Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral-, Gefäß- und Kinderchirurgie (Chirurgische Klinik I)
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Robotic-assisted colon surgery may contain advantages over the laparoscopic approach, but clear evidence is sparse. This study aimed to analyze postoperative inflammation status, short-term outcome and cost-effectiveness of robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic left hemicolectomy. All consecutive patients who received minimal-invasive left hemicolectomy at the Department of Surgery I at the University Hospital of Wuerzburg in 2021 were prospectively included. Importantly, no patient selection for either procedure was carried out. The robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic approaches were compared head to head for postoperative short-term outcomes as well as cost-effectiveness. A total of 61 patients were included, with 26 patients having received a robotic-assisted approach. Baseline characteristics did not differ among the groups. Patients receiving a robotic-assisted approach had a significantly decreased length of hospital stay as well as lower rates of complications in comparison to patients who received laparoscopic surgery (n = 35). In addition, C-reactive protein as a marker of systemic stress response was significantly reduced postoperatively in patients who were operated on in a robotic-assisted manner. Consequently, robotic-assisted surgery could be performed in a cost-effective manner. Thus, robotic-assisted left hemicolectomy represents a safe and cost-effective procedure and might improve patient outcomes in comparison to laparoscopic surgery.
CD137 und CD137L stellen ein Rezeptor-Liganden-Paar dar, welches auf vielen Immunzellen exprimiert wird und eine wichtige Rolle im Rahmen der Immunstimulation spielt. CD137L fungiert jedoch nicht nur als Ligand sondern auch als Rezeptor und vermittelt als ein solcher Signale in die ihn exprimierende Zelle. Neben seinem Vorkommen auf Immunzellen wird CD137L auch von einigen Tumorzellen exprimiert, unter anderem auch auf denen des Kolonkarzinoms. In dieser Tumorentität korreliert eine hohe CD137L-Expression mit dem Auftreten von Fernmetastasen und einer insgesamt schlechteren Prognose. Die genaue Rolle von CD137L im Kolonkarzinom ist bislang kaum erforscht. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden daher die Auswirkungen einer CD137L-Aktivierung auf die Proliferation sowie die Proteinexpression und -sekretion von Kolonkarzinomzellen untersucht.
Die Ergebnisse deuten erstmals darauf hin, dass die CD137L-Stimulation in vitro die Proliferation der entarteten Zellen reduziert und die Expression bzw. Sekretion der Proteine Vimentin, TLR7, VEGF und PDGF steigert.
Hieraus wird geschlossen, dass eine Stimulation des von den Kolonkarzinomzellen exprimierten CD137L dazu führt, dass sich der Phänotyp der Tumorzellen von einem epithelialen in Richtung eines mesenchymalen Zelltyps verändert. Darüber hinaus werden vermehrt Proteine exprimiert und sezerniert, welche über unterschiedliche Signalwege an der Invasion und Migration der entarteten Zellen beteiligt sind.
Folglich lässt sich annehmen, dass CD137L eine entscheidende Rolle im Metastasierungsprozess von humanen Kolonkarzinomzellen spielt. Sollte sich dies in weiterführenden Untersuchungen bestätigen, könnte eine pharmazeutische Beeinflussung der beteiligten Signalwege möglicherweise die Prognose von an Kolonkarzinomen erkrankten Patient:innen deutlich verbessern.
Background
Colorectal cancer incidence increases with patient age. The aim of this study was to assess, at the nationwide level, in-hospital mortality, and failure to rescue in geriatric patients (≥ 80 years old) with colorectal cancer arising from postoperative complications.
Methods
All patients receiving surgery for colorectal cancer in Germany between 2012 and 2018 were identified in a nationwide database. Association between age and in-hospital mortality following surgery and failure to rescue, defined as death after complication, were determined in univariate and multivariate analyses.
Results
Three lakh twenty-eight thousands two hundred and ninety patients with colorectal cancer were included of whom 77,287 were 80 years or older. With increasing age, a significant relative increase in right hemicolectomy was observed. In general, these patients had more comorbid conditions and higher frailty. In-hospital mortality following colorectal cancer surgery was 4.9% but geriatric patients displayed a significantly higher postoperative in-hospital mortality of 10.6%. The overall postoperative complication rate as well as failure to rescue increased with age. In contrast, surgical site infection (SSI) and anastomotic leakage (AL) did not increase in geriatric patients, whereas the associated mortality increased disproportionately (13.3% for SSI and 29.9% mortality for patients with AI, both p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis adjusting for confounders showed that geriatric patients had almost five-times higher odds for death after surgery than the baseline age group below 60 (OR 4.86; 95%CI [4.45–5.53], p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Geriatric patients have higher mortality after colorectal cancer surgery. This may be partly due to higher frailty and disproportionately higher rates of failure to rescue arising from postoperative complications.
Background
Adrenalectomies are rare procedures especially in childhood. So far, no large cohort study on this topic has been published with data on to age distribution, operative procedures, hospital volume and operative outcome.
Methods
This is a retrospective analysis of anonymized nationwide hospital billing data (DRG data, 2009-2017). All adrenal surgeries (defined by OPS codes) of patients between the age 0 and 21 years in Germany were included.
Results
A total of 523 patient records were identified. The mean age was 8.6 ± 7.7 years and 262 patients were female (50.1%). The majority of patients were between 0 and 5 years old (52% overall), while 11.1% were between 6 and 11 and 38.8% older than 12 years. The most common diagnoses were malignant neoplasms of the adrenal gland (56%, mostly neuroblastoma) with the majority being younger than 5 years. Benign neoplasms in the adrenal gland (D350) account for 29% of all cases with the majority of affected patients being 12 years or older. 15% were not defined regarding tumor behavior. Overall complication rate was 27% with a clear higher complication rate in resection for malignant neoplasia of the adrenal gland. Bleeding occurrence and transfusions are the main complications, followed by the necessary of relaparotomy. There was an uneven patient distribution between hospital tertiles (low volume, medium and high volume tertile). While 164 patients received surgery in 85 different “low volume” hospitals (0.2 cases per hospital per year), 205 patients received surgery in 8 different “high volume” hospitals (2.8 cases per hospital per year; p<0.001). Patients in high volume centers were significant younger, had more extended resections and more often malignant neoplasia. In multivariable analysis younger age, extended resections and open procedures were independent predictors for occurrence of postoperative complications.
Conclusion
Overall complication rate of adrenalectomies in the pediatric population in Germany is low, demonstrating good therapeutic quality. Our analysis revealed a very uneven distribution of patient volume among hospitals.
Introduction
Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMN) are semi-malignant tumors of the appendix which are incidentally found in up to 1% of appendectomy specimen. To this day, no valid descriptive analysis on LAMN is available for the German population.
Methods
Data of LAMN (ICD-10: D37.3) were collected from the population-based cancer registries in Germany, provided by the German Center for Cancer Registry Data (Zentrum für Krebsregisterdaten—ZfKD). Data was anonymized and included gender, age at diagnosis, tumor staging according to the TNM-classification, state of residence, information on the performed therapy, and survival data.
Results
A total of 612 cases were reported to the ZfKD between 2011 and 2018. A total of 63.07% were female and 36.93% were male. Great inhomogeneity in reporting cases was seen in the federal states of Germany including the fact that some federal states did not report any cases at all. Age distribution showed a mean age of 62.03 years (SD 16.15) at diagnosis. However, data on tumor stage was only available in 24.86% of cases (n = 152). A total of 49.34% of these patients presented with a T4-stage. Likewise, information regarding performed therapy was available in the minority of patients: 269 patients received surgery, 22 did not and for 312 cases no information was available. Twenty-four patients received chemotherapy, 188 did not, and for 400 cases, no information was available. Overall 5-year survival was estimated at 79.52%. Patients below the age of 55 years at time of diagnosis had a significantly higher 5-year survival rate compared to patients above the age of 55 years (85.77% vs. 73.27%).
Discussion
In this study, we observed an incidence of LAMN in 0.13% of all appendectomy specimen in 2018. It seems likely that not all cases were reported to the ZfKD; therefore, case numbers may be considered underestimated. Age and gender distribution goes in line with international studies with females being predominantly affected. Especially regarding tumor stage and therapy in depth information cannot be provided through the ZfKD-database. This data analysis emphasizes the need for further studies and the need for setting up a specialized registry for this unique tumor entity to develop guidelines for the appropriate treatment and follow-up.
Purpose
In selected cases of severe Cushing’s syndrome due to uncontrolled ACTH secretion, bilateral adrenalectomy appears unavoidable. Compared with unilateral adrenalectomy (for adrenal Cushing’s syndrome), bilateral adrenalectomy has a perceived higher perioperative morbidity. The aim of the current study was to compare both interventions in endogenous Cushing’s syndrome regarding postoperative outcomes.
Methods
We report a single-center, retrospective cohort study comparing patients with hypercortisolism undergoing bilateral vs. unilateral adrenalectomy during 2008–2021. Patients with adrenal Cushing’s syndrome due to adenoma were compared with patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome (Cushing’s disease and ectopic ACTH production) focusing on postoperative morbidity and mortality as well as long-term survival.
Results
Of 83 patients with adrenalectomy for hypercortisolism (65.1% female, median age 53 years), the indication for adrenalectomy was due to adrenal Cushing’s syndrome in 60 patients (72.2%; 59 unilateral and one bilateral), and due to hypercortisolism caused by Cushing’s disease (n = 16) or non-pituitary uncontrolled ACTH secretion of unknown origin (n = 7) (27.7% of all adrenalectomies). Compared with unilateral adrenalectomy (n = 59), patients with bilateral adrenalectomy (n = 24) had a higher rate of severe complications (0% vs. 33%; p < 0.001) and delayed recovery (median: 10.2% vs. 79.2%; p < 0.001). Using the MTL30 marker, patients with bilateral adrenalectomy fared worse than patients after unilateral surgery (MTL30 positive: 7.2% vs. 25.0% p < 0.001). Postoperative mortality was increased in patients with bilateral adrenalectomy (0% vs. 8.3%; p = 0.081).
Conclusion
While unilateral adrenalectomy for adrenal Cushing’s syndrome represents a safe and definitive therapeutic option, bilateral adrenalectomy to control ACTH-dependent extra-adrenal Cushing’s syndrome or Cushing’s disease is a more complicated intervention with a mortality of nearly 10%.
