Targeting the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) is not beneficial in an animal model of chronic neuritis.

The inhibition of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) is a promising therapeutic pathway in certain autoimmune disorders to reduce the amount of circulating pathogenic IgG autoantibodies by interfering with their recycling system. FcRn antibodies are currently being tested in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of an antibody targeting FcRn in the intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1)-deficient NOD mouse-a model representative for many aspects of human CIDP.

Enteric Ganglioneuritis, a Common Feature in a Subcutaneous TBEV Murine Infection Model.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a severe neurologic disease in Europe and Asia. Disease expression ranges from asymptomatic to severe neurological clinical pictures, involving meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis and potentially fatal outcome. Humans mostly become infected with TBE virus (TBEV) by the bite of an infected tick.

The Stable Matching Problem in TBEV Enzootic Circulation: How Important Is the Perfect Tick-Virus Match?

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), like other arthropod-transmitted viruses, depends on specific vectors to complete its enzootic cycle. It has been long known that ticks constitute the main vector for TBEV in Europe. In contrast to the wide distribution of the TBEV vector, the occurrence of TBEV transmission is focal and often restricted to a small parcel of land, whereas surrounding areas with seemingly similar habitat parameters are free of TBEV.

Tick populations from endemic and non-endemic areas in Germany show differential susceptibility to TBEV.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is endemic in twenty-seven European countries, transmitted via the bite of an infected tick. TBEV is the causative agent of one of the most important viral diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). In Germany, 890 human cases were registered between the years 2018-2019.

First Isolation and Phylogenetic Analyses of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Lower Saxony, Germany.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important tick-borne arboviral disease in Europe. Presently, the main endemic regions in Germany are located in the southern half of the country. Although recently, sporadic human TBE cases were reported outside of these known endemic regions.

Comparison of two algorithms for the application of real-time image mosaicking in neuroendoscopy.

Object: Neuroendoscopy is used more and more frequently in neurosurgical procedures and has become an important tool in the neurosurgical armamentarium. However, the main restriction of neuroendoscopy is the limited field of view. A better overview of the area of interest would increase surgical safety and decrease procedure-related morbidity rates.

Immunogenicity and safety of an inactivated 2012/2013 trivalent influenza vaccine produced in mammalian cell culture (Optaflu®): an open label, uncontrolled study.

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate immunogenicity and safety of the 2012/2013 seasonal influenza vaccine (Optaflu(®)) after the World Health Organization recommended two new strains for the composition.

Results: Twenty-one days post-vaccination geometric mean titers (GMTs) against A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and the B strain were 528, 935, and 201 for adults and 272, 681, and 101 for elderly subjects, respectively. The proportion of subjects with a HI titer of ≥ 40 against the three strains A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B was 98%, 100%, and 98% in adults and 100%, 100%, and 85% in elderly subjects, respectively.

[The young resident between work and family. Status quo and approaches to a solution in orthopedics and traumatology].

The compatibility between the family and the medical profession requires a new challenge of leadership in hospitals, politics and medical societies. The generation change in the medical profession needs the implementation of modern framework conditions in the departments of orthopedics and traumatology. Topics such as work organisation, family support and programs to assist the return to work need to be discussed and should be used as a competitive advantage.

Clinical significance of heterotopic ossification in cervical disc replacement: a prospective multicenter clinical trial.

Objective: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a well-known complication in joint replacements, but its occurrence and clinical effect on cervical artificial discs has not yet been studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of HO in cervical disc replacement, to identify any associated risk factors for HO, and to examine the relationship of HO with clinical outcomes.

Methods: The patient data for this observational study were obtained from the original Bryan Disc Study by the European Consortium.

Intermediate follow-up after treatment of degenerative disc disease with the Bryan Cervical Disc Prosthesis: single-level and bi-level.

Study Design: Prospective, concurrently enrolled, multicenter trials of the Bryan Cervical Disc Prosthesis (Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Memphis, TN) were conducted for the treatment of patients with single-level and two-level (bi-level) degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine.

Objectives: The studies were designed to determine whether new functional intervertebral cervical disc prosthesis can provide relief from objective neurologic symptoms and signs, improve the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living, decrease pain, and maintain stability and segmental motion.

Summary Of Background Data: The concept of accelerated degeneration of adjacent disc levels as a consequence of increased stress caused by interbody fusion of the cervical spine has been widely postulated.

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation versus usual care for chronic low back pain in the community: effects on quality of life.

Background Context: Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation has been shown in controlled studies to improve pain and function in patients with chronic back pain. However, specialized back pain rehabilitation centers are rare and only a few patients can participate on this therapy. Implementation of multidisciplinary rehabilitation services in community medicine may enhance both early availability and treatment capacity for comprehensive back pain rehabilitation.

[Outcome quality of treatment for chronic low back pain under primary care conditions].

Background: Little is known about the outcome quality of treatment for chronic low back pain under primary care conditions in Germany.

