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Highlights
• Early reconstruction of injured cruciate ligaments improves functional outcomes.
• Modern CT imaging can be used to rapidly identify patients with injury to the cruciate ligaments and streamline therapeutic pathways.
• Dual-energy CT demonstrates superior diagnostic accuracy compared to single-energy CT.
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of modern single and dual-energy computed tomography (CT) for assessing the integrity of the cruciate ligaments in patients that sustained acute trauma.
Methods: Patients who underwent single- or dual-energy CT followed by 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or knee joint arthroscopy between 01/2016 and 12/2022 were included in this retrospective, monocentric study. Three radiologists specialized in musculoskeletal imaging independently evaluated all CT images for the presence of injury to the cruciate ligaments. An MRI consensus reading of two experienced readers and arthroscopy provided the reference standard. Diagnostic accuracy parameters and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) were the primary metrics for diagnostic performance.
Results: CT images of 204 patients (median age, 49 years; IQR 36 – 64; 113 males) were evaluated. Dual-energy CT yielded significantly higher diagnostic accuracy and AUC for the detection of injury to the anterior (94% [240/255] vs 75% [266/357] and 0.89 vs 0.66) and posterior cruciate ligaments (95% [243/255] vs 87% [311/357] and 0.90 vs 0.61) compared to single-energy CT (all parameters, p <.005). Diagnostic confidence and image quality were significantly higher in dual-energy CT compared to single-energy CT (all parameters, p <.005).
Conclusions: Modern dual-energy CT is readily available and can serve as a screening tool for detecting or excluding cruciate ligament injuries in patients with acute trauma. Accurate diagnosis of cruciate ligament injuries is crucial to prevent adverse outcomes, including delayed treatment, chronic instability, or long-term functional limitations.
Highlights
• Assessment of coronary artery plaque burden according to the CAC-DRS Score correlated well with pulmonary involvement of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (min. r=0.81, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.86).
• Visual and quantitative CAC-DRS Score of coronary artery plaque burden provided independent prognostic information on all-cause mortality in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (p=0.0016 and p<0.0001, respectively).
• Incorporating CAC-DRS Score and pulmonary involvement into clinical decision making revealed great potential to discriminate patients with fatal outcomes from a mild course of disease (AUC 0.938, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.97) and the need for intensive care treatment (AUC 0.801, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.83).
Purpose: To assess and correlate pulmonary involvement and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia with the degree of coronary plaque burden based on the CAC-DRS classification (Coronary Artery Calcium Data and Reporting System).
Methods: This retrospective study included 142 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (58 ± 16 years; 57 women) who underwent non-contrast CT between January 2020 and August 2021 and were followed up for 129 ± 72 days. One experienced blinded radiologist analyzed CT series for the presence and extent of calcified plaque burden according to the visual and quantitative HU-based CAC-DRS Score. Pulmonary involvement was automatically evaluated with a dedicated software prototype by another two experienced radiologists and expressed as Opacity Score.
Results: CAC-DRS Scores derived from visual and quantitative image evaluation correlated well with the Opacity Score (r=0.81, 95% CI 0.76-0.86, and r=0.83, 95% CI 0.77-0.89, respectively; p<0.0001) with higher correlation in severe than in mild stage SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (p<0.0001). Combined, CAC-DRS and Opacity Scores revealed great potential to discriminate fatal outcomes from a mild course of disease (AUC 0.938, 95% CI 0.89-0.97), and the need for intensive care treatment (AUC 0.801, 95% CI 0.77-0.83). Visual and quantitative CAC-DRS Scores provided independent prognostic information on all-cause mortality (p=0.0016 and p<0.0001, respectively), both in univariate and multivariate analysis.
Conclusions: Coronary plaque burden is strongly correlated to pulmonary involvement, adverse outcome, and death due to respiratory failure in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, offering great potential to identify individuals at high risk.
Background: Dual-energy CT (DECT)-derived bone mineral density (BMD) of the distal radius and other CT-derived metrics related to bone health have been suggested for opportunistic osteoporosis screening and risk evaluation for sustaining distal radius fractures (DRFs).
Methods: The distal radius of patients who underwent DECT between 01/2016 and 08/2021 was retrospectively analyzed. Cortical Hounsfield Unit (HU), trabecular HU, cortical thickness, and DECT-based BMD were acquired from a non-fractured, metaphyseal area in all examinations. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to determine the area under the curve (AUC) values for predicting DRFs based on DECT-derived BMD, HU values, and cortical thickness. Logistic regression models were then employed to assess the associations of these parameters with the occurrence of DRFs.
Results: In this study, 263 patients (median age: 52 years; interquartile range: 36–64; 132 women; 192 fractures) were included. ROC curve analysis revealed a higher area under the curve (AUC) value for DECT-derived BMD compared to cortical HU, trabecular HU, and cortical thickness (0.91 vs. 0.61, 0.64, and 0.69, respectively; p <.001). Logistic regression models confirmed the association between lower DECT-derived BMD and the occurrence of DRFs (Odds Ratio, 0.83; p <.001); however, no influence was observed for cortical HU, trabecular HU, or cortical thickness.
