Long-Term Outcome of Self Expandable Metal Stents for Biliary Obstruction in Chronic Pancreatitis

Context Insertion of a self-expandable metal stent is still controversial for treatment of benign common bile duct stenosis but can be a valuable alternative to surgical treatment. Objective Aim of our study was to analyze the efficacy of covered and uncovered self-expandable metal stent in patients with chronic pancreatitis and common bile duct stenosis. Material and methods Twenty patients with common bile duct stenosis due to alcoholic chronic pancreatitis were retrospective analyzed. All patients had advanced chronic pancreatitis, presenting with calcifications in pancreatic head. Uncovered self-expandable metal stent (uSEMS) were used in 11 patients (3 females, 8 males) while in 9 patients (3 females, 6 males) partially covered self-expandable metal stent (cSEMS) were inserted. All patients treated with self-expandable metal stent had contraindications for surgery. Results Overall mean follow up time was 155 weeks: 206 (52-412) weeks in uSEMS, and 93 (25-233) weeks in cSEMS, respectively. Stent patency was in mean 118 weeks: 159 (44-412) weeks in uSEMS and 67 (25-150) weeks in cSEMS (P=0.019). In the uSEMS group, reintervention was necessary in 5 patients (45%) due to stent obstruction, whereas in the cSEMS group 4 patients (44%) needed reintervention (2 obstructions, 2 migration). Stent migration is an early complication, compared to obstruction (P<0.05), and in cSEMS obstruction occurred significantly earlier compared to uSEMS (P<0.05). Conclusion Patency of uSEMS was significantly longer compared to partially cSEMS. Available self-expandable metal stent, unfortunately, do not meet the demands on successful treatment of benign common bile duct stenosis.Image: Kaplan-Meier-plot of estimated stent patency

DESIGN STUDIES AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ASSESSMENT OF AGILE AND HIGHLY SWEPT FLYING WING CONFIGURATIONS

This article belongs to a series of publications on the design and assessment of the MULDICON UCAV configuration. MULDICON is a 53deg swept flying wing combat aircraft concept, investigated in a common effort between the DLR research project Mephisto and the NATO STO Research Task Group AVT-251. This article focuses on the development of the overall concept starting from its predecessor, the SACCON configuration, and the requirements which had been defined for the MULDICON design task. A second focus is placed on the investigation of the vortex dominated flow topology arising around such a configuration and its sensitivity to specific geometric changes. Furthermore, the article briefly introduces the DLR conceptual aircraft design system and the extensions which have been developed for improving its capabilities for UCAV assessment. Finally, an industrial view on the MULDICON design task is provided, as well as a conclusion of the Mephisto results and an outlook upon further work

Design studies and multi-disciplinary assessment of agile and highly swept flying wing configurations

This article belongs to a series of publications on the design and assessment of the MULDICON UCAV configuration. MULDICON is a 53° swept flying wing combat aircraft concept, investigated in a common effort between the DLR research project Mephisto and the NATO STO Research Task Group AVT-251. This article focuses on the development of the overall concept starting from its predecessor, the SACCON configuration, and the requirements which had been defined for the MULDICON design task. A second focus is placed on the investigation of the vortex-dominated flow topology arising around such a configuration and its sensitivity to specific geometric changes. Furthermore, the article briefly introduces the DLR conceptual aircraft design system and the extensions which have been developed for improving its capabilities for UCAV assessment. Finally, an industrial view on the MULDICON design task is provided, as well as a conclusion of the Mephisto results and an outlook upon further work

2. Panel (29.09.2020): Die Tenure-Track-Professur als Katalysator im deutschen Wissenschaftssystem

Moderation: Dr. Angela Borgwardt Impulsvortrag: Die Tenure Track-Professur als Innovationstreiber der Strategieentwicklung. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Hans-Jochen Schiewer (Universität Freiburg i. Br.) Impulsvortrag: Tenure Track als Bewährungsprobe für Universitäten. Prof. Dr. Dorothea Wagner (Wissenschaftsrat) Podiumsdiskussion: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Hans-Jochen Schiewer (Universität Freiburg i. Br.), Dr. Georg Schütte (Volkswagen-Stiftung), Prof. Dr. Dorothea Wagner (Wissenschaftsrat), Prof. Dr. Birgitta Wolff (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz