Publications by authors named "Freya Droege"

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) leads to fragile blood vessels, causing frequent bleeding and anemia. Treatment mainly addresses iron levels and substitution. Although cobalamin (vitamin B12) is routinely tested in chronic anemia, its role in HHT has not been studied until now.

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Background: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) can influence the quality of life and social relationships, mostly due to epistaxis, but the topics of family planning, sexual activity and contraception have not been investigated to date. This study aimed to gain more insight: what is the influence of HHT on family planning, sexual activity and contraception?

Methods: This multi-language European survey study included a patient's and partners' version of a questionnaire designed specifically for this study. HHT patients were informed about the study through HHT expert centres, social media and websites of patient associations.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare condition that leads to dilated blood vessels and has been linked to a higher prevalence of infections and allergies in affected individuals.
  • - In a study, 430 patients with HHT completed a survey, revealing that they experienced significantly more allergies, particularly type I allergies, along with a higher incidence of infections like sinusitis and pulmonary infections, compared to their non-affected counterparts.
  • - The findings highlight the need for increased awareness and recommendations for patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) to take prophylactic antibiotics, as many do not do so despite their higher risk of complications.
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Article Synopsis
  • A postal survey was conducted among 161 German ENT departments to evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness and complication rates of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CNB) in the thyroid gland, salivary glands, and lymph nodes.
  • The response rate was 45%, with many clinics not performing these procedures due to a lack of pathologist expertise.
  • FNA was more commonly used than CNB, achieving 63% meaningful findings for FNA and 83% for CNB, with very few cases reporting potential tumor cell spread, indicating varying practices across Germany.
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Patients with HPV-localized head and neck cancer (HNC) show inferior outcomes after surgery and radiochemotherapy compared to HPV-associated cancers. The underlying mechanisms remain elusive, but differences in immune status and immune activity may be implicated. In this study, we analyzed immune profiles of CD8 T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) in HPV versus HPV disease.

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The interplay between hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is critical for both inflammation and angiogenesis. In hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), we have previously observed that impairment of the TGF-β pathway is associated with downregulation of HIF-1α. HIF-1α accumulation is mandatory in situations of altered energy demand, such as during infection or hypoxia, by adjusting cell metabolism.

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The transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/ALK1/ENG signaling pathway maintains quiescent state of endothelial cells, but at the same time, it regulates neutrophil functions. Importantly, mutations of this pathway lead to a rare autosomal disorder called hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), characterized with abnormal blood vessel formation (angiogenesis). As neutrophils are potent regulators of angiogenesis, we investigated how disturbed TGF-β/ALK1/ENG signaling influences angiogenic properties of these cells in HHT.

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Objectives: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare disorder encompassing facial and oral telangiectasias and visceral vascular malformations (VMs). Pulmonary VMs can lead to paradoxical embolism of thrombi or bacteria, e.g.

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Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare vascular multisystemic disease that leads to epistaxis, anaemia due to blood loss, and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in organs such as the lungs, liver and brain. HHT prevalence is estimated at 1/6000, i.e.

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Tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) are the first organs where the metastatic spread of different types of cancer, including head and neck cancer (HNC), occurs and have therefore high prognostic relevance. Moreover, first anti-cancer immune responses have been shown to be initiated in such LNs tumor-educated myeloid cells. Among myeloid cells present in TDLNs, neutrophils represent a valuable population and considerably participate in the activation of effector lymphocytes there.

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Patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, suffer from the consequences of abnormal vessel structures. These structures can lead to haemorrhages or shunt effects in liver, lungs and brain. This inherited and rare disease is characterized by mutations affecting the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) pathway that results in arteriovenous malformations and studies indicate an impaired immune response.

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Angiogenesis plays an important role during tumor growth and metastasis. We could previously show that Type I interferon (IFN)-deficient tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) show strong pro-angiogenic activity, and stimulate tumor angiogenesis and growth. However, the exact mechanism responsible for their pro-angiogenic shift is not clear.

