Utilization of Interdisciplinary Tumor Boards for Sarcoma Care in Germany: Results from the PROSa Study.

Background: Data on institutional structures of sarcoma care in Germany are scarce. The utilization of an interdisciplinary tumor board (IDTB) is an essential part of modern cancer care. We investigated to which extent and when IDTB are used in sarcoma care.

Treatment of Angiosarcoma with Pazopanib and Paclitaxel: Results of the EVA (Evaluation of Votrient in Angiosarcoma) Phase II Trial of the German Interdisciplinary Sarcoma Group (GISG-06).

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel combined with pazopanib in advanced angiosarcoma (AS). The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) rate at six months (PFSR6). Planned accrual was 44 patients in order to detect a PFSR6 of >55%, with an interim futility analysis of the first 14 patients.

Utilization of in- and outpatient hospital care in Germany during the Covid-19 pandemic insights from the German-wide Helios hospital network.

Background: During the early phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, reductions of hospital admissions with a focus on emergencies have been observed for several medical and surgical conditions, while trend data during later stages of the pandemic are scarce. Consequently, this study aims to provide up-to-date hospitalization trends for several conditions including cardiovascular, psychiatry, oncology and surgery cases in both the in- and outpatient setting.

Methods And Findings: Using claims data of 86 Helios hospitals in Germany, consecutive cases with an in- or outpatient hospital admission between March 13, 2020 (the begin of the "protection" stage of the German pandemic plan) and December 10, 2020 (end of study period) were analyzed and compared to a corresponding period covering the same weeks in 2019.

CD79a promotes CNS-infiltration and leukemia engraftment in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement remains a challenge in the diagnosis and treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this study, we identify CD79a (also known as Igα), a signaling component of the preB cell receptor (preBCR), to be associated with CNS-infiltration and -relapse in B-cell precursor (BCP)-ALL patients. Furthermore, we show that downregulation of CD79a hampers the engraftment of leukemia cells in different murine xenograft models, particularly in the CNS.

Lenalidomide versus bortezomib maintenance after frontline autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

Lenalidomide (LEN) maintenance (MT) post autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is standard of care in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) but has not been compared to other agents in clinical trials. We retrospectively compared bortezomib (BTZ; n = 138) or LEN (n = 183) MT from two subsequent GMMG phase III trials. All patients received three cycles of BTZ-based triplet induction and post-ASCT MT.

Impact of occlusive material and cochlea-carotid artery relation on eustachian tube occlusion in subtotal petrosectomy.

Objective: To evaluate the success rate of eustachian tube (ET) occlusion in subtotal petrosectomy relative to the occlusive material used and to the varying protympanum anatomy, by means of standardized alignment of the cochlea-carotid artery relation on computed tomography images.

Patients And Methods: All cases of subtotal petrosectomy carried out by the same surgeon at a tertiary care referral center were retrospectively evaluated. Only cases with available computed tomography prior to second stage cochlear or middle ear implantation were included.

Comparability of compressed sensing-based gradient echo perfusion sequence SPARSE and conventional gradient echo sequence in assessment of myocardial ischemia.

Purpose: Stress perfusion imaging plays a major role in non-invasive detection of coronary artery disease. We compared a compressed sensing-based and a conventional gradient echo perfusion sequence with regard to image quality and diagnostic performance.

Method: Patients sent for coronary angiography due to pathologic stress perfusion CMR were recruited.

Cholinergic innervation and ganglion cell distribution in Hirschsprung's disease.

Background: The diagnostic gold standard of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is based on the histopathological assessment of colorectal biopsies. Although data on cholinergic innervation and ganglion cell (GC) distribution exist, only few studies have examined these two key features together. We assessed the pattern of cholinergic innervation and the amount of GCs in colorectal specimens of 14 HD patients.

Clinical course and factors associated with outcomes among 1904 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Germany: an observational study.

Objectives: In Germany the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic situation is unique among large European countries in that incidence and case fatality rate are distinctly lower. We describe the clinical course and examine factors associated with outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Germany.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study we included patients with COVID-19 admitted to a national network of German hospitals between February 12 and June 12, 2020.

Impact of sequence type and field strength (1.5, 3, and 7T) on 4D flow MRI hemodynamic aortic parameters in healthy volunteers.

Purpose: 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D-MRI) allows time-resolved visualization of blood flow patterns, quantification of volumes, velocities, and advanced parameters, such as wall shear stress (WSS). As 4D-MRI enters the clinical arena, standardization and awareness of confounders are important. Our aim was to evaluate the equivalence of 4D flow-derived aortic hemodynamics in healthy volunteers using different sequences and field strengths.

Salvage autologous transplant and lenalidomide maintenance vs. lenalidomide/dexamethasone for relapsed multiple myeloma: the randomized GMMG phase III trial ReLApsE.

The role of salvage high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (sHDCT/ASCT) for relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in the era of continuous novel agent treatment has not been defined. This randomized, open-label, phase III, multicenter trial randomized patients with 1st-3rd relapse of multiple myeloma (MM) to a transplant arm (n = 139) consisting of 3 Rd (lenalidomide 25 mg, day 1-21; dexamethasone 40 mg, day 1, 8, 15, and 22; 4-week cycles) reinduction cycles, sHDCT (melphalan 200 mg/m), ASCT, and lenalidomide maintenance (10 mg/day) or to a control arm (n = 138) of continuous Rd. Median PFS was 20.

Bortezomib-based induction, high-dose melphalan and lenalidomide maintenance in myeloma up to 70 years of age.

