Inspired by Nature: Hydrogels as Versatile Tools for Vascular Engineering.

Diseases related to vascular malfunction, hyper-vascularization, or lack of vascularization are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Engineered, vascularized tissues as well as angiogenic growth factor-releasing hydrogels could replace defective tissues. Further, treatments and testing of novel vascular therapeutics will benefit significantly from models that allow for the study of vascularized tissues under physiological relevant conditions.

Endocytosis of lipoproteins.

During their metabolism, all lipoproteins undergo endocytosis, either to be degraded intracellularly, for example in hepatocytes or macrophages, or to be re-secreted, for example in the course of transcytosis by endothelial cells. Moreover, there are several examples of internalized lipoproteins sequestered intracellularly, possibly to exert intracellular functions, for example the cytolysis of trypanosoma. Endocytosis and the subsequent intracellular itinerary of lipoproteins hence are key areas for understanding the regulation of plasma lipid levels as well as the biological functions of lipoproteins.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with GATA2 deficiency-a case report and comprehensive review of the literature.

Recently, an immunodeficiency syndrome caused by guanine-adenine-thymine-adenine 2 (GATA2) deficiency has been described. The syndrome is characterized by (i) typical onset in early adulthood, (ii) profound peripheral blood cytopenias of monocytes, B lymphocytes, and NK cells, (iii) distinct susceptibility to disseminated non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) and other opportunistic infections (particularly human papillomavirus), and (iv) a high risk of developing hematologic malignancies (myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS); acute myeloid leukemias (AML)). Considerable clinical heterogeneity exists among patients with GATA2 deficiency, but once infectious symptoms occur or MDS/AML arises, survival declines significantly.

Challenges in Pathologic Staging of Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Study of Interobserver Variability Among Urologic Pathologists.

Staging criteria for renal cell carcinoma differ from many other cancers, in that renal tumors are often spherical with subtle, finger-like extensions into veins, renal sinus, or perinephric tissue. We sought to study interobserver agreement in pathologic stage categories for challenging cases. An online survey was circulated to urologic pathologists interested in kidney tumors, yielding 89% response (31/35).

Comparison of Levosimendan and Milrinone for ECLS Weaning in Patients After Cardiac Surgery-A Retrospective Before-and-After Study.

Objectives: Pharmacodynamics suggests that levosimendan might be a valuable inotrope for weaning from extracorporeal life support (ECLS). As there is a paucity of evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of such an approach, the aim was to report the authors' experiences in ECLS weaning before and after the implementation of levosimendan in clinical practice.

Design: Retrospective before-and-after study.

Comprehensive in-hospital monitoring in acute heart failure: applications for clinical practice and future directions for research. A statement from the Acute Heart Failure Committee of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

This paper provides a practical clinical application of guideline recommendations relating to the inpatient monitoring of patients with acute heart failure, through the evaluation of various clinical, biomarker, imaging, invasive and non-invasive approaches. Comprehensive inpatient monitoring is crucial to the optimal management of acute heart failure patients. The European Society of Cardiology heart failure guidelines provide recommendations for the inpatient monitoring of acute heart failure, but the level of evidence underpinning most recommendations is limited.

Risk Factors for Higher-than-Expected Residual Rivaroxaban Plasma Concentrations in Real-Life Patients.

Introduction: Rivaroxaban (RXA) is a direct oral factor Xa (Xa) antagonist with a short half-life and a fast onset and offset of effect. Before elective surgery, discontinuation is recommended with an interval of at least > 24 hours. In clinical practice, this is, however, not always sufficient to achieve a residual RXA plasma concentration deemed appropriate for surgery, defined as ≤ 50 mcg/L.

Morphological clues to the appropriate recognition of hereditary renal neoplasms.

An important emerging role of the surgical pathologist besides the traditional tasks of establishment of the diagnosis and documentation of prognostic and predictive factors, is to recognize the possibility of a hereditary condition in cases where the histology is suggestive for a familial cancer syndrome. In recent years, the knowledge regarding all of the above roles, including the role of recognition of familial cancer, has particularly expanded in renal neoplasms with the close scrutiny to morphology, molecular correlates and clinical features of the different sub-types of renal cell carcinoma. Awareness of these clinically distinctive sub-types and their associated histologic clues will prompt the pathologist for further immunohistochemical or molecular work up, to look for clinical information to support the suspected diagnosis of familial cancer, to alert managing physician/s to look for stigmata of history of familial cancer, which will permit triaging patients and their families for appropriate genetic counseling.

Comparison of two different coagulation algorithms on the use of allogenic blood products and coagulation factors in severely injured trauma patients: a retrospective, multicentre, observational study.

Background: At the University Hospital Zurich (USZ) and the Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne (LUKS) an individualized goal-directed coagulation and transfusion algorithm was introduced and implemented before 2012 (Coagulation algorithm of the USZ: USZ-Alg; of the LUKS: LUKS-Alg). Main differences between both algorithms are: 1) A target haematocrit-range of 0.21-0.

The efficacy of pre-operative preparation with intravenous iron and/or erythropoietin in anaemic patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery: An observational study.

Background: Pre-operative anaemia and transfusion are common among patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery. Application of 'patient blood management' might be the most effective way to reduce both anaemia and transfusion. Pre-operative administration of iron and/or erythropoietin (EPO) is one of the cornerstones of the first pillar of patient blood management, but in a daily clinical setting, efficacy and long-term safety of this measure have not been analysed thoroughly to date.

