Epidemiological Characteristics and Prognostic Scoring in Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: Insights from a 17-Year Burn Center Experience.

: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) are rare yet life-threatening dermatologic conditions characterized by severe skin and mucous membrane involvement. Accurate prognostic systems are crucial for clinical management to assess disease severity and predict outcomes. The primary objective of this study was to assess the epidemiological characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and SJS/TEN overlap over a 17-year period at a specialized burn center.

[Ergonomic Load on the Surgical Team during Open, Laparoscopic and Robot-assisted Surgical Procedures].

The aim of this work is to investigate the ergonomic load on the surgical team during open, laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgical procedures.Employees of the Salzburg State Hospitals (SALK) were invited to take part in a standardised online survey in December 2023. The extent and differences in psychophysical stress for the individual professional groups and specialists were examined for different surgical procedures.

Impact of anastomotic leak vs pneumonia on failure to rescue after transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer.

Background: Data about failure to rescue (FTR) after esophagectomy for cancer and its association with patient and procedure-related risk factors are limited. This study aimed to analyze such aspects, particularly focusing on the effect of pneumonia and anastomotic leak on FTR.

Methods: Patients who underwent an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy for cancer between 2008 and 2022 in 2 tertiary European centers were prospectively identified.

Interatrial block is an independent risk factor for new-onset atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the association between interatrial conduction block and postoperative atrial fibrillation, which can precipitate acute cardiopulmonary instability and is associated with subsequent heart failure, stroke, and mortality following cardiac surgery.

Methods: Perioperative 12-channel electrocardiograms from 3405 patients undergoing myocardial revascularization, valve surgery, aortic surgery, or combinations thereof, were considered. Clinical and electrographic parameters were compared between patients with and without atrial fibrillation, and significant variables were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Enhanced Pain Reduction at Different Stages of Knee Osteoarthritis via Repeated Injections of Hyaluronic Acid with Niacinamide: A Comparative Study.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common joint disease, characterized by the degeneration of joint cartilage. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IAHA) injections are a well-established non-surgical treatment. This retrospective study analyzed knee OA patients receiving IAHA combined with niacinamide injections, assessing pain reduction in relation to patient data, the number of injections, and radiological findings.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Cytology in Lyme Neuroborreliosis Revisited-Role of Neutrophilic Granulocytes: A Retrospective Single-Center Study.

: diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) relies on medical history, clinical findings, and detection of pathogen-specific antibodies in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The chemoattractant CXCL13 serves as an additional marker for LNB acuity. During the diagnostic workup, cytomorphological examination of immune cells in CSF provides early insights.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Surveillance-Vaccination- and Infection-Induced Seroprevalences in Western Austria 2024.

Reported tick-borne-encephalitis (TBE) cases have been increasing in Western Austria, but no data are available on vaccination- and infection-specific seroprevalence. This study aimed to estimate current TBEV-seroprevalence in the region and inform prevention programs by comparing anti-NS1-based-incidence rates with reported case numbers and vaccination coverage. Between December 2023 and February 2024, serum samples from 4619 blood donors in Western Austria were collected and analyzed using TBEV- and WNV-IgG-ELISA assays.

Preoperative interatrial block is associated with postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation is common complication after heart surgery potentially leading to chronic atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and mortality. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between preoperative interatrial block and the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Perioperative 12-channel ECGs of patients in sinus rhythm, scheduled for heart surgery including bypass and/or valve surgery were analysed.

A High-Intensity versus Moderate-Intensity Exercise Training Programme in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency-Related COPD (IMAC): A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Training-induced adaptations of the oxidative capacity have been shown to be blunted in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD)-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To improve training outcomes in AATD, this study was aimed to compare the effects of two exercise training programmes with different training intensities.

Methods: Thirty patients with AATD (genotype PiZZ) and COPD III-IV were randomly assigned to either high-intensity (HIT) or moderate-intensity training (MIT), each consisting of endurance, strength, and squat training for a duration of 3 weeks.

Role of Multistate Models to Predict Patency, Limb Salvage, and Survival: New Concepts to Analyse Data in Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Objective: In peripheral arterial disease, patency, limb salvage, and survival rates are mostly reported using Kaplan-Meier analyses. When comparing different revascularisation techniques, these methods have limitations in analysing complex patient flows over time. This study aimed to present, illustrate, and discuss new concepts based on multistate models of analysing outcome parameters in peripheral arterial disease.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies versus Vaccination Status in CAD Patients with COVID-19: A Prospective, Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Objectives: Despite the currently prevailing, milder Omicron variant, coronary artery disease (CAD) patients constitute a major risk group in COVID-19, exhibiting 2.6 times the mortality risk of non-CAD patients and representing over 22% of non-survivors. No data are currently available on the efficacy of antibody levels in CAD patients, nor on the relevance of vaccination status versus antibody levels for predicting severe courses and COVID-19 mortality.

The role of miR-155-5p in inflammation and mechanical loading during intervertebral disc degeneration.

