Compassionate Othering: the construction of refugee patients in medical students' narratives - a qualitative study using story completion.

BACKGROUND: Refugees remain a marginalized population and are exposed to a variety of discriminatory processes, among them Othering which categorizes people as belonging or not-belonging according to certain ascribed characteristics. We explored how the narrative construction of refugee patients by medical students constitutes a form of Othering. METHODS: Using story completion, 124 5th year medical students at the Martin- Luther- University Halle-Wittenberg in October 2019 wrote a fictional story in response to a story stem situated in a medical practice. In a comparative approach, one patient presenting with abdominal pain lacks further characterization (version A) and the other is a refugee (version B). The stories were coded using qualitative content analysis by Mayring with a focus on content and narrative strategies (plot structure and perspective). RESULTS: We identified four themes: characters, medical condition, access to care and provision of substandard care. The stories were predominantly framed with a medical or an interaction-based plot structure and written from a process-oriented perspective. The themes in version B, supported by their use of narrative strategies, were largely contextualized within the patients' history of migration. An empathic depiction of patient B and the students' compassion for the patients facing substandard care were key motifs as well. CONCLUSION: The perception of the version B patients predominantly as refugees establishes their construction as an Other. The students' compassion acts as a representation of societal inequalities and remains an inept response without the tools to counter underlying discriminatory structures. Based on a discourse of deservingness, compassion alone therefore perpetuates Othering and highlights the need for structural competency training in medical school.

An online, two-day educational seminar had no impact on disease-specific knowledge in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multifaceted disease, and its diagnosis triggers substantial anxiety and uncertainty for those affected. Currently, there are no valid data describing the impact of disease-specific patient education on the disease knowledge available. We created a two-day, online educational seminar to provide SSc patients with disease-specific information. The primary objective of the study was to observe the change in the disease-specific knowledge of the patients. A total of 118 patients were randomized into an intervention group and a waiting list control group. The change in knowledge was assessed using a multiple-choice test. The intervention group completed the questionnaire before, directly after, and 3 months after the seminar, while the waiting list control group also took the test 3 months before the seminar to rule out nonspecific learning. The primary outcome measure was the score difference between baseline and 3 months after baseline. The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (protocol code DRKS00024915). The educational seminar resulted in a small, but measurable, increase in knowledge. While the two tests in the waiting list control group prior to the seminar did not show a nonspecific increase in disease knowledge, the intervention led to a numerical increase in knowledge (mean ± sd score difference 0.34 ± 1.31, 95% CI (- 0.23; 0.86), p = 0.26) that did not reach statistical significance. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that being a member of a self-help group (ß = 1.12; p = 0.03) is a positive predictor of a higher disease knowledge. Although highly appreciated by participants, a two-day online seminar may not be the most appropriate format to generate measurable disease-specific knowledge. Self-help group membership was a positive predictor of a higher level of disease-specific knowledge prior to the educational seminar and should be recommended to every affected person.

[Practice and challenges of delegating medical tasks in the interprofessional everyday work of inpatient healthcare in Germany - An exploratory survey]. / Praxis und Herausforderungen der Delegation ärztlicher Tätigkeiten im interprofessionellen Arbeitsalltag der stationären Krankenversorgung in Deutschland: eine explorative Befragung.

BACKGROUND: The delegation of medical tasks (DMT) plays a significant role in the everyday practice of inpatient care but also presents a potential challenge in interprofessional collaboration. Assessing the conditions of DMT in everyday work is crucial to identify areas for optimization. METHODS: In a nationwide exploratory study, physicians, nursing and allied health professionals working for inpatient care facilities were surveyed regarding various aspects of DMT using a standardized online questionnaire. RESULTS: The majority of the 757 participants (64.9% physicians), perceived DMT to be both economically and time-efficient (88.5% agreement) and in the best interest of patients (74%). For 78.7% of the respondents, DMT represents a potential conflict in their daily work, depending on the quality of interprofessional communication. Inadequate staffing was identified as a barrier to a broader implementation of DMT by 83.8% of participants. 63.2% of the participants considered their knowledge of legal aspects related to DMT to be at least good (participants with less than 5 years of professional experience: 52.6%). Physicians primarily acquire relevant knowledge through professional practice (71.3% vs. non-physicians 39.5%). CONCLUSION: Across the different professional groups DMT was considered beneficial and serving the interests of patients. Targeted promotion of safe and cost-effective DMT should be incorporated into medical education. Achieving greater benefits from DMT requires explicit legal frameworks, effective communication within the team and, in particular, adequate staffing among the professional groups responsible for delegated tasks.

