Enhancing Arden-Syntax-Based Clinical Reasoning with Ontologies.

We present a new methodological approach based on integrating Arden-Syntax-based clinical decision support (CDS) with an upstream ontology service. Incoming linguistic patient data, such as single reports about detected germs or viruses, shall be identified by the applied ontology at a low level. Then, higher-level concepts are activated by ontology-based bottom-up reasoning.

Microbiological and Virological Knowledge-Based Alert Service.

Hospital wards need immediate information about multi-resistant pathogens and contagious viruses in their hospitalized patients. An alert service configurable with Arden-Syntax-based alert definitions passing through an ontology service to complement results from microbiology and virology with high-level terms was implemented as proof of concept. Integration into the University Hospital Vienna's IT landscape is ongoing.

Septoplasties are unlikely to cause postoperative numbness of the anterior palate.

Background: Septoplasties and septorhinoplasties are very commonly performed surgical procedures in modern aesthetic and functional medicine. Throughout the surgery, close manipulation to the incisive nerves' course is being executed. This retrospective analysis followed up on potential sensitivity disorders of the anterior palate due to nerve damage.

COMP Report: A survey of radiation safety regulations for medical imaging x-ray equipment in Canada.

X-ray regulations and room design methodology vary widely across Canada. The Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP) conducted a survey in 2016/2017 to provide a useful snapshot of existing variations in rules and methodologies for human patient medical imaging facilities. Some jurisdictions no longer have radiation safety regulatory requirements and COMP is concerned that lack of regulatory oversight might erode safe practices.

Development of a Machine Learning Model Predicting an ICU Admission for Patients with Elective Surgery and Its Prospective Validation in Clinical Practice.

Frequent utilization of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is associated with higher costs and decreased availability for patients who urgently need it. Common risk assessment tool, like the ASA score, lack objectivity and do account only for some influencing parameters. The aim of our study was (1) to develop a reliable machine learning model predicting ICU admission risk after elective surgery, and (2) to implement it in a clinical workflow.

Azelainsäure 20 % Creme: Auswirkung auf Lebensqualität und Krankheitsaktivität bei erwachsenen Patientinnen mit Acne vulgaris.

Hintergrund: Zur Wirksamkeit von Aknetherapien und deren Auswirkungen auf die Lebensqualität erwachsener Patienten liegen kaum Daten vor. ZIEL: Erhebung der Wirkung von Azelainsäure 20 % Creme (Skinoren ) auf Akne-Schweregrad und krankheitsbedingte Lebensqualität.

Patienten Und Methodik: Nichtinterventionelle Studie bei erwachsenen Patientinnen mit leichter bis mittelschwerer Akne.

Azelaic acid 20 % cream: effects on quality of life and disease severity in adult female acne patients.

Background: Data on the efficacy of acne treatments and their impact on quality of life (QoL) in adult patients is sketchy.

Objective: Assessment of the efficacy of azelaic acid 20 % cream (Skinoren ) on acne severity and disease-related QoL.

Patients And Methods: Noninterventional study in adult female patients with mild to moderate acne.

[Trivial injury to the sole of the foot].

A 67-year-old male patient noticed a foreign body sensation following a trivial trauma to the sole of the left foot approximately 4 months before presentation. The existing skin alteration had been self-treated with pumice stone and an unidentifiable wart tincture. The examination revealed an approximately 2 cm in diameter macula on the left heel with a zonal construction.

Effect of ICU interventions on gastrointestinal motility.

Purpose Of Review: Early detection of gastrointestinal motility disturbances is a major goal to reduce the incidence of this potentially disastrous event by prophylactic managements and early goal-directed therapy in patients at risk.

Recent Findings: Gastroparesis frequently results in the inability to feed critically ill patients, aggravating problems such as bacterial translocation and stress-induced intestinal damage. Recently published data have advanced our understanding of the pathophysiologic background of gastroparesis, intestinal stress damage and the effect of early enteral nutrition on gastrointestinal function.

Premature preoperative discontinuation of antiplatelet drug therapy in cardiovascular risk patients: a preliminary study on the role of P2Y12 receptor monitoring.

Background And Objective: In high-bleeding risk procedures, discontinuation of antiplatelet drug therapy with clopidogrel may be requested by surgeons, usually 7-10 days before the surgical procedure. New platelet function tests, such as the vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation assay, may help to assess the perioperative status of the clopidogrel-specific P2Y12 receptor.

Methods: Using vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation assay, the platelet reactivity index (PRI) was measured in 80 individuals, including 20 healthy volunteers, 20 cardiologic patients under full antiplatelet drug therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin, 20 surgical patients without any antiplatelet drugs and 20 patients under clopidogrel, discontinued 7 days before the surgical procedure.

[Strategies for quality assessment of emergency helicopter rescue systems. The Graz model].

Purpose: Preclinical emergency medical treatment necessitates a comprehensive interdisciplinary knowledge by the emergency physician as well as a high level of manual dexterity. The quality of treatment therefore depends on the level of education and continuous training in emergency medical techniques. Based on an evaluation of the frequency of life-saving interventions by a physician-staffed rescue helicopter system, strategies for in-hospital training of relevant skills are suggested.

[Diffuse hyperplastic oncocytosis of the parotid gland].

