Prevalence of Back Pain among German Ophthalmologists.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of back pain among German ophthalmologists, to investigate the relationship towards age, gender, various profession-related factors, to correlate localization of pain to subspecialties, and to explore individual therapeutic and coping strategies.

Methods: In this prospective, cross-sectional survey, a 9-item questionnaire was sent via mail to all members of the German professional association of ophthalmologists "Berufsverband der Augenärzte Deutschlands e.V.

Frequency and individual severity of arterial blood pressure changes in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treated with methylphenidate hydrochloride: a prospective non-interventional study.

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioural disorder in childhood. The psychostimulant methylphenidate hydrochloride (MPH) is one of the major pharmacological options for ADHD. MPH is known to result, on average, in a small increase in arterial blood pressure (BP).

ROCK-ALS: Protocol for a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Phase IIa Trial of Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of the Rho Kinase (ROCK) Inhibitor Fasudil in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Disease-modifying therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are still not satisfactory. The Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor fasudil has demonstrated beneficial effects in cell culture and animal models of ALS. For many years, fasudil has been approved in Japan for the treatment of vasospasm in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage with a favorable safety profile.

Efficacy and safety of a fixed bimonthly ranibizumab treatment regimen in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration: results from the RABIMO trial.

Purpose: To evaluate prospectively the efficacy and safety of a fixed bimonthly ranibizumab treatment regimen (RABIMO) in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and to compare these results with a pro re nata (PRN) treatment scheme.

Methods: This was a 12-month, phase IV, single center, randomised, non-inferiority study. Following three initial monthly injections, patients were randomised to receive either ranibizumab bimonthly (RABIMO group) or ranibizumab PRN (PRN group) (n = 20 each).

Comparison of Two Clinical Protocols for Total Intravenous Anesthesia (TIVA) for Breast Surgery Using Propofol Combined With Either Sufentanil or Alfentanil.

Background: Sufentanil and alfentanil have pharmacokinetic and dynamic properties which make them favourable substances for total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) in combination with propofol.

Objectives: We planned to compare two clinical protocols for TIVA with propofol, and either sufentanil or alfentanil in regards to postoperative pain, hemodynamic stability during the case and time for emergence from anesthesia.

Patinets And Methods: Treaty eight patients scheduled for general anesthesia for breast surgery were included in this Double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

Do different vaginal tapes need different suburethral incisions? The one-half rule.

Aim: Despite a wide array of vaginal tapes to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI), evidence suggesting that both patient characteristics and tape positioning influence outcomes, and differing tape insertion pathways (retropubic vs. transobturator), it remains unclear if the same incision location is effective for all tapes. The aim of the study was to compare outcomes using two different surgical incision locations when inserting a transobturator vaginal tape (TOT) to treat SUI.

Rituximab after lymphoma-directed conditioning and allogeneic stem-cell transplantation for relapsed and refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (DSHNHL R3): an open-label, randomised, phase 2 trial.

Background: Allogeneic stem-cell transplantation has had limited success for patients with refractory and relapsed aggressive B-cell or T-cell lymphoma. We investigated the effect of adding rituximab to standard prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease after transplantation and estimated overall survival when using a lymphoma-directed myeloablative conditioning regimen.

Methods: We did this randomised, open-label, phase 2 study at seven German transplantation centres.

Challenges for academic investigator-initiated pediatric trials for rare diseases.

Background: Clinical trials require great effort, time, expertise, and money. For clinicians at university hospitals with their full work load of teaching and medical care, the planning of an investigator-initiated clinical trial seems almost unthinkable. Despite their expertise in distinct diseases, university clinicians lack the time necessary to organize the funding and to initiate and conduct Phase III clinical trials in adults or in children.

A randomized, double-blind, phase 2 study of erythropoietin in optic neuritis.

Objective: Based on findings in animal models of autoimmune optic nerve inflammation, we have assessed the safety and efficacy of erythropoietin in patients presenting with a first episode of optic neuritis.

Methods: Patients with optic neuritis who attended the University Hospitals of Homburg/Saar, Göttingen, or Hamburg (Germany) were included in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00355095).

Safety and Efficacy of the ACE-Inhibitor Ramipril in Alport Syndrome: The Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Phase III EARLY PRO-TECT Alport Trial in Pediatric Patients.

Introduction. Retrospective observational data show that ACE-inhibitor therapy delays renal failure and improves life expectancy in Alport patients with proteinuria. The EARLY PRO-TECT Alport trial assesses the safety and efficacy of early therapy onset with ramipril in pediatric Alport patients.

Tape functionality: position, change in shape, and outcome after TVT procedure--mid-term results.

Introduction And Hypothesis: This study evaluates the relevance of the tape position and change in shape (tape functionality) under in vivo conditions for mid-term outcome.

Methods: Changes in the sonographic tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) position relative to the percentage urethral length and the tape-urethra distance were determined after 6 and 48 months in 41 women with stress urinary incontinence.

Results: At 48 months, 76% (31/41) of women were cured, 17% (7/41) were improved, and 7% (3/41) were failures.

