The ERA Registry Annual Report 2021: a summary.

Background: The European Renal Association (ERA) Registry collects data on kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). This paper is a summary of the ERA Registry Annual Report 2021, including a comparison across treatment modalities.

Methods: Data was collected from 54 national and regional registries from 36 countries, of which 35 registries from 18 countries contributed individual patient data and 19 registries from 19 countries contributed aggregated data.

Comparison of Three Different Orthodontic Adhesives Bonded to Metallic and Ceramic Brackets: SEM and SEM/EDX Analysis ( Study).

Objectives: To compare three different orthodontic adhesives (Transbond XT Light Cure Adhesive, Heliosit Orthodontic, Fuji Ortho LC) bonded to two types of orthodontic brackets: ceramic brackets (Fascination Roth 0.22) and metallic brackets (Topic Roth 0.22, Dentaurum).

ALPPS Procedure for the Treatment of Bilobar Multiple Liver Metastasis from Colorectal Cancer: First Case in RN Macedonia.

: ALPPS (Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy), is a recently developed procedure, first performed by HJ Schlitt in Regensburg, Germany. The technique developed two stages of hepatectomy. The ALPPS procedure has been introduced to increase the volume of future liver remnant, much more than the other technique, such as PVE (portal vein embolization).

The ERA Registry Annual Report 2020: a summary.

Background: The European Renal Association (ERA) Registry collects data on kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in patients with ESKD. This paper is a summary of the ERA Registry Annual Report 2020, also including comparisons among primary renal disease (PRD) groups.

Methods: Data were collected from 52 national and regional registries from 34 European countries and countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea: 35 registries from 18 countries providing individual level data and 17 registries from 17 countries providing aggregated data.

Relationship Between Azithromycin and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Unvaccinated Patients With COVID-19 and Preexisting Cardiovascular Disease.

Background Empiric antimicrobial therapy with azithromycin is highly used in patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, despite prior research suggesting that azithromycin may be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. Methods and Results This study was conducted using data from the ISACS-COVID-19 (International Survey of Acute Coronavirus Syndromes-COVID-19) registry. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection were eligible for inclusion.

Micro-CT analysis and leakage of bioceramic retrofillings after ultrasonic and Er:YAG laser cavity preparations: an in vitro study.

The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of preparation techniques on marginal adaptation and sealing of Biodentine™ and TotalFill® RRM bioceramic retrograde fillings. Fifty-two single-root teeth extracted for periodontal reasons were used. Root canals were instrumented using Reciproc Blue #25 and obturated using a single cone technique with an AH Plus® root canal sealer.

Analysis of Results After Surgical Application of Bone Marrow Aspirate Stem Cell Concentrate in the Treatment of Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head.

: Avascular necrosis or osteonecrosis of the femoral head is defined as a pathological process that results in a critical reduction in the blood supply to the hip head with increased intraosseous pressure. Avascular necrosis is a multifactorial disease. The treatment used so far consists of transosseous decompression of the femoral head and is the most commonly used method in the early stages of osteonecrosis.

Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Opioid-Free Anesthesia Versus Opioid Based Anesthesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a usual complication in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Minimized opioid use due to surgery has been shown to have a better effect on patient recovery after surgery. In this study we evaluate the effect of opioid free anesthesia for postoperative nausea and vomiting in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PERFORMANCE 1 study: Novel carotid stent system with integrated post-dilation balloon and embolic protection device.

Objectives: The PERFORMANCE I study was designed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the Neuroguard IEP® System, a novel carotid stent system with an integrated embolic filter and post-dilatation balloon, to treat clinically significant carotid artery stenosis.

Background: The risk of major adverse events during carotid artery stenting is comparable to carotid endarterectomy, however, the risk of minor stroke remains higher with stenting.

Methods: In total, 67 patients undergoing carotid artery stenting were enrolled at nine centers in Europe.

Pain and Multimodal Analgesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

: The administration of high doses of opioids during surgery can lead to higher postoperative pain scores at rest and when coughing. Multimodal analgesia may lower the need for opioids during surgery and the suffering of postoperative pain. Multimodal analgesia can be achieved by providing non-opioid drugs (lidocaine, ketamine, and magnesium sulfate), three different types of drugs.

