Evaluating small coronary stents with dual-source photon-counting computed tomography: effect of different scan modes on image quality and performance in a phantom.

Purpose: The study aimed to assess the feasibility and image quality of dual-source photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) in evaluating small-sized coronary artery stents with respect to different acquisition modes in a phantom model.

Methods: Utilizing a phantom setup mimicking the average patient's water-equivalent diameter, we examined six distinct coronary stents inflated in a silicon tube, with stent sizes ranging from 2.0 to 3.

Oral decitabine/cedazuridine versus intravenous decitabine for acute myeloid leukaemia: A randomised, crossover, registration, pharmacokinetics study.

This study compared decitabine exposure when administered IV (DEC-IV) at a dose of 20 mg/m for 5-days with orally administered decitabine with cedazuridine (DEC-C), as well as the clinical efficacy and safety of DEC-C in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) who were ineligible for intensive induction chemotherapy. In all, 89 patients were randomised 1:1 to DEC-IV or oral DEC-C (days 1-5 in a 28-day treatment cycle), followed by 5 days of the other formulation in the next treatment cycle. All patients received oral DEC-C for subsequent treatment cycles until treatment discontinuation.

Lasting effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on the inducibility of synaptic plasticity by paired-associative stimulation in humans.

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is capable of eliciting changes in cortical neuroplasticity. Increasing duration or repetition of tDCS during the after-effects of a first stimulation has been hypothesized to enhance efficacy. Computational models suggest sequential stimulation patterns with changing polarities to further enhance effects.

Criteria for continuous neuraxial analgesia associated with reduced mortality in patients undergoing thoracotomy.

Introduction: Both thoracic epidural analgesia and thoracic paravertebral analgesia are effective techniques to control pain and minimize the stress response following thoracic surgery. We hypothesized that continuous neuraxial techniques may be associated with a decrease in the incidence of postoperative mortality after thoracotomy. Additionally, we aimed to identify subgroup populations that may benefit more from neuraxial anesthesia.

Association between continuity of care and inappropriate prescribing in outpatient care in Germany: a cross-sectional analysis conducted as part of the LoChro trial.

Objectives: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs) are common in multimorbid patients. This study aims to describe PIMs and PPOs in an open-access outpatient setting and to investigate any association between continuity of care (CoC) and PIMs and PPOs in multimorbid older patients.

Design: Cross-sectional study using patient-confirmed outpatient medication plans to describe PIMs and PPOs using the 'Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescription/Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment' version 2.

The role of surgery for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in paediatric hemato-oncology patients-Can we better define it?

Background: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a serious condition with high morbidity and mortality in paediatric patients with cancer, haematological diseases or immunodeficiencies with or without allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The role of surgical intervention for the management of IPA has scarcely been investigated.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to present a single center experience of management of IPA in paediatric patients of an oncological ward, to determine the short and long-term outcomes after thoracic surgical interventions, and to outline the indications of surgical interventions in selected patients.

Fertility-Sparing Surgery for Stage I Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

Objective: To describe population-level utilization of fertility-sparing surgery and outcome of reproductive-aged patients with early epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent fertility-sparing surgery in the United States.

Methods: This retrospective study queried the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result Program. The study included 3,027 patients younger than age 50 years with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer receiving primary surgical therapy from 2007 to 2020.

Dummy run for planning of isotoxic dose-escalated radiation therapy for glioblastoma used in the PRIDE trial (NOA-28; ARO-2024-01; AG-NRO-06).

Background: The PRIDE trial (NOA-28; ARO-2024-01; AG-NRO-06; NCT05871021) is designed to determine whether a dose escalation with 75.0 Gy in 30 fractions can enhance the median overall survival (OS) in patients with methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) promotor unmethylated glioblastoma compared to historical median OS rates, while being isotoxic to historical cohorts through the addition of concurrent bevacizumab (BEV). To ensure protocol-compliant irradiation planning with all study centers, a dummy run was planned and the plan quality was evaluated.