Die chirurgische Behandlung parastomaler Hernien gilt als komplex und ist bekanntermaßen komplikationsträchtig. In der Vergangenheit wurden diese Hernien durch die Relokation des Stomas oder Nahtverfahren der Austrittstelle versorgt. In den letzten Jahren wurden verschiedene netzbasierte Techniken vorgeschlagen, die heute in der minimal-invasiven Chirurgie eingesetzt werden. Mit der Verbreitung der roboterassistierten Hernienchirurgie wurden die Netzverfahren weiterentwickelt und die Ergebnisse für die Patienten erheblich verbessert. In diesem Beitrag wird ein Überblick über die verfügbaren Techniken der roboterassistierten Versorgung parastomaler Hernien präsentiert. Es werden technische Überlegungen und erste Ergebnisse des roboterassistierten modifizierten Sugarbaker-Verfahrens, der roboterassistierten Pauli-Technik und der Verwendung des trichterförmigen Netzes IPST vorgestellt. Darüber hinaus werden die Herausforderungen bei der roboterassistierten Versorgung parastomaler Hernien am Ileum-Conduit diskutiert. Die Operationstechniken werden durch Foto- und Videomaterial veranschaulicht.
Purpose
A successful focused surgical approach in primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) relies on accurate preoperative localization of the parathyroid adenoma (PA). Most often, ultrasound is followed by [\(^{99m}\)Tc]-sestamibi scintigraphy, but the value of this approach is disputed. Here, we evaluated the diagnostic approach in patients with surgically treated pHPT in our center with the aim to further refine preoperative diagnostic procedures.
Methods
A single-center retrospective analysis of patients with pHPT from 01/2005 to 08/2021 was carried out followed by evaluation of the preoperative imaging modalities to localize PA. The localization of the PA had to be confirmed intraoperatively by the fresh frozen section and significant dropping of the intraoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels.
Results
From 658 patients diagnosed with pHPT, 30 patients were excluded from the analysis because of surgery for recurrent or persistent disease. Median age of patients was 58.0 (13–93) years and 71% were female. Neck ultrasound was carried out in 91.7% and localized a PA in 76.6%. In 23.4% (135/576) of the patients, preoperative neck ultrasound did not detect a PA. In this group, [\(^{99m}\)Tc]-sestamibi correctly identified PA in only 25.4% of patients. In contrast, in the same cohort, the use of [\(^{11}\)C]-methionine or [\(^{11}\)C]-choline PET resulted in the correct identification of PA in 79.4% of patients (OR 13.23; 95% CI 5.24–33.56).
Conclusion
[\(^{11}\)C]-Methionine or [\(^{11}\)C]-choline PET/CT are superior second-line imaging methods to select patients for a focused surgical approach when previous ultrasound failed to identify PA.
Background
An intragastric balloon is used to cause weight loss in super-obese patients (BMI > 60 kg/m\(^2\)) prior to bariatric surgery. Whether weight loss from intragastric balloon influences that from bariatric surgery is poorly studied.
Methods
In this retrospective, single-center study, the effects of intragastric balloon in 26 patients (BMI 69.26 ± 6.81) on weight loss after bariatric surgery (primary endpoint), postoperative complications within 30 days, hospital readmission, operation time, and MTL30 (secondary endpoints) were evaluated. Fifty-two matched-pair patients without intragastric balloon prior to bariatric surgery were used as controls.
Results
Intragastric balloon resulted in a weight loss of 17.3 ± 14.1 kg (BMI 5.75 ± 4.66 kg/m\(^2\)) with a nadir after 5 months. Surgical and postoperative outcomes including complications were comparable between both groups. Total weight loss was similar in both groups (29.0% vs. 32.2%, p = 0.362). Direct postoperative weight loss was more pronounced in the control group compared to the gastric balloon group (29.16 ± 7.53% vs 23.78 ± 9.89% after 1 year, p < 0.05 and 32.13 ± 10.5% vs 22.21 ± 10.9% after 2 years, p < 0.05), who experienced an earlier nadir and started to regain weight during the follow-up.
Conclusion
A multi-stage therapeutic approach with gastric balloon prior to bariatric surgery in super-obese patients may be effective to facilitate safe surgery. However, with the gastric balloon, pre-treated patients experienced an attenuated postoperative weight loss with an earlier nadir and earlier body weight regain. This should be considered when choosing the appropriate therapeutic regime and managing patients’ expectations.
The surgical treatment of parastomal hernias is considered complex and is known to be prone to complications. Traditionally, this condition was treated using relocation techniques or local suture repairs. Since then, several mesh-based techniques have been proposed and are nowadays used in minimally invasive surgery. Since the introduction of robot-assisted surgery to the field of abdominal wall surgery, several adaptations to these techniques have been made, which may significantly improve patient outcomes. In this contribution, we provide an overview of available techniques in robot-assisted parastomal hernia repair. Technical considerations and preliminary results of robot-assisted modified Sugarbaker repair, robot-assisted Pauli technique, and minimally invasive use of a funnel-shaped mesh in the treatment of parastomal hernias are presented. Furthermore, challenges in robot-assisted ileal conduit parastomal hernia repair are discussed. These techniques are illustrated by photographic and video material. Besides providing a comprehensive overview of robot-assisted parastomal hernia repair, this article focuses on the specific advantages of robot-assisted techniques in the treatment of this condition.
Background
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients with preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) serum levels higher than 500 U/ml are classified as biologically borderline resectable (BR-B). To date, the impact of cholestasis on preoperative CA19-9 serum levels in these patients has remained unquantified.
Methods
Data on 3079 oncologic pancreatic resections due to PDAC that were prospectively acquired by the German Study, Documentation and Quality (StuDoQ) registry were analyzed in relation to preoperative CA19-9 and bilirubin serum values. Preoperative CA19-9 values were adjusted according to the results of a multivariable linear regression analysis of pathologic parameters, bilirubin, and CA19-9 values.
Results
Of 1703 PDAC patients with tumor located in the pancreatic head, 420 (24.5 %) presented with a preoperative CA19-9 level higher than 500 U/ml. Although receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis failed to determine exact CA19-9 cut-off values for prognostic indicators (R and N status), the T, N, and G status; the UICC stage; and the number of simultaneous vein resections increased with the level of preoperative CA19-9, independently of concurrent cholestasis. After adjustment of preoperative CA19-9 values, 18.5 % of patients initially staged as BR-B showed CA19-9 values below 500 U/ml. However, the postoperative pathologic results for these patients did not change compared with the patients who had CA19-9 levels higher than 500 U/ml after bilirubin adjustment.
Conclusions
In this multicenter dataset of PDAC patients, elevation of preoperative CA19-9 correlated with well-defined prognostic pathologic parameters. Bilirubin adjustment of CA19-9 is feasible but does not affect the prognostic value of CA19-9 in jaundiced patients.
Background
Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) is an effective treatment option for leakage of the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of quality improvements in EVT management on patients’ outcome.
Methods
All patients treated by EVT at our center during 2012–2021 were divided into two consecutive and equal-sized cohorts (period 1 vs. period 2). Over time several quality improvement strategies were implemented including the earlier diagnosis and EVT treatment and technical optimization of endoscopy. The primary endpoint was defined as the composite score MTL30 (mortality, transfer, length-of-stay > 30 days). Secondary endpoints included EVT efficacy, complications, in-hospital mortality, length-of-stay (LOS) and nutrition status at discharge.
Results
A total of 156 patients were analyzed. During the latter period the primary endpoint MTL30 decreased from 60.8 to 39.0% (P = .006). EVT efficacy increased from 80 to 91% (P = .049). Further, the need for additional procedures for leakage management decreased from 49.9 to 29.9% (P = .013) and reoperations became less frequent (38.0% vs.15.6%; P = .001). The duration of leakage therapy and LOS were shortened from 25 to 14 days (P = .003) and 38 days to 25 days (P = .006), respectively. Morbidity (as determined by the comprehensive complication index) decreased from 54.6 to 46.5 (P = .034). More patients could be discharged on oral nutrition (70.9% vs. 84.4%, P = .043).
Conclusions
Our experience confirms the efficacy of EVT for the successful management of UGI leakage. Our quality improvement analysis demonstrates significant changes in EVT management resulting in accelerated recovery, fewer complications and improved functional outcome.
Perianal fistulizing Crohn’s Disease (CD) with abscess formation represents an aggressive phenotype in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) with increased morbidity. Treatment is multidisciplinary and includes antibiotics, but knowledge about the microbial spectrum is rare often resulting in inadequate antimicrobial therapy. In this single center retrospective study, all patients who were operated due to perianal abscess formation were retrospectively analyzed and the microbial spectrum evaluated. Patients were divided into a CD and non-CD group with further subgroup analysis. 138 patients were finally included in the analysis with 62 patients suffering from CD. Relevant differences were detected for the microbial spectrum with anaerobic bacteria being significantly more often isolated from non-CD patients. In a subgroup-analysis of CD patients only, medical therapy had a relevant effect on the microbial spectrum since Streptococcus groups and Enterobacterales were significantly more often isolated in patients treated with steroids compared to those being treated by antibodies. In conclusion, the microbial spectrum of patients suffering from CD varies significantly from non-CD patients and immunosuppressive medication has a relevant effect on isolated pathogens. Based on that, adaption of antibiotic treatment might be discussed in the future.
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) as well as noradrenaline (NA) are key modulators of various fundamental brain functions including the control of appetite. While manipulations that alter brain serotoninergic signaling clearly affect body weight, studies implicating 5-HT transporters and NA transporters (5-HTT and NAT, respectively) as a main drug treatment target for human obesity have not been conclusive. The aim of this positron emission tomography (PET) study was to investigate how these central transporters are associated with changes of body weight after 6 months of dietary intervention or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery in order to assess whether 5-HTT as well as NAT availability can predict weight loss and consequently treatment success. The study population consisted of two study cohorts using either the 5-HTT-selective radiotracer [\(^{11}\)C]DASB to measure 5-HTT availability or the NAT-selective radiotracer [\(^{11}\)C]MRB to assess NAT availability. Each group included non-obesity healthy participants, patients with severe obesity (body mass index, BMI, >35 kg/m\(^2\)) following a conservative dietary program (diet) and patients undergoing RYGB surgery within a 6-month follow-up. Overall, changes in BMI were not associated with changes of both 5-HTT and NAT availability, while 5-HTT availability in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) prior to intervention was associated with substantial BMI reduction after RYGB surgery and inversely related with modest BMI reduction after diet. Taken together, the data of our study indicate that 5-HTT and NAT are involved in the pathomechanism of obesity and have the potential to serve as predictors of treatment outcomes.
Introduction: The rates of postoperative recurrence following ileocecal resection due to Crohn’s disease remain highly relevant. Despite this fact, while the Kono-S anastomosis technique initially demonstrated promising results, robust evidence is still lacking. This study aimed to analyze the short- and long-term outcomes of the Kono-S versus side-to-side anastomosis. Methods: A retrospective single-center study was performed including all patients who received an ileocecal resection between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2021 at the Department of Surgery at the University Hospital of Wuerzburg. Patients who underwent conventional a side-to-side anastomosis were compared to those who received a Kono-S anastomosis. The short- and long-term outcomes were analyzed for all patients. Results: Here, 29 patients who underwent a conventional side-to-side anastomosis and 22 patients who underwent a Kono-S anastomosis were included. No differences were observed regarding short-term postoperative outcomes. The disease recurrence rate postoperatively was numerically lower following the Kono-S anastomosis (median Rutgeert score of 1.7 versus 2.5), with a relevantly increased rate of patients in remission (17.2% versus 31.8%); however, neither of these results reached statistical significance. Conclusion: The Kono-S anastomosis method is safe and feasible and potentially decreases the severity of postoperative disease remission.
