Patient-reported outcome measures for acute rhinosinusitis in adults and children: a systematic review of the quality of existing instruments.

Background: Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is a self-limiting inflammation of the nose and sinuses caused by viral or bacterial infections that requires primarily symptomatic treatment. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are suitable tools for the assessment of the effectiveness of remedies for ARS from the patient's perspective in clinical trials and real-world studies. Data regarding the quality of existing PROMs for ARS are limited.

Content Validity and Psychometric Properties of the German Version of the Holm and Cordoba Urinary Tract Infection Score for Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women: Protocol for a Validation Study.

Background: Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women are among the most common bacterial infections in primary care. Given the health threats related to the overuse of antibiotics, alternative options are of increasing importance. Patient-reported outcome measures are valuable tools for including the patients' perspective when evaluating the efficacy of these strategies.

[Follow-up outpatient clinics for patients with post COVID: a survey to assess and characterize aspects of care].

After acute infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, up to 10 % of affected individuals suffer from long-term health impairments, also referred to as "Post-COVID". In Germany, specialized outpatient clinics have been established to care for patients with Post-COVID. A structured survey of the care situation is not yet available, but essential for a demand-oriented care.

[Health-related quality of life : Concept, measurement and fields of application].

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is the most important patient-reported outcome in clinical trials and patient care. HRQoL is further considered as target variable in treatment guidelines and as outcome indicator in the evaluation of the quality of care. Numerous validated questionnaires are available for the assessment of HRQoL from the perspective of patients with skin diseases.

Quality of patient-reported outcome measures for primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review of the quality of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for primary dysmenorrhea (PDys) using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) methodology, and to derive recommendations for use of the PROMs.

Methods: We searched PubMed and Web of Science for studies reporting on the development and/or validation of any PROMs for women with PDys. Applying the COSMIN Risk of Bias Checklist, we assessed the methodological quality of each included study.

Polysomnographic characteristics of sleep in adults with and without physician-diagnosed atopic dermatitis: results from the Study of Health in Pomerania.

Purpose: To analyze sleep characteristics as measured with polysomnography (PSG) in adults from the general population with and without physician-diagnosed atopic dermatitis (AD).

Methods: We analyzed data from participants from the German population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) TREND-0. AD was diagnosed in a standardized skin examination.

Measurement properties of quality-of-life outcome measures for children and adults with eczema: A systematic review update 2.0.

A systematic review on measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for the assessment of quality of life (QoL) in children and adults with eczema was published in 2016 and updated in 2019. We now aimed to systematically assess the measurement properties of PROMs based on recently published development and validation studies regarding quality-of-life skin- or disease-specific PROMs using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines and integrate these findings with those from the 2019 update. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Embase.

Patient-reported outcome measures for uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women: a systematic review.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review of the quality of existing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for use in women with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) applying the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) methodology, and to derive recommendations for their use in future research.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed and Web of Science. Studies reporting on the development and/or validation of any PROMs for uncomplicated UTIs in women were considered eligible.

Childhood maltreatment is not associated with atopic dermatitis in adults: results from a cross-sectional population-based cohort study.

Background: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is related to poor physical and mental health outcomes in adults. Knowledge on the impact of CM on skin diseases is limited, and no study has previously addressed the association of CM with atopic dermatitis (AD) in adult age.

Objectives: To analyse the prevalence of CM in individuals with physician-diagnosed AD, and to examine the relationship between different types of CM with physician-diagnosed AD in a general population sample of German adults.

The longitudinal association of symptom-related and psychological factors with health-related quality of life in patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Objective: To analyze the course of symptom-related measures, psychological variables and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over a 12-month period, and to longitudinally examine symptom-related and psychological factors as predictors for HRQoL in male and female patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).

Methods: Data from 125 patients aged 19-83 years at baseline attending an interdisciplinary outpatient clinic for CPPS were analyzed. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on subjective health issues, and a postal follow-up survey was conducted 12 months later.

The association of childhood maltreatment, somatization and health-related quality of life in adult age: Results from a population-based cohort study.

Background: Population-based data regarding the relationship between childhood maltreatment (CM), somatization and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults are limited.

Objective: To investigate the association of CM history (emotional and physical abuse and neglect, sexual abuse) with somatization and with physical and mental HRQoL in adults.

Participants And Setting: Data from 2305 participants from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania were analyzed (aged 20 to 80 years).

Practical training in medical sociology "Analysis of social environments of living quarters". A field experiment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the summer semester 2020, a new format was introduced at the Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg for first-year medical students in the subject of medical sociology with a neighborhood-related social environment analysis. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the didactic concept had to be changed at short notice from seminar group-related fieldwork in different districts of Magdeburg to individual work at the place of study or home, supplemented by accompanying online offers. The students were asked to characterize their neighborhood in terms of quality of life, health and illness as well as medical care by means of interviews with inhabitants of their immediate living environment, a neighborhood inspection with the taking of photographs and an analysis of official secondary data.

Depression Partially Mediates the Association of Adverse Childhood Experiences with Pain Intensity in Patients with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Results from a Cross-Sectional Patient Survey.

