Undergraduate education in palliative medicine in Germany: a longitudinal perspective on curricular and infrastructural development.

Background: In 2009, palliative medicine became an integrated and compulsory part of undergraduate training in Germany by legislation. After a transitional period, all medical faculties were required to provide adequate teaching with an according examination and certification procedure. In parallel, we conducted bi-annual surveys on all medical faculties in Germany to examine for potential discrepancies between the implementation process and their intended consequences on teaching time and content.

Impact of postoperative complications on long-term survival after resection for rectal cancer.

Background: The relevance of type and severity of postoperative complications after curative resection for rectal cancer on survival and recurrence rates is a matter of controversy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of postoperative complications on long-term outcome after resection for rectal cancer.

Design: This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Palliative Care teaching in Germany - concepts and future developments.

Background: Following recent modifications of the Medical Licensure Act (ÄApprO) in the year 2009, palliative care was introduced as a compulsory 13(th) cross-disciplinary subject (Q13) in the undergraduate curriculum. Its implementation must have taken place before the beginning of the final year ('practical year') in August 2013 and has to be substantiated for the medical exams taking place in October 2014. Very diverse structures pertaining to palliative care teaching were described in previous surveys at various medical faculties in Germany.

Age determines vascular reactivity as measured by optical rhinometry.

Background: Endonasal blood volume depends on autonomous nervous system activation and ultimately vascular reactivity. It can be measured by optical rhinometry, a simple- to-use, subject-compliance independent method. We investigated endonasal perfusion following postural change to determine predictors of vascular response.