Validity of self-reports of knee-straining activities at work: a field study with 6-month follow-up.

Objectives: To measure short-term and long-term validity of self-reported duration of kneeling and squatting at work and to examine the possibility of differential misclassification due to knee complaints.

Methods: Work-related kneeling and squatting were analysed for 190 male subjects (mean age, 35.0 and SD, 11.

Testicular conditions in athletes: torsion, tumors, and epididymitis.

Individuals involved in sports are at risk for sustaining various injuries. In addition to musculoskeletal complaints, male athletes are at risk of incurring testicular injuries. These issues can range from an acute emergency such as testicular torsion to indolent testicular tumors.

Epidemiological evidence for work load as a risk factor for osteoarthritis of the hip: a systematic review.

Objective: Osteoarthritis of the hip (OA) is a common degenerative disorder of the joint cartilage that presents a major public health problem worldwide. While intrinsic risk factors (e.g, body mass and morphology) have been identified, external risk factors are not well understood.

Genetic pathway in acquisition and loss of vancomycin resistance in a methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain of clonal type USA300.

An isolate of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clone USA300 with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin (SG-R) (i.e, vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus, VISA) and its susceptible "parental" strain (SG-S) were recovered from a patient at the end and at the beginning of an unsuccessful vancomycin therapy.

Proteome mapping of human skim milk proteins in term and preterm milk.

The abundant proteins in human milk have been well characterized and are known to provide nutritional, protective, and developmental advantages to both term and preterm infants. However, relatively little is known about the expression of the low abundance proteins that are present in human milk because of the technical difficulties associated with their detection. We used a combination of electrophoretic techniques, ProteoMiner treatment, and two-dimensional liquid chromatography to examine the proteome of human skim milk expressed between 7 and 28 days postpartum by healthy term mothers and identified 415 in a pooled milk sample.

Comparison of the antiseptic efficacy of tissue-tolerable plasma and an octenidine hydrochloride-based wound antiseptic on human skin.

Colonization and infection of wounds represent a major reason for the impairment of tissue repair. Recently, it has been reported that tissue-tolerable plasma (TTP) is highly efficient in the reduction of the bacterial load of the skin. In the present study, the antiseptic efficacy of TTP was compared to that of octenidine hydrochloride with 2-phenoxyethanol.

A common variant of the MACC1 gene is significantly associated with overall survival in colorectal cancer patients.

Background: The newly discovered metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) gene is a key regulator of the HGF/MET pathway. Deregulation of HGF/MET signaling is reported as a prognostic marker for tumorigenesis, early stage invasion, and metastasis. High expression levels of MACC1 have been associated with colon cancer metastasis and reduced survival.

Characterization of a flat-panel detector for ion beam spot measurements.

Dynamic beam delivery techniques are being increasingly used for cancer therapy. Scanning ion beams require extensive and time-demanding quality assurance procedures and beam tuning. Accordingly, fast measurement techniques improving the efficiency of the procedures and accommodating the safety requirements are highly desirable.

Investigations of a flat-panel detector for quality assurance measurements in ion beam therapy.

Increased accuracy in radiation delivery to a patient provided by scanning particle beams leads to high demands on quality assurance (QA). To meet the requirements, an extensive quality assurance programme has been implemented at the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center. Currently, high-resolution radiographic films are used for beam spot position measurements and homogeneity measurements for scanned fields.

Nonlinear system identification by Gustafson-Kessel fuzzy clustering and supervised local model network learning for the drug absorption spectra process.

This paper deals with the problem of fuzzy nonlinear model identification in the framework of a local model network (LMN). A new iterative identification approach is proposed, where supervised and unsupervised learning are combined to optimize the structure of the LMN. For the purpose of fitting the cluster-centers to the process nonlinearity, the Gustafsson-Kessel (GK) fuzzy clustering, i.

Evaluation of suspected dementia.

As the proportion of persons in the United States older than 65 years increases, the prevalence of dementia will increase as well. Risk factors for dementia include age, family history of dementia, apolipoprotein E4 genotype, cardiovascular comorbidities, chronic anticholinergic use, and lower educational level. Patient history, physical examination, functional assessment, cognitive testing, laboratory studies, and imaging studies are used to assess a patient with suspected dementia.

Critical evaluation of rituximab rescue in 27 patients with different types of kidney disease.

Aim: Rituximab is increasingly being used in the treatment of patients with kidney disease. We evaluated our clinical experience at the Ulm University Hospital.

Methods: Since 2004, we have administered rituximab as rescue therapy to twenty-seven patients with kidney disease non-responsive to standard treatment.

Telephone counseling and attendance in a national mammography-screening program a randomized controlled trial.

Background: In Germany, a mammography-screening program (MSP) was implemented on a national level. It complies with all criteria of the European guidelines for quality assurance in screening mammography; however, the attendance rate is 54%, falling short of the target attendance rate of 70%. The aim of this study was to investigate whether additional telephone counseling improves attendance among nonresponders and the level of satisfaction with telephone counseling.