Mucosal healing in the gut is an essential process when it comes to chronic inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) but also to the creation of intestinal anastomosis. Despite an improvement of surgical techniques, the rates of anastomotic leakage remain substantial and represent a significant health-care and socio-economic burden. Recent research has focused on intrinsic factors such as mucosal linings and differences in the intestinal microbiota and identified specific endoluminal bacteria and epithelial proteins which influence intestinal wound healing and re-establishment of mucosal homeostasis. Despite the lack of large clinical studies, previous data indicate that the identified bacteria such as aerotolerant lactobacilli or wound-associated Akkermansia muciniphila as well as epithelial-expressed sialyl Lewis glycans or CD47 might be critical for wound and anastomotic healing in the gut, thus, providing a potential novel approach for future treatment strategies in colorectal surgery and IBD therapy. Since microbiota and mucosa are interacting closely, we outline the current discoveries about both subsets in this review together to demonstrate the significant interplay
Early treatment with glucocorticoids could help reduce both cytotoxic and vasogenic edema, leading to improved clinical outcome after stroke. In our previous study, isosteviol sodium (STVNA) demonstrated neuroprotective effects in an in vitro stroke model, which utilizes oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Herein, we tested the hypothesis that STVNA can activate glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transcriptional activity in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) as previously published for T cells. STVNA exhibited no effects on transcriptional activation of the glucocorticoid receptor, contrary to previous reports in Jurkat cells. However, similar to dexamethasone, STVNA inhibited inflammatory marker IL-6 as well as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) secretion. Based on these results, STVNA proves to be beneficial as a possible prevention and treatment modality for brain ischemia-reperfusion injury-induced blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction.
Fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) and is activated by its ligand TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK). The latter occurs as a homotrimeric molecule in a soluble and a membrane-bound form. Soluble TWEAK (sTWEAK) activates the weakly inflammatory alternative NF-κB pathway and sensitizes for TNF-induced cell death while membrane TWEAK (memTWEAK) triggers additionally robust activation of the classical NF-κB pathway and various MAP kinase cascades. Fn14 expression is limited in adult organisms but becomes strongly induced in non-hematopoietic cells by a variety of growth factors, cytokines and physical stressors (e.g., hypoxia, irradiation). Since all these Fn14-inducing factors are frequently also present in the tumor microenvironment, Fn14 is regularly found to be expressed by non-hematopoietic cells of the tumor microenvironment and most solid tumor cells. In general, there are three possibilities how the tumor-Fn14 linkage could be taken into consideration for tumor therapy. First, by exploitation of the cancer associated expression of Fn14 to direct cytotoxic activities (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), cytotoxic payloads, CAR T-cells) to the tumor, second by blockade of potential protumoral activities of the TWEAK/Fn14 system, and third, by stimulation of Fn14 which not only triggers proinflammtory activities but also sensitizes cells for apoptotic and necroptotic cell death. Based on a brief description of the biology of the TWEAK/Fn14 system and Fn14 signaling, we discuss the features of the most relevant Fn14-targeting biologicals and review the preclinical data obtained with these reagents. In particular, we address problems and limitations which became evident in the preclinical studies with Fn14-targeting biologicals and debate possibilities how they could be overcome.
Es wird vermutet, dass das ösophageale Adenokarzinom (EAC) durch gastroosophagealen Reflux auf dem Boden des Barrett-Ösophagus (BE) entsteht. Bei der Tumorprogression könnten Matrix-Metalloproteasen eine wichtige Rolle spielen.
Die Expression von MMP-1 und MMP-13 wurde im Ösophaguskarziom (n=41 EAC mit BE, n=19 EAC ohne BE, n=10 Plattenepithelkarzinom, ESCC) sowie im nicht-dysplastischen BE (n=18) untersucht. Die Koexpression von MMP-1 und Cdx-2 (intestinale Metaplasie) und die Koexpression von MMP-1 und Ki-67 (Proliferation) wurde mittels Immunhistochemie und auf mRNA-Ebene untersucht. Die Ergebnisse wurde mit klinisch-pathologischen Eigenschaften korreliert.
Im gesunden Plattenepithel wurde weder MMP-1 noch MMP-13 exprimiert. In allen EAC ohne BE wurde MMP-1 exprimiert (100%). Im EAC mit BE, war in 95% MMP-1 im EAC nachweisbar. Die Expression von MMP-1 im BE ohne IN lag bei 56%. Das ESCC exprimierte in 60% MMP-1. Bei der quantitativen Analyse zeigten sich 48% MMP-1 positive Zellen im EAC mit BE und 35% im angrenzendem BE (p<0,05). Mit 44% MMP-1 positiver Zellen im EAC ohne BE, lag die Expression signifikant über der im BE mit EAC (p<0,05). Im ESCC (32% MMP-1 positiv) lag eine im Vergleich zu allen EACs signifikant geringere Expression vor. Im BE ohne IN waren 4% der Zellen MMP-1 positiv. Die RT-PCR bestätigte die Ergebnisse der IHC auf mRNA-Ebene. Eine Präparate waren negativ für MMP-13. Die Untersuchung der Koexpression von MMP-1 in Ki-67 positiven Zellen zeigte eine starke direkte Korrelation (r=0,943 für BE und r= 0,811 für EAC). Eine hohe MMP-1 Expression war mit einem positiven Lymphknotenstatus assoziiert aber nicht mit einem schlechterem Überleben (p=0,307). Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass MMP-1 eine wichtige Rolle bei der Invasion und Metastasierung des Barrett assoziierten EAC spielen könnte. Die Assoziation eines positiven Lymphknotenstatus mit hoher MMP-1-Expression spricht dafür, dass MMP-1 ein wichtiger Faktor bei der malignen Progression sein könnte.
The pleiotropic function of 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent pathways in health and disease led to the development of pharmacological phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE-I) to attenuate cAMP degradation. While there are many isotypes of PDE, a predominant role of PDE4 is to regulate fundamental functions, including endothelial and epithelial barrier stability, modulation of inflammatory responses and cognitive and/or mood functions. This makes the use of PDE4-I an interesting tool for various therapeutic approaches. However, due to the presence of PDE4 in many tissues, there is a significant danger for serious side effects. Based on this, the aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the approaches and effects of PDE4-I for different therapeutic applications. In summary, despite many obstacles to use of PDE4-I for different therapeutic approaches, the current data warrant future research to utilize the therapeutic potential of phosphodiesterase 4 inhibition.
Der Thoraxmagen beschreibt eine zirkuläre Schwachstelle der phrenikoösophagealen Membran mit einer schrittweisen Dislozierung der Magenkardia und des Ösophagus nach mediastinal. Die Therapie des Thoraxmagens kann konservativ im Sinne des „watchful waiting“ oder operativ erfolgen. Aufgrund der möglichen Komplikationen wird die elektive Operation durch die amerikanischen Leitlinien empfohlen. Ein zentrales Problem der Hiatushernienchirurgie stellt die hohe Anzahl an Rezidiven dar. Ob die Gründe hierfür in der Zwerchfellrekonstruktion, Speiseröhrenlänge, Fundoplicatio oder Netzaugmentation liegen, wird nach wie vor kontrovers diskutiert.
In dieser Arbeit wurde die operative Versorgung des Thoraxmagens von 124 Patienten des Universitätsklinikums Würzburg im Zeitraum von September 2008 bis Juni 2015 untersucht. Hierfür war neben den perioperativen Daten auch die Rezidiv- und Letalitätsrate von Relevanz. Das Patientenkollektiv wurde sowohl in Hinblick auf das Lebensalter als auch auf die verschiedenen Versorgungsarten analysiert. Um die postoperative Lebensqualität zu beurteilen, erfolgte die Patientenbefragung mit Hilfe eines Symptomfragebogens und dem Gastrointestinalen Lebensqualitätsindex nach Eypasch (GIQLI). Zusätzlich wurden 17 Patienten postoperativ mittels MRT untersucht, um eine optimierte MRT-Sequenz zur Beurteilung der Hiatusregion zu evaluieren.
Im Vergleich der Altersgruppen zeigte sich trotz einer erhöhten Komorbiditätsrate bei dem Patientenkollektiv ≥ 75 Jahre (p=0,002) kein signifikanter Unterschied bei Betrachtung der intraoperativen Komplikationen. Die Rezidivrate lag unabhängig vom Alter bei 20,2% im Untersuchungszeitraum, jedoch konnte eine verminderte Rezidivrate bei Patienten mit U-Shape Versorgung (p=0,015) festgestellt werden.
In der postoperativen Patientenbefragung zeigten sich 87,0% der Patienten, unabhängig vom Alter und der Versorgungsart, zufrieden mit dem Operationsergebnis und beschrieben ihren Zustand im Vergleich zu präoperativ als gebessert. Die Ergebnisse des GIQLI erbrachten in dem untersuchten Patientenkollektiv ein gegenüber der Allgemeinbevölkerung erniedrigten Wert mit 95,4 Punkten.
Die optimierte MRT-Sequenz zeichnete sich durch eine hohe diagnostische Konfidenz bei guter Bildqualität, kurzer Untersuchungsdauer und gleichzeitig hoher Akzeptanz der Patienten gegenüber dieser Art der Diagnostik aus.
Zusammenfassend stellt die operative Versorgung von Thoraxmägen, unabhängig des Patientenalters, eine sichere Therapieform dar, die zu einer hohen Patientenzufriedenheit führt. Die modifizierte MRT-Untersuchung hat sich als diagnostische Methode bewährt und stellt eine Alternative zu strahlenexponierenden oder von Seiten der Patienten weniger gut tolerierten Untersuchungsmodalitäten dar.
Es wurde ein etabliertes Tiermodell mit Zucker Ratten (fa/fa) verwendet, um postoperative, gewichtsverlustunabhängige metabolomische Effekte des Roux-en-Y Magenbypass (RYGB) zu ermitteln. Es galt Hypothesen zu generieren, welche globalen Metabolite die positiven Auswirkungen des Magenbypass verursachen können. Beispielsweise war γ-Amino-Buttersäure (GABA) fäkal nach RYGB vermehrt nachweisbar und somit ein potentieller Mediator für einen Bypass-spezifischen Effekt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen die Komplexität der metabolomischen Veränderungen durch RYGB und Nahrungsrestriktion. Die genauen Mechanismen nach metabolisch-bariatrischer Operation, die zu dem therapeutischen Effekt führen, bleiben weiterhin unklar, sodass es weiterer Studien bedarf, um kausale Zusammenhänge nachzuweisen.
