Subjective social status and health-related quality of life after critical illness: results from a three-year prospective cohort study.

Subjective Social Status (SSS) reflects one's perceived rank within a given social structure and has been shown to be a unique correlate of physical and mental health. However, no research has been conducted to address populations of (recovering) critically ill patients. To shed light on the relationship between SSS and health in critically ill patients, we focus on survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Potential risk factors for reduced quality of life and increased health care utilization in ARDS survivors: results from the multicenter cohort study DACAPO.

Aim: To analyze the association of individual pre-ICU risk factors (obesity, physical and mental comorbidity, smoking status) on the long-term recovery process in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS; outcomes: health related quality of life, health care utilization; measured at 12, 24, and 36 months after ICU discharge).

Findings: Results show a possible causal link between pre-ICU risk factors and subsequent recovery of survivors of ARDS, especially with regard to mental health related quality of life.

Purpose: Identifying relevant pre-existing risk factors, such as mental health problems, will enable the identification of at-risk patients, thus aiding in the improvement of long-term healthcare for survivors of critical illness.

SARS-CoV2 evokes structural brain changes resulting in declined executive function.

Background: Several research has underlined the multi-system character of COVID-19. Though effects on the Central Nervous System are mainly discussed as disease-specific affections due to the virus' neurotropism, no comprehensive disease model of COVID-19 exists on a neurofunctional base by now. We aimed to investigate neuroplastic grey- and white matter changes related to COVID-19 and to link these changes to neurocognitive testings leading towards a multi-dimensional disease model.

Trajectories of quality of life, return to work, psychopathology, and disability in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): A three-year prospective cohort study (DACAPO).

Purpose: Describe the long-term development of outcomes for survivors of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

Material And Methods: A cohort study with N = 877 ARDS survivors was conducted. Health related quality of life (HRQoL, Physical and Mental Component Scale: PCS, MCS of the SF-12), return to work (RtW), panic disorder, depressive symptoms (PHQD), and post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD, PTSS-14) were assessed at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after discharge from ICU.

Association of analgosedation with psychiatric symptoms and health-related quality of life in ARDS survivors: Post hoc analyses of the DACAPO study.

Background: The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition with the risk of developing hypoxia and thus requires for invasive mechanical ventilation a long-term analgosedation. Yet, prolonged analgosedation may be a reason for declining health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the development of psychiatric disorders.

Methods: We used data from the prospective observational nation‑wide ARDS study across Germany (DACAPO) to investigate the influence of sedation and analgesia on HRQoL and the risk of psychiatric symptoms in ARDS survivors 3, 6 and 12 months after their discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU).

Preoperative Assessment of Language Dominance through Combined Resting-State and Task-Based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Brain lesions in language-related cortical areas remain a challenge in the clinical routine. In recent years, the resting-state fMRI (RS-fMRI) was shown to be a feasible method for preoperative language assessment. The aim of this study was to examine whether language-related resting-state components, which have been obtained using a data-driven independent-component-based identification algorithm, can be supportive in determining language dominance in the left or right hemisphere.

fMRI Retinotopic Mapping in Patients with Brain Tumors and Space-Occupying Brain Lesions in the Area of the Occipital Lobe.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a valuable tool in the clinical routine of neurosurgery when planning surgical interventions and assessing the risk of postoperative functional deficits. Here, we examined how the presence of a brain tumor or lesion in the area of the occipital lobe affects the results of fMRI retinotopic mapping. fMRI data were evaluated on a retrospectively selected sample of 12 patients with occipital brain tumors, 7 patients with brain lesions and 19 control subjects.

A Novel Language Paradigm for Intraoperative Language Mapping: Feasibility and Evaluation.

(1) Background-Mapping language using direct cortical stimulation (DCS) during an awake craniotomy is difficult without using more than one language paradigm that particularly follows the demand of DCS by not exceeding the assessment time of 4 s to prevent intraoperative complications. We designed an intraoperative language paradigm by combining classical picture naming and verb generation, which safely engaged highly relevant language functions. (2) Methods-An evaluation study investigated whether a single trial of the language task could be performed in less than 4 s in 30 healthy subjects and whether the suggested language paradigm sufficiently pictured the cortical language network using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 12 healthy subjects.

Correction to: Automatic identification of atypical clinical fMRI results.

The above article was published online with an incorrect affiliation.

Treatment of posttraumatic syringomyelia: evidence from a systematic review.

Background: Following spinal cord injury (SCI), the routine use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) resulted in an incremental diagnosis of posttraumatic syringomyelia (PTS). However, facing four decades of preferred surgical treatment of PTS, no clear consensus on the recommended treatment exists. We review the literature on PTS regarding therapeutic strategies, outcomes, and complications.

Automatic identification of atypical clinical fMRI results.

Purpose: Functional MRI is not routinely used for neurosurgical planning despite potential important advantages, due to difficulty of determining quality. We introduce a novel method for objective evaluation of fMRI scan quality, based on activation maps. A template matching analysis (TMA) is presented and tested on data from two clinical fMRI protocols, performed by healthy controls in seven clinical centers.

