Circulating monocytes upregulate CD52 and sustain innate immune function in cirrhosis unless acute decompensation emerges.

Background & Aims: Infectious complications determine the prognosis of cirrhosis patients. Their infection susceptibility relates to the development of immuneparesis, a complex interplay of different immunosuppressive cells and soluble factors. Mechanisms underlying the dynamics of immuneparesis of innate immunity remain inconclusive.

First-Line Chemo-Immunotherapy in SCLC: Outcomes of a Binational Real-World Study.

Introduction: SCLC is characterized by aggressiveness and limited treatment options, especially in extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). Immunotherapy added to the platinum-etoposide combination has recently become standard in this setting. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of chemo-immunotherapy in patients with ES-SCLC, focusing on subpopulations excluded from clinical trials.

Sub-Tenon's Block in Patients with Previous Encircling Band Surgery-A Feasibility Study.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing aerosol-generating procedures became fundamental, particularly in ophthalmic surgeries traditionally performed under general anesthesia (GA). Regional anesthesia, such as sub-Tenon's block (STB), is widely used in vitreoretinal surgeries, offering a safer alternative by avoiding airway manipulation. However, the altered orbital anatomy in patients with previous scleral explant surgery creates unique challenges to STB application.

Evaluation of self-collected dried blood spots for detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies shows low sensitivity.

Background And Aims: Dried blood spots (DBS) have been proposed as a cost-effective surveillance method for population-wide screening of SARS-CoV-2 immunity but sensitivity of DBS based on self-collected DBS samples is unknown. To evaluate the success of vaccination strategies, it is necessary to differentiate vaccination from natural infection. Therefore, a test for antibodies against the viral nucleocapsid protein (anti-N) is desirable.

Addressing the role of surgery in brain tumour trials: A report from the neurosurgery committee of the EORTC brain tumour group.

The Brain Tumor Group (BTG) of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) conducts academic clinical trials and translational research to improve clinical management of patients with primary and secondary brain tumors. The EORTC BTG has traditionally played an important role in providing evidence and thus advancing the field, albeit with a main focus on radiotherapy and pharmacotherapy in gliomas. Although examples of well-designed neuro-oncological surgical trials can be found, evidence in surgical neuro-oncology predominantly includes data from uncontrolled prospective series or retrospective cohorts.

Remission induction therapies and long-term outcomes in granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis: real-world data from a European cohort.

To explore disease characteristics, renal involvement and induction treatment strategies over the last decades and evaluate relapse rates and renal outcomes in ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV). We retrospectively analyzed remission, relapse rates and the occurrence of the composite endpoint (comprising death and renal failure) in newly diagnosed AAV cases in four tertial referral centers in Germany and Switzerland diagnosed between 1999 and 2022. Hazard ratios were computed by Cox proportional hazard and Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to compare therapeutic strategies after propensity-matching.

Surgical management of testicular cancer with limited retroperitoneal disease.

Purpose Of Review: Chemotherapy offers excellent long-term survival rates for men with clinical stage II germ cell tumours. However, in this predominantly younger population, chemotherapy is associated with long-term adverse effects. Primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) may serve as an alternative treatment option, preserving oncological safety while potentially reducing adverse effects in men with limited retroperitoneal disease.

BRCA2 germline mutation carrier with five malignancies: a case report.

Background: BRCA2 germline mutations are known to predispose carriers to various cancer types, including breast, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancer. An association with melanoma has also been reported. However, the full tumour spectrum associated with BRCA2 mutations, particularly in patients with other concurrent pathogenetic mutations, is unexplored.

Three rare cases of two-level skier's thumb injuries-review of the literature, anatomical variants and surgical treatment.

We report three rare cases of two-level skier's thumb injuries and explain the diagnostic challenges, surgical treatments, and anatomical explanations to emphasize the importance of a systematic diagnostic approach in every skier's thumb injury, including clinical examination, radiography, and ultrasonography. A surgical method to treat these rare cases is presented.

Vaccination in adult patients with chronic lung diseases.

In Switzerland, additional vaccinations against influenza, COVID-19, Streptococcus pneumoniae and varicella zoster virus (VZV), are recommended for patients with chronic lung diseases such as COPD, asthma or interstitial lung disease, since infectious diseases often lead to exacerbation of lung diseases resulting in increased disease burden and mortality. In this review we give an overview on recommended vaccinations for patients with chronic lung diseases, also including vaccinations against pertussis and RSV, which are recommended in international guidelines. While continuous development of vaccines against S.

Suspected and surgically managed cauda equina syndrome nationwide: epidemiological trends and socioeconomic factors influencing access to care.

Background: Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a critical condition requiring timely intervention to prevent severe morbidity. This study investigates the epidemiology and socioeconomic factors influencing access to CES care in USA Emergency Departments.

Methods: Data was used from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) from 2016-2020.

Management of severe pyogenic spinal infections: the 2SICK study by the EANS spine section.

Background Context: Spondylodiscitis management presents significant clinical challenges, particularly in critically ill patients, where the risks and benefits of surgical intervention must be carefully balanced. The optimal timing of surgery in this context remains a subject of debate.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of early surgery versus delayed surgery or conservative management in critically ill patients with de novo pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

Effects of a scoring aid on glasgow coma score assessment and physicians' comprehension: a simulator-based randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: Examining the impact of scoring aids on the accuracy of assessing the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) in a standardized trauma scenario (primary outcome). Evaluating physicians' understanding of the GCS assessment and clinical application (secondary outcome).

Materials And Methods: This randomized trial was performed at the simulator center of a Swiss tertiary academic medical hospital.

High iASPP (PPP1R13L) expression is an independent predictor of adverse clinical outcome in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Apoptosis-stimulating proteins of p53 (ASPPs) are a family of proteins that modulate key tumor suppressor pathways via direct interaction with p53. Deregulation of these proteins promotes cancer development and impairs sensitivity to systemic (chemo)therapy and radiation. In this study, we describe that the inhibitor of ASPP (iASPP) is frequently highly expressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and that overexpression correlates with a poor clinical outcome.

Targeting the mutation in gliomas by CRISPR/Cas precision base editing.

Background: Gliomas, the most frequent malignant primary brain tumors, lack curative treatments. Understanding glioma-specific molecular alterations is crucial to develop novel therapies. Among them, the biological consequences of the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 gene mutation ( ) remain inconclusive despite its early occurrence and widespread expression.

STAR LIGHT Study: XBB.1.5 COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Boost Systemic but Not Mucosal Immunity Against the SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 Variant in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease.

Background: Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) have impaired vaccine immunogenicity and an excess risk of severe COVID-19. While variant-adapted COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are recommended for vulnerable individuals, their efficacy in patients with CLD has not been studied.

Methods: We present the first evaluation of XBB.

Endovascular therapy for cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: Single-center experience in a high-volume neurovascular unit.

Introduction: Despite targeted standard therapy, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) frequently leads to cerebral vasospasms (CVS) of large cerebral arteries, reduced oxygen supply of brain tissue, known as delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), subsequent development of manifest cerebral infarction and poor neurological outcome.

Research Question: The primary aim was to evaluate the efficacy of endovascular spasmolysis (eSL) as a rescue therapy for delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DIND) occurring despite maximum conservative treatment, with the potential benefit of preventing permanent ischemic deficits, and thus, improving overall neurological outcomes.

Material And Methods: In our retrospective, monocentric study, we included 310 patients developing CVS during hospitalization and evaluated their clinical and radiographic outcomes.

HIV-1 low-level viremia predicts viral failure in participants on antiretroviral therapy in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Background: Most individuals on combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) have HIV plasma viral loads below the limit of detection. However, episodes of low-level viremia (LLV) are observed in subsets of individuals, risk factors and clinical significance of which remain debated.

Methods: We included participants enrolled in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, starting ART between July 1999 and April 2023, with HIV RNA <200 copies/ml six months post ART initiation.