Sex differences among patients receiving ticagrelor monotherapy or aspirin after coronary bypass surgery: A prespecified subgroup analysis of the TiCAB trial.

Background: There is limited evidence on the association of sex with outcomes among patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery (CABG) and treated with ticagrelor monotherapy or aspirin.

Methods: This was a pre-specified sub-analysis of TiCAB, an investigator-initiated placebo-controlled randomized trial. Primary efficacy endpoint was the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or repeat revascularization 1 year after CABG.

[Differences in Area Specific Life Satisfaction Between East and West Germans in the Years 1991, 2006 and 2020].

Research: Question How did the general and area specific life satisfaction evolve between East and West Germany between 1991 and 2020?

Methods: Based on three representative surveys in the years 1991, 2006 and 2020 life satisfaction between East and West Germany was examined using mean comparison with tests of significance. The influence of relevant sociodemographic variables was calculated using Univariate Variance Analyses.

Results: 1991 large differences in the general life satisfaction as well as with satisfaction in the areas of living, spare time, health, finances and occupational did occur, with people in East Germany reporting to be less satisfied.

Association of obesity with disease outcome in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Obesity reportedly increases the risk for developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but little is known about its association with disability accumulation.

Methods: This nationwide longitudinal cohort study included 1066 individuals with newly diagnosed MS from the German National MS cohort. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, relapse rates, MRI findings and choice of immunotherapy were compared at baseline and at years 2, 4 and 6 between obese (body mass index, BMI ≥30 kg/m) and non-obese (BMI <30 kg/m) patients and correlated with individual BMI values.

Early spinal cord pseudoatrophy in interferon-beta-treated multiple sclerosis.

Background And Purpose: Brain pseudoatrophy has been shown to play a pivotal role in the interpretation of brain atrophy measures during the first year of disease-modifying therapy in multiple sclerosis. Whether pseudoatrophy also affects the spinal cord remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the extent of pseudoatrophy in the upper spinal cord during the first 2 years after therapy initiation and compare this to the brain.

[Post COVID - Just a matter of definition?].

The prevalence of post-COVID syndrome (PCS) has not yet been conclusively clarified. The existing definitions primarily reflect temporal aspects, but disregard functional deficits as well as the objectification of symptoms. This leads to diagnostic as well as therapeutic ambiguities.

Subcutaneous injection of trastuzumab into the thigh versus abdominal wall in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer: Pharmacokinetic, safety and patients' preference - Substudy of the randomised phase III GAIN-2 study.

Background: Trastuzumab given intravenously in combination with chemotherapy is standard of care for patients with early HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). Different randomised studies have shown equivalent efficacy of a subcutaneous injection into the thigh compared to the intravenous formulation. Other body regions for injection have not been investigated but might be more convenient for patients.

[Sex- and Regionalspecific Differences in Child Abuse and Violence Before the German Reunification. Results from GESA, a Multi-Cohort Study].

Results from a population-based study suggest sex-specific patterns of self-reported child maltreatment, more frequently reported in former West than East Germany. Aim of the current study was to examine these patterns in two regional samples of the former East- (SHIP, 2008 - 2012) and West German (KORA, 2013 - 2014) population. Child maltreatment was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Screener (CTS).

AGO Recommendations for the Surgical Therapy of Breast Cancer: Update 2022.

The recommendations of the AGO Breast Committee on the surgical therapy of breast cancer were last updated in March 2022 (www.ago-online.de).

[Clinical aspects and care of radiogenic treatment side effects on the eye].

Malignant tumors of the eye can be successfully treated with radiotherapy, which, however, can lead to radiogenic side effects in the surrounding healthy tissues. A  distinction can be made between two forms of irradiation, external radiotherapy (teletherapy) and brachytherapy with a radiation source close to the tumor. The radiation dose is important for the occurrence of side effects.

AGO Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Early Breast Cancer: Update 2022.

Introduction: The AGO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie, German Gynecological Oncology Group) Task Force on Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer as an interdisciplinary team consists of specialists from gynecological oncology, pathology, diagnostic radiology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology with a special focus on breast cancer.

Methods: The updated evidence-based treatment recommendation 2022 for early breast cancer (EBC) and metastatic breast cancer of the AGO Task Force has been released.

Results And Conclusion: This paper captures the update of EBC.

AGO Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Locally Advanced and Metastatic Breast Cancer: Update 2022.

The Breast Committee of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie (German Gynecological Oncology Group, AGO) presents the 2022 update of the evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer.

Eosinophilic fasciitis (Shulman syndrome)-recognition of the histological spectrum allows for new insights into possible pathomechanisms.

Objectives: EF is a rare disease characterized by fibrosis and inflammation of the fascia, scleroderma-like skin indurations and optional blood eosinophilia. We aimed to expand the knowledge about its aetiology and pathogenesis.

Methods: Biopsy specimens from 16 EF patients were assessed by histology, immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription PCR in comparison with anti-Mi-2+ DM patients and non-disease controls.

Sex-specific impact of anthropometric parameters on outcomes after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for secondary mitral regurgitation.

Background: Body surface area (BSA) has been reported to be the stronger predictor for prognosis than body mass index in heart failure (HF) patients. The sex-specific association of BSA with mortality has been unclear.

Methods: EuroSMR, a European multicenter registry, included patients who underwent edge-to-edge repair (TEER) for secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR).

Retinal Vascular Occlusion after COVID-19 Vaccination: More Coincidence than Causal Relationship? Data from a Retrospective Multicentre Study.

Background: To investigate whether vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is associated with the onset of retinal vascular occlusive disease (RVOD).

Methods: In this multicentre study, data from patients with central and branch retinal vein occlusion (CRVO and BRVO), central and branch retinal artery occlusion (CRAO and BRAO), and anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION) were retrospectively collected during a 2-month index period (1 June-31 July 2021) according to a defined protocol. The relation to any previous vaccination was documented for the consecutive case series.

Right ventricular dysfunction predicts outcome after transcatheter mitral valve repair for primary mitral valve regurgitation.

Aims: Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD), as expressed by right ventricular to pulmonary artery coupling, has recently been identified as a strong outcome predictor in patients undergoing mitral valve edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) for secondary mitral regurgitation (MR). The aim of this study was to define RVD in patients undergoing M-TEER for primary MR (PMR) and to evaluate its impact on procedural MR reduction, symptomatic development and 2-year all-cause mortality.

Methods And Results: This multicentre study included patients undergoing M-TEER for symptomatic PMR at nine international centres.

Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Luspatercept for Anemia Treatment in Patients With Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes: The Phase II PACE-MDS Study.

JCO Luspatercept has high clinical activity in patients with transfusion-dependent lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) and ring sideroblasts (RS) relapsed or refractory to erythropoietin. We report long-term luspatercept safety and efficacy in 108 patients with LR-MDS in the PACE-MDS study, including 44 non-RS and 34 non-transfusion-dependent or previously untreated patients. The primary end point was safety.

Comprehensive cancer predisposition testing within the prospective MASTER trial identifies hereditary cancer patients and supports treatment decisions for rare cancers.

Background: Germline variant evaluation in precision oncology opens new paths toward the identification of patients with genetic tumor risk syndromes and the exploration of therapeutic relevance. Here, we present the results of germline variant analysis and their clinical implications in a precision oncology study for patients with predominantly rare cancers.

Patients And Methods: Matched tumor and control genome/exome and RNA sequencing was carried out for 1485 patients with rare cancers (79%) and/or young adults (77% younger than 51 years) in the National Center for Tumor Diseases/German Cancer Consortium (NCT/DKTK) Molecularly Aided Stratification for Tumor Eradication Research (MASTER) trial, a German multicenter, prospective, observational precision oncology study.

GWAS meta-analysis of 16 790 patients with Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma identifies 16 novel genetic risk loci and provides insights into disease aetiology beyond the single marker level.

Objective: Oesophageal cancer (EC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EA), with Barrett's oesophagus (BE) as a precursor lesion, is the most prevalent EC subtype in the Western world. This study aims to contribute to better understand the genetic causes of BE/EA by leveraging genome wide association studies (GWAS), genetic correlation analyses and polygenic risk modelling.

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair in Patients With Atrial Functional Mitral Regurgitation.

Background: Among patients with severe functional mitral regurgitation (FMR), atrial functional mitral regurgitation (aFMR) represents an underrecognized entity. Data regarding outcomes after mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) in aFMR remain scarce.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze the outcome of aFMR patients undergoing M-TEER.

Extravascular lung water levels are associated with mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The prognostic value of extravascular lung water (EVLW) measured by transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) in critically ill patients is debated. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies assessing the effects of TPTD-estimated EVLW on mortality in critically ill patients.

Methods: Cohort studies published in English from Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from 1960 to 1 June 2021 were systematically searched.

Guideline-directed medical therapy in patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for secondary mitral regurgitation.

Aims: Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), based on the combination of beta-blockers (BB), renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASI), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), is known to have a major impact on the outcome of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Although GDMT is recommended prior to mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER), not all patients tolerate it. We studied the association of GDMT prescription with survival in HFrEF patients undergoing M-TEER for secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR).

Multi-omics profiling identifies a deregulated FUS-MAP1B axis in ALS/FTD-associated UBQLN2 mutants.

Ubiquilin-2 (UBQLN2) is a ubiquitin-binding protein that shuttles ubiquitinated proteins to proteasomal and autophagic degradation. UBQLN2 mutations are genetically linked to the neurodegenerative disorders amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD). However, it remains elusive how UBQLN2 mutations cause ALS/FTD.