Multicenter In-House Evaluation of an Amplicon-Based Next-Generation Sequencing Panel for Comprehensive Molecular Profiling.

Background: Predicting response to targeted cancer therapies increasingly relies on both simple and complex genetic biomarkers. Comprehensive genomic profiling using high-throughput assays must be evaluated for reproducibility and accuracy compared with existing methods.

Methods: This study is a multicenter evaluation of the Oncomine™ Comprehensive Assay Plus (OCA Plus) Pan-Cancer Research Panel for comprehensive genomic profiling of solid tumors.

Ovarian cancer staging and follow-up: updated guidelines from the European Society of Urogenital Radiology female pelvic imaging working group.

Objective: To provide up-to-date European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) guidelines for staging and follow-up of patients with ovarian cancer (OC).

Methods: Twenty-one experts, members of the female pelvis imaging ESUR subcommittee from 19 institutions, replied to 2 rounds of questionnaires regarding imaging techniques and structured reporting used for pre-treatment evaluation of OC patients. The results of the survey were presented to the other authors during the group's annual meeting.

Precision medicine in diagnosis, prognosis, and disease monitoring of bone and soft tissue sarcomas using liquid biopsy: a systematic review.

Introduction: Liquid biopsy as a non-invasive method to investigate cancer biology and monitor residual disease has gained significance in clinical practice over the years. Whilst its applicability in carcinomas is well established, the low incidence and heterogeneity of bone and soft tissue sarcomas explains the less well-established knowledge considering liquid biopsy in these highly malignant mesenchymal neoplasms.

Materials And Methods: A systematic literature review adhering to the PRISMA guidelines initially identified 920 studies, of whom 68 original articles could be finally included, all dealing with clinical applicability of liquid biopsy in sarcoma.

Postgraduate medical education in obstetrics and gynecology in Switzerland in comparison to Germany and Austria: the results of an international survey.

Background: There is frequent academic exchange between Switzerland, Germany and Austria, facilitated by the common language. Additionally, the postgraduate training curricula in obstetrics and gynecology show some similarities. We aimed to compare self-perceived level of ability, availability of simulation training and teaching and feedback culture among residents in obstetrics and gynecology in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.

UBIQUITIN-CONJUGATING ENZYME34 mediates pyrophosphatase AVP1 turnover and regulates abiotic stress responses in Arabidopsis.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of abiotic stress responses in plants is instrumental for the development of climate-resilient crops. Key factors in abiotic stress responses, such as the proton- pumping pyrophosphatase (AVP1), have been identified, but their function and regulation remain elusive. Here, we explored the post-translational regulation of AVP1 by the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBC34 and its relevance in the salt stress and phosphate starvation responses of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana).

Molecular Stratification of Light-Chain Cardiac Amyloidosis With F-Florbetapir and Ga-FAPI-04 for Enhanced Prognostic Precision.

Background: Cardiac involvement in amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis significantly influences prognosis, necessitating timely diagnosis and meticulous risk stratification.

Objectives: This prospective study aimed to delineate the molecular phenotypes of AL cardiac amyloidosis (AL-CA) by characterizing fibro-amyloid deposition using F-florbetapir and gallium-68-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor-04 (Ga-FAPI-04) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging. The authors also proposed a novel molecular stratification methodology for prognosis.

Decreased Structural Connectivity Between Thalamic Nuclei and Hippocampus in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy-A Diffusion Tensor Imaging-Based Study.

Background: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) can lead to structural brain abnormalities, with thalamus atrophy being the most common extratemporal alteration. This study used probabilistic tractography to investigate the structural connectivity between individual thalamic nuclei and the hippocampus in TLE.

Methods: Thirty-six TLE patients who underwent pre-surgical 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 18 healthy controls were enrolled in this study.

Longitudinal analysis of anthropometric measures over 5 years in patients with Friedreich ataxia in the EFACTS natural history study.

Background: Friedreich ataxia is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by frataxin deficiency. Both underweight and overweight occur in mitochondrial disorders, each with adverse health outcomes. We investigated the longitudinal evolution of anthropometric abnormalities in Friedreich ataxia and the hypothesis that both weight loss and weight gain are associated with faster disease progression.

Gemcitabine and docetaxel for high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: EuroGemDoce group results.

Objective: To evaluate the oncological efficacy and safety of sequential intravesical gemcitabine/docetaxel (Gem/Doce) therapy in a European cohort of patients with high-risk and very-high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) after previous Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment.

Materials And Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from 95 patients with NMIBC, treated with Gem/Doce at 12 European centres between 2021 and 2024. Patients previously treated with BCG who had completed a full induction course and received at least one follow-up evaluation were included.

The Evidence-Based Medicine Management of Endometriosis Should Be Updated for the Limitations of Trial Evidence, the Multivariability of Decisions, Collective Experience, Heuristics, and Bayesian Thinking.

: The diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis should be based on the best available evidence. Emphasising the risk of bias, the pyramid of evidence has the double-blind, randomised controlled trial and its meta-analyses on top. After the grading of all evidence by a group of experts, clinical guidelines are formulated using well-defined rules.

