The master male sex determinant Gdf6Y of the turquoise killifish arose through allelic neofunctionalization.

Although sex determination is a fundamental process in vertebrate development, it is very plastic. Diverse genes became major sex determinants in teleost fishes. Deciphering how individual sex-determining genes orchestrate sex determination can reveal new actors in sexual development.

Robotic Assisted Ultrasound-Guided Endovascular Stent Implantation in a Vascular Model.

Background: Endovascular procedures are the preferred method for treating peripheral arterial disease. However, limited imaging options during these procedures, such as X-rays and contrast media, expose patients and healthcare professionals to potentially harmful radiation. This study introduces a robotic ultrasound system (RUSS) for navigating endovascular procedures in order to reduce radiation and provide additional information.

Targeting the MYC interaction network in B-cell lymphoma via histone deacetylase 6 inhibition.

Overexpression of MYC is a genuine cancer driver in lymphomas and related to poor prognosis. However, therapeutic targeting of the transcription factor MYC remains challenging. Here, we show that inhibition of the histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) using the HDAC6 inhibitor Marbostat-100 (M-100) reduces oncogenic MYC levels and prevents lymphomagenesis in a mouse model of MYC-induced aggressive B-cell lymphoma.

A single application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) improves blood flow parameters in chronic wounds.

Objective: To find out whether application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) affects microcirculation in chronic wounds.

Methods: We treated 20 patients with chronic wounds on the lower extremity with CAP. Blood flow parameters of wounds were assessed with combined Laser-Doppler-Flowmetry and spectrophotometry in tissue depth of 2 and 6-8 mm.

Radiation-Free Thoracic Endovascular Aneurysm Repair with Fiberoptic and Electromagnetic Guidance: A Phantom Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a radiation-free implantation of a thoracic aortic stent graft employing fiberoptic and electromagnetic tracking in an anthropomorphic phantom.

Materials And Methods: An anthropomorphic phantom was manufactured based on computed tomography (CT) angiography data from a patient. An aortic stent graft application system was equipped with a fiber Bragg gratings and 3 electromagnetic sensors.

The repetitive application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) improves microcirculation parameters in chronic wounds.

Background: Chronic wounds, such as venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure ulcers, impose a significant burden on patients and health care systems worldwide. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) accelerates wound healing and decreases bacterial load in chronic wounds in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. For the first time, we examined the effects of a repetitive application of CAP on the microcirculation in chronic wounds.

Confocal laser microscopy without fluorescent dye in minimal-invasive thoracic surgery: an pilot study in lung cancer.

Cancer will be the leading cause of death in a few decades. In line with minimal invasive lung cancer surgery, surgeons loose most of their tactile tissue information and need an additional tool of intraoperative tissue navigation during surgery. Confocal laser microscopy is a well-established method of tissue investigation.

Accuracy evaluation of patient-specific 3D-printed aortic anatomy.

Introduction: 3D printing has a wide range of applications in medicine. In surgery, this technique can be used for preoperative planning of complex procedures, production of patient specific implants, as well as training. However, accuracy evaluations of 3D vascular models are rare.

Clinical outcome of short-term compression after sclerotherapy for telangiectatic varicose veins.

Background: Sclerotherapy is considered to be the method of choice for the treatment of telangiectatic varicose veins (C1 veins). Whereas the use of compression stockings after sclerotherapy is recommended, little is known about the impact of compression on the outcome of sclerotherapy. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of compression on the outcome of injection sclerotherapy of C1 varicose veins.

Three-dimensional guidance including shape sensing of a stentgraft system for endovascular aneurysm repair.

Purpose: During endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedures, medical instruments are guided with two-dimensional (2D) fluoroscopy and conventional digital subtraction angiography. However, this requires X-ray exposure and contrast agent is used, and the depth information is missing. To overcome these drawbacks, a three-dimensional (3D) guidance approach based on tracking systems is introduced and evaluated.

Feasibility of an endovascular training and research environment with exchangeable patient specific 3D printed vascular anatomy: Simulator with exchangeable patient-specific 3D-printed vascular anatomy for endovascular training and research.

Purpose: Endovascular interventions have become standard procedures for the therapy of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Therefore, endovascular surgeons need special skills which have to be learned and trained. Additionally, authentic simulators are needed for further development of new endovascular devices and procedures.

Navigation and visualisation with HoloLens in endovascular aortic repair.

Introduction: Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) is a minimal-invasive technique that prevents life-threatening rupture in patients with aortic pathologies by implantation of an endoluminal stent graft. During the endovascular procedure, device navigation is currently performed by fluoroscopy in combination with digital subtraction angiography. This study presents the current iterative process of biomedical engineering within the disruptive interdisciplinary project , which includes advanced navigation, image techniques and augmented reality with the aim of reducing side effects (namely radiation exposure and contrast agent administration) and optimising visualisation during EVAR procedures.

[Laparoscopic Treatment of Splenic Artery Aneurysm].

