Direct 16S/18S rRNA Gene PCR Followed by Sanger Sequencing as a Clinical Diagnostic Tool for Detection of Bacterial and Fungal Infections: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

rRNA gene Sanger sequencing is being used for the identification of cultured pathogens. A new diagnostic approach is sequencing of uncultured samples by using the commercial DNA extraction and sequencing platform SepsiTest (ST). The goal was to analyze the clinical performance of ST with a focus on nongrowing pathogens and the impact on antibiotic therapy.

Baseline values but not treatment-induced changes in carotid intima-media thickness predict incident cardiovascular events in treated hypertensive patients: findings in the European Lacidipine Study on Atherosclerosis (ELSA).

Background: Baseline carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques are considered predictors of cardiovascular events, but whether they maintain predictive value in treated hypertensive patients and whether time-related (or treatment-induced) IMT changes are additional predictors are unknown.

Methods And Results: Analyses were performed of the data from the European Lacidipine Study on Atherosclerosis (ELSA), a large, randomized, intervention trial in which 2334 hypertensive patients from 7 European countries were followed up under effective antihypertensive treatment for 3.75 years.

The 5.5-year results of MegaOATS--autologous transfer of the posterior femoral condyle: a case-series study.

Introduction: Large osteochondral defects of the weight-bearing zones of femoral condyles in young and active patients were treated by autologous transfer of the posterior femoral condyle (large osteochondral autogenous transplantation system (MegaOATS)). The technique presented is a sound and feasible salvage procedure to address large osteochondral defects in weight-bearing zones.

Methods: Thirty-six patients between July 1996 and December 2000 were included.

Domestic allergens and endotoxin in three hospitals offering in-patient rehabilitation for allergic diseases in the alpine mountain climate of Bavaria - The AURA study.

Endotoxins and allergens represent the major relevant contents of the atmospheric bioaerosol with regard to the triggering and exacerbation of allergic diseases. In this study, mattress concentrations of endotoxin and indoor allergens were measured in three hospitals in the alpine climate of Bavaria and in adjacent homes. Dust was collected from each of 10 mattresses according to a standardized protocol, and endotoxin was analyzed with the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test, indoor allergens Der p 1, Der f 1 and Fel d 1 were analyzed by ELISAs.

The E-cadherin repressor snail plays a role in tumor progression of endometrioid adenocarcinomas.

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the developed world. The cell-adhesion protein E-cadherin acts as a tumor-suppressor protein and is down-regulated by the transcription factor Snail, whose expression was shown to be associated with estrogen receptor signaling. This study aimed to investigate the expression of E-cadherin, Snail, and estrogen-receptor alpha in 87 primary tumors and 26 metastases of endometroid endometrial carcinomas.

Submucosal endoscopy: a novel approach to en bloc endoscopic mucosal resection (with videos).

Background: The submucosal layer is of eminent importance for endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) in the GI tract.

Objective: Development of submucosal endoscopy, which allows diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy of the submucosal space (SS) in the esophagus.

Design: Acute experiments in a live porcine model.

Midazolam-pain, but one cannot remember it: a survey among Southern German endoscopists.

Background: Benzodiazepines, especially midazolam, are the most frequently used agents for gastrointestinal endoscopy worldwide. Among other parameters the quality of sedation is determined by patients' satisfaction assessed after endoscopy. This approach is misleading as the potent amnestic effect of midazolam conceals pain actually suffered during the endoscopic procedure involving distraction of the endoscopists from their actual tasks by audible reactions and defense movements.

Sevoflurane affects neurogenesis after forebrain ischemia in rats.

Background: The effect of sevoflurane on the neuroregenerative potential after neuronal injury is unclear. We investigated the effect of low and high concentrations of sevoflurane on endogenous neurogenesis after cerebral ischemia.

Methods: Anesthetized and ventilated rats were randomized to four different treatment groups.

Slug is overexpressed in gastric carcinomas and may act synergistically with SIP1 and Snail in the down-regulation of E-cadherin.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) involving down-regulation of E-cadherin is known to play an important role in tumour progression. The aim of our study was to investigate the mRNA expression of two EMT regulators-Slug and E12/E47-in primary human gastric carcinomas and to compare this with the expression of E-cadherin and other EMT regulators (Snail, Twist, and SIP1). We studied a series of 59 gastric carcinomas by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues.

New aspects of breast volume measurement using 3-dimensional surface imaging.

Precise and objective calculation of breast volume is helpful to evaluate the aesthetic result of breast surgery, but traditional methods are unsatisfactory. Three-dimensional (3D) scanning of the body surface allows reproducible and objective assessment of the complex breast region but requires further investigation before clinical application. The main goal of this study was to investigate the precision and accuracy of breast volume measurement using 3D body scanning.

The effect of electroencephalogram-targeted high- and low-dose propofol infusion on histopathological damage after traumatic brain injury in the rat.

Background: Propofol is commonly used to sedate patients after traumatic brain injury. However, the dose-dependent neuroprotective effects of propofol after head trauma are unknown. We compared histopathological damage after 6 h of electroencephalogram-targeted high- and low-dose propofol infusion in rats subjected to controlled cortical impact (CCI).

Comparison between breast volume measurement using 3D surface imaging and classical techniques.

Quantification of the complex breast region can be helpful in breast surgery, which is shaped by subjective influences. However, there is no generally recognized method for breast volume calculation. Three-dimensional (3D) body surface imaging represents a new alternative for breast volume computation.

Effect of ozone on oral cells compared with established antimicrobials.