Conclusions: DECT can be used to assess the BMD of the distal radius without dedicated equipment such as calibration phantoms to increase the detection rates of osteoporosis and stratify the individual risk to sustain DRFs. In contrast, assessing HU-based values and cortical thickness does not provide clinical benefit.
Rationale and Objectives: Bone non-union is a serious complication of distal radius fractures (DRF) that can result in functional limitations and persistent pain. However, no accepted method has been established to identify patients at risk of developing bone non-union yet. This study aimed to compare various CT-derived metrics for bone mineral density (BMD) assessment to identify predictive values for the development of bone non-union.
Materials and Methods: CT images of 192 patients with DRFs who underwent unenhanced dual-energy CT (DECT) of the distal radius between 03/2016 and 12/2020 were retrospectively identified. Available follow-up imaging and medical health records were evaluated to determine the occurrence of bone non-union. DECT-based BMD, trabecular Hounsfield unit (HU), cortical HU and cortical thickness ratio were measured in normalized non-fractured segments of the distal radius.
Results: Patients who developed bone non-union were significantly older (median age 72 years vs. 54 years) and had a significantly lower DECT-based BMD (median 68.1 mg/cm3 vs. 94.6 mg/cm3, p < 0.001). Other metrics (cortical thickness ratio, cortical HU, trabecular HU) showed no significant differences. ROC and PR curve analyses confirmed the highest diagnostic accuracy for DECT-based BMD with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.83 for the ROC curve and an AUC of 0.46 for the PR curve. In logistic regression models, DECT-based BMD was the sole metric significantly associated with bone non-union.
Conclusion: DECT-derived metrics can accurately predict bone non-union in patients who sustained DRF. The diagnostic performance of DECT-based BMD is superior to that of HU-based metrics and cortical thickness ratio.
Für diese retrospektive Studie wurden 157 Sportlerinnen in den Sportarten Fußball, Handball und Basketball über ihre Verletzungen und Fehlbelastungsfolgen in einem Erfassungszeitraum von 4 Jahren befragt. Die Sportlerinnen wurden in die Leistungsklassen Hochleistungssport und Leistungssport eingeteilt.
Die Probandinnen waren im Fußball durchschnittlich 22,2 Jahre alt, hatten im Schnitt 12,7 Trainingsjahre hinter sich und trainierten 7,9 Stunden in der Woche mit einem prozentualen Krafttrainingsanteil von 23%. Die Wettkampfanzahl pro Jahr lag bei durchschnittlich 32,7. Die relativ kleine Anzahl von 7 Hochleistungsfußballerinnen kann diese Werte als zu niedrig verfälscht haben.
Im Handball lag das Durchschnittsalter bei 25,1 Jahren, 16,3 Trainingsjahren und 8,9 Wochenstunden Training mit 16% Krafttrainingsanteil. Die Zahl der Wettkämpfe betrug durchschnittlich 33,4 pro Jahr.
Die Basketballerinnen waren durchschnittlich 23,6 Jahre alt, seit 12,7 Jahren im Training und von 9,7 Stunden Wochentraining zu 18% im Kraftraum. Sie absolvierten 41,6 Wettkämpfe im Jahr.
Im Erfassungszeitraum von 4 Jahren trat bei fast allen Sportlerinnen, bis auf 4 Leistungssportlerinnen im Fußball, mindestens einmal akut eine Verletzung auf, bei allen jedoch mindestens einmal eine Fehlbelastungsfolge. Das heißt, dass 97% der Befragten mindestens einmal akut verletzt waren, in Sportarten aufgeteilt, dass zu 100% im Handball und Basketball jede Sportlerin mindestens einmal verletzt war.
Im Fußball ergab sich eine Verletzungshäufigkeit von 2,18 akuten Verletzungen, bzw. 2,25 Fehlbelastungsfolgen pro Jahr. Auf je 100 Belastungsstunden gab es 0,47 Verletzungen bzw. 0,50 Fehlbelastungsfolgen pro Jahr. Die Handballerinnen hatten eine Verletzungshäufigkeit von 2,55 pro Jahr und 2,12 Fehlbelastungsfolgen. Auf 100 Belastungsstunden entspricht dies einer Verletzungshäufigkeit von 0,53 akuten Verletzungen pro Spielerin und 0,43 Fehlbelastungsfolgen pro Jahr.
Im Basketball lag die Verletzungshäufigkeit bei 1,89 akuten Verletzungen und bei 1,71 Fehlbelastungsfolgen, bzw. bei 0,35 akuten Verletzungen und bei 0,32 Fehlbelastungsfolgen bezogen auf 100 Belastungsstunden.
Hochleistungssportlerinnen waren aufgrund des relativ hohen Trainingsumfanges und der Wettkampfbelastung gegenüber den Leistungssportlerinnen pro Jahr absolut gesehen häufiger verletzt und mussten mit mehr Fehlbelastungsfolgen rechnen.
Pro Belastungsstunde zeigten jedoch die Leistungssportlerinnen mehr
Sportverletzungen und auch Fehlbelastungsfolgen. Ein erhöhtes Trainingspensum bzw. Wettkampfpensum bedeuten also nicht gleichviel mehr Verletzungen.