Fetoscopic laser coagulation for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: a comparison of flexible 1.0/1.2 mm fetoscopes with curved sheaths of 2.7/3.3 mm2 vs. 2 mm fetoscopic lens technique with sheaths of 6.6/11.3 mm2.

OBJECTIVES: Fetoscopic laser coagulation of placental anastomoses is usually performed for a treatment of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). A common complication of fetoscopic laser coagulation for TTTS is preterm preliminary rupture of fetal membranes (PPROM) aggravating the neonatal outcome significantly. However, use of an flexible 1 mm fetoscope with an curved sheath could reduce iatrogenic damage of the amniotic membrane and improve neonatal outcomes after laser treatment. The aim of this study was to compare neonatal outcomes using this flexible fetoscope with curved sheath vs. use of a standard lens technique. METHODS: Outcomes were retrospective analyzed after use of a standard lens fetoscope of 2 mm (sheath 6.63 mm2 or 11.27 mm2 for anterior placenta) and a flexible fetoscope of 1 mm or 1.2 mm (sheath 2.65 mm2 or 3.34 mm2) in two German centers of fetal surgery, performed during 2006-2019. RESULTS: Neonatal outcome of 247 TTTS patients were analyzed including the rates of double and single fetal survival. The survival of at least one fetus was 97.2 % in the group with the ultrathin technique (n=154) compared to 88.3 % (n=93) in the group with the standard lens fetoscope (p=0.008). Survival of both fetuses was not different between groups (81.0 vs. 75.3 %). The procedure to delivery interval was significantly increased using the ultrathin fetoscope (89.1±35.0 d vs. 71.4±35.4 d, p=0.001) resulting in an increased gestational age at delivery by 11 days on average (231.9±28.1 d vs. 221.1±32.7 d, p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Fetal survival can be significantly increased following TTTS using flexible fetoscope of 1 mm or 1.2 mm (sheath 2.65 mm2 or 3.34 mm2).

Photon Counting Computed Tomography in Rectal Cancer: Associations Between Iodine Concentration, Histopathology and Treatment Response: A Pilot Study.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Common computed tomography (CT) investigation plays a limited role in characterizing and assessing the response of rectal cancer (RC) to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (NARC). Photon counting computed tomography (PCCT) improves the imaging quality and can provide multiparametric spectral image information including iodine concentration (IC). Our purpose was to analyze associations between IC and histopathology in RC and to evaluate the role of IC in response prediction to NARC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 41 patients were included into the study, 14 women and 27 men, mean age, 65.5 years. PCCT in a portal venous phase of the abdomen was performed. In every case, a polygonal region of interest (ROI) was manually drawn on iodine maps. Normalized IC (NIC) was also calculated. Tumor stage, grade, lymphovascular invasion, circumferential resection margin, and tumor markers were analyzed. Tumor regression grade (absence/presence of tumor cells) after NARC was analyzed. NIC values in groups were compared to Mann-Whitney-U tests. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve values were calculated. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated. RESULTS: ICC was 0.93, 95%CI= (0.88; 0.96). Tumors with lymphovascular invasion showed higher NIC values in comparison to those without (p = 0.04). Tumors with response grade 2-4 showed higher pretreatment NIC values in comparison to lesions with response grade 0-1 (p = 0.01). A NIC value of 0.36 and higher can predict response grade 2-4 (sensitivity, 73.9%; specificity, 91.7%; area under the curve, 0.85). CONCLUSION: NIC values showed an excellent interreader agreement in RC. NIC can predict treatment response to NARC.

Treatment of patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) with an electromagnetic field coupled to biorhythmically defined impulse configuration: the MicrocircMODS study.

