Preprocedural assessment of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Rationale and design of the EASE-IT CT registry.

Background: Invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is the standard for pre-procedural assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). However, it requires hospitalization and can be associated with complications. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) may be a viable alternative to rule out prognostically relevant CAD.

Elevated NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation Is Associated with Motor Neuron Degeneration in ALS.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neuron degeneration in the central nervous system. Recent research has increasingly linked the activation of nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome to ALS pathogenesis. NLRP3 activation triggers Caspase 1 (CASP 1) auto-activation, leading to the cleavage of Gasdermin D (GSDMD) and pore formation on the cellular membrane.

Generation of two induced pluripotent stem cell lines (HIMRi006-A and HIMRi007-A) from Pompe patients with infantile and late disease onset.

Here we present the generation of HIMRi006-A and HIMRi007-A Pompe disease (PD) patient derived human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines. HIMRi006-A represents an infantile onset disease (IOPD) phenotype caused by a homozygous c.307 T > G mutation in the GAA gene.

Implementation of a Machine Learning Approach Evaluating Risk Factors for Complications after Single-Stage Augmentation Mastopexy.

Background: Single-stage mastopexy augmentation is a much-debated intervention due to its complexity and the associated relatively high complication rates. This study aimed to reevaluate the risk factors for these complications using a novel approach based on artificial intelligence and to demonstrate its possible limitations.

Patients And Methods: Complete datasets of patients who underwent single-staged augmentation mastopexy during 2014-2023 at one institution by a single surgeon were collected retrospectively.

Microstructural differences in the cingulum and the inferior longitudinal fasciculus are associated with (extinction) learning.

Cognitive functions, such as learning and memory processes, depend on effective communication between brain regions which is facilitated by white matter tracts (WMT). We investigated the microstructural properties and the contribution of WMT to extinction learning and memory in a predictive learning task. Forty-two healthy participants completed an extinction learning paradigm without a fear component.

Impaired autonomic function and somatosensory disturbance in patients with treated autoimmune thyroiditis.

Despite treatment with levothyroxine, hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) may be associated with reduced quality of life (QoL), an enigmatic condition referred to as "syndrome T". Peripheral neuropathy, described in untreated thyroid disease, could be a contributing mechanism. We analysed autonomic and somatosensory function in 29 patients with AIT and treated hypothyroidism and 27 healthy volunteers.

Quantitative muscle magnetic resonance imaging in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type R1 (LGMDR1): A prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) type R1 (LGMDR1) is the most common subtype of LGMD in Europe. Prospective longitudinal data, including clinical assessments and new biomarkers such as quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI), are needed to evaluate the natural course of the disease and therapeutic options. We evaluated eight thigh and seven leg muscles of 13 LGMDR1 patients (seven females, mean age 36.

Risk Stratification with Sarculator and MSKCC in Patients with Primary and Secondary Angiosarcoma.

Background: Sarculator and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomograms are freely available risk prediction scores for surgically treated patients with primary sarcomas. Due to the rarity of angiosarcomas, these scores have only been tested on small cohorts of angiosarcoma patients. In neither the original patient cohort upon which the Sarculator is based nor in subsequent studies was a distinction made between primary and secondary angiosarcomas, as the app is intended to be applied to primary sarcomas.

Value-Based Health Care for Prostate Cancer Centers by Implementing Specific Key Performance Indicators Using a Balanced Score Card.

Background: Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common cancer in men in 112 countries, and accounts for 15% of cancers. Because it cannot be prevented, the rise in cases is inevitable, and improvements in diagnostic pathways and treatments are needed, as there is still a shortage of cost-effective diagnostics and widespread oncologically safe treatment options with measurable quality. As part of the implementation of a Full Cycle of Care, instruments have been developed to achieve value-based medicine, such as consistent commitment to measurability.

From Planning Stage Towards FAIR Data: A Practical Metadatasheet For Biomedical Scientists.

Datasets consist of measurement data and metadata. Metadata provides context, essential for understanding and (re-)using data. Various metadata standards exist for different methods, systems and contexts.

Ongoing decision-making dilemma for treatment of de novo spinal infections: a comparison of the Spinal Infection Treatment Evaluation Score with the Spinal Instability Spondylodiscitis Score and Spine Instability Neoplastic Score.

