Comparison of outcome after right colectomy with an enhanced recovery programme in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and patients operated on for other conditions: a monocentric retrospective study.

Purpose: Enhanced recovery programmes (ERPs) after surgery reduce postoperative complications and hospital stay. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often present risk factors for postoperative complications. This accounts for reluctance to include them in ERPs.

A multicenter randomized trial to assess the efficacy of CONvalescent plasma therapy in patients with Invasive COVID-19 and acute respiratory failure treated with mechanical ventilation: the CONFIDENT trial protocol.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic reached Europe in early 2020. Convalescent plasma is used without a consistent evidence of efficacy. Our hypothesis is that passive immunization with plasma collected from patients having contracted COVID-19 and developed specific neutralizing antibodies may alleviate symptoms and reduce mortality in patients treated with mechanical ventilation for severe respiratory failure during the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

5-Year outcomes of the prospective and randomized CISTCERT study comparing steroid withdrawal to replacement of cyclosporine with everolimus in de novo kidney transplant patients.

Withdrawal of either steroids or calcineurin inhibitors are two strategies to reduce treatment-related side effects and improve long-term outcomes of kidney transplantation. The CISTCERT study compared the efficacy and safety of these two strategies. In this multicenter, randomized controlled trial, 151 incident kidney transplant recipients received cyclosporine (CsA), mycophenolic acid (MPA), and steroids during three months, followed by either steroid withdrawal (CsA/MPA) or replacement of cyclosporine with everolimus (EVL) (EVL/MPA/steroids).

Could KL-6 levels in COVID-19 help to predict lung disease?

Background: Coronavirus disease COVID-19 has become a public health emergency of international concern. Together with the quest for an effective treatment, the question of the post-infectious evolution of affected patients in healing process remains uncertain. Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL-6) is a high molecular weight mucin-like glycoprotein produced by type II pneumocytes and bronchial epithelial cells.

Recurrent cardiac intimal sarcoma misdiagnosed as a myxoma or malignant transformation of a cardiac myxoma?

Cardiac intimal sarcoma is extremely rare and aggressive primary malignant cardiac tumors. Here, we reported the case of a young man initially operated for a tumor of the left atrium, causing a dynamic obstruction of the mitral valve and (mis-)diagnosed as a myxoma at the histopathological analysis. Patient presented a local recurrence at 3 months and was reoperated.

Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy for pleural malignancies diagnosis.

Background And Objective: Probe based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) is an optical imaging technique allowing live tissue imaging at a cellular level. Currently, this tool remains experimental. Two studies regarding pleural disease have been published and suggest that pCLE could be valuable for pleural disease investigations.

Single-center experience of patients with interstitial lung diseases during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD) can be suspected to be at risk of experiencing a rapid flare-up due to COVID-19. However, no specific data are currently available for these patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 401 patients with ILD and determined the proportion of patients hospitalized for proven severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and specific symptoms of COVID-19.

A new nucleosomic-based model to identify and diagnose SSc-ILD.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disease associated with rapid evolving interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), driving its mortality. Specific biomarkers associated with the evolution of the lung disease are highly needed. We aimed to identify specific biomarkers of SSc-ILD to predict the evolution of the disease.

Multivariable Prediction Model for Biochemical Response to First-Generation Somatostatin Receptor Ligands in Acromegaly.

Context: First-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs) represent the mainstay of medical therapy for acromegaly, but they provide biochemical control of disease in only a subset of patients. Various pretreatment biomarkers might affect biochemical response to fg-SRLs.

Objective: To identify clinical predictors of the biochemical response to fg-SRLs monotherapy defined as biochemical response (insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 ≤ 1.

Inter-observer variability of Y PET/CT dosimetry in hepatocellular carcinoma after glass microspheres transarterial radioembolization.

Introduction: Strong correlation has been demonstrated between tumor dose and response and between healthy liver dose and side effects. Individualized dosimetry is increasingly recommended in the current clinical routine. However, hepatic and tumor segmentations could be complex in some cases.

T2-signal intensity, SSTR expression, and somatostatin analogs efficacy predict response to pasireotide in acromegaly.

Objective: T2-signal intensity and somatostatin (SST) receptor expression are recognized predictors of therapy response in acromegaly. We investigated the relationship between these predictors and the hormonal and tumoral responses to long-acting pasireotide (PAS-LAR) therapy, which were also compared with responsiveness to first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs).

Design: The PAPE study is a cohort study.