Rund 52% aller akuten Verletzungen waren leichte Verletzungen ohne notwendige Sportpause oder ärztliche Behandlung, etwa 28% waren mittelschwer, d.h. sie machten eine Sportpause von kürzer als 2 Wochen und/oder eine Behandlung durch einen Arzt notwendig und etwa 19% waren schwerer Art mit ärztlicher Behandlung und einer Sportpause von länger als 2 Wochen.
77% aller Fehlbelastungsfolgen waren leichte, rund 20% mittelschwer und lediglich ca. 3% aller Fehlbelastungsfolgen schwer. Todesfälle oder Invaliditätsfälle konnte diese Studie nicht erfassen.
Die meisten Verletzungen ereigneten sich im Wettkampf mit ca. 52% im Vergleich zu etwa 48% im Training. Da nun aber die Wettkampfzeit deutlich geringer ist als die Trainingszeit, ergab sich in den einzelnen Sportarten folgende Relation: im Fußball liegt der Faktor, der eine Aussage über die erhöhte Verletzungswahrscheinlichkeit im Wettkampf macht, bei 9, im Basketball bei 17 und im Handball ergab sich der Faktor 20. Diese Zahlen verdeutlichen die erhöhte Risikobereitschaft und damit
Verletzungsgefahr im Wettkampf.
Die häufigsten Verletzungen betrafen die Muskeln mit über 30% aller Verletzungen, insbesondere im Fußball und Handball, gefolgt von Gelenkverletzungen wie Supinationstraumata im oberen Sprunggelenk, besonders im Fußball und Basketball, und Distorsionen der Finger, besonders Handball und Basketball. Die meisten Fehlbelastungsfolgen zeigten sich an Gelenken, wie Hüftgelenk und Sprunggelenk im Fußball, Schulter-, Ellenbogen- und Kniegelenk im Handball und Sprung- und Kniegelenk im Basketball.
Die meisten der oben aufgeführten Beschwerden zogen keine weiteren
Konsequenzen wie Trainingsausfall oder Notwendigkeit einer ärztlichen Behandlung nach sich, sie sollten jedoch Anlass dafür sein, diese als erste Warnsymptome des Körpers zu erkennen, um weitere Schäden vermeiden zu können. Rund 3% aller Verletzungen oder Fehlbelastungsfolgen waren Frakturen, insbesondere im Fußball traten Zehen-, Clavicula-, Nasenbein- und Kieferfrakturen auf. 10% aller Frakturen waren Stressfrakturen.
Die meisten akuten Verletzungen ereigneten sich an der unteren Extremität mit über 50, in allen drei Sportarten, am häufigsten im Fußball (66% im Leistungssport und 59% im Hochleistungssport) und Basketball (67% im Hochleistungssport und 55% im Leistungssport). Auch die Fehlbelastungsfolgen waren an der unteren Extremität am häufigsten, im Basketball 67%, im Handball über 50% und im Fußball 48%.
Die obere Extremität war bei allen drei Sportarten (Fußball 18%, Handball und Basketball je 35%) am zweithäufigsten Ort akuter Verletzungen. Nur im Handball waren auch die Fehlbelastungsfolgen am zweithäufigsten betroffen. Dies war der Rumpf mit 36% im Fußball und 20% im Basketball.
Akute Verletzungen in der Kopfregion traten mit 14% im Fußball, mit 12% im Handball und mit knapp 5% im Basketball auf. Fehlbelastungsfolgen waren nur im Fußball mit fast 10% erwähnenswert.
Der Rumpf war in allen drei Sportraten selten akut verletzt, im Fußball mit fast 3% Anteil an allen akuten Verletzungen noch am häufigsten. Fehlbelastungsfolgen in der Rumpfregion traten bei den Handballerinnen mit fast 11% am seltensten auf.
Die meisten akuten Verletzungen pro Spielerin und Jahr zogen sich die Hochleistungsspielerinnen im Vergleich zu den Leistungssportlerinnen zu, im Fußball mit 2,68, im Handball mit 2,55 und Basketball mit 2,42 pro Spielerin und Jahr. Bei den Leistungssportlerinnen verletzten sich akut pro Jahr mit 2,54 Verletzungen die Handballerinnen, mit 2,08 die Fußballerinnen und mit 1,7 Verletzungen die Basketballerinnen.
Auf je 100 Belastungsstunden, Trainings- und Wettkampfstunden addiert, verletzten sich mit 0,58 akuten Verletzungen pro Jahr am häufigsten die Handballerinnen aus dem Leistungsbereich, gefolgt von den Fußballerinnen mit 0,48 Verletzungen im Leistungs- und 0,45 im Hochleistungsbereich. Die Handballerinnen im Spitzenbereich waren 0,34mal im Jahr akut verletzt. Mit 0,31 im Hochleistungsbereich bzw. 0,37 im Leistungsbereich verletzten sich die Basketballerinnen am seltensten.
Insgesamt gesehen verletzten sich am häufigsten pro Jahr und Spielerin die Handballerinnen mit durchschnittlich 2,55 Verletzungen, die Fußballerinnen mit 2,18 und die Basketballerinnen mit 1,89 Verletzungen.
Auf 100 Belastungsstunden ergab sich die gleiche Reihenfolge.
