Metabolomic biomarkers of habitual B vitamin intakes unveil novel differentially methylated positions in the human epigenome.

Background: B vitamins such as folate (B9), B6, and B12 are key in one carbon metabolism, which generates methyl donors for DNA methylation. Several studies have linked differential methylation to self-reported intakes of folate and B12, but these estimates can be imprecise, while metabolomic biomarkers can offer an objective assessment of dietary intakes. We explored blood metabolomic biomarkers of folate and vitamins B6 and B12, to carry out epigenome-wide analyses across up to three European cohorts.

S3 guideline "actinic keratosis and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma" - update 2023, part 2: epidemiology and etiology, diagnostics, surgical and systemic treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), surveillance and prevention.

Actinic keratosis (AK) are common lesions in light-skinned individuals that can potentially progress to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Both conditions may be associated with significant morbidity and constitute a major disease burden, especially among the elderly. To establish an evidence-based framework for clinical decision making, the guideline "actinic keratosis and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma" was updated and expanded by the topics cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen's disease) and actinic cheilitis.

Fatigue, Depression and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Post-Myocardial Infarction during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from the Augsburg Myocardial Infarction Registry.

Unlabelled: The interplay between fatigue and depression and their association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has received little attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study evaluated the frequency of fatigue and depression in post-AMI patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigated the cross-sectional associations between fatigue, depression and HRQoL.

Methods: The analysis was based on population-based Myocardial Infarction Registry Augsburg data.

Intraoperative radiotherapy after resection of brain metastases located in the posterior fossa. Analysis of postoperative morbidity and mortality in a single center cohort.

Introduction: In order to improve surgical outcome and accelerate the adjuvant oncologic therapy, intraoperative Radiotherapy (IORT) has become a treatment option in oncologic surgery for various diseases including glioma and brain metastasis (BM). BMs are often located in the cranial posterior fossa (PF) requiring specific surgical considerations due to its complex anatomy. Up until now, data on IORT for BMs is limited and detailed description in the use of IORT for lesions in the PF is lacking.

Multiphase photon counting detector CT data sets - Which combination of contrast phase and virtual non-contrast algorithm is best suited to replace true non-contrast series in the assessment of active bleeding?

Purpose: Aim of this study was to determine which virtual non-contrast (VNC) reconstruction algorithm, applied to which contrast phase of computed tomography angiography, best matches true non-contrast (TNC) images in the assessment of active bleeding.

Method: Patients who underwent a triphasic scan (pre-contrast, arterial, portal venous contrast) on a photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) (120 kV, image quality level 68) with suspected active (tumor, postoperative, spontaneous or other) bleeding were retrospectively included in this study. Conventional (VNC) and a calcium-preserving VNC algorithm (VNC) were derived from both arterial (art) and portal venous (pv) contrast scans, and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by two independent and blinded raters.

Coagulation Disorders and Thrombotic Complications in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with multiple cardiovascular and noncardiovascular comorbidities and risk factors which increase the risk of thrombotic complications, such as atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subsequently, thromboembolic risk stratification in this population poses a great challenge. Since date from the large randomized clinical trials mostly include both patients with truly preserved EF, and those with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction, there is an unmet need to characterize the patients with truly preserved EF.

Mechanical Power Density Predicts Prolonged Ventilation Following Double Lung Transplantation.

Prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) after lung transplantation poses several risks, including higher tracheostomy rates and increased in-hospital mortality. Mechanical power (MP) of artificial ventilation unifies the ventilatory variables that determine gas exchange and may be related to allograft function following transplant, affecting ventilator weaning. We retrospectively analyzed consecutive double lung transplant recipients at a national transplant center, ventilated through endotracheal tubes upon ICU admission, excluding those receiving extracorporeal support.

Optimal conspicuity of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in virtual monochromatic imaging reconstructions on a photon-counting detector CT: comparison to conventional MDCT.

Purpose: To analyze the conspicuity of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) on a novel photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) in comparison to energy-integrating CT (EID-CT).

Methods: Inclusion criteria comprised initial diagnosis of PDAC (reference standard: histopathological analysis) and standardized contrast-enhanced CT imaging either on an EID-CT or a PCD-CT. Patients were excluded due to different histopathological diagnosis or missing tumor delineation on CT.

TRIM28 inactivation in epithelial nephroblastoma is frequent and often associated with predisposing TRIM28 germline variants.

Wilms tumors (WTs) are histologically diverse childhood cancers with variable contributions of blastema, stroma, and epithelia. A variety of cancer genes operate in WTs, including the tripartite-motif-containing-28 gene (TRIM28). Case reports and small case series suggest that TRIM28 mutations are associated with epithelial morphology and WT predisposition.

An Intrapatient Dosimetry Comparison of Lu-rhPSMA-10.1 and Lu-PSMA-I&T in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

As the use of radioligand therapy moves earlier in the prostate cancer timeline, minimizing the absorbed dose to normal organs while maintaining high tumor radiation doses becomes more clinically important because of the longer life expectancy of patients. We performed an intrapatient comparison of pretherapeutic dosimetry with the novel radiohybrid prostate-specific membrane antigen-targeting radiopharmaceutical Lu-rhPSMA-10.1, along with Lu-PSMA-I&T, in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Effects of matcha tea extract on cell viability and estrogen receptor-β expression on MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Purpose: In the following work, we investigated the effect of matcha green tea extract (MTE) on MCF-7 breast cancer cell viability and estrogen receptor-beta expression (ERβ).

Methods: MCF-7 cells were stimulated with MTE at concentrations of 5 and 10 µg/ml. Cell viability was assessed using a water-soluble tetrazolium assay (WST-1 assay) after an incubation time of 72 h.

Hemodynamics and Diastolic Function after Native Aortic Valve Preserving vs. Replacing Surgery.

Background:  Alterations in left ventricular (LV) diastolic function following native tissue-preserving aortic valve (AV) procedures have not been systematically investigated. Furthermore, no comparisons have been made between these changes and those observed after prosthetic AV replacement.

Methods:  From October 2017 to August 2020, 74 patients aged <65 years were referred to our institution for elective AV surgery.

Determination of tissue tracer transit of Technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine diuretic renography in infants with suspected ureteropelvic junction obstruction - A multicenter prospective observational study.

Introduction: There is an ongoing controversy regarding management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in infants, with a shift towards a non-operative approach. However, precise predictors of outcome are lacking. Recent studies postulated a high prognostic value of Technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine tissue tracer transit with regard to the development of an impaired differential renal function and its potential improvement following pyeloplasty.

Safety Aspects and Procedural Characteristics of Ambulatory Diagnostic Cerebral Catheter Angiography.

Purpose: Diagnostic cerebral catheter angiography is used to assess a variety of neurovascular pathologies especially in patients before and after endovascular neurointerventional treatment. In many centers diagnostic cerebral angiographies are performed with the patient staying for one night in the hospital because there are not yet sufficient data on the safety of ambulatory cerebral angiography. At the same time hospitals face a growing demand to perform ambulatory medical procedures.

Health literacy in patients with pulmonary embolism: development and validation of the HeLP (Health Literacy in Pulmonary Embolism)-Questionnaire.

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cardiovascular disease and health literacy is necessary to deal with its consequences after the acute event. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a new questionnaire to measure PE-specific health literacy.

Methods: A mixed-methods design with qualitative and quantitative elements was used in the development process.