External validation of a postoperative nomogram for the prediction of disease-specific survival in patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma using a large multicenter database.

Purpose: Based on data retrieved from a comprehensive multicenter database, we externally validated a published postoperative nomogram for the prediction of disease-specific survival (DSS) in patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma (papRCC).

Methods: A multicenter database containing data of 2325 patients with surgically treated papRCC was used as validation cohort. After exclusion of patients with missing data and patients included in the development cohort, 1372 patients were included in the final analysis.

Anti-pan-neurofascin IgG3 as a marker of fulminant autoimmune neuropathy.

Objective: To identify and characterize patients with autoantibodies against different neurofascin (NF) isoforms.

Methods: Screening of a large cohort of patient sera for anti-NF autoantibodies by ELISA and further characterization by cell-based assays, epitope mapping, and complement binding assays.

Results: Two different clinical phenotypes became apparent in this study: The well-known clinical picture of subacute-onset severe sensorimotor neuropathy with tremor that is known to be associated with IgG4 autoantibodies against the paranodal isoform NF-155 was found in 2 patients.

Interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy in the primary treatment of inoperable glioblastoma multiforme.

Purpose: To report our results of image-guided interstitial (IRT) high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy (BRT) in the primary treatment of patients with inoperable glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in the pre-temozolomide period.

Material And Methods: Between 1994 and 2004, 17 patients were treated with HDR BRT for inoperable GBM. Of those, only 11 patients were treated with IRT BRT, and the remaining six patients received combined IRT BRT and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

Terminal ileum ileoscopy and histology in patients undergoing high-definition colonoscopy with virtual chromoendoscopy for chronic nonbloody diarrhea: A prospective, multicenter study.

Background And Aims: Ileo-colonoscopy is the procedure of choice for chronic nonbloody diarrhea (CNBD) of unknown origin. Histological evaluation at different colonic sites is mandatory to assess the presence of microscopic colitis. However, the value of routine ileal biopsy on normal-appearing mucosa as assessed by means of standard-resolution white-light ileoscopy is controversial given its reported low diagnostic yield.

Susceptibility based multiparametric quantification of liver disease: Non-invasive evaluation of steatosis and iron overload.

Purpose: To evaluate if single-voxel MR spectroscopy (MRS) of iron and fat correlates with biopsy results of hepatic steatosis and iron overload, and to compare MR-measurements with room-temperature susceptometer (RTS), ultrasound, controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and serum ferritin.

Material And Methods: In this prospective study, a set of 42 patients out of 47 screened patients with several chronic liver diseases underwent MRI-examination at 1.5 T including R2-measurements by single-voxel high-speed T2-corrected multiecho spectroscopy, additional liver biopsy, abdominal ultrasound, CAP, and RTS.

Assessment of physical functioning and handling of tiotropium/olodaterol Respimat in patients with COPD in a real-world clinical setting.

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) show signs of reduced physical activity from the early stages of the disease, impacting morbidity and mortality. Data suggest treatment with tiotropium, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist, and olodaterol, a long-acting ß-agonist (LABA), as monotherapies and in combination, increases exercise capacity. This study assessed the effects of fixed-dose tiotropium/olodaterol (delivered via Respimat) on physical function in Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease A-D patients requiring long-acting dual bronchodilation treatment in a real-world setting.

The future of endoscopy: Advances in endoscopic image innovations.

The latest state of the art technological innovations have led to a palpable progression in endoscopic imaging and may facilitate standardisation of practice. One of the most rapidly evolving modalities is artificial intelligence with recent studies providing real-time diagnoses and encouraging results in the first randomised trials to conventional endoscopic imaging. Advances in functional hypoxia imaging offer novel opportunities to be used to detect neoplasia and the assessment of colitis.

CD49a Expression Identifies a Subset of Intrahepatic Macrophages in Humans.

Macrophages play central roles in inflammatory reactions and initiation of immune responses during infections. More than 80% of total tissue macrophages are described to be located in the liver as liver-resident macrophages, also named Kupffer cells (KCs). While studies in mice have established a central role of liver-resident KCs in regulating liver inflammation, their phenotype and function are not well-characterized in humans.

Revacept, a Novel Inhibitor of Platelet Adhesion, in Patients Undergoing Elective PCI-Design and Rationale of the Randomized ISAR-PLASTER Trial.

Despite dual antiplatelet therapy patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) continue to experience periprocedural ischemic events. In addition, all currently used antithrombotic drugs increase the bleeding risk. Thus, there is an unmet clinical need for antithrombotic strategies with improved efficacy and no increase in bleeding.

Recent Nationwide Impact of Mechanical Thrombectomy on Decompressive Hemicraniectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background and Purpose- The treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke has been revolutionized by endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (MT), leading to dramatically improved outcomes. Here, we analyzed the impact of recent changes in stroke management on nationwide trends in patient characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes. Methods- The National Inpatient Sample was analyzed using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Editions, Clinical Modification codes to identify adult stroke patients with anterior-circulation, large-vessel occlusion in the pre- (2012-2014) and the post-MT trial period (2015-2016).

Acute Toxicity and Early Oncological Outcomes After Intraoperative Electron Radiotherapy (IOERT) as Boost Followed by Whole Breast Irradiation in 157 Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients-First Clinical Results From a Single Center.

Breast conserving surgery (BCS) followed by postoperative whole breast irradiation (WBI) is the current standard of care for early stage breast cancer patients. Boost to the tumor bed is recommended for patients with a higher risk of local recurrence and may be applied with different techniques. Intraoperative electron radiotherapy (IOERT) offers several advantages compared to other techniques, like direct visualization of the tumor bed, better skin sparing, less inter- and intrafractional motion, but also radiobiological effects may be beneficial.

