Retraction notice to "Influence of hypertonic volume replacement on the microcirculation in cardiac surgery" [Br J Anaesth 67 (1991) 595-602].

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief, Professor Hugh Hemmings, based on the recommendations of Justus-Liebig-University Giessen following an internal review of research conducted by Joachim Boldt at the University. This is further described in 'Further Retractions of Articles by Joachim Boldt', https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2020.02.024.

Machine learning: from radiomics to discovery and routine.

Machine learning is rapidly gaining importance in radiology. It allows for the exploitation of patterns in imaging data and in patient records for a more accurate and precise quantification, diagnosis, and prognosis. Here, we outline the basics of machine learning relevant for radiology, and review the current state of the art, the limitations, and the challenges faced as these techniques become an important building block of precision medicine. Furthermore, we discuss the roles machine learning can play in clinical routine and research and predict how it might change the field of radiology.

Family-based association analyses of imputed genotypes reveal genome-wide significant association of Alzheimer's disease with OSBPL6, PTPRG, and PDCL3.

The genetic basis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is complex and heterogeneous. Over 200 highly penetrant pathogenic variants in the genes APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 cause a subset of early-onset familial AD. On the other hand, susceptibility to late-onset forms of AD (LOAD) is indisputably associated to the ɛ4 allele in the gene APOE, and more recently to variants in more than two-dozen additional genes identified in the large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and meta-analyses reports. Taken together however, although the heritability in AD is estimated to be as high as 80%, a large proportion of the underlying genetic factors still remain to be elucidated. In this study, we performed a systematic family-based genome-wide association and meta-analysis on close to 15 million imputed variants from three large collections of AD families (~3500 subjects from 1070 families). Using a multivariate phenotype combining affection status and onset age, meta-analysis of the association results revealed three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that achieved genome-wide significance for association with AD risk: rs7609954 in the gene PTPRG (P-value=3.98 × 10-8), rs1347297 in the gene OSBPL6 (P-value=4.53 × 10-8), and rs1513625 near PDCL3 (P-value=4.28 × 10-8). In addition, rs72953347 in OSBPL6 (P-value=6.36 × 10-7) and two SNPs in the gene CDKAL1 showed marginally significant association with LOAD (rs10456232, P-value=4.76 × 10-7; rs62400067, P-value=3.54 × 10-7). In summary, family-based GWAS meta-analysis of imputed SNPs revealed novel genomic variants in (or near) PTPRG, OSBPL6, and PDCL3 that influence risk for AD with genome-wide significance.

Covalent functionalization of polyhedral graphitic particles synthesized by arc discharge from graphite.

Carbon materials including carbon nanoparticles, such as nanographite, graphene and graphenic materials, and carbon nanotubes are known to be highly hydrophobic. Oxidation treatments are widely used as the best methods to improve their affinity in a liquid medium or a polymer matrix so that they can be dispersed, handled and processed. Here, we have applied eight different oxidation treatments in order to graft oxygen-containing functional groups at the surface of polyhedral graphitic particles synthesized by arc discharge from graphite, also called astralenes. The used functionalization approaches include both standard chemical attack by strong oxidants and radical functionalization of the sp2 network by direct C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond opening. Commonly efficient functionalization methods were unsuccessful to functionalize astralenes while radicals generated from arylhydrazine could lead to functionalization of the outer surface of astralenes. The occurrence of functionalization could be shown by TGA coupled with MS and XPS. The reported method represents the first example of functionalization of astralenes. The efficiency of the applied functionalization methods is discussed considering the chemical reactivity of different carbon nanomaterials including graphene and carbon nanotubes.

[Community-acquired pneumonia]. / Ambulant erworbene Pneumonien.

CLINICAL ISSUE: The diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is often not possible based only on the clinical symptoms and biochemical parameters. STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS: For every patient with the suspicion of CAP, a chest radiograph in two planes should be carried out. Additionally, a risk stratification for the decision between outpatient therapy or hospitalization is recommended. METHODICAL INNOVATIONS: Based on the evaluation of the different radiological patterns as well as their extent and distribution, a rough allocation to so-called pathogen groups as well as a differentiation between viral and bacterial infections are possible; however, because different pathogens cause different patterns an accurate correlation is not feasible by relying purely on imaging. ACHIEVEMENTS/PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: The radiological findings serve as proof or exclusion of pneumonia and can also be used to evaluate the extent of the disease (e.g. monolobular, multilobular, unilateral or bilateral). In cases of prolonged disease, suspicion of complications (e.g. pleural effusion or empyema, necrotizing pneumonia or abscess) or comorbid conditions (e.g. underlying pulmonary or mediastinal diseases) computed tomography is an important diagnostic tool in addition to chest radiography. Ultrasound is often used to diagnose pleural processes (e.g. parapneumonic effusion or pleural empyema).

