On the importance of fiscal space: Evidence from short sellers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using the exogenous shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, we study how informed market participants incorporate fiscal space into their trading decisions. At the onset of the pandemic, short-selling activity shifted towards companies with low financial flexibility but only in countries with limited fiscal space. Among such companies, short sellers specifically targeted those that generate their revenues mainly in the domestic market.

Renal Function and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Stable Kidney Transplant Patients Following Conversion From Twice-Daily Immediate-Release Tacrolimus to Once-Daily Prolonged-Release Tacrolimus: A 12-Month Observational Study in Routine Clinical Practice in Germany (ADAGIO).

Introduction: This 12-month, noninterventional study on routine clinical practice in Germany evaluated renal function in stable kidney transplant recipients converted from immediate-release tacrolimus (IR-T) to prolonged-release tacrolimus (PR-T).

Methods: Renal function was assessed in 183 patients by estimated glomerular filtration rate using the modification of diet in renal disease-4 formula. Self-reported gastrointestinal health-related quality of life, adherence, satisfaction with PR-T, suspected rejection episodes, and safety were also assessed at conversion and at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Psychological processing of a kidney transplantation, perceived quality of life, and immunosuppressant medication adherence.

Though psychosocial well-being and quality of life generally improve after transplantation, a relevant proportion of patients suffers from psychosocial problems. Further analysis of the psychological coping after kidney transplantation is needed to identify patients at risk. The aim of this study was to examine the psychological response after kidney transplantation and its associations with health-related quality of life and immunosuppressant medication adherence.

Psychosocial Variables Associated with Immunosuppressive Medication Non-Adherence after Renal Transplantation.

Introduction: Non-adherence to immunosuppressive medication is regarded as an important factor for graft rejection and loss after successful renal transplantation. Yet, results on prevalence and relationship with psychosocial parameters are heterogeneous. The main aim of this study was to investigate the association of immunosuppressive medication non-adherence and psychosocial factors.

Mobile Technology Affinity in Renal Transplant Recipients.

Background: Medication nonadherence is a common problem in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Mobile health approaches to improve medication adherence are a current trend, and several medication adherence apps are available. However, it is unknown whether RTRs use these technologies and to what extent.

Up to a Third of Renal Transplant Recipients Have Deficiencies in Cognitive Functioning.

Introduction: Kidney transplantation is beneficial in improving cognitive abilities in patients with chronic kidney disease; however, there is still uncertainty concerning which cognitive domains benefit and to what extent.

Aim: In the present study, cognitive functioning of renal transplant recipients was compared to normative data. Sociodemographic and clinical parameters that were associated with low cognitive performance were identified.

Patient-reported non-adherence and immunosuppressant trough levels are associated with rejection after renal transplantation.

Background: Different measures of non-adherence to immunosuppressant (IS) medication have been found to be associated with rejection episodes after successful transplantation. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether graft rejection after renal transplantation is associated with patient-reported IS medication non-adherence and IS trough level variables (IS trough level variability and percentage of sub-therapeutic IS trough levels).

Methods: Patient-reported non-adherence, IS trough level variability, percentage of sub-therapeutic IS trough levels, and acute biopsy-proven late allograft rejections were assessed in 267 adult renal transplant recipients who were ≥12 months post-transplantation.

Prevalence and Modifiable Determinants of Non-Adherence in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients in a German Sample.

Objectives: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence and the modifiable determinants of non-adherence in adult kidney transplant patients in follow-up care.

Methods: In 74 patients at least six months post-transplant, self-reported adherence (Basel Assessment of Adherence to ImmunosuppressiveMedications Scale, BAASIS©), subjective experience and attitudes after transplantation (Medication Experience Scale for Immunosuppressants, MESI), and depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale,HADSD) were assessed.

Results: Non-adherence to any of the four BAASIS© items was 24.

Success Rate of Two-Piece Zirconia Implants: A Retrospective Statistical Analysis.

Purpose: About 10 years ago, one-piece zirconia implants were introduced to dentistry. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical success of two-piece zirconia implants regarding osseointegration using the manufacturers' warranty data.

Materials And Methods: Over a period of 4 years (2010-2014), the data of warranty replacements of 15,255 sold Zeramex implants were evaluated retrospectively and blinded.

[Structured medication management in primary care - a tool to promote medication safety].

Patients with chronic disease usually need to take multiple medications. Drug-related interactions, adverse events, suboptimal adherence, and self-medication are components that can affect medication safety and lead to serious consequences for the patient. At present, regular medication reviews to check what medicines have been prescribed and what medicines are actually taken by the patient or the structured evaluation of drug-related problems rarely take place in Germany.

Schneiderian membrane detachment using transcrestal hydrodynamic ultrasonic cavitational sinus lift: a human cadaver head study and histologic analysis.

