Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delays in surgical procedures in Germany: a multi-center analysis of an administrative registry of 176,783 patients.

Background: While extensive data are available on the postponement of elective surgical procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic for Germany, data on the impact on emergency procedures is limited.

Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, anonymized case-related routine data of a Germany-wide voluntary hospital association (CLINOTEL association) of 66 hospitals was analyzed. Operation volumes, in-hospital mortality, and COVID-19 prevalence rates in digestive surgery procedure groups and selected single surgical procedures in the one-year periods before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic were analyzed.

[Role of Clinical, Sociomedical and Psychological Factors on Return to Work of Patients with Breast Cancer 6 Months after Rehabilitation].

Aim Of The Study: The majority of patients with non-metastatic breast cancer return to work after tumor therapy. A rate of up to 80% is given in national and international studies, which can vary considerably depending on the study population and the various social systems. However, it is unclear how many patients are reintegrated into work after medical rehabilitation and which clinical, sociodemographic and psychological factors play a role.

NeuroCog FX study: A multicenter cohort study on cognitive dysfunction in patients with early breast cancer.

Objective: Complaints about cognitive dysfunction (CD) reportedly persist in approximately one third of breast cancer patients, but the nature of CD and possible risk factors are unknown.

Methods: A cross-sectional, multicenter study was set up at 9 German oncological rehabilitation centers. Objective cognitive performance was assessed by the NeuroCog FX test, a short computerized screening (duration <30 minutes) which assesses working memory, alertness, verbal/figural memory, and language/executive.

[Factors affecting in-hospital mortality in patients with sepsis: Development of a risk-adjusted model based on administrative data from German hospitals].

Background: Inpatient administrative data from hospitals is already used nationally and internationally in many areas of internal and public quality assurance in healthcare. For sepsis as the principal condition, only a few published approaches are available for Germany. The aim of this investigation is to identify factors influencing hospital mortality by employing appropriate analytical methods in order to improve the internal quality management of sepsis.

A model for the determination of pollen count using google search queries for patients suffering from allergic rhinitis.

Background. The transregional increase in pollen-associated allergies and their diversity have been scientifically proven. However, patchy pollen count measurement in many regions is a worldwide problem with few exceptions.

Thermal water applications in the treatment of upper respiratory tract diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background. Thermal water inhalations and irrigations have a long tradition in the treatment of airway diseases. Currently there exists no systematic review or meta-analysis on the effectiveness of thermal water treatment in upper respiratory tract diseases.

Nucleoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure for disc decompression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of published clinical studies.

Background: Nucleoplasty, based on Coblation® technology, is a minimally invasive procedure used to decompress herniated discs. Reviews to date--exclusively systematic reviews--recommend nucleoplasty for treating chronic back pain, although with the restriction of limited to fair evidence. We therefore aimed to summarize and interpret our calculated results, where possible comprehensively and quantitatively, using statistical methods in the context of a meta-analysis supplementing a systematic review.

The effectiveness of modern antihistamines for treatment of allergic rhinitis - an IPD meta-analysis of 140,853 patients.

Background: Allergic rhinitis represents a worldwide health problem. The prevalence is increasing. The aim of this study was to analyse the correlation between the severity of allergic rhinitis and an adequate treatment dose of modern oral antihistamines.

Reintegrating cancer patients into the workplace.

Background: In Germany at present, 64% of women and 59% of men who receive a diagnosis of cancer are still alive five years later. 45% of men and 57% of women with cancer are still of working age. Cancer can markedly harm their ability to work.

The effectiveness of levocetirizine in comparison with loratadine in treatment of allergic rhinitis--a meta-analysis.

Background: Oral antihistamines are considered the gold standard therapy for allergic rhinitis to date. The goal of this investigation is to make an indirect comparison between loratadine, an oral antihistamine available over-the-counter (OTC) in the USA, and the more modern antihistamine levocetirizine. Only double-blind, placebo-controlled (DBPC) studies involving monotherapy with the active substances levocetirizine and loratadine were included in the meta-analysis.

Changes in bone density and metabolism in pregnancy.

Objective: The impact of pregnancy on maternal bone density remains unclear. As a prerequisite to investigate the pathophysiology of gestational bone metabolism, we sought to document the changes in bone metabolism biochemistry in conjunction with those in selective trabecular/cortical osteodensitometry between early and late pregnancy.

Methods: A prospective, controlled study in a university hospital was conducted with 43 healthy women, 34 of them during uneventful pregnancy.

Original report. Fetal cardiographic monitoring during 1.5-T MR imaging.

Objective: The aim of this report was to determine the feasibility of fetal cardiotocography during MR imaging and the safety of 1.5-T MR imaging on the basis of fetal heart activity and fetal movements.

Conclusion: Fetal cardiotocography is feasible during MR imaging using modified standard equipment.

How well does reflectance pulse oximetry reflect intrapartum fetal acidosis?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity for acidosis of intrapartum fetal oxygen saturation measured by reflectance pulse oximetry.

Study Design: Intrapartum fetal oxygen saturation values per labor stage were correlated with umbilical artery pH, base excess and PCO(2) by regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed with the use of historic umbilical arterial cutoff values; a fetal oxygen saturation cutoff range with optimal sensitivity and specificity was calculated.