Influence of irradiated lung volumes on perioperative morbidity and mortality in patients after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Purpose: In some randomized trials, the treatment outcome of locally advanced esophageal cancer has been significantly improved by neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT). However, increased perioperative pulmonary toxicity in terms of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been linked to radiation exposure of the lungs. In our study we evaluated perioperative morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer Stages IIA-IVA treated with curative intent either with surgery alone (S) or with neoadjuvant RCT followed by surgery (RCTS).

Recent in vitro findings of negative inotropy of pantoprazole did not translate into clinically relevant effects on left ventricular function in healthy volunteers.

Purpose: Reports on cardiac problems with oral proton pump inhibitors have caused extensive safety reviews by the US Food and Drug Administration. We provide additional data on acute cardiac effects of an intravenous application.

Methods: Echocardiography was performed in 18 healthy volunteers after administration of a common high-dose regimen of pantoprazole (80 mg i.

The impact of the severity of sepsis on the risk of hypoglycaemia and glycaemic variability.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the relation between glycaemic control and the severity of sepsis in a cohort of patients treated with intensive insulin therapy (IIT).

Methods: In a prospective, observational study, all patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) (n = 191) with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock were treated with IIT (target blood glucose (BG) level 80 to 140 mg/dl instead of strict normoglycaemia). BG values were analysed by calculating mean values, rate of BG values within different ranges, rate of patients experiencing BG values within different levels and standard deviation (SD) of BG values as an index of glycaemic variability.

[Optimizing systems of care for patients with acute myocardial infarction. STEMI networks, telemetry ECG, and standardized quality improvement with systematic data feedback].

Rapid revascularization of the infarct-related artery importantly affects prognosis in the treatment of acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Treatment results can be improved significantly when a STEMI-specific structure of care is created and when systematic quality improvement measures are implemented. The necessary structural measures include establishing or participating in myocardial infarction networks.

Tape functionality: sonographic tape characteristics and outcome after TVT incontinence surgery.

Aim: To investigate tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) position and shape using ultrasound (US) and correlate the findings to outcome.

Material And Methods: The results of TVT surgery were investigated in 72 women with urodynamic stress urinary incontinence. The main outcome parameters were US tape position in relation to the urethra and dynamic changes in TVT shape at rest and during straining.

Contact-to-balloon time and door-to-balloon time after initiation of a formalized data feedback in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

For many patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs), the time from presentation to percutaneous coronary intervention exceeds established goals. This study was conducted to examine the effects of formalized data assessment and systematic feedback on treatment times. All patients with STEMIs treated with percutaneous coronary intervention in a semi-rural 3-hospital network from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2006, were prospectively analyzed (n = 114).

German cattle allergy study (CAS): public health relevance of cattle-allergic farmers.

Introduction: Allergic reactions caused by animals are a common and significant occupational health concern. In a large population-based study on occupational asthma in Europe, farming has been among the occupations with the highest risk.

Objectives: Characteristics of cattle-allergic farmers are described in a retrospective observational design.

A 5-year follow-up study on respiratory disorders and lung function in workers exposed to organic dust from composting plants.

Objectives: To evaluate acute and chronic effects of long-term exposure to organic dust on respiratory disorders and lung function among employees at 41 composting facilities in Germany.

Methods: A total of 218 compost workers and 66 control subjects were enrolled in the cohort. They were evaluated using a standardized questionnaire, a clinical examination, and spirometric measurements.

Funneling before and after anti-incontinence surgery--a prognostic indicator? Part 2: tension-free vaginal tape.

Does the presence of pre- and postoperative funneling of the proximal urethra affect the outcome of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT)? This prospective study of 191 women with proven primary genuine stress urinary incontinence treated by TVT insertion and assessed by pre- and postoperative introital ultrasound aims to answer that question. At 36-month follow-up, the cure rate was 89.5% (Kaplan-Meier estimator).

Urethral hypermobility after anti-incontinence surgery - a prognostic indicator?

The aim of this study was to define the concept of hypermobility of the bladder neck and determine its effects on the cure rate and postoperative complications in patients undergoing colposuspension. In a retrospective study, 310 patients who underwent primary colposuspension for urodynamically proven genuine stress urinary incontinence were assessed by introital ultrasound before surgery and during follow-up for up to 48 months postoperatively. A total of 152 women completed 48 months of follow-up.

Near-total splenectomy for hereditary spherocytosis: clinical prospects in relation to disease severity.

We prospectively studied the efficacy of near total splenectomy (NTS) for managing hereditary spherocytosis (HS) based on haemoglobin (Hb), total bilirubin and splenic remnant regrowth in 30 children receiving NTS for HS between November 1996 and December 2004 (mean followup 3.6 years). Patients were classified into three severity groups.

Effect of pentoxifylline and tocopherol on radiation proctitis/enteritis.

Background And Purpose: Chronic radiation proctitis/enteritis is a relevant complication of pelvic irradiation, which is still mainly treated by supportive measures only. There is some evidence that the combined treatment with pentoxifylline and tocopherol might alter the pathogenesis of radiation-induced fibrosis. In a retrospective analysis the clinical benefit of the treatment with pentoxifylline/tocopherol on radiation-induced proctitis/enteritis was evaluated, compared to supportive care only.