BACKGROUND: To potentially improve impaired vasomotion of patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), we tested whether an electromagnetic field of low flux density coupled with a biorhythmically defined impulse configuration (Physical Vascular Therapy BEMER®, PVT), in addition to standard care, is safe and feasible and might improve disturbed microcirculatory blood flow and thereby improve global haemodynamics. METHODS: In a prospective, monocentric, one-arm pilot study, 10 MODS patients (APACHE II score 20-35) were included. Patients were treated, in addition to standard care, for 4 days with PVT (3 treatment periods of 8 min each day; day 1: field intensity 10.5 µT; day 2:14 µT, day 3:17.5 µT; day 4:21.0 µT). Primary endpoint was the effect of PVT on sublingual microcirculatory perfusion, documented by microvascular flow index (MFI). Patient safety, adverse events, and outcomes were documented. RESULTS: An increase in MFI by approximately 25% paralleled 4-day PVT, with the increase starting immediately after the first PVT and lasting over the total 4-day treatment period. Concerning global haemodynamics (secondary endpoints), halving vasopressor use within 24 h, and haemodynamic stabilisation paralleled 4-day PVT with an increase in cardiac index, stroke volume index, and cardiac power index by 30%-50%. No adverse events (AEs) or serious adverse events (SAEs) were classified as causally related to the medical product (PVT) or study. Three patients died within 28 days and one patient between 28 and 180 days. CONCLUSION: PVT treatment was feasible and safe and could be performed without obstruction of standard patient care. An increase in microcirculatory blood flow, a rapid reduction in vasopressor use, and an improvement in global haemodynamics paralleled PVT treatment. Findings of this pilot study allowed forming a concept for a randomized trial for further proof.

CT-defined sarcopenia predicts treatment response in primary central nervous system lymphomas.

OBJECTIVE: Body composition assessment derived from cross-sectional imaging has shown promising results as a prognostic biomarker in several tumor entities. Our aim was to analyze the role of low skeletal muscle mass (LSMM) and fat areas for prognosis of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and treatment response in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). METHODS: Overall, 61 patients (29 female patients, 47.5%) with a mean age of 63.8 ± 12.2 years, range 23-81 years, were identified in the data base between 2012 and 2020 with sufficient clinical and imaging data. Body composition assessment, comprising LSMM and visceral and subcutaneous fat areas, was performed on one axial slice on L3-height derived from staging computed tomography (CT) images. DLT was assessed during chemotherapy in clinical routine. Objective response rate (ORR) was measured on following magnetic resonance images of the head accordingly to the Cheson criteria. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients had DLT (45.9%). Regression analysis revealed that LSMM was associated with objective response, OR = 5.19 (95% CI 1.35-19.94, p = 0.02) (univariable regression), and OR = 4.23 (95% CI 1.03- 17.38, p = 0.046) (multivariable regression). None of the body composition parameters could predict DLT. Patients with normal visceral to subcutaneous ratio (VSR) could be treated with more chemotherapy cycles compared to patients with high VSR (mean, 4.25 vs 2.94, p = 0.03). Patients with ORR had higher muscle density values compared to patients with stable and/or progressive disease (34.46 ± vs 28.18 ± HU, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: LSMM is strongly associated with objective response in patients with PCNSL. Body composition parameters cannot predict DLT. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Low skeletal muscle mass on computed tomography (CT) is an independent prognostic factor of poor treatment response in central nervous system lymphoma. Analysis of the skeletal musculature on staging CT should be implemented into the clinical routine in this tumor entity. KEY POINTS: • Low skeletal muscle mass is strongly associated with the objective response rate. • No body composition parameters could predict dose-limiting toxicity.

[Relationship between cardiac output, heart rate and microcirculation in patients with multiorgan dysfunction syndrome]. / Zusammenhang zwischen Herzzeitvolumen, Herzfrequenz und Mikrozirkulation bei Patienten mit Multiorgandysfunktionssyndrom.

