A Preoperative Clinical Risk Score Including C-Reactive Protein Predicts Histological Tumor Characteristics and Patient Survival after Surgery for Sporadic Non-Functional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: An International Multicenter Cohort Study.

Oncological survival after resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (panNEN) is highly variable depending on various factors. Risk stratification with preoperatively available parameters could guide decision-making in multidisciplinary treatment concepts. C-reactive Protein (CRP) is linked to inferior survival in several malignancies.

Compassionate Use of Remdesivir for Patients with Severe Covid-19.

Background: Remdesivir, a nucleotide analogue prodrug that inhibits viral RNA polymerases, has shown in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: We provided remdesivir on a compassionate-use basis to patients hospitalized with Covid-19, the illness caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2. Patients were those with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who had an oxygen saturation of 94% or less while they were breathing ambient air or who were receiving oxygen support.

A High-Fat Diet Increases Influenza A Virus-Associated Cardiovascular Damage.

Background: Influenza A virus (IAV) causes a wide range of extrarespiratory complications. However, the role of host factors in these complications of influenza virus infection remains to be defined.

Methods: Here, we sought to use transcriptional profiling, virology, histology, and echocardiograms to investigate the role of a high-fat diet in IAV-associated cardiac damage.

Can a Simple Geriatric Assessment Predict the Outcome of TURP?

Purpose: To determine the impact of a simple preoperative geriatric assessment on the outcome in older patients with recurrent urinary retention who underwent desobstructive surgery.

Patients And Methods: Patients aged 75 years or older with recurrent urinary retention referred for TURP entered this prospective, multicentre study. Several demographic, intra- and postoperative parameters were assessed.

Phytotherapy Adds to the Therapeutic Armamentarium for the Treatment of Mild-To-Moderate Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Men.

Background: Practice guidelines hardly recommend herbal extracts for male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). However, many patients are unsatisfied with first-line synthetic drugs and often prefer herbal medicines because of good tolerability. To improve the decision-making process, which should consider the patients' expectations, it is crucial to reflect on the role of phytotherapy in the treatment of LUTS.

Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds-Dead End or Still a Rough Diamond?

Percutaneous coronary interventions with stent-based restorations of vessel patency have become the gold standard in the treatment of acute coronary states. Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) have been designed to combine the efficiency of drug-eluting stents (DES) at the time of implantation and the advantages of a lack of foreign body afterwards. Complete resolution of the scaffold was intended to enable the restoration of vasomotor function and reduce the risk of device thrombosis.

Effect of Combination l-Citrulline and Metformin Treatment on Motor Function in Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Nitric oxide precursors, such as the amino acid l-arginine and the biguanide antidiabetic drug metformin, have been associated with metabolism and muscle function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The treatment of DMD remains an unmet medical need.

Objective: To evaluate the benefits and harms of a combination of l-citrulline and metformin treatment among patients with DMD.

Impact of Fibroblast-Derived SPARC on Invasiveness of Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular protein modulating cell-matrix interactions and was found up-regulated in tumor stroma. To explore the effect of high stromal SPARC on colorectal cancer (CRC) cell behavior and clinical outcome, this study determined SPARC expression in patients suffering from stage II and III CRC using a publicly available mRNA data set and immunohistochemistry of tissue microarray sections. Moreover, in vitro co-culture models using CRC cell lines together with colon-associated fibroblasts were established to determine the effect of fibroblast-derived SPARC on cancer cells.

Observations on Solitary Versus Multiple Isolated Pancreatic Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma: Another Indication of a Seed and Soil Mechanism?

Isolated pancreas metastases are a rare type of metastasis of renal cell carcinoma, characterized by the presence of pancreatic metastases, while all other organs remain unaffected. In a previous study, we determined arguments from the literature which (a) indicate a systemic-haematogenic metastasis route (uniform distribution of the metastases across the pancreas and independence of the metastatic localization in the pancreas of the side of the renal carcinoma); and (b) postulate a high impact of a seed and soil mechanism (SSM) on isolated pancreatic metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (isPM) as an explanation for exclusive pancreatic metastases, despite a systemic haematogenous tumor cell embolization. The objective of the study presented was to search for further arguments in favor of an SSM with isPM.

A non-randomized trial of conversion from ciclosporin and tacrolimus to tacrolimus MR4 in stable long-term kidney transplant recipients: Graft function and influences of ABCB1 genotypes.

PEP Study: Ethics committee N° 393/2004, EudraCT 2004-004209-98. PEP-X Study: Ethics committee amendment application N° 154/01/2008. ClinicalTrials.

Is there a clinical difference between influenza A and B virus infections in hospitalized patients? : Results after routine polymerase chain reaction point-of-care testing in the emergency room from 2017/2018.

Purpose: The clinical presentation, complications and mortality in molecularly confirmed influenza A and B infections were analyzed.

Methods: This retrospective observational single-centre study included all influenza positive patients older than 18 years who were hospitalized and treated at the flu isolation ward during 2017/2018. The diagnosis was based on point-of-care tests with the Alere.

Influenza virus infection: an approach to identify predictors for in-hospital and 90-day mortality from patients in Vienna during the season 2017/18.