Ozone has been proposed as an alternative antiseptic agent in dentistry based on reports of its antimicrobial effects in both gaseous and aqueous forms. This study investigated whether gaseous ozone (4 x 10(6) microg m(-3)) and aqueous ozone (1.25-20 microg ml(-1)) exert any cytotoxic effects on human oral epithelial (BHY) cells and gingival fibroblast (HGF-1) cells compared with established antiseptics [chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) 2%, 0.

Impaired cardiac autonomic nervous activity predicts sudden cardiac death in patients with operated and unoperated congenital cardiac disease.

Objectives: Sudden cardiac death is a leading cause of mortality in patients with congenital cardiac disease after surgical correction and is potentially preventable. The identification of patients at risk is therefore of major interest. We sought to assess the prognostic value of impaired cardiac autonomic nervous activity in patients with congenital cardiac disease.

Real-time quantitative RT-PCR shows variable, assay-dependent sensitivity to formalin fixation: implications for direct comparison of transcript levels in paraffin-embedded tissues.

Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is a versatile tool for precise quantification of gene expression. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue is well suited for qRT-PCR, if RNA extraction is optimized and small amplicon sizes are used. However, little is known whether individual assays may show variable sensitivity to fixation.

Comparison of different radiography systems in an experimental study for detection of forearm fractures and evaluation of the Müller-AO and Frykman classification for distal radius fractures.

Objectives: We sought to compare the diagnostic performance of screen-film radiography, storage-phosphor radiography, and a flat-panel detector system in detecting forearm fractures and to classify distal radius fractures according to the Müller-AO and Frykman classifications compared with the true extent, depicted by anatomic preparation.

Materials And Methods: A total of 71 cadaver arms were fractured in a material testing machine creating different fractures of the radius and ulna as well as of the carpal bones. Radiographs of the complete forearm were evaluated by 3 radiologists, and anatomic preparation was used as standard of reference in a receiver operating curve analysis.

MRI lesions after invasive therapy of carotid artery stenosis: a risk-modeling analysis.

Background: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) abnormalities can frequently be detected after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid angioplasty with stent placement (CAS) of the carotid arteries. We looked for possible predictors for the development of DWI lesions during the intervention.

Methods: We investigated 41 patients who underwent CAS without protection devices and 93 patients who underwent CEA.

The long-term effect of sevoflurane on neuronal cell damage and expression of apoptotic factors after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats.

We investigated the long-term effects of sevoflurane on histopathologic injury and key proteins of apoptosis in a rat hemispheric ischemia/reperfusion model. Sixty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to Group 1 (fentanyl and N2O/O2; control) and Group 2 (2.0 vol% sevoflurane and O2/air).

[Is there an association between the sleep apnea syndrome and the circadian peak of myocardial infarction in the morning hours?].

Objective: To determine whether there is a relationship between the circadian rhythm of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the morning hours and the sleep apnea syndrome (SAS).

Patients And Methods: 203 patients who had sustained an AMI were examined 7-14 days later for sleep-associated breathing disorders using a 5-channel recording system. The diagnostic criterion for SAS was > 10 episodes of apnea and hypopnea per hour (AHI >10).

Effectiveness of 4 pulpotomy techniques--randomized controlled trial.

Pulpotomy is the accepted therapy for the management of cariously exposed pulps in symptom-free primary molars; however, evidence is lacking about the most appropriate technique. The aim of this study was to compare the relative effectiveness of the Er:YAG laser, calcium hydroxide, and ferric sulfate techniques with that of dilute formocresol in retaining such molars symptom-free. Two hundred primary molars in 107 healthy children were included and randomly allocated to one of the techniques.

Detection of consciousness by electroencephalogram and auditory evoked potentials.

Background: A set of electroencephalographic and auditory evoked potential (AEP) parameters should be identified that allows separation of consciousness from unconsciousness (reflected by responsiveness/unresponsiveness to command).

Methods: Forty unpremedicated patients received anesthesia with remifentanil and either sevoflurane or propofol. With remifentanil infusion (0.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: long term reproducibility of the late enhancement signal in patients with chronic coronary artery disease.

Objective: To determine long term reproducibility of the late enhancement (LE) signal in contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and potential changes of the signal after revascularisation.

Methods: 33 patients (29 men, mean (SD) 61 (11) years) with coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction 30 (7)%) underwent two contrast enhanced MRI procedures within 9 (3) months. Fifteen patients (group A: 14 men, 59 (12) years) had no interventions between the two studies.

Quality control of B-mode ultrasonic measurement of carotid artery intima-media thickness: the European Lacidipine Study on Atherosclerosis.

Background: The European Lacidipine Study of Atherosclerosis (ELSA) was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, multinational interventional trial using B-mode ultrasound measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in 2259 hypertensive individuals. ELSA showed that 4-year treatment with the calcium antagonist, lacidipine, significantly slowed down progression of carotid atherosclerosis as compared with treatment with the beta-blocker, atenolol.

Objective: To report data on cross-sectional and longitudinal quality control of the ultrasound measurements implemented throughout ELSA.

[MS registry in Germany--design and first results of the pilot phase].

In the summer of 2001, a nationwide epidemiological multiple sclerosis (MS) register was initiated under the auspices of the German MS Society (DMSG). This project aimed at collecting epidemiological data on the number of patients with MS, course of the disease, and their social situation in Germany. During the 2-year pilot phase, five MS centers with various regional differences and treatment methods participated, leading to a representative selection of patients.