Sternal Elevation by Crane Technique During Double Lung Transplant for Patient With Pectus Excavatum.

We present the case of a 28-year-old female patient who underwent a bilateral lung transplantation for underlying terminal bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The peroperative access to the hilum of the right lung was significantly compromised due to the presence of a pectus excavatum (Haller index 11). We used a wired sternal crane technique to elevate the sternum and gain exposure.

The effect of rewarming ischemia on tissue transcriptome and metabolome signatures: A clinical observational study in lung transplantation.

Background: In lung transplantation (LuTx), various ischemic phases exist, yet the rewarming ischemia time (RIT) during implantation has often been overlooked. During RIT, lungs are deflated and exposed to the body temperature in the recipient's chest cavity. Our prior clinical findings demonstrated that prolonged RIT increases the risk of primary graft dysfunction.

Direct and Ultrasensitive Bioluminescent Detection of Intact Respiratory Viruses.

Respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) represent pressing health risks. Rapid diagnostic tests for these viruses detect single antigens or nucleic acids, which do not necessarily correlate with the amount of the intact virus. Instead, specific detection of intact respiratory virus particles may be more effective at assessing the contagiousness of a patient.

Safety and efficacy of high thoracic epidural analgesia for chest wall surgery in young adolescents: A retrospective cohort analysis and a new standardised definition for success rate.

Background: Chest wall surgery for the correction of pectus excavatum or pectus carinatum has gained increased interest in recent years. Adequate pain treatment, respiratory physiotherapy and early ambulation are key to improving the outcomes. Although thoracic epidural analgesia is highly effective, its safety is controversial, leading to extensive scrutiny and questioning of its role.

Comparing right- versus left-first implantation in off-pump sequential double-lung transplantation: an observational cohort study.

Objectives: Historically, the perfusion-guided sequence suggests to first transplant the side with lowest lung perfusion. This sequence is thought to limit right ventricular afterload and prevent acute heart failure after first pneumonectomy. As a paradigm shift, we adopted the right-first implantation sequence, irrespective of lung perfusion.

Lung transplantation following controlled hypothermic storage with a portable lung preservation device: first multicenter European experience.

Introduction: Compared with traditional static ice storage, controlled hypothermic storage (CHS) at 4-10°C may attenuate cold-induced lung injury between procurement and implantation. In this study, we describe the first European lung transplant (LTx) experience with a portable CHS device.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted of all consecutively performed LTx following CHS (11 November 2022 and 31 January 2024) at two European high-volume centers.

Implementation of an enhanced recovery protocol for lung volume reduction surgery: an observational cohort study.

Objectives: Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is an established therapeutic option for advanced emphysema. To improve patients' safety and reduce complications, an enhanced recovery protocol (ERP) was implemented. This study aims to describe and evaluate the short-term outcome of this ERP.

Bioluminescent Intercalating Dyes for Ratiometric Nucleic Acid Detection.

Rapid and sensitive DNA detection methods that can be conducted at the point of need may aid in disease diagnosis and monitoring. However, translation of current assays has proven challenging, as they typically require specialized equipment or probe-specific modifications for every new target DNA. Here, we present minescent ultivalent ntercalating ye (LUMID), off-the-shelf bioluminescent sensors consisting of intercalating dyes conjugated to a NanoLuc luciferase, which allow for nonspecific detection of double-stranded DNA through a blue-to-green color change.

Optimization of the STARlet workflow for semi-automatic SARS-CoV-2 screening of swabs and deep respiratory materials using the RealAccurate Quadruplex SARS-CoV-2 PCR kit and Allplex SARS-CoV-2 PCR kit.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic triggered the implementation of large-scale screenings in the health care and in the general population. Consequently, medical laboratories have to apply lean laboratory management to design workflows that are able to process large batches within short turnaround times while maintaining flexibility to use different SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCRs) and to be able to process a variety of clinical samples. We validated two SARS-CoV-2 PCR assays on the STARlet workflow: Allplex SARS-CoV-2 PCR kit and RealAccurate Quadruplex SARS-CoV-2 PCR kit.

Complications related to extracorporeal life support in lung transplantation: single-center analysis.

Background: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is not routinely used at our center during sequential single-lung transplantation (LTx), but is restricted to anticipate and overcome hemodynamic and respiratory problems occurring peri-operatively. In this retrospective descriptive cohort study, we aim to describe our single-center experience with ECLS in LTx, analyzing ECLS-related complications.

