Component-Resolved Diagnosis in Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma.

Background: Allergic rhinitis and asthma are highly prevalent chronic inflammatory diseases leading to restrictions in the patient's quality of life and high costs for healthcare systems. Both diseases are associated with the presence of specific IgE (sIgE) against aeroallergens. This review aims to examine the importance of molecular allergy diagnostics in the assessment and management of these disorders.

MILOS and EMILOS repair of primary umbilical and epigastric hernias.

Background: The currently mainly used techniques of primary ventral hernia repair have specific disadvantages and risks.

Methods: To minimize complications of the existing open and laparoscopic techniques of ventral hernia repair, the endoscopic-assisted or endoscopic Mini- or Less-Open Sublay (E/MILOS) concept was developed. This paper reports on our experience with the E/MILOS concept for the management of primary umbilical and epigastric hernias.

Resource consumption of multi-substance users in the emergency room: A neglected patient group.

Background: Multi-substance use is accompanied by increased morbidity and mortality and responsible for a large number of emergency department (ED) consultations. To improve the treatment for this vulnerable group of patients, it is important to quantify and break down in detail the ED resources used during the ED treatment of multi-substance users.

Methods: This retrospective single centre case-control study included all ED consultations of multi-substance users over a three-year study period at a university hospital in Switzerland.

Cystic Lateral Neck Lesions: Etiologic and Differential Diagnostic Significance in a Series of 133 Patients.

Background: Patients presenting with a cystic lateral neck lesion may present diagnostic challenges against a backdrop of varied non-malignant and malignant etiologies.

Patients: A total of 133 consecutive cases who underwent cystic neck tumor removal were evaluated for etiology and diagnostic procedure in order to develop an algorithm for therapeutic efficiency.

Results: In 92 of 133 cases, a non-malignant tumor was diagnosed.

Unmet needs in the international neuroendocrine tumor (NET) community: Assessment of major gaps from the perspective of patients, patient advocates and NET health care professionals.

Due to the increasing incidence and prevalence of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), there is a need to assess any gaps in awareness and care. A survey was undertaken in 2017 to identify perceived unmet needs from the perspectives of patients/families, patient advocates and health care professionals (HCPs). The survey consisted of 33-37 questions (depending on type of respondent) across four areas: information, care, treatments and research.

Intracochlear Pressure Changes After Cochlea Implant Electrode Pullback-Reduction of Intracochlear Trauma.

Objective: Different aspects should be considered to achieve an atraumatic insertion of cochlear implant electrode arrays as an important surgical goal. Intracochlear pressure changes are known to influence the preservation of residual hearing. By using the intraoperative "pullback technique," an electrode position closer to the modiolus can be achieved than without the pullback.

Auditory influence on postural control during stance tasks in different acoustic conditions.

Background: Postural stability might be influenced by auditory input as humans utilize spatiotemporal information to localise sound sources. Earlier studies investigated the acoustic influence on posture but unfortunately experimental setup, room acoustics and conditions of participants varied widely.

Objective: This study aimed at recording body sway velocity under clearly defined acoustic conditions in a homogenous group of young healthy participants.

Radiofrequency echographic multi-spectrometry for the in-vivo assessment of bone strength: state of the art