Deep learning to estimate impaired glucose metabolism from Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the liver: An opportunistic population screening approach.

Aim: Diabetes is a global health challenge, and many individuals are undiagnosed and not aware of their increased risk of morbidity/mortality although dedicated tests are available, which indicates the need for novel population-wide screening approaches. Here, we developed a deep learning pipeline for opportunistic screening of impaired glucose metabolism using routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver and tested its prognostic value in a general population setting.

Methods: In this retrospective study a fully automatic deep learning pipeline was developed to quantify liver shape features on routine MR imaging using data from a prospective population study.

ROCK1/2 signaling contributes to corticosteroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease.

Patients with corticosteroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) have a low one-year survival rate. Identification and validation of novel targetable kinases in patients who experience corticosteroid-refractory-aGVHD may help improve outcomes. Kinase-specific proteomics of leukocytes from patients with corticosteroid-refractory-GVHD identified rho kinase type 1 (ROCK1) as the most significantly upregulated kinase.

Ultra-high-resolution photon-counting detector CT in evaluating coronary stent patency: a comparison to invasive coronary angiography.

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultra-high-resolution photon-counting detector CT angiography (UHR PCD-CTA) for evaluating coronary stent patency compared to invasive coronary angiography (ICA).

Methods: Consecutive, clinically referred patients with prior coronary stent implantation were prospectively enrolled between August 2022 and March 2023 and underwent UHR PCD-CTA (collimation, 120 × 0.2 mm).

Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy Is Effective for Clinical Control of Symptomatic Metastatic Insulinoma: A Long-Term Retrospective Analysis.

Metastatic insulinoma is a rare malignant neuroendocrine tumor characterized by inappropriate insulin secretion, resulting in life-threatening hypoglycemia, which is often difficult to treat. There is currently very limited information about the efficacy of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) for clinical control of hypoglycemia. The aim of this long-term retrospective study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of PRRT for improving hypoglycemia, to evaluate the change of medication after PRRT, and to calculate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Efficacy and safety of adjuvant immunoadsorption in pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus (IA-Pem Study): a multicentre randomized controlled trial.

Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) are potentially life-threatening autoimmune blistering diseases. Treatment is based on long-term immunosuppression with high doses of glucocorticosteroids in combination with potentially corticosteroid-sparing agents and/or rituximab. Immunoadsorption (IA) has emerged as a fast-acting adjuvant treatment option.

Trends in Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) for Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Cholangiocarcinoma, and Liver Metastasis: A Total Population Analysis from 2006 to 2021 in Germany.

The aim of this study was to investigate trends in selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CCC), and liver metastasis in Germany. We analyzed the nationwide German hospital billing database from 2006 to 2019 for the diagnosis of HCC, CCC or liver metastasis in combination with SIRT. For analyses of SIRT on the hospital level, we used the reimbursement.

Baseline neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio appear predictive of immune treatment related toxicity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: A well-recognized class effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) is immune-related adverse events (IrAEs) ranging from low grade toxicities to life-threatening end organ damage requiring permanent discontinuation of ICI. Deaths are reported in < 5% of patients treated with ICI. There are, however, no reliable markers to predict the onset and severity of IrAEs.

Satisfaction with radiotherapy care among cancer patients treated in Germany-secondary analysis of a large multicenter study.

Purpose: Patient satisfaction with healthcare has been linked to clinical outcomes and regulatory agencies demand its regular assessment. Therefore, we aimed to investigate patient satisfaction with radiotherapy care and its determinants.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cross-sectional study.

NOn-Pachychoroid PEripapillary Schisis (NOPPES) of the Retina: A New Phenotype and its Differential Diagnosis.

Purpose: The presence of peripapillary intraretinal fluid (IRF) has a broad differential diagnosis, including several types of neovascular and pachychoroid-related diseases. However, the clinician may encounter cases without signs of neovascular or pachychoroid disease, or any other previously described diagnosis. For these patients, we propose the term NOn-Pachychoroid PEripapillary Schisis (NOPPES) of the retina, and we discuss the differential diagnosis.

Chimeric antigen receptors of HBV envelope proteins inhibit hepatitis B surface antigen secretion.

Objectives: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) caused by HBV infection greatly increases the risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of CHB. HBsAg loss is the key indicator for cure of CHB, but is rarely achieved by current approved anti-HBV drugs.