Hintergrund. Training an Simulatoren ist eine effektive Methode zum Erlernen laparoskopischer Fertigkeiten. Dennoch besteht weiterhin die Notwendigkeit, Lehrmethoden zu optimieren, um praktischen Übungsaufwand zu reduzieren. In dieser Studie wurde die Auswirkung der mentalen Übung "deconstruction into key steps" (DIKS) auf die für den Erwerb laparoskopischer Fertigkeiten benötigte Zeit untersucht.
Methoden. Medizinstudierende des 10. Fachsemesters nahmen an einem Laparoskopiekurs teil und wurden in zwei Gruppen randomisiert. Dabei wurde in der Experimentalgruppe (EG) eine Verkürzung der praktischen Übungszeit um 58% im Vergleich zur KG zu Gunsten des mentalen Trainings DIKS untersucht. Die laparoskopischen Eingangsfertigkeiten wurden an Simulatoren getestet (t0). Anschließend wurde der Lernerfolg in einer zweiten Prüfung kontrolliert (t1). Nach neun Tagen erfolgte eine dritte Prüfung (t2). Alle Messzeitpunkte wurden per Videomittschnitt nach validierten Kriterien bewertet. Potenzielle Prädiktoren wurden mit Hilfe eines Fragebogens standardisiert erhoben.
Ergebnisse. Sowohl die EG (n=58) als auch die KG (n=58) wiesen einen signifikanten Lernzuwachs auf (p<0,001). Es zeichnete sich jedoch ein signifikanter Unterschied im Lernzuwachs in bestimmten Zeitabschnitten ab. Die KG zeigte einen signifikant höheren Lernzuwachs von t0-t1. Nach einer Woche wurde der Vorsprung der KG bei einem signifikant besseren Lernzuwachs der EG im zweiten Abschnitt egalisiert. Motivierte sowie geschickte Studierende zeigten eine signifikant bessere Leistung in Qualität und Quantität. Männern war es möglich eine signifikant bessere Leistung in Qualität und Quantität zu erzielen.
Schlussfolgerung. Während initial ein verlängertes praktisches Üben zu einer unmittelbaren Leistungssteigerung führte, wurde durch die zusätzliche mentale Übung ’DIKS‘ bei gleichzeitig verkürzter praktischer Übungszeit ein gleichwertiges Ergebnis erreicht.
Die Therapieentscheidung beim HCC richtet sich derzeit nach den BCLC-Kriterien. Die effektivste Therapieoption, eine Resektion, wird allerdings nur in den frühen Stadien empfohlen. Um postoperative Komplikationen zu vermeiden, benötigt es unter anderem eine effiziente präoperative Leberfunktionsevaluation zur Auswahl der Resektionskandidaten. Frühere Studien konnten zeigen, dass der LiMAx-Test hierfür geeignet ist. Da aber Daten zu HCC-Patienten noch fehlen, war das Ziel dieser Studie zu untersuchen, ob der LiMAx-Test die präoperative Evaluation von HCC-Patienten erleichtert und so die postoperative Morbidität und Mortalität insbesondere für Patienten mit Leberzirrhose gesenkt werden kann. Insgesamt erhielten 92 HCC Patienten zur Therapieevaluation eine LiMAx-Messung und wurden in eine Gruppe mit Zirrhose (LZ-Gruppe) und eine ohne (NL-Gruppe) eingeteilt und miteinander verglichen. Jeder Fall wurde in einer Tumorkonferenz besprochen und anhand der erhobenen Leberfunktionsparameter entschieden. 46 Patienten erhielten eine Resektion, 46 wurden abgelehnt, 17 aufgrund zu schlechter LiMAx-Ergebnisse. Die LiMAx-Werte der Resezierten waren mit 388 vs. 322µg/kg/h höher als die der abgelehnten Patienten (p=0,004). Zudem waren sie ein unabhängiger Risikofaktor für eine Leberzirrhose und Prädiktoren für eine unzureichende Leberfunktionsreserve. Ein unterer Grenzwert von 221µg/kg/h wurde ermittelt, bei welchem auch bei Zirrhosepatienten eine Resektion noch sicher durchgeführt werden kann. Generell gab es in der LZ-Gruppe nicht mehr postoperative Komplikationen als in der NL-Gruppe. Eine Vorhersage zur Entwicklung eines postoperativen Leberversagens durch den LiMAx-Test konnte in unserer Studie nicht gezeigt werden.
Präoperativ eingesetzt, ermöglicht der LiMAx-Test somit eine effektive und sichere Evaluation von HCC Patienten, die von einer Resektion profitieren, mit niedriger postoperativer Morbiditäts- und Mortalitätsrate, sowohl bei Patienten mit oder ohne Leberzirrhose.
Dies ist eine retrospektive unizentrische Analyse um den Einfluss des Resektionsabstandes auf prognostische Faktoren wie das rezidivfreie und Gesamtüberleben bei Patienten mit hepatocellulären Carcinom zu untersuchen. Es ließ sich kein Vorteil eines weiten (>5mm) tumorfreien Abstands zum Resektatrand gegenüber einem schmalen (5mm) tumorfreien Abstand nachweisen. Allerdings wurden andere tumor- und patientenspezifische unabhängige Risikofaktoren für das rezidivfreie und Gesamtüberleben identifiziert. So ist ein präoperativer AFP-Wert >15µg/l mit einem signifikant schlechteren krankheitsfreien und Gesamtüberleben assoziiert. Ebenso haben schlecht differenzierte (G3) HCCs, sowie HCC mit einer vaskulären Invasion (V1/V2) ein deutlich reduziertes rezidivfreies Überleben. Auch eine Tumorgröße >5cm war in dieser Studie ein unabhängiger Risikofaktor für ein verkürztes Gesamtüberleben.
Die halbmaximale (Proliferations-) inhibitorische Konzentration (IC50) vom RNA-Polymerase I-Inhibitor CX-5461 liegt für die getesteten sieben humanen kolorektalen Karzinomzell¬linien zwischen 0,7 und 3,1 µmol/L, für nicht-transformierte Fibroblasten bei 8,1 µmol/L. Der deutlich stärkere antiproliferative Effekt von CX-5461 auf Tumorzellen lässt somit ein mögliches therapeutisches Fenster erkennen.
CX-5461 (1 µmol/L und weniger) induziert einen persistierenden Zellzyklus-arretierten Zellphänotyp mit Seneszenz-assoziierter (SA) -Galaktosidase-Aktivität (SA-β-Gal). Die durch CX-5461 ausgelöste verringerte Synthese ribosomaler RNA (rRNA)-Transkripte im Nucleolus, ein Subkompartiment des Nucleus, in dem die Transkription der ribosomalen DNA und Bildung von Prä-Ribosomen stattfinden, hat eine Störung der Ribosomen¬biogenese zur Folge. Diese als nucleolärer Stress bezeichnete Situation ist mit zahlreichen Einzelphänomen assoziiert wie der Akkumulation ribosomaler Proteine aufgrund eines durch CX-5461 verursachten Missverhältnisses bei der Synthese ribosomaler Proteine und rRNAs. Auch kommt es bei nucleolärem Stress zur Aktivierung Zellzykusarrest-führender Signalwege vermittelt durch DNA-Damage-Response, p53 und Retinoblastom (Rb). Die durch CX-5461 induzieren seneszenten Zellen lassen sich durch Kombination mit dem Bcl-Inhibitor und Senotlytikum Navitoclax in Apoptose überführen. Das kombinierte Strategiekonzept demonstriert, dass der pro-proliferative Phänotyp von Tumorzellen mit CX-5461 durch Induktion von Seneszenz effektiv gestoppt werden kann, um anschließend diese Zellen mit dem Bcl-Inhibitor Navitoclax gezielt in Apoptose zu überführen.
Der durch CX-5461 ausgelöste seneszente Zellphänotyp zeigt sich sensitiv gegenüber dem Apoptose-auslösenden Effekt von Navitoclax – im Ggs. zu nicht-seneszenten Zellen. Basierend auf diesem Konzept deutet sich eine potentielle neue Strategie für eine Tumortherapie an, deren Grundlage die kombinierte Adressierung der beiden antiproliferativen Phänomene Seneszenz und Apoptose in soliden Tumorzellen wie dem kolorektalen Karzinom darstellt.
Microbial spectrum and antibiotic resistance in patients suffering from penetrating Crohn's disease
(2022)
Intraabdominal abscess formation occurs in up to 30% of patients suffering from Crohn's disease (CD). While international guidelines recommend a step-up approach with a combination of empiric antibiotic therapy and percutaneous drainage to delay or even avoid surgery, evidence about microbial spectrum in penetrating ileitis is sparse. We retrospectively assessed outcomes of 46 patients with terminal penetrating Ileitis where microbial diagnostics have been performed and compared microbial spectrum and antibiotic resistance profile of CD patients with patients suffering from diverticulitis with intraabdominal abscess formation. In both groups, the most frequently isolated pathogen was the gram-negative bacterium E. coli belonging to the family of Enterobacterales. However, overall Enterobacterales were significantly more often verifiable in the control group than in CD patients. Furthermore, microbial analysis showed significant differences regarding isolation of anaerobic pathogens with decreased frequency in patients with CD. Subgroup analysis of CD patients to evaluate a potential influence of immunosuppressive therapy on microbial spectrum only revealed that Enterobacterales was less frequently detected in patients treated with steroids. Immunosuppressive therapy did not show any impact on all other groups of pathogens and did not change antibiotic resistance profile of CD patients. In conclusion, we were able to demonstrate that the microbial spectrum of CD patients does differ only for some pathogen species without increased rate of antibiotic resistance. However, the empiric antibiotic therapy for CD-associated intra-abdominal abscess remains challenging since different points such as local epidemiological and microbiological data, individual patient risk factors, severity of infection, and therapy algorithm including non-surgical and surgical therapy options should be considered before therapeutical decisions are made.
Ribosomal biogenesis and protein synthesis are deregulated in most cancers, suggesting that interfering with translation machinery may hold significant therapeutic potential. Here, we show that loss of the tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), which constitutes the initiating event in the adenoma carcinoma sequence for colorectal cancer (CRC), induces the expression of RNA polymerase I (RNAPOL1) transcription machinery, and subsequently upregulates ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription. Targeting RNAPOL1 with a specific inhibitor, CX5461, disrupts nucleolar integrity, and induces a disbalance of ribosomal proteins. Surprisingly, CX5461-induced growth arrest is irreversible and exhibits features of senescence and terminal differentiation. Mechanistically, CX5461 promotes differentiation in an MYC-interacting zinc-finger protein 1 (MIZ1)- and retinoblastoma protein (Rb)-dependent manner. In addition, the inhibition of RNAPOL1 renders CRC cells vulnerable towards senolytic agents. We validated this therapeutic effect of CX5461 in murine- and patient-derived organoids, and in a xenograft mouse model. These results show that targeting ribosomal biogenesis together with targeting the consecutive, senescent phenotype using approved drugs is a new therapeutic approach, which can rapidly be transferred from bench to bedside.