Objective: Visceral artery aneurysms are a rare but dangerous vascular pathology. The branches of the coeliac trunc are most frequently affected, especially the splenic artery. A visceral aneurysm is usually diagnosed only when a bleeding complication occurs due to rupture.

[Modern treatment of varicose veins].

Varicosis of the lower limb is a common disease that can lead to edema, trophic disturbances and skin ulcerations. In addition to the classic surgical procedure of crossectomy with stripping of the saphenous vein, a growing number of minimally invasive endoluminal treatment methods has been established over the past 15 years, offering a colorful array of procedures to the modern phlebologist. It is important to choose the optimal treatment option for each individual patient.

Special Section Guest Editorial: Translational Biophotonics.

This guest editorial introduces the special section on Translational Biophotonics.

Confocal laser microscopy as novel approach for real-time and in-vivo tissue examination during minimal-invasive surgery in colon cancer.

Background: Histological analysis of surgical specimen is the gold standard for cancer classification. In particular, frozen histological diagnosis of vague peritoneal spots or uncertain excision of tumors plays a crucial role in the decision to proceed with or abandon an operation. Confocal laser microscopy (CLM) enables in-vivo and real-time high-resolution tissue analysis.

Analysis of laparoscopic laser liver resection in standardized porcine model.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a highly prevalent and lethal primary neoplasia of the liver and metastases of other malignancies affect most frequently the liver. Minimally invasive surgical approach for liver resections is advancing. Dissection of liver parenchyma by laparoscopic technique remains challenging and new technologies are in need.

Towards X-ray free endovascular interventions - using HoloLens for on-line holographic visualisation.

A major challenge during endovascular interventions is visualising the position and orientation of the catheter being inserted. This is typically achieved by intermittent X-ray imaging. Since the radiation exposure to the surgeon is considerable, it is desirable to reduce X-ray exposure to the bare minimum needed.

Initial experience with the E-ventus® stent-graft for endovascular treatment of visceral artery aneurysms.

Background: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel balloon-expandable stent-graft for endovascular treatment of visceral artery aneurysms (VAA).

Methods: Between 9/2014 and 1/2017 seven patients (69±15 years) with true (N.=4) and false (N.

Laparoscopic Confocal Laser Microscopy Without Fluorescent Injection: A Pilot Ex Vivo Study in Colon Cancer.

Introduction Histological analysis of surgical specimen is the gold standard for cancer classification. In particular, frozen histological diagnosis of vague peritoneal spots or uncertain excision of tumors plays a crucial role for proceeding with or without change of the operation procedure. Confocal laser microscopy (CLM) enables in vivo and real-time high-resolution tissue analysis.

Survival of diabetes patients with major amputation is comparable to malignant disease.

Introduction: Almost all studies on diabetic foot syndrome focused on prevention of amputation and did not investigate long-term prognosis and survival of patients as a primary outcome parameter.

Methods: We did a retrospective cohort study including 314 patients who had diabetic foot syndrome and underwent amputation between December 1995 and January 2001.

Results: A total of 48% of patients received minor amputation (group I), 15% only major amputation (group II) and 36% initially underwent a minor amputation that was followed by a major amputation (group III).

The "buddy balloon technique" facilitates retrograde ipsilateral access to postdilate an iliac side branch after endovascular aneurysm repair.

If unilateral common iliac aneurysms occur simultaneously with abdominal aortic aneurysm, endovascular treatment consists of implantation of a bifurcated stent graft with extension into the external iliac artery while the ipsilateral internal iliac artery is often occluded. The internal iliac artery may be preserved by an iliac branch device (IBD). In this technical note, we describe a technique to probe the side branch of an IBD for postdilation through an ipsilateral retrograde access using one balloon to block the way upstream while directing a second percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon into the side branch despite the hostile angle of side branch and IBD.

Prospective Analysis of More than 1,000 Patients with Rectal Carcinoma: Are There Gender-Related Differences?

Background: Since the beginning of the new millennium gender medicine has become more and more relevant. The goal has been to unveil differences in presentation, treatment response, and prognosis of men and women with regard to various diseases.

Methods: This study encompassed 1,061 patients who underwent surgery for rectal cancer at the Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, Germany, between January 1990 and December 2011.

Ultrasound-based tumor movement compensation during navigated laparoscopic liver interventions.

Background: Image-guided navigation aims to provide better orientation and accuracy in laparoscopic interventions. However, the ability of the navigation system to reflect anatomical changes and maintain high accuracy during the procedure is crucial. This is particularly challenging in soft organs such as the liver, where surgical manipulation causes significant tumor movements.

Aneuploidy and elevated CEA indicate an increased risk for metachronous metastasis in colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Presently, no markers exist to predict metachronous metastasis at the time a primary colorectal cancer is diagnosed. While aneuploidy indicates poor survival prognosis and elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels the presence of recurrent disease, the predictive value of both markers regarding imminent metachronous metastases is unclear.

Methods: Sixty patients with distant recurrence throughout a 5-year follow-up (TM+) were randomly chosen and 60 patients without metastasis matched to this cohort (TM-).