Randomized Trial: A Pilot Study Investigating the Effects of Transcendental Meditation and Yoga Through Retinal Microcirculation in Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death, and psychosocial stress is considered a contributing factor to these issues. With the rising number of heart surgeries, proper rehabilitation post-surgery is essential. Previous studies have demonstrated the positive impact of yoga and transcendental meditation on the cardiovascular system.

Scientific Progress in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Little by Little.

New international recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were published in autumn 2023 [...

"Y" Configuration of the Arterial Pedicle or the Use of a Saphenous Vein Graft for Microsurgical Reconstruction in the Old and Diseased-A Retrospective Study.

Non-healing soft tissue defects pose challenges to treating physicians. Microsurgical reconstruction is a treatment option for achieving wound closure and limb salvage. These free tissue transfers are often challenging due to associated risk factors.

Renal T1 Times on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Reflect Renal Dysfunction and Are Associated with Adverse Outcomes: Insights from an All-Comer Cohort.

Renal disease is common in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is associated with adverse outcomes. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with advanced mapping techniques is the gold standard for characterizing myocardial tissue, and renal tissue is often visualized on these maps. However, it remains unclear whether renal T1 times accurately reflect renal dysfunction or predict adverse outcomes.

Quantification of the Survival Disadvantage Associated with Major Amputation in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.

: Despite advancements in vascular surgery, the mortality among peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients undergoing major amputations remains high. While a large body of evidence has previously covered survival rates after major amputation, there is less evidence regarding the associated survival penalty from an epidemiological perspective. The present analysis aimed at quantifying the survival disadvantage after major lower limb amputation while investigating which factors are associated with mortality in this patient cohort.

Platelets, Biomarkers of Coagulation and Fibrinolysis, and Early Coronary Stent Thrombosis.

: Acute stent thrombosis (ST) is a rare yet severe complication following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Herein, we investigated the possible association between routinely available coagulation and fibrinolysis markers with early ST. : Within a single-center registry, we investigated the association between the preprocedural platelet count, plasma levels of fibrinogen and D-Dimer, and the incidence of early ST in the first 30 days after PCI.

Effects of Automated Versus Conventional Ventilation on Quality of Oxygenation-A Substudy of a Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial.

: Attaining adequate oxygenation in critically ill patients undergoing invasive ventilation necessitates intense monitoring through pulse oximetry (SpO) and frequent manual adjustments of ventilator settings like the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO) and the level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). Our aim was to compare the quality of oxygenation with the use of automated ventilation provided by INTELLiVENT-Adaptive Support Ventilation (ASV) vs. ventilation that is not automated, i.

Long-Term Outcomes and Quality of Life of High-Risk Neuroblastoma Patients Treated with a Multimodal Treatment Including Anti-GD2 Immunotherapy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The incorporation of anti-GD2 antibodies such as ch14.18/SP2/0 into the multimodal treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) patients has improved their outcomes. As studies assessing the long-term outcomes, long-term sequelae, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of this treatment are limited, this retrospective analysis aimed to explore these.

Primary Mediastinal Ewing's Sarcoma: Post Hoc Analysis from Two International Multicenter Prospective Randomized Trials.

Objective: Ewing sarcoma (EWS) of the mediastinum is extremely rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature. We aimed to gain a better understanding of primary mediastinal EWS, describing patients treated within two international, multicenter, prospective, randomized EWS trials.

Methods: Data from patients with primary mediastinal EWS were retrieved from the database of the EURO-E.

Current Status of Neoadjuvant Treatment Before Surgery in High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer.

Localized high-risk (HR) prostate cancer (PCa) is a heterogeneous disease whose likelihood of a biochemical recurrence, metastatic progression and cancer-related mortality after initial treatment is higher when compared with patients with low (LR) or intermediate-risk (IR) disease. In the past, neoadjuvant therapy has shown an improvement in postoperative oncological variables but failed to demonstrate any survival advantages. With the promising results from novel treatments in metastatic and non-metastatic castration resistant PCa settings, new evidence has appeared in the literature in the neoadjuvant setting.

Therapeutic Approaches for Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Review.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) accounts for 80% of skin cancer cases. Although mostly curable by simple excision, the treatment of advanced disease can be challenging, as curative surgery or radiotherapy may not always be feasible. The scope of this review is to summarize current knowledge on molecular mechanisms in BCC pathogenesis, to elaborate on the definition of advanced/difficult-to-treat BCC, and to outline systemic treatment options.

Spatial Genomics Identifies Heat Shock Proteins as Key Molecular Changes Associated to Adipose Periprostatic Space Invasion in Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: To identify molecular changes during PCa invasion of adipose space using Spatial Transcriptomic Profiling of PCa cells.

Methods: This study was performed on paired intraprostatic and extraprostatic samples obtained from radical prostatectomy with pT3a pathological stages.

Results: Differential gene expression revealed upregulation of heat shock protein genes: DNAJB1, HSPA8, HSP90AA1, HSPA1B, HSPA1A in PCa PanCK+ cells from the adipose periprostatic space.

Synergistic Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Physical Activity on Oxidative Stress Markers and Antioxidant Mechanisms in Aged Rats.

Background: Aging induces degenerative processes in the body, contributing to the onset of various age-associated diseases that affect the population. Inadequate dietary habits and low physical activity are major contributors to increased morbidity during aging. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and physical activity on the markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms in aged male Wistar rats (23-24 months).