Characteristics of patients with somatoform pain disorder.

Background: Patients with somatoform pain experience physical pain that cannot be attributed to any underlying medical or physiological cause, and it is often thought to be related to psychological factors. Health professionals encounter difficulties identifying this specific type of chronic pain, leading to suboptimal treatment strategies. Therefore, we aimed to describe the characteristics of patients with somatoform pain, to support the identification of affected patients.

Impact of enzyme replacement therapy on clinical manifestations in females with Fabry disease.

Background: The aim of our multicenter study was to investigate the implementation of the European Fabry guidelines on therapeutic recommendations in female patients with Fabry disease (FD) and to analyze the impact of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in treated and untreated females.

Results: Data from 3 consecutive visits of 159 female FD patients from 6 Fabry centers were retrospectively analyzed. According to their treatment, patients were separated in 3 groups (untreated, n = 71; newly ERT-treated, n = 47; long-term ERT-treated, n = 41).

Opportunistic Quantitative Computed Tomography Assessing Bone Mineral Density in Patients With Laparoscopic Roux-En-Y-Gastric Bypass Metabolic Surgery Throughout a 5-Year Observation Window.

Background: Bariatric surgery is associated with decreasing bone mineral density (BMD).

Objective: To assess the long-term vertebral BMD, measured by opportunistic quantitative CT (QCT), and body mass index (BMI) in patients undergoing proximal laparoscopic Roux-en-Y surgery (LRYGB).

Methods: In 62 patients undergoing LRYGB, opportunistic QCT measurements were performed extracting BMD and BMI on day 1 and years 1, 3, and 5 postoperatively.

Ecto-NOX Disulfide-Thiol Exchanger 2 (ENOX2/tNOX) Is a Potential Prognostic Marker in Primary Malignant Melanoma and May Serve as a Therapeutic Target.

With an increasing incidence of malignant melanoma, new prognostic biomarkers for clinical decision making have become more important. In this study, we evaluated the role of ecto-NOX disulfide-thiol exchanger 2 (ENOX2/tNOX), a cancer- and growth-associated protein, in the prognosis and therapy of primary malignant melanoma. We conducted a tissue microarray analysis of immunohistochemical ENOX2 protein expression and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA expression analysis, as well as viability assays and Western blots of melanoma cell lines treated with the ENOX2 inhibitor phenoxodiol (PXD) and BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) vemurafenib.

Air pollution exposure during pregnancy and lung function in childhood: The LUIS study.

Background: The adverse effects of high air pollution levels on childhood lung function are well-known. Limited evidence exists on the effects of moderate exposure levels during early life on childhood lung function. We investigated the association of exposure to moderate air pollution during pregnancy, infancy, and preschool time with lung function at school age in a Swiss population-based study.

Patient derived tumoroids of high grade neuroendocrine neoplasms for more personalized therapies.

There are no therapeutic predictive biomarkers or representative preclinical models for high-grade gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NEN), a highly aggressive, fatal, and heterogeneous malignancy. We established patient-derived (PD) tumoroids from biobanked tissue samples of advanced high-grade GEP-NEN patients and applied this model for targeted rapid ex vivo pharmacotyping, next-generation sequencing, and perturbational profiling. We used tissue-matched PD tumoroids to profile individual patients, compared ex vivo drug response to patients' clinical response to chemotherapy, and investigated treatment-induced adaptive stress responses.

Detailed statistical analysis plan for ALBINO: effect of Allopurinol in addition to hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury on Neurocognitive Outcome - a blinded randomized placebo-controlled parallel group multicenter trial for superiority (phase III).

Background: Despite therapeutic hypothermia (TH) and neonatal intensive care, 45-50% of children affected by moderate-to-severe neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) die or suffer from long-term neurodevelopmental impairment. Additional neuroprotective therapies are sought, besides TH, to further improve the outcome of affected infants. Allopurinol - a xanthine oxidase inhibitor - reduced the production of oxygen radicals and subsequent brain damage in pre-clinical and preliminary human studies of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, if administered before or early after the insult.

