Positive effect of colors and art in patient rooms on patient recovery after total hip or knee arthroplasty : A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Environmental stimuli and well-being are considered to be significant factors in patients' rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to describe the effect of colors and art in hospital rooms on patients' recovery after total hip or knee arthroplasty.

Methods: We performed a prospective randomized, controlled study including 80 patients.

Hospital admissions of acute cerebrovascular diseases during and after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a state-wide experience from Austria.

We investigated hospital admission rates for the entire spectrum of acute cerebrovascular diseases and of recanalization treatments for ischaemic stroke (IS) in the Austrian federal state of Styria during and also after the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wave. We retrospectively identified all patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA), IS and non-traumatic intracranial haemorrhage (ICH; including intracerebral, subdural and subarachnoid bleeding types) admitted to one of the 11 public hospitals in Styria (covering > 95% of inhospital cerebrovascular events in this region). Information was extracted from the electronic medical documentation network connecting all public Styrian hospitals.

Low incidence of coronary angiography in the evaluation process of the potential heart donor.

Introduction: We investigated the practice of coronary angiography (CA) on donor hearts.

Patients And Methods: Between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2010, all reported organ donors aged <66 years were analyzed retrospectively. Donor charts were evaluated regarding a performed CA, its outcome, the timing of CA during the evaluation process, and reasons for organ refusal.

Socio-economic effects and cost saving potential of remote patient monitoring (SAVE-HM trial).

Objective: In the SAVE-trial we evaluated the safety, reliability and improvements of patient management using the BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring®-System (HM) in pacemaker (PM) and implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients.

Design: 115 PM (Module A) and 36 ICD-patients (Module B) were recruited 3 months after implantation.

Patients: 65 patients in Module A were randomised to HM-OFF and had one scheduled outpatient clinic follow-up(FU) per year, whereas patients randomised to HM-ON were equipped with the mobile transmitter and discharged without any further scheduled in-office FU.

A randomized controlled clinical trial of pacemaker follow-up in clinic and by telemedical interpretation of the pacemakers' magnet mode.

We assessed a two-stage follow-up procedure for cardiac pacemakers, where in-clinic follow-ups were partly replaced by telemedical follow-ups. This was compared with the standard follow-up regime (in-clinic follow-up only). The new procedure required an electronic patient record, a telemedical follow-up unit for recording ECGs while the pacemaker was temporarily set to magnet mode, an ECG processing unit, and a reviewing and reporting unit.

Knowledge and attitude of ICU nurses, students and patients towards the Austrian organ donation law.

Background: A survey on the knowledge and attitudes towards the Austrian organ donation legislation (an opt-out solution) of selected groups of the Austrian population taking into account factors such as age, gender, level of education, affiliation to healthcare professions and health related studies was conducted.

Methods: An online survey among 3 target groups (ICU nurses, health science students and non health science students) was performed and results were compared to the answers from transplantation patients to a paper questionnaire. A total of 8415 persons were asked to participate in the survey and 2025 (24%) persons correctly completed the questionnaire.

The role of CYP2C8 genotypes in dose requirement and levels of everolimus after heart transplantation.

Everolimus is an immunosuppressive drug metabolized by enzymes of the CYP family. A common variant of the CYP2C8 gene, CYP2C8*3, results in strongly decreased CYP2C8 activity, but its role for the pharmacogenetics of everolimus remains unclear. Aim of the present study was to examine the role of CYP2C8 variants in everolimus dose and drug levels after heart transplantation.

Reperfusion of liver graft during transplantation: techniques used in transplant centres within Eurotransplant and meta-analysis of the literature.

It remains unclear which liver graft reperfusion technique leads to the best outcome following transplantation. An online survey was sent to all transplant centres (n = 37) within Eurotransplant (ET) to collect information on their technique used for reperfusion of liver grafts. Furthermore, a systematic review of all literature was performed and a meta-analysis was conducted based on patients' mortality, number of retransplantations and incidence of biliary complications, depending on the technique used.

Complication profile of the Berlin Heart EXCOR biventricular support in children.

In chronic cardiomyopathy, mechanical circulatory support (MCS) plays an increasingly important role for children as the shortage of suitable donor hearts increases waiting time on the transplant list. We report our experience with the paracorporal Berlin Heart EXCOR System (Berlin Heart AG, Berlin, Germany) used as a biventricuclar assist device (BVAD). Nine patients with a BVAD EXCOR system were treated between 2006 and 2012; out of these patients, four were less than 18 years old (6, 14, 14, and 17 years old).

Establishing a donation after cardiac death model in pigs.

Introduction: Due to the lack of human donors, several strategies have sought to expand the organ pool. Efforts to characterize donation after cardiac death (DCD) have included studies of cell viability, histological and immunohistochemical changes, and oxidative stress, which is known to negatively impact graft survival. A large animal model would be useful for these inquiries.

Establishing a brain-death donor model in pigs.

Introduction: An animal model that imitates human conditions might be useful not only to monitor pathomechanisms of brain death and biochemical cascades but also to investigate novel strategies to ameliorate organ quality and functionality after multiorgan donation.

Methods: Brain death was induced in 15 pigs by inserting a catheter into the intracranial space after trephination of the skull and augmenting intracranial pressure until brain stem herniation. Intracranial pressure was monitored continuously; after 60 minutes, brain death diagnostics were performed by a neurologist including electroencephalogram (EEG) and clinical examinations.