Background: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a multifactorial pathological process resulting in the dysregulation of IVD cell activity. The catabolic shift observed in IVD cells during degeneration leads to increased inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, aberrant intracellular signaling and cell loss. Importantly, these pathological processes are known to be interconnected and to collectively contribute to the progression of the disease.

Thoracic sarcopenia measured by Hounsfield unit average calculation predicts morbidity and mortality in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the potential prognostic role of preoperative measurement of erector spinae myosteatosis with Hounsfield unit average calculation as a marker for sarcopenia and frailty in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery.

Methods: Preoperative computer tomography-derived measurements of 479 consecutive patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery between January 2017 and December 2019 were retrospectively performed. The erector spinae muscle at the level of the 12th vertebra was manually outlined bilaterally on the axial computer tomography slices and Hounsfield unit average calculation was performed.

Efficacy and Safety of 0.19-mg Fluocinolone Acetonide Implant in Postoperative Cystoid Macular Edema after Pars Plana Vitrectomy: The ILUvien in Postoperative CYstoid Macular eDema Study.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of 0.19-mg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) intravitreal implant (Iluvien) in treating chronic postoperative cystoid macular edema (PCME) after pars plana vitrectomy.

Design: Retrospective multicentric case series in clinical settings.

Divergent effects of types 1 and 12 on invasive group A streptococcal infections-results of a retrospective cohort study, Germany 2023.

As a potential side effect of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 pandemic, invasive group A (iGAS) infections in Europe have increased dramatically in both children and adults in the end of 2022. This epidemiological and molecular study describes the distributions of streptococcal genes encoding the M antigen ( types) and superantigens in patients with invasive and non-invasive GAS infections. From December 2022 to December 2023, a total of 163 GAS isolates were collected from sterile and non-sterile sites of patients at five hospitals in Germany including two tertiary care centers.

Alternative vein bypass in octogenarians with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia.

Background: Octogenarians are regarded as one of the frailest patient groups among the chronic limb-threatening ischaemia population with high perioperative morbidity and mortality rates. As a result, alternative vein bypass surgery in the absence of sufficient great saphenous vein is often not considered as a potential treatment option. The aim of this study was to compare the results of octogenarians undergoing alternative vein bypass surgery due to chronic limb-threatening ischaemia to younger patients.

Alemtuzumab treatment for multiple sclerosis in Austria: An observational long-term outcome study.

Background/objective: Observational real-world study to analyze the clinical effects of alemtuzumab (ALEM) and subsequent disease-modifying therapy (DMT) usage in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Data retrieved from the Austrian MS treatment registry (AMSTR) included baseline (BL) characteristics (at ALEM start), annualized relapse rate (ARR), 6-month confirmed progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA; ≥ 0.5-point Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score increase), 6-month confirmed disability improvement (CDI; ≥ 0.

Isolated or Combined Ascending Aortic Replacement through a Partial Sternotomy: Early and Midterm Outcomes.

Background:  We aimed to investigate the in-hospital and midterm outcomes of patients undergoing ascending aortic replacement (AAR) through a partial or a full sternotomy approach through a propensity matching analysis.

Methods:  We retrospectively included all patients ( = 167) who underwent elective AAR in our institution between 2013 and 2020. The study population was divided into two groups according to the surgical access (40 patient in the partial sternotomy or "PS" group and 127 in the full sternotomy or "FS" group).

Mid-term surgical success after transscleral ab interno glaucoma gel stent implantation.

Purpose: To investigate the surgical success and efficacy of XEN45 implantation (XEN45 μm, AbbVie Inc., USA) with and without combined cataract surgery up to the first 5 years.

Methods: In a prospective observational monocentric trial, 192 eyes of 157 patients with open-angle glaucoma received either XEN45 implants only (solo surgery group) or combined surgery/cataract surgeries (combined surgery group).

Glow up: does a professional photoshoot intervention affect self-esteem and emotions among adolescent psychiatric patients?-A longitudinal intervention study.

Background: Today, online communication is shaped by a billion-dollar social media (SM) and social networking site (SNS) industry. Visual content consumed by children and adolescents has been shown to influence behavioral patterns, state emotions, and self-esteem (SE). In this study, we introduced a novel intervention creating visual content through a professional photoshoot and investigated its impact on state emotions and SE in child and adolescent psychiatric (CAP) patients.

Impaired Sleep in Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome Compared to Healthy Controls: A Cross-Sectional Trial.

Introduction: To objectify self-reported sleep disorders in individuals with post-COVID-syndrome (PCS), we aimed to investigate the prevalence and nature of sleep disturbances by polysomnography (PSG) in PCS compared to healthy individuals.

Methods: People with PCS (n = 21) and healthy controls (CON, n = 10) were included in this prospective trial. At baseline, clinical and social anamnesis, lung function, 1 min sit-to-stand test (STST) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were assessed.

Exploring the Impact of TLR-2 Signaling on miRNA Dysregulation in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key mediators of inflammation in intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. TLR-2 activation contributes to the degenerative process by increasing the expression of extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and neurotrophins. As potent post-transcriptional regulators, microRNAs can modulate intracellular mechanisms, and their dysregulation is known to contribute to numerous pathologies.