Introduction
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are one of the most common postoperative complications after appendectomy leading to recurrent surgery, prolonged hospital stay, and the use of antibiotics. Numerous studies and meta-analyses have been published on the effect of open versus conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (CLA) reporting faster postoperative recovery and less postoperative pain for CLA. A development from CLA has been the single-port appendectomy (SPA), associated with a better cosmesis but seemingly having a higher risk of wound infections. The aim of this systematic literature review and meta-analysis is to investigate whether reduced port or SPA alters the ratio of SSIs.
Methods
Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were screened for suitable articles. All articles published between January 1, 2002, and March 23, 2022, were included. Articles regarding children below the age of 18 were excluded as well as manuscripts that investigated solemnly open appendectomies. Articles were screened for inclusion criteria by two independent authors. Incidence of SSI was the primary outcome. Duration of operation and length of hospital stay were defined as secondary outcomes.
Results
A total of 25 studies were found through a database search describing 5484 patients. A total of 2749 patients received SPA and 2735 received CLA. There was no statistical difference in the rate of SSI (P = 0.98). A total of 22 studies including 4699 patients reported the duration of operation (2223 SPA and 2476 CLA). There was a significantly shorter operation time seen in CLA. The length of hospital stay was reported in 23 studies (4735 patients: 2235 SPA and 2500 CLA). A shorter hospital stay was seen in the SPA group (P < 0.00001). Separately performed analysis of randomized controlled trials could not confirm this effect (P = 0.29).
Discussion
SPA is an equally safe procedure considering SSI compared to CLA and does not lead to an increased risk of SSI. A longer operation time for SPA and a minor difference in the length of stay does lead to the use of SPA in selected patients only.
Background
Accidental ingestion of fish bone is a common cause of otolaryngological emergency. Migration of the ingested bone into the thyroid gland, however, occurs very rarely. The associated clinical presentation, symptoms and duration of discomfort are also highly variable between patients and can be diagnostically challenging.
Case presentation
Here, we report the case of a 71-year-old female patient presenting with an ingested fish bone that migrated into the right thyroid lobe as a rare cause of suppurative thyroiditis with the clinical features of sepsis. We outline the diagnostic approach, peri- and intraoperative management as well as complications. It is proposed that besides endoscopy, imaging methods such as ultrasound or computed tomography may be necessary to verify the diagnosis and location of an ingested fish bone. Prompt surgical removal of the foreign body and resection of the infectious focus is recommended to minimize the risk of local inflammation, recurrent nerve lesions and septic complications arising from the spread of infection.
Conclusion
Fish bone migration into the thyroid gland is an extremely rare event, the successful detection and surgical management of which can be achieved through a careful interdisciplinary approach.
Purpose
Definitive fascial closure is an essential treatment objective after open abdomen treatment and mitigates morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of evidence on factors that promote or prevent definitive fascial closure.
Methods
A multi-center multivariable analysis of data from the Open Abdomen Route of the European Hernia Society included all cases between 1 May 2015 and 31 December 2019. Different treatment elements, i.e. the use of a visceral protective layer, negative-pressure wound therapy and dynamic closure techniques, as well as patient characteristics were included in the multivariable analysis. The study was registered in the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform via the German Registry for Clinical Trials (DRK00021719).
Results
Data were included from 630 patients from eleven surgical departments in six European countries. Indications for OAT were peritonitis (46%), abdominal compartment syndrome (20.5%), burst abdomen (11.3%), abdominal trauma (9%), and other conditions (13.2%). The overall definitive fascial closure rate was 57.5% in the intention-to-treat analysis and 71% in the per-protocol analysis. The multivariable analysis showed a positive correlation of negative-pressure wound therapy (odds ratio: 2.496, p < 0.001) and dynamic closure techniques (odds ratio: 2.687, p < 0.001) with fascial closure and a negative correlation of intra-abdominal contamination (odds ratio: 0.630, p = 0.029) and the number of surgical procedures before OAT (odds ratio: 0.740, p = 0.005) with DFC.
Conclusion
The clinical course and prognosis of open abdomen treatment can significantly be improved by the use of treatment elements such as negative-pressure wound therapy and dynamic closure techniques, which are associated with definitive fascial closure.
Background: Treatment options for NAFLD are still limited. Bariatric surgery, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), has been shown to improve metabolic and histologic markers of NAFLD. Glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues lead to improvements in phase 2 clinical trials. We directly compared the effects of RYGB with a treatment using liraglutide and/or peptide tyrosine tyrosine 3-36 (PYY\(_{3-36}\)) in a rat model for early NAFLD. Methods: Obese male Wistar rats (high-fat diet (HFD)-induced) were randomized into the following treatment groups: RYGB, sham-operation (sham), liraglutide (0.4 mg/kg/day), PYY\(_{3-36}\) (0.1 mg/kg/day), liraglutide+PYY\(_{3-36}\), and saline. After an observation period of 4 weeks, liver samples were histologically evaluated, ELISAs and RNA sequencing + RT-qPCRs were performed. Results: RYGB and liraglutide+PYY\(_{3-36}\) induced a similar body weight loss and, compared to sham/saline, marked histological improvements with significantly less steatosis. However, only RYGB induced significant metabolic improvements (e.g., adiponectin/leptin ratio 18.8 ± 11.8 vs. 2.4 ± 1.2 in liraglutide+PYY\(_{3-36}\)- or 1.4 ± 0.9 in sham-treated rats). Furthermore, RNA sequencing revealed a high number of differentially regulated genes in RYGB treated animals only. Conclusions: The combination therapy of liraglutide+PYY\(_{3-36}\) partly mimics the positive effects of RYGB on weight reduction and on hepatic steatosis, while its effects on metabolic function lack behind RYGB.
Die bariatrische Chirurgie ist momentan die einzige Therapieoption der morbiden Adipositas mit der eine langfristige Gewichtsreduktion erreicht werden kann. Unter den Operationsmethoden gilt der RYGB als eine der wirksamsten Behandlungen bezogen auf den Gewichtsverlust und die Verbesserung von Begleiterkrankungen wie dem Diabetes mellitus Typ 2. Darüber hinaus belegt eine wachsende Zahl an Veröffentlichungen, dass der RYGB den Zustand chronischer Entzündung, wie er typischerweise mit Adipositas einhergeht, verringern kann. Diese sogenannte Endotoxämie geht unter anderem mit einer gestörten Integrität der intestinalen Epithelbarriere einher. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es eine Analyse der Veränderungen von für die Darmbarriere wichtigen Junktionsproteinen vorzunehmen, um eine Grundlage für künftige mechanistische Untersuchungen zu schaffen. Dafür wurden die Veränderungen von Barriereproteinen in Vollwandresektaten des Duodenums, des Jejunums, des Ileums sowie des Kolons von Ratten, die einen RYGB erhalten hatten, mittels Western Blot Untersuchungen quantifiziert. Als Kontrollgruppe dienten schein-operierte Ratten. Es kam zu tiefgreifenden Veränderungen der analysierten Barriereproteine in den Vollwandresektaten. Interessanterweise unterschieden sich die Verteilungsmuster der Veränderungen der Barriereproteinte deutlich zwischen den einzelnen Darmregionen. Um herauszufinden, ob diese Veränderungen durch regionale Veränderungen der Mikroumgebung nach RYGB- Operation induziert wurden, wurden im reduktionistischen Zellkultursystem Stuhl- Transferexperimente durchgeführt. Caco2-Zellkulturen dienten hierbei als Modell für die intestinale epitheliale Barriere. Es wurden funktionelle Messungen und quantitative Analysen der Veränderungen der Barriereproteine der Zellkultur durchgeführt. Die Funktionsmessungen zeigten, dass der Inhalt des Duodenums, des Jejunums sowie des Kolons deutliche barrierestabilisierende Effekte auf die Caco2-Zellmonolayer hatte. Zudem zeigten sich tiefgreifende Veränderungen der untersuchten Barriereproteine. Zusammenfassend wurde in der vorliegenden Arbeit erstmals eine regionenspezfische Regulation der intestinalen Barriereproteine in Korrelation mit funktionellen Messungen nach RYGB nachgewiesen.
Die hier vorliegende Untersuchung beschäftigt sich mit dem Vergleich zweier minimalinvasiver operativer Therapiestrategien der distalen Unterarmfraktur als häufigster Fraktur im Kindesalter.
Für die vorliegende Studie erfolgte eine umfassende retrospektive Auswertung von 122 Fällen distaler kindlicher Unterarmfrakturen aus einem Zeitraum von elf Jahren, die in der kinderchirurgischen Abteilung des Universitätsklinikums Würzburg osteosynthetisch versorgt wurden. Ziel der Untersuchung war die Betrachtung der Epidemiologie des Verletzungsbildes und des Therapieerfolges in Abhängigkeit von der gewählten Osteosynthesetechnik. Die Kinder wurden dabei entweder allein durch eine Kirschner-Draht-Osteosynthese des Radius oder durch eine zusätzliche Fixierung der Ulna mittels elastisch stabiler intramedullärer Nagelung versorgt.
Durch beide Operationsstrategien konnte für die meisten Patientinnen und Patienten ein gutes Therapieergebnis erreicht werden. Hinsichtlich der Operations- und Hospitalisierungsdauer zeigte sich ein Vorteil für Kinder, die osteosynthetisch lediglich durch Kirschner-Drähte versorgt wurden. In anderen Studien beobachtete Komplikationen in Form sekundärer Dislokationen der Fraktur auch nach Osteosynthese oder Infektionen im Bereich der Drahtenden konnten im hier untersuchten Kollektiv seltener festgestellt werden.
Die vorliegende Untersuchung zeigt, dass, sofern die Indikation zur operativen Versorgung besteht, die Fixierung des Radius allein mittels Kirschner-Drähten eine adäquate Therapie distaler Frakturen von Ulna und Radius im Kindesalter darstellt. Von einer kombinierten Osteosynthese mittels Kirschner-Drähten und ESIN könnten besonders Patientinnen und Patienten profitieren, bei denen initial große Dislokationen der Fraktur, Begleitverletzungen des Arms oder eine Lokalisation im Bereich des diametaphysären Übergangs bestehen. Um diese Beobachtungen auch in größeren Kollektiven und prospektiv sowie randomisiert zu untersuchen, sind weitere Studien wünschenswert.
Der postoperative Hypoparathyreoidismus (PH) stellt eine der häufigsten Komplikationen nach Schilddrüsenoperationen dar. Ziel dieses systematischen Reviews und Metaanalyse ist die Erarbeitung einer einheitlichen Definition sowie die Ermittlung des bestmöglichen Ansatzes für eine frühzeitige Detektion des PH.