Prehospital care of left ventricular assist device patients by emergency medical services.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are frequently implanted as permanent (bridge to destination [BTD]) or temporary (bridge to transplantation [BTT]) cardiac support. When LVAD patients are discharged to home, they are very likely to require emergency medical services (EMS), but there is very little literature on out-of-hospital emergency care for patients with LVADs. We present two typical cases of LVAD patients for whom EMS was called.

Energy status of pig donor organs after ischemia is independent of donor type.

Background: Literature is controversial whether organs from living donors have a better graft function than brain dead (BD) and non-heart-beating donor organs. Success of transplantation has been correlated with high-energy phosphate (HEP) contents of the graft.

Methods: HEP contents in heart, liver, kidney, and pancreas from living, BD, and donation after cardiac death in a pig model (n=6 per donor type) were evaluated systematically.

Effect of oxidative stress and endotoxin on human serum albumin in brain-dead organ donors.

Albumin, among other molecules, binds and detoxifies endotoxin in healthy people. Oxidative stress leads to protein oxidation and thus to the impaired binding properties of albumin. This property, in combination with increased gut permeability, leads to the appearance of endotoxin in the systemic circulation and to impaired organ function.

Everolimus in different combinations as maintenance immunosuppressive therapy in heart transplant recipients.

Objectives: We examined the experiences of heart transplant recipients receiving everolimus as maintenance therapy in different combinations over a long time.

Materials And Methods: Between 2004 and 2009, forty patients (29 men, 11 women; mean age, 51.6 y) were switched from a routine immunosuppressive regimen to everolimus.

Impact of temperature on cell death in a cell-culture model of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) where tumour cells are destroyed by heat. However, there is lack of knowledge about cellular reactions after heating. Therefore, we studied cell death after heat application in a cell-culture setting mimicking HCC.

The assessment of GFR after orthotopic liver transplantation using cystatin C and creatinine-based equations.

The measurement of kidney function after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is still a clinical challenge. Cystatin C (CysC) has been proposed as a more accurate marker of renal function than serum creatinine (sCr). The aim of this study was to evaluate sCr- and CysC-based equations including the Chronic kidney disease (CKD)-EPI to determine renal function in liver transplant recipients.

A 10min "no-touch" time - is it enough in DCD? A DCD animal study.

Donation after cardiac death (DCD) is under investigation because of the lack of human donor organs. Required times of cardiac arrest vary between 75s and 27min until the declaration of the patients' death worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate brain death in pigs after different times of cardiac arrest with subsequent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as a DCD paradigm.

Ibandronate and calcitriol reduces fracture risk, reverses bone loss, and normalizes bone turnover after LTX.

Background: Osteoporosis is a common complication in long-term survivors after liver transplantation (LTX). This study investigates the influence of a combination therapy of low dose parenteral ibandronate (IBN) and calcitriol on top of calcium and vitamin D supplementation in such patients.

Methods: For 3 years, 30 osteoporotic patients after LTX (28±6 months) were treated with quarterly 2 mg IBN intravenously and daily calcitriol (0.

Cell to cell interactions influence sensitivity of liver cell lines during hyperthermia.

Background: Thermal cancer therapy is used for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. In this study we investigated the effect of hyperthermia on liver cells and compared data of our different cell culture fibrosis models (transwell vs. co-culture model).

Solid organ transplantation: technical progress meets human dignity: a review of the literature considering elderly patients' health related quality of life following transplantation.

Introduction: Many transplant studies in elderly patients focus on survival and mortality rates. It was the aim of this review to evaluate publications dealing with individual patient performance and independence.

Methods: The literature search included all articles retrievable for the hit "transplantation in elderly recipients" between 1960 and 2010.

Management of complications after varicoportal anastomosis in liver transplantation.

The presence of portal vein thrombosis is a potential limitation for liver transplantation. An intraoperative diagnosis is linked to extensive surgical treatment and massive postoperative complications and mortality. We present a surgical less risky method for the treatment of intraoperatively diagnosed portal and mesenteric vein thrombosis that served as salvage therapy for a patient who underwent liver transplantation in our centre.

Effect of hyperthermia on liver cell lines: important findings for thermal therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common malignant tumour, with a high mortality rate. This study aimed to investigate the effect of hyperthermia on HepG2 and LX-1 cell lines to gain more information on thermal treatment of liver tumours.

Materials And Methods: The cell lines HepG2, LX-1 and their co-cultures were heated from 55°C to 85°C for different time spans.

Serum albumin, subjective global assessment, body mass index and the bioimpedance analysis in the assessment of malnutrition in patients up to 15 years after liver transplantation.

Background: The subjective global assessment (SGA) or the body mass index (BMI) is used to determine the nutritional state after LTX. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is used as tool to determine body composition by nutritional care professionals.

Methods: BIA, SGA, BMI, and serum albumin (SA) levels were performed to assess malnutrition following liver transplantation.

Pulmonary valve replacement with mechanical prostheses in re-do Fallot patients.

In this prospective clinical study, we have compared 17 patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) who received mechanical valve substitutes and had concomitant additional right ventricular (RV) volume reduction plasty (aRVVRP, group 1) with seven patients who underwent solitary re-do pulmonary valve replacements (PVR, group 2). All patients were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) two months pre- and four to six months postoperatively for assessment of ventricular geometry. At a mean follow-up of 31.