Habit Reversal Therapy: An Underutilized Treatment for Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin condition characterized by a history of recurring pruritic lesions that are worsened by scratching. Therapeutic outcomes may be optimized by minimizing the scratching of pruritic AD lesions, which is often particularly challenging for pediatric populations. Alongside topical and systemic therapies, research supports the use of habit reversal therapy for AD to mitigate the urge to scratch.

Efficacy of emicizumab in patients with severe haemophilia A without factor VIII inhibitors in Germany: evaluation of real-life data documented by the smart medication eDiary.

Background: Systematically documented data on real-world use of emicizumab, a bispecific antibody factor (F)VIII mimetic, are still lacking in people with severe haemophilia A (PwSHA). Smart medication, a real-time, online platform, monitors treatment administration and outcomes for people with haemophilia A in Germany.

Objective: To evaluate annualised bleeding rates (ABRs) and annualised joint bleeding rates (AJBRs), using data documented in the smart medication eDiary, for PwSHA receiving emicizumab.

Mitral Valve Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (MV-TEER) in Patients with Secondary Mitral Regurgitation Improves Hemodynamics, Enhances Renal Function, and Optimizes Quality of Life in Patients with Advanced Renal Insufficiency.

Background/objectives: Secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common valvular heart disease burdening the prognosis of patients with co-existing chronic heart failure. Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (MV-TEER) is a minimally invasive treatment option for high-risk patients. However, the effects of MV-TEER on expanded hemodynamics, tissue perfusion, and quality of life, particularly in patients with advanced renal failure, remain underexplored.

EPOS-OHCA: Early Predictors of Outcome and Survival after non-traumatic Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Background: Post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) poses significant challenges due to its complex pathomechanisms involving inflammation, ischemia, and reperfusion injury. The identification of early available prognostic indicators is essential for optimizing therapeutic decisions and improving patient outcomes.

Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, we analyzed real-world data from 463 OHCA patients with either prehospital or in-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), treated at the Cardiac Arrest Center of the University Hospital of Marburg (MCAC) from January 2018 to December 2022.

Microbiological Profiles after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Exploring the Relationship between Infection, Inflammation, and the Potential Effects of Mechanical Circulatory Support.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) poses significant management challenges, exacerbated by inflammatory responses and infectious complications. This study investigates the microbiological profiles and impacts of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) on inflammation and infection in OHCA patients. We retrospectively analyzed microbiological data from various specimens of 372 OHCA patients, who were treated at the Cardiac Arrest Center of the University Hospital of Marburg from January 2018 to December 2022.

Early risk predictors of acute kidney injury and short-term survival during Impella support in cardiogenic shock.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most frequent and prognostic-relevant complications of cardiogenic shock (CS) complicating myocardial infarction (MI). Mechanical circulatory assist devices (MCS) like left ventricular Impella microaxial pump have increasingly been used in the last decade for stabilization of hemodynamics in those patients. Moreover, a protective effect of Impella on renal organ perfusion could recently be demonstrated.

Early goal-directed management after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: lessons from a certified cardiac Arrest centre.

Background: Despite continuous advances in post-resuscitation management, outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is limited. To improve the outcome, interdisciplinary Cardiac Arrest Centers (CACs) have been established in recent years, but survival remains low and treatment strategies vary considerably in clinical and geographical aspects. Here we analyzed a strategy of in-hospital post-resuscitation management while evaluating the outcome.

Monitoring a Mystery: The Unknown Right Ventricle during Left Ventricular Unloading with Impella in Patients with Cardiogenic Shock.

: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction or failure occurs in more than 30% of patients in cardiogenic shock (CS). However, the importance of timely diagnosis of prognostically relevant impairment of RV function is often underestimated. Moreover, data regarding the impact of mechanical circulatory support like the Impella on RV function are rare.

Prognosis of pacing-dependent patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices.

Background: Data on the prognostic significance of pacing dependency in patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are sparse.

Methods: The prognostic significance of pacing dependency defined as absence of an intrinsic rhythm ≥ 30 bpm was determined in 786 patients with CIEDs at the authors' institution using univariate and multivariate regression analysis to identify predictors of all-cause mortality.

Results: During 49 months median follow-up, death occurred in 63 of 130 patients with pacing dependency compared to 241 of 656 patients without pacing dependency (48% versus 37%, hazard ratio [HR] 1.

Discussion of hemodynamic optimization strategies and the canonical understanding of hemodynamics during biventricular mechanical support in cardiogenic shock: does the flow balance make the difference?

Background: Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices may stabilize patients with severe cardiogenic shock (CS) following myocardial infarction (MI). However, the canonical understanding of hemodynamics related to the determination of the native cardiac output (CO) does not explain or support the understanding of combined left and right MCS. To ensure the most optimal therapy control, the current principles of hemodynamic measurements during biventricular support should be re-evaluated.

The Impact of Positive Inotropic Therapy on Hemodynamics and Organ Function in Acute Heart Failure: A Differentiated View.

Background: Little is known about the impact of treatment with inotropic drugs on the interaction of hemodynamics, biomarkers, and end-organ function in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF) of different origins and heart rhythms.

Methods: Fifty patients with different causes of acute decompensated HF (dilated cardiomyopathy DCM, ischemic cardiomyopathy ICM, atrial fibrillation AF, sinus rhythm/pacemaker lead rhythm SR/PM) were treated with dobutamine or levosimendan. Non-invasive hemodynamics, biomarkers, and parameters of renal organ function were evaluated at hospital admission and after myocardial recompensation (day 5 to 7).

