The ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report 2018: a summary.

Background: The European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry collects data on kidney replacement therapy (KRT) via national and regional renal registries in Europe and countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. This article summarizes the 2018 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report, and describes the epidemiology of KRT for kidney failure in 34 countries.

Methods: Individual patient data on patients undergoing KRT in 2018 were provided by 34 national or regional renal registries and aggregated data by 17 registries.

Heterogeneity of pollen food allergy syndrome in seven Southern European countries: The @IT.2020 multicenter study.

Background: Pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS) is a frequently underdiagnosed disease due to diverse triggers, clinical presentations, and test results. This is especially relevant in geographic areas with a broad spectrum of pollen sensitization, such as Southern Europe.

Objectives: To elucidate similarities and differences of PFAS in nine Southern European centers and identify associated characteristics and unique markers of PFAS.

Genetic characterization of the Albanian Gaucher disease patient population.

Gaucher disease (GD) is a recessive metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency of the gene-encoded enzyme β-glucocerebrosidase. We characterized a cohort of 36 Albanian GD patients, 31 with GD type 1 and 5 affected by GD types 2, 3, and an intermediate GD phenotype between type 2 and type 3. Of the 12 different alleles that we detected, the most frequently observed was p.

Mortality from esophagectomy for esophageal cancer across low, middle, and high-income countries: An international cohort study.

Background: No evidence currently exists characterising global outcomes following major cancer surgery, including esophageal cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to characterise impact of high income countries (HIC) versus low and middle income countries (LMIC) on the outcomes following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Method: This international multi-center prospective study across 137 hospitals in 41 countries included patients who underwent an esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, with 90-day follow-up.

Undesirable Outcomes from Liposuction of the Calves and Ankles, what to Avoid?

Introduction: Liposuction, is amongst the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures worldwide and is pretty safe with a very low incidence of major complications in the hands of skilled plastic surgeons. As a matter of fact, a faultless liposuction of the calves and ankles is near the top of the list in providing a high satisfaction rate.

Aim: We present a case of 38-year old female with severe complication from liposuction of the thighs, calves and ankles with dimples and contour irregularity.

Supplemented ERA-EDTA Registry data evaluated the frequency of dialysis, kidney transplantation, and comprehensive conservative management for patients with kidney failure in Europe.

The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of dialysis and kidney transplantation and to estimate the regularity of comprehensive conservative management (CCM) for patients with kidney failure in Europe. This study uses data from the ERA-EDTA Registry. Additionally, our study included supplemental data from Armenia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Slovenia and additional data from Israel, Italy, Slovakia using other information sources.

Incorporation of a Biocompatible Nanozyme in Cellular Antioxidant Enzyme Cascade Reverses Huntington's Like Disorder in Preclinical Model.

The potentiality of nano-enzymes in therapeutic use has directed contemporary research to develop a substitute for natural enzymes, which are suffering from several disadvantages including low stability, high cost, and difficulty in storage. However, inherent toxicity, inefficiency in the physiological milieu, and incompatibility to function in cellular enzyme networks limit the therapeutic use of nanozymes in living systems. Here, it is shown that citrate functionalized manganese-based biocompatible nanoscale material (C-Mn O NP) efficiently mimics glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme in the physiological milieu and easily incorporates into the cellular multienzyme cascade for H O scavenging.

Clinical oncology module for the ESTRO core curriculum.

Introduction: Clinical oncologists are physicians with the competencies to manage cancer patients through the entire disease pathway combining the competencies of radiation and medical oncologists. The 4th edition of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology Core Curriculum for Radiation Oncology/Radiotherapy (ESTRO curriculum) has received wide support by the clinical oncology community. The aim was to develop a clinical oncology module that could be combined with the ESTRO curriculum to enable clinical oncology trainees to follow a single curriculum.

Corrigendum to "Asymptomatic presentation of a congenital malformation of the portal vein with portosystemic shunt" [Radiol Case Rep 15 (2020) 2009-2014].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.

Epidemiological trends of severe burns, 2009-2019: A study in the service of burns in Albania.

Introduction: Statistical and epidemiological data taken throughout decades show trends of the pathology of burns and its treatment. The aim of this study is to analyze the summarized epidemiological and clinical data of severe burn patients during the period 2009-2019 in order to acquire an accurate and recent picture of this pathology. This can create a basis for improving community health outcomes.

Pitolisant for Residual Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in OSA Patients Adhering to CPAP: A Randomized Trial.

Background: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in individuals with OSA syndrome persisting despite good adherence to CPAP is a disabling condition. Pitolisant is a selective histamine H3-receptor antagonist with wake-promoting effects.

Research Question: Is pitolisant effective and safe for reducing daytime sleepiness in individuals with moderate to severe OSA adhering to CPAP treatment but experiencing residual EDS?

Study Design And Methods: In a multicenter, double-blind, randomized (3:1), placebo-controlled, parallel-design trial, pitolisant was titrated individually at up to 20 mg/day and taken over 12 weeks.