Die meisten Fehlbelastungsfolgen traten mit 2,54 pro Spielerin und Jahr im Hochleistungsbereich der Fußballerinnen auf und mit 2,48 im Handball des Spitzenbereichs. Mit 1,79 im Leistungsbereich bzw. 1,48 im Hochleistungsbereich waren die Basketballerinnen am seltensten verletzt.
Auf 100 Belastungsstunden zeigt sich mit 0,52 pro Spielerin und Jahr bei den Fußballleistungsspielerinnen die größte Verletzungshäufigkeit, gefolgt von den Handballerinnen im gleichen Leistungsniveau. Mit 0,19 Fehlbelastungsfolgen waren die Basketballerinnen im Hochleistungsbereich am seltensten verletzt.
Alle Sportlerinnen in der jeweiligen Sportart, zusammen betrachtet, zeigen, dass die Fußballerinnen mit 2,48 Fehlbelastungsfolgen pro Jahr zu rechnen haben, Handballerinnen mit 2,12 und Basketballerinnen mit 1,71 Fehlbelastungsfolgen.
Der überwiegende Teil aller akuten Verletzungen und Fehlbelastungsfolgen blieb für die Spielerinnen ohne Konsequenzen, d.h. sie hatten keine Sportpause und benötigten keinen Arztbesuch, in dieser Studie als leichte Verletzungen/Fehlbelastungsfolgen definiert.
Etwa jede vierte Verletzung bei den Basketballerinnen war von schwerer Art, d.h. eine Sportpause von länger als 2 Wochen und eine ärztliche Behandlung waren notwendig, darunter z. Bsp. Außenbandrupturen am oberen Sprunggelenk und Meniskusschäden. Etwa jede fünfte akute Verletzung, wie z. Bsp. Commotio cerebri, Nasenbeinfrakturen oder Distorsionen des Schultergelenkes, zwang die Fußballerinnen und Handballerinnen zu einer zweiwöchigen Sportkarenz.
Schwere Fehlbelastungsfolgen, wie z.B. Stressfrakturen der Tibia, hatten in allen drei Sportarten nur einen verschwindend geringen Anteil.
Vor Beginn eines leistungsmäßig-betriebenen Sports sollte eine sportärztliche Untersuchung durchgeführt werden, um Verletzungen und Überlastungsschäden, die aufgrund von anatomischen Varianten oder pathologischen Bewegungsmustern entstehen könnten, zu vermeiden, bzw. zu reduzieren. Pathologische Befunde bei Jugendlichen können Grund dafür sein, dass vom leistungsmäßigen Spiel abzuraten ist, um Sportschäden zu vermeiden.
Am Anfang sollte die Sportlerin für Materialbeschaffung fachkundigen Rat einholen, um mit optimalem Schutz (z. Bsp. Schienbeinschützer, hohe Basketballschuhe) einer Verletzung vorzubeugen.
Anatomische Varianten und Fehlstellungen des Bewegungsapparates sollten durch entsprechendes Material (z. Bsp. Einlagen, Sprunggelenksorthesen, Tape), aber auch durch ein gezieltes, individuelles Kraft-, Koordinations- und Techniktraining ausgeglichen werden. Besonders der Ausgleich einer muskulären Dysbalance im Bereich der Sprunggelenke (z. Bsp. Supinationstraumata) könnte das Verletzungsrisiko in dieser Region reduzieren.
Das Tapen bestimmter Gelenke (z. B. twin-taping an den Fingern) oder das sog. „physiologische Tapen“ sollte fachkundig angeleitet und ausgeführt werden.
Fehlerhafte Technik, mangelnde Kondition und mangelnder Trainingsaufbau sind ebenfalls Ursache für Verletzungen und Überlastungsschäden.
Somit ist die Zusammenarbeit von Ärzten, Trainern, Sportpsychologen und Physiotherapeuten von großer Bedeutung, um auf ausreichende Regenerationszeiten, realistische Zielsetzungen in der Rehabilitation, gesunde und richtige Ernährung sowie auf einen gutstrukturierten Trainingsaufbau achten zu können.
Im leistungsmäßig-betriebenen Sport ist die Risikobereitschaft immer hoch, so dass besonders im Auftreten von weiteren Faktoren wie Konzentrationsschwäche, Müdigkeit, mangelhaften Materials, fehlerhafter Ernährung etc. ein erhöhtes Verletztungspotential vorliegt.
Der überwiegende Anteil aller in dieser Studie erfassten Verletzungen trat während eines Wettkampfes auf, auch durch den Einfluss des Gegners. Um den Anteil an den Verletzungen, die aufgrund von Regelwidrigkeiten entstanden sind, zu reduzieren, sind von den Schiedsrichtern diese Regelverstöße konsequent zu ahnden, bzw. die Spielregeln durch die Sportverbände zu ändern.
Highlights
• Piriform cortex and amgydala can be separated based on their distinct structural connectivity.
• Similar to histological findings, the connectivity of the piriform cortex suggests posterior frontal and temporal subregions.
• Subregions of the piriform cortex have distinct connectivity profiles.
• Anterior PC extended into ventrotemporal PC posteriorly, which has not been described before, requiring further investigation.
