Prospective Evaluation of First-Line Erlotinib in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Carrying an Activating EGFR Mutation: A Multicenter Academic Phase II Study in Caucasian Patients (FIELT).

Introduction: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibition is the preferred first-line treatment of advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung that harbors EGFR activating tyrosine kinase domain mutations. Most data available pertain to Asian populations in which such mutations are more prevalent. We report on the long-term results of first-line treatment with erlotinib in Caucasian patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung that have a somatic EGFR mutation in their tumor.

Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Primary or Interval Debulking? Five Categories of Patients in View of the Results of Randomized Trials and Tumor Biology: Primary Debulking Surgery and Interval Debulking Surgery for Advanced Ovarian Cancer.

Background: Standard treatment of stage III and IV advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) consists of primary debulking surgery (PDS) followed by chemotherapy. Since the publication of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer/National Cancer Institute of Canada trial, clinical practice has changed and many AOC patients are now treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS). The best option remains unclear.

Functional respiratory imaging to assess the interaction between systemic roflumilast and inhaled ICS/LABA/LAMA.

Background: Patients with COPD show a significant reduction of the lobar hyperinflation at the functional residual capacity level in the patients who improved >120 mL in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) after 6 months of treatment with roflumilast in addition to inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs)/long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs)/long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs).

Methods: Functional respiratory imaging was used to quantify lobar hyperinflation, blood vessel density, ventilation, aerosol deposition, and bronchodilation. To investigate the exact mode of action of roflumilast, correlations between lobar and global measures have been tested using a mixed-model approach with nested random factors and Pearson correlation, respectively.

Cerebellum: from Fundamentals to Translational Approaches. The Seventh International Symposium of the Society for Research on the Cerebellum.

In terms of cerebellar research and ataxiology, a most fascinating period is currently going on. Numerous academic groups are now focusing their innovative research on the so-called little brain, hidden at the bottom of our brain. Indeed, its unique anatomical features make the cerebellum a wonderful window to address major questions about the central nervous system.

Social cognition and the cerebellum: A meta-analytic connectivity analysis.

This meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM) study explores the functional connectivity of the cerebellum with the cerebrum in social cognitive processes. In a recent meta-analysis, Van Overwalle, Baetens, Mariën, and Vandekerckhove (2014) documented that the cerebellum is implicated in social processes of "body" reading (mirroring; e.g.

Squaring the round: An unusual progressive graphomotor impairment with post-mortem findings.

Investigations of neurodegenerative disorders may reveal functional relationships in the cognitive system. C.S.

Functional connectivity between the cerebrum and cerebellum in social cognition: A multi-study analysis.

This multi-study connectivity analysis explores the functional connectivity of the cerebellum with the cerebrum in social mentalizing, that is, understanding the mind of another person. The analysis covers 5 studies (n=92) involving abstract and complex forms of social mentalizing such as (a) person and group impression formation based on behavioral descriptions and (b) constructing personal counterfactual events (i.e.

Cryoablation Versus Radiofrequency Ablation in AVNRT: Same Goal, Different Strategy.

Catheter ablation is nowadays the first therapeutic option for AVNRT, the most common benign supraventricular tachycardia. Both cryotherapy and radiofrequency energy may be used to ablate the slow pathway. This paper compares both techniques, evaluates results published in literature and gives feedback on some typical aspects of cryo- and RF ablation.

TruFit Plug for Repair of Osteochondral Defects-Where Is the Evidence? Systematic Review of Literature.

Objective: Treatment of osteochondral defects remains a challenge in orthopedic surgery. The TruFit plug has been investigated as a potential treatment method for osteochondral defects. This is a biphasic scaffold designed to stimulate cartilage and subchondral bone formation.

The development of modern approaches to aphasia: a concise overview.

The aim of this article is to review the rationale on which modern aphasia test batteries are based. Since the mid-1950s, a starting point chosen because the discipline of speech (language) pathology was created during that period, a corpus of English aphasia tests was identified through searches of electronic databases. The tests were critically evaluated in terms of their theoretical roots and influences.

Phase II study of afatinib, an irreversible ErbB family blocker, in demographically and genotypically defined lung adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: Afatinib, an oral irreversible ErbB family blocker, has demonstrated efficacy in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Other potential biomarkers predicting response to afatinib, such as human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) mutations and EGFR gene amplification, have not been validated yet. This phase II study investigated whether afatinib conferred clinical benefit in cohorts of adenocarcinoma patients with: (1) EGFR mutation and failing on erlotinib/gefitinib; or (2) increased copy number of EGFR by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH); or (3) HER2 mutation.

Twelve-month results of the rapid renal sympathetic denervation for resistant hypertension using the OneShotTM ablation system (RAPID) study.