Background: Seasonal influenza outbreaks are associated with increased mortality and hospitalisation rates. Herein we tried to identify predictors of mortality in hospitalised patients with influenza virus infection.

Materials/methods: In this exploratory retrospective observational single-centre-study we included all influenza-positive patients older than 18 years who were hospitalised and treated at the flu-isolation-ward during the influenza season 2017/18.

The 3-60 criteria challenge established predictors of postoperative mortality and enable timely therapeutic intervention after liver resection.

Background: To date, definitions of liver dysfunction (LD) after hepatic resection rely on late postoperative time points. Further, the used parameters are markedly influenced by perioperative management. Thus, we aimed to establish a very early postoperative score to predict postoperative mortality.

Organ-sparing surgery of penile cancer: higher rate of local recurrence yet no impact on overall survival.

Purpose: To report on the oncological outcome of organ-sparing surgery (OSS) compared to (total or partial) penectomy regarding recurrence patterns and survival in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients with penile SCC and eligible follow-up data of at least 2 years at our institution. Patients with tumors staged ≥ pT1G2 underwent invasive lymph node (LN) staging by dynamic sentinel-node biopsy or modified inguinal lymphadenectomy.

Medication Adherence and Coping Strategies in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if strategies for coping with illnesses, demographic factors, and clinical factors were associated with medication adherence among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a Viennese rheumatology outpatient clinic on RA patients. Medication adherence was assessed using the Medication Adherence Report Scale.

Pathophysiology of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Benign Prostatic Enlargement: A Mini-Review.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) belong to the most frequent diseases in ageing men. Beyond the 6th decade of life, more than 30% of men suffer from moderate to severe LUTS requiring intervention. The pathophysiology of BPH/BPE is still incompletely understood.

Biallelic loss-of-function P4HTM gene variants cause hypotonia, hypoventilation, intellectual disability, dysautonomia, epilepsy, and eye abnormalities (HIDEA syndrome).

Purpose: A new syndrome with hypotonia, intellectual disability, and eye abnormalities (HIDEA) was previously described in a large consanguineous family. Linkage analysis identified the recessive disease locus, and genome sequencing yielded three candidate genes with potentially pathogenic biallelic variants: transketolase (TKT), transmembrane prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P4HTM), and ubiquitin specific peptidase 4 (USP4). However, the causative gene remained elusive.

Claros System: A Rapid Microfluidics-Based Point-of-Care System for Quantitative Prostate Specific Antigen Analysis from Finger-Stick Blood.

Introduction: Determination of circulating prostate specific antigen (PSA) is commonly used in the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of prostate cancer [1]. Presently, PSA testing is performed in centralized laboratories, which is associated with prolonged time between venipuncture and the PSA value being available. In this prospective study, we present a new and rapid test system for the quantitative determination of PSA levels from finger-stick blood.

Increased platelet reactivity in dyslipidemic patients with coronary artery disease on dual anti-platelet therapy.

Introduction: The optimal duration of dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still a matter of debate. Biomarkers may help to identify patients who will benefit from extended DAPT. The aim of the study was to test the interaction between lipid parameters and platelet function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) on DAPT.

A Head-to-Head Comparison of the Vascular Basis of the Transverse Myocutaneous Gracilis, Profunda Artery Perforator, and Fasciocutaneous Infragluteal Flaps: An Anatomical Study.

Background: Perforator flaps of the upper thigh or buttock provide a valuable secondary choice in autologous breast reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to compare the vascular territories and supplying vessels of the transverse myocutaneous gracilis flap, the profunda artery perforator flap, and the fasciocutaneous infragluteal flap.

Methods: In total, 26 lower limbs from 13 fresh specimens were investigated.

Bilateral vs ipsilateral adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with cancer of unknown primary of the head and neck: An analysis of the clinical outcome and radiation-induced side effects.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare ipsilateral and bilateral adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP) of the head and neck.

Methods: Overall survival, recurrence-free survival, and radiation-induced side effects were assessed in 76 patients with CUP who underwent ipsilateral (n = 29) or bilateral (n = 47) radiotherapy.

Results: At a median follow-up of 41 months, the 5-year overall survival and recurrence-free rate were 67.

The Combination of APRI and ALBI Facilitates Preoperative Risk Stratification for Patients Undergoing Liver Surgery After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NeoCTx) is performed for most patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM). However, chemotherapy-associated liver injury (CALI) has been associated with poor postoperative outcome. To date, however, no clinically applicable and noninvasive tool exists to assess CALI before liver resection.

Hypoalbuminemia as predictor of recurrence of Clostridium difficile infection.

Background: Novel drugs for Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infections have been proven to reduce recurrent infections. Because of their high financial costs, identification of patients at high risk for recurrence is essential to provide optimal treatment.

A cross-sectional study on self-reported physical and mental health-related quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis and the role of illness perception.

Background: Psychosocial models including illness perception might explain individual differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and daily functioning in chronically ill patients. The aim of this study was to assess the association of illness perception among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with physical and mental HRQoL, adjusted for demographic variables, clinical variables and social support.

Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at a Viennese rheumatology outpatient clinic on 120 RA patients.