Reduction of transfusion requirements in pediatric craniosynostosis surgery by a new local hemostatic agent.

Background And Objectives: Craniosynostosis surgery is often associated with severe perioperative bleeding especially due to venae emissariae, resulting in large transfusion amounts of packed red blood cells (PRBCs). Blood loss from venae emissariae is usually reduced by the usage of bone wax. SeraSeal is a new hemostatic agent which might help to reduce transfusion amounts if used additionally to bone wax.

Accuracy of a smartphone application using fractal image analysis of pigmented moles compared to clinical diagnosis and histological result.

Background: Lately, various smartphone applications have been introduced as diagnostic self-monitoring tools in the evaluation of pigmented moles, but most of these techniques have not been evaluated systematically.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the sensitivity and specificity of a recently developed smartphone application using fractal image analysis for the risk evaluation algorithm in the diagnosis of malignant melanoma compared to clinical diagnosis and histopathological result.

Methods: Consecutive patients with melanocytic lesions were recruited and clinical and dermoscopical diagnosis was documented by two dermatologists independently.

Neonatal blue light phototherapy increases café-au-lait macules in preschool children.

Unlabelled: Neonatal blue light phototherapy (NBLP) is an effective treatment for hyperbilirubinaemia. Concerning the influence on melanocytic nevi, conflicting studies have been published. To assess the role of NBLP according to the incidence of melanocytic nevi in preschool children, a cohort of 104 5- to 6-year-old children were included.

Association of oestrogen-containing contraceptives with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis in women with tuberous sclerosis complex--findings from a survey.

OBJECTIVES About 30-40% of women with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) develop pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Oestrogen seems to be involved in LAM pathogenesis and oestrogen-containing contraception should be avoided in women with known LAM. However, there is very little data on the use of contraceptives in TSC patients.

Levetiracetam vs. sulthiame in benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes in childhood: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial (German HEAD Study).

Objective: To show non-inferiority of levetiracetam to sulthiame with respect to efficacy, tolerability and safety in benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes in a prospective, double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Methods: A sample size of 60 subjects (treatment group) was calculated to show reliable statistical results for non-inferiority. A total of 44 patients could be randomly allocated to either (LEV or STM) treatment group.

Frequency of bilateral cervical metastases in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective analysis of 352 cases after bilateral neck dissection.

Background: The decision whether to perform an elective neck dissection in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and clinically negative lymph nodes (cN0) is made based on the probability of micrometastases in the neck for the given subsite and size of the primary. To date there is limited information about contralateral and bilateral cervical lymph node metastases of oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of 352 patients with oropharyngeal SCC who received a bilateral neck dissection.

Acupuncture in acute herpes zoster pain therapy (ACUZoster) - design and protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Acute herpes zoster is a prevalent condition. One of its major symptoms is pain, which can highly influence patient's quality of life. Pain therapy is limited.

Circulation of CD34+ progenitor cell populations in patients with idiopathic dilated and ischaemic cardiomyopathy (DCM and ICM).

Aims: This study aimed at analysing the endogenous stem cell circulation in patients suffering from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM).

Methods And Results: Cytokines in peripheral blood were analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and circulating CD34(+) stem cell populations (CD34(+)CD133(+), CD34(+)CD31(+), CD34(+)CXCR-4(+)) were measured by flow cytometry in DCM patients (n = 25), ICM patients (n = 15), and controls (n = 10). Explanted DCM (n = 5), ICM (n = 4) and normal hearts (n = 5) were analysed for the expression of several homing factors [stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), Stem cell factor (SCF), HIF-1a, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), and Hepatocyte growth factor] by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Perceived risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and dietary behavior.

The German BSE crisis in early 2001 can be considered as a natural experiment with strong behavioral consequences. The present study investigated psychological and other factors associated with reduced meat consumption compared to the first months of the previous year. As expected, all types of meat, with the exception of poultry and game, were eaten less often.

[Evalutation of health monitoring in Bavaria by computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) in comparison to the German National Health Examination Survey conducted in 1998 by the Robert Koch Institute].

Between June 1999 and May 2000, 2051 residents of Bavaria were interviewed on health and health-related behaviour. The objective of the study was to assess the representativeness and validity of data acquired by computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) as compared to results of the German National Health Examination Survey 1998. The following variables showed excellent agreement: subjective health status, lifetime disease prevalences, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, cancer, asthma, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, utilisation of medical services, and smoking habits (prevalence of present and former smoking, average cigarette consumption per day).

[Population-based health monitoring via computer-assisted telephone interviews in Bavaria].

From June 1999 until May 2000, 2051 computer-assisted telephone interviews concerning health and health related behaviours were assessed in Bavarian households. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the validity and representativity of this data by a comparison of selected variables from the Bavarian Mikrozensus-survey 1999. The distribution patterns of the marital status, the size of the households, the gainful employment, the household-netto-income, the school qualification and of the smoking status correspond well with those of the Mikrozensus 1999.

Standardization of non-aggregated data: theory and practice.

Direct standardization of rates is a classical method in epidemiology by which the relationship between confounders and variables of analysis is balanced between the samples or populations to be compared. While the method is appropriate if single variables of aggregated data sets are to be compared, it is limited with respect to handling many variables of different measurement scale, especially in primary data situations. Therefore the method of direct standardization is adapted to the analysis of non-aggregated data.

Maximal inspiratory mouth pressures (PIMAX) in healthy subjects--what is the lower limit of normal?

Background: Maximal inspiratory mouth pressures are suitable for non-invasive evaluation of respiratory muscle function. Different studies on PIMAX give predicted normal values and their relation to anthropometric data. Due to a large inter-subject variation of PIMAX, predicted values, however, maximal inspiratory mouth pressures are not suitable to define the individual expected normal PIMAX.