The Potential of Intertwining Gene Diagnostics and Surgery for Mitral Valve Prolapse.

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is common among heart valve disease patients, causing severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Although complications such as cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death are rare, the high prevalence of the condition leads to a significant number of such events. Through next-generation gene sequencing approaches, predisposing genetic components have been shown to play a crucial role in the development of MVP.

Right Axillary Artery Cannulation for Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Postcardiotomy Patients: A Single-Center Experience.

: To analyze the patient outcome and complication rate of axillary artery cannulation for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in patients who could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass after cardiothoracic surgery. We analyzed the data of 179 patients who were supported with VA-ECMO with femoral-axillary access (FA VA-ECMO) after cardiothoracic surgery between January 2014 and January 2019 in our department. Patients requiring central aortic cannulation and patients with respiratory failure requiring veno-venous ECMO were excluded.

Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity: the Hamburg Declaration.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dementia, depression and cancers, are on the rise worldwide and are often associated with a lack of physical activity (PA). Globally, the levels of PA among individuals are below WHO recommendations. A lack of PA can increase morbidity and mortality, worsen the quality of life and increase the economic burden on individuals and society.

The Effectiveness of Three-Dimensional Osteosynthesis Plates versus Conventional Plates for the Treatment of Skeletal Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To assess the difference between preformed anatomically shaped osteosynthesis plates and patient-specific implants versus conventional flat plates for the treatment of skeletal fractures in terms of anatomical reduction, operation time, approach, patient outcomes, and complications.

Material And Methods: MEDLINE (1950 to February 2023), EMBASE (1966 to February 2023), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (inception to February 2023) databases were searched. Eligible studies were randomised clinical trials, prospective controlled clinical trials, and prospective and retrospective cohort studies ( ≥ 10).

Propensity Matched Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Mitral Surgery: Does a Heart-Team Approach Eliminate Female Gender as an Independent Risk Factor?

Background: There is increasing evidence that female gender is an independent risk factor for cardiac surgery. Minimally invasive mitral surgery (MIV) has proven to have excellent long-term results, but little is known about gender-dependent outcomes. The aim of our study was to analyze our heart team's decision-based MIV-specialized cohort.

Effect of acetazolamide on pulmonary vascular haemodynamics in patients with COPD going to altitude: a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.

Background: COPD may predispose to symptomatic pulmonary hypertension at high altitude. We investigated haemodynamic changes in lowlanders with COPD ascending to 3100 m and evaluated whether preventive acetazolamide treatment would attenuate the altitude-induced increase in pulmonary artery pressure (PAP).

Methods: In this randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group trial, patients with COPD Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease grades 2-3 who were living <800 m and had peripheral oxygen saturation ( ) >92% and arterial carbon dioxide tension <6 kPa were randomised to receive either acetazolamide (125-250 mg·day) or placebo capsules, starting 24 h before ascent from 760 m and during a 2-day stay at 3100 m.

Effect of two additional doses of intrathecal methotrexate during induction therapy on serious infectious toxicity in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Although initial central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rarely detected in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), risk-adapted CNS-directed therapy is essential for all patients. Treatment intensity depends on the initial CNS status. In the AIEOP-BFM ALL 2009 trial, patients with cytomorphologic detection of leukemic blasts in initial cerebrospinal fluid were classified as CNS2 or CNS3 and received five intrathecal doses of methotrexate (MTX) in induction therapy compared to patients with CNS1 status (no blasts detected) who received three doses.

Oral Use of Therapeutic Carbon Monoxide for Anyone, Anywhere, and Anytime.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a therapeutic gas with therapeutic potential in intestinal bowel disease. Therapeutic efficacy in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) must be paired with safe and convenient use. Therefore, we designed an oral CO releasing system (OCORS) pairing tunable CO release into the GIT while preventing the release of any other molecule from within the device, causing safety concerns.

