproducts. An increasing yield and size-exclusion chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of the products show that -benzoquinone does not act as a terminating agent in the synthesis of PANI and the content of 2,5-dianilino--benzoquinone increases with the increasing molar concentration of -benzoquinone in the reaction mixture, [BzQ].

Perioperative chemotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemoradiation for patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus in Austria: a retrospective analysis.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus (AEG type I) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation or perioperative chemotherapy.

Methods: Eligible patients from four Austrian centers were selected to conduct a retrospective analysis. All patients treated between January 2007 and October 2017 with chemotherapy according to EOX-protocol (Epirubicin, Oxaliplatin, Xeloda) or chemoradiation according to CROSS-protocol (carboplatin/paclitaxel + RTX 41.

Concomitant 1p36 deletion and TNFRSF14 mutations in primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma frequently expressing high levels of EZH2 protein.

Primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma (PCFCL) is an indolent variant of follicular lymphoma (FL) with limited information available on the genetic background of the disease. The genetic hallmark of nodal FL, the t(14;18) translocation, affecting the BCL2 gene, is rare in PCFCL. Loss of 1p36, the most common secondary chromosomal abnormality in nodal FL, has been recently reported in 16.

Application of gentamicin-collagen sponge shortened wound healing time after minor amputations in diabetic patients - a prospective, randomised trial.

Introduction: Diabetic foot infections are frequently polymicrobial. The lower tissue concentration of systemically administered antibiotics in diabetic patients was reported. Collatamp(®)EG (Syntacoll GmbH Saal/Donau, Germany) is a bioabsorbable, gentamicin impregnated collagen spongeused for local treatment.

Immunosuppressive protocol with delayed use of low-dose tacrolimus after aortic transplantation suppresses donor-specific anti-MHC class I and class II antibody production in rats.

Background: Arterial allografts are used as vascular conduits in the treatment of prosthetic graft infection. Immunosuppression decreases their rupture risk rate. However, immunosuppression can be unprofitable in florid infection.

Antibody-mediated rejection of arterialised venous allografts is inhibited by immunosuppression in rats.

Objectives And Design: We determined in a rat model (1) the presence and dynamics of alloantibodies recognizing MHC complexes on quiescent Brown-Norway (BN) splenic cells in the sera of Lewis (LEW) recipients of Brown-Norway iliolumbar vein grafts under tacrolimus immunosuppression; and (2) the presence of immunoglobulins in the wall of acute rejected vein allografts.

Materials And Methods: Flow cytometry was used for the analysis of day 0, 14 and 30 sera obtained from Lewis recipients of isogeneic iliolumbar vein grafts (group A) or Brown-Norway grafts (group B, C) for the presence of donor specific anti-MHC class I and II antibodies. Tacrolimus 0.

Role of serum levels of angiogenic cytokines in assessment of angiogenesis after stem cell therapy of diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia.

The release of proangiogenic cytokines into the circulation after stem cell (SC) therapy and compensatory increase of angiogenesis inhibitors may reflect local vasculogenesis but also can increase the risk of side effects. The aim of our study was to evaluate serum levels of angiogenic cytokines with regard to the assessment of local and systemic vasculogenesis in diabetic patients with no-option critical limb ischemia (NO-CLI). Twenty-five diabetic patients with NO-CLI treated with SCs isolated from bone marrow or stimulated peripheral blood were included in the study.

Polypropylene mesh repair of incisional hernia after kidney transplantation: single-center experience and review of the literature.

Background: Incisional hernia after kidney transplantation increases patient morbidity and impacts quality of life. Reports of hernia mesh repair after kidney transplantation are rare; thus, the benefit of mesh hernioplasty in transplanted patients is assumed. However, it is also assumed that transplant patients are susceptible to incisional and mesh infections.