Changes in Bladder Volume During Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer.

Background/aim: Patients irradiated for prostate cancer may experience urinary toxicity, particularly if the bladder volume is small. A mobile application (app) that reminds the patients to drink water prior to each radiation fraction may help avoid small volumes. This study investigating bladder volumes during a radiotherapy course is a prerequisite for a prospective trial testing such a reminder app.

Associations Between Mean Lung Dose and Prevalence of Radiation Pneumonitis in Elderly Lung Cancer Patients.

Background/aim: Pneumonitis is a serious radiotherapy complication. This study, which is a prerequisite for a prospective trial, aimed to identify the prevalence of pneumonitis and risk factors in elderly patients with lung cancer.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-eight lung cancer patients aged ≥65 years were included.

The CAR-HEMATOTOX score as a prognostic model of toxicity and response in patients receiving BCMA-directed CAR-T for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Background: BCMA-directed CAR T-cell therapy (CAR-T) has altered the treatment landscape of relapsed/refractory (r/r) multiple myeloma, but is hampered by unique side effects that can lengthen hospital stays and increase morbidity. Hematological toxicity (e.g.

Exceptional response to neoadjuvant targeted therapy with the selective RET inhibitor selpercatinib in RET-fusion-associated sarcoma.

With the increasing use of next-generation sequencing, highly effective targeted therapies have been emerging as treatment options for several cancer types. Recurrent gene-fusions have been recognized in sarcomas; however, options for targeted therapy remain scarce. Here, we describe a case of a sarcoma, associated with a RET::TRIM33-fusion gene with an exceptional response to a neoadjuvant therapy with the selective RET inhibitor selpercatinib.

Treosulfan compared with reduced-intensity busulfan improves allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation outcomes of older acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome patients: Final analysis of a prospective randomized trial.

The phase III study was designed to compare event-free survival (EFS) after treosulfan-based conditioning with a widely applied reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) busulfan regimen in older or comorbid patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). A previously reported confirmatory interim analysis of the randomized clinical study including 476 patients demonstrated statistically significant noninferiority for treosulfan with clinically meaningful improvement in EFS. Here, the final study results and pre-specified subgroup analyses of all 570 randomized patients with completed longer-term follow-up are presented.

Availability as key determinant in the palliative home care setting from the patients' and family caregivers' perspectives: A quantitative-qualitative-content analysis approach.

Objective: A sense of security is important in palliative home care. Yet, knowledge about which components contribute most to feeling secure from the patients' and family caregivers' perspectives, especially since the introduction of specialist palliative home care, is sparse. The goal of the current study was to determine the key components contributing to a sense of security and how they relate to each other as experienced by patients and family caregivers in specialist and generalist palliative home care.

Extrahepatic Surgery in Cirrhosis Significantly Increases Portal Pressure in Preclinical Animal Models.

Liver cirrhosis is a relevant comorbidity with increasing prevalence. Postoperative decompensation and development of complications in patients with cirrhosis remains a frequent clinical problem. Surgery has been discussed as a precipitating event for decompensation and complications of cirrhosis, but the underlying pathomechanisms are still obscure.

An integrated multi-omics analysis identifies prognostic molecular subtypes of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

The molecular landscape in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is characterized by large biological heterogeneity with variable clinical outcomes. Here, we perform an integrative multi-omics analysis of patients diagnosed with NMIBC (n = 834). Transcriptomic analysis identifies four classes (1, 2a, 2b and 3) reflecting tumor biology and disease aggressiveness.

Fatigue in advanced disease associated with palliative care: A systematic review of non-pharmacological treatments.

Background: Fatigue is a common complaint reported by patients with advanced disease, impacting their daily activities and quality of life. The pathophysiology is incompletely understood, and evidence-based treatment approaches are needed.

Aim: This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions as treatment for fatigue in advanced disease.

Robotic Salvage Lymph Node Dissection in Recurrent Prostate Cancer: Lessons Learned from 68 Cases and Implications for Future Clinical Management.

Purpose: Salvage lymph node dissection is a rescue treatment for patients with nodal recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Very limited data are available on robotic salvage lymph node dissection. Our purpose was to investigate perioperative and oncological outcomes of robotic salvage lymph node dissection in a large monocentric series.

