Position Paper of the German Society for Interventional Radiology (DeGIR) on Prostatic Artery Embolization.

Background:  In recent years prostate artery embolization (PAE) evolved into a clinically established minimally invasive endovascular treatment option for lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostate syndrome (BPS).

Methods:  In this interdisciplinary position paper, initiated by the steering group for research of the German Society for Interventional Radiology (IR), the method of PAE is presented and discussed in the context of current evidence.

Results:  PAE is a safe IR procedure for the treatment of BPS.

Multicenter Analysis of Acquired Undescended Testis and Its Impact on the Timing of Orchidopexy.

Objective: To assess whether late orchidopexy for undescended testis represents delayed treatment of primary undescended testis or later-occurring acquired undescended testis.

Study Design: We examined boys undergoing orchidopexy for cryptorchidism regarding age at surgery and entity of undescended testis. We characterized differences between primary undescended testis and acquired undescended testis and evaluated the knowledge regarding the diagnosis and management of acquired undescended testis among practicing physicians.

Aortic valve construction using new nitinol templates and pericardial tissue.

The use of pericardial tissue has been widely adopted in a range of cardiac surgery procedures involving the reconstruction of heart valves. Its use in aortic valve construction has been discussed in recent years by Ozaki et al. A key parameter in the optimal functioning of a fabricated valve is the sizing of the new cusps.

Renal Sympathetic Denervation by Image-Guided Percutaneous Ethanol Injection - Histopathologic Characteristics, Efficacy and Safety.

Purpose:  Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of chemical renal denervation by image-guided periarterial ethanol injection in pigs with emphasis on histopathological characteristics.

Materials And Methods:  Unilateral renal periarterial ethanol injection under general anesthesia was performed in 16 animals with the contralateral kidney serving as the control. All interventions were performed in an open MRI system under real-time multiplanar guidance.

Comparison of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels in Patients With Malignant and Benign Gynaecological Disease.

Background/aim: Many studies have shown an antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenetic, and apoptosis-inducing effect of Vitamin D. A vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk for different types of cancer. This study examined vitamin D 25(OH)D levels in gynaecological cancers in comparison with benign gynaecological diseases.

Sex differences of resource utilisation and outcomes in patients with atrial arrhythmias and heart failure.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (AF) and heart failure (HF) often go hand in hand and, in combination, lead to an increased risk of death compared with patients with just one of both entities. Sex-specific differences in patients with AF and HF are under-reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate sex-specific catheter ablation (CA) use and acute in-hospital outcomes in patients with AF and concomitant HF in a retrospective cohort study.

Novel plasma peptide markers involved in the pathology of CKD identified using mass spectrometric approach.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) may progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at different pace. Early markers of disease progression could facilitate and improve patient management. However, conventional blood and urine chemistry have proven unable to predict the progression of disease at early stages.

Cost-effectiveness-analysis of ultrasound guidance for central venous catheterization compared with landmark method: a decision-analytic model.

Background: Ultrasound guidance for central venous catheterization is a commonly used alternative to the conventional landmark method. Because from the German perspective, the cost-effectiveness of ultrasound guidance is unclear, this study examined the cost-effectiveness of ultrasound guidance versus the landmark method for adults undergoing a central venous catheterization.

Methods: A decision-tree based model was built to estimate the costs of averted catheter-related complications.

Extended surgical safety margins and ulceration are associated with an improved prognosis in pleomorphic dermal sarcomas.

Background: Pleomorphic dermal sarcomas (PDS) are frequent UV-induced sarcomas of the skin of intermediate grade malignant potential. Despite the fact that PDS have a noteworthy potential to recur (up to 28%) as well as to metastasize (up to 20%), there are no specific clinical guidelines with respect to follow-up these patients. Moreover, little is known about clinical, histological or molecular prognostic factors in PDS.