Vitamin D receptor activation improves allergen-triggered eczema in mice.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that has increased in prevalence over the last several decades in industrialized countries. AD is a multifactorial, heterogenous disease with a variety of defects in the immune system, in antimicrobial defense mechanisms and epidermal barrier integrity, which collectively contribute to the risk and severity of AD development. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling has been shown to be important not only in the immune system but also in the skin and in particular keratinocytes to regulate skin homeostasis and epidermal barrier function.

Acute Pancreatitis in a patient with hypercalcemia due to tertiary hyperparathyroidism.

Hypercalcemia represents an independent risk factor of acute pancreatitis and can result from hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands. Here, we report on a 35-year-old patient who was admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain six weeks after kidney transplantation. Based on laboratory tests and ultrasound imaging, acute pancreatitis with hypercalcemia due to tertiary hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed.

Amenorrhea and BMI as independent determinants of patient satisfaction in LNG-IUD users: cross-sectional study in a Central European district.

Objective: This study investigated the satisfaction of women carrying the LNG-IUD and determined influencing factors, especially considering bleeding patterns and body mass index (BMI).

Design: Cross sectional study.

Setting: Gynecological offices in a Central European district.

Homozygous carriers of the G allele of rs4664447 of the glucagon gene (GCG) are characterised by decreased fasting and stimulated levels of insulin, glucagon and glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1.

Aims/hypothesis: The glucagon gene (GCG) encodes several hormones important for energy metabolism: glucagon, oxyntomodulin and glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and -2. Variants in GCG may associate with type 2 diabetes, obesity and/or related metabolic traits.

Methods: GCG was re-sequenced as a candidate gene in 865 European individuals.

Prospective randomized phase II Trial of accelerated reepithelialization of superficial second-degree burn wounds using extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

Background: As extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) can enhance healing of skin graft donor sites, this study focused on shock wave effects in burn wounds.

Methods: A predefined cohort of 50 patients (6 with incomplete data or lost to follow-up) with acute second-degree burns from a larger study of 100 patients were randomly assigned between December 2006 and December 2007 to receive standard therapy (burn wound debridement/topical antiseptic therapy) with (n = 22) or without (n = 22) defocused ESWT (100 impulses/cm at 0.1 mJ/mm) applied once to the study burn, after debridement.

Skin disinfection by plasma-tissue interaction: comparison of the effectivity of tissue-tolerable plasma and a standard antiseptic.

Wound healing disorders frequently occur due to biofilm formation on wound surfaces requiring conscientious wound hygiene. Often, the application of conventional liquid antiseptics is not sufficient and sustainable as (1) the borders and the surrounding of chronic wounds frequently consist of sclerotic skin, impeding an effectual penetration of these products, and (2) the hair follicles representing the reservoir for bacterial recolonization of skin surfaces are not affected. Recently, it has been reported that tissue-tolerable plasma (TTP), which is used at a temperature range between 35 and 45°C, likewise has disinfecting properties.

Cervical cancer screening in low- and middle-income countries.

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death among women in the developing world. Conventional cytology-based cervical cancer screening programs have been largely ineffectual at reducing the cervical cancer burden in low-resource settings. In response, alternative strategies have been tested, such as visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA-based testing.

Method for autologous single skin cell isolation for regenerative cell spray transplantation with non-cultured cells.

Background: There is a therapeutic gap for patients with deep partial thickness wounds (Grade IIb) of moderate size that were initially not treated with split- or mesh grafting to avoid overgrafting, but developed delayed wound healing around two weeks after injury--at which time grafting is typically not indicated anymore. Delayed wound healing is often associated with esthetically unsatisfactory results and sometimes functional problems. An innovative cell isolation method for cell spray transplantation at the point of care, which eliminates cell culture prior to treatment, was implemented for this population of burn patients in our center.

The effect of Glucagon-Like Peptide-2 on mesenteric blood flow and cardiac parameters in end-jejunostomy short bowel patients.

Background: Exogenous Glucagon-Like Peptide-2 (GLP-2) treatment improves intestinal wet weight absorption in short bowel syndrome (SBS) patients. In healthy subjects, administration of GLP-2 increases small intestinal blood flow. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of GLP-2 on mesenteric blood flow and dynamic changes in cardiac parameters in SBS patients with jejunostomy and varying length of remnant small intestine.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 impairs NF-κB activation in human naïve B cells.

1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (calcitriol), the bioactive metabolite of vitamin D, modulates the activation and inhibits IgE production of anti-CD40 and IL-4 stimulated human peripheral B cells. Engagement of CD40 results in NF-κB p50 activation, which is essential for the class switch to IgE. Herein, we investigated by which mechanism calcitriol modulates NF-κB mediated activation of human naïve B cells.

[The radial forearm phalloplasty with prelaminated urethra: a report of our learning curve during the last 6 years].

Several methods for complete phalloplasty are reported in the current literature. However, a unique technique has not been established in specialized centers so far. The radial forearm phalloplasty and the free fibular flap are the most common procedures for neophallus construction.