His108Arg Transthyretin Amyloidosis-Shedding Light on a Distinctively Malignant Variant.

Variant transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTRv-CM) is a rare form of cardiac amyloidosis associated with many possible mutations in the transthyretin gene, presenting as various distinct clinical phenotypes. Among these, the His108Arg mutation is the most prevalent TTR variant in Austria. However, data describing its clinical phenotype are lacking.

Minimally Invasive Surgery in Acute Bowel Obstruction: Should It Become the Standard of Care? A Prospective, Single Center, Observational Study.

: This study was conducted to determine whether a structured clinical pathway can help to safely implement minimally invasive surgery (MIS) as the standard approach in surgery for acute bowel obstruction (ABO). : A prospective analysis was performed on consecutive patients undergoing MIS for ABO at a single center in 2021 and 2022. Prior to the study onset, a structured treatment pathway was defined to apply MIS in all patients.

Changes in Prolactin and Insulin Resistance in PCOS Patients Undergoing Metformin Treatment: A Retrospective Study.

Prolactin levels have been shown to influence metabolic outcomes, including insulin resistance. Metformin is known to be beneficial in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. PCOS women might react differently to metformin treatment depending on their baseline prolactin levels.

Lipedema: Complications in High-Volume Liposuction Are Linked to Preoperative Anemia.

Lipedema is a subcutaneous adipose tissue disorder mainly affecting women. Its progressive nature often requires high-volume liposuction for efficient pain reduction. However, aspiration volumes of more than 5 L within a single session may lead to a variety of complications.

Skeletal Muscle Mass Loss Leads to Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation and Higher Tracheotomy Rates in Critically Ill Patients.

: Skeletal muscle mass depletion adversely affects critically ill patient outcomes. Standardized methods for assessing muscle mass in this population are limited, particularly regarding changes during ICU stays and their implications for risk stratification. : In this secondary analysis of our prospective data registry of surgical ICU patients, we used a single slice extracted from a computed tomography scan to determine the patient's direction of absolute change in skeletal muscle mass between two different time points (-14 d to +0 d and +5 d to +21 d) during his or her critical illness.

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 as a Marker for Chronic Ventricular Pacing.

Right ventricular pacing is an effective and safe treatment option for patients experiencing symptomatic bradycardia. However, some individuals may develop left ventricular dysfunction as a consequence. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), which is not present in a healthy adult heart, is upregulated in cardiomyocytes in response to various stress stimuli.

Urinary Output as a Predictor of Mortality in Cardiogenic Shock: An Explorative Retrospective Analysis.

: Cardiogenic shock (CS) remains a critical condition with high mortality rates despite advances in treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of urinary output at various time intervals during CS and its effectiveness as a predictor of 30-day mortality, particularly in comparison to the Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS 3). : We conducted a retrospective analysis of 96 patients diagnosed with CS, assessing urinary output at different intervals (0-6 h, 6-12 h, 12-24 h, and 0-24 h) as potential predictors of 30-day mortality.

Postprocedural Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury and Prognosis of Patients Undergoing Recanalization of Chronic Total Occlusions.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTOs) requires advanced techniques and prolonged procedural efforts, often necessitating high contrast volumes, which may increase the risk of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI). However, evidence suggests that factors beyond contrast exposure contribute to CA-AKI, though data specific to CTO PCI remain limited. Patients undergoing contemporary CTO PCI at our university-affiliated tertiary care center were enrolled.

Risk of Surgical Site Infection in Posterior Spine Surgery Using Different Closing Techniques: A Retrospective Study of Two Neurosurgical Centers.

To determine whether a closed dressing protocol reduces the surgical site infections (SSI) rate compared to conventional closing techniques. Patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery at two neurosurgical centers were retrospectively included from June 2015 to December 2019. Data on patients, general risk factors, and surgical risk factors for SSI were collected.

The Etiology of Total Knee Arthroplasty Failure Influences on Improvement in Knee Function: A Follow-Up Study.

Outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) revisions are variable, and it is hypothesized that the underlying cause of primary TKA failure impacts postoperative outcomes. This study analyzes the results of TKA revisions seven years after surgery, in relation to the etiology of primary failure and other influencing factors. A previous study conducted in 2013 examined the same cohort of patients three months after revision surgery.

Clinical Evaluation of an Electronic Guidance System for Optimizing the Ultrasound Screening for Developmental Hip Dysplasia in Newborns.

Graf ultrasound screening is considered an established method for early detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Although characterized by a high degree of standardization to allow for good reproducibility of results, examination-related factors may still affect sonographic measurements. The relative tilt angle between the hip and the probe is a potential pitfall as it significantly influences sonographic measurements and consequently classification of DDH according to Graf.

Diagnostic Impact of Subcutaneous Edema in Gouty Feet Detected by Dual-Energy Computed Tomography and Ultrasound.

: The objective of our study was to evaluate the association and frequency of subcutaneous lymphedema in patients with gout primarily affecting the feet. : In 79 patients with acute gout, ultrasound (US) and dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) were performed to assess the presence of subcutaneous edema and extra- and intra-articular gouty deposits. In addition, the diagnostic utility of two post-processing DECT protocols were evaluated, comprising different minimum attenuation thresholds of 150 HU (DECT 150 protocol) and 120 HU (DECT 120 protocol), with the same maximum attenuation threshold (500 HU) and constant kilovoltage setting of tubes A and B at 80 and 140 kVp.

Subsidence and Clinical Impact of Obesity in Short-Stem Total Hip Arthroplasty Using a Collarless, Triple-Tapered, Cementless Stem.