• All parcellations were made publicly available.
Abstract
The anatomy of the human piriform cortex (PC) is poorly understood. We used a bimodal connectivity-based-parcellation approach to investigate subregions of the PC and its connectional differentiation from the amygdala.
One hundred (55 % female) genetically unrelated subjects from the Human Connectome Project were included. A region of interest (ROI) was delineated bilaterally covering PC and amygdala, and functional and structural connectivity of this ROI with the whole gray matter was computed. Spectral clustering was performed to obtain bilateral parcellations at granularities of k = 2–10 clusters and combined bimodal parcellations were computed. Validity of parcellations was assessed via their mean individual-to-group similarity per adjusted rand index (ARI).
Individual-to-group similarity was higher than chance in both modalities and in all clustering solutions. The amygdala was clearly distinguished from PC in structural parcellations, and olfactory amygdala was connectionally more similar to amygdala than to PC. At higher granularities, an anterior and ventrotemporal and a posterior frontal cluster emerged within PC, as well as an additional temporal cluster at their boundary. Functional parcellations also showed a frontal piriform cluster, and similar temporal clusters were observed with less consistency. Results from bimodal parcellations were similar to the structural parcellations. Consistent results were obtained in a validation cohort.
Distinction of the human PC from the amygdala, including its olfactory subregions, is possible based on its structural connectivity alone. The canonical fronto-temporal boundary within PC was reproduced in both modalities and with consistency. All obtained parcellations are freely available.
Purpose: To describe a novel surgical technique of a combined implantation of an artificial iris and a scleral fixated intraocular lens (IOL) using flanged IOL haptics (“Yamane” technique).
Observations: The suturelessly implanted artificial iris-IOL-sandwich was stable with good functional as well as aesthetic results. However, our case showed a postoperative intraocular pressure rise.
Conclusions: The presented case demonstrates that a visual as well as cosmetical rehabilitation seems to be possible even after severe, penetrating ocular trauma with profound iris defects.
Importance: The sutureless IOL scleral fixation technique can also be used in combination with a sutureless artificial iris implantation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term safety profile and rates of postoperative complications.
Purpose: The IC-8® Apthera™ (AcuFocus Inc.™, Irvine, California, USA) is the first small aperture intraocular lens (IOL) to receive FDA approval for presbyopia correction in the summer of 2022. It is a single-piece hydrophobic acrylic monofocal lens, which is placed in the capsular bag. In its center it carries a black circular mask (FilterRing™) with a diameter of 3.23 mm consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride and carbon black nanoparticles. In the center of this mask sits a 1.36 mm wide aperture. Thanks to this pinhole effect the IC-8® serves as an extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF) IOL and can be used in presbyopia correction.
This report describes the case of a patient with an IC-8® implant who underwent Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy for posterior capsule opacification (PCO). The post laser checkup showed a dark central optical change within the IOL and the patient described optical phenomena as well as blurred central vision, which is why he received IOL exchange. The explanted IC-8® was sent to the Intermountain Ocular Research Center at the University of Utah for further analysis.
Observations: A 56-year-old male underwent cataract surgery with implantation of a non-diffractive EDOF-IOL on the right and the IC-8® small aperture IOL on the left eye. On the left eye, the patient had received penetrating keratoplasty seven years prior to the cataract operation due to posttraumatic corneal scarring. The early checkups after cataract surgery showed a corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) in the left eye of +0.1 logMAR in the first month. About 5 months after the operation, PCO was first described on the left eye leading to a decrease in visual acuity to +0.4 logMAR (CDVA). Due to PCO, Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy was conducted 5 months after the cataract operation on the left eye. 12 shots were applied at 2.7 mJ. The following appointments showed a continuously reduced visual acuity of +1.3 logMAR (uncorrected) on the left eye and the patient described blurry and ‘swirled’ central vision. By slightly tilting his head and thus not using the center of his optic axis, he would be able to see sharper. Slit lamp examination showed a small optical change inside the IC-8® IOL not resembling a pit but believed to be a small pocket of air. Due to the ongoing symptoms as well as the reduced VA, the seemingly damaged small aperture IOL was exchanged for a three-piece hydrophobic acrylic monofocal lens, which was also placed in the posterior chamber. The explanted IC-8® was sent to the Intermountain Ocular Research Center at the University of Utah for further analysis. Results from gross and light microscopic analysis showed that the change caused by the Nd:YAG laser application consisted of a localized optical area containing carbon black nanoparticles used for the circular mask within the IOL.
Conclusions and importance: When dealing with PCO and performing Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy in eyes with an IC-8® IOL implant, the laser shots should be applied either inside the aperture or outside of the black circular mask of the IOL. Otherwise, the Nd:YAG laser can lead to bursts of carbon nanoparticles within the IOL which may cause optical phenomena as well as decreased visual acuity possibly resulting in an IOL exchange.