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Purpose: No standardized treatment regimen exists for juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP). The investigators hypothesized that irrigation with saline only without local anesthesia will be an effective and beneficial option.

Methods: Using a retrospective study design, a series of children with typical symptoms of JRP who were treated with at least one irrigation therapy were evaluated.

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Background: Recurrent bleeding in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) can lead to chronic iron deficiency anemia (CIDA). Existing research points to CIDA as a contributing factor in restless leg syndrome (RLS). The association between HHT-related symptoms and the prevalence of RLS was analyzed.

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Objective: Patients with hereditary hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) suffer from a rare and systemic disease which is characterized by vascular malformations leading to a variety of different symptoms.

Material And Methods: A retrospective review of patients who were referred to our new HHT Center of Excellence (HHT COE) for evaluation and treatment between April 2014 and August 2019 was performed.

Results: 235 patients were treated at the West German HHT Center.

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Objective: Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare and systemic disorder which is characterized by recurrent epistaxis, mucocutaneous telangiectases, and visceral arteriovenous malformations (AVM). An interdisciplinary concept is recommended.

Material And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients who were referred to our newly established HHT Center of Excellence (HHT COE) for evaluation and treatment between April 2014 and August 2019.

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Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a multisystemic vascular dysplasia inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Approximately 10 % of patients have cerebral vascular malformations, a proportion being cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and fistulae that may lead to potentially devastating consequences in case of rupture. On the other hand, detection and treatment related-risks are not negligible, and immediate.

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Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disease of the fibrovascular tissue resulting in visceral vascular malformations and (muco-) cutaneous telangiectases with recurrent bleedings. The mechanism behind the disease is not fully understood; however, observations from HHT mouse models suggest that mechanical trauma may induce the formation of abnormal vessels. To assess the influence of environmental trauma (mechanical or light induced) on the number of telangiectases in patients with HHT, the number of telangiectases on the hands, face, and lips were counted on 103 HHT patients possessing at least three out of four Curaçao criteria.

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Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is characterized by mucocutaneous telangiectases and visceral vascular malformations. Individuals suffering from HHT have a significantly increased risk of bacterial infections, but the mechanisms involved in this are not clear. White blood cell subpopulations were estimated with flow cytometry in 79 patients with HHT and 45 healthy individuals, and association with clinicopathological status was assessed.

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Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) represent web-like structures consisting of externalized DNA decorated with granule proteins that are responsible for trapping and killing bacteria. However, undesirable effects of NET formation during carcinogenesis, such as metastasis support, have been described. In the present study, we evaluated the correlation between NETosis and disease progression in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients in order to establish a valid biomarker for an early detection and monitoring of HNC progression.

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Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a multisystemic vascular dysplasia that leads to nosebleeds, anaemia due to blood loss, and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in organs such as the lungs, liver and brain. HHT is estimated to affect 85,000 European citizens, but most health care providers have limited prior HHT exposure or training.Outcome Measures were developed and implemented by the HHT Working Group of the European Reference Network for Rare Vascular Diseases (VASCERN), in order to maximise the number of patients receiving good care.

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Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a heterogeneous group of pathologically expanded myeloid cells with immunosuppressive activity. In human disease, three major MDSC subpopulations can be defined as monocytic (M-MDSC), granulocytic [polymorphonuclear-MDSC (PMN-MDSC)], and early stage (e-MDSC), which lacks myeloid lineage markers of the former two subsets. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the immunosuppressive capacity and clinical relevance of each of these subsets in patients with solid cancer.

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There are only a few published studies that demonstrate associations between life expectancy, severe comorbidities, and their complications in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Relatives of 73 deceased patients with suspected HHT completed a questionnaire about causes of death, and symptoms and comorbidities that the patients had developed. We compared the data for 55 cases where HHT had been clinically confirmed with the general population.

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