Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation improves long-term survival-data from a national registry.

Background: Current recommendations on the management of systemic sclerosis (SSc) suggest that autologous hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) can be a rescue therapy for patients with rapidly progressive SSc.

Objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of HSCT for patients with SSc and to compare these with non-HSCT patients in a control cohort with adjusted risk factors.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from the multicentric German network for systemic scleroderma (DNSS) with 5000 patients with SSc.

Massive uterine fibroid: a diagnostic dilemma: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Fibroids of the uterus are the most common benign pelvic tumors in women worldwide. Their diagnosis is usually not missed because of the widespread and well-established use of ultrasound in gynecological clinics. Hence, the development of an unusually large myoma is a rare event, particularly in first-world countries such as Germany.

Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm of Pancreas in a Pregnant Woman Presenting with Severe Anemia and Gastric Bleeding: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Mucinous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are uncommon and especially their occurrence during pregnancy is an extremely rare event which necessitates an individualized and interdisciplinary management. A 33-year old woman was referred to our department during her third trimester of pregnancy (34th week of gestation) with severe anemia and tarry stools. Based on gastroscopic findings, our interdisciplinary team suspected a gastrointestinal stromal tumor and therefore indicated a prompt delivery via cesarean section completed with an oncological resection of the neoplasm.

Older age onset of systemic sclerosis - accelerated disease progression in all disease subsets.

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis is a heterogeneous, multisystem disease. It can occur at any age, but most patients develop the disease between the age of 40 to 50 years. There is controversial evidence on whether/how the age at disease onset affects their clinical phenotype.

Androgen receptor expression and response to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients treated in the neoadjuvant TECHNO and PREPARE trial.

Background: The androgen receptor (AR) is discussed as a prognostic and/or predictive marker in breast cancer patients.

Methods: AR mRNA expression was analysed by RT-qPCR in breast cancer patients treated in the neoadjuvant TECHNO (n  =  118, HER2-positive) and PREPARE trial (n  =  321, HER2-positive and -negative). In addition, mRNA expression of the AR transcript variants 1 (AR1) and 2 (AR2) was measured.

Scleroderma Renal Crisis: Risk Factors for an Increasingly Rare Organ Complication.

Objective: Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) is a severe life-threatening manifestation in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, the knowledge about risk factors for SRC is limited. We determined here the frequency of SRC and identified risk factors for the prediction of SRC.

Treatment and outcomes of patients in the Brain Metastases in Breast Cancer Network Registry.

Background: Brain metastases (BMs) have a major impact on life expectancy and quality of life for many breast cancer patients. Knowledge about treatment patterns and outcomes is limited.

Methods: We analysed clinical data of 1712 patients diagnosed with BMs from breast cancer between January 2000 and December 2016 at 80 institutions.

Pituitary adenomas in children and young adults.

Purpose: Pituitary adenomas are rare in the pediatric population. We present a recent cohort of children operated transsphenoidally on pituitary adenoma from a single center.

Methods: Inclusion criteria were age < 21 years and histopathological diagnosis of adenoma after transsphenoidal surgery.

The Indications for Laparoscopic Pancreatectomy.

Background: Laparoscopic pancreatectomy is not yet established as a routine procedure everywhere in Germany or in other countries. Few data are available on its short- and long-term outcomes.

Methods: From 2008 onward, a working group initiated by 10 centers and currently comprising 34 centers has gathered data on all cases of laparoscopic pancreatectomy.

Screening and Treatment in Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Background: More than 11 000 children are examined for possible retinopathy of prematurity in Germany each year, and 2-5% of them are treated for it. Even though screening and treatment programs are in place, the affected children can still suffer visual impairment.

Methods: In this article, we summarize the pathogenesis, screening, and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity on the basis of a selective review of pertinent literature, retrieved by a PubMed search.