Ferroptosis is a regulated form of cell death which is considered an oxidative iron-dependent process. The lipid hydroperoxidase glutathione peroxidase 4 prevents the iron (Fe2+)-dependent formation of toxic lipid reactive oxygen species. While emerging evidence indicates that inhibition of glutathione peroxidase 4 as a hallmark of ferroptosis in many cancer cell lines, the involvement of this biochemical pathway in neuronal death remains largely unclear. Here, we investigate, first whether the ferroptosis key players are involved in the neuronal cell death induced by erastin. The second objective was to examine whether there is a cross talk between ferroptosis and autophagy. The third main was to address neuron response to erastin, with a special focus on ferritin and nuclear receptor coactivator 4-mediated ferritinophagy. To test this in neurons, erastin (0.5–8 µM) was applied to hippocampal HT22 neurons for 16 hours. In addition, cells were cultured with the autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenin (10 mM) and/or ferroptosis inhibitors, ferrostatin 1 (10–20 µM) or deferoxamine (10–200 µM) before exposure to erastin. In this study, we demonstrated by immunofluorescence and western blot analysis, that erastin downregulates dramatically the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4, the sodium-independent cystine-glutamate antiporter and nuclear receptor coactivator 4. The protein levels of ferritin and mitochondrial ferritin in HT22 hippocampal neurons did not remarkably change following erastin treatment. In addition, we demonstrated that not only the ferroptosis inhibitor, ferrostatin1/deferoxamine abrogated the ferroptotic cell death induced by erastin in hippocampal HT22 neurons, but also the potent autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenin. We conclude that (1) erastin-induced ferroptosis in hippocampal HT22 neurons, despite reduced nuclear receptor coactivator 4 levels, (2) that either nuclear receptor coactivator 4-mediated ferritinophagy does not occur or is of secondary importance in this model, (3) that ferroptosis seems to share some features of the autophagic cell death process.
In the basal, proliferative layer of healthy skin, the mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) is activated, thus regulating proliferation while preventing differentiation. When cells leave the proliferative, basal compartment, mTORC1 signaling is turned off, which allows differentiation. Under inflammatory conditions, this switch is hijacked by cytokines and prevents proper differentiation. It is currently unknown how mTORC1 is regulated to mediate these effects on keratinocyte differentiation. In other tissues, mTORC1 activity is controlled through various pathways via the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Thus, we investigated whether the TS complex is regulated by proinflammatory cytokines and contributes to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. TNF-α as well as IL-1β induced the phosphorylation of TSC2, especially on S939 via the PI3-K/AKT and MAPK pathway. Surprisingly, increased TSC2 phosphorylation could not be detected in psoriasis patients. Instead, TSC2 was strongly downregulated in lesional psoriatic skin compared to non-lesional skin of the same patients or healthy skin. In vitro inflammatory cytokines induced dissociation of TSC2 from the lysosome, followed by destabilization of the TS complex and degradation. Thus, we assume that in psoriasis, inflammatory cytokines induce strong TSC2 phosphorylation, which in turn leads to its degradation. Consequently, chronic mTORC1 activity impairs ordered keratinocyte differentiation and contributes to the phenotypical changes seen in the psoriatic epidermis.
The culture of primary intestinal epithelia cells is not possible in a normal culture system. In 2009 a three-dimensional culture system of intestinal stem cells was established that shows many of the physiological features of the small intestine, such as crypt-villus structure, stem cell niche and all types of differentiated intestinal epithelial cells. These enteroids can be used to analyze biology of intestinal stem cells, gut homeostasis and the development of diseases. They also give the possibility to reduce animal numbers, as enteroids can be cryo-conserved and cultivated for many passages. To investigate the influence of genes such as NADPH oxidases on the gut homeostasis, transgenic approached are the method of choice. The generation of enteroids from knockout mice allows real-time observations of knockout effects. Often conditional knockout or overexpression strategies using inducible Cre recombinase are applied to avoid effects of adaption to the knockout. However, the Cre recombinase has many known caveats from unspecific binding and its endonuclease activity. In this study, we show that although NADPH oxidases are important for in vivo differentiation and proliferation of the intestine, their expression is drastically reduced in the organoid system. Activation of Cre recombinase by 4-hydroxy tamoxifen in freshly isolated enteroids, independently of floxed genes, leads to decreased diameter of organoids. This effect is concentration-dependent and is caused by reduced cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis and DNA damage. In contrast, constitutive expression of Cre has no impact on the enteroids. Therefore, reduction of tamoxifen concentration and treatment duration should be carefully titrated, and appropriate controls are necessary.
Purpose
To assess the diagnostic value of different imaging modalities in distinguishing systemic vasculitis from other internal and immunological diseases.
Methods
This retrospective study included 134 patients with suspected vasculitis who underwent ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) between 01/2010 and 01/2019, finally consisting of 70 individuals with vasculitis. The main study parameter was the confirmation of the diagnosis using one of the three different imaging modalities, with the adjudicated clinical and histopathological diagnosis as the gold standard. A secondary parameter was the morphological appearance of the vessel affected by vasculitis.
Results
Patients with systemic vasculitis had myriad clinical manifestations with joint pain as the most common symptom. We found significant correlations between different imaging findings suggestive of vasculitis and the final adjudicated clinical diagnosis. In this context, on MRI, vessel wall thickening, edema, and diameter differed significantly between vasculitis and non-vasculitis groups (p < 0.05). Ultrasound revealed different findings that may serve as red flags in identifying patients with vasculitis, such as vascular occlusion or halo sign (p = 0.02 vs. non-vasculitis group). Interestingly, comparing maximal standardized uptake values from PET/CT examinations with vessel wall thickening or vessel diameter did not result in significant differences (p > 0.05).
