Framework for Training in Minimally Invasive Pancreatic Surgery: An International Delphi Consensus Study.

Background: Previous reports suggest that structured training in minimally invasive pancreatic surgery (MIPS) can ensure a safe implementation into standard practice. Although some training programs have been constructed, worldwide consensus on fundamental items of these training programs is lacking. This study aimed to determine items for a structured MIPS training program using the Delphi consensus methodology.

The International Vitreoretinal B-Cell Lymphoma Registry: a protocol paper.

Introduction: Vitreoretinal lymphoma is a rare ocular cancer with high morbidity and mortality despite treatment. Diagnosis by cytopathology is often delayed, and various molecular and image-based investigations have been developed. Diverse treatments are used, but there is a limited medical evidence to differentiate their effectiveness.

TCERG1L allelic variation is associated with cisplatin-induced hearing loss in childhood cancer, a PanCareLIFE study.

In children with cancer, the heterogeneity in ototoxicity occurrence after similar treatment suggests a role for genetic susceptibility. Using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach, we identified a genetic variant in TCERG1L (rs893507) to be associated with hearing loss in 390 non-cranial irradiated, cisplatin-treated children with cancer. These results were replicated in two independent, similarly treated cohorts (n = 192 and 188, respectively) (combined cohort: P = 5.

Roadmap: proton therapy physics and biology.

The treatment of cancer with proton radiation therapy was first suggested in 1946 followed by the first treatments in the 1950s. As of 2020, almost 200 000 patients have been treated with proton beams worldwide and the number of operating proton therapy (PT) facilities will soon reach one hundred. PT has long moved from research institutions into hospital-based facilities that are increasingly being utilized with workflows similar to conventional radiation therapy.

Applied machine learning and artificial intelligence in rheumatology.

Machine learning as a field of artificial intelligence is increasingly applied in medicine to assist patients and physicians. Growing datasets provide a sound basis with which to apply machine learning methods that learn from previous experiences. This review explains the basics of machine learning and its subfields of supervised learning, unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning and deep learning.

Outcome of children relapsing after first allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukaemia: a retrospective I-BFM analysis of 333 children.

Outcome of 333 children with acute myeloid leukaemia relapsing after a first allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation was analyzed. Four-year probability of overall survival (4y-pOS) was 14%. 4y-pOS for 122 children receiving a second haematopoietic stem cell transplantation was 31% and 3% for those that did not (P = <0·0001).

Procedural Surgical RCTs in Daily Practice: Do Surgeons Adopt Or Is It Just a Waste of Time?

Objective: To assess the adoption of recommendation from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and investigate factors favoring or preventing adoption.

Background: RCT are considered to be the cornerstone of evidence-based medicine by representing the highest level of evidence. As such, we expect RCT's recommendations to be followed rigorously in daily surgical practice.

Risk factors affecting outcome of unrelated cord blood transplantation for children with familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is still the only available curative option for Familial Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (FHLH). Most studies report outcomes after bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. We analysed the outcomes of 118 children with FHLH undergoing single-unit umbilical cord blood transplantation performed from 1996 to 2014.

Arterioventricular interaction after coarctation repair.

Background: Hypertension is common in patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA), even after successful repair. Increased aortic stiffness has been implicated in the pathology of CoA-associated hypertension. This study aimed to investigate aortic vascular function and its relationship with hypertension in well-repaired CoA-patients at long-term follow-up.

Consensus-based recommendations for the management of uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: the SHARE initiative.

Background: In 2012, a European initiative called ingle Hub and Access point for pediatric Rheumatology in Europe (SHARE) was launched to optimise and disseminate diagnostic and management regimens in Europe for children and young adults with rheumatic diseases. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in children and uveitis is possibly its most devastating extra-articular manifestation. Evidence-based guidelines are sparse and management is mostly based on physicians' experience.

Preserved Myocardial Deformation after Successful Coarctation Repair: A CMR Feature-Tracking Study.

Arterial vasculopathy and residual aortic obstruction can lead to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) related to adverse ventriculo-arterial coupling. This study aimed to investigate potential differences in LV myocardial deformation indices between repaired CoA patients and healthy controls. Twenty-two CoA patients (age 30 ± 10.

Update on Pharmacological Treatment of Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsies.

Background: Progressive myoclonus epilepsies (PMEs) are a group of rare inherited diseases featuring a combination of myoclonus, seizures and variable degree of cognitive impairment. Despite extensive investigations, a large number of PMEs remain undiagnosed. In this review, we focus on the current pharmacological approach to PMEs.

An atlas of bloodstream-accessible bone marrow proteins for site-directed therapy of acute myeloid leukemia.

The concept of arming antibodies with bioactive payloads for a site-specific therapy of cancer has gained considerable interest in recent years. However, a successful antibody-based targeting approach critically relies on the availability of a tumor-associated target that is not only preferentially expressed in the tumor tissue but is also easily accessible for antibody therapeutics coming from the bloodstream. Here, we perfused the vasculature of healthy and acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-bearing rats with a reactive ester derivative of biotin and subsequently quantified the biotinylated proteins to identify AML-associated bone marrow (BM) antigens accessible from the bloodstream.

A risk factor analysis of outcomes after unrelated cord blood transplantation for children with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is a severe X-linked recessive immune deficiency disorder. A scoring system of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome severity (0.5-5) distinguishes two phenotypes: X-linked thrombocytopenia and classic Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Predictors of aortic growth in uncomplicated type B aortic dissection from the Acute Dissection Stent Grafting or Best Medical Treatment (ADSORB) database.

Background: The high-risk patient cohort of uncomplicated type B aortic dissections (uTBADs) needs to be clarified. We compared uTBAD patients treated with best medical treatment (BMT), with and without aortic growth, from the Acute Dissection Stent Grafting or Best Medical Treatment (ADSORB) trial database. Furthermore, we looked for trends in outcome for aortic growth and remodeling after BMT and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and BMT (TEVAR+BMT).

Relationship between lung function and Modified Shuttle Test performance in adult patients with cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional, retrospective study.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between lung function and exercise capacity in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF), and to develop a CF-specific equation to predict Modified Shuttle Test (MST) performance from baseline data.

Design: Cross-sectional, retrospective study.

Setting: Adult CF centre.

Standardized Protocol to Analyze Computed Tomography Imaging of Type B Aortic Dissections.

Purpose: To propose a standard measuring protocol for type B aortic dissections so as to improve comparability between studies reporting aortic dimensions.

Methods: Fifteen computed tomography (CT) scans of type B aortic dissections were measured with a standard protocol by 2 independent observers using postprocessing software. The following parameters were assessed: true, false, and total lumen diameter; true and false lumen volume; and entry tear size, location, and number.

The node of Ranvier in multifocal motor neuropathy.

Multifocal motor neuropathy affects myelinated motor axons in limb nerves at multifocal sites. It is characterized by weakness and muscle atrophy, motor conduction block, and antibodies against ganglioside GM1 which is expressed on the axolemma of nodes of Ranvier and perinodal Schwann cells. Treatment by regular IVIg courses results in temporary improvement but cannot prevent slowly progressing weakness due to axonal degeneration.

Provoked and reflex seizures: surprising or common?

Most patients with epilepsy report that seizures are sometimes, or exclusively, provoked by general internal precipitants (such as stress, fatigue, fever, sleep, and menstrual cycle) and by external precipitants (such as excess alcohol, heat, bathing, eating, reading, and flashing lights). Some patients describe very exotic and precise triggers, like tooth brushing or listening to a particular melody. Nevertheless, the most commonly noticed seizure increasers by far are stress, lack of sleep, and fatigue.

Preventing deep vein thrombosis after stroke: strategies and recommendations.

The risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after stroke is increased in patients with restricted mobility, a previous history of DVT, dehydration, or comorbidities such as malignant diseases or clotting disorders. Patients with an increased risk of DVT should receive prophylactic treatment. To reduce the chance of DVT, patients should be mobilized as soon as possible and should be kept well hydrated.