Nutrient deficiencies in children with celiac disease during long term follow-up.

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is associated with malabsorption and consequential nutritional deficiencies. Patients with CD must follow a gluten-free diet (GFD), which is also associated with nutrient deficiencies. Despite the clinical significance, consensus is lacking on the pattern and frequency of nutrient deficiencies in CD and the usefulness of assessment during follow-up.

Environmental factors and their impact on the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in numerous cases of illness and death worldwide. Research has shown that there are associations between transmission, as well as the severity of SARS-CoV‑2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infections, and various environmental factors. For example, air pollution with particulate matter is thought to play a crucial role, and both climatic and geographical aspects must be considered.

A practical approach for the treatment of post-COVID symptoms.

For the past 3 years, our daily lives have been largely dictated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In many people, this infectious disease leads to long-lasting symptoms, which can vary greatly in form and intensity between individuals. This report describes the case of a young patient who had no health restrictions until she came into contact with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Celiac Disease and the Gluten Free Diet during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Children and Parents.

The COVID-19 pandemic perturbed the everyday life of children and those with chronic illnesses, along with the lives of their families. Patients with celiac disease (CD) follow a strict gluten-free diet (GFD), and gluten ingestion is associated with negative health outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of children with CD and their families concerning their GFD, symptoms and CD management during the first period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Lifestyle and Wellbeing of Children, Adolescents and Their Parents: A Qualitative Study.

Prior studies have shown that changes in daily structure and habits due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected the lifestyle and wellbeing of families. This study aimed to obtain in-depth information on children's and adolescents' experiences regarding their lifestyle and wellbeing during the pandemic. Semi-structured interviews with fifteen families were carried out between May and November 2021.

Hemoadsorption as part of a multimodal therapy concept to treat Capnocytophaga sepsis with thrombocytopenia and multiple organ failure.

Background: bacteria native to the oral flora of canines, in rare cases can lead to severe infections resulting in septic shock, respiratory tract infection, and multiple organ failure. In case of trauma following animal bites with rapidly progressing clinical courses, also adjunctive therapeutic measures such as extracorporeal blood purification therapies might be beneficial.

Case Presentation: We report on a 68-year-old male who was hospitalized with fever, oliguria and repeated vomiting after suffering a minor bite by his dog.

A reinforced PDMS mold for hot embossing of cyclic olefin polymer in the fabrication of microfluidic chips.

Hot embossing is a cost-effective and flexible fabrication technology with high replication accuracy for feature sizes as small as 50 nm. Here we develop a reinforced polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mold for hot embossing of cyclic olefin polymer (COP) sheets in the fabrication of microfluidic chips and demonstrate the method by fabricating chips for automated sample digitization in digital nucleic acid assays. The PDMS is hardened by adding an investment powder as a dopant and is constrained with an aluminum frame to prevent lateral expansion during hot pressing.

Chronological Development of Cardiovascular Disease in Times of COVID-19: A Retrospective Analysis of Hospitalized Diseases of the Circulatory System and COVID-19 Patients of a German University Hospital.

This study aims at examining the chronological development of hospitalized cardiovascular and COVID-19 patients and comparing the effects on related sub-disciplines and main diagnoses for pre-pandemic (2017-2019) and pandemic (2020-2021) years in the setting of a German university maximum care provider. Data were retrospectively retrieved from the hospital performance controlling system for patient collectives with main diagnosis of diseases of the circulatory system (n) and COVID-19 secondary diagnosis (n). The cardiovascular patient collective (n = 25,157) depicts a steady state in terms of relative yearly development of patient numbers (+0.

Adapting Child Health Knowledge Translation Tools for Use by Indigenous Communities: Qualitative Study Exploring Health Care Providers' Perspectives.

Background: Our research groups have developed a number of parental knowledge translation (KT) tools to help families understand common childhood illnesses and make informed decisions regarding when to seek urgent care. We have developed a series of videos to help parents understand how to manage common acute childhood illnesses at home and when to contact emergency health care services. It is unclear whether the videos in their current form and language are useful for a wider range of populations, including Indigenous groups.

Management of a severe abdominal compartment complicating fulminant cardiogenic-septic shock: An abdominal arterio-venous single-tube ECMO bypass saved a young patient's life after OHCA.

Introduction: In severe cardiogenic shock, for example, following cardiac arrest, the implantation of an extracorporeal hemodynamic assist device often seems to be the last option to save a patient's life. However, even though our guidelines provide a class-IIa-recommendation to implant a veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vaECMO) device in these patients, the accompanying disease- and device-associated complications and their consequences remain challenging to handle.

Case Presentation: A 43-year-old patient presented with severe cardiogenic-septic shock with a complicating abdominal compartment due to a prolonged out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Digital Quantification of Human Viral RNA and DNA Using a Self-Digitization Chip.

Digital nucleic acid quantitation methods show excellent sensitivity and specificity for pathogen detection. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is the most advanced digital nucleic acid quantitation method and has been commercialized, but is not suitable for many point-of-care applications due to its complex instrumentation. Here we describe a simple microfluidics-based self-digitization (SD) chip for quantifying nucleic acids at the point of care with minimal instrumentation.

[Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in Preclinical Emergency Medicine].

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a common diagnosis in preclinical emergency medicine. The term summarizes the acute manifestations of coronary artery disease. It ranges from unstable angina pectoris via cardiogenic shock to sudden cardiac death.