Can hypnosis and virtual reality reduce anxiety, pain and fatigue among patients who undergo cardiac surgery: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Different non-pharmacological techniques, including hypnosis and virtual reality (VR) are currently used as complementary tools in the treatment of anxiety, acute and chronic pain. A new technique called virtual reality hypnosis (VRH), which encompasses a combination of both tools, is regularly used although its benefits and underlying mechanisms remain unknown to date. With the goal to improve our understanding of VRH combination effects, it is necessary to conduct randomised and controlled research trials in order to understand their clinical interest and potential benefits.

Ustekinumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in paediatric patients (≥ 6 to < 12 years of age): efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetic and biomarker results from the open-label CADMUS Jr study.

Background: Limited options are available for treatment of paediatric psoriasis.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in paediatric patients with psoriasis (≥ 6 to < 12 years of age).

Methods: CADMUS Jr, a phase III, open-label, single-arm, multicentre study, evaluated ustekinumab in paediatric patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

CDK4/6 inhibition in low burden and extensive metastatic breast cancer: summary of an pro and con discussion.

In December 2017, convened a round-table discussion on the background and latest data regarding cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/6 inhibitors with endocrine therapy (ET) in the treatment of endocrine-sensitive breast cancer (BC). A review on this discussion was published in summer 2018 (https://esmoopen.bmj.

Biomarkers Associated with Aortic Stenosis and Structural Bioprosthesis Dysfunction.

Prediction of patients at risk of aortic valve stenosis (AS), AS progression rate, and aortic bioprosthesis dysfunction are of major importance for clinical management and/or prevention. Many imaging modalities may be used; however, they may not be conclusive or available for all patients. Circulating biomarkers are easily available and may be related to a disease or process such as aortic valve calcification or associated with a risk factor of the disease.

European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging expert consensus paper: a comprehensive review of cardiovascular magnetic resonance normal values of cardiac chamber size and aortic root in adults and recommendations for grading severity.

This consensus paper provides a framework for grading of severity of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging-based assessment of chamber size, function, and aortic measurements. This does not currently exist for CMR measures. Differences exist in the normal reference values between echocardiography and CMR along with differences in methods used to derive these.

Multimodality imaging in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of patients with dilated cardiomyopathies: an expert consensus document from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is defined by the presence of left ventricular or biventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction in the absence of abnormal loading conditions or coronary artery disease sufficient to explain these changes. This is a heterogeneous disease frequently having a genetic background. Imaging is important for the diagnosis, the prognostic assessment and for guiding therapy.

Impact of aortic stenosis on layer-specific longitudinal strain: relationship with symptoms and outcome.

Aims: The present study sought to assess the impact of aortic stenosis (AS) on myocardial function as assessed by layer-specific longitudinal strain (LS) and its relationship with symptoms and outcome.

Methods And Results: We compared 211 patients (56% males, mean age 73 ± 12 years) with severe AS and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% (114 symptomatic, 97 asymptomatic) with 50 controls matched for age and sex. LS was assessed from endocardium, mid-myocardium, and epicardium by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Correlation between non-invasive myocardial work indices and main parameters of systolic and diastolic function: results from the EACVI NORRE study.

Aims: The present study sought to evaluate the correlation between indices of non-invasive myocardial work (MW) and left ventricle (LV) size, traditional and advanced parameters of LV systolic and diastolic function by 2D echocardiography (2DE).

Methods And Results: A total of 226 (85 men, mean age: 45 ± 13 years) healthy subjects were enrolled at 22 collaborating institutions of the Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography (NORRE) study. Global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global work waste (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE) were estimated from LV pressure-strain loops using custom software.

Comparative dosimetry between Tc-MAA SPECT/CT and Y PET/CT in primary and metastatic liver tumors.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine whether Tc-MAA SPECT/CT-based dosimetry could predict the actual absorbed dose in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver metastases, treated by glass or resin microspheres.

Material And Methods: Fifty-seven patients who underwent selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) were retrospectively included in the study, for a total of 59 treatments. Nineteen HCC were treated by resin microspheres (HCC-SIR), 20 HCC with glass microspheres (HCC-Thera), and 20 liver metastases with resin microspheres (Metastases-SIR).

Elderly patients over 70 years benefit from enhanced recovery programme after colorectal surgery as much as younger patients.

Aim Of The Study: Enhanced recovery programme (ERP) reduces length of hospital stay (LOS) and postoperative complications after colorectal surgery. ERP is feasible and effective in elderly patients. We tested the hypothesis of non-inferiority for elderly patients as compared to younger patients with regard to LOS.