Neutralizing GDF-15 can overcome anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 resistance in solid tumours.

Cancer immunotherapies with antibodies blocking immune checkpoint molecules are clinically active across multiple cancer entities and have markedly improved cancer treatment. Yet, response rates are still limited, and tumour progression commonly occurs. Soluble and cell-bound factors in the tumour microenvironment negatively affect cancer immunity.

A new hernia blocking system to prevent recurrent lumbar disc herniation: surgical technique, intraoperative findings and six-months post-operative outcomes.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and safety of a new hernia blocking system (HBS), implanted after a limited discectomy, to prevent recurrence of lumbar disc herniation.

Methods: Prospective, multicenter (6 sites), cohort clinical investigation. Thirty patients with a postero-lateral disc herniation between L4-S1 and large annular defects (> 6 mm wide), who underwent a limited discectomy and were treated with a new HBS (DISC care, NEOS Surgery S.

[Translated article] Preoperative instillation of epinephrine and lidocaine can reduce surgical time in the endoscopic treatment of GTPS.

Introduction: Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is a multifactorial clinical condition affecting the lateral area of the hip. Although conservative treatment shows good results, some patients may still require surgical bursectomy, which can be performed either openly or endoscopically. One of the main technical difficulties of the endoscopic procedure is intraoperative bleeding, which can hinder the medical team's vision and increase the operation time for endoscopic treatment of GTPS.

Optimization of a commercial portal dose image prediction algorithm for pre-treatment verifications of plans using unflattened photon beams.

Background: The aim was to improve the portal dosimetry-based quality assurance results of conventional treatment plans by adjusting the multileaf collimator (MLC) dosimetric leaf gap (DLG) and transmission (T) values of the anisotropic analytic algorithm (AAA) used for portal dose image prediction (PDIP).

Materials And Methods: The AAA-based PDIP v. 16.

Experience with patient-specific quality assurance of dosimetrist-led online adaptive prostate SBRT.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the results of the local pre-treatment verifications of online adaptive prostate SBRT plans performed by dosimetrists METHODS AND MATERIALS: Prostate SBRT treatments are planned in our department using an online adaptive method developed and validated by our group. The adaptive plans were computed on the daily CBCT scan using the Acuros XB v. 16.

Preoperative instillation of epinephrine and lidocaine can reduce surgical time in the endoscopic treatment of GTPS.

Introduction: Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS) is a multifactorial clinical condition affecting the lateral area of the hip. Although conservative treatment shows good results, some patients may still require surgical bursectomy, which can be performed either openly or endoscopically. One of the main technical difficulties of the endoscopic procedure is intraoperative bleeding, which can hinder the medical team's vision and increase the operation time for endoscopic treatment of GTPS.

Platelet-rich plasma injections for the management of knee osteoarthritis: The ESSKA-ICRS consensus. Recommendations using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method for different clinical scenarios.

Purpose: The aim of this consensus was to develop evidence- and expert-based patient-focused recommendations on the appropriateness of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in different clinical scenarios of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was used by the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery, and Arthroscopy (ESSKA), as well as the International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) to reach a consensus and produce recommendations for specific patient categories combining best available scientific evidence with the collective judgement of a panel of experts.

Results: Scenarios were defined based on first treatment vs first injective treatment vs second injective treatment, age (<50/50-65/66-80/>80), tibiofemoral vs patellofemoral involvement, OA level (Kellgren-Lawrence/KL 0-I/II-III/IV), and joint effusion (dry knee, minor-mild or major effusion).

Efficacy and safety of subcutaneous immunotherapy with polymerized allergen mixtures in polyallergic patients - ARES observational study.

Background: Administration of allergen mixtures of many components comprises the most common approach for American allergists regarding the management of polyallergic patients. European allergists, however, are more reluctant to this type of treatment due to the potential drawbacks of mixing extracts.

Research Design And Methods: To assess the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) with polymerized allergen mixtures without dilutional effect in polyallergic patients.

Impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program indicator on the appropriateness of the empiric antibiotic treatment of urinary source Escherichia coli bacteraemia.

A prospective multicentre study was carried out between 2017 and 2021 to assess (1) the appropriateness of the empirical treatment to the local guidelines of urinary source Escherichia coli bacteraemia, (2) the appropriateness of empirical treatment to antibiotic sensitivity results and (3) the degree of error in the local guidelines regarding the antibiotic sensitivity reported in acute care hospitals enrolled in the vigilància de les infeccions relacionades amb l'atenció sanitària de Catalunya program. During the study period, 79.0% of the empirical treatments analysed complied with the guidelines and 88.

Successful correction of inverted nipple using silicone implants: A pioneering surgical approach.

Inverted nipples are commonly observed and can lead to challenges in breastfeeding, sexual experiences, and dissatisfaction with one's physical appearance. Currently, there is a lack of consensus on the optimal treatment approach. The use of a smooth silicone implant to reconstruct the nipple-areola complex in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction has recently been proposed.

The use of injectable orthobiologics for knee osteoarthritis: A European ESSKA-ORBIT consensus. Part 1-Blood-derived products (platelet-rich plasma).

Purpose: The aim of this European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) consensus is to provide recommendations based on evidence and expert opinion to improve indications, decision-making and administration-related aspects when using blood-derived orthobiologics (for simplicity indicated as PRP-platelet-rich plasma-with PRP being the most common product) for the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Leading European expert clinicians and scientists were divided into a steering group, a rating group and a peer review group. The steering group prepared 28 question-statement sets divided into three sections: PRP rationale and indications, PRP preparation and characterisation and PRP protocol.