Nach Durchführung einer systematischen Literaturrecherche gemäß der PICo-Systematik unter Verwendung der Datenbanken Embase, Pubmed und der Cochrane Library, erfolgte die themenbezogene Aufarbeitung der eingeschlossenen Studien, sowie eine Bias-Bewertung und Metaanalyse geeigneter Arbeiten.
Von 13.704 Artikeln konnten 188 in die weitere Analyse eingeschlossen werden. In diesen fanden sich sehr heterogene Definitionen des PH. Sowohl in der systematischen Analyse als auch in der Metaanalyse zeigte sich eine genauere Vorhersagekraft des PH durch eine postoperative im Vergleich zu einer intraoperativen PTH-Messung. Keiner der analysierten Zeiträume innerhalb des ersten postoperativen Tages (POD1) zeigte eine signifikante Überlegenheit in der Vorhersage eines PH. Die PTH- Schwellenwerte 10 bzw. 15 pg/ml können einen PH zuverlässig detektieren. Als Entscheidungsgrundlage zwischen den beiden Werten kann die untere Normwertgrenze des angewendeten Testverfahrens herangezogen werden. Bei präoperativer PTH-Abnahme nach Anästhesieeinleitung ist ein relativer PTH-Abfall von prä- nach postoperativ von 73 ± 11% prädiktiv für die Entwicklung eines PH. Die Bestimmung des Calciumspiegels an POD1 ist obligat und optimiert insbesondere die Erkennung einer biochemischen Hypokalzämie.
Ein nicht nachweisbarer oder inadäquat niedriger postoperativer PTH-Spiegel im Zusammenhang mit einer biochemischen oder symptomatischen Hypokalzämie kann als einheitliche Definition des postoperativen Hypoparathyreoidismus vorgeschlagen werden. Die Messung des Parathormons sollte zwischen einer und sechs Stunden postoperativ, spätestens aber innerhalb von 24 Stunden erfolgen. Sowohl der Schwellenwert ≤ 15 pg/ml als auch ein relativer PTH-Abfall von prä- nach postoperativ sind zuverlässig in der Detektion gefährdeter Patienten.
In der vorliegenden Dissertation wurde das Zusammenspiel von enterischen Gliazellen (EGC) und Darmepithelzellen (Caco-2) thematisiert, wobei der Fokus auf der Bedeu-tung des neurotrophen Faktors GDNF für die Interaktion zwischen den beiden genann-ten Zelltypen lag. Weiterhin wurde evaluiert, ob die Tyrosinkinase RET auch in Darme-pithelzellen für die GDNF-Signaltransduktion unter Ruhebedingungen und bei Entzün-dungen verantwortlich ist.
Als Grundlage diente ein Ko-Kultur-Modell mit Caco-2 und EGC. Durch Permeabili-täts- und Widerstandsmessungen wurden die Auswirkungen von GDNF auf Zell-Monolayer ermittelt. Effekte auf die Barrieredifferenzierung wurden anhand subkon-fluenter Zell-Monolayer charakterisiert, wohingegen die Auswirkungen auf Entzün-dungsstimuli an konfluenten Zellen untersucht wurden. Veränderungen von Junktions-proteinen wurden mit Immunfluoreszenzfärbungen und Western-Blot-Analysen aufge-zeigt. Abschließend erfolgte eine Analyse humaner Gewebeproben von Patienten mit und ohne chronisch-entzündlichen Darmerkrankungen (CED) in Bezug auf deren GDNF-Expression.
Die verwendeten intestinalen Epithelzellen exprimieren die GDNF-Rezeptoren GFRα1, GFRα2, GFRα3 und RET. Nach Etablierung des Kultursystems zeigten Permeabilitäts-messungen, Messungen des Epithelwiderstandes sowie Immunfluoreszenz-Färbungen, dass die Differenzierung der Darmepithelzellen in der Ko-Kultur mit EGC durch GDNF vermittelt wird. Zudem war eine GDNF-abhängige, barrierestabilisierende Wirkung in einem Inflammationsmodell zu beobachten. Weiterhin wurde nachgewiesen, dass GDNF-Effekte auf Enterozyten auch im Darmepithel über die RET-Tyrosinkinase mit nachfolgender Hemmung des p38-MAPK-Signalwegs bedingt werden. Eine Stimulation der EGC mit Zytokinen bestätigte eine Hochregulation der GDNF-Expression und Sek-retion. In humanen Proben war intestinales GDNF bei schwerer Entzündung reduziert.
Zusammenfassend wurde erstmalig der Nachweis erbracht, dass von EGC sezerniertes GDNF die Differenzierung der Barriere in Darmepithelzellen induziert und diese gegen einen Zytokin-vermittelten Zusammenbruch schützt. Dies wird über eine RET-abhängige Regulation der p38-MAPK vermittelt. Die Reduktion der GDNF-Konzentration in transmuralen Gewebeproben von Patienten mit CED trägt möglicher-weise zur Pathogenese der CED bei.
Ureaplasma species (spp.) are considered commensals of the adult genitourinary tract, but have been associated with chorioamnionitis, preterm birth, and invasive infections in neonates, including meningitis. Data on mechanisms involved in Ureaplasma-driven neuroinflammation are scarce. The present study addressed brain inflammatory responses in preterm lambs exposed to Ureaplasma parvum (UP) in utero. 7 days after intra-amniotic injection of UP (n = 10) or saline (n = 11), lambs were surgically delivered at gestational day 128–129. Expression of inflammatory markers was assessed in different brain regions using qRT-PCR and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by multiplex immunoassay. CSF was analyzed for UP presence using ureB-based real-time PCR, and MRI scans documented cerebral white matter area and cortical folding. Cerebral tissue levels of atypical chemokine receptor (ACKR) 3, caspases 1-like, 2, 7, and C–X–C chemokine receptor (CXCR) 4 mRNA, as well as CSF interleukin-8 protein concentrations were significantly increased in UP-exposed lambs. UP presence in CSF was confirmed in one animal. Cortical folding and white matter area did not differ among groups. The present study confirms a role of caspases and the transmembrane receptors ACKR3 and CXCR4 in Ureaplasma-driven neuroinflammation. Enhanced caspase 1-like, 2, and 7 expression may reflect cell death. Increased ACKR3 and CXCR4 expression has been associated with inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) diseases and impaired blood–brain barrier function. According to these data and previous in vitro findings from our group, we speculate that Ureaplasma-induced caspase and receptor responses affect CNS barrier properties and thus facilitate neuroinflammation.
Die Kombination aus zytoreduktiver Chirurgie und einer anschließenden hyperthermen intraperitonealen Chemoperfusion (HIPEC) stellt sich als vielversprechende Therapiestrategie bei ausgesuchten Patienten mit Peritonealkarzinose, z. B. des kolorektalen Karzinoms, dar. Die intraperitoneale Chemoperfusion kombiniert eine lokale Hochdosis-Chemotherapie mit einer Hyperthermie. Hitzeschockproteinen (HSP) kommt dabei eine bedeutende Rolle zu, da sie infolge von zellulären Stressfaktoren wie Hitze oder Zytostatika-bedingter Chemotoxizität induziert werden. HSPs setzen Reparatur- und Zellschutzmechanismen in Gang und vermindern so in einzelnen überlebenden Tumorzellen möglicherweise den gewünschten Therapieerfolg der HIPEC. Ziel der Arbeit war es, mithilfe eines bereits etablierten in vitro HIPEC-Modells die Auswirkungen der äußeren Stressoren Hyperthermie und Zytostatika auf die Expression von Hitzeschockproteinen (HSP27, HSP70 und HSP90) in drei humanen Kolonkarzinomzelllinien zu untersuchen. Dazu wurden die Zelllinien HT29, SW480 und SW620 jeweils mit und ohne Zytostatika (Mitomycin C, MMC und Oxaliplatin, OXA) für eine Stunde drei verschiedenen Temperaturstufen von 37°C als Normothermie, 41°C und 43°C als Hyperthermie ausgesetzt und nach einer Regenerationszeit von 30 min, 24 h, 48 h und 72 h mit Hilfe von RT-qPCR-Analysen und Western Blots untersucht. Zudem wurden nach gleichem Ablauf Effekte der HIPEC auf die Tumorzellproliferation und Apoptose mittels Proliferationsmarkern Ki-67, PCNA und MTS-Tests sowie dem antiapoptotischen Protein Bcl-xL in in vitro Tumorzellansätzen sowie in ex vivo Patientenproben vor und nach HIPEC analysiert. Sowohl die einstündige Chemotherapie mit Mitomycin C oder Oxaliplatin unter hyperthermen Bedingungen als auch die isolierte Hyperthermiebehandlung führte im Vergleich zu normothermen Kontrollbedingungen bei 37°C zu einer signifikanten Überexpression der untersuchten HSPs in RTq-PCR-Analysenaller drei Kolonkarzinomzelllinien. Interessanterweise wurden vermehrte HSP Genexpressionsmuster noch drei Tage nach Behandlung beobachtet. Eine verstärkte Proteinexpression zeigte sich bestätigend insbesondere für HSP27 und HSP70 unter zytostatischer Behandlung mit MMC oder OXA und führte zu einer bis zu 3-fachen Expressionssteigerung wenn die Zellen hyperthermen Bedingungen ausgesetzt waren. Tumorzellen, die zuvor der hyperthermen Chemotherapie unterzogen wurden, zeigten interessanterweise zudem proliferative anstelle von anti-proliferativen Effekten. In durchgeführten MTS-Tests führte sowohl die Hyperthermie allein als auch die zusätzliche Zytostatikagabe zu einer deutlich erhöhten Zellviabilität im Vergleich zu normothermer Chemotherapie im Modellansatz. Übereinstimmend mit den Ergebnissen der MTS-Tests konnte eine Induktion der Proliferationsmarker PCNA und Ki-67 durch Hyperthermie und Chemotherapie auf Gen- und Proteinebene beobachtet werden. Im Falle von PCNA ließ sich eine verstärkte Proteinexpression in ex vivo Proben von Patienten nach klinisch durchgeführter HIPEC bestätigen. Zusätzliche Untersuchungen des anti-apoptotisch wirkenden Regulatorproteins Bcl-xL in in vitro Tumorzellansätzen sowie in ex vivo Proben von Patienten nach hyperthermer Chemotherapie, zeigten zudem eine deutlich gesteigerte Proteinexpression unter alleiniger Hyperthermie sowie insbesondere in Kombination mit Zytostatika. Durch die Induktion von HSP27, HSP70 und HSP90 infolge von hyperthermem und zytotoxischem Stress werden in überlebenden Zellen nach hyperthermer Chemotherapie, unerwünschte antiapopotische sowie proliferative Effekte im Sinne von Reparatur- und Zellschutzmechanismen induziert und nehmen negativen Einfluss auf den Therapieerfolg der HIPEC. Schlussfolgernd wäre der Einsatz von HSP-Inhibitoren um die beschriebenen, unerwünschten Zellmechanismen zu verhindern, zu überprüfen. Diese bieten eine interessante Möglichkeit die Effizienz der im klinischen Einsatz gängigen Zytostatika zu steigern und somit einen positiven Einfluss auf den Erfolg der Therapie und die Überlebenszeit von Patienten mit Peritonealkarzinose zu nehmen. Weiterführende Studien der eigenen Arbeitsgruppe mit kombinierten HSP70/HSP90-Inhibitoren zeigten bereits eine signifikant reduzierte Zellviabilität in Kolonkarzinomzellen, die zuvor der hyperthermen Chemotherapie unterzogen wurden.