Conclusions
We observed significant correlations between different imaging findings suggestive of vasculitis on ultrasound or MRI and the final adjudicated diagnosis. While ultrasound and MRI were considered suitable imaging methods for detecting and discriminating typical vascular changes, 18F-FDG PET/CT requires careful timing and patient selection given its moderate diagnostic accuracy.
Purpose:
The purpose of the study was to provide a consensus definition of the infrarenal sealing zone and develop an algorithm to determine when and if adjunctive procedure(s) or reintervention should be considered in managing patients undergoing endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
Methods:
A European Advisory Board (AB), made up of 11 vascular surgeons with expertise in EVAR for AAA, was assembled to share their opinion regarding the definition of preoperative and postoperative infrarenal sealing zone. Information on their current clinical practice and level of agreement on proposed reintervention paths was used to develop an algorithm. The process included 2 virtual meetings and 2 rounds of online surveys completed by the AB (Delphi method). Consensus was defined as reached when ≥ 8 of 11 (73%) respondents agreed or were neutral.
Results:
The AB reached complete consensus on definitions and measurement of the pre-EVAR target anticipated sealing zone (TASZ) and the post-EVAR real achieved sealing zone (RASZ), namely, the shortest length between the proximal and distal reference points as defined by the AB, in case of patients with challenging anatomies. Also, agreement was achieved on a list of 4 anatomic parameters and 3 prosthesis-/procedure-related parameters, considered to have the most significant impact on preoperative and postoperative sealing zones. Furthermore, the agreement was reached that in the presence of visible neck-related complications, both adjunctive procedure(s) and reintervention should be contemplated (100% consensus). In addition, adjunctive procedure(s) or reintervention can be considered in the following cases (% consensus): insufficient sealing zone on completion imaging (91%) or on the first postoperative computed tomography (CT) scan (91%), suboptimal sealing zone on completion imaging (73%) or postoperative CT scan (82%), and negative evolution of the actual sealing zone over time (91%), even in the absence of visible complications.
Conclusions:
AB members agreed on definitions of the pre- and post-EVAR infrarenal sealing zone, as well as factors of influence. Furthermore, a clinical decision algorithm was proposed to determine the timing and necessity of adjunctive procedure(s) and reinterventions.
Background
Musclin is an activity‐stimulated and cardioprotective myokine that attenuates pathological cardiac remodeling. Musclin deficiency, in turn, results in reduced physical endurance. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of circulating musclin as a novel, putative biomarker to identify patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) who are at a higher risk of death.
Methods and Results
In this study, we measured systemic musclin levels in 368 patients undergoing TAVI who were at low to intermediate clinical risk (median EuroSCORE [European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation] II: 3.5; quartile 1–quartile, 2.2%–5.3%), whereby 209 (56.8%) patients were at low and 159 (43.2%) were at intermediate risk. Median preprocedural musclin levels were 2.7 ng/mL (quartile 1–quartile 3, 1.5–4.6 ng/mL). Musclin levels were dichotomized in low (<2.862 ng/mL, n=199 [54.1%]) or high (≥ 2.862 ng/mL, n=169 [45.9%]) groups using cutoff values determined by classification and regression tree analysis. The primary end point was 1‐year overall survival. Patients with low circulating musclin levels exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of frailty, low albumin values, hypertension, and history of stroke as well as higher N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide. Low musclin levels significantly predicted risk of death in univariable (hazard ratio, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.00–3.53 [P=0.049]) and multivariable (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.06–5.69 [P=0.037]) Cox regression analyses. Additionally, low musclin levels in combination with conventional EuroSCORE II suggested improved risk stratification in patients undergoing TAVI who were at low to intermediate clinical risk into subgroups with reduced 1‐year survival rates by log‐rank test (P for trend=0.003).
Conclusions
Circulating musclin is an independent predictor of 1‐year overall survival in patients undergoing TAVI. Combined with EuroSCORE II, circulating musclin might help to improve prediction of mortality in patients undergoing TAVI who are at low to intermediate clinical risk.
Infection with the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)-associated coronavirus results in respiratory failure probably by immunological mechanisms in 10% of patients. Laboratory markers that predict subsequent respiratory failure would therefore be useful in patient management.
We describe the clinical course, hematologic parameters, lymphocyte subpopulations and markers of inflammation in two patients with SARS, i.e., one man with diabetes mellitus and one pregnant woman, infected by the same viral isolate.
The patient with underlying diabetes mellitus developed respiratory failure after admission in the second week of the illness while the second patient developed only a mild disease without respiratory failure. Subsequent respiratory dysfunction was associated with lown umbers of Natural Killer (NK) cells at presentation and elevated CRP levels during the illness.
NK cells and CRP levels at the end of the first week of the disease might be related to subsequent respiratory dysfunction and may link underlying conditions to disease severity.
The transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1) is an important driver of cancer and is therefore an attractive drug target. Acriflavine (ACF) has been suggested to inhibit HIF1, but its mechanism of action is unknown. Here we investigated the interaction of ACF with DNA and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and its function in human endothelial cells. ACF promoted apoptosis and reduced proliferation, network formation, and angiogenic capacity. It also induced changes in gene expression, as determined by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), which could not be attributed to specific inhibition of HIF1. A similar response was observed in murine lung endothelial cells. Although ACF increased and decreased a similar number of protein-coding genes, lncRNAs were preferentially upregulated under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. An assay for transposase accessibility with subsequent DNA sequencing (ATAC-seq) demonstrated that ACF induced strong changes in chromatin accessibility at lncRNA promoters. Immunofluorescence showed displacement of DNA:RNA hybrids. Such effects might be due to ACF-mediated topoisomerase inhibition, which was indeed the case, as reflected by DNA unwinding assays. Comparison with other acridine derivatives and topoisomerase inhibitors suggested that the specific function of ACF is an effect of acridinium-class compounds. This study demonstrates that ACF inhibits topoisomerases rather than HIF specifically and that it elicits a unique expression response of lncRNAs.
Objectives
To identify the main problem areas in the applicability of the current TNM staging system (8th ed.) for the radiological staging and reporting of rectal cancer and provide practice recommendations on how to handle them.
Methods
A global case-based online survey was conducted including 41 image-based rectal cancer cases focusing on various items included in the TNM system. Cases reaching < 80% agreement among survey respondents were identified as problem areas and discussed among an international expert panel, including 5 radiologists, 6 colorectal surgeons, 4 radiation oncologists, and 3 pathologists.
Results
Three hundred twenty-one respondents (from 32 countries) completed the survey. Sixteen problem areas were identified, related to cT staging in low-rectal cancers, definitions for cT4b and cM1a disease, definitions for mesorectal fascia (MRF) involvement, evaluation of lymph nodes versus tumor deposits, and staging of lateral lymph nodes. The expert panel recommended strategies on how to handle these, including advice on cT-stage categorization in case of involvement of different layers of the anal canal, specifications on which structures to include in the definition of cT4b disease, how to define MRF involvement by the primary tumor and other tumor-bearing structures, how to differentiate and report lymph nodes and tumor deposits on MRI, and how to anatomically localize and stage lateral lymph nodes.
Conclusions
The recommendations derived from this global survey and expert panel discussion may serve as a practice guide and support tool for radiologists (and other clinicians) involved in the staging of rectal cancer and may contribute to improved consistency in radiological staging and reporting.
While in large clinical laboratories the implementation of total laboratory automation is continuously proceeding, this concept is mostly not suitable for small- and middle-sized laboratories or for testing laboratories of blood donation services due to costs and required space. For these facilities, however, a rational level of automation can be achieved by the installation of stand-alone work cells for pre-analytical and selected analytical processes. In this review, the features of some automated pre-analytical sample processing systems and automated systems for the serological testing for infectious diseases are described exemplarily and compared with each other. The major advantages of automated systems, compared to a solely manual workflow, are described. Essential factors which have to be considered for making the choice for an appropriate automated system are pointed out.
Purpose: Discordance between pre-operative biopsy and final pathology for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma (UTUC) is high and optimal management remains controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of pre-operative biopsy, to identify prognostic factors and to evaluate the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on survival and oncologic outcome in UTUC.
Methods: We analyzed records of patients receiving surgical treatment for UTUC. Pathology of pre-operative biopsy was compared to surgical specimen. We used Kaplan-Meier method to estimate survival probabilities and Cox's proportional hazards models to estimate the association between covariates and event times. Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). A matched-pair analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy.
Results: 151 patients underwent surgical treatment (28% open, 36% laparoscopic, 17% robotic radical nephroureterectomy; 14% segmental ureteral resections and 5% palliative nephrectomy) for UTUC and were included in the analysis. Upstaging from <pT1 in endoscopic biopsy to ≥pT1 in final pathology occurred in 61% of patients and upgrading from low-grade to high-grade occurred in 30% of patients. Five-year OS was 59.5%. In the univariate Cox-regression model pathological stage, grade, lymphovascular invasion and positive surgical margins were associated with OS. Matched pair analysis for stage (<pT3; ≥pT3; pN+) and age revealed a significant survival benefit for adjuvant chemotherapy (HR 0.40, 0.14–0.77, p < 0.018) in this cohort.
Conclusion: UTUC is often underestimated in pre-operative biopsy, and it is associated with significant mortality. Pathological stage and grade, lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastases are predictors of oncologic outcome and survival.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a relatively common and life-threatening birth defect, characterized by an abnormal opening in the primordial diaphragm that interferes with normal lung development. As a result, CDH is accompanied by immature and hypoplastic lungs, being the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with this condition. In recent decades, various animal models have contributed novel insights into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying CDH and associated pulmonary hypoplasia. In particular, the generation of genetically modified mouse models, which show both diaphragm and lung abnormalities, has resulted in the discovery of multiple genes and signaling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of CDH. This article aims to offer an up-to-date overview on CDH-implicated transcription factors, molecules regulating cell migration and signal transduction as well as components contributing to the formation of extracellular matrix, whilst also discussing the significance of these genetic models for studying altered lung development with regard to the human situation.