Left Atrial Appendage Closure in Atrial Fibrillation Patients with Cancer.

: There are limited data about left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in patients with cancer. We therefore sought to compare the outcome after LAAC in patients with vs. without cancer in a multicentre registry.

Snow sports-specific extension of the IOC consensus statement: methods for recording and reporting epidemiological data on injury and illness in sports.

The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) consensus statement on 'methods for recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sport' recommended standardising methods to advance data collection and reporting consistency. However, additional aspects need to be considered when these methods are applied to specific sports settings. Therefore, we have developed a snow sports-specific extension of the IOC statement to promote the harmonisation of injury and illness registration methods among athletes of all levels and categories in the different disciplines governed by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), which is also applicable to other related snow sports such as biathlon, ski mountaineering, and to some extent, para snow sports.

Defining vulnerabilities and enabling community engagement in epidemics preparedness: the CAVE model from Austria.

During the COVID-19 outbreak the transdisciplinary research project CAVE (Community Engagement and Vulnerability Assessment in Epidemics) investigated perceptions and practicability of public health communication among stakeholders of care and social facilities in Austria. It aimed at finding accurate definitions of vulnerability in the context of epidemics and at developing operational models for engagement of vulnerable groups in co-creating epidemic response mechanisms. Transdisciplinary methods included semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and desk reviews as well as spatial analysis and composite indicator-based mapping methods.

Multicentre frozen elephant trunk technique experience as redo surgery to treat residual type A aortic dissections following ascending aortic replacement.

Objectives: The goal of this project was to assess the efficacy of a reoperative frozen elephant trunk (FET) operation for treating residual type A aortic dissections.

Methods: Between April 2015 and October 2023, a total of 237 patients underwent elective redo surgical aortic arch replacement via the FET technique to treat residual type A aortic dissection in 11 European aortic centres. Data were pooled and analysed retrospectively.

Lipoprotein(a) concentrations and cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease: Results from the German Chronic Kidney Disease study.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a causal, genetically determined risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased CVD risk and elevated Lp(a) concentrations. Only a few studies on Lp(a) were performed in persons with mild-to-moderate CKD; none of them used genetic variants to explore potential causal associations.

Pediatric kidney transplantation in Europe, a clinical snapshot pilot.

Background: Pediatric kidney transplantations are rarely performed, and there is limited knowledge about the diversity in current clinical practices across Europe. This study aims to explore the utility of clinical snapshot studies in identifying these disparities, establishing a foundation for future snapshot studies and standardization efforts.

Methods: A pilot clinical snapshot study was conducted, with invitations extended to all 109 pediatric kidney transplant centres in Europe.

Adipokines: masterminds of metabolic inflammation.

Adipose tissue is an immunologically active organ that controls host physiology, partly through the release of mediators termed adipokines. In obesity, adipocytes and infiltrating leukocytes produce adipokines, which include the hormones adiponectin and leptin and cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor and IL-1β. These adipokines orchestrate immune responses that are collectively referred to as metabolic inflammation.

Association of Urinary Epidermal Growth Factor, Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 3, and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 Levels with the Progression of Early Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Introduction: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common cause of chronic kidney disease with around 25-40% of patients with diabetes being affected. The course of DKD is variable, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria, the currently used clinical markers, are not able to accurately predict the individual disease trajectory, in particular in early stages of the disease. The aim of this study was to assess the association of urine levels of selected protein biomarkers with the progression of DKD at an early stage of disease.

Risk of Metachronous Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma After Ureteral Stenting in Patients With Bladder Cancer.

Objective: Sparse data exist on the impact of upper urinary tract (UUT) decompression on the risk of UUT recurrence in patients with bladder cancer (BCa). This study aims to evaluate whether Double J stenting (DJS) can increase the risk of UUT recurrence compared to percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) placement.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 1550 patients with cTa-T3NanyM0 BCa who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) between at 12 tertiary care centers (1990-2020).

Inherited kidney disease and CAKUT are common causes of kidney failure requiring kidney replacement therapy: an ERA Registry study.

Background: Inherited kidney diseases (IKD) and congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are causes of kidney failure requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT) that major renal registries usually amalgamate into the primary renal disease (PRD) category 'miscellaneous' or in the glomerulonephritis or pyelonephritis categories. This makes IKDs invisible (except for polycystic kidney disease) and may negatively influence the use of genetic testing, which may identify a cause for IKDs and some CAKUT.

Methods: We have re-examined the etiology of KRT by composing a separate IKD and CAKUT PRD group using data from the European Renal Association (ERA) Registry.

