Local excision for more advanced rectal tumors.

Unlabelled: Over the past 20 years, local excision (LE) of T1 rectal cancer was increasingly established and represents an oncologically established technique. In contrast, the situation for T2 tumors is less clear and has only been investigated in small patient collectives. LE for T2 tumors is thus discussed controversially.

Stapled versus Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy: is there any evidence-based information?

Aims: The objective of this study was to compare the perioperative, short-term, and long-term outcomes of stapled hemorrhoidectomy with Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy.

Materials And Methods: The present meta-analysis pooled the effects of outcomes of a total 926 patients treated with stapled or Ferguson hemorrhoidectomy in five out of 122 screened for retrieval randomized controlled trials using the fixed-effects or a random-effects model.

Results: Stapled hemorroidectomy was equivalent to the Ferguson procedure in comparisons pertaining to the following outcomes: hospital stay, postoperative hemorrhage requiring intervention, early postoperative bleeding <4 weeks, late postoperative bleeding <8 weeks, and the presence of anal pathology at 1 year follow-up.

Pharmacy and pharmacology of biosimilars.

Biosimilar medicines are biological medicinal products that can obtain a marketing authorization in the EU after the original product (biological reference medicine) has run out of patent. As a prerequisite, studies including clinical trials are to be conducted to compare the quality, safety, and efficacy of the biosimilar and reference medicine. Due to the specific characteristics of biopharmaceuticals like complex 3-dimensional (glyco) protein structure, immunogenicity, production in living organisms, which causes heterogeneity, complex manufacturing process and analysis, interchangeability of the biosimilar with its reference drug product is not guaranteed.

Bcl-2 upregulation after 3-nitropropionic acid preconditioning in warm rat liver ischemia.

We aimed to determine whether 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA) preconditioning protects rat livers against warm ischemia/reperfusion injury. We hypothesized that 3-NPA mediates its protective effects by Bcl-2 upregulation. Brown-Norway rats (200 g) were injected with 3-NPA (10 mg/kg intraperitoneally) 24 h before 90 min of selective warm in situ ischemia.

Cetuximab in combination with weekly 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid and oxaliplatin (FUFOX) in untreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer: a phase Ib/II study of the AIO GI Group.

Background: This two-part phase Ib/II study investigated the feasibility of administering cetuximab in combination with oxaliplatin and infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/folinic acid (FA) in a weekly schedule (AIO FUFOX protocol) as first-line treatment in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-detectable advanced colorectal cancer.

Patients And Methods: Cetuximab was administered weekly: 400 mg/m(2) initial dose, then 250 mg/m(2) and FUFOX: oxaliplatin 50 mg/m(2), FA 500 mg/m(2) and 5-FU as a 24-h infusion at either 1500 or 2000 mg/m(2) administered for 4 weeks followed by a 1-week rest (one cycle).

Results: Dose-limiting toxicity (grade 3 diarrhea) occurred in 3 of 14 assessable patients receiving 5-FU at standard 2000 mg/m(2).

Early onset of polyglandular failure is associated with HLA-DRB1*03.

Objectives: Polyglandular failure or autoimmunity (PGA) involves at least two endocrine diseases. Several genes may play a role in its etiology. This study analyzed 1) whether HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQB1, and MHC class I chain-related gene A (MICA) polymorphisms are associated in PGA and 2) whether PGA patients display stronger associations with these immune genes than patients with monoglandular autoimmunity (MGA).

All-trans retinoic acid for treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: In vitro studies in the subgenomic hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicon system have identified all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) as a potential therapeutic against hepatitis C. Thus, the antiviral potential of this drug should be assessed in vivo.

Methods: Twenty highly treatment experienced serotype 1 patients with non-response to conventional or pegylated interferon-alpha (Peg-/IFN-alpha) and ribavirin were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of monotherapy with ATRA (group A) or a combination of ATRA and PegIFN-alpha2a (group B).

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation and local excision for T2-3 rectal cancer.

Background: Local excision (LE) of T1 low-risk (G1-2/L0/V0) rectal cancer is an established approach with local recurrence (LR) rates of approximately 5%, whereas LE of > or = T2 high-risk tumors or inadequate resections (R1/RX/R < or = 1 mm) showed high recurrence rates. Because of the favorable results after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and radical surgery of disease that completely responds (CR) with almost absent LR even of T3-4 tumors, an extension of the indication for LE is controversially discussed, and therefore, we assessed this therapeutic option.

Methods: Including our own data, seven studies about LE after nCRT of cT2-3 tumors (n = 237) were analyzed after a PubMed search for cT categories, tumor height, nCRT regimens, schedule and technique of surgery, complications, freedom of stoma, response rates (ypT0-3), length of follow-up, LR, and metastases.

Skeletal anchorage in orthodontics--basics and clinical application.

This review article describes the basics and clinical applications of skeletal anchorage in orthodontics, namely: areas of indication, anchorage devices, insertion areas, indications, potential complications, and their use in growing patients. The areas for skeletal anchorage include orthodontic-prosthetic anchorage, orthodontic anchorage, and skeletal anchorage in orthopedic therapy procedures. The anchorage devices currently available are: prosthetic implants, mini screws, palatal implants, onplants, bone anchors, zygoma wires and skeletally-supported distractors.

Malignant and unclear histological findings in incidentalomas.

Background: The management of incidentalomas with tumor size 3 cm and larger is still under controversial discussion.