Prevention of CMV/EBV reactivation by double-specific T cells in patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation: results from the randomized phase I/IIa MULTIVIR-01 study.

Introduction: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is used to cure hematologic malignancies or deficiencies of the hematopoietic system. It is associated with severe immunodeficiency of the host early after transplant and therefore early reactivation of latent herpesviruses such as CMV and EBV within the first 100 days are frequent. Small studies and case series indicated that application of herpes virus specific T cells can control and prevent disease in this patient population.

Autoantibodies against type I IFNs in humans with alternative NF-κB pathway deficiency.

Patients with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1 (APS-1) caused by autosomal recessive AIRE deficiency produce autoantibodies that neutralize type I interferons (IFNs), conferring a predisposition to life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia. Here we report that patients with autosomal recessive NIK or RELB deficiency, or a specific type of autosomal-dominant NF-κB2 deficiency, also have neutralizing autoantibodies against type I IFNs and are at higher risk of getting life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia. In patients with autosomal-dominant NF-κB2 deficiency, these autoantibodies are found only in individuals who are heterozygous for variants associated with both transcription (p52 activity) loss of function (LOF) due to impaired p100 processing to generate p52, and regulatory (IκBδ activity) gain of function (GOF) due to the accumulation of unprocessed p100, therefore increasing the inhibitory activity of IκBδ (hereafter, p52/IκBδ).

Update Breast Cancer 2023 Part 2 - Advanced-Stage Breast Cancer.

In recent years, a number of new therapies have led to advances in the treatment of patients with advanced breast carcinoma. These substances are mainly CDK4/6 inhibitors and other substances that can overcome endocrine resistance, oral selective estrogen receptor degraders, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), and PARP inhibitors. This review summarizes and evaluates the latest study results that have been published in recent months.

Update Breast Cancer 2023 Part 1 - Early Stage Breast Cancer.

With abemaciclib (monarchE study) and olaparib (OlympiA study) gaining approval in the adjuvant treatment setting, a significant change in the standard of care for patients with early stage breast cancer has been established for some time now. Accordingly, some diverse developments are slowly being transferred from the metastatic to the adjuvant treatment setting. Recently, there have also been positive reports of the NATALEE study.

In Vitro microRNA Expression Profile Alterations under CDK4/6 Therapy in Breast Cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibition is one of the backbones of metastatic breast cancer therapy. However, there are a significant number of therapy failures.

Input-output relation of midbrain connectomics in a rodent model of depression.

Background: The symptoms associated with depression are believed to arise from disruptions in information processing across brain networks. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) influences reward-based behavior, motivation, addiction, and psychiatric disorders, including depression. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB), is an emerging therapy for treatment-resistant depression.

Vosoritide Therapy in Children with Achondroplasia: Early Experience and Practical Considerations for Clinical Practice.

Introduction: Vosoritide is the first precision medical therapy approved to increase growth velocity in children with achondroplasia. Sharing early prescribing experiences across different regions could provide a framework for developing practical guidance for the real-world use of vosoritide.

Methods: Two meetings were held to gather insight and early experience from experts in Europe, the Middle East, and the USA.

Incidence, treatment techniques, and results of distal humeral coronal shear fractures in children and adolescents-a multicenter study of the German Section of Pediatric Traumatology (SKT).

Purpose: Distal humeral coronal shear fractures (CSF) are uncommon and may be challenging to treat due to their size, location, and intraarticular nature. The purpose of this study was to analyze treatment concepts of this rare entity in the growing age.

Methods: Based on a multi-center data analysis we retrospectively reviewed patients below 16 years of age with CSF treated at 13 high-volume pediatric trauma centers.

Photon-counting computed tomography - clinical application in oncological, cardiovascular, and pediatric radiology.

Background: Photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) is a promising new technology with the potential to fundamentally change workflows in the daily routine and provide new quantitative imaging information to improve clinical decision-making and patient management.

Method: The contents of this review are based on an unrestricted literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar using the search terms "photon-counting CT", "photon-counting detector", "spectral CT", "computed tomography" as well as on the authors' own experience.

Results: The fundamental difference with respect to the currently established energy-integrating CT detectors is that PCD-CT allows for the counting of every single photon at the detector level.