Objective: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as emotional and physical maltreatment, are linked to chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) in adults. Psychological factors are important in understanding CPPS. We aimed to determine the nature and frequency of ACEs in male and female patients with CPPS and to investigate whether somatic symptoms and psychological comorbidities mediate the relationship of ACE severity with pain intensity.

Recall accuracy of notifications about incidental findings from an MRI examination: results from a population-based study.

Background: Self-reports of medical findings are indispensable in clinical practice and research but subject to recall bias. We analysed the recall accuracy of notifications about incidental findings (IFs) from a whole-body MRI examination and assessed determinants of recall error.

Methods: Data from 3746 participants of a postal follow-up survey conducted on average 2.

Somatic and psychosocial determinants of symptom severity and quality of life in male and female patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Aims: To investigate the combined impact of somatic and psychosocial factors on symptom severity and physical and mental quality of life (QoL) in male and female patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).

Methods: We examined 234 patients aged 18 to 84 years attending an interdisciplinary outpatient clinic for patients with CPPS in Hamburg, Germany. Using self-reports, we assessed CPPS symptom severity (NIH-CPSI), with the female counterpart of each male anatomical site used in the questionnaire for women; physical and mental QoL (SF-12) as well as symptoms of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7); pain catastrophizing cognitions (PCS); social support (F-SozU) and medication intake.

Predictors of Seeking Psychotherapy in Primary Care Patients with High Somatic Symptom Burden.

Many primary care patients with high somatic symptom burden do not initiate mental health treatment. Using a cross-sectional design, this study aimed to identify predictors of psychotherapy seeking behavior for patients with high somatic symptom burden within the last 12 months. Data from 20 primary care practices were analyzed.

Diagnosis of somatoform disorders in primary care: diagnostic agreement, predictors, and comaprisons with depression and anxiety.

Background: To investigate (a) the diagnostic agreement between diagnoses of somatoform disorders, depressive and anxiety disorders obtained from a structured clinical interview and diagnoses reported from primary care physicians (PCPs) and (b) to identify patient and PCP-related predictors for the diagnostic agreement regarding the presence of a somatoform disorder.

Methods: Data from a cross-sectional study comprising 112 primary care patients at high risk for somatoform disorders were analyzed. Diagnoses according to International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) for somatoform, depressive and anxiety disorders were obtained from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and compared with the diagnoses of the patients' PCPs documented in their medical records.

A comparative structural analysis of the surface properties of asco-laccases.

Laccases of different biological origins have been widely investigated and these studies have elucidated fundamentals of the generic catalytic mechanism. However, other features such as surface properties and residues located away from the catalytic centres may also have impact on enzyme function. Here we present the crystal structure of laccase from Myceliophthora thermophila (MtL) to a resolution of 1.

Successful liver-directed gene delivery by ERCP-guided hydrodynamic injection (with videos).

Background And Aims: A simple, safe, targeted, and efficient in vivo DNA delivery system is necessary for clinical-grade liver-targeted gene therapy in humans. Intravascular hydrodynamic gene delivery has been investigated in large animal models, but translation to humans has been hampered by its technical challenges, invasiveness, and potential for significant cardiovascular adverse events. We posited that intrabiliary delivery of DNA plasmids via ERCP-guided hydrodynamic injection could overcome these obstacles.

Cost-effectiveness Analysis of a Stepped, Collaborative and Coordinated Health Care Network for Patients with Somatoform Disorders (Sofu-Net).

Background: Somatoform disorders are highly prevalent mental disorders causing impairment and large economic burden. In order to improve the diagnosis and management of affected patients, a health care network for somatoform disorders (Sofu-Net) was implemented in primary care.

Aims Of The Study: The aim of the study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of a stepped, collaborative and coordinated health care network for somatoform and functional disorders (Sofu-Net) compared with regular primary care physician (PCP) practices in German primary care from a societal perspective.

Somatoform disorder in primary care: The influence of co-morbidity with anxiety and depression on health care utilization.

Rationale, Aims, And Objectives: Patients with somatoform disorders are frequent attenders in primary and secondary care. While co-morbid mental disorders, especially depression and anxiety, are frequently present, there is controversy on whether mental co-morbidity leads to higher health care utilization (HCU). The present paper investigates the influence of co-morbid depressive and anxiety disorders on primary, specialized somatic and mental HCU in primary care patients with somatoform disorders.

Alcohol consumption and cardiorespiratory fitness in five population-based studies.

Background Poor cardiorespiratory fitness is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity. Alcohol consumption contributes substantially to the burden of disease, but its association with cardiorespiratory fitness is not well described. We examined associations between average alcohol consumption, heavy episodic drinking and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Exosome miR-335 as a novel therapeutic strategy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and deadly cancer. Most cases of HCC arise in a cirrhotic/fibrotic liver, indicating that environment may play a paramount role in cancer genesis. Previous studies from our group and others have shown that, in desmoplastic cancers, there is a rich intercellular communication between activated, cancer-associated fibroblasts and cancer cells.