Multi-centre deep learning for placenta segmentation in obstetric ultrasound with multi-observer and cross-country generalization.

The placenta is crucial to fetal well-being and it plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of hypertensive pregnancy disorders. Moreover, a timely diagnosis of placenta previa may save lives. Ultrasound is the primary imaging modality in pregnancy, but high-quality imaging depends on the access to equipment and staff, which is not possible in all settings.

[Dying in Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany): preferred and actual place of death].

Background: Until now, no official statistics about the place of death in Germany exist.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to determine where people died in Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) in 2008, and which place of death was preferred. We further aimed to identify influencing factors on dying at home vs.

Dying with dementia: symptom burden, quality of care, and place of death.

Background: No detailed information has been available until now about the care setting, circumstances and place of death, symptom burden, and quality of care of persons with end-stage dementia in Germany.

Methods: This cross-sectional study is based on a random sample of 5000 persons who died in the period from 25 May to 24 August 2008 in the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Their surviving relatives were contacted and asked to participate in a questionnaire survey.

Dying in Germany--unfulfilled needs of relatives in different care settings.

Context: The integration of family members in the dying process and the recognition of their special needs are important factors for the development of high-quality palliative care.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore important needs and personal experiences of relatives at the end of life, and to detect differences in these needs and experiences for various care settings.

Methods: Our cross-sectional survey was based on a random sampling of 5000 inhabitants of Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) who died between May 25 and August 24, 2008.

Symptom prevalence in the last days of life in Germany: the role of place of death.

Investigations have shown that symptom prevalence varies according to the place of death. We sought to assess the symptom prevalence of chronically ill people in Germany and how this prevalence differs depending on the place of death. We sent questionnaires to 5000 bereaved people in Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany), whose relatives died between May 25 and August 24, 2008.