Impact of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) on growth of colorectal liver metastases.

Background: Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy induces an unprecedented liver hypertrophy and enables resection of otherwise unresectable liver tumors. The effect of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy on tumor proliferation, however, remains a concern. This study investigated the impact of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy on growth of colorectal metastases in mice and in humans.

The Impact of Prehospital Tranexamic Acid on Blood Coagulation in Trauma Patients.

Background: There is limited data on prehospital administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) in civilian trauma. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in coagulation after severe trauma from on-scene to the hospital after TXA application in comparison to a previous study without TXA.

Methods: The study protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.

Improvement of relative survival in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukaemia emerging from population-based cancer registries in Switzerland between 2001 and 2013.

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is a rare and heterogeneous haematological malignancy with increasing incidence in the elderly. We performed a population-based, observational analysis of AML cases reported to the Cantonal Cancer Registries in Switzerland. Data was aggregated by the National Institute for Epidemiology and Cancer Registration and stratified for the two time periods 2001-2007 and 2008-2013.

Specialist advice may improve patient selection for decompression therapy following diving accidents: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Even in a landlocked country like Switzerland recreational diving is becoming more and more popular. Smaller lakes in the Alps are located at an altitude of 2500 m above sea level. The incidence of diving accidents among all helicopter emergency service missions and the consecutive medical knowledge about decompression injuries is low.

A Dual Role of Caspase-8 in Triggering and Sensing Proliferation-Associated DNA Damage, a Key Determinant of Liver Cancer Development.

Concomitant hepatocyte apoptosis and regeneration is a hallmark of chronic liver diseases (CLDs) predisposing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we mechanistically link caspase-8-dependent apoptosis to HCC development via proliferation- and replication-associated DNA damage. Proliferation-associated replication stress, DNA damage, and genetic instability are detectable in CLDs before any neoplastic changes occur.

Long-term olfactory outcome after nasoseptal flap reconstructions in midline skull base surgery.

Background: The nasoseptal flap (NSF) is a universally used surgical technique to cover defects of the skull base after extended sinonasal surgery. Long-term follow-up of complications, sequelae, and smell function is largely unknown.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to investigate monorhinal olfaction after transsphenoidal skull base surgery.

Rat Model of the Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy (ALPPS) Procedure.

Recent clinical data support an aggressive surgical approach to both primary and metastatic liver tumors. For some indications, like colorectal liver metastases, the amount of liver tissue left behind after liver resection has become the main limiting factor of resectability of large or multiple liver tumors. A minimal amount of functional tissue is required to avoid the severe complication of post-hepatectomy liver failure, which has high morbidity and mortality.

Acute central nervous system complications and ammonium levels in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving l-asparaginase.

We analyzed ammonium levels and acute central nervous complications in adult patients receiving chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia with or without asparaginase (l-asp). Twenty patients with a median age of 40.3 years were included.

A smartphone application to determine body length for body weight estimation in children: a prospective clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to test the feasibility and accuracy of a smartphone application to measure the body length of children using the integrated camera and to evaluate the subsequent weight estimates. A prospective clinical trial of children aged 0-<13 years admitted to the emergency department of the University Children's Hospital Zurich. The primary outcome was to validate the length measurement by the smartphone application «Optisizer».

Impact of city police layperson education and equipment with automatic external defibrillators on patient outcome after out of hospital cardiac arrest.

Introduction: Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurs frequently and the outcome is often dismal. Early defibrillation saves lives and brain function in OHCA. The Zurich city police (STAPO) forces were instructed and equipped to provide basic life support (BLS) and to use an AED in 2009.

Stepwise partitioning of Xp21: a profiling method for XK deletions causative of the McLeod syndrome.

Background: McLeod syndrome (MLS) is hematologically defined by the absence of the red blood cell (RBC) antigen Kx on the transmembrane RBC protein, XK, representing a highly specific diagnostic marker. Direct molecular assessment of XK therefore represents a desirable diagnostic tool. Whereas pathogenic point mutations may be simply identified, partial and complete deletions of XK on Xp21.

Change of transfusion and treatment paradigm in major trauma patients.

Trauma promotes trauma-induced coagulopathy, which requires urgent treatment with fixed-ratio transfusions of red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma and platelet concentrates, or goal-directed administration of coagulation factors based on viscoelastic testing. This retrospective observational study compared two time periods before (2005-2007) and after (2012-2014) the implementation of changes in trauma management protocols which included: use of goal-directed coagulation management; admission of patients to designated trauma centres; whole-body computed tomography scanning on admission; damage control surgery; permissive hypotension; restrictive fluid resuscitation; and administration of tranexamic acid. The incidence of massive transfusion (≥ 10 units of red blood cells from emergency department arrival until intensive care unit admission) was compared with the predicted incidence according to the trauma associated severe haemorrhage score.

Hepatitis E Virus and the Liver: Clinical Settings and Liver Pathology.

Infection with hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute hepatitis worldwide, now increasingly recognized also in nonendemic regions. Clinical manifestation of hepatitis E includes mostly asymptomatic/subclinical presentations or acute, self-limiting hepatitis, but also potentially fatal liver failure or chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised individuals. Accordingly, hepatitis E histolpathologic patterns range from an unremarkable histology over acute (cholestatic) hepatitis with variable degree of necrosis to chronic hepatitis with fibrosis.