MRI-based radiomics for predicting histology in malignant salivary gland tumors: methodology and "proof of principle".

Defining the exact histological features of salivary gland malignancies before treatment remains an unsolved problem that compromises the ability to tailor further therapeutic steps individually. Radiomics, a new methodology to extract quantitative information from medical images, could contribute to characterizing the individual cancer phenotype already before treatment in a fast and non-invasive way. Consequently, the standardization and implementation of radiomic analysis in the clinical routine work to predict histology of salivary gland cancer (SGC) could also provide improvements in clinical decision-making.

Prevalence of colorectal cancer and its precursor lesions in symptomatic patients under 55 years of age undergoing total colonoscopy: results of a large retrospective, multicenter, controlled endoscopy study.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in Germany. Around 60,000 people were diagnosed CRC in 2016 in Germany. Since 2019, screening colonoscopies are offered in Germany for men by the age of 50 and for women by the age of 55.

Randomized phase-III-trial of concurrent chemoradiation for locally advanced head and neck cancer comparing dose reduced radiotherapy with paclitaxel/cisplatin to standard radiotherapy with fluorouracil/cisplatin: The PacCis-trial.

Background And Purpose: This multicenter, phase 3 trial investigates whether the incorporation of concurrent paclitaxel and cisplatin together with a reduced total dose of radiotherapy is superior to standard fluorouracil-cisplatin based CRT.

Materials And Methods: Patients with SCCHN, stage III-IVB, were randomized to receive paclitaxel/cisplatin (PacCis)-CRT (arm A; paclitaxel 20 mg/m on days 2, 5, 8, 11 and 25, 30, 33, 36; cisplatin 20 mg/m, days 1-4 and 29-32; RT to a total dose of 63.6 Gy) or fluorouracil/cisplatin (CisFU)-CRT (arm B; fluorouracil 600 mg/m; cisplatin 20 mg/m, days 1-5 and 29-33; RT: 70.

Use of Antiplatelet Agents Is Inversely Associated With Liver Fibrosis in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.

Platelets participate in the development of liver fibrosis in animal models, but little is known about the benefit of antiplatelet agents in preventing liver fibrosis in humans. We therefore explored the relationship between the use of antiplatelet agents and liver fibrosis in a prospective cohort study of patients at high risk of liver fibrosis and cardiovascular events. Consecutive patients undergoing elective coronary angiography at the University Hospital Frankfurt were prospectively included in the present study.

Heterozygous carriage of the alpha1-antitrypsin Pi*Z variant increases the risk to develop liver cirrhosis.

Objective: Homozygous alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency increases the risk for developing cirrhosis, whereas the relevance of heterozygous carriage remains unclear. Hence, we evaluated the impact of the two most relevant AAT variants ('Pi*Z' and 'Pi*S'), present in up to 10% of Caucasians, on subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or alcohol misuse.

Design: We analysed multicentric case-control cohorts consisting of 1184 people with biopsy-proven NAFLD and of 2462 people with chronic alcohol misuse, both cohorts comprising cases with cirrhosis and controls without cirrhosis.

Patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 variants differentially impact metabolic traits in individuals at high risk for cardiovascular events.

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs738409 C>G in the patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 () gene results in an amino acid exchange from isoleucin to methionine at position I148M of PNPLA3. The expression of this loss-of-function mutation leads to impaired hepatocellular triglyceride hydrolysis and is associated with the development of liver steatosis, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In contrast to these well-established associations, the relationship of the rs738409 variant with other metabolic traits is incompletely understood.

Pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy in patients with postoperative Crohn's disease: a pilot study.

Background: Patients are at increased risk of disease recurrence after surgical treatment of Crohn's disease. Endoscopic detection of postoperative, ileo-colonic inflammation is well established, but the potential of pan-intestinal endoscopy is yet unknown.

Methods: This prospective multicenter pilot study assessed the value of pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy using a colon capsule endoscope for the detection of inflammatory recurrence of Crohn´s disease.

Neuroblastoma cells depend on HDAC11 for mitotic cell cycle progression and survival.

The number of long-term survivors of high-risk neuroblastoma remains discouraging, with 10-year survival as low as 20%, despite decades of considerable international efforts to improve outcome. Major obstacles remain and include managing resistance to induction therapy, which causes tumor progression and early death in high-risk patients, and managing chemotherapy-resistant relapses, which can occur years after the initial diagnosis. Identifying and validating novel therapeutic targets is essential to improve treatment.

