Progressive systemic inflammation precedes decompensation in compensated cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Systemic inflammation is a driver of decompensation in cirrhosis with unclear relevance in the compensated stage. We evaluated inflammation and bacterial translocation markers in compensated cirrhosis and their dynamics in relation to the first decompensation.

Methods: This study is nested within the PREDESCI trial, which investigated non-selective beta-blockers for preventing decompensation in compensated cirrhosis and clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH: hepatic venous pressure gradient ≥10 mmHg).

Sex disparities in ICU care and outcomes after cardiac arrest: a Swiss nationwide analysis.

Background: Conflicting data exist regarding sex-specific outcomes after cardiac arrest. This study investigates sex disparities in the provision of critical care and outcomes of in-hospital (IHCA) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients.

Methods: Analysis of adult cardiac arrest patients admitted to certified Swiss intensive care units (ICUs) (01/2008-12/2022) using the nationwide prospective ICU registry.

Nephrectomy in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A consensus statement of the ERA Genes & Kidney Working Group.

A substantial number of patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) undergo a nephrectomy, especially in work-up for a kidney transplantation. Currently, there is no evidence-based algorithm to guide clinicians which patients should undergo nephrectomy, the optimal timing of this procedure, or the preferred surgical technique. This systematic review-based consensus statement aimed to answer important questions regarding nephrectomy in ADPKD.

Simplified Outcome Prediction in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Intervention by Survival Tree-Based Modelling.

Background: Patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) typically present with heterogeneity in the extent of cardiac dysfunction and extra-cardiac comorbidities, which play a decisive role for survival after transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI).

Objectives: This aim of this study was to create a survival tree-based model to determine the cardiac and extra-cardiac features associated with 2-year survival after TTVI.

Methods: The study included 918 patients (derivation set, n = 631; validation set, n = 287) undergoing TTVI for severe TR.

Pooled safety analysis and management of sotorasib-related adverse events in KRAS G12C-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: We describe the safety of sotorasib monotherapy in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and discuss practical recommendations for managing key risks.

Methods: Incidence rates of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were pooled from 4 clinical trials: CodeBreaK 100 (NCT03600883), CodeBreaK 101 (NCT04185883), CodeBreaK 105 (NCT04380753), and CodeBreaK 200 (NCT04303780) and graded according to CTCAE v5.0.

Elevated Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Prognosis in Acute Myocarditis.

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an easy-to-use inflammatory biomarker. Baseline NLR is independently associated with incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. However, whether this applies to acute myocarditis (AM) has not been evaluated.

Assessment of access and outcomes of kidney transplantation through the reforms of the Swiss organ allocation system.

Introduction: The Swiss allocation system for kidney transplantation has evolved over time to balance medical urgency, immunological compatibility, and waiting time. Since the introduction of the transplantation law in 2007, which imposed organ allocation on a national level, the algorithm has been optimized. Initially based on waiting time, HLA compatibility, and crossmatch performed by cell complement-dependent cytotoxicity techniques, the system moved in 2012 to a score including HLA compatibility, waiting time, anti-HLA antibodies detected by the Luminex technology, and a virtual crossmatch.

Evaluating neurofilament light chain serum levels as a diagnostic marker for Lyme neuroborreliosis.

Background: Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is a biomarker for neuro-axonal injury.

Objectives: To assess sNfL's utility as a diagnostic marker for Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB).

Methods: We compared serum and CSF NfL levels in LNB patients and age-matched controls.

Urethra-sparing prostate cancer radiotherapy: Current practices and future insights from an international survey.

Purpose: In prostate cancer patients, high radiation doses to the urethra have been associated with an increased risk of severe genitourinary toxicity following dose-escalated radiotherapy. Urethra-sparing techniques have emerged as a promising approach to reduce urinary toxicity. This international survey aims to evaluate current global practices in urethra-sparing and explore future directions for the implementation of this technique in external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for prostate cancer.

Nitrogen single and multiple breath washout test and lung imaging to detect treatment-related pulmonary toxicity in paediatric cancer patients and survivors: a systematic review.

Background: Spirometry-based assessment of pulmonary function has limitations in detecting pulmonary toxicity following cancer treatment with chemotherapy, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, radiotherapy or thoracic surgery. Nitrogen single and multiple breath washout tests are sensitive in assessing peripheral airway function, and lung imaging detects structural abnormalities, but little is known about their use in paediatric cancer patients and survivors. We aimed to 1) identify studies using nitrogen single or multiple breath washout tests and/or lung imaging to assess pulmonary toxicity in paediatric cancer patients and survivors, and 2) describe reported abnormalities.

Innovative strategies for minimizing hematoma risk in MRI-guided breast biopsies.

Background: The study aimed to investigate the reduction of hematoma risk during MRI-guided breast biopsies by evaluating position-dependent intervention parameters and characteristics of the target lesion.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 252 percutaneous MRI-guided breast biopsies performed at a single center between January 2013 and December 2023. Two groups were built depending on the severity of relative hematoma formation (using a cut-off ≤ 7.

Detection of clinically relevant variants in the gene below 10% allelic frequency: A multicenter study by ERIC, the European Research Initiative on CLL.

In chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the reliability of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to detect variants ≤10% allelic frequency (low-VAF) is debated. We tested the ability to detect 23 such variants in 41 different laboratories using their NGS method of choice. The sensitivity was 85.

Corrigendum: Person-based design and evaluation of MIA, a digital medical interview assistant for radiology.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/frai.2024.

Ambiguous Genitalia Due to 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 Deficiency: Clinical, Genetic, and Functional Characterization of Two Novel Variants.

3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 deficiency (3βHSD2D) is a rare form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) with variable clinical presentation. We describe a 46, XY child with ambiguous genitalia and CAH without apparent adrenal insufficiency due to 2 novel heterozygous variants in the gene (c.779C > T/p.

Intervention to systematize fall risk assessment and prevention in older hospitalized adults: a mixed methods study.

Background: Fall-prevention interventions are efficient but resource-requiring and should target persons at higher risk of falls. We need to ensure that fall risk is systematically assessed in everyday practice. We conducted a quality improvement (QI) intervention to systematize fall risk assessment and prevention in older adults hospitalized on general internal medicine wards.

The Co-IMPACT Consortium: Integrating Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography and Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer Care.

The Co-IMPACT consortium addresses knowledge gaps in prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography-guided radiotherapy for prostate cancer by establishing a global database (46 centres from 16 countries) to standardise and analyse data across four distinguished clinical scenarios. A collaborative model with the Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference aligns urgent clinical needs with actionable research insights.

Contrast-enhanced US of High-Risk Indeterminate Focal Liver Observations Categorized as LR-4 or LR-M at CT/MRI.

Background Indeterminate focal liver observations in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may require invasive biopsy or follow-up, which could lead to delays in definitive categorization and to postponement of treatment. Purpose To examine clinical effect of contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) in participants with high-risk indeterminate liver observations categorized as Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category LR-4 (probably HCC) or LI-RADS category LR-M (probably or definitely malignant but not HCC specific) at CT or MRI. Materials and Methods This was a secondary analysis of a prospective international multicenter validation study for CEUS LI-RADS (January 2018 to August 2021).

Advancements in lung cancer: a comprehensive perspective on diagnosis, staging, therapy and follow-up from the SAKK Working Group on Imaging in Diagnosis and Therapy Monitoring.

In 2015, around 4400 individuals received a diagnosis of lung cancer, and Switzerland recorded approximately 3200 deaths related to lung cancer. Advances in detection, such as lung cancer screening and improved treatments, have led to increased identification of early-stage lung cancer and higher chances of long-term survival. This progress has introduced new considerations in imaging, emphasising non-invasive diagnosis and characterisation techniques like radiomics.

E-cigarettes, synthetic nicotine, heated-tobacco and smokeless nicotine delivery products: the nicotine landscape beyond combustible cigarettes.

Cigarette smoking remains an enormous public health problem causing millions of preventable deaths annually worldwide. Although safe and efficient smoking cessation pharmacotherapies such as nicotine replacement products and the medications varenicline and bupropion are available, long-term abstinence rates remain low and new approaches to help smokers successfully quit smoking are needed. In recent years, electronic nicotine delivery systems such as e-cigarettes and heated-tobacco products, and novel smokeless nicotine delivery products like nicotine pouches have gained widespread popularity.

High prevalence of fecal carriage of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing among patients with urinary tract infections in rural Tanzania.

Introduction: The global rise of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing (ESBL-PE) challenges resource-limited countries with insufficient laboratory infrastructure. This study investigates fecal carriage and risk factors for ESBL-PE and carbapenemase-producing organisms among patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) in rural Tanzania.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at St.

Towards a decision support system for post bariatric hypoglycaemia: development of forecasting algorithms in unrestricted daily-life conditions.

Background: Post bariatric hypoglycaemic (PBH) is a late complication of weight loss surgery, characterised by critically low blood glucose levels following meal-induced glycaemic excursions. The disabling consequences of PBH underline the need for the development of a decision support system (DSS) that can warn individuals about upcoming PBH events, thus enabling preventive actions to avoid impending episodes. In view of this, we developed various algorithms based on linear and deep learning models to forecast PBH episodes in the short-term.

A randomized controlled trial comparing immersive virtual reality games versus nitrous oxide for pain reduction in common outpatient procedures in pediatric surgery.

Background: Children often experience anxiety and pain during minor surgical procedures, prompting the search for effective pain management strategies beyond traditional pharmaceutical approaches. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) as a pain reduction method in pediatric outpatient surgical interventions compared to the standard use of nitrous oxide. The research questions explore pain reduction levels, patient preferences, enjoyment during VR use, and the time limit of the VR application.

DepRescribing inapprOpriate Proton Pump InhibiTors (DROPIT): study protocol of a cluster-randomised controlled trial in Swiss primary care.

Objectives: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely prescribed medications and commonly used for the treatment of gastric acid-related disorders. Nevertheless, PPIs are often overused leading to potential adverse effects and unnecessary healthcare costs. Deprescribing strategies have emerged to safely reduce or substitute inappropriate PPIs and optimise patient care in an evidence-based manner.

Revisiting ascending aortic resection in the elective valve-sparing root replacement: assessing the benefits and necessity of hemiarch replacement at three centres.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the indication and optimal timing for performing a hemiarch procedure in patients undergoing valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on 986 patients undergoing VSRR at three tertiary care centres. Inclusion criteria were all patients undergoing elective VSRR.

The rectus abdominis tendon insertion to the pubic bone and its clinical implications: A cadaveric study.

Purpose: The primary aim of this study is to determine the rectus abdominis tendon (RAT) insertional anatomy and consequently clarify the extension of secure mobilization of the tendon from the pubic bone in the setting of anterior approaches in pelvic and acetabular reconstruction surgery.

Materials And Methods: Eleven fresh frozen cadaveric pelvises were dissected by two fellowship-trained orthopaedic trauma surgeons utilizing the anterior intrapelvic approach (AIP). The RAT at the pubic body was dissected, and its footprint on the pubic bone was defined, marked, and measured.