Combination of the STING Agonist MIW815 (ADU-S100) and PD-1 Inhibitor Spartalizumab in Advanced/Metastatic Solid Tumors or Lymphomas: An Open-Label, Multicenter, Phase Ib Study.

Purpose: The stimulator of IFN genes (STING) is a transmembrane protein that plays a role in the immune response to tumors. Single-agent STING agonist MIW815 (ADU-S100) has demonstrated immune activation but limited antitumor activity. This phase Ib, multicenter, dose-escalation study assessed the safety and tolerability of MIW815 plus spartalizumab (PDR001), a humanized IgG4 antibody against PD-1, in 106 patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphomas.

A novel molecular signature identifies mixed subtypes in renal cell carcinoma with poor prognosis and independent response to immunotherapy.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a heterogeneous disease comprising histologically defined subtypes. For therapy selection, precise subtype identification and individualized prognosis are mandatory, but currently limited. Our aim was to refine subtyping and outcome prediction across main subtypes, assuming that a tumor is composed of molecular features present in distinct pathological subtypes.

The 2022 World Health Organization Classification of Tumours of the Urinary System and Male Genital Organs-Part A: Renal, Penile, and Testicular Tumours.

The fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of urogenital tumours (WHO "Blue Book"), published in 2022, contains significant revisions. This review summarises the most relevant changes for renal, penile, and testicular tumours. In keeping with other volumes in the fifth edition series, the WHO classification of urogenital tumours follows a hierarchical classification and lists tumours by site, category, family, and type.

Do we need blood culture stewardship programs? A quality control study and survey to assess the appropriateness of blood culture collection and the knowledge and attitudes among physicians in Swiss hospitals.

Background: Guidance for blood culture (BC) collection is limited. Inappropriate BC collection may be associated with potentially harmful consequences for the patient such as unnecessary laboratory testing, treatment and additional costs. The aim of the study was to assess the appropriateness of BC collection and related knowledge and attitude of precribers.

Pre-operative radiotherapy is associated with superior local relapse-free survival in advanced synovial sarcoma.

Purpose: Optimization of local therapies in synovial sarcoma (SS) considered unresectable at diagnosis is needed. We evaluated the effects of neoadjuvant versus adjuvant radiation versus surgery only on long-term outcomes.

Methods: Patients with macroscopic SS tumors before chemotherapy (IRS-group-III) in the trials CWS-81, CWS-86, CWS-91, CWS-96, CWS-2002-P and SoTiSaR-registry were analyzed.

Contact sensitization to essential oils: IVDK data of the years 2010-2019.

Background: Essential oils (EOs) are widely used in cosmetics, perfumes, massage fluids, aroma therapy and natural medicine. Some EOs contain contact sensitizers.

Objectives: To describe the frequency of sensitization to EOs in dermatitis patients presenting in skin clinics including concomitant reactions, to evaluate the EO patch test preparations and to identify patient groups with an increased risk of EO sensitization.

Is benzyl alcohol a significant contact sensitizer?

Background: Benzyl alcohol is a widely used preservative, solvent and fragrance material. According to published data, it is a rare sensitizer in humans.

Objectives: To identify characteristics and sensitization patterns of patients with positive patch test reactions to benzyl alcohol and to check the reliability of the patch test preparation benzyl alcohol 1% pet.

First-line high-dose therapy and autologous blood stem cell transplantation in patients with primary central nervous system non-Hodgkin lymphomas-a single-centre experience in 61 patients.

Primary central nervous system non-Hodgkin lymphomas (PCNS-NHLs) are extranodal B-cell lymphomas with poor prognosis. The role of high-dose therapy (HDT) followed by autologous blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as first-line therapy is still not clear. We retrospectively collected long-term follow up data of 61 consecutive patients with PCNS-NHL at the University Hospital Düsseldorf from January 2004 to December 2016.