Old age mental health services in Southern Balkans: Features, geospatial distribution, current needs, and future perspectives.

Background: Healthcare services are increasingly confronted with challenges related to old age mental disorders. The survey aimed to provide an overview of existing psychogeriatric services in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and North Macedonia.

Methods: After identification of psychogeriatric units across the four countries, their head physicians were asked to provide data on their clinical, teaching, and research activity, as well as staff composition.

Persistent dermal lesions in a patient with previous history of visceral leishmaniasis.

Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a complication of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) that most frequently occurs after an episode of VL caused by Leishmania donovani. In this case report, we present a 21-year-old male patient with persistent skin lesions and recurrent visceral leishmaniasis (VL) due to Leishmania infantum. The patient did not respond to multiple lines of anti-leishmanial treatment (including Liposomal amphotericin B and miltefosine) and later died from cerebral lesions presumed to be secondary to persistent VL.

The ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report 2017: a summary.

Background: This article presents a summary of the 2017 Annual Report of the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry and describes the epidemiology of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 37 countries.

Methods: The ERA-EDTA Registry received individual patient data on patients undergoing RRT for ESRD in 2017 from 32 national or regional renal registries and aggregated data from 21 registries. The incidence and prevalence of RRT, kidney transplantation activity and survival probabilities of these patients were calculated.

Asymptomatic presentation of a congenital malformation of the portal vein with portosystemic shunt.

Malformations of the portal venous system consist of congenital and acquired anomalies. Congenital portosystemic shunts represent rare vascular developmental anomalies that allow partial or complete diversion of blood flow from the portal venous system to the systemic venous system, bypassing the liver. Congenital portosystemic shunts may be associated with malformations or congenital absence of the portal vein, and it was first described by John Abernethy in 1793.

Treatment of vascular soft tissue malformations: A retrospective study of 90 patients from Albania.

Vascular malformations (Vascular Malformation) of soft tissue are a consequence of abnormal development of vascular elements during embryogenesis. They are named after the vessel responsible. Their presence at birth raises the hypothesis of an intrauterine etiology of Vascular Malformation, but the influence of other factors may play an important role in their appearance, localization, and size.

Primary multiple cerebral hydatid cysts in an immunocompetent, low-risk patient.

Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic infection that occurs worldwide. Humans are infected through ingestion of parasite eggs in contaminated food, water or through direct contact with infected dogs, which are the definite host. Humans serve accidentally as intermediate host, and occurrences are common in children and young adults.

Short epidemiological overview of the current situation on COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast European (SEE) countries.

We are living in times where a viral disease has brought normal life in much of the world to a halt. The novel coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started in December 2019 in Wuhan, China initially and in a short time crossed the European borders. After mitigating the epidemic in China, Italy became one of the most COVID-19 affected countries worldwide.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of deferiprone compared with deferasirox in paediatric patients with transfusion-dependent haemoglobinopathies (DEEP-2): a multicentre, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial.

Background: Transfusion-dependent haemoglobinopathies require lifelong iron chelation therapy with one of the three iron chelators (deferiprone, deferasirox, or deferoxamine). Deferasirox and deferiprone are the only two oral chelators used in adult patients with transfusion-dependent haemoglobinopathies. To our knowledge, there are no randomised clinical trials comparing deferiprone, a less expensive iron chelator, with deferasirox in paediatric patients.

CT-Guided Percutaneous Drainage Catheter Placement in the Abdomen and Pelvis: Predictors of Outcome and Protocol for Follow-up.

Purpose: To determine predictors of outcomes for patients who undergo computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous abdominal or pelvic drainage catheter placement and to identify which patients benefit from fluoroscopic drainage catheter interrogation (abscessogram).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of 383 patients (mean, 52 years old; range 8-89 years old; 158 males: 225 females) who underwent 442 CT-guided procedures and 489 catheter placements for fluid collections in the abdomen or pelvis from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2016 was performed. Variables including underlying disease, fluid location, number of collections drained, number of catheter exchanges and follow-up abscessograms performed, catheter size, and fistula detection were analyzed to determine factors associated with fistula formation and increased catheter dwell time.

"Whole" vs. "fragmented" approach to EAACI pollen season definitions: A multicenter study in six Southern European cities.

Background: The adequate definition of pollen seasons is essential to facilitate a correct diagnosis, treatment choice, and outcome assessment in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. A position paper by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) proposed season definitions for Northern and Middle Europe.

Objective: To test the pollen season definitions proposed by EAACI in six Mediterranean cities for seven pollen taxa.

Comprehensive clinical, biochemical and genetic screening reveals four distinct genotypes as underlying variable manifestation of Gaucher disease in a single family.

Gaucher disease (GD) is a lysosomal storage disorder that is associated with bi-allelic pathogenic variants in . Its wide clinical spectrum, ranging from mild organomegaly to significant skeletal and neurological involvement, is partially explained by genotype-phenotype correlations. We present a family, in which all members over two generations presented with at least splenomegaly.