Objective: De novo spinal infections are an increasing medical problem. The decision-making for surgical or nonsurgical treatment for de novo spinal infections is often a non-evidence-based process and commonly a case-by-case decision by single physicians. A scoring system based on the latest evidence might help improve the decision-making process compared with other purely radiology-based scoring systems or the judgment of a single senior physician.

Generation of Skeletal Muscle Organoids from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Various protocols have been proven effective in the directed differentiation of mouse and human pluripotent stem cells into skeletal muscles and used to study myogenesis. Current 2D myogenic differentiation protocols can mimic muscle development and its alteration under pathological conditions such as muscular dystrophies. 3D skeletal muscle differentiation approaches can, in addition, model the interaction between the various cell types within the developing organoid.

Five-Year Trends of Vascular Disease-Related Amputations in Romania: A Retrospective Database Study.

Lower extremity amputations (LEAs) are a burdensome complication of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and/or arterial embolism and thrombosis (AET). We assessed the trends in PAD- and/or AET-related LEAs in Romania. This retrospective study (2015-2019) analyzed data on minor and major LEAs in hospitalized patients recorded in the National School for Public Health, Management, and Health Education database.

The Postoperative Airway Compromise Score-First Steps to Developing a Postoperative Tool for the Assessment of Upper Airway-Related Complications Following Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery.

Background: Acute upper airway compromise is a rare but catastrophic complication after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. This study aims to develop a score to identify patients at risk of acute postoperative airway compromise (PAC).

Methods: Potential risk factors for acute PAC were selected by a modified Delphi process.

Effects on gait kinematics, pedobarography, functional and subjective results after isolated chopart injury.

Background: This study analysed changes in gait and pedobarography and subjective and functional outcomes after isolated Chopart joint injury.

Methods: The results of 14 patients were reviewed. Kinematic 3D gait analysis, comparative bilateral electromyography (EMG) and pedobarography were performed.

Predictors of atrial fibrillation after embolic stroke of undetermined source in patients with implantable loop recorders.

Background: In patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), underlying subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) is often suspected. Previous studies identifying predictors of AF have been limited in their ability to diagnose episodes of AF. Implantable loop recorders enable prolonged, continuous, and therefore more reliable detection of AF.

Proteomic studies in VWA1-related neuromyopathy allowed new pathophysiological insights and the definition of blood biomarkers.

Bi-allelic variants in VWA1, encoding Von Willebrand Factor A domain containing 1 protein localized to the extracellular matrix (ECM), were linked to a neuromuscular disorder with manifestation in child- or adulthood. Clinical findings indicate a neuromyopathy presenting with muscle weakness. Given that pathophysiological processes are still incompletely understood, and biomarkers are still missing, we aimed to identify blood biomarkers of pathophysiological relevance: white blood cells (WBC) and plasma derived from six VWA1-patients were investigated by proteomics.

Postoperative Epidural Fibrosis: Challenges and Opportunities - A Review.

Postoperative epidural fibrosis (EF) is still a major limitation to the success of spine surgery. Fibrotic adhesions in the epidural space, initiated via local trauma and inflammation, can induce difficult-to-treat pain and constitute the main cause of failed back surgery syndrome, which not uncommonly requires operative revision. Manifold agents and methods have been tested for EF relief in order to mitigate this longstanding health burden and its socioeconomic consequences.

Evaluation of Neuromuscular Diseases and Complaints by Quantitative Muscle MRI.

Quantitative muscle MRI (qMRI) is a promising tool for evaluating and monitoring neuromuscular disorders (NMD). However, the application of different imaging protocols and processing pipelines restricts comparison between patient cohorts and disorders. In this qMRI study, we aim to compare dystrophic (limb-girdle muscular dystrophy), inflammatory (inclusion body myositis), and metabolic myopathy (Pompe disease) as well as patients with post-COVID-19 conditions suffering from myalgia to healthy controls.

Morphological Differentiation of Corneal Inflammatory Cells.

Purpose: Corneal confocal microscopy is a noninvasive imaging technique to analyze corneal nerve fibers and corneal inflammatory cells (CICs). The amount of CICs is a potential biomarker of disease activity in chronic autoinflammatory diseases. To date, there are no standardized criteria for the morphological characterization of CICs.