Multiorgan recovery in a cadaver body using mild hypothermic ECMO treatment in a murine model
(2023)
Background
Transplant candidates on the waiting list are increasingly challenged by the lack of organs. Most of the organs can only be kept viable within very limited timeframes (e.g., mere 4–6 h for heart and lungs exposed to refrigeration temperatures ex vivo). Donation after circulatory death (DCD) using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can significantly enlarge the donor pool, organ yield per donor, and shelf life. Nevertheless, clinical attempts to recover organs for transplantation after uncontrolled DCD are extremely complex and hardly reproducible. Therefore, as a preliminary strategy to fulfill this task, experimental protocols using feasible animal models are highly warranted. The primary aim of the study was to develop a model of ECMO-based cadaver organ recovery in mice. Our model mimics uncontrolled organ donation after an “out-of-hospital” sudden unexpected death with subsequent “in-hospital” cadaver management post-mortem. The secondary aim was to assess blood gas parameters, cardiac activity as well as overall organ state. The study protocol included post-mortem heparin–streptokinase administration 10 min after confirmed death induced by cervical dislocation under full anesthesia. After cannulation, veno-arterial ECMO (V–A ECMO) was started 1 h after death and continued for 2 h under mild hypothermic conditions followed by organ harvest. Pressure- and flow-controlled oxygenated blood-based reperfusion of a cadaver body was accompanied by blood gas analysis (BGA), electrocardiography, and histological evaluation of ischemia–reperfusion injury. For the first time, we designed and implemented, a not yet reported, miniaturized murine hemodialysis circuit for the treatment of severe hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis post-mortem.
Results
BGA parameters confirmed profound ischemia typical for cadavers and incompatible with normal physiology, including extremely low blood pH, profound negative base excess, and enormously high levels of lactate. Two hours after ECMO implantation, blood pH values of a cadaver body restored from < 6.5 to 7.3 ± 0.05, pCO2 was lowered from > 130 to 41.7 ± 10.5 mmHg, sO2, base excess, and HCO3 were all elevated from below detection thresholds to 99.5 ± 0.6%, − 4 ± 6.2 and 22.0 ± 6.0 mmol/L, respectively (Student T test, p < 0.05). A substantial decrease in hyperlactatemia (from > 20 to 10.5 ± 1.7 mmol/L) and hyperkalemia (from > 9 to 6.9 ± 1.0 mmol/L) was observed when hemodialysis was implemented. On balance, the first signs of regained heart activity appeared on average 10 min after ECMO initiation without cardioplegia or any inotropic and vasopressor support. This was followed by restoration of myocardial contractility with a heart rate of up to 200 beats per minute (bpm) as detected by an electrocardiogram (ECG). Histological examinations revealed no evidence of heart injury 3 h post-mortem, whereas shock-specific morphological changes relevant to acute death and consequent cardiac/circulatory arrest were observed in the lungs, liver, and kidney of both control and ECMO-treated cadaver mice.
Conclusions
Thus, our model represents a promising approach to facilitate studying perspectives of cadaveric multiorgan recovery for transplantation. Moreover, it opens new possibilities for cadaver organ treatment to extend and potentiate donation and, hence, contribute to solving the organ shortage dilemma.
Background
With the emergence of photon-counting CT, ultrahigh-resolution (UHR) imaging can be performed without dose penalty. This study aims to directly compare the image quality of UHR and standard resolution (SR) scan mode in femoral artery angiographies.
Methods
After establishing continuous extracorporeal perfusion in four fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens, photon-counting CT angiographies were performed with a radiation dose of 5 mGy and tube voltage of 120 kV in both SR and UHR mode. Images were reconstructed with dedicated convolution kernels (soft: Body-vascular (Bv)48; sharp: Bv60; ultrasharp: Bv76). Six radiologists evaluated the image quality by means of a pairwise forced-choice comparison tool. Kendall’s concordance coefficient (W) was calculated to quantify interrater agreement. Image quality was further assessed by measuring intraluminal attenuation and image noise as well as by calculating signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR).
Results
UHR yielded lower noise than SR for identical reconstructions with kernels ≥ Bv60 (p < 0.001). UHR scans exhibited lower intraluminal attenuation compared to SR (Bv60: 406.4 ± 25.1 versus 418.1 ± 30.1 HU; p < 0.001). Irrespective of scan mode, SNR and CNR decreased while noise increased with sharper kernels but UHR scans were objectively superior to SR nonetheless (Bv60: SNR 25.9 ± 6.4 versus 20.9 ± 5.3; CNR 22.7 ± 5.8 versus 18.4 ± 4.8; p < 0.001). Notably, UHR scans were preferred in subjective assessment when images were reconstructed with the ultrasharp Bv76 kernel, whereas SR was rated superior for Bv60. Interrater agreement was high (W = 0.935).
Conclusions
Combinations of UHR scan mode and ultrasharp convolution kernel are able to exploit the full image quality potential in photon-counting CT angiography of the femoral arteries.
Relevance statement
The UHR scan mode offers improved image quality and may increase diagnostic accuracy in CT angiography of the peripheral arterial runoff when optimized reconstruction parameters are chosen.
Key points
• UHR photon-counting CT improves image quality in combination with ultrasharp convolution kernels.
• UHR datasets display lower image noise compared with identically reconstructed standard resolution scans.
• Scans in UHR mode show decreased intraluminal attenuation compared with standard resolution imaging.
Antibody-based soluble and membrane-bound TWEAK mimicking agonists with FcγR-independent activity
(2023)
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-inducible 14 (Fn14) activates the classical and alternative NFκB (nuclear factor ‘kappa-light-chain-enhancer’ of activated B-cells) signaling pathway but also enhances tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced cell death. Fn14 expression is upregulated in non-hematopoietic cells during tissue injury and is also often highly expressed in solid cancers. In view of the latter, there were and are considerable preclinical efforts to target Fn14 for tumor therapy, either by exploiting Fn14 as a target for antibodies with cytotoxic activity (e.g. antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)-inducing IgG variants, antibody drug conjugates) or by blocking antibodies with the aim to interfere with protumoral Fn14 activities. Noteworthy, there are yet no attempts to target Fn14 with agonistic Fc effector function silenced antibodies to unleash the proinflammatory and cell death-enhancing activities of this receptor for tumor therapy. This is certainly not at least due to the fact that anti-Fn14 antibodies only act as effective agonists when they are presented bound to Fcγ receptors (FcγR). Thus, there are so far no antibodies that robustly and selectively engage Fn14 signaling without triggering unwanted FcγR-mediated activities. In this study, we investigated a panel of variants of the anti-Fn14 antibody 18D1 of different valencies and domain architectures with respect to their inherent FcγR-independent ability to trigger Fn14-associated signaling pathways. In contrast to conventional 18D1, the majority of 18D1 antibody variants with four or more Fn14 binding sites displayed a strong ability to trigger the alternative NFκB pathway and to enhance TNF-induced cell death and therefore resemble in their activity soluble (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), one form of the natural occurring ligand of Fn14. Noteworthy, activation of the classical NFκB pathway, which naturally is predominately triggered by membrane-bound TWEAK but not soluble TWEAK, was preferentially observed with a subset of constructs containing Fn14 binding sites at opposing sites of the IgG scaffold, e.g. IgG1-scFv fusion proteins. A superior ability of IgG1-scFv fusion proteins to trigger classical NFκB signaling was also observed with the anti-Fn14 antibody PDL192 suggesting that we identified generic structures for Fn14 antibody variants mimicking soluble and membrane-bound TWEAK.
Background
Perioperative bridging of oral anticoagulation increases the risk of bleeding complications after elective general and visceral surgery. The aim of this study was to explore, whether an individual risk-adjusted bridging regimen can reduce bleeding events, while still protecting against thromboembolic events.
Methods
We performed a quality improvement study comparing bridging parameters and postoperative outcomes before (period 1) and after implementation (period 2) of a new risk-adjusted bridging regimen. The primary endpoint of the study was overall incidence of postoperative bleeding complications during 30 days postoperatively. Secondary endpoints were major postoperative bleeding, minor bleeding, thromboembolic events, postoperative red blood cell transfusion, perioperative length-of-stay (LOS) and in-hospital mortality.
Results
A total of 263 patients during period 1 and 271 patients during period 2 were compared. The included elective operations covered the entire field of general and visceral surgery. The overall incidence of bleeding complications declined from 22.1% during period 1 to 10.3% in period 2 (p < 0.001). This reduction affected both major as well as minor bleeding events (8.4% vs. 4.1%; p = 0.039; 13.7% vs. 6.3%; p = 0.004). The incidence of thromboembolic events remained low (0.8% vs. 1.1%). No changes in mortality or length-of-stay were observed.
Conclusion
It is important to balance the individual thromboembolic and bleeding risks in perioperative bridging management. The risk adjusted bridging regimen reduces bleeding events in general and visceral surgery while the risk of thromboembolism remains comparably low.
Loss of intestinal epithelial barrier function is a hallmark in digestive tract inflammation. The detailed mechanisms remain unclear due to the lack of suitable cell-based models in barrier research. Here we performed a detailed functional characterization of human intestinal organoid cultures under different conditions with the aim to suggest an optimized ex-vivo model to further analyse inflammation-induced intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction. Differentiated Caco2 cells as a traditional model for intestinal epithelial barrier research displayed mature barrier functions which were reduced after challenge with cytomix (TNFα, IFN-γ, IL-1ß) to mimic inflammatory conditions. Human intestinal organoids grown in culture medium were highly proliferative, displayed high levels of LGR5 with overall low rates of intercellular adhesion and immature barrier function resembling conditions usually found in intestinal crypts. WNT-depletion resulted in the differentiation of intestinal organoids with reduced LGR5 levels and upregulation of markers representing the presence of all cell types present along the crypt-villus axis. This was paralleled by barrier maturation with junctional proteins regularly distributed at the cell borders. Application of cytomix in immature human intestinal organoid cultures resulted in reduced barrier function that was accompanied with cell fragmentation, cell death and overall loss of junctional proteins, demonstrating a high susceptibility of the organoid culture to inflammatory stimuli. In differentiated organoid cultures, cytomix induced a hierarchical sequence of changes beginning with loss of cell adhesion, redistribution of junctional proteins from the cell border, protein degradation which was accompanied by loss of epithelial barrier function. Cell viability was observed to decrease with time but was preserved when initial barrier changes were evident. In summary, differentiated intestinal organoid cultures represent an optimized human ex-vivo model which allows a comprehensive reflection to the situation observed in patients with intestinal inflammation. Our data suggest a hierarchical sequence of inflammation-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction starting with loss of intercellular adhesion, followed by redistribution and loss of junctional proteins resulting in reduced barrier function with consecutive epithelial death.
