Smoking cessation and harm reduction: a systematic overview of ongoing, randomized controlled trials.

Background: Smoking remains one of the major public health threats, necessitating substantial scientific and societal interest in further developing and implementing systematic, smoking cessation trials. This review examines ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on smoking cessation and harm reduction, focusing on adherence to German S3 guidelines for tobacco dependence and identifying areas needing further research and neglected aspects in the implementation of treatment guidelines for tobacco dependence.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted on the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, comprising multiple trial registries worldwide, to identify ongoing RCTs focusing on smoking cessation and harm reduction.

Position Paper of the German Society for Interventional Radiology and Minimally Invasive Therapy (DeGIR) and the German Roentgen Society (DRG) on Structural and Professional Requirements in Interventional Oncology.

Interventional oncology (IO) employs various techniques to enable minimally invasive, image-guided treatment of tumor diseases with both curative and palliative goals. Additionally, it significantly contributes to managing tumor-related and perioperative complications, offering diverse supportive procedures for patients at all stages of their diseases. The execution of IO procedures places unique demands on the equipment, personnel, and structural organization of radiological clinics, necessitating specific expertise from interventional radiologists.

Evaluation of Vessel Tracking Software for Prostatic Artery Embolization.

Purpose: To evaluate Vessel Tracking software for determining the prostatic arteries feeding the prostate gland during prostatic artery embolization (PAE) using Conebeam-CT (CBCT).

Materials And Methods: EmboGuide is a software developed to assist interventional radiologists in performing embolization of hypervascular tumors in the liver. In this study, a single-center retrospective image collection of 120 intraprocedural CBCT of 60 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia treated using PAE between May 2017 and January 2019 was evaluated.

International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Guidelines for the Evaluation and Care of Cardiac Transplant Candidates-2024.

The "International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Guidelines for the Evaluation and Care of Cardiac Transplant Candidates-2024" updates and replaces the "Listing Criteria for Heart Transplantation: International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Guidelines for the Care of Cardiac Transplant Candidates-2006" and the "2016 International Society for Heart Lung Transplantation Listing Criteria for Heart Transplantation: A 10-year Update." The document aims to provide tools to help integrate the numerous variables involved in evaluating patients for transplantation, emphasizing updating the collaborative treatment while waiting for a transplant. There have been significant practice-changing developments in the care of heart transplant recipients since the publication of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) guidelines in 2006 and the 10-year update in 2016.

Aortic insufficiency in the patient on contemporary durable left ventricular assist device support: A state-of-the-art review on preoperative and postoperative assessment and management.

The development of aortic insufficiency (AI) during HeartMate 3 durable left ventricular assist device (dLVAD) support can lead to ineffective pump output and recurrent heart failure symptoms. Progression of AI often comingles with the occurrence of other hemodynamic-related events encountered during LVAD support, including right heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardiorenal syndrome. While data on AI burdens and clinical impact are still insufficient in patients on HeartMate 3 support, moderate or worse AI occurs in approximately 8% of patients by 1 year and studies suggest AI continues to progress over time and is associated with increased frequency of right heart failure.

Irinotecan and temozolomide in combination with dasatinib and rapamycin versus irinotecan and temozolomide for patients with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma (RIST-rNB-2011): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial.

Background: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumour in children. Relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma is associated with a poor outcome. We assessed the combination of irinotecan-temozolomide and dasatinib-rapamycin (RIST) in patients with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma.

The status of academic interventional radiologists in Germany with focus on gender disparity: how can we do better?

Purpose: The aim was to characterize the framework conditions in academic interventional radiology (IR) in Germany with focus on differences between genders.

Materials And Methods: After IRB approval, all members of The German Society for Interventional Radiology and Minimally Invasive Therapy (n = 1,632) were invited to an online survey on work and research. Statistical comparisons were undertaken with the Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum test or Pearson's Chi-squared test.