Methods: All transplantations with peri-operative ECLS use [2010-2020] were retrospectively analyzed.

Modification of the Abramson procedure for minimally invasive repair of pectus carinatum: introduction of a pectus carinatum compression system.

Pectus carinatum is characterized by a protruding sternum. This deformity can be surgically corrected through the minimally invasive Abramson technique. In this procedure, a presternal metal correctional bar, secured to rib-attached stabilizers, is implanted to redress the sternum to a neutral position.

The Belsey Mark IV procedure in the era of minimally invasive antireflux surgery.

Background: Different surgical techniques exist in the treatment of giant and complex hiatal hernia. The aim of this study was to identify the role of the Belsey Mark IV (BMIV) antireflux procedure in the era of minimally invasive techniques.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted.

Integrated Bioluminescent Immunoassays for High-Throughput Sampling and Continuous Monitoring of Cytokines.

Immunoassays show great potential for the detection of low levels of cytokines, due to their high sensitivity and excellent specificity. There is a particular demand for biosensors that enable both high-throughput screening and continuous monitoring of clinically relevant cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα). To this end, we here introduce a novel bioluminescent immunoassay based on the ratiometric plug-and-play immunodiagnostics (RAPPID) platform, with an improved intrinsic signal-to-background and an >80-fold increase in the luminescent signal.

Glow-in-the-Dark Infectious Disease Diagnostics Using CRISPR-Cas9-Based Split Luciferase Complementation.

Nucleic acid detection methods based on CRISPR and isothermal amplification techniques show great potential for point-of-care diagnostic applications. However, most current methods rely on fluorescent or lateral flow assay readout, requiring external excitation or postamplification reaction transfer. Here, we developed a bioluminescent nucleic acid sensor (LUNAS) platform in which target dsDNA is sequence-specifically detected by a pair of dCas9-based probes mediating split NanoLuc luciferase complementation.

How to handle brain tumors after esophagectomy with curative intent: A single center 20-year experience.

Background: Brain metastases after esophagectomy are rare. Moreover, a diagnostic uncertainty remains as pathology is rarely obtained and radiological features can show similarities to primary brain tumors. Our aim was to demonstrate the diagnostic uncertainty and identify risk factors associated with brain tumors (BT) after esophagectomy with curative intent.

Primary Surgery Not Inferior to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

Background: The current gold standard for treatment of locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma is neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. The shift toward neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) was driven by the Chemoradiotherapy for Oesophageal Cancer Followed by Surgery Study (CROSS) trial. This study reassessed, in daily practice, the presumed advantage of nCRT followed by surgery on long-term survival compared with primary surgery, in a group of all adenocarcinomas treated through a transthoracic approach with extensive 2-field lymphadenectomy.

Lung Transplant Outcome From Selected Older Donors (≥70 Years) Equals Younger Donors (<70 Years): A Propensity-matched Analysis.

Objective: To describe our experience with lung transplantation (LTx) from donors ≥70 years and compare short and long-term outcomes to a propensity-matched cohort of donors <70 years.

Background: Although extended-criteria donors have been widely used to enlarge the donor pool, the experience with LTx from older donors (≥70 years) remains limited.

Methods: All single-center bilateral LTx between 2010 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.

Current practice in antireflux and hiatal hernia surgery: exploration of the Belgian field.

Background: In Belgium, no publicly available information exists on the spread, quality, results nor follow-up of antireflux and hiatal hernia surgery, in contrast to the recently centralized esophageal cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to create a snap shot of the current practice in Belgium.

Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed among all members of the Royal Belgian Society for Surgery in autumn 2021.

Real-life introduction of powered circular stapler for esophagogastric anastomosis: cohort and propensity matched score study.

Anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy is one of the most feared complications, which results in increased morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a powered circular stapler on complications after esophagectomy with intrathoracic anastomosis for esophageal cancer. Between May 2019 and July 2021, all consecutive oesophagectomies for cancer with intrathoracic anastomosis in a high-volume center were included in this retrospective study.

Body condition and energy content of the shore crab L. in a temperate coastal system: the cost of barnacle epibiosis.

The impact of barnacle epibionts on the condition of the shore crab was studied for the western Wadden Sea population. Approximately 39% of the crabs were fouled with the barnacle . Although the morphological Fulton's condition decreased by 5.

impact on energy content of the shore crab L.

The impact of infection on the nutritional status of the shore crab was investigated in the western Dutch Wadden Sea for a period of 20 months. About 3.3% of the population was sacculinized, i.