Study Design: Clinical charts of 65 patients who underwent adrenalectomy for an incidentaloma were reviewed.

Results: Sixty-five patients were operated.

Turned, machined versus double-etched dental implants in vivo.

Background: Positive effects on the clinical outcome of moderately rough implant surfaces are described. Intercomparison of clinical data, however, is rarely found.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical results of two macroscopically identical implants, the one with a turned, machined and the other with an etched surface.

Quantitative analysis of emphysema in 3D using MDCT: influence of different reconstruction algorithms.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to compare the influence of different reconstruction algorithms on quantitative emphysema analysis in patients with severe emphysema.

Material And Methods: Twenty-five patients suffering from severe emphysema were included in the study. All patients underwent inspiratory MDCT (Aquilion-16, slice thickness 1/0.

Bevacizumab, a humanized anti-angiogenic monoclonal antibody for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels are created from pre-existing vessels. It is essential for the growth and development of normal cells and tissues during embryonic and neonatal development and of tumour cells. Solid tumours rely on having an extensive network of blood vessels for growth and survival.

MRI of tarantulas: morphological and perfusion imaging.

This paper describes a study performed to evaluate the feasibility of using a 1.5-T whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment, in combination with pharmacokinetic modeling, to obtain in vivo information about the morphology and perfusion of tarantulas (Eurypelma californicum). MRI was performed on three tarantulas using spin-echo sequences for morphological imaging and a rapid spoiled gradient-echo sequence for dynamic imaging during and after contrast medium (CM; Gd-DTPA) injection.

Positron emission tomography reveals correlations between brain metabolism and mood changes in hyperthyroidism.

Context: Hyperthyroidism is frequently associated with emotional distress. The underlying cerebral processes of the endocrine-induced mood changes are unclear.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate, for the first time, the neuronal correlates of thyrotoxicosis-associated psychic symptoms using positron emission tomography (PET).

Nebivolol inhibits superoxide formation by NADPH oxidase and endothelial dysfunction in angiotensin II-treated rats.

Nebivolol is a beta(1)-receptor antagonist with vasodilator and antioxidant properties. Because the vascular NADPH oxidase is an important superoxide source, we studied the effect of nebivolol on endothelial function and NADPH oxidase activity and expression in the well-characterized model of angiotensin II-induced hypertension. Angiotensin II infusion (1 mg/kg per day for 7 days) caused endothelial dysfunction in male Wistar rats and increased vascular superoxide as detected by lucigenin-derived chemiluminescence, as well as dihydroethidine staining.

Early detection of sternal dehiscence by conventional chest X-ray.

Background: Diagnosis of sternal dehiscence after sternotomy for cardiac surgery is still made clinically. The aim of this study was to identify radiographic signs of sternal dehiscence by routine chest X-ray (CXR) in patients with and without clinically diagnosed sternal dehiscence.

Methods: 75 patients (group I: 65 +/- 9.

Distributed BOLD-response in association cortex vector state space predicts reaction time during selective attention.

Human cortical information processing is thought to be dominated by distributed activity in vector state space (Churchland, P.S., Sejnowski, T.

Immunogenicity and safety of two doses of tetravalent measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine in healthy children.

Background: Combination vaccines against common childhood diseases are widely used, provide an improved coverage, are more convenient and are more cost-effective than multiple injections. We conducted a study to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) candidate vaccine in comparison with the separate administration of licensed measles-mumps-rubella (MMR; Priorix) and varicella (V; Varilrix) vaccines.

Methods: Healthy children 12-18 months of age received 2 doses of MMRV vaccine (3 lots) 6-8 weeks apart (MMRV group) or 1 dose of MMR vaccine administered concomitantly with 1 dose of varicella vaccine, followed by a second dose of MMR at 6-8 weeks later (MMR+V group).

T-/H-cadherin (CDH13): a new marker for differentiating podocytes.

Cadherin molecules are known to be involved in various biological processes other than cell adhesion such as morphogenesis, cell-cell communication, cell recognition or cell signalling. While the classical cadherin molecule is characterized by an extracellular moiety, a transmembrane region and a variable cytoplasmic domain, T-/H-cadherin differs from this pattern due to the absence of a transmembrane region and a cytoplasmic domain, respectively. Its extracellular moiety is bound to the apical cell membrane by a glycosyl-phosphatidyl-inositol anchor and localized to lipid raft domains.

Two-dimensional and three-dimensional oxygen mapping by 3He-MRI validation in a lung phantom.

The aim of this study was to validate oxygen-sensitive 3He-MRI in noninvasive determination of the regional, two- and three-dimensional distribution of oxygen partial pressure. In a gas-filled elastic silicon ventilation bag used as a lung phantom, oxygen sensitive two- and three-dimensional 3He-MRI measurements were performed at different oxygen concentrations which had been equilibrated in a range of normal and pathologic values. The oxygen partial pressure distribution was determined from 3He-MRI using newly developed software allowing for mapping of oxygen partial pressure.

Efficacy of vertical infraclavicular plexus block vs. modified axillary plexus block: a prospective, randomized, observer-blinded study.

Background: Despite containing severe risks, infraclavicular approaches to the brachial plexus gained increasing popularity. Likewise, the vertical infraclavicular plexus block improved anesthesia compared to the standard axillary approach but contains the risk of pneumothorax. Therefore we modified the standard axillary technique by inserting a proximal directed catheter, referred to as a high axillary plexus block.