Objectives
We developed a novel human cadaveric perfusion model with continuous extracorporeal femoral perfusion suitable for performing intra-individual comparison studies, training of interventional procedures and preclinical testing of endovascular devices. Objective of this study was to introduce the techniques and evaluate the feasibility for realistic computed tomography angiography (CTA), digital subtraction angiography (DSA) including vascular interventions, and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).
Methods
The establishment of the extracorporeal perfusion was attempted using one formalin-fixed and five fresh-frozen human cadavers. In all specimens, the common femoral and popliteal arteries were prepared, introducer sheaths inserted, and perfusion established by a peristaltic pump. Subsequently, we performed CTA and bilateral DSA in five cadavers and IVUS on both legs of four donors. Examination time without unintentional interruption was measured both with and without non-contrast planning CT. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting was performed by two interventional radiologists on nine extremities (five donors) using a broad spectrum of different intravascular devices.
Results
The perfusion of the upper leg arteries was successfully established in all fresh-frozen but not in the formalin-fixed cadaver. The experimental setup generated a stable circulation in each procedure (ten upper legs) for a period of more than six hours. Images acquired with CT, DSA and IVUS offered a realistic impression and enabled the sufficient visualization of all examined vessel segments. Arterial cannulating, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty as well as stent deployment were feasible in a way that is comparable to a vascular intervention in vivo. The perfusion model allowed for introduction and testing of previously not used devices.
Conclusions
The continuous femoral perfusion model can be established with moderate effort, works stable, and is utilizable for medical imaging of the peripheral arterial system using CTA, DSA and IVUS. Therefore, it appears suitable for research studies, developing skills in interventional procedures and testing of new or unfamiliar vascular devices.
Developmentally regulated features of innate immunity are thought to place preterm and term infants at risk of infection and inflammation-related morbidity. Underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Differences in monocyte function including toll-like receptor (TLR) expression and signaling have been discussed. Some studies point to generally impaired TLR signaling, others to differences in individual pathways. In the present study, we assessed mRNA and protein expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in preterm and term cord blood (CB) monocytes compared with adult controls stimulated ex vivo with Pam3CSK4, zymosan, polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, lipopolysaccharide, flagellin, and CpG oligonucleotide, which activate the TLR1/2, TLR2/6, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, and TLR9 pathways, respectively. In parallel, frequencies of monocyte subsets, stimulus-driven TLR expression, and phosphorylation of TLR-associated signaling molecules were analyzed. Independent of stimulus, pro-inflammatory responses of term CB monocytes equaled adult controls. The same held true for preterm CB monocytes—except for lower IL-1β levels. In contrast, CB monocytes released lower amounts of anti-inflammatory IL-10 and IL-1ra, resulting in higher ratios of pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory cytokines. Phosphorylation of p65, p38, and ERK1/2 correlated with adult controls. However, stimulated CB samples stood out with higher frequencies of intermediate monocytes (CD14\(^+\)CD16\(^+\)). Both pro-inflammatory net effect and expansion of the intermediate subset were most pronounced upon stimulation with Pam3CSK4 (TLR1/2), zymosan (TR2/6), and lipopolysaccharide (TLR4). Our data demonstrate robust pro-inflammatory and yet attenuated anti-inflammatory responses in preterm and term CB monocytes, along with imbalanced cytokine ratios. Intermediate monocytes, a subset ascribed pro-inflammatory features, might participate in this inflammatory state.
Ein Schlüsselereignis, welches dem prognosebestimmenden Organversagen bei systemi-schen Entzündungsprozessen und Sepsis vorangeht, ist die Entwicklung einer mikrovas-kulären endothelialen Schrankenstörung. Das vaskuläre endotheliale (VE-) Cadherin als mechanischer Stabilisator der Endothelbarriere spielt dabei eine wichtige Rolle. In der Inflammation werden Spaltprodukte von VE-Cadherin (sVE-Cadherin) gebildet. Ge-genstand der vorliegenden Arbeit war die Untersuchung der Hypothese ob diese Spalt-produkte selbst an der Störung der endothelialen Barrierefunktion beteiligt sind.
Es wurde hierfür humanes sVE-Cadherin bestehend aus den extrazellulären Domänen EC1-5 (sVE-CadherinEC1-5) generiert. In Messungen des transendothelialen elektrischen Widerstands (TER), mit Immunfluoreszenzfärbungen und Western Blot Analysen wird gezeigt, dass sVE-Cadherin dosisabhängig die Barriere Integrität in primären humanen dermalen Endothelzellen stört. Dies führt zu einer Reduktion von VE-Cadherin und den assoziierten Proteinen α-, γ- und δ-Catenin und ZO-1, die nach der Applikation von sVE-Cadherin an den Zellgrenzen reduziert sind. Die Interaktion zwischen VE-PTP und VE-Cadherin wird durch sVE-CadherinEC1-5 reduziert. Durch pharmakologische Hem-mung der Phosphataseaktivität von VE-PTP mittels AKB9778 wird der durch sVE-CadherinEC1-5-induzierte Verlust der Endothelbarriere aufgehoben. Dagegen zeigt die direkte Aktivierung von Tie-2 mittels Angiopoetin-1 keinen protektiven Effekt auf die durch sVE-CadherinEC1-5 gestörte Endothelbarriere. Weitere Analysen zeigen eine erhöh-te Expression von GEF-H1 durch sVE-CadherinEC1-5. Diese ist ebenfalls durch AKB9778 hemmbar.
Zusätzlich zu diesen Untersuchungen wurden die Konstrukte EC1-4 und EC3-5 in ver-schiedene Vektoren kloniert, um zu bestimmen, ob die extrazelluläre Domäne 5 von VE-Cadherin die dominante Rolle bei den sVE-Cadherin-vermittelten Effekten spielt.
Zusammenfassend zeigen diese Untersuchungen zum ersten Mal, dass sVE-CadherinEC1-5 unabhängig von proinflammatorischen Auslösern über die Aktivierung des VE-PTP/RhoA-Signalweges den Zusammenbruch der Endothelbarriere mitversursacht. Dies stellt einen neuen pathophysiologischer Mechanismus dar, der zum Gesamtverständnis der entzündungsinduzierten Barriereveränderungen des Endothels beiträgt.
This study evaluated the influence of different vascular reconstruction kernels on the image quality of CT angiographies of the lower extremity runoff using a 1st-generation photon-counting-detector CT (PCD-CT) compared with dose-matched examinations on a 3rd-generation energy-integrating-detector CT (EID-CT). Inducing continuous extracorporeal perfusion in a human cadaveric model, we performed CT angiographies of eight upper leg arterial runoffs with radiation dose-equivalent 120 kVp acquisition protocols (CTDIvol 5 mGy). Reconstructions were executed with different vascular kernels, matching the individual modulation transfer functions between scanners. Signal-to-noise-ratios (SNR) and contrast-to-noise-ratios (CNR) were computed to assess objective image quality. Six radiologists evaluated image quality subjectively using a forced-choice pairwise comparison tool. Interrater agreement was determined by calculating Kendall’s concordance coefficient (W). The intraluminal attenuation of PCD-CT images was significantly higher than of EID-CT (414.7 ± 27.3 HU vs. 329.3 ± 24.5 HU; p < 0.001). Using comparable kernels, image noise with PCD-CT was significantly lower than with EID-CT (p ≤ 0.044). Correspondingly, SNR and CNR were approximately twofold higher for PCD-CT (p < 0.001). Increasing the spatial frequency for PCD-CT reconstructions by one level resulted in similar metrics compared to EID-CT (CNRfat; EID-CT Bv49: 21.7 ± 3.7 versus PCD-CT Bv60: 21.4 ± 3.5). Overall image quality of PCD-CTA achieved ratings superior to EID-CTA irrespective of the used reconstruction kernels (best: PCD-CT Bv60; worst: EID-CT Bv40; p < 0.001). Interrater agreement was good (W = 0.78). Concluding, PCD-CT offers superior intraluminal attenuation, SNR, and CNR compared to EID-CT in angiographies of the upper leg arterial runoff. Combined with improved subjective image quality, PCD-CT facilitates the use of sharper convolution kernels and ultimately bears the potential of improved vascular structure assessability.
(1) Background: Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) is a concept that applies to obese patients without any elements of metabolic syndrome (metS). In turn, metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) defines the presence of elements of metS in obese patients. The components of MUO can be divided into subgroups regarding the elements of inflammation, lipid and glucose metabolism and cardiovascular disease. MUO patients appear to be at greater risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) compared to MHO patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different MUO components on NAFLD and NASH in patients with morbid obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. (2) Methods: 141 patients undergoing bariatric surgery from September 2015 and October 2021 at RWTH Aachen university hospital (Germany) were included. Patients were evaluated pre-operatively for characteristics of metS and MUO (HbA1c, HOMA, CRP, BMI, fasting glucose, LDL, TG, HDL and the presence of arterial hypertension). Intraoperatively, a liver biopsy was taken from the left liver lobe and evaluated for the presence of NAFLD or NASH. In ordinal regression analyses, different factors were evaluated for their influence on NAFLD and NASH. (3) Results: Mean BMI of the patients was 52.3 kg/m\(^2\) (36–74.8, SD 8.4). Together, the parameters HbA1c, HOMA, CRP, BMI, fasting glucose, LDL, TG, HDL and the presence of arterial hypertension accounted for a significant amount of variance in the outcome, with a likelihood ratio of χ\(^2\) (9) = 41.547, p < 0.001, for predicting the presence of NASH. Only HOMA was an independent predictor of NASH (B = 0.102, SE = 0.0373, p = 0.007). Evaluation of steatosis showed a similar trend (likelihood ratio χ\(^2\) (9) = 40.272, p < 0.001). Independent predictors of steatosis were HbA1c (B = 0.833, SE = 0.343, p = 0.015) and HOMA (B = 0.136, SE = 0.039, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: The above-mentioned model, including components of MUO, was significant for diagnosing NASH in patients with morbid obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. Out of the different subitems, HOMA independently predicted the presence of NASH and steatosis, while HbA1c independently predicted steatosis and fibrosis. Taken together, the parameter of glucose metabolism appears to be more accurate for the prediction of NASH than the parameters of lipid metabolism, inflammation or the presence of cardiovascular disease.