Butterfly-Shaped Epicardial Lipoma of the Heart.

Cardiac tumors are a rare entity with typically unspecific symptoms. We present the case of a 43-year old female patient with epigastric pain and palpitations with a long history of diagnostics prior to discovery of an epicardial mass. The epicardial tumor with arterial vascularization from the left anterior descending artery was resected in a beating heart procedure and was found to be a lipomatous soft tissue tumor.

Isolation of TiNbN wear particles from a coated metal-on-metal bearing: Morphological characterization and in vitro evaluation of cytotoxicity in human osteoblasts.

To improve the wear resistance of articulating metallic joint endoprostheses, the surfaces can be coated with titanium niobium nitride (TiNbN). Under poor tribological conditions or malalignment, wear can occur on these implant surfaces in situ. This study investigated the biological response of human osteoblasts to wear particles generated from TiNbN-coated hip implants.

Evaluation of a rapid deployment prosthesis strategy for the treatment of aortic valve endocarditis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of patients suffering from native aortic valve (NVE) or prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis (PVE) treated with the EDWARDS INTUITY Elite rapid-deployment valve prosthesis.

Methods: Between February 2019 and June 2020, 25 patients suffering from NVE (n = 9; 36%) and PVE (n = 16; 64%) of the aortic valve received an INTUITY valve at our institution. Preoperative, operative and follow-up data were collected.

Stereological Lung Parameters After Fetoscopic Abdominal Decompression of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in an Ovine Model: A Pilot Study.

Fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) improves lung maturation in severe cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) but it does not ameliorate lung compression by herniated abdominal organs. Surgically opening the fetal abdomen (abdominal decompression [AD]) reduces the intrathoracic pressure by diverting the abdominal organs into the amniotic cavity-a probable causal therapy for lung hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension in CDH. Open surgical abdominal decompression has been reported: we describe a minimally invasive approach in an ovine model of CDH as a probable fetoscopic intervention.

Volatiles of rhizobacteria Serratia and Stenotrophomonas alter growth and metabolite composition of Arabidopsis thaliana.

The emission of volatiles is a common, but mostly neglected, ability of bacteria that is important for inter- and intraspecific interactions. Currently, limited information is available on how the bacterial volatile (mVOC) signal is integrated into a plant's life at the physiological, transcriptional and metabolic level. Previous results provided evidence for volatile-dependent regulation of WRKY18, a pathogen-responsive transcription factor of Arabidopsis thaliana in co-culture with two rhizobacteria, Serratia plymuthica HRO-C48 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia R3089.

Regenerative capacity of the enteric nervous system: is immaturity defining the point of no return?

Background: Intestinal obstruction in newborns is associated with intestinal motility disorders after surgery. Alterations in the enteric nervous system (ENS) might cause abnormal peristalsis, which may then result in intestinal motility disorders. We aimed to quantify alterations in the myenteric plexus after a ligation and to test if these alterations were reversible.

Reversible small bowel obstruction in the chicken foetus.

Background: Ligation of the embryonic gut is an established technique to induce intestinal obstruction and subsequently intestinal atresia in chicken embryos. In this study, we modified this established chicken model of prenatal intestinal obstruction to describe (1) the kinetics of morphological changes, (2) to test if removal of the ligature in ovo is possible in later embryonic development and (3) to describe morphological adaptations following removal of the ligature.

Materials And Methods: On embryonic day (ED) 11, small intestines of chick embryos were ligated micro surgically in ovo.

Complex gastroschisis is a different entity to simple gastroschisis affecting morbidity and mortality-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Comparison of the outcome of newborns with simple (sGS) and complex gastroschisis (cGS: gastroschisis with atresia, necrosis, perforation or volvulus).

Materials And Methods: We conducted a systematic database search, quality assessment and meta-analyzed relevant articles which evaluated the mortality and morbidity of newborns with cGS versus sGS. Risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported for categorical data, and the mean difference (MD) was calculated for continuous data.

Transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted versus 3-port laparoscopic and open appendectomy: a case-control study in children.

Introduction: Aim of this study was to compare the short-term outcome of transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted (TULAA) with laparoscopic (LA) and open appendectomy (OA) in a case-control study.

Materials And Methods: Our first 20 consecutive children with appendicitis treated with TULAA were matched to 20 patients treated with LA and OA, respectively. Matching criteria were age, sex, and the histology of appendicitis.

Biogenic volatile emissions from the soil.

Volatile compounds are usually associated with an appearance/presence in the atmosphere. Recent advances, however, indicated that the soil is a huge reservoir and source of biogenic volatile organic compounds (bVOCs), which are formed from decomposing litter and dead organic material or are synthesized by underground living organism or organs and tissues of plants. This review summarizes the scarce available data on the exchange of VOCs between soil and atmosphere and the features of the soil and particle structure allowing diffusion of volatiles in the soil, which is the prerequisite for biological VOC-based interactions.

Gut inflammation and expression of ICC in a fetal lamb model of fetoscopic intervention for gastroschisis.

