Publications by authors named "Ralf Kurz"

Background: We aimed to determine the longitudinal changes in pulmonary functions of adolescents with Pectus Excavatum who underwent the Nuss procedure, the minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE).

Methods: Lung function measurements were performed before bar implantation (T), at least six weeks to ten months after implantation (T), at least eleven months to sixty-one months after bar implantation (T) and at least two weeks after bar explantation (T).

Results: Data of 114 patients (83.

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Background: Contrary to adult inguinal hernia surgery, large-scale investigations using registries or administrative data are missing in paediatric surgery. We aimed to fill this gap by analysing German administrative hospital data to describe the current reality of inpatient hernia surgery in children.

Methods: We analysed aggregated data files bought from the German federals statistics office on hospital reimbursement data separately for principal diagnoses of inguinal hernia in children and for herniotomies in inpatients.

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Introduction: Esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) occurs approximately 1 in 3.500 live births representing the most common malformation of the upper digestive tract. Only half a century ago, EA/TEF was fatal among affected newborns suggesting that the steady birth prevalence might in parts be due to mutational de novo events in genes involved in foregut development.

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 The short- and long-term surgical results in patients with esophageal atresia (EA) with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) have been described in depth from a physician's perspective. Contrarily, the perception and coping strategies of affected patients and their parents have rarely been reported. The aim of this study was to generate data on this matter.

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Background:  Esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) represents the most common developmental malformation of the upper digestive tract. It is classified into six subtypes according to the classification of Vogt, depending on anatomical variation of this malformation. Around 50% of the patients with EA/TEF present additional anomalies, which often influence, next to the EA/TEF subtype, the overall prognosis of EA/TEF newborns.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the recurrence risk of esophageal atresia with/without trachea-esophageal fistula (EA/TEF) and associated VATER/VACTERL malformations in first-degree relatives of affected patients.
  • A group of 108 patients was analyzed, examining their 410 first-degree relatives for any signs of EA/TEF or VATER/VACTERL malformations.
  • Results showed that no first-degree relatives had EA/TEF, and although some showed VATER/VACTERL malformations, the risk was similar to that of a control group, indicating a low recurrence risk for these conditions in families.
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The study of the evolution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) requires blood samples collected longitudinally and data on the approximate time point of infection. Although these requirements were fulfilled in several previous studies, the infectious sources were either unknown or heterogeneous genetically. In the present study, HIV-1 env C2V3C3 (nt 7029-7315) evolution was examined retrospectively in a cohort of hemophiliacs.

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