Terlipressin and albumin combination treatment in patients with hepatorenal syndrome type 2.

Background: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is associated with a poor prognosis. In HRS type 1, loss of renal function is rapidly progressive, while HRS type 2 is characterised by chronic ascites and more moderately elevated renal parameters. While treatment with terlipressin/albumin is well established in type 1, its effectiveness in chronic HRS is less clear.

Incidental Finding of Strut Malapposition Is a Predictor of Late and Very Late Thrombosis in Coronary Bioresorbable Scaffolds.

Malapposition is a common finding in stent and scaffold thrombosis (ScT). Evidence from studies with prospective follow-up, however, is scarce. We hypothesized that incidental observations of strut malapposition might be predictive of late ScT during subsequent follow-up.

Pregnancy following urinary tract reconstruction using bowel segments: a review of published literature.

Purpose: To provide a literature review of the urological and obstetric outcomes during and after pregnancy following urinary diversion using bowel segments.

Methods: A systematic literature research by specific keywords was performed in February 2017. Relevant articles were assessed and available parameters such as, e.

The impact of vaginal dilator use on vaginal stenosis and sexual quality of life in women treated with adjuvant radiotherapy for endometrial cancer.

Background: Despite a lack of evidence and low compliance, current guidelines recommend the use of a vaginal dilator (VD) after pelvic radiotherapy (RT). We analyzed the effect of VD on vaginal stenosis (VS) and its influence on sexual quality of life (QoL) in women treated with adjuvant RT for endometrial cancer (EC).

Methods: Between 2014 and 2015, 56 consecutive patients were instructed to use a VD after completion of treatment.

Predictors of successful complex catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation despite failure of targeted procedural arrhythmia termination.

Introduction: Procedural atrial fibrillation (AF) termination is considered as a predictor of long-term success after catheter ablation for persistent AF (persAF). However, some patients remain free of arrhythmia recurrences despite failure to achieve AF termination. The objective of this study was to assess long-term outcome and prognostic factors in patients undergoing complex ablation without procedural AF termination.

OCT-assessment of scaffold resorption: Analysis of strut intensity by a new resorption index for poly-l-lactic acid bioresorbable vascular scaffolds.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze individual differences in resorption of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BRS) through optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis and to identify factors potentially influencing the resorption process.

Methods: Between April 2016 and July 2017 clinically driven invasive coronary angiography and OCT examinations were performed in 36 patients who had previously been treated with a total of 48 BRS (ABSORB BVS, Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA). For each scaffold, a new BRS-RESORB-INDEX (BRI) was calculated.

Future perspectives of anticholinergics for the treatment of asthma in adults and children.

Despite major advances in therapeutic interventions and the availability of detailed treatment guidelines, a high proportion of patients with symptomatic asthma remain uncontrolled. Asthma management is largely guided by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) strategy and is based on a backbone of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy with the use of additional therapies to achieve disease control. Inhaled long-acting bronchodilators alone and in combination are the preferred add-on treatment options.

Levosimendan as rescue therapy in low output syndrome after cardiac surgery: effects and predictors of outcome.

Objectives: Calcium sensitizers have been shown to improve outcomes in patients with low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) after cardiac surgery. We assessed the effects of levosimendan on LCOS in cardiac surgical patients to identify outcome predictors.

Methods: A total of 106 patients in whom LCOS persisted despite conventional therapy additionally received 0.

Long-term efficacy and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices and transvenous leads.

Introduction: Long-term efficacy and safety are uncertain in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) and transvenous leads (TVL) undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Thus, we assessed the outcome of AF ablation in those patients during long-term follow-up using continuous atrial rhythm monitoring (CARM).

Methods And Results: A total of 190 patients (71.

Intestinal insulin/IGF1 signalling through FoxO1 regulates epithelial integrity and susceptibility to colon cancer.

Obesity promotes the development of insulin resistance and increases the incidence of colitis-associated cancer (CAC), but whether a blunted insulin action specifically in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) affects CAC is unknown. Here, we show that obesity impairs insulin sensitivity in IECs and that mice with IEC-specific inactivation of the insulin and IGF1 receptors exhibit enhanced CAC development as a consequence of impaired restoration of gut barrier function. Blunted insulin signalling retains the transcription factor FOXO1 in the nucleus to inhibit expression of Dsc3, thereby impairing desmosome formation and epithelial integrity.

CCL21-expression and accumulation of CCR7 NK cells in livers of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

The pathogenesis of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), an autoimmune liver disease, remains unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize peripheral blood and intrahepatic NK cells from patients with PSC. Peripheral blood samples from patients with PSC, other autoimmune liver diseases, and from healthy control individuals were used, as well as liver tissues from PSC patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Intraindividual comparison of selective intraarterial versus systemic intravenous 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT in patients with inoperable meningioma.

Aim: Here we describe the results of superselective intraarterial application of diagnostic Ga-68-DOTA0,Tyr3-octreotate (Ga-68-DOTATATE) in a series of patients with inoperable WHO grade II meningiomas which were no longer amenable to radiotherapy.

Methods: Four patients with inoperable WHO grade II meningioma underwent systemic venous infusion of Ga-68-DOTATATE followed by PET/CT. Ga-68-DOTATATE application was repeated intraarterially via transfemoral catheterization of vessels supplying the meningioma and another PET/CT was performed.