Visualization of tissue alterations in thyroid nodules after microwave ablation: sonographic versus scintigraphic imaging.

Objective: The aim of this study was to elucidate the potential of B-mode sonography, colour-coded Doppler sonography and scintigraphic imaging as diagnostic methods for the evaluation of treatment success and follow-up of thyroid nodules after microwave ablation.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six thyroid nodules in 33 patients were subjected to microwave ablation and were evaluated by means of B-mode sonography, colour-coded Doppler sonography and scintigraphic imaging before and after ablation. B-mode sonography results were characterized by echogenicity that was assigned ultrasound scores (US).

The pleiotropic profile of the indirubin derivative 6BIO overcomes TRAIL resistance in cancer.

TRAIL (TNFα-related apoptosis-inducing factor) has been promoted as a promising anti-cancer agent. Unfortunately many tumor cells develop resistance towards TRAIL due to numerous defects in apoptotic signaling. To handle this problem combination therapy with compounds affecting as many different anti-apoptotic targets as possible might be a feasible approach.

Phenotypic characterization of miR-92a-/- mice reveals an important function of miR-92a in skeletal development.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) emerged as key regulators of gene expression. Germline hemizygous deletion of the gene that encodes the miR-17∼92 miRNA cluster was associated with microcephaly, short stature and digital abnormalities in humans. Mice deficient for the miR-17∼92 cluster phenocopy several features such as growth and skeletal development defects and exhibit impaired B cell development.

Differential expression of miR-17~92 identifies BCL2 as a therapeutic target in BCR-ABL-positive B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Despite advances in allogeneic stem cell transplantation, BCR-ABL-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) remains a high-risk disease, necessitating the development of novel treatment strategies. As the known oncomir, miR-17~92, is regulated by BCR-ABL fusion in chronic myeloid leukaemia, we investigated its role in BCR-ABL translocated ALL. miR-17~92-encoded miRNAs were significantly less abundant in BCR-ABL-positive as compared to -negative ALL-cells and overexpression of miR-17~19b triggered apoptosis in a BCR-ABL-dependent manner.

Patients with inferior vena cava thrombosis frequently present with lower back pain and bilateral lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis.

Background: Inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis is rare, and data about the clinical presentation of patients are scarce. Therefore, we reviewed all cases of IVC thrombosis consecutively registered in the MAISTHRO (MAin-ISar-THROmbosis) database and described patients’ characteristics in terms of their clinical presentations in the acute setting of IVC thrombosis.

Patients And Methods: From the MAISTHRO registry, which enrolled 1470 consecutive patients with documented histories of venous thromboembolism, we identified 60 patients (0,4 %; females 60 %) with IVC thrombosis and 888 patients (60.

Dual-source 128-slice MDCT neck: radiation dose and image quality estimation of three different protocols.

Purpose: To estimate the radiation dose and image quality of single-source (SSCT), high-pitch (HPCT), and dual-energy (DECT) protocols of a dual-source CT (DSCT) system for the examination of neck.

Materials And Methods: 180 patients were randomized to one of the three protocols: 60 patients (age: 55.4 ± 12 years; range: 44-84 years) were examined with a SSCT, other 60 (59.

Efficacy of the EZ-IO needle driver for out-of-hospital intraosseous access--a preliminary, observational, multicenter study.

Background: Intraosseous (IO) access represents a reliable alternative to intravenous vascular access and is explicitly recommended in the current guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council when intravenous access is difficult or impossible. We therefore aimed to study the efficacy of the intraosseous needle driver EZ-IO in the prehospital setting.

Methods: During a 24-month period, all cases of prehospital IO access using the EZ-IO needle driver within three operational areas of emergency medical services were prospectively recorded by a standardized questionnaire that needed to be filled out by the rescuer immediately after the mission and sent to the primary investigator.

Inferior vena cava thrombosis and its relationship with the JAK2V617F mutation and chronic myeloproliferative disease.

Background: Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is a typical manifestation of polycythaemia vera (PV) or essential thrombocythaemia (ET). The recently discovered JAK2V617F somatic mutation is closely associated with chronic myeloproliferative disease (CMD). We investigated whether thrombosis involving the inferior vena cava (IVC) is also related to the JAK2V617F mutation or CMD.