In-hospital mortality of patients with atrial arrhythmias: insights from the German-wide Helios hospital network of 161 502 patients and 34 025 arrhythmia-related procedures.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AFib) and atrial flutter (AFlut) are common arrhythmias with increased use of invasive procedures. A steady re-evaluation of relevant safety endpoints is recommended and both quality management and pay-for-performance programs are evolving. Therefore, the aims of this study were (i) to investigate and report overall in-hospital mortality and mortality of invasive arrhythmia-related procedures and (ii) to identify mortality predictors in a German-wide hospital network.

Renal Denervation by Transaortic Periarterial Ethanol Injection: An Experimental Study in Porcines.

Aims: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of renal sympathetic denervation via endoluminal transaortic periarterial ethanol injection.

Methods And Results: In 11 normotensive pigs transaortic puncture was performed with a 90-cm 21G needle with subsequent unilateral ethanol injection to the periarterial space. Needle placement was achieved using a 7F steerable sheath fluoroscopically positioned slightly above the renal artery origin.

Cardiac tamponade in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: German-wide analysis of 21 141 procedures in the Helios atrial fibrillation ablation registry (SAFER).

Aims: Catheter ablation is an established therapy in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) with increasing popularity. Pericardial effusion requiring intervention (PE) is one of the most threatening adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine rates of PE after catheter ablation in a large 'real-world' data set in a German-wide hospital network.

Factors Predictive of Sentinel Lymph Node Involvement in Primary Breast Cancer.

Background/aim: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has replaced axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for axillary staging in patients with early-stage breast cancer. The need for therapeutic ALND is the subject of ongoing debate especially after the publication of the ACOSOG Z0011 trial. In a retrospective trial with univariate and multivariate analyses, factors predictive of sentinel lymph node involvement should be analyzed in order to define tumor characteristics of breast cancer patients, where SLNB should not be spared to receive important indicators for adjuvant treatment decisions (e.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia.

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the more common functional disorders, with a prevalence of 10-20%. It affectsthe gastrointestinal tract.

Methods: This article is based on publications retrieved by a selective search of PubMed, with special attention to controlled trials, guidelines, and reviews.

CT-angiography of the aorta in patients with Marfan disease - High-pitch MDCT at different levels of tube voltage combined with Sinogram Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction.

Objectives: Aim of the study was the comparison of high-pitch dual-source CTA of the aorta acquired with different tube currents and methods of image reconstruction in patients with Marfan Disease (MFS).

Background: Patients with MFS receive repeatedly CT examinations of the entire aorta what leads to high cumulative lifetime radiation doses. Routine clinical use of low-kV-protocols in combination with iterative reconstruction for imaging of the aorta is still limited although this approach may be of great benefit for patients in need of serial follow-up scans.

Achieving high quality standards in laparoscopic colon resection for cancer: A Delphi consensus-based position paper.

Aim: To investigate the rate of laparoscopic colectomies for colon cancer using registries and population-based studies. To provide a position paper on mini-invasive (MIS) colon cancer surgery based on the opinion of experts leader in this field.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PRISMA guidelines for the rate of laparoscopy in colon cancer.

Effects of Combined Treatment with Vitamin D and COX2 Inhibitors on Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

Background: Vitamin D is known for its anticancer potential. Prostaglandin E (PGE) is a proliferative and inflammation-activating agent. The production of PGE is dependent on the activity of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2).

Lower Limb Amputation in Germany.

Background: Declining amputation rates have been reported in multiple countries in recent years. It is not yet known whether amputation rates have declined in Germany as well.

Methods: On the basis of DRG (diagnosis-related group) data, we received a list from the German Federal Statistical Office of all major and minor amputations documented in German hospitals from 2005 to 2014.

A prospective study on the natural history of patients with profound combined immunodeficiency: An interim analysis.

Background: Absent T-cell immunity resulting in life-threatening infections provides a clear rationale for hematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Combined immunodeficiencies (CIDs) and "atypical" SCID show reduced, not absent T-cell immunity. If associated with infections or autoimmunity, they represent profound combined immunodeficiency (P-CID), for which outcome data are insufficient for unambiguous early transplant decisions.