Organ Dysfunction in Children With Blood Culture-Proven Sepsis: Comparative Performance of Four Scores in a National Cohort Study.

Objectives: Previous studies applying Sepsis-3 criteria to children were based on retrospective analyses of PICU cohorts. We aimed to compare organ dysfunction criteria in children with blood culture-proven sepsis, including emergency department, PICU, and ward patients, and to assess relevance of organ dysfunctions for mortality prediction.

Design: We have carried out a nonprespecified, secondary analysis of a prospective dataset collected from September 2011 to December 2015.

Ocrelizumab-treated patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis show volume loss rates similar to healthy aging.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by two major and interconnected hallmarks: inflammation and progressive neurodegeneration.

Objective: The aim of this work was to compare neurodegenerative processes, in the form of global and regional brain volume loss rates, in healthy controls (HCs) and in patients with relapsing MS (RMS) treated with ocrelizumab, which suppresses acute inflammation.

Methods: Whole brain, white matter, cortical gray matter, thalamic, and cerebellar volume loss rates were assessed in 44 HCs that were part of a substudy in the OPERA II randomized controlled trial (NCT01412333) and 59 patients with RMS enrolled in the same substudy as well as age- and sex-matched patients in OPERA I (NCT01247324) and II.

Key Factors in Decision Making for ECLS: A Binational Factorial Survey.

Background: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) provides support to patients with cardiopulmonary failure refractory to conventional therapy. While ECLS is potentially life-saving, it is associated with severe complications; decision making to initiate ECLS must, therefore, carefully consider which patients ECLS potentially benefits despite its consequences.

Objective: To answer 2 questions: First, which medically relevant patient factors influence decisions to initiate ECLS? Second, what are factors relevant to decisions to withdraw a running ECLS treatment?

Methods: We conducted a factorial survey among 420 physicians from 111 hospitals in Switzerland and Germany.

NRS-2002 components, nutritional score and severity of disease score, and their association with hospital length of stay and mortality.

Background: Malnutrition is a substantial issue in hospitals, leading to prolonged length of hospital stay, increased perioperative morbidity and increased mortality. There are several validated screening tools for malnutrition, one of which is the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS). It screens patients based on recent weight loss, reduction of recent food intake, body mass index (BMI), severity of disease and age.

Transcatheter Atrial Septal Defect Closure in Children with and without Fluoroscopy: A Comparison.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare feasibility, effectiveness, safety, and outcome of atrial septal defect (ASD) device closure in children with and without fluoroscopy guidance.

Methods And Results: Children undergoing transcatheter ASD closure between 2002 and 2016 were included into this single center, retrospective study. Patients were analysed in two groups [1: intraprocedural fluoroscopy ± transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) guidance; 2: TOE guidance alone].

Physical activity and screen time in children who survived cancer: A report from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

Background: Physical activity (PA) can reduce the risk of chronic adverse health conditions in childhood cancer survivors. We examined PA and sedentary screen time behavior in a nationwide study in Switzerland.

Procedures: The Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study sent questionnaires to parents of all Swiss resident ≥5-year survivors diagnosed between 1995 and 2010.

The Spinal Transcriptome after Cortical Stroke: In Search of Molecular Factors Regulating Spontaneous Recovery in the Spinal Cord.

In response to cortical stroke and unilateral corticospinal tract degeneration, compensatory sprouting of spared corticospinal fibers is associated with recovery of skilled movement in rodents. To date, little is known about the molecular mechanisms orchestrating this spontaneous rewiring. In this study, we provide insights into the molecular changes in the spinal cord tissue after large ischemic cortical injury in adult female mice, with a focus on factors that might influence the reinnervation process by contralesional corticospinal neurons.

Safety and immunogenicity of tetanus/diphtheria vaccination in patients with rheumatic diseases-a prospective multi-centre cohort study.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of a diphtheria/tetanus vaccine booster dose in three different patient groups with rheumatic diseases on a variety of immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory medications compared with healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: We conducted a multi-centre prospective cohort study in Switzerland. We enrolled patients with RA, axial SpA/PsA, vasculitis (Behçet's disease, ANCA-associated vasculitis) and HCs.

Safety and efficacy of balloon angioplasty in symptomatic intracranial stenosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Purpose: Endovascular treatment is offered for symptomatic intracranial stenosis (ICS) when medical therapy fails. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the risks and effectiveness of balloon angioplasty (BA) alone.

Materials And Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of all available articles on BA for symptomatic ICS was conducted.

Disturbed sphingolipid metabolism with elevated 1-deoxysphingolipids in glycogen storage disease type I - A link to metabolic control.

Background: 1-Deoxysphingolipids (1-deoxySLs) are atypical sphingolipids. They are formed during sphingolipid de novo synthesis by the enzyme serine palmitoyltransferase, due to the alternate use of alanine over its canonical substrate serine. Pathologically elevated 1-deoxySL are involved in several neurological and metabolic disorders.

Outer Retinal Dysfunction in the Absence of Structural Abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis.

Purpose: Recent evidence suggests structural changes distal to the inner retina in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The functional correlates of these proposed structural abnormalities remain unclear. We investigated outer retinal function and structure in MS patients, and quantified to what extent outer retinal structure influenced function in these patients.

Outer Retinal Dysfunction in the Absence of Structural Abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis.