BACKGROUND: Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is one of the main causes of death in intensive care units. There is evidence that microcirculation in sepsis and coronary shock is regulated separately from hemodynamics. This study investigates the relationship between heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO) and microcirculation in patients with MODS. METHODS: This is a partial analysis of the "MODIFY study" (Reducing Elevated Heart Rate in Patients With Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome [MODS] by Ivabradine). During the period 05/2010-09/2011, the microcirculation of 46 patients with septic and coronary MODS was measured using the sidestream dark field technique on the day of inclusion and 96 h later. Patients were randomized into a control and ivabradine treatment group. RESULTS: Overall, there is a relevant improvement in microcirculation over time small perfused vessels, SPV [%] on day 0, d0:56.5 ± 34.2/d4:73.2 ± 22.1 (p = 0.03); perfused vessel density, PVDsmall [1/mm2] d0:7.5 ± 5.0/d4:9.8 ± 3.4 (p = 0.04); proportion of perfused vessels, PPVsmall [%] d0:51.6 ± 31.6/d4:66.7 ± 21.8 (p = 0.04); microcirculatory flow index, MFI d0:1.7 ± 1.0/d4:2.2 ± 0.7 (p = 0.05). Administration of ivabradine shows no effect. In patients with coronary MODS, there is a relevant correlation between microcirculatory parameters and cardiac output (SPV [%]: r = 0.98, p = 0.004). Patients with coronary MODS show better microcirculation values at high heart rates (> 100 bpm), while patients with septic MODS show an opposite relationship. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that in critically ill patients, depending on the genesis of the MODS, there are different relationships between HF or CO values, on the one hand, and the parameters of the microcirculation, on the other.

Living Longer or Better-Patient's Choice in Cardiac Surgery Is Gender-Dependent-A Multicenter Study.

In view of the increasing age of cardiac surgery patients, questions arise about the expected postoperative quality of life and the hoped-for prolonged life expectancy. Little is known so far about how these, respectively, are weighted by the patients concerned. This study aims to obtain information on the patients' preferences. Between 2015 and 2017, data were analyzed from 1349 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery at seven heart centers in Germany. Baseline data regarding the patient's situation as well as a questionnaire regarding quality of life versus lifespan were taken preoperatively. Patients were divided by age into four groups: below 60, 60-70, 70-80, and above 80 years. As a result, when asked to decide between quality of life and length of life, about 60% of the male patients opted for quality of life, independent of their age. On the other hand, female patients' preference for quality of life increased significantly with age, from 51% in the group below sixty to 76% in the group above eighty years. This finding suggests that female patients adapt their preferences with age, whereas male patients do not. This should impact further the treatment decisions of elderly patients in cardiac surgery within a shared decision-making process.

Epicardial adipose tissue as a prognostic marker in acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been established as a quantitative imaging biomarker associated with disease severity in coronary heart disease. Our aim was to use this prognostic marker derived from computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for the prediction of mortality and prognosis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. METHODS: The clinical database was retrospectively screened for patients with acute pulmonary embolism between 2015 and 2021. Overall, 513 patients (216 female, 42.1%) were included in the analysis. The study end-point was 30-day mortality. Epicardial adipose tissue was measured on the diagnostic CTPA in a semiquantitative manner. The volume and density of EAT were measured for every patient. RESULTS: Overall, 60 patients (10.4%) died within the 30-day observation period. The mean EAT volume was 128.3 ± 65.0 cm3 in survivors and 154.6 ± 84.5 cm3 in nonsurvivors (p = 0.02). The density of EAT was -79.4 ± 8.3 HU in survivors and -76.0 ± 8.4 HU in nonsurvivors (p = 0.86), and EAT density was associated with 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03; 1.1, p < 0.001) but did not remain statistically significant in multivariable analysis. No association was identified between EAT volume and 30-day mortality (OR = 1.0; 95% CI: 1.0; 1.0, p = 0.48). CONCLUSION: There might be an association between EAT density and mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Further studies are needed to elucidate the prognostic relevance of EAT parameters in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Validation of clinical-radiological scores for prognosis of mortality in acute pulmonary embolism.

INTRODUCTION: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a hazardous disorder with a high mortality. Combination of clinical, radiological, and serological parameters can improve risk stratification of APE. Most of the proposed combined scores were not validated in independent cohorts. Our aim was to validate the proposed clinical-radiological scores for prognosis of 7- and 30-day mortality in APE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our sample comprised 531 patients with APE, mean age 64.8 ± 15.6 years, 221 (41.6%) females and 310 (58.4%) males. The following parameters were collected: Age and sex of the patients, mortality within the observation time of 30 days, simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI), pH troponin level (pg/ml), minimal systolic and diastolic blood pressures (mmHg), heart rate, O2 saturation, episodes of syncope, and need for vasopressors. On CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA), short axis ratio right ventricle/left ventricle (RV/LV), and reflux of contrast medium into the inferior vena cava were obtained. The following clinical-radiological scores were calculated: BOVA score, pulmonary embolism mortality score (PEMS), European Society of Cardiology (ESC) score, Kumamaru score, and Calgary acute pulmonary embolism (CAPE) score. RESULTS: Overall, 31 patients (5.8%) died within seven and 64 patients (12%) within 30 days. All scores showed high negative prognostic values ranging from 89.0 to 99.0%. PEMS and CAPE score demonstrated the highest specificity for 7-day mortality (93.4% and 85.0%), PEMS and BOVA for 30-day mortality (94.2% and 90.4%). The highest sensitivity was observed for ESC 2019 (96.8% and 95.3%). Kumamaru and CAPE scores had low sensitivity. All scores had low positive and high negative predictive values. CONCLUSION: For prognosis of 7- and 30-day mortality in APE, PEMS score has the highest specificity. ESC 2019 shows the highest sensitivity. All scores had low positive and high negative predictive values.

How hazardous are hazard ratios? An empirical investigation of individual patient data from 27 large randomized clinical trials.

The use of hazard ratios as the standard treatment effect estimators for randomized trials with time-to-event outcomes has been the subject of repeated criticisms in recent years, e.g., for its non-collapsibility or with respect to (causal) interpretation. Another important issue is the built-in selection bias, which arises when the treatment is effective and when there are unobserved or not included prognostic factors that influence time-to-event. In these cases, the hazard ratio has even been termed "hazardous" because it is estimated from groups that increasingly differ in their (unobserved or omitted) baseline characteristics, yielding biased treatment estimates. We therefore adapt the Landmarking approach to assess the effect of ignoring a gradually increasing proportion of early events on the estimated hazard ratio. We propose an extension called "Dynamic Landmarking". This approach is based on successive deletion of observations, refitting Cox models and balance checking of omitted but observed prognostic factors, to obtain a visualization that can indicate built-in selection bias. In a small proof-of-concept simulation, we show that our approach is valid under the given assumptions. We further use "Dynamic Landmarking" to assess the suspected selection bias in the individual patient data sets of 27 large randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Surprisingly, we find no empirical evidence of selection bias in these RCTs and thus conclude that the supposed bias of the hazard ratio is of little practical relevance in most cases. This is mainly due to treatment effects in RCTs being small and the patient populations being homogeneous, e.g., due to inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Increasing social disparities in obesity among 15 000 pre-schoolers in a German district from 2009 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Although childhood obesity prevalence has stagnated in many high-income regions after decades of increase, it continues to be a major public health problem with adverse effects. The objective was to examine obesity trends as a function of parental social status to identify obesity disparities among children. METHODS: Data from school entry examinations from 2009 to 2019 of 14 952 pre-schoolers in one German district were used. Logistic regression models (obesity/overweight as dependent variable) and a linear regression [BMI z-score (BMIz) as dependent variable] were performed adjusted for social status and sex to investigate time trends in overweight and obesity. RESULTS: Overall, we found an increase of obesity over time [odds ratio (ORs): 1.03 per year, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06]. Children with low social status had an OR of 1.08 per year (95% CI: 1.03-1.13), while the trend was less expressed in children with high social status (OR: 1.03 per year, 95% CI: 0.98-1.08). The mean BMIz decreased per year (regression coefficient -0.005 per year, 95% CI: -0.01 to 0.0) when considering all children. This decrease was more pronounced in children with high social status (regression coefficient: -0.011 per year, 95% CI: -0.019 to -0.004), compared with a slight increase of 0.014 (95% CI: -0.003 to 0.03) per year among children with low social status. Also, children with low parental social status were heavier and smaller than their peers with high social status. CONCLUSIONS: Although the mean BMIz decreased among pre-schoolers, obesity prevalence and status-related inequity in obesity prevalence increased from 2009 to 2019 in the region studied.

