Introducing video calls in an intensive care unit during the COVID-19 lockdown: a qualitative study.

Introduction: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, visits to hospitals were prohibited. Therefore, new ways of communicating with relatives about and with patients were needed. This study aimed to explore experiences made with video calls in an adult ICU.

[Post-traumatic pyoderma gangrenosum: combination therapy with intravenous immunoglobulins and systemic corticosteroids].

Pyoderma gangraenosum is a rare, chronic type of skin ulceration of unknown aetiology. It occasionally appears following trauma. There are no set standards for the treatment of pyoderma gangraenosum.

[Photodynamic therapy of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma at special sites].

Therapy of the heterogenous group of primary cutaneous B- and T-cell lymphomas is based upon type of lymphoma and its staging. Treatment, especially for rare forms, has not yet been standardised. Two patients with uncommon primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas received both traditional therapy and topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) in areas that are difficult to reach with classic methods (ear, eyebrow, side of foot).

Prospective randomized multicenter clinical trial on the use of interferon -2a plus acitretin versus interferon -2a plus PUVA in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma stages I and II.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) constitutes a malignant proliferative disease involving mostly CD4(+) T cells arising in the skin. Because of the lack of curative treatment options, interferons (IFN) have been introduced into the therapy of CTCL. Although effective even in advanced disease, response rates were about 50% and the duration of response was short.

[Congenital poikiloderma with verruciform hyperkeratoses (Dowling type)].

A male patient with congenital poikiloderma (type Dowling) developed Bowen's disease and initial squamous cell carcinoma. As the patient suffered from hypertriglyceridaemia (Frederickson type IV) and a long term tumor prophylaxis with retinoids was not appropriate, we attempted to treat the hyperkeratotic plaques with dermabrasion. After a period of six month we found complete healing of several plaques and only slight keratoses left in a few others.

[Sarcoidosis in interferon-alpha therapy].

Sarcoidosis is characterised by the formation of sarcoidal granulomas in all affected organs. Despite intensive research, the cause of the disease in unknown. There are only a few reports suggesting an induction of sarcoidosis by interferons.

[Association of chronic urticaria with Helicobacter pylori-induced antrum gastritis].

In spite of its high incidence, not much is known about the etiology of chronic urticaria. We performed gastroscopic evaluation of 10 patients in whom no cause for chronic urticaria had been found. In 8 of these 10 patients, Helicobacter pylori was identified in the gastric mucosa.

[Therapy of Sézary syndrome by extracorporeal photochemotherapy].

Sézary syndrome is the leukemic and erythrodemic form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Since 1987 extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) has been available for treatment of erythrodermic CTCL in the USA. Through a group of case reports, we want to emphasize ECP as the treatment of choice for erythrodermic CTCL.

Combination therapy of cutaneous T cell lymphoma with interferon alpha-2a and photochemotherapy.

The efficacy of a combination treatment with interferon alpha-2a and photochemotherapy was investigated in 16 patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma. During the initial treatment, interferon alpha-2a was given subcutaneously at maximum dose of 9 million IU. Simultaneously, photo-chemotherapy with a maximum single dose of 3.

[Combination therapy with interferon alfa 2a and PUVA in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma].

Eleven patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma stages Ib-IV a were treated with a combination of interferon alfa-2a and photochemotherapy. The diagnosis was confirmed by histological and immunohistological investigations. During the initial treatment, interferon alfa-2a was given at a maximum dose of 9 million IU 3 times a week.

[Multiple woolly hair nevi with linear epidermal nevus and persistent pupillary membrane].

The woolly hair nevus is a very rare disease that only occurs sporadically. So far, approximately 48 patients with woolly hair nevus have been described in the world literature. Both sexes are equally affected.

Energy conservation in malolactic fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus sake.

A comparably poor growth medium containing 0.1% yeast extract as sole non-defined constituent was developed which allowed good reproducible growth of lactic acid bacteria. Of seven different strains of lactic acid bacteria tested, only Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus sake were found to catalyze stoichiometric conversion of L-malate to L-lactate and CO2 concomitant with growth.

[Squamous cell cancers in Hallopeau-Siemens recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa].

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is one of the most severe hereditary mechano-bullous diseases, characterized by scarring blister formation, nail dystrophy and onycholysis, cutaneous contractures, synechiae, mutilations of the hands and feet and oesophageal stenosis. With increasing age the patients may develop multiple, fast-growing and early-metastasizing squamous cell carcinomas. When epidermolysis is present, precise determination of which of the various forms is concerned is necessary soon after birth, to make it possible to advise parents about the prognosis of the disease and the likelihood of its occurrence in further children.

[Preoperative radiodiagnosis in dental-surgical interventions].

The goal of this study was to determine whether complications during the intervention can be forseen with an exact diagnosis. We therefore evaluated preoperative roentgenograms and analyzed the course of the operative intervention. Numerous additional pathologic findings, presented in diagrams, were identified on the orthopantomogram.

[Problems of iatrogenic jaw fractures].

Iatrogenic fractures of the jaw were analyzed epicritically, and the attempt was made to determine whether fractures can be avoided and, if so, what type. Preoperative bases for complications in the course of the intervention are present in most cases so that the danger of an iatrogenic fracture of the jaw can be avoided by precise diagnostic radiology.

[Screening newborn infants for phenylketonuria, histadinemia, homocystinuria and maple syrup disease. Results from north rhein-westphalia (1974-1976) (author's transl].

In North Rhein-Westphalia, 181 patients with phenylketonuria and 81 children with persistent phenylalaninemia were found from 1966-1973 during the phenylketonuria screening by the National Hygienic and Bacteriological Investigation Officials and the work of the Agency for tracing psychic disorders of metabolic origin. Continuation of the screenings and the work of the agency revealed 44 subjects with classical phenylketonuria and 27 with persistent phenylalaninemia between 1974 and 1976.

[Psychosomatics in gastroenterology].

With regard to the superimposed concept "psycho-somatic correlation" we describe the psychopathological mark "Alexithymia" and the related psychodynamic processes (object loss which cannot be mastered, together with following narcissistic insult and aggression defense). In the frame of the psychosomatic pathology are outlined the psychodynamic processes in patients suffering from functional gastrointestinal disorders, duodenal ulcer and ulcerative colitis. With regard to the superimposed concept "soma-to-psychic correlation" we describe the secondary-psychic reactions following the patient's perception of a failure of his bodily functions, namely: reactive anxieties and depression as well as dependency wishes and denial-work.