Body weight and composition endpoints in cancer cachexia clinical trials: Systematic Review 4 of the cachexia endpoints series.

Significant variation exists in the outcomes used in cancer cachexia trials, including measures of body composition, which are often selected as primary or secondary endpoints. To date, there has been no review of the most commonly selected measures or their potential sensitivity to detect changes resulting from the interventions being examined. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the frequency and diversity of body composition measures that have been used in cancer cachexia trials.

Prognostic performance of the 2023 FIGO staging schema for endometrial cancer.

Objective: To assess the prognostic performance of the 2023 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) endometrial cancer staging schema.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study queried the Commission-on-Cancer's National Cancer Database. Study population was 129,146 patients with stage I-IV endometrial cancer per the 2009 FIGO staging schema.

Nationwide assessment of practice variability in the utilization of hysteropexy at laparoscopic apical suspension for uterine prolapse.

Background: Although hysteropexy has been used to preserve the uterus during uterine prolapse surgery for a long time, there is a scarcity of data that describe the nationwide patterns of use of this surgical procedure.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the national-level use and characteristics of hysteropexy at the time of laparoscopic apical suspension surgery for uterine prolapse in the United States.

Study Design: This cross-sectional study used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample.

Diagnosis Shift in Site of Origin of Tubo-Ovarian Carcinoma.

Objective: To assess population-level trends, characteristics, and outcomes of high-grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma in the United States.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study queried the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. The study population was 27,811 patients diagnosed with high-grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma from 2004 to 2020.

Lymph Node Isolated Tumor Cells in Patients With Endometrial Cancer.

Importance: Isolated tumor cells (ITCs) are the histopathological finding of small clusters of cancer cells no greater than 0.2 mm in diameter in the regional lymph nodes. For endometrial cancer, the prognostic significance of ITCs is uncertain.

Artificial intelligence-supported diabetic retinopathy screening in Tanzania: rationale and design of a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Globally, diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of blindness. Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to see the largest proportionate increase in the number of people living with diabetes over the next two decades. Screening for DR is recommended to prevent sight loss; however, in many low and middle-income countries, because of a lack of specialist eye care staff, current screening services for DR are not optimal.

Non-ischemic cerebral enhancing (NICE) lesions after flow diversion for intracranial aneurysms: a multicenter study.

Background: Non-ischemic cerebral enhancing (NICE) lesions have been reported as a rare complication of various neuroendovascular procedures, but information on their incidence after flow diversion is scant. It is unclear if specific devices or novel coating technologies may impact their occurrence.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter study on the incidence of NICE lesions after flow diverter (FD) implantation for cerebral aneurysm treatment.

Extending cBioPortal for Therapy Recommendation Documentation in Molecular Tumor Boards: Development and Usability Study.

Background: In molecular tumor boards (MTBs), patients with rare or advanced cancers are discussed by a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals. Software support for MTBs is lacking; in particular, tools for preparing and documenting MTB therapy recommendations need to be developed.

Objective: We aimed to implement an extension to cBioPortal to provide a tool for the documentation of therapy recommendations from MTB sessions in a secure and standardized manner.

Stargardt macular dystrophy and therapeutic approaches.

Stargardt macular dystrophy (Stargardt disease; STGD1; OMIM 248200) is the most prevalent inherited macular dystrophy. STGD1 is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by multiple pathogenic sequence variants in the large gene (OMIM 601691). Major advances in understanding both the clinical and molecular features, as well as the underlying pathophysiology, have culminated in many completed, ongoing and planned human clinical trials of novel therapies.

Data quality and patient characteristics in European ANCA-associated vasculitis registries: data retrieval by federated querying.

Objectives: This study aims to describe the data structure and harmonisation process, explore data quality and define characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients across six federated antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) registries.

Methods: Through creation of the vasculitis-specific Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable, VASCulitis ontology, we harmonised the registries and enabled semantic interoperability. We assessed data quality across the domains of uniqueness, consistency, completeness and correctness.