Outbreak of severe community-acquired bacterial infections among children in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), October to December 2022.

Purpose: In late 2022, a surge of severe S. pyogenes infections was reported in several European countries. This study assessed hospitalizations and disease severity of community-acquired bacterial infections with S.

Mogamulizumab Combined with Extracorporeal Photopheresis as a Novel Therapy in Erythrodermic Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma.

Background: Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are rare lymphoproliferative malignancies characterized by significant morbidity and mortality in advanced disease stages. As curative approaches apart from allogeneic stem cell transplantation are lacking, establishing new treatment options, especially combination therapies, is crucial.

Methods: This retrospective study included 11 patients with SS or MF receiving therapy with mogamulizumab in combination with ECP from four European expert centers.

Endovascular treatment of renal artery stenosis in Germany: a retrospective analysis of the DEGIR registry 2018-2021.

Purpose: To provide an overview of endovascular treatment of renal artery stenosis (RAS) using the data of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für interventionelle Radiologie (DeGIR) quality management system.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed. Pre-, peri- and postprocedural data, technical success rates, complication rates, and clinical success rates at dismissal were examined.

Trends in frailty in brain tumor care during the COVID-19 pandemic in a nationwide hospital network in Germany.

Purpose: Among brain tumor patients, frailty is associated with poor outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased frailty in the general population. To date, evidence on changes in frailty among brain tumor patients during the pandemic is lacking.

Neurosurgical care for patients with high-grade gliomas during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: Analysis of routine billing data of a German nationwide hospital network.

Background: Little is known about delivery of neurosurgical care, complication rate and outcome of patients with high-grade glioma (HGG) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Methods: This observational, retrospective cohort study analyzed routine administrative data of all patients admitted for neurosurgical treatment of an HGG within the Helios Hospital network in Germany. Data of the Covid-19 pandemic (March 1, 2020-May 31, 2022) were compared to the pre-pandemic period (January 1, 2016-February 29, 2020).

Decompressive Surgery in the Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke during the First Four Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: A Nationwide Observational Cohort Study.

Background:  The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected acute ischemic stroke (AIS) care. In this study, we examined the effects of the pandemic on neurosurgical AIS care by means of decompressive surgery (DS).

Methods:  In this retrospective observational study, we compared the characteristics, in-hospital processes, and in-hospital mortality rates among patients hospitalized for AIS during the first four waves of the pandemic (between January 1, 2020 and October 26, 2021) versus the corresponding periods in 2019 (prepandemic).

Recognizing cisplatin as a potential radiation recall trigger: case report and focused systematic review.

We present a case of mild radiation recall dermatitis triggered by cisplatin chemotherapy given simultaneously to re-irradiation. The dermatitis area correlated to skin exposure of the previous radiation therapy, characterizing the reaction clearly as a recall. Cisplatin has not yet been recognized as a potential trigger for recall reactions.

Magnetic resonance imaging of organ iron before and after correction of iron deficiency in patients with heart failure.

Aims: Intravenous iron therapy (IVIT) is known to improve functional status in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. The exact mechanism is not completely understood. We correlated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patterns of T2* iron signal in various organs to systemic iron and exercise capacity (EC) in CHF before and after IVIT.

Curricular representation of neurogastroenterology: A survey among medical students in Germany.

Background: Neurogastroenterological disorders (NGDs) are highly prevalent and substantially impact patients' quality of life. Effective treatment of NGDs depends on the competence and training of medical caregivers. Students' perceived competence in neurogastroenterology and its place in medical school curricula are assessed in this study.

Feasibility of Network-Based, Online Endovascular Simulator Training in Real Time: Results from a Pilot Study.

Purpose: To test the feasibility of an online, simulator-based comprehensive interventional radiology (IR) training curriculum in times of COVID-19-induced travel restrictions.

Materials And Methods: A network of six VIST simulators (Mentice, Gothenburg, Sweden) was installed in six geographically different radiology departments. Two courses with six sessions each took place.