Is Multimodal Anesthesia Effecting Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy?

: Multimodal anesthesia represents a technique that can improve analgesia and lower the occurrence of opioid side effects in the postoperative period, such as postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). It can be achieved by providing different types of medication during the intraoperative period which can decrease the need for opioids. PONV happens more often in patients who have received large amounts of opioids during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Large-scale mitogenome sequencing reveals consecutive expansions of domestic taurine cattle and supports sporadic aurochs introgression.

The contribution of domestic cattle in human societies is enormous, making cattle, along with other essential benefits, the economically most important domestic animal in the world today. To expand existing knowledge on cattle domestication and mitogenome diversity, we performed a comprehensive complete mitogenome analysis of the species (802 sequences, 114 breeds). A large sample was collected in South-east Europe, an important agricultural gateway to Europe during Neolithization and a region rich in cattle biodiversity.

Position Paper on the Management of Pregnancy-Associated Superficial Venous Thrombosis. Balkan Working Group for Prevention and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a multifactorial disease that can possibly affect any part of venous circulation. The risk of VTE increases by about 2 fold in pregnant women and VTE is one of the major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. For decades superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) has been considered as benign, self-limiting condition, primarily local event consequently being out of scope of well conducted epidemiological and clinical studies.

COVID-19 in the endoscopy unit: How likely is transmission of infection? Results from an international, multicenter study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) significantly affected endoscopy practice, as gastrointestinal endoscopy is considered a risky procedure for transmission of infection to patients and personnel of endoscopy units (PEU).

Aim: To assess the impact of COVID-19 on endoscopy during the first European lockdown (March-May 2020).

Methods: Patients undergoing endoscopy in nine endoscopy units across six European countries during the period of the first European lockdown for COVID-19 (March-May 2020) were included.

Thyroid function and dysfunction in preterm infants-Challenges in evaluation, diagnosis and therapy.

Thyroid hormone levels have a crucial role for optimal brain development from gestation through the first 2 postnatal years. However, thyroid hormones vary with gestational age, and their levels vary between term and preterm infants. Preterm newborns are prone to thyroid dysfunction which is now more frequently observed with the advances of neonatal care and improved survival of extremely premature infants.

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.

Erector spinae plane block in various abdominal surgeries: A case series.

Erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a regional anesthesia technique, which provides visceral and somatic analgesia for abdominal surgery; during surgery and in the postoperative period. The local anesthetic is injected between the erector spinae muscle and the transverse process and it spreads cranially and caudally into the paravertebral space, affecting the ventral and dorsal branches of the thoracic spinal nerves and the rami communicants that contain sympathetic nerve fibers. ESP block can replace thoracic epidural anesthesia and has a better analgesic effect compared to other plane blocks that are used in abdominal surgery.

Efficacy of Medium Cut-Off Dialyzer and Comparison with Standard High-Flux Hemodialysis.

Background: A new medium cut-off (MCO) membranes has been designed to achieve better removal capacities for middle and large middle molecules in hemodialysis (HD) treatment.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the removal efficacy of Theranova® in standard HD in comparison with standard high-flux HD.

Methods: Four HD patients (M/F 1/4) were included in 12-week observational pilot study in HD with Theranova® 400 and Theranova® 500 dialyzers.

Sex Differences in Modifiable Risk Factors and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease.

Background It is still unknown whether traditional risk factors may have a sex-specific impact on coronary artery disease (CAD) burden. Methods and Results We identified 14 793 patients who underwent coronary angiography for acute coronary syndromes in the ISACS-TC (International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Transitional Countries; Clini​calTr​ials.gov, NCT01218776) registry from 2010 to 2019.

Is an opioid-free anaesthesia possible without using alpha-2 agonists?

Opioid-free anaesthesia (OFA) is an anaesthetic technique where non-opioid drugs are used in the intraoperative period. It can be successful without using alpha-2 agonists, which are main drugs used in this multimodal anaesthesia. We are presenting seven different cases where OFA was used in different abdominal surgeries (laparoscopic cholecystectomy, colon cancer operation, and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair) alone or in a combination with epidural anaesthesia and peripheral nerve block.