Purpose: Recent evidence suggests structural changes distal to the inner retina in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The functional correlates of these proposed structural abnormalities remain unclear. We investigated outer retinal function and structure in MS patients, and quantified to what extent outer retinal structure influenced function in these patients.

Pericardial effusion unrelated to surgery is a predictor of mortality in heart transplant patients.

Background: Hemodynamically irrelevant pericardial effusion (PeEf) is a predictor of adverse outcome in heart failure patients. The clinical relevance of a PeEf unrelated to surgery in heart transplant patients remains unknown. This study assesses the prognostic value of PeEf occurring later than 1 year after transplantation.

Erratum to: Evaluation of a multiprofessional, nonsurgical obesity treatment program: which parameters indicated life style changes and weight loss?

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40337-017-0144-4.].

Evaluation of a multiprofessional, nonsurgical obesity treatment program: which parameters indicated life style changes and weight loss?

Background: According to the current evidence, behavior modifications are an effective part of a non-surgical multiprofessional obesity treatment program (MOTP). The purpose of the present study was to report changes in weight as well in psychological variables during a one year MOTP. We aimed to identify the associations of emotional state and patients' emotion regulation skills with weight change.

High EDSS can predict risk for upper urinary tract damage in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) is very common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and it might jeopardize renal function and thereby increase mortality. Although there are well-known urodynamic risk factors for upper urinary tract damage, no clinical prediction parameters are available.

Objective: We aimed to assess clinical parameters potentially predicting urodynamic risk factors for upper urinary tract damage.

Prognostic power of NT-proBNP in left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy.

Background: The risk of adverse events in patients with left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC) is substantial. This study was designed to determine the prognostic value of NT-proBNP, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), NYHA class, and exercise capacity in LVNC patients.

Methods: Cox regression analyses were performed for evaluating the prognostic value of NT-proBNP, LVEF, NYHA class, and exercise capacity on the occurrence of death or heart transplantation.

Breastfeeding in Women Having Experienced Childhood Sexual Abuse.

Background: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can have a serious effect on general and obstetric health. Breastfeeding includes several triggers for memories of abuse experiences, which will likely influence decisions about breastfeeding and its implementation in daily life. This is important since breastfeeding improves maternal well-being and bonding with the child.

Feasibility of reusing time-matched controls in an overlapping cohort.

The methods developed for secondary analysis of nested case-control data have been illustrated only in simplified settings in a common cohort and have not found their way into biostatistical practice. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of reusing prior nested case-control data in a realistic setting where a new outcome is available in an overlapping cohort where no new controls were gathered and where all data have been anonymised. Using basic information about the background cohort and sampling criteria, the new cases and prior data are "aligned" to identify the common underlying study base.

Cerebral Microembolization During Aortic Valve Replacement Using Minimally Invasive or Conventional Extracorporeal Circulation: A Randomized Trial.

To compare intraoperative cerebral microembolic load between minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation (MiECC) and conventional extracorporeal circulation (CECC) during isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), we conducted a randomized trial in patients undergoing primary elective SAVR at a tertiary referral hospital. The primary outcome was the procedural phase-related rate of high-intensity transient signals (HITS) on transcranial Doppler ultrasound. HITS rate was used as a surrogate of cerebral microembolism in pre-defined procedural phases in SAVR using MiECC or CECC with (+F) or without (-F) an oxygenator with integrated arterial filter.

Adopting a family approach to theory and practice: measuring distress in cancer patient-partner dyads with the distress thermometer.

Objective: Significant others are central to patients' experience and management of their cancer illness. Building on our validation of the Distress Thermometer (DT) for family members, this investigation examines individual and collective distress in a sample of cancer patients and their matched partners, accounting for the aspects of gender and role.

Method: Questionnaires including the DT were completed by a heterogeneous sample of 224 couples taking part in a multisite study.

Posttraumatic growth in cancer patients and partners--effects of role, gender and the dyad on couples' posttraumatic growth experience.

Background/aim: Little is known about factors influencing positive effects in couples facing a cancer diagnosis.

Methods: A heterogeneous sample of 224 couples from a multi-site study (four oncology units) completed questionnaire surveys including the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) as a measure of positive psychological effects.

Results: The data demonstrated that all three investigated factors--gender, role (patient vs partner) and the dyad (belonging to any of the 224 couples)--significantly contributed to variation in PTGI total scores and subscales.

Screening cancer patients' families with the distress thermometer (DT): a validation study.

Although family members of cancer patients are at great risk of experiencing psychological distress, clinical tools to assist with recognizing and intervening with appropriate psychosocial care are sparse. This study reports on the first validation of the distress thermometer (DT) as a screening instrument for symptoms of depression and anxiety in family members of cancer patients. The DT was administered with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in a sample of 321 family members.

Startle and prepulse inhibition as a function of background noise: a computational and experimental analysis.

Schmajuk and Larrauri [Schmajuk NA, Larrauri JA. Neural network model of prepulse inhibition. Behav Neurosci 2005;119:1546-62.

Use of the elevated plus-maze test with opaque or transparent walls in the detection of mouse strain differences and the anxiolytic effects of diazepam.

The elevated plus-maze is a widely employed behavioural assay for anxiolytic and anxiogenic agents in rodents. Among laboratories, however, the apparatus often differs between the use of transparent and opaque walls. This inconsistency may represent an unnecessary confound in the literature when comparing results.