Targeted review of mutations in patients with generalised pustular psoriasis.

Background: Generalised pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare and chronic skin disease historically treated with therapies that were originally intended to treat plaque psoriasis (PsO). However, GPP and plaque PsO have distinct pathogeneses and clinical courses.

Objectives: This study aimed to further characterise the unique genetic background of GPP by summarising evidence on the frequency and type of 6RN gene mutation, a gene that normally suppresses proinflammatory responses, in patients with GPP compared to patients with GPP and plaque PsO, and patients with plaque PsO only.

Active transcutaneous bone conduction hearing implants: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: In July 2018 the active transcutaneous bone conduction hearing implant received FDA approval in the US (for patients 12 years and older with conductive and/or mixed hearing loss or single-sided deafness), reflecting the current trend of moving away from percutaneous hearing solutions towards intact skin systems.

Objectives: To critically assess the current literature on safety, efficacy and subjective benefit after implantation with an active transcutaneous bone conduction hearing device.

Data Sources: Literature investigation was performed by electronic database search including PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and manual search of relevant journals and reference lists of included studies.

[Intracranial hemorrhage after sinus venous thrombosis during cochlear implantation : A case report].

Cochlear implantation is a safe surgical procedure with low complication rates. In particular, intracranial complications are rare. We present the case of a patient with difficult anatomical relations, which led to injury of the sigmoid sinus during cochlear implantation.

Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to chronic pancreatitis: a 1-year disease management study on symptom control and quality of life.

Objective: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is frequent in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP). This 1-year, prospective, multicenter, observational, disease management study aimed to assess symptom improvement and quality of life in patients with CP with EPI who were receiving pancreatic enzyme replacement.

Methods: Patients with CP and chronic EPI were either assigned to cohort 1 that consisted of patients already taking pancreatin (Kreon; Abbott Arzneimittel GmbH, Hannover, Germany) or cohort 2 that consisted of patients with newly diagnosed EPI without prior pancreatic enzyme treatment.

Reducing uncertainty in value-based pricing using evidence development agreements: the case of continuous intraduodenal infusion of levodopa/carbidopa (Duodopa®) in Sweden.

Background: Value-based pricing (VBP), whereby prices are set according to the perceived benefits offered to the consumer at a time when costs and benefits are characterized by considerable uncertainty and are then reviewed ex post, is a much discussed topic in pharmaceutical reimbursement. It is usually combined with coverage with evidence development (CED), a tool in which manufacturers are granted temporary reimbursement but are required to collect and submit additional health economic data at review. Many countries, including the UK, are signalling shifts in this direction.

Mesh graft infection following abdominal hernia repair: risk factor evaluation and strategies of mesh graft preservation. A retrospective analysis of 476 operations.

Background: Mesh graft infection after prosthetic hernia repair is a challenging complication usually treated by mesh removal. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with mesh infection and to assess the efficacy of conservative wound therapy in preserving an infected mesh.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 476 consecutive patients with incisional hernia who received mesh graft repair between February 1, 2000 and February 28, 2005 at our institution using chart review and clinical investigation.

Cost-utility analysis of eprosartan compared to enalapril in primary prevention and nitrendipine in secondary prevention in Europe--the HEALTH model.

Objective: To investigate the cost-utility of eprosartan versus enalapril (primary prevention) and versus nitrendipine (secondary prevention) on the basis of head-to-head evidence from randomized controlled trials.

Methods: The HEALTH model (Health Economic Assessment of Life with Teveten for Hypertension) is an object-oriented probabilistic Monte Carlo simulation model. It combines a Framingham-based risk calculation with a systolic blood pressure approach to estimate the relative risk reduction of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events based on recent meta-analyses.

TOS-surgery via a single supraclavicular incision.

Background: We report about our experiences using a single supraclavicular incision at the base of the neck for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) surgery.

Methods: 10 patients aged between 12 and 59 years (mean 31 years) underwent 12 times a TOS procedure. Patients suffered from compression of their brachial plexus with main affection of the ulnar nerve (9 out of 12 cases).

Establishing the health and economic impact of influenza vaccination within the European Union 25 countries.

Background: In 2003, the World Health Assembly (WHA) issued a resolution for prevention and control of influenza pandemics and annual epidemics, which urges the European Union 25 (EU-25) Member States to (1) establish and implement strategies to increase vaccination coverage of all people at high risk, including the elderly and people with underlying disease, with the goal of attaining vaccination coverage of the elderly population of at least 50% by 2006 and 75% by 2010; (2) to assess the disease burden and economic impact of annual influenza epidemics as a basis for framing and implementing influenza prevention policies. This resolution was reinforced by the European Union (EU), where Member States agreed to make additional efforts to improve uptake on their territory in accordance with their own recommendations and to achieve the World Health Organisation (WHO) target of 75% in high risk groups before 2010. It was also noted that the changing demographic profile of the EU population would result in an increasing number of elderly people falling within the current target groups.

Free functional muscle transplantation for facial reanimation: experimental comparison between the one- and two-stage approach.

To investigate functional results of either one- or two-staged free muscle transplantation the scutuloauricularis model in the New Zealand white rabbit was used. Thirty rabbits were allocated to two groups with 15 animals each. In Group 1 (one-stage approach) peroneus brevis (PB) was harvested as a free muscle graft with a 7cm long motor branch.