Microvascular tissue transfer after the resection of soft tissue sarcomas.

Background: Microvascular tissue transfer enables the oncological resection of soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities and the trunk by covering the resulting tissue defects that are often extensive. This study was performed to investigate the long-term survival and functional outcome of patients treated with free flaps after sarcoma resection.

Methods: A total of 78 sarcoma patients received microvascular tissue transfer in our institution between March 2003 and January 2013.

Sleeve lobectomy versus lobectomy for primary treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer: A single-center retrospective analysis.

Background And Objectives: It is unclear how much additional perioperative risk a sleeve lobectomy could pose in comparison to lobectomy. The objective of this analysis was to compare the complication rate, 30-day mortality, and overall survival between lobectomy and sleeve lobectomy without prior neoadjuvant treatment in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: This is a retrospective study using our prospective database for quality assurance in our hospital.

Comparison of magnetic resonance defecography with pelvic floor ultrasound and vaginal inspection in the urogynecological diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction.

Introduction: The aim of the study is to evaluate the use of pelvic floor (PF) ultrasound and vaginal inspection in the quantification of prolapse and to compare findings with magnetic resonance (MR) defecography in a blind study.

Materials And Methods: Data from the dynamic MR imaging (MRI) defecography were compared and evaluated with PF ultrasound and vaginal examinations (VEs) in 45 female patients aged from 52 to 94, between the years 2016 and 2018. With regard to the pelvic organ prolapse (POP), MRI defecography revealed changes in the mid-pubic line.

Neurogeriatrics-a vision for improved care and research for geriatric patients with predominating neurological disabilities.

Geriatric medicine is a rapidly evolving field that addresses diagnostic, therapeutic and care aspects of older adults. Some disabilities and disorders affecting cognition (e.g.

Orbit in a Box: A Simplified Technique for Patient-Specific Virtually Planned Orbital Floor Reconstruction.

Purpose: Possibilities for the reconstruction of orbital floor fractures have been extensive for years with regard to materials, methods and differential indications and are inconsistent worldwide. With the spread of CAD/CAM techniques, new and mostly time-consuming possibilities for orbital floor reconstructions have been added.

Methods: The simple and time-efficient CT-to-patient-specific implant workflow presented here shows that a "form-box" can be created from a patient's computer tomography data set using planning software and a 3D printer.

The perception of barriers concerning opioid medicines: A survey examining differences between policy makers, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.

Background: In many countries, the consumption of opioid medicines is too low to meet population needs. Discussions within the Access To Opioid Medication in Europe project indicated that there may be significant differences in the perception of barriers for their adequate use, depending on the stakeholders.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the perception of barriers and their impact concerning opioid medicines, comparing policy makers, healthcare professionals working in the field of pain management, palliative care or harm reduction and other stakeholders.

Management of the inter-segmental plane using the "Combined Dimensional Reduction Method" is safe and viable in uniport video-assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy.

Background: The management of the intersegmental plane (ISP) is challenging during uniport video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) pulmonary segmentectomy. Staplers and electrocautery have been used extensively in ISP management. However, both of them have their respective drawbacks.

Treosulfan or busulfan plus fludarabine as conditioning treatment before allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation for older patients with acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome (MC-FludT.14/L): a randomised, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial.

Background: Further improvement of preparative regimens before allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an unmet medical need for the growing number of older or comorbid patients with acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of conditioning with treosulfan plus fludarabine compared with reduced-intensity busulfan plus fludarabine in this population.

Methods: We did an open-label, randomised, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial in 31 transplantation centres in France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Poland.

Volunteers in a biography project with palliative care patients - a feasibility study.

Background: Increasing the quality of life with short interventions for vulnerable patients is one of the objectives of palliative care. Biographical approaches are used in a range of different interventions which may require considerable resources of staff time and energy. This study evaluated the feasibility of training hospice volunteers in biographical interviews of patients confronted with a life-limiting disease.

Observational pain assessment in older persons with dementia in four countries: Observer agreement of items and factor structure of the Pain Assessment in Impaired Cognition.

Background: Recognition of pain in people with dementia is challenging. Observational scales have been developed, but there is a need to harmonize and improve the assessment process. In EU initiative COST-Action TD1005, 36 promising items were selected from existing scales to be tested further.