Short-stem total hip arthroplasty (THA) has gained popularity due to its bone-sparing technique, but its outcomes in patients with obesity remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of obesity on postoperative subsidence and clinical outcomes after short-stem THA. A retrospective cohort study with a minimum follow-up of 24 months was conducted on 163 patients who underwent short-stem THA with a collarless, triple-tapered, cementless stem achieving fixation in the metaphyseal region.

Enhanced Pain Reduction at Different Stages of Knee Osteoarthritis via Repeated Injections of Hyaluronic Acid with Niacinamide: A Comparative Study.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common joint disease, characterized by the degeneration of joint cartilage. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IAHA) injections are a well-established non-surgical treatment. This retrospective study analyzed knee OA patients receiving IAHA combined with niacinamide injections, assessing pain reduction in relation to patient data, the number of injections, and radiological findings.

Validation Against Polysomnography of a Transthoracic Impedance Sensor for Screening of Sleep Apnea in Heart Failure Patients: A Pooled Analysis of AIRLESS and UPGRADE.

Cardiac implantable electronic devices and their integrated thoracic impedance sensors have been used to detect sleep apnea for over a decade now. Despite their usage in daily clinical practice, there are only limited data on their diagnostic accuracy. AIRLESS and UPGRADE were prospective investigator-driven trials meant to validate the AP scan (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) in heart failure cohorts.

Adhesion Prevention in Gynecologic Surgery: Guidance and Clinical Experience.

Postoperative adhesions represent a major medical challenge and are associated with serious health and economic consequences. 4DryField PH (PlantTec Medical GmbH, Lueneburg, Germany) is a starch-based medical device designed both to prevent adhesions and for hemostasis. This paper explores methods to successfully apply it in gynecological surgery, leveraging the authors' extensive clinical experience.

Correction: Tognetti et al. Pattern Analysis of Benign and Malignant Atypical Melanocytic Skin Lesions of Palms and Soles: Variations of Dermoscopic Features According to Anatomic Site and Personal Experience. 2024, , 659.

"Harald Kittler" was not included as an author in the original publication [...

International Nephrology Masterclass in Chronic Kidney Disease: Rationale, Summary, and Future Perspectives.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition that affects more than 10% of the population worldwide, accounting for more than 843 million (M) individuals. The prevalence of CKD (844 M patients) is higher than that of diabetes mellitus (422 M patients), cancer (42 M patients), and HIV (37 M patients), but people are often less aware of it. Global expert groups predict reductions in the nephrology workforce in the next decade, with a declining interest in nephrology careers.

Immune Responses Elicited by Outer Membrane Vesicles of Gram-Negative Bacteria: Important Players in Vaccine Development.

The attractiveness of OMVs derived from Gram-negative bacteria lies in the fact that they have two biomembranes sandwiching a peptidoglycan layer. It is well known that the envelope of OMVs consists of the outer bacterial membrane [OM] and not of the inner one [IM] of the source bacterium. This implies that all outer membranous molecules found in the OM act as antigens.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Measures on the Incidence of Peritonsillar Abscess: A Retrospective Study.

Background/objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Austria, like many European countries, implemented lockdown measures to curb viral transmission. These public health interventions, including social distancing and improved hygiene, were anticipated to affect various infectious diseases. This study aimed to assess whether the incidence of peritonsillar abscess, a severe upper respiratory inflammatory disease, decreased during the lockdown period of 2020 compared to previous years.

Advancements and Strategies in Robotic Planning for Knee Arthroplasty in Patients with Minor Deformities.

Knee arthroplasty, commonly performed to treat osteoarthritis, necessitates precise surgical techniques for optimal outcomes. The introduction of systems such as the Persona Knee System (Zimmer Biomet, Warsaw, IN, USA) has revolutionized knee arthroplasty, promising enhanced precision and better patient outcomes. This study investigates the application of robotic planning specifically in knee prosthetic surgeries, with a focus on Persona Knee System prostheses.

Inflammatory Response of THP1 and U937 Cells: The RNAseq Approach.

THP1 and U937 are monocytic cell lines that are common bioassays to reflect monocyte and macrophage activities in inflammation research. However, THP-1 is a human monocytic leukemia cell line, and U937 originates from pleural effusion of histiocytic lymphoma; thus, even though they serve as bioassay in inflammation research, their response to agonists is not identical. Consequently, there has yet to be a consensus about the panel of strongly regulated genes in THP1 and U937 cells representing the inflammatory response to LPS and IFNG.

Inhibition of Neural Crest Cell Migration by Strobilurin Fungicides and Other Mitochondrial Toxicants.

Cell-based test methods with a phenotypic readout are frequently used for toxicity screening. However, guidance on how to validate the hits and how to integrate this information with other data for purposes of risk assessment is missing. We present here such a procedure and exemplify it with a case study on neural crest cell (NCC)-based developmental toxicity of picoxystrobin.

RNA Sequencing Revealed a Weak Response of Gingival Fibroblasts Exposed to Hyaluronic Acid.

Hyaluronic acid was proposed to support soft tissue recession surgery and guided tissue regeneration. The molecular mechanisms through which hyaluronic acid modulates the response of connective tissue cells remain elusive. To elucidate the impact of hyaluronic acid on the connective tissue cells, we used bulk RNA sequencing to determine the changes in the genetic signature of gingival fibroblasts exposed to 1.

First Report on Rigid Plate Fixation for Enhanced Sternal Closure in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery: Safety and Outcomes.

Introduction: This study reports of the use of a rigid-plate fixation (RPF) system designed for sternal closure after minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS).

Methods: This retrospective analysis included all patients undergoing MICS with RPF (Zimmer Biomet, Jacksonville, FL, USA) at our institution. We analyzed in-hospital complications, as well as sternal complications and sternal pain at discharge and at follow-up 7 to 14 months after surgery.