Swarms of Enzyme-Powered Nanomotors Enhance the Diffusion of Macromolecules in Viscous Media.

Over the past decades, the development of nanoparticles (NPs) to increase the efficiency of clinical treatments has been subject of intense research. Yet, most NPs have been reported to possess low efficacy as their actuation is hindered by biological barriers. For instance, synovial fluid (SF) present in the joints is mainly composed of hyaluronic acid (HA).

Open, Observational, Single-Arm, Multicenter Study Assessing the Effectiveness of a Dietary Supplement Containing Hydrolyzed Collagen, Chondroitin Sulfate, and Glucosamine for Osteoarthritis Pain Reduction.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related degenerative joint disease with a great impact on patients' well-being and quality of life. This is an observational, open, single-arm multicenter study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutritional supplement in patients with knee and/or hip OA. A total of 186 patients were recruited from Spanish centers and received a supplement containing hydrolyzed collagen (3000 mg), chondroitin sulfate (800 mg), glucosamine sulfate (700 mg), turmeric extract (250 mg) and devil's claw (150 mg), once daily during 6 months.

Shockwave Treatment vs Surgery for Proximal Fifth Metatarsal Stress Fractures in Soccer Players: A Pilot Study.

Background: To compare the clinical, radiologic, and functional outcomes between shockwave and operative treatments for proximal fifth metatarsal stress fractures in soccer players in a pilot study.

Methods: Between 2017 and 2019, 18 soccer players with fifth metatarsal stress fractures attended at Mutualidad de Futbolistas Españoles-Delegación Catalana were included. Patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups receiving either surgery with an intramedullary screw (group 1) or high-energy focused extracorporeal shockwave treatment (group 2 performed once a week for 3 weeks using 2000 impulses at an energy flux density of 0.

PRIMO Monte Carlo software as a tool for commissioning of an external beam radiotherapy treatment planning system.

Background: The purpose was to validate the PRIMO Monte Carlo software to be used during the commissioning of a treatment planning system (TPS).

Materials And Methods: The Acuros XB v. 16.

Differences in postoperative knee function based on concomitant treatment of lateral meniscal injury in the setting of primary ACL reconstruction.

Background: Concomitant lateral meniscal (LM) injuries are common in acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures. However, the effect of addressing these injuries with various treatment methods during primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR) on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare postoperative Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at 2-, 5-, and 10-years after isolated primary ACLR to primary ACLR with various treatment methods to address concomitant LM injury.

A Phase I Study of the Pan-Notch Inhibitor CB-103 for Patients with Advanced Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and Other Tumors.

Purpose: CB-103 selectively inhibits the CSL-NICD (Notch intracellular domain) interaction leading to transcriptional downregulation of oncogenic Notch pathway activation. This dose-escalation/expansion study aimed to determine safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumor activity.

Experimental Design: Patients ≥18 years of age with selected advanced solid tumors [namely, adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC)] and hematologic malignancies were eligible.

Analysis of tumor infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ CDR3 sequences reveals shared features putatively associated to the anti-tumor immune response.

Introduction: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have predictive and prognostic value in breast cancer (BC) and exert a protective function against tumor growth, indicating that it is susceptible to treatment using adoptive cell transfer of TILs or T cell receptor (TCR)-based therapies. TCR can be used to identify naturally tumor-reactive T cells, but little is known about the differences in the TCR repertoires of CD4+ and CD8+ TILs.

Methods: TCR high-throughput sequencing was performed using TILs derived from the initial cultures of 11 BC biopsies and expanded and sorted CD4+ and CD8+ TILs as well as using PBMCs from healthy donors expanded and sorted using the same methodology.

Bionate nucleus disc replacement: bench testing comparing two different designs.

Background: Intervertebral disc nucleus degeneration initiates a degenerative cascade and can induce chronic low back pain. Nucleus replacement aims to replace the nucleus while the annulus is still intact. Over time, several designs have been introduced, but the definitive solution continues to be elusive.

The HAR-index: a reliable method for evaluating the risk of total hip arthroplasty conversion after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement.

Purpose: Hip arthroscopy is a growing technique in the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), but can sometimes lead to unsatisfactory results such as the early conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study is to describe a new tool for assessing the preoperative risk of THA conversion after hip arthroscopy in patients with FAI.

Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of 584 patients with FAI who underwent hip arthroscopy at a single centre with a minimum 2 years follow-up.

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Therapy Concomitant with Taxanes for Cancer Treatment.

Non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer all present with high morbidity and mortality. Systemic chemotherapies have historically been the cornerstone of standard of care (SOC) regimens for many cancers, but are associated with systemic toxicity. Multimodal treatment combinations can help improve patient outcomes; however, implementation is limited by additive toxicities and potential drug-drug interactions.

Bionate Lumbar Disc Nucleus Prosthesis: Biomechanical Studies in Cadaveric Human Spines.

Design: cadaveric spine nucleus replacement study.

Objective: determining Bionate 80A nucleus replacement biomechanics in cadaveric spines.

Methods: in cold preserved spines, with ligaments and discs intact, and no muscles, L-L, L-L, and L-S nucleus implantation was done.