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Abstract: Objective: Dexamethasone-eluting stents are currently under evaluation to prevent post-angioplasty restenosis. The efficacy and safety of dexamethasone as an anti-restenotic agent is still unclear. We assess the effect of perivascular delivery of dexamethasone on vascular pathology in a mouse model of restenosis. Methods and results: In this study we investigate the ability of both systemic and local dexamethasone treatment to inhibit neointima formation after cuff placement around C57BL/6 mouse femoral artery. As in the clinical situation, systemic dexamethasone treatment shows adverse side effects in animals, including weight loss. In contrast, local delivery of dexamethasone using a drug-eluting polymer cuff inhibits neointima formation and has no systemic adverse effects. Pathobiological examination of the experimental arteries, however, reveals a dose-dependent medial atrophy, a reduction in vascular smooth muscle cells and collagen content, an increase in apoptotic cell count and disruption of the internal elastic lamina. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that although local dexamethasone delivery is effective as an inhibitor for neointima formation, it is dose-dependently associated with adverse vascular morphological changes pointing to a loss of vascular integrity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis in which we compared a preoperative [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT-based one-stop-shop imaging strategy with current best practice in which [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT is only recommended after negative or inconclusive [99mTc]Tc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile SPECT/CT for patients suffering from primary hyperparathyroidism. We investigated whether the one-stop-shop strategy performs as well as current best practice but at lower costs.We developed a cohort-level state transition model to evaluate both imaging strategies respecting an intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitored treatment setting as well as a traditional treatment setting. The model reflects patients’ hospital journeys after biochemically diagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism. A cycle length of twelve months and a lifetime horizon were used. We conducted probabilistic analyses simulating 50,000 cohorts to assess joint parameter uncertainty. The incremental net monetary benefit and cost for each quality-adjusted life year were estimated. Furthermore, threshold analyses regarding the tariff of [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT and the sensitivity of [99mTc]Tc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile SPECT/CT were performed.The simulated long-term health effects and costs were similar for both imaging strategies. Accordingly, there was no incremental net monetary benefit and the one-stop-shop strategy did not result in lower costs. These results applied to both treatment settings. The threshold analysis indicated that a tariff of €885 for [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT was required to be cost-effective compared to current best practice.Both preoperative imaging strategies can be used interchangeably. Daily clinical practice grounds such as available local resources and patient preferences should inform policy-making on whether a hospital should implement the one-stop-shop imaging strategy.Methods: We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis in which we compared a preoperative [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT-based one-stop-shop imaging strategy with current best practice in which [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT is only recommended after negative or inconclusive [99mTc]Tc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile SPECT/CT for patients suffering from primary hyperparathyroidism. We investigated whether the one-stop-shop strategy performs as well as current best practice but at lower costs.We developed a cohort-level state transition model to evaluate both imaging strategies respecting an intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitored treatment setting as well as a traditional treatment setting. The model reflects patients’ hospital journeys after biochemically diagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism. A cycle length of twelve months and a lifetime horizon were used. We conducted probabilistic analyses simulating 50,000 cohorts to assess joint parameter uncertainty. The incremental net monetary benefit and cost for each quality-adjusted life year were estimated. Furthermore, threshold analyses regarding the tariff of [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT and the sensitivity of [99mTc]Tc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile SPECT/CT were performed.The simulated long-term health effects and costs were similar for both imaging strategies. Accordingly, there was no incremental net monetary benefit and the one-stop-shop strategy did not result in lower costs. These results applied to both treatment settings. The threshold analysis indicated that a tariff of €885 for [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT was required to be cost-effective compared to current best practice.Both preoperative imaging strategies can be used interchangeably. Daily clinical practice grounds such as available local resources and patient preferences should inform policy-making on whether a hospital should implement the one-stop-shop imaging strategy.Results: We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis in which we compared a preoperative [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT-based one-stop-shop imaging strategy with current best practice in which [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT is only recommended after negative or inconclusive [99mTc]Tc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile SPECT/CT for patients suffering from primary hyperparathyroidism. We investigated whether the one-stop-shop strategy performs as well as current best practice but at lower costs.We developed a cohort-level state transition model to evaluate both imaging strategies respecting an intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitored treatment setting as well as a traditional treatment setting. The model reflects patients’ hospital journeys after biochemically diagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism. A cycle length of twelve months and a lifetime horizon were used. We conducted probabilistic analyses simulating 50,000 cohorts to assess joint parameter uncertainty. The incremental net monetary benefit and cost for each quality-adjusted life year were estimated. Furthermore, threshold analyses regarding the tariff of [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT and the sensitivity of [99mTc]Tc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile SPECT/CT were performed.The simulated long-term health effects and costs were similar for both imaging strategies. Accordingly, there was no incremental net monetary benefit and the one-stop-shop strategy did not result in lower costs. These results applied to both treatment settings. The threshold analysis indicated that a tariff of €885 for [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT was required to be cost-effective compared to current best practice.Both preoperative imaging strategies can be used interchangeably. Daily clinical practice grounds such as available local resources and patient preferences should inform policy-making on whether a hospital should implement the one-stop-shop imaging strategy.Conclusion: We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis in which we compared a preoperative [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT-based one-stop-shop imaging strategy with current best practice in which [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT is only recommended after negative or inconclusive [99mTc]Tc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile SPECT/CT for patients suffering from primary hyperparathyroidism. We investigated whether the one-stop-shop strategy performs as well as current best practice but at lower costs.We developed a cohort-level state transition model to evaluate both imaging strategies respecting an intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitored treatment setting as well as a traditional treatment setting. The model reflects patients’ hospital journeys after biochemically diagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism. A cycle length of twelve months and a lifetime horizon were used. We conducted probabilistic analyses simulating 50,000 cohorts to assess joint parameter uncertainty. The incremental net monetary benefit and cost for each quality-adjusted life year were estimated. Furthermore, threshold analyses regarding the tariff of [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT and the sensitivity of [99mTc]Tc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile SPECT/CT were performed.The simulated long-term health effects and costs were similar for both imaging strategies. Accordingly, there was no incremental net monetary benefit and the one-stop-shop strategy did not result in lower costs. These results applied to both treatment settings. The threshold analysis indicated that a tariff of €885 for [18F]Fluorocholine PET/CT was required to be cost-effective compared to current best practice.Both preoperative imaging strategies can be used interchangeably. Daily clinical practice grounds such as available local resources and patient preferences should inform policy-making on whether a hospital should implement the one-stop-shop imaging strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary quality control methods are often insufficient in predicting clinical outcomes after revascularization in lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) patients. This study evaluates the potential of near-infrared fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green to predict the clinical outcome following revascularization. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging was performed before and within 5 days following the revascularization procedure. Clinical improvement was defined as substantial improvement of pain free walking distance, reduction of rest- and/or nocturnal pain, or tendency toward wound healing. Time-intensity curves and 8 perfusion parameters were extracted from the dorsum of the treated foot. The quantified postinterventional perfusion improvement was compared within the clinical outcome groups. Successful near-infrared fluorescence imaging was performed in 72 patients (76 limbs, 52.6% claudication, 47.4% chronic limb-threatening ischemia) including 40 endovascular- and 36 surgical/hybrid revascularizations. Clinical improvement was observed in 61 patients. All perfusion parameters showed a significant postinterventional difference in the clinical improvement group (P-values <.001), while no significant differences were seen in the group without clinical improvement (P-values .168–.929). Four parameters demonstrated significant differences in percentage improvement comparing the outcome groups (P-values within .002–.006). Near-infrared fluorescence imaging has promising additional value besides clinical parameters for predicting the clinical outcome of revascularized LEAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Tumor markers often remain elevated after intended curative resection of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The aim of this study was to determine the expression of α v β 3 , a promising theranostics target, in MTC and its metastases. Materials & methods: A v β 3 expression was analyzed in 104 patients using a tissue microarray and correlated with clinicopathological variables and survival. Results: Cytoplasmic α v β 3 positivity was seen in 70 patients and was associated with lymph node metastases at time of initial surgery. Membranous positivity was considered positive in 30 patients and was associated with sporadic MTC. Conclusion: A v β 3 was expressed in the cytoplasm of 67% of MTC patients. Membranous expression, which is presumably most relevant for the theranostic use of α v β 3 , was seen in 29%.

Contemporary quality control methods are often insufficient in predicting clinical outcomes after revascularization in lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) patients. This study evaluates the potential of near-infrared fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green to predict the clinical outcome following revascularization. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging was performed before and within 5 days following the revascularization procedure. Clinical improvement was defined as substantial improvement of pain free walking distance, reduction of rest- and/or nocturnal pain, or tendency toward wound healing. Time-intensity curves and 8 perfusion parameters were extracted from the dorsum of the treated foot. The quantified postinterventional perfusion improvement was compared within the clinical outcome groups. Successful near-infrared fluorescence imaging was performed in 72 patients (76 limbs, 52.6% claudication, 47.4% chronic limb-threatening ischemia) including 40 endovascular- and 36 surgical/hybrid revascularizations. Clinical improvement was observed in 61 patients. All perfusion parameters showed a significant postinterventional difference in the clinical improvement group ( P -values <.001), while no significant differences were seen in the group without clinical improvement ( P -values .168-.929). Four parameters demonstrated significant differences in percentage improvement comparing the outcome groups ( P -values within .002-.006). Near-infrared fluorescence imaging has promising additional value besides clinical parameters for predicting the clinical outcome of revascularized LEAD patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Importance: Hypoparathyroidism is one of the most common complications after total or completion thyroidectomy. The reported incidence rate of hypoparathyroidism in the literature is highly variable. Data that provide a better understanding of the magnitude of this postoperative complication are warranted and can provide a stepping stone for further collaborations that aim to reduce complication rates and establish uniform treatment protocols., Objective: To evaluate the incidence of postoperative, persistent hypoparathyroidism after total or completion thyroidectomy in patients who were referred to university hospital centers and assess the association of different definitions with the incidence of hypoparathyroidism., Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective multicenter cohort study conducted throughout 2016 in 7 Dutch university hospital centers included 200 patients who were undergoing a total or completion thyroidectomy. Data analysis was conducted in January 2021., Main Outcomes and Measures: We report on the incidence of persistent hypoparathyroidism, defined as the need for active vitamin D with or without calcium supplementation longer than 1 year after surgery., Results: A total of 200 patients (143 women [71.5%]; mean [IQR] age, 49.0 [37.0-62.0] years) were included and 30 patients (15.0%) developed persistent hypoparathyroidism. The incidence of persistent hypoparathyroidism varied between 14.5% (calcium and active vitamin D 1 year postsurgery) to 28.5% (calcium and/or active vitamin D 6 months postsurgery) depending on the definition used., Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, the risk of persistent hypoparathyroidism after total or completion thyroidectomy was 15% in patients who were referred to university hospital centers. The high rate of persistent hypoparathyroidism warrants efforts to reduce this complication rate. There is discrepancy in the definition and treatment of persistent hypoparathyroidism, and use of uniform evidence-based treatment guidelines enables comparison of interventions.