A 5-year natural history cohort of patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy determining disease progression and feasibility of clinical outcome assessments for clinical trials.

Introduction/aims: The number of clinical trials in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is expected to increase in the near future. There is a need for clinical outcome assessments (COAs) that can capture disease progression over the relatively short time span of a clinical trial. In this study, we report the natural progression of FSHD and determine the feasibility of COAs for clinical trials.

Patients' anxieties and fears: a comparison between transrectal prostate biopsy and prostate MRI.

Background: Prostate biopsies are an invasive procedure that can lead to anxieties and fear before the examination. Prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is seen as a non-invasive test although it is known that "scanxiety" affects many patients. Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsies and multiparametric prostate MRI (mpMRI) are commonly used methods in patients with suspected prostate cancer (PCa).

Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Training in Neuroscience: Insights from the Human Brain Project Education Programme.

Neuroscience education is challenged by rapidly evolving technology and the development of interdisciplinary approaches for brain research. The Human Brain Project (HBP) Education Programme aimed to address the need for interdisciplinary expertise in brain research by equipping a new generation of researchers with skills across neuroscience, medicine, and information technology. Over its ten year duration, the programme engaged over 1,300 experts and attracted more than 5,500 participants from various scientific disciplines in its blended learning curriculum, specialised schools and workshops, and events fostering dialogue among early-career researchers.

The role of re-transurethral resection of bladder tumor in patients with TaHG non muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Purpose: There is lack of evidence regarding the indication for re-transurethral resection of bladder tumor (reTURBT) for Ta high grade (HG) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). This study aims to evaluate the oncological outcomes of patients with TaHG NMIBC to determine the benefit from performing reTURBT.

Methods: We relied on a multicenter cohort of 317 TaHG NMIBC from 12 centers who underwent TURBT and a subsequent complete Bacillus Calmette-Guérin induction from 2009 to 2021.

Acute kidney injury subphenotyping and personalized medicine.

Purpose Of Review: This review discusses novel concepts of acute kidney injury (AKI), including subphenotyping, which may facilitate the development of target treatment strategies for specific subgroups of patients to achieve precision medicine.

Recent Findings: AKI is a multifaceted syndrome with a major impact on morbidity and mortality. As efforts to identify treatment strategies have largely failed, it is becoming increasingly apparent that there are different subphenotypes that require different treatment strategies.

Polarization-insensitive optical coherence tomography using pseudo-depolarized reference light for mitigating birefringence-related image artifacts.

Significance: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images are prone to image artifacts due to the birefringence of the sample or the optical system when a polarized light source is used for imaging. These artifacts can lead to degraded image quality and diagnostic information.

Aim: We aim to mitigate these birefringence-related artifacts in OCT images by adding a depolarizer module in the reference arm of the interferometer.

Novel antimicrobial coating for hernia meshes.

Purpose: Antibiotic coating for several medical devices has been carried out; however, there are only few studies about coating hernia meshes with antimicrobial substances. In this study we checked the capacity of different commercially available hernia meshes to act as drug carrier.

Methods: The meshes were coated with gentamicin palmitate, chlorhexidine palmitic acid and chlorhexidine palmitate.

Norwegian and Swedish value sets for the EORTC QLU-C10D utility instrument.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop utility weights for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLU-C10D, a cancer-specific utility instrument, tailored to the Norwegian and Swedish populations. The utility weights are intended for use in the specific welfare contexts of Norway and Sweden to support more precise healthcare decision-making in cancer treatment and care.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1019 Norwegian and 1048 Swedish participants representative in age and gender of the two general populations.

Machine learning models including patient-reported outcome data in oncology: a systematic literature review and analysis of their reporting quality.

Purpose: To critically examine the current state of machine learning (ML) models including patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) scores in cancer research, by investigating the reporting quality of currently available studies and proposing areas of improvement for future use of ML in the field.

Methods: PubMed and Web of Science were systematically searched for publications of studies on patients with cancer applying ML models with PROM scores as either predictors or outcomes. The reporting quality of applied ML models was assessed utilizing an adapted version of the MI-CLAIM (Minimum Information about CLinical Artificial Intelligence Modelling) checklist.

Resistance but not endurance training suppresses glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) expression in human skeletal muscle.

Purpose: Within human skeletal muscle, statin treatment leads to elevated levels of the glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ). Further, GILZ mediates the muscle-related side effects of statins. Physical exercise leads to GILZ suppression, in a mechanosensitive manner.