Evidence for a polygenic contribution to androgenetic alopecia.

BACKGROUND: Male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia, AGA) is a highly heritable trait and the most common form of hair loss in humans. Eight genome-wide significant risk loci for AGA have been identified. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a polygenic component contributes to the genetic risk for AGA. METHODS: This study used a German case-control sample for AGA, which comprised 581 severely affected patients and 617 controls, to determine the contribution of polygenic variance to AGA risk. The sample was divided evenly into discovery and test samples. An additive polygenic risk score was calculated from risk alleles with increasingly liberal P-values in the discovery dataset, which was then used to test for the enrichment of AGA risk score alleles in the independent test samples. RESULTS: The polygenic score analysis provided significant evidence for a polygenic contribution to AGA where the amount of variance explained was 1·4-4·5%. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for the specific contribution of a polygenic component to the overall heritable risk for AGA. To some degree, the polygenic architecture of AGA might reflect the complexity of the biological pathways involved. Further analyses and strategies that complement conventional genome-wide association studies are needed to identify these factors. These may include pathway-based analyses, the analysis of functional candidate genes and tests for epistatic effects with known loci.

[Imaging in oncology: terms and definitions]. / Onkologische Bildgebung: Begriffe und Definitionen.

Oncologic imaging includes the morphological description of the primary tumor region for an accurate classification of the tumor and lymph node stage and whether distant metastases have occurred according to the TNM staging system. Knowing the stage of the disease helps to plan the treatment and to estimate the prognosis. In clinical routine this is accomplished by conventional imaging techniques, such as ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Additionally, oncologic imaging is essential in treatment monitoring to visualize and quantify the effect of cancer therapy according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) and World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. The tremendous development in oncology and technical innovations in imaging represent a particular challenge for radiology.

Early start of the dangling procedure in lower extremity free flap reconstruction does not affect the clinical outcome.

UNLABELLED: Flap loss due to postoperative flap edema and thrombosis of the anastomosis remains the predominant concern of reconstructive microsurgeons. Due to the lack of scientific evidence, there is no unanimous opinion on when to mobilize a reconstructed lower extremity, reflecting the uncertainty of plastic surgeons regarding the effect of the dangling procedure on flap microcirculation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, we included 31 patients undergoing free flap transfer to the lower extremity.The patients were randomly divided into two groups. Cohort I consisted of 15 patients starting the dangling procedure at day 7, and cohort II consisted of 16 patients in which an early aggressive postoperative dependency started at day 3.Wrapping and dangling of the flap was performed primarily with a duration of 5 minutes three times a day and increased daily by doubling the duration over a period of 4 days, reaching 60 minutes at day 5.Before and immediately after each dangling procedure the flaps were clinically monitored under direct observation for color, capillary refill, venous congestion, flap turgor, and flap temperature. RESULTS: In all cases the postoperative course was uneventful, resulting in a success rate of 100%. No adverse effects or flap compromise were seen due to the combined dangling/wrapping procedure. CONCLUSION: An early and aggressive start of a combined dangling/wrapping procedure does not compromise flap circulation and allows mobilizing patients after free flap transfer to the lower extremity at an early stage. This approach improves patient comfort, shortens the hospital stay, and therefore reduces socioeconomic costs.

Precision measurement of transition matrix elements via light shift cancellation.

We present a method for accurate determination of atomic transition matrix elements at the 10(-3) level. Measurements of the ac Stark (light) shift around "magic-zero" wavelengths, where the light shift vanishes, provide precise constraints on the matrix elements. We make the first measurement of the 5s - 6p matrix elements in rubidium by measuring the light shift around the 421 and 423 nm zeros through diffraction of a condensate off a sequence of standing wave pulses. In conjunction with existing theoretical and experimental data, we find 0.3235(9)ea(0) and 0.5230(8)ea(0) for the 5s - 6p(1/2) and 5s - 6p(3/2) elements, respectively, an order of magnitude more accurate than the best theoretical values. This technique can provide needed, accurate matrix elements for many atoms, including those used in atomic clocks, tests of fundamental symmetries, and quantum information.