Thoracic surgery - An underestimated dream job?

Background: Thoracic surgery is an expanding surgical specialty, but a shortage of qualified and motivated thoracic surgery residents is expected. It is estimated that around 23 % of all surgical specialist jobs will be vacant by 2030. We therefore need to assess the current clinical situation and urgently improve the recruitment and training of our next generation of surgeons.

[Deficit of trainees in thoracic surgery : Do we need to adapt or become extinct?].

Background: Although thoracic surgery is a challenging and versatile surgical specialty, a shortage of qualified and motivated thoracic surgery residents is expected in the coming years. In the inpatient setting, a shortage of approximately 7300 surgeons is expected. Therefore, there is an urgent need to attract more interested young medical students and improve the medical training of our next generation of surgeons.

Augmentation therapy with human alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor reduces exacerbations in patient with bronchiectasis and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a rare cause of noncystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis. The benefits of augmentation therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary emphysema are well established. The role of augmentation therapy in AATD bronchiectasis in patients without pulmonary emphysema is not clear.

Orphan drug development in alpha-1 antitypsin deficiency.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD, OMIM #613490) is a rare metabolic disorder affecting lungs and liver. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the US orphan drug act on AATD by providing a quantitative clinical-regulatory insight into the status of FDA orphan drug approvals and designations for compounds intended to treat AATD. This is across-sectional analysis of the FDA database for orphan drug designations.

Gender Differences in Health Care Workers' Risk-Benefit Trade-Offs for COVID-19 Vaccination.

Background: Gender differences in vaccine acceptance among health care workers (HCWs) are well documented, but the extent to which these depend on occupational group membership is less well studied. We aimed to determine vaccine acceptance and reasons of hesitancy among HCWs of respiratory clinics in Germany with respect to gender and occupational group membership.

Methods: An online questionnaire for hospital staff of all professional groups was created to assess experiences with and attitudes towards COVID-19 and the available vaccines.