Clinical importance of thoracal lymphadenopathy in COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Thoracal lymphadenopathy may predict prognosis in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), albeit the reported data is inconclusive. The aim of the present analysis was to analyze the affected lymph node stations and the cumulative lymph node size derived from computed tomography (CT) for prediction of 30-day mortality in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: The clinical database was retrospectively screened for patients with COVID-19 between 2020 and 2022. Overall, 177 patients (63 female, 35.6%) were included into the analysis. Thoracal lymphadenopathy was defined by short axis diameter above 10 mm. Cumulative lymph node size of the largest lymph nodes was calculated and the amount of affected lymph node stations was quantified. RESULTS: Overall, 53 patients (29.9%) died within the 30-day observation period. 108 patients (61.0%) were admitted to the ICU and 91 patients needed to be intubated (51.4%). Overall, there were 130 patients with lymphadenopathy (73.4%). The mean number of affected lymph node levels were higher in non-survivors compared to survivors (mean, 4.0 vs 2.2, p < 0.001). The cumulative size was also higher in non-survivors compared to survivors (mean 55.9 mm versus 44.1 mm, p = 0.006). Presence of lymphadenopathy was associated with 30-day mortality in a multivariable analysis, OR = 2.99 (95% CI 1.20 - 7.43), p = 0.02. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracal lymphadenopathy comprising cumulative size and affected levels derived from CT images is associated with 30-day mortality in patients with COVID-19. COVID-19 patients presenting with thoracic lymphadenopathy should be considered as a risk group.

Apparent diffusion coefficient correlates with different histopathological features in several intrahepatic tumors.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate associations between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and cell count, Ki 67, tumor-stroma ratio (TSR), and tumoral lymphocytes in different hepatic malignancies. METHODS: We identified 149 cases with performed liver biopsies: hepatocellular cancer (HCC, n = 53), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCC, n = 29), metastases of colorectal cancer (CRC, n = 24), metastases of breast cancer (BC, n = 28), and metastases of pancreatic cancer (PC, n = 15). MRI was performed on a 1.5-T scanner with an axial echo-planar sequence. MRI was done before biopsy. Biopsy images of target lesions were selected. The cylindrical region of interest was placed on the ADC map of target lesions in accordance with the needle position on the biopsy images. Mean ADC values were estimated. TSR, cell counts, proliferation index Ki 67, and number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were estimated. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated. RESULTS: Inter-reader agreement was excellent regarding the ADC measurements. In HCC, ADC correlated with cell count (r = - 0.68, p < 0.001) and with TSR (r = 0.31, p = 0.024). In iCC, ADC correlated with TSR (r = 0.60, p < 0.001) and with cell count (r = - 0.54, p = 0.002). In CRC metastases, ADC correlated with cell count (r = - 0.54 p = 0.006) and with Ki 67 (r = - 0.46, p = 0.024). In BC liver metastases, ADC correlated with TSR (r = 0.55, p < 0.002) and with Ki 67 (r = - 0.51, p = 0.006). In PC metastases, no significant correlations were found. CONCLUSIONS: ADC correlated with tumor cellularity in HCC, iCC, and CRC liver metastases. ADC reflects TSR in BC liver metastases, HCC, and iCC. ADC cannot reflect intratumoral lymphocytes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The present study shows that the apparent diffusion coefficient can be used as a surrogate imaging marker for different histopathological features in several malignant hepatic lesions. KEY POINTS: • ADC reflects different histopathological features in several hepatic tumors. • ADC correlates with tumor cellularity in HCC, iCC, and CRC metastases. • ADC strongly correlates with tumor-stroma ratio in BC metastases and iCC.

Reduction of nanoparticles in optical thin films through ion etching.

Contaminating particles in optical thin films can lead to the formation of nodules and reduction of laser induced damage threshold (LIDT). This work investigates the suitability of ion etching of the substrates to reduce the impact of nanoparticles. Initial investigations suggest that ion etching can remove nanoparticles from the sample surface; however, doing so introduces texturing to the surface of the substrate. This texturing leads to an increase in optical scattering loss, though LIDT measurements show no significant reduction in the durability of the substrate.

Substrate-free miniaturized thin-film filters for single-element coarse wavelength division multiplexing fibers.

We have created high-precision, miniaturized, substrate-free filters, based on ion beam sputtering on a sacrificial substrate. The sacrificial layer is cost efficient and environmentally friendly and can be dissolved using only water. We demonstrate an improved performance compared to filters on thin polymer layers from the same coating run. With these filters, a single-element coarse wavelength division multiplexing transmitting device for telecommunication applications can be realized by inserting the filter between fiber ends.