Background: The pathogenesis of intestinal dysmotility in gastroschisis is not completely understood. Peel formation and disorganization of interstitial Cajal cells (ICC) have been proposed in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of prenatal coverage of gastroschisis on gut inflammation and expression of ICC in a fetal lamb model.

Midterm outcome of transumbilically laparoscopic-assisted versus laparoscopic and open appendectomy in children--a matched prospective study.

Background: Prospective data of transumbilically laparoscopic-assisted appendectomies (TULAA) is absent in the pediatric population. We therefore compared the midterm outcome of TULAA with open (OA) and laparoscopic (LA) appendectomies in children with appendicitis in a matched prospective study.

Methods: A total of 20 patients operated with TULAA were matched to 20 cases operated by LA and OA, respectively, according to sex, age, and histology of the resected appendix.

PGK1 as predictor of CXCR4 expression, bone marrow metastases and survival in neuroblastoma.

Background And Aim: A close relationship between phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) and the CXCR4/SDF1 axis (chemokine receptor 4/stromal cell derived factor 1) has been shown for several cancers. However, the role of PGK1 has not been investigated for neuroblastoma, and PGK1 might be a therapeutic target for this tumor entity. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the role of PGK1 expression in neuroblastoma patients, to determine the impact of PGK1 expression levels on survival, and to correlate PGK1 expression with CXCR4 expression and bone marrow dissemination.

Mucosal loss with increased expression of IL-6, IL-8, and COX-2 in a formula-feeding only neonatal rat model of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Introduction: The aim of our study is to establish a reliable neonatal rat model by formula feeding only for evaluation of early surgical intervention on the course of experimental necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Material And Methods: Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 50 breast-fed (group 1) and 38 formula fed (Similac/Esbilac, group 2) animals. The pups were sacrificed on the 4th, 5th, and 6th day of life and the terminal intestine examined for macroscopic and histologic changes as well as cytokine expression.

Clinical and sonographic features predict testicular torsion in children: a prospective study.

Objective: To test the clinical and sonographic predictors of testicular torsion (TT) with the aim of reducing negative exploration rates.

Patients And Methods: We performed a prospective study of all boys treated for 'acute scrotum' at our institute between January 2001 and April 2012 and clinical findings were documented. If available, ultrasonography (US) was added to the diagnostic evaluation.

Differentiation of epididymitis and appendix testis torsion by clinical and ultrasound signs in children.

Objective: To identify the signs that can help to differentiate torsion of the appendix testis (AT) and epididymitis and to establish the incidence of the various pathologic entities in boys with an acute scrotum.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was performed of the data from all boys treated at our institute from January 2008 to January 2012 for the diagnosis of an "acute scrotum." The clinical and, if available, ultrasound findings were documented.

Rectum perforation after broomstick impalement in a 17-year-old: case report and review.

Impalement injuries are uncommon, especially in the pediatric population. Because of the rarity of these injuries, physicians may have difficulty recognizing and treating impalement injuries appropriately. Clinical findings are sometimes innocuous, but can be life threatening.

Abdominal wall incision with or without exteriorization of bowel: results from a fetal lamb model for the embryogenesis of gastroschisis.

Introduction: The embryogenesis of gastroschisis is not completely understood. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of a simple abdominal wall defect versus a defect including eviscerated intestine or omentum for the development of gastroschisis in a fetal lamb model.

Material And Methods: At mid-gestation (day 77) an abdominal wall defect was fetoscopically created with three different approaches in 19 German blackhead sheep.

Clinical predictors of testicular torsion in children.

Objective: To distinguish the prognostic factors that decrease the probability of a negative exploration for "acute scrotum." In some institutes, patients with "acute scrotum" undergo immediate exploration after clinical evaluation. Because testicular torsion (TT) accounts only for a fraction of these cases, most infants can be treated conservatively.

Enzyme functional evolution through improved catalysis of ancestrally nonpreferred substrates.

In this study, we investigated the role for ancestral functional variation that may be selected upon to generate protein functional shifts using ancestral protein resurrection, statistical tests for positive selection, forward and reverse evolutionary genetics, and enzyme functional assays. Data are presented for three instances of protein functional change in the salicylic acid/benzoic acid/theobromine (SABATH) lineage of plant secondary metabolite-producing enzymes. In each case, we demonstrate that ancestral nonpreferred activities were improved upon in a daughter enzyme after gene duplication, and that these functional shifts were likely coincident with positive selection.

Volatiles of two growth-inhibiting rhizobacteria commonly engage AtWRKY18 function.

Interactions with the (a)biotic environment play key roles in a plant's fitness and vitality. In addition to direct surface-to-surface contact, volatile chemicals can also affect the physiology of organism. Volatiles of Serratia plymuthica and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia significantly inhibited growth and induced H(2) O(2) production in Arabidopsis in dual culture.

Fetoscopic management of gastroschisis in a lamb model.

Background: Gastroschisis is a malformation consisting of an abdominal wall defect with eviscerated bowel. Its standard treatment is postnatal repositioning or temporary prosthetic bag placement. The aim of our study is to evaluate the feasibility of its fetoscopic management in a lamb model.