Effects of hyperoxic ventilation on 6-h survival at the critical haemoglobin concentration aggravated by experimentally induced tachycardia in anaesthetized pigs.

Aim: Administration of 100% oxygen [hyperoxic ventilation (HV)] has been proven to ameliorate oxygen transport, tissue oxygenation and survival in different models of extreme normovolemic and hypovolemic anaemia. However, up to date, it is unknown whether HV is also able to improve outcome of extreme anaemia if myocardial oxygen consumption is contemporaneously increased by tachycardia. Therefore, we investigated the influence of HV on the 6-h survival rate during extreme anaemia and aggravated by experimentally induced tachycardia in a prospective, randomized study in a pig model of critical anaemia.

Application, tolerance and safety of fondaparinux therapy in a German hospital: a prospective single-centre experience.

Introduction: The pentasaccharide fondaparinux is widely approved for prophylaxis and treatment of thromboembolic diseases and therapy of acute coronary syndrome. It is also used off-label in patients with acute, suspected or antecedent heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). The aim of this prospective observational cohort study was to document fondaparinux' prescription practice, tolerance and therapy safety in a representative mixed German single-centre patient cohort.

Assessment of mumps virus-specific antibodies by different serological assays: which test correlates best with mumps immunity?

Mumps is one of the vaccine-preventable childhood diseases and it has not yet been eradicated in Germany. This raises the question as to whether the available mumps vaccines are effective enough to prevent mumps and which antibody test system allows the authentic assigning of mumps-specific immunity. In an attempt to answer this question, we analysed 227 sera samples from medical students of the University Hospital Frankfurt/Main, Germany, using different test systems: indirect immune fluorescence, neutralisation assay, routine ELISA and newly developed immunoassays, which contain the mumps nucleoprotein and the wild-type strain Enders ATCC VR106, respectively.

Phenotypic differences of human neutrophils of carriers of the PSGL-1 A and B-allele in binding to immobilised P-selectin under flow conditions.

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) interacts with P-selectin expressed on endothelial cells and platelets. PSGL-1 extracellular mucin-like domain displays a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) polymorphism. The wildtype consists of 16 decameric repeats (designated A isoforms) and variants with 15 (B allele) and 14 (C allele) repeats that are assumed to be associated with reduced risk of vascular disease.

Normovolemic modified ultrafiltration is associated with better preserved platelet function and less postoperative blood loss in patients undergoing complex cardiac surgery: a randomized and controlled study.

Objective: The purpose of the investigation was to study the impact of normovolemic modified ultrafiltration (N-MUF) on hemostasis and perioperative blood loss.

Methods: Fifty patients scheduled for elective complex cardiac surgery were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, and controlled study. Patients were randomized into a control group (n = 25) or an N-MUF group (n = 25).

Tranexamic acid partially improves platelet function in patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy.

Background: Although the impact of tranexamic acid on platelet function remains controversial, tranexamic acid is part of clinical algorithms for the management of platelet dysfunction. The goal of our prospective, observational study was to examine the effects of tranexamic acid on platelet function in patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy compared to those who ceased antiplatelet therapy for at least 7 days.

Methods: Forty patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were enrolled in this study.

Tracheal intubation using the mobile C-MAC video laryngoscope or direct laryngoscopy for patients with a simulated difficult airway.

Background: Several studies have shown that video laryngoscopy enhances the laryngeal view in patients with apparently normal and anticipated difficult airways. The utility of the novel, portable, battery-powered C-MAC video laryngoscope is unproven, but its design makes it potentially useful for emergency situations. We hypothesized that, in patients with a simulated difficult airway created by means of a rigid cervical immobilization collar, the rate of glottic views considered "failed" under direct laryngoscopy could be significantly reduced with the C-MAC video laryngoscope.

Cuff overinflation and endotracheal tube obstruction: case report and experimental study.

Background: Initiated by a clinical case of critical endotracheal tube (ETT) obstruction, we aimed to determine factors that potentially contribute to the development of endotracheal tube obstruction by its inflated cuff. Prehospital climate and storage conditions were simulated.

Methods: Five different disposable ETTs (6.