Background: Oncocytes are epithelial cells characterized by an granular, eosinophilic cytoplasma, and a centrally situated, pycnotic nucleus. These cells were first observed by Hamperl 1931 in the salivary glands. Ultrastructural studies have shown that the cytoplasma of these cells is filled with numerous large and bizarre mitochondria.

The function of tensor veli palatini muscles in patients with aural symptoms and temporomandibular disorder. An EMG study.

This preliminary study investigated Myrhaug's neuromuscular hypothesis by means of audiological and electromyographic assessment. After a clinical examination of the TMJ system, the activity of the tensor veli palatini muscles in the state of rest and during swallowing was investigated in 16 patients with the help of an EMG recording, and the tube-opening function was evaluated endoscopically. Results showed that 6.

Immunogenicity of a combined hepatitis A and B vaccine in healthy young adults.

Combining several vaccines in a single formulation can change the potency of the vaccine antigens. Previous studies suggested a higher immunogenicity of a new combined hepatitis A and B vaccine compared with the monovalent hepatitis B vaccine. We investigated the immune response to hepatitis B surface antigen 1 month after the third vaccine dose in 282 healthy adults who had received either a monovalent hepatitis B vaccine (n=148) or the combined hepatitis A/B vaccine (n=134).

Expression of CD34-antigen in nasopharyngeal angiofibromas.

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded and frozen tissues of 24 patients with primary nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, of whom seven had recurrences, were studied immunohistochemically for the expression of CD34 antigen using two different antibodies (HPCA-1 and QBEND 10). In all cases, there was an exclusive staining of endothelial cells, while pericytes, smooth muscle cells and stromal fibroblasts were not reactive. The staining intensity, however, was more pronounced in small tumor vessels of capillary- and sinusoidal-type than in larger vessels, which were usually characterized by an irregular smooth muscle coat.

[Isolated unilateral otitis with facial nerve paralysis as initial symptom of Wegener granulomatosis. An unusual clinical course].

Background: Wegener's granulomatosis is an immunepathogenic disease of unknown origin. The histopathological picture shows granulomatous inflammation with epitheloid cells, granulomas, and general vasculitis. The diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis is made on the basis of the clinical picture, serum cANCA, and histologic examination of biopsies.

Immunohistochemical and electron microscopical characterization of stromal cells in nasopharyngeal angiofibromas.

Twenty-eight cases of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma were studied immunohistochemically for cytoskeletal phenotyping of stromal cells. Electron microscopy was also used to study the ultrastructure of five of the tumors. All typical stromal cells showed intensive immunostaining for vimentin, but were negative for smooth muscle actin and desmin.

Paragangliomas of the carotid bifurcation: oncological aspects of vascular surgery.

The present study reviews in concise form the past 12 years of our clinical experience with paragangliomas of the carotid body. Every aspect of the anatomical, histological and biological and biological behaviour of paragangliomas of the carotid body has been recorded in order to be able to define better surgical management and the clinical prognosis. In addition to the conventional histological methods of investigation we also applied immunohistochemistry and made use of electron microscopy.

[An interdisciplinary therapy concept in treatment of paragangliomas of the skull base--demonstrated with a case].

Surgical resection of paragangliomas in the cervical region is complicated due to the tumour vascularity and is associated with the risk of major intraoperative blood loss. Preoperative angiographic embolization of the tumour supplying arteries by intravascular injection of gelfoam and implantation of microcoils was performed to decrease tumour vascularity. We report the case of a 78 years old female patient suffering from a carotid body tumour.

Homoeopathic versus placebo therapy of children with warts on the hands: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Background: Despite the wide practical application of homoeopathy, scientific proof of its effectiveness and mechanisms is still lacking, and sound, placebo-controlled studies are scarce.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of homoeopathy in a prospective, double-blind randomized trial.

Methods: 60 children aged 6-12 years with common warts on the back of the hands were treated either with an individually selected homoeopathic preparation (n = 30) of at least a 1:1,012 dilution or with pure placebo in the form of saccharose globuli (n = 30) under double-blind conditions.

Ultrafast computed tomography and three-dimensional image processing of CT sialography in patients with parotid masses poorly defined by magnetic resonance imaging.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of ultrafast computed tomography (UF CT) in patients with parotid masses poorly defined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to evaluate the diagnostic potential of three-dimensional (3-D) UF CT sialography when compared with conventional CT sialograms. Thirteen patients with clinical suspicion of a parotid mass, in whom MRI was degraded by motion, underwent UF CT of the parotid region. Two radiologists independently assessed the CT and MR with respect to tumor localization, intraglandular tumor location, tumor margin characteristics, and infiltration of surrounding tissue.

[Personal experiences with endoscopic endonasal surgical technique in therapy of sinusitis in childhood].

At the ENT-Department of the University-Hospital of Graz the endoscopic-endonasal surgical approach according to Messerklinger and Stammberger has been used for years in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the paranasal sinuses in the paediatric population. Especially in children this technique concern the growing facial part of the skull and tooth buds. It is very safe and effective, since it is adapted to the physiology and pathophysiology of the respiratory mucosa.

[Haller's cells: morphologic evaluation and clinico-surgical relevance].

Ethmoidal cells that have developed into the floor of the orbit or into the roof of the maxillary sinus, respectively, are known as Haller's cells. 528 patients, in whom functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed, were explored regarding the presence of Haller's cells. 43 patients presented with Haller's cells at least on one side (8.