Purpose: Recent studies have suggested the osteogenic layer of the periosteum at the base of the sinus membrane to play a key role in bone regeneration after sinus lift procedures. Thus, atraumatic detachment of the sinus membrane with an intact periosteum seems mandatory. The present histologic study of fresh human cadaver heads investigated the detachment behavior and histologic integrity of the detached periosteum after application of the transcrestal hydrodynamic ultrasonic cavitational sinus lift (tHUCSL-INTRALIFT).

Randomized controlled trial: lip piercing: the impact of material on microbiological findings.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are microbiological differences in bacterial samples collected from labial piercings made of different materials.

Methods: Sterile piercings of 4 materials were randomly allocated to 80 pierced subjects. After 2 weeks, microbiologic samples were collected and processed by checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization methods.

Necrotizing periodontitis as a possible manifestation of common variable immunodeficiency.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is an inherited disease characterized by hypogammaglobulinaemia and impaired humoural immunoresponse and is mainly associated with recurrent infections of the airway and the digestive tract. An 18-year old female with a diagnosis of CVID associated with a devastating necrotizing periodontitis, ultimately resulting in complete destruction of the periodontium and loss of all teeth, is reported. Clinical, biochemical, microbiological and radiographic examinations are presented.

Can a feedback report and training session on medication counseling for general practitioners improve patient satisfaction with information on medicines?

Background: Regular intake of medicines prevents hospitalization and improves treatment outcomes in patients with chronic diseases; however, requires good patient-physician communication. Yet, this communication is often insufficient and characterized by misunderstandings. This paper aimed to explore whether a training session on medication counseling for general practitioners (GPs) can improve patient satisfaction about information on medicines.

[HeiCare®: a project aiming to improve medication communication across health care sectors].

Background And Objective: Changes between health care sectors represent a critical phase in long-term pharmacotherapy. The aim of the Hei CARE(®) project was to close the communication gap at the interface between primary care physicians (PCP), hospital physicians and patients, and to improve quality and safety of pharmacotherapy.

Methods: Physicians who enrolled patients with long-term pharmacotherapy were able to participate in the Hei CARE(®) project.

Rupture length of the sinus membrane after 1.2 mm puncture and surgical sinus elevation: an experimental animal cadaver study.

Objectives: To evaluate the rupture length of the sinus membrane after applying a defined 1.2 mm defect comparing 3 different techniques: Summers lift, balloon-assisted technique (BASL), and hydrodynamic ultrasonic cavitational sinus lift (HUCSL).

Study Design: Thirty fresh sheep heads (60 maxillary sinuses) were investigated.

Patients' beliefs about medicines in a primary care setting in Germany.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore patients' beliefs about medicines by administering the German version of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) in a primary care setting among chronically ill patients and to examine its psychometric properties. The BMQ assesses patients' beliefs about their individual prescribed medication as well as their beliefs about medicines in general.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 485 chronically ill patients was performed.

High resolution ultrasound investigation of the temporomandibular joint in patients with chronic polyarthritis.

40 patients with chronic polyarthritis were investigated prospectively. The TMJ was investigated to detect clicking, crepitation, and pain. High resolution ultrasound (HR-US) assessed destructive changes, effusion, and disc dislocation.

Pullout strength of a biodegradable free form osteosynthesis plate.

The Inion(®) Free Form Plate is a newly designed biodegradable plate. After drilling through the plate and tapping, a biodegradable screw can be inserted, followed by removal of the screw head. As an alternative a countersink screw can be used.

Assessing reported adherence to pharmacological treatment recommendations. Translation and evaluation of the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS) in Germany.

Objectives Patients' self-report of medicine taking is a feasible method of assessing their adherence to prescribed pharmacological treatment. Aim of this study was to assess whether the German version of the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-D) is an appropriate instrument for measuring patient adherence. Methods After translation into German, the questionnaire was sent to 1488 patients with chronic diseases and patients with risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

Hydrodynamic ultrasonic sinus floor elevation--an experimental study in sheep.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pressure forces appearing to elevate the sinus membrane by comparing the hydraulic and pneumatic pressure. Also, the relation between the time and volume of the applied liquid and the achieved lift-volume were determined.

Materials And Methods: A total of 190 fresh, half sheep heads were used for the present investigation.

Facial trauma: how dangerous are skiing and snowboarding?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate maxillofacial injuries sustained in both skiing and snowboarding accidents and correlate injury mechanisms and patterns evaluating a large population.

Materials And Methods: Between 1991 and 2003, all patients with maxillofacial injuries due to skiing and snowboarding accidents (1,393 cases) were reviewed and statistically analyzed according to age, gender, type of injury, cause of accident, location of trauma, and associated injuries.

Results: Skiing accidents resulted in a total of 1,250 injuries, and snowboarding resulted in 143.

Psychometric properties of a German version of the "Satisfaction with Information about Medicines Scale" (SIMS-D).

Objective: The aim of this study was to translate the Satisfaction with Information about Medicines Scale (SIMS) into German and test its psychometric properties in a German primary care setting. The SIMS was developed to assess the extent to which patients feel they have received enough information about their medicines.

Methods: Three hundred seventy chronically ill patients were included in the study.