Influence of quality of intensive care on quality of life/return to work in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome: prospective observational patient cohort study (DACAPO).

Background: Significant long-term reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is often observed in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and return to work (RtW) is limited. There is a paucity of data regarding the relationship between the quality of care (QoC) in the intensive care unit (ICU) and both HRQoL and RtW in ARDS survivors. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate associations between indicators of QoC and HRQoL and RtW in a cohort of survivors of ARDS.

Tracheostomy in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome is not related to quality of life, symptoms of psychiatric disorders or return-to-work: the prospective DACAPO cohort study.

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition that often requires prolonged mechanical ventilation. Tracheostomy is a common procedure with some risks, on the other hand with potential advantages over orotracheal intubation in critically ill patients. This study investigated the association of tracheostomy with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), symptoms of psychiatric disorders and return-to-work of ARDS survivors.

The quality of acute intensive care and the incidence of critical events have an impact on health-related quality of life in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome - a nationwide prospective multicenter observational study.

Initial treatment (ventilator settings, rescue therapy, supportive measures), and prevention of critical events improve survival in ARDS patients, but little data exists on its effect on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and return to work (RtW) in survivors. We analyzed the association of the intensity of treatment at ARDS onset and the incidence of critical events on HRQOL and RtW a year after ICU discharge. In a prospective multi-centre cohort study, the intensity of treatment and the incidence of critical events were determined at 61 ICUs in Germany.

Ambulatory and stationary healthcare use in survivors of ARDS during the first year after discharge from ICU: findings from the DACAPO cohort.

Background: For many survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the process from discharge from intensive care unit (ICU) to recovery is long and difficult. However, healthcare use after discharge from ICU has received only little attention by research. This study sets out to investigate the extent of ambulatory and stationary healthcare use among survivors of ARDS in Germany (multicenter DACAPO cohort) and to analyze predictors of stationary healthcare use.

Intra-tumoral treatment with oxygen-ozone in glioblastoma: A systematic literature search and results of a case series.

Despite progress in surgery and radiochemotherapy, the prognosis of glioblastoma (GB) remains poor. GB cells exhibit a preference for hypoxia to maintain their tumor-forming capacity. Treatment strategies utilizing oxygen (O) or ozone (O3) and generating reactive oxygen species induce cell growth inhibition and apoptosis.

Acceptability of a German multicentre healthcare research study: a survey of research personnels' attitudes, experiences and work load.

Objectives: The DACAPO study as a multicentre nationwide observational healthcare research study investigates the influence of quality of care on the quality of life in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptability to the participating research personnels by assessing attitudes, experiences and workload associated with the conduct of the DACAPO study.

Design, Setting And Participants: A prospective anonymous online survey was sent via email account to 169 participants in 65 study centres.

German-wide prospective DACAPO cohort of survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): a cohort profile.

Purpose: While most research focuses on the association between medical characteristics and residual morbidity of survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), little is known about the relation between potentially modifiable intensive care unit (ICU) features and the course of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Accordingly, the DACAPO study was set up to elucidate the influence of quality of intensive care on HRQoL and return to work (RtW) in survivors of ARDS. The continued follow-up of these former ICU patients leads to the establishment of the DACAPO (survivor) cohort.

Quality of inter-hospital transportation in 431 transport survivor patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome referred to specialist centers.

Background: The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition. In special situations, these critically ill patients must be transferred to specialized centers for escalating treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of inter-hospital transport (IHT) of ARDS patients.

Trends in non-help-seeking for mental disorders in Germany between 1997-1999 and 2009-2012: a repeated cross-sectional study.

Purpose: This study sought to examine trends in non-help-seeking for mental disorders among persons with a prevalent mental disorder (12-month prevalence) in Germany between 1997-1999 and 2009-2012.

Methods: We examined data from 1909 persons aged 18-65 years who participated in two independent, repeated cross-sectional surveys (German National Interview and Examination Study 1997-1999, German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults 2009-2012) conducted 12 years apart. Prevalent mental disorders (12-month prevalence) were determined using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, which included information on lifetime help-seeking for mental health problems.

Characteristics and provision of care of patients with the acute respiratory distress syndrome: descriptive findings from the DACAPO cohort baseline and comparison with international findings.

Background: Little is known about the characteristics and real world life circumstances of ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) patient populations. This knowledge is essential for transferring evidence-based therapy into routine healthcare. The aim of this study was to report socio-demographic and clinical characteristics in an unselected population of ARDS patients and to compare these results to findings from other large ARDS cohorts.

Determinants of Quality of Life and Return to Work Following Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in adults is a consequence of lung damage caused by either pulmonary or extrapulmonary disease. Survivors often suffer from an impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mental and physical impairments, and persistent inability to work.

Methods: In this systematic review of the literature, we consider the determinants of HRQoL and return to work (RtW).

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Surviving critical illness is often associated with persistent physical and mental morbidity, which cannot be reduced to late sequelae of the primary underlying diseases. A frequent combination of physical, mental and cognitive deficits is referred to as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). This article illuminates the epidemiology of these impairments and discusses post-intensive care interventions aiming at prevention and recovery.