Save the subchondral bone plate: Debridement versus bone marrow stimulation in acetabular cartilage defects over 60 months of follow-up.

Purpose: Bone marrow stimulation is a common treatment for full-thickness cartilage defects in the hip joint. However, common procedures may result in poor fibrous repair tissue and changes to the subchondral anatomy. This study investigated the clinical outcome of a cohort of International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grades 3 and 4 cartilage defects treated with bone marrow stimulation compared to those who received simple debridement/chondroplasty.

Preoperative Assessment of Language Dominance through Combined Resting-State and Task-Based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Brain lesions in language-related cortical areas remain a challenge in the clinical routine. In recent years, the resting-state fMRI (RS-fMRI) was shown to be a feasible method for preoperative language assessment. The aim of this study was to examine whether language-related resting-state components, which have been obtained using a data-driven independent-component-based identification algorithm, can be supportive in determining language dominance in the left or right hemisphere.

DAPK1 loss triggers tumor invasion in colorectal tumor cells.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading cancer-related causes of death worldwide. Despite the improvement of surgical and chemotherapeutic treatments, as of yet, the disease has not been overcome due to metastasis to distant organs. Hence, it is of great relevance to understand the mechanisms responsible for metastasis initiation and progression and to identify novel metastatic markers for a higher chance of preventing the metastatic disease.

Age related changes in cell stiffness of tendon stem/progenitor cells and a rejuvenating effect of ROCK-inhibition.

Tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPC) are potential targets for regenerative medicine and the treatment of tendon injuries. The frequency of such injuries increases in elderly patients while the proportion of functional TSPCs in tendon tissue decreases, protracting tendon repair. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we show that cell stiffness and size increase in TSPCs isolated from elderly patients (A-TSPC) compared to TSPCs from younger patients (Y-TSPC).

Effect of surgical decompression of spinal metastases in acute treatment - Predictors of neurological outcome.

Objective: Space-occupying spinal metastases (SM), commonly diagnosed because of acute neurological deterioration, consequently lead to immediate decompression with tumor removal or debulking. In this study, we analyzed a series of patients with surgically treated spinal metastases and explicitly sought to determine individual predictors of functional outcome.

Patients And Methods: 94 patients (26 women, 68 men; mean age 64.

Tendon injuries: Basic science and new repair proposals.

Tendons connect muscles to bones, ensuring joint movement. With advanced age, tendons become more prone to degeneration followed by injuries. Tendon repair often requires lengthy periods of rehabilitation, especially in elderly patients.

Restoration of Functional Integrity After Evacuation of Chronic Subdural Hematoma-An Age-Adjusted Analysis of 697 Patients.

Objective: Although chronic subdural hematoma (CSH) can be treated by surgery, little is known about age-dependent symptoms and age-adjusted rates of restoring functional integrity. To evaluate the clinical symptoms and the course of CSH in patients of different age groups (AGs), we reviewed patients with CSH treated at our department over the past 22 years.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included 697 patients with CSH (461 men, 236 women; mean age 70.

5-Aminolevulinic acid-derived tumor fluorescence: the diagnostic accuracy of visible fluorescence qualities as corroborated by spectrometry and histology and postoperative imaging.

Background: 5-Aminolevulinic acid is used for fluorescence-guided resections. During resection, different macroscopic fluorescence qualities ("strong," "weak") can be distinguished that help guide resections.

Objective: This prospective study was designed to assess the reliability of visible fluorescence qualities by spectrometry, pathology, and imaging.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) detects effects of vascular disrupting therapy in an experimental model of gastric cancer.

Objective: To assess the effects of vascular-disrupting agent (VDA)-based therapy including monitoring of therapeutic efficacy with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in a gastric cancer model.

Materials & Methods: Gastric cancer cell lines and endothelial cells were used. Effects of the VDA ASA404 on cells were determined by MTT assays and Western blotting in vitro.

Percutaneous irreversible electroporation (IRE) of hepatic malignant tumours: contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) findings.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe the image findings of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) after irreversible electroporation (IRE), and to assess its usefulness in relation to the evaluation of the ablation status using a dynamic recording of the microvascularisation.

Material And Method: In this prospectively designed study, a percutaneous IRE was performed for the treatment of malignant hepatic lesions in a total of 15 patients following the interdisciplinary diagnosis. The lesions were documented using CEUS before, immediately after and 20 minutes after the ablation.

Intraoperative high resolution linear contrast enhanced ultrasound (IOUS) for detection of microvascularization of malignant liver lesions before surgery or radiofrequeny ablation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of linear contrast enhanced intraoperative ultrasound (CE-IOUS) to improve detection of malign liver tumors lesions before surgery or radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Materials And Methods: 50 patients were included for surgery of malignant liver tumors (mean age 61 years (19-80); male n = 35, female n = 15), suffering from HCC (n = 15), colorectal liver-metastasis (n = 28), CCC (n = 2) or other malign liver lesions (n = 5). Preoperative CE-CT (n = 38), CE-MRI (n = 23) or PET-CT (n = 8) confirmed hepatic tumor manifestation.

Computerized data analysis of neuromonitoring parameters identifies patients with reduced cerebral compliance as seen on CT.

Objective: Computer-assisted analysis of neuromonitoring parameters may provide important decision-making support to the neurointensivist. A recently developed mathematical model for the simulation of cerebral autoregulation and brain swelling showed that in the case of an intact autoregulation but diminished cerebral compliance, a negative correlation between arterial blood pressure (ABP) and intracranial pressure (ICP) occurs. The goal of our study was to verify these simulation results in an appropriate patient cohort.

Predictors of facet joint syndrome after lumbar disc surgery.

Postoperative facet joint syndrome (pFJS) requiring intervention is a common problem following lumbar disc surgery (LDS). The aim of this retrospective study was to identify possible predictors, surgical aspects or individual characteristics that may contribute to the development of pFJS and may allow prevention of this frequent postoperative problem. We included 509 patients who underwent open, microsurgical discectomy in our neurosurgical department between 2006 and 2009 and who presented to our outpatient clinic for follow-up.

Expression of carbonic anhydrase IX in craniopharyngiomas.

Object: In craniopharyngiomas, cystic growth causes pressure on vital structures of the adjacent brain, leading to significant morbidity. However, the molecular pathogenesis of this cyst formation remains unknown. Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) is a tumor-associated, hypoxia-inducible enzyme, which can cause fluid production and development of cysts.

Recurrent brain metastases from lung cancer: the impact of reoperation.

Objective: The best treatment for solitary brain metastases from lung cancer is surgical resection followed by adjuvant treatment. However, about 50% of these patients develop recurrent brain metastases. There is no established treatment standard for this patient group.