Methods: All physicians (2100) of middle Franconia, a region of Bavaria with 1.6 million inhabitants, involved in outpatient management were asked to include consecutively patients who suffered from low back pain of at least 4 weeks duration without decreasing intensity.

[Structure quality in outpatient care of chronic pain patients].

Background: Outcome quality of medical treatment depends on structure quality of the treatment facility. In the present study we tried evaluate structural parameters of outpatient treatment facilities relating to management of headache, low back pain and cancer pain.

Methods: 109 outpatient treatment facilities (104 offices, 3 outpatient departments of hospitals, 2 pain ambulances of hospitals) in middle franconia, one of the larger Bavarian administrative division (population: 1,6 Mio.

Reversible prolongation of motor conduction time after transcranial magnetic brain stimulation after neurogenic claudication in spinal stenosis.

Study Design: A consecutive and controlled cohort study.

Objectives: To assess the value of motor conduction time (MCT) between cortex and symptomatic leg muscles after transcranial magnetic brain stimulation as an indicator of reversible root ischemia in patients with neurogenic claudication in spinal stenosis.

Summary Of Background Data: Neurogenic claudication in spinal stenosis is thought to result from transient ischemia of active nerve root fibers.

Preliminary clinical experience with the Bryan Cervical Disc Prosthesis.

Objective: The concept of accelerated degeneration of adjacent disc levels as a consequence of increased stress caused by interbody fusion of the cervical spine has been widely postulated. Therefore, reconstruction of a failed intervertebral disc with a functional disc prosthesis should offer the same benefits as fusion while simultaneously providing motion and thereby protecting the adjacent level discs from the abnormal stresses associated with fusion. This study was designed to determine whether a new, functional intervertebral cervical disc prosthesis can provide relief from objective neurological symptoms and signs, improve the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living, decrease pain, and provide stability and normal range of motion.

[Interventions for improvement of primary care in patients with low back pain: how effective are advice to primary care physicians on therapies and a multimodal therapy program arising out of cooperation of outpatient health care structures?].

Background: Treatment for chronic low back pain in primary care has a poor-quality outcome. There is evidence that multimodal therapy is the most successful approach to its management. We tried to evaluate whether giving primary care physicians evidence-based recommendations on therapy of chronic back pain or directly implementing a multimodal program would improve the outcome of patients with low back pain treated in primary care.

[Orthopedic hippotherapy in postoperative rehabilitation of lumbar intervertebral disk patients. A prospective, randomized therapy study].

In a prospectively randomized therapy study the influence of a new therapeutical approach, called "Orthopedic Horseback-Riding-Therapy (OHRT)", was evaluated on the postoperative rehabilitation after lumbal discectomie in 16 patients against an identical numbered control group. In comparison with the reference group the utilization of OHRT not only produced an improvement in the patients' self evaluation of their postoperative condition (McNab Score). Also a significant reduction of postoperative work disablement could be achieved.

[The operative treatment of the cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Indication and technique].

The cervical spondylotic myelopathy is the most frequent spinal dysfunction. Its spontaneous course is very variable, from progress to stagnation. This makes prognosis and decision-making difficult for conservative or operative treatment.

[Surgical therapy of spondylogenic cervical myelopathy. Indications and techniques].

The cervical spondylotic myelopathy is the most frequent spinal dysfunction. Its spontaneous course is very variable, from progress to stagnation. This makes prognosis and decision-making difficult for conservative or operative treatment.

[Diagnosis, analysis and evaluation of functional disorders of the upper cervical spine within the scope of whiplash injuries with nuclear magnetic resonance tomography].

We tested the diagnosis of malfunctions in the upper cervical spine after whiplash injury using MRI. In the spinal segments C 0-1 and C 1-2 MRI functional diagnosis showed clear advantages compared to X-ray diagnosis. Apart from data about the normal course of movement in these joints it was possible to classify and reproduce malfunctions exactly.

Ultrastructural localization of keratin and alpha-L-fucose in human eccrine sweat glands.

Human eccrine sweat glands were embedded in Lowicryl K4M. Cytokeratin proteins and blood group H antigen were localized by applying a postembedding immunogold method using a monoclonal antikeratin antibody and the lectin Ulex europaeus I. The antikeratin antibody labeled intermediate filaments in the secretory coil and dermal duct.

[Benign tumors of the spine].

The most common benign tumors and tumor-like lesions are presented from the aspects of localization in the spinal column and the resulting implications for diagnosis and therapy. For some of these tumors (aneurysmal bone cysts, osteoblastomas, giant cell tumors), von Enneking's suggested staging classification (latent, active, aggressive) is valuable for planning the operation (curettage, tumor removal with healthy tissue margins, wide en bloc resection). If the tumor stage is evaluated preoperatively, problems can be avoided such as overtreatment leading to loss of stability that could have been avoided or the danger of recurrence because the operation was not sufficiently radical.

[Technic of ventral spondylodesis of the lower cervical spine].

Anterior fusion of the lower cervical spine is usually performed without difficulty. The surgical technique is simple and normally involves little risk. The indication and technique depend completely on the clinical picture; otherwise, the results are unavoidably poor.