Aims: Renal denervation has emerged as a treatment option for patients with drug-resistant hypertension. This study was designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of the OneShotª Renal Denervation System.

Methods And Results: RAPID is a prospective, multicentre, single-arm study which enrolled 50 patients at 11 clinical sites in Europe and New Zealand.

Short-term results of transapical transcatheter mitral valve implantation for mitral regurgitation.

Background: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valvular heart disease, and mitral valve surgery is the gold standard therapy for severe MR. Many patients with severe MR are not referred for surgery because of old age, comorbidities, or severe left ventricular dysfunction. Transcatheter mitral valve implantation may be a better therapeutic option for these high-risk patients with severe symptomatic MR.

An Achilles tendinosis masking an intramedullary astrocytoma.

We report the case of a 53-year-old male with a right Achilles tendinosis, who complains about a mild gait disorder starting after walking several kilometers. In the following months he develops neurological symptoms. MRI lumbar spine shows an intramedullary tumor at level Th12.

Subcortical vascular cognitive impairment, no dementia: EEG global power independently predicts vascular impairment and brain symmetry index reflects severity of cognitive decline.

Background And Purpose: Vascular cognitive impairment, no dementia (vCIND) is a prevalent and potentially preventable disorder. Clinical presentation of the small-vessel subcortical subtype may be insidious, and differential difficulties can arise with mild cognitive impairment. We investigated EEG parameters in subcortical vCIND in comparison with amnestic multidomain mild cognitive impairment to determine the additional diagnostic value of quantitative EEG in this setting.

Sperm-associated antigen 16 is a novel target of the humoral autoimmune response in multiple sclerosis.

We have previously identified eight novel autoantibody targets in the cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, including sperm-associated Ag 16 (SPAG16). In the current study, we further investigated the autoantibody response against SPAG16-a protein with unknown function in the CNS-and its expression in MS pathology. Using isoelectric focusing, we detected SPAG16-specific oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid of 5 of 23 MS patients (22%).

Transapical mitral implantation of the Tiara bioprosthesis: pre-clinical results.

Objectives: This study sought to describe the pre-clinical evaluation of transapical mitral implantation of the Tiara (Neovasc Inc, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) valve in preparation for first-in-man implantation.

Background: The Tiara is a transcatheter self-expanding mitral bioprosthesis, specifically designed for the complex anatomic configuration of the mitral apparatus.

Methods: Tiara valves were implanted in a short-term porcine model, in a long-term ovine model, and in human cadavers.

Creation of an iliac arteriovenous shunt lowers blood pressure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with hypertension.

Objective: Vasodilators are used with caution in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We have developed a device for percutaneous arteriovenous shunt creation in the iliac region to increase cardiac output and oxygen delivery for patients with COPD. Although this device does not cause significant blood pressure changes in normotensive patients with COPD, we hypothesized that arteriovenous shunt creation might cause vasodilator effects in hypertensive patients because of a reduction in vascular resistance.

Long-term safety of rivastigmine in parkinson disease dementia: an open-label, randomized study.

Objective: This study investigated the long-term safety of rivastigmine (12 mg/d capsules, 9.5 mg/24 h patch) and effects on motor symptoms in patients with mild-to-moderately severe Parkinson disease dementia.

Methods: This was a 76-week, prospective, open-label, randomized study in patients aged 50 to 85 years.

Social cognition and the cerebellum: a meta-analysis of over 350 fMRI studies.

This meta-analysis explores the role of the cerebellum in social cognition. Recent meta-analyses of neuroimaging studies since 2008 demonstrate that the cerebellum is only marginally involved in social cognition and emotionality, with a few meta-analyses pointing to an involvement of at most 54% of the individual studies. In this study, novel meta-analyses of over 350 fMRI studies, dividing up the domain of social cognition in homogeneous subdomains, confirmed this low involvement of the cerebellum in conditions that trigger the mirror network (e.

Sentinel node procedures in gynecologic cancers: an overview.

The aim of this study was to assess the value of sentinel lymph node procedures in gynecologic cancers. A systematic literature overview, using the PubMed database, was performed. In early stage vulvar, endometrial and cervical cancer, lymph node status is the most important prognostic factor.

Posterior fossa syndrome in adults: a new case and comprehensive survey of the literature.

Although the posterior fossa syndrome (PFS) can be considered as an aetiologically heterogeneous condition affecting children and adults, it most often occurs in paediatric patients after cerebellar tumour surgery. In patients with a tumoural aetiology, the syndrome is typically characterised by a short symptom-free postoperative period followed by mutism of variable duration and behavioural and affective changes. More than 200 paediatric cases have been described but reports of adult patients are extremely rare.