Intensive upfront therapy in newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) including induction therapy (IT), high-dose melphalan (MEL200), and autologous blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT) followed by consolidation and/or maintenance is mostly restricted to patients up to 65 years of age. Prospective phase III trial data in the era of novel agents for patients up to 70 years of age are not available. The GMMG-MM5 trial included 601 patients between 18 and 70 years of age, divided in three groups for the present analysis: ≤60 years (S1, n = 353), 61-65 years (S2, n = 107) and 66-70 years (S3, n = 141).

The ABSI is dead, long live the ABSI - reliable prediction of survival in burns with a modified Abbreviated Burn Severity Index.

Objectives: The Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI) is a widely used and simple score to predict mortality after burn injuries. On the one hand, significant improvements in intensive care management and surgical treatment result in an increased survival rate. On the other hand, the aging population might lead to an increased injury-related mortality rate.

ESTRO IORT Task Force/ACROP recommendations for intraoperative radiation therapy in borderline-resected pancreatic cancer.

Radiation therapy (RT) is a valuable component of multimodal treatment for localized pancreatic cancer. Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is a very precise RT modality to intensify the irradiation effect for cancer involving upper abdominal structures and organs, generally delivered with electrons (IOERT). Unresectable, borderline and resectable disease categories benefit from dose-escalated chemoradiation strategies in the context of active systemic therapy and potential radical surgery.

Fatigue following radiotherapy of low-risk early breast cancer - a randomized controlled trial of intraoperative electron radiotherapy versus standard hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy: the COSMOPOLITAN trial (NCT03838419).

Background: Fatigue is one of the most common and distressing side-effects of breast cancer radiotherapy. According to current guidelines, accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) may be considered as an alternative treatment option for women with early-stage low-risk breast cancer. One method for APBI is single-dose intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) applied directly to the tumor bed during breast conserving surgery (BCS).

Reprint of Corrosion casting of the temporal bone: Review of the technique.

The temporal bone has the most sophisticated anatomy of the whole skeleton. Its study is a challenge for students and surgeons. An inverse model of the visually obscured cavities and canals can facilitate better three-dimensional orientation and investigation.

ESTRO IORT Task Force/ACROP recommendations for intraoperative radiation therapy in unresected pancreatic cancer.

Radiation therapy (RT) is a valuable component of multimodal treatment for localized pancreatic cancer. Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is a very precise sub-component of RT that can intensify the irradiation effect for cancer involving an anatomically well-defined volume, generally delivered with electrons (IOERT). Unresectable disease categories benefit from dose-escalated chemoradiation strategies in the context of active systemic therapy and potential radical surgery.

Patient reported outcome and cosmetic evaluation following implant-based breast-reconstruction with a titanized polypropylene mesh (TiLOOP® Bra): A prospective clinical study in 269 patients.

Introduction: Implant-based or expander-supported breast reconstruction is an established surgical method after mastectomies due to cancer or to prophylactic reasons. Patient reported outcome (PRO) and cosmetic outcome after breast reconstruction with a synthetic surgical mesh was investigated in a prospective, single-arm, multi-center study.

Material And Methods: Primary or secondary implant-based breast reconstruction with support of TiLOOP® Bra was performed in 269 patients during the PRO-BRA study.

First interchromosomal insertion in a patient with cerebral and spinal cavernous malformations.

Autosomal dominant cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are leaky vascular lesions that can cause epileptic seizures and stroke-like symptoms. Germline mutations in either CCM1, CCM2 or CCM3 are found in the majority of patients with multiple CCMs or a positive family history. Recently, the first copy number neutral inversion in CCM2 has been identified by whole genome sequencing in an apparently mutation-negative CCM family.

Piezosurgery in Translabyrinthine-Approach Exposure of the Internal Auditory Canal.

Objective: To assess the applicability of the piezoelectric device in translabyrinthine-approach exposure of the internal auditory canal.

Methods: In three cases with vestibular schwannoma, the bone around the internal auditory canal was completely removed by means of piezosurgery. Evaluation was performed by an experienced surgeon, and a second relatively inexperienced surgeon.

Vampires and nurses are rated differently by younger and older adults-Age-comparative norms of imageability and emotionality for about 2500 German nouns.

Imageability and emotionality ratings for 2592 German nouns (3-10 letters, one to three phonological syllables) were obtained from younger adults (21-31 years) and older adults (70-86 years). Valid ratings were obtained on average from 20 younger and 23 older adults per word for imageability, and from 18 younger and 19 older adults per word for emotionality. The internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and retest rank-order stability of the ratings were high for both age groups (α and r ≥ .

Response-adapted lenalidomide maintenance in newly diagnosed myeloma: results from the phase III GMMG-MM5 trial.

The MM5 trial aimed at demonstrating a progression-free survival (PFS) difference in continued vs. response-adapted (in case of complete response, CR) lenalidomide (LEN) maintenance therapy (MT) in newly diagnosed, transplant-eligible multiple myeloma (MM). Patients were equally randomized to receive induction therapy with PAd (bortezomib/doxorubicin/dexamethasone) or VCD (bortezomib/cyclophosphamide/dexamethasone), high-dose melphalan and autologous blood stem cell transplantation, and LEN consolidation, followed by either LEN MT for a fixed duration of 2 years (LEN-2Y) or until achievement of CR (LEN-CR, intention-to-treat population n = 502): arms A1:PAd + LEN-2Y (n = 125), B1:PAd + LEN-CR (n = 126), A2:VCD + LEN-2Y (n = 126), B2:VCD + LEN-CR (n = 125).