Navigating complexity with low-crossing profile dual-layer micromesh carotid stent: implications for contemporary carotid artery stenting outcomes (ROADSAVER study insights).

Background: The safety and efficacy of carotid artery stenting (CAS) can be affected by certain technical and anatomical factors. However, it is not known whether the use of a dual-layer micromesh stent (DLMS) with a low-crossing profile could reduce the risks associated with complex vascular anatomies during CAS.

Methods: This study involved 1965 asymptomatic or symptomatic carotid artery stenosis patients who received the Roadsaver DLMS during CAS, as part of a prospective, multicenter observational ROADSAVER study, conducted from January 2018 to February 2021.

Comparative analysis of carotid artery stenting practice and outcomes across operator specialties: insights from a prespecified subanalysis of a large real-world patient cohort (ROADSAVER Study).

Background: In contemporary clinical practice, carotid artery stenting (CAS) is increasingly becoming a multispecialty field, joining operators of various training backgrounds, which bring forth their unique expertise, patient management philosophies, and procedural preferences. The best practices and approaches, however, are still debated. Therefore, real-world insights on different operator preferences and related outcomes are of utmost value, yet still rather scarce in the available literature.

The Vega advanced third generation posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty system enables the restoration of range of motion for high demanding daily activities - A 5-years follow-up study.

Background: The Vega System® PS (Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen, Germany) is an advanced, third generation fixed implant that aims to mimic natural knee kinematics by optimizing pivotal motion while reducing surface stress. This study evaluated mid-term survival and clinical outcomes, including range of motion (ROM) of the modern posterior stabilized implant in order to analyse whether this biomechanically successful implant reaches good results in situ.

Methods: The first 100 patients to receive the Vega PS System for total knee arthroplasty were invited to take part in this single centre, single surgeon study.

CIRSE Standards of Practice on Carotid Artery Stenting.

Background: Carotid artery stenting has been used effectively to treat internal carotid artery stenosis since 1989 (Mathias et al. in World J Surg. 25(3):328-34, 2001), with refined and expanded techniques and tools presently delivering outstanding results in percutaneous endoluminal treatment of carotid artery stenosis.

Real-world experience of water vapour therapy (Rezum) in patients with benign prostatic enlargement: a retrospective single-center study.

Background: Water vapor thermal therapy (Rezum) is a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). Studies reporting urodynamic results regarding the procedure are rare. Our study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Rezum on urinary outcome parameters in a consecutive series of patients and compare urodynamic data before and after treatment.

Polymer-based drug-eluting stent treatment extends the time to reintervention for patients with symptomatic femoropopliteal artery disease: clinical evidence and potential economic value.

Use long-term follow-up data from the IMPERIAL study to determine whether drug-eluting polymer-based nitinol stent treatment can delay the time to repeat intervention for femoropopliteal artery disease and how such a delay may result in cost savings in a value-based episode of care. The IMPERIAL randomized controlled trial was an international study of a paclitaxel-eluting polymer-coated stent (Eluvia, Boston Scientific, MA, USA) versus a polymer-free paclitaxel-coated stent (Zilver PTX, Cook Corporation, IN, USA) for treating lesions of the femoropopliteal arterial segment. Study patients (n = 465) had symptomatic lower limb ischemia.

Editor's Choice - Development and Testing of Step, Error, and Event Frameworks to Evaluate Technical Performance in Peripheral Endovascular Interventions.

Objective: Tools for endovascular performance assessment are necessary in competency based education. This study aimed to develop and test a detailed analysis tool to assess steps, errors, and events in peripheral endovascular interventions (PVI).

Methods: A modified Delphi consensus was used to identify steps, errors, and events in iliac-femoral-popliteal endovascular interventions.

Micro-Fragmented Adipose Tissue as a Natural Scaffold for Targeted Drug Delivery in Brain Cancer.

Major limitations in the effective treatment of neurological cancer include systemic cytotoxicity of chemotherapy, inaccessibility, and inoperability. The capability to successfully target a drug to the tumor site(s) without incurring serious side effects-especially in the case of aggressive tumors, such as glioblastoma and neuroblastoma-would represent a significant breakthrough in therapy. Orthotopic systems, capable of storing and releasing proteins over a prolonged period at the site of a tumor, that utilize nanoparticles, liposomes, and hydrogels have been proposed.

Comparison of 2 Clinically Applied Biomaterials for Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation: Injectable Hydrogel Versus Collagen Scaffold.

Objective: In autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), there is no consensus about used bioscaffolds. The aim of this study was to perform an comparative analysis of 2 clinically applied biomaterials for cartilage lesion treatment.

Design: Monolayer expanded human chondrocytes ( = 6) were embedded in a collagen scaffold (CS) and a hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel (HA).

Predicting tracheostomy in multiple injured patients with severe thoracic injury (AIS ≥ 3) with the new TP-Score: a multivariable regression prediction analysis.

Multiple trauma patients with severe chest trauma are at increased risk for tracheostomy. While the risk factors associated with the need for tracheostomy are well established in the general critical care population, they have not yet been validated in a cohort of patients suffering severe thoracic trauma. This retrospective cohort study analysed data on patients aged 18 years or older who were admitted to one of the six participating academic level I trauma centres with multiple injuries, including severe thoracic trauma (AIS ≥ 3) between 2010 and 2014.

Corticosteroid-Dependent Leukocytosis Masks the Predictive Potential of White Blood Cells for Delayed Cerebral Ischemia and Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Dependency in Aneurysmatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

A multitude of pathological and inflammatory processes determine the clinical course after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, our understanding of predictive factors and therapeutic consequences is limited. We evaluated the predictive value of clinically relevant factors readily available in the ICU setting, such as white blood cell (WBC) count and CRP, for two of the leading comorbidities, delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt dependency in aSAH patients with and without corticosteroid treatment.

Expert Consensus on the Characteristics of Patients with Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease (EBV PTLD) for Whom Standard-Dose Chemotherapy May be Inappropriate: A Modified Delphi Study.

Introduction: Following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or solid organ transplantation, patients are at risk of developing Epstein-Barr virus-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV PTLD), which is an ultra-rare and potentially lethal hematologic malignancy. Common treatments for EBV PTLD include rituximab alone or combined with chemotherapy. Given specific considerations for this population, including severity of the underlying condition requiring transplant, the rigors of the transplant procedure, as well as risks to the transplanted organ, there is a group of patients with EBV PTLD for whom chemotherapy may be inappropriate; however, there is limited information characterizing these patients.

Regenerative Potential of Platelet Concentrate Lysate in Mechanically Injured Cartilage and Matrix-Associated Chondrocyte Implantation In Vitro.

Adjuvant therapy in autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) can control the post-traumatic environment and guide graft maturation to support cartilage repair. To investigate both aspects, we examined potential chondro-regenerative effects of lysed platelet concentrate (PC) and supplementary interleukin 10 (IL-10) on mechanically injured cartilage and on clinically used ACI scaffolds. ACI remnants and human cartilage explants, which were applied to an uniaxial unconfined compression as injury model, were treated with human IL-10 and/or PC from thrombocyte concentrates.

Long-term Efficacy of Percutaneous Epidural Neurolysis of Adhesions in Chronic Lumbar Radicular Pain: 10 Year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: No long-term follow-up data exist in any treatment for chronic radicular pain occurring with disc pathology and after failed back surgery. A previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) has proven efficacy in short-term follow-up as an evidence-based effective therapeutic option.

Objectives: Long term data is needed to determine the efficacy and cost- effectiveness of minimal invasive procedures.

Pulmonary echinococcosis: A rare pseudotumour of the lung.

Cystic echinococcosis is a widely endemic helminthic disease worldwide but occurs only rarely in Central Europe. Humans are infected as 'aberrant' hosts by and develop cysts in numerous different organs. 20%-30% of the affected individuals develop hydatid disease in the lungs with associated complications including pleuritis, lung abscess and pneumothorax.

Treatment of spinal anaesthesia-induced hypotension with cafedrine/theodrenaline versus ephedrine during caesarean section: Results from HYPOTENS, a national, multicentre, prospective, noninterventional study.

Background: In Germany, hypotension induced by spinal anaesthesia is commonly treated with a combination of cafedrine hydrochloride (C, 200 mg) and theodrenaline hydrochloride (T, 10 mg) in 2 ml. We compared the effectiveness of C/T with ephedrine.

Objectives: The primary objectives were to assess the speed of onset and the ability to restore blood pressure without an increase in heart rate.

Nano-biomaterials for cardiovascular applications: Clinical perspective.

Cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease and stroke, are responsible for nearly 25% of all deaths worldwide. Globally, their prevalence continues to increase, in spite of enormous progress in cardiovascular diagnostics and therapy. For therapeutic and regenerative purposes, biomaterials promise solutions with multiple advantages over synthetic materials.

[Eustachian tube function tests: an update].

There are many diverse methods for the assessment of Eustachian tube (ET) function. Clinical studies have demonstrated good results for several clinical tests, tympanometry and a number of manometric approaches, such as the nine-step test. The relevance of tubomanometry according to Estève requires further investigation.