Consensus on the assessment of systemic sclerosis-associated primary heart involvement: World Scleroderma Foundation/Heart Failure Association guidance on screening, diagnosis, and follow-up assessment.

Introduction: Heart involvement is a common problem in systemic sclerosis. Recently, a definition of systemic sclerosis primary heart involvement had been proposed. Our aim was to establish consensus guidance on the screening, diagnosis and follow-up of systemic sclerosis primary heart involvement patients.

Cervical pessary for preventing preterm birth in singleton pregnancies.

Background: Preterm birth (PTB), defined as birth prior to 37 weeks of gestation, occurs in ten percent of all pregnancies. PTB is responsible for more than half of neonatal and infant mortalities and morbidities. Because cervical insufficiency is a common cause of PTB, one possible preventive strategy involves insertion of a cervical pessary to support the cervix.

A New Dissection Ladder Approach for Perforator Vessels in Infant Meningomyelocele Soft Tissue Reconstruction.

Background: Meningomyelocele reconstruction is a lifesaving procedure. A freestyle propeller perforator flap is an ideal option for moderate to large soft tissue meningomyelocele reconstruction. Previous studies that focused on the reliability of perforator flaps for meningomyelocele reconstruction recommended preserving a cuff of soft tissue around the perforators to avoid vasospasm.

Oncological impact of vascular invasion in colon cancer might differ depending on tumor sidedness.

Purpose: Vascular invasion is a well-known independent prognostic factor in colon cancer and tumor sidedness is also being considered a prognostic factor. The aim of this study was to compare the oncological impact of vascular invasion depending on the tumor location in stages I to III colon cancer.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using data from patients who underwent curative resection between 2004 and 2015.

Adjunctive proximal aortic and aortodistal prosthetic wrapping of vascular anastomoses for Adamantiadis-Behçet's aortic/aortoiliac aneurysms: A revisit.

Background: We described our local experiences with a single-layer wrapping technique for the vascular anastomoses in patients with Adamantiadis-Behçet's aortic/aortoiliac aneurysms using InterGard Silver-impregnated Dacron® patch prosthesis.

Methods: Between January 2013 to December 2019, we retrospectively reviewed 20 patients presented with Adamantiadis-Behçet's aortic/aortoiliac aneurysms. All patients presented with Adamantiadis-Behçet's aortic/aortoiliac aneurysms.

Multidisciplinary assessment of patients with ischemic stroke, the structure of a stroke team, and first Egyptian experience in adults undergoing transcatheter PFO closure for PFO-related stroke.

Background: Patent foramen ovale closure in the setting of stroke was debatable until the recent data from the long-term follow-up of multiple randomized control trials. These recent data have led to increase the number of the procedure worldwide. To our knowledge, there was no previous formal structured program in Egypt between cardiologists and neurologists for investigation and management of patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Immunohistochemical analysis of S100-positive epidermal Langerhans cells in dermatofibroma.

Dermatofibroma is a dermal fibrohistiocytic neoplasm. The Langerhans cells are the immunocompetent cells of the epidermis, and they represent the first defense barrier of the immune system towards the environment. The objective was to immunohistologically compare the densities of S100-positive Langerhans cells in the healthy peritumoral epidermis against those in the epidermis overlying dermatofibroma (20 cases), using antibodies against the S100 molecule (the immunophenotypic hallmark of Langerhans cells).

Radiofrequency Thoracic Sympathectomy for Sympathetically Maintained Chronic Post-Mastectomy Pain, a Preliminary Report: 6-Month Results.

Aim: Evaluation of the analgesic efficacy of radiofrequency thoracic sympathectomy for sympathetically maintained post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS).

Methods: Patients with PMPS randomized to Group TS (n = 33) received radiofrequency thoracic sympathectomy, and those randomized to Group Sham (n = 33) received no radiofrequency current. Postoperative pain treatment consisted of duloxetine, pregabalin, and tramadol for both groups.

Sensitivity of High-Resolution Computed Tomography in Otosclerosis Patients undergoing Primary Stapedotomy.

Objective: To determine the incidence of abnormal otospongiotic or otosclerotic findings on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) as read by local radiologists in patients with surgically-confirmed otosclerosis.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary-referral private otology-neurotology practice.

Pulsed Radiofrequency on Thoracic Dorsal Root Ganglion Versus Thoracic Paravertebral Nerve for Chronic Postmastectomy Pain, A Randomized Trial: 6-Month Results.

Background: Pharmacologic treatment is not successful in all cases of postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS). Some patients continue suffering pain while taking their medications, and others cannot tolerate the side effects of antineuropathic analgesics. Radiofrequency technology has provided promising results in the management of chronic neuropathic pain.

Erratum to the impact of slice-reduced computed tomography on histogram based densitometry assessment of lung fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2018.

Post-operative hip centre restoration and migration after impaction bone grafting in revision and complex primary hip arthroplasty.

Introduction/objectives: Although impaction grafting proved efficacy in the reconstruction of acetabular defects in primary and revision hip arthroplasty, its role in large segmental defects is still debatable. Our objective is to determine hip centre restoration and last follow-up migration after acetabular reconstruction with impaction grafting in different types of acetabular defects.

Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective radiographic study of (107) total hip arthroplasty (42 primary and 65 revision) in (104) patients using impaction grafting.

The impact of slice-reduced computed tomography on histogram-based densitometry assessment of lung fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Background: To evaluate usability of slice-reduced sequential computed tomography (CT) compared to standard high-resolution CT (HRCT) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) for qualitative and quantitative assessment of interstitial lung disease (ILD) with respect to (I) detection of lung parenchymal abnormalities, (II) qualitative and semiquantitative visual assessment, (III) quantification of ILD by histograms and (IV) accuracy for the 20%-cut off discrimination.

Methods: From standard chest HRCT of 60 SSc patients sequential 9-slice-computed tomography (reduced HRCT) was retrospectively reconstructed. ILD was assessed by visual scoring and quantitative histogram parameters.

Characteristics of children admitted to intensive care with acute bronchiolitis.

Unlabelled: To assess factors associated with outcome in children admitted to paediatric intensive care (PIC) with bronchiolitis. A retrospective study of children admitted to the PICU at St Mary's Hospital, London with bronchiolitis over a 6-year period (2011-2016). All bronchiolitis admissions < 2 years were included.

Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment for Chronic Post-Surgical Orchialgia: A Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled, Randomized Trial: Three-Month Results.

Background: Chronic post-surgical pain in the groin region represents a challenge for the managing physician and is a burden on the quality of life of the patient. None of the existing interventions or medical treatment is satisfactory.

Objectives: We aim to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) applied to the ilioinguinal nerve and the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve for patients suffering from chronic post-surgical orchialgia.

Is It the Age at Disease Onset or the Disease Radiological Severity That Affects Cervical Spine Involvement in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Background: Cervical spine involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause pain and disability, with a variety of neurologic signs and symptoms.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between structural cervical spine involvement in patients with RA with the age at disease onset and the degree of radiologic severity of RA measured by Larsen scoring.

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 adult patients with RA.

Meta-Analysis of the Duration of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients Treated With Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention, especially in the era of second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES). The work was conducted from November 2014 to April 2015. All randomized controlled trials comparing short (<12 months) versus long (≥12 months) DAPT in patients treated with second-generation DES were analyzed.

Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty in the TAVI Era: A Multicenter Registry.

Background: Few clinical data about indications and prognoses of patients undergoing balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) in the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) era have been reported.

Methods: Data from all consecutive patients undergoing BAV in seven European centers from 2006 to 2013 were collected. Acute results and long-term outcomes were assessed.

Meta-analysis of the usefulness of Mitraclip in patients with functional mitral regurgitation.

Midterm outcomes for patients presenting with heart failure and functional mitral regurgitation (MR) treated with Mitraclip remain unclear. Pubmed, Medline, and Google Scholar were systematically searched for studies enrolling patients with severe-moderate MR who underwent Mitraclip implantation. All events after at least 6 months were the primary safety end point (including death, rehospitalization for heart failure, and reinterventions), whereas change in the ejection fraction, left ventricular volumes, arterial pulmonary pressure, and left atrial diameters were considered as secondary end points.

Meta-analysis of comparison between self-expandable and balloon-expandable valves for patients having transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Two different devices, 1 self-expanding and 1 balloon-expandable, have been developed for patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation with contrasting data about efficacy and safety. Pubmed, Medline, and Google Scholar were systematically searched for studies of these different devices, with data derived from randomized controlled trial or registries with multivariate analysis. All-cause death at 30 days and at follow-up were the primary end points, whereas postprocedural moderate or severe aortic regurgitation (AR), stroke, major vascular complications, bleedings, and pacemaker implantation the secondary ones.

Effect of gender after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a meta-analysis.

Background: The effect of gender on patients with aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains to be defined.

Methods: MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases were searched for articles describing sex differences in baseline characteristics, procedures, and outcomes. All-cause death at follow-up of at least 1 year was the primary end point, and the independent effect of female gender was evaluated with pooled analysis using a random-effect model and with meta-regression.

Management of pelvic discontinuity in revision total hip arthroplasty: a review of the literature.

Pelvic discontinuity is a complex problem in revision total hip arthroplasty. Although rare, the incidence is likely to increase due to the ageing population and the increasing number of total hip arthroplasties being performed. The various surgical options available to solve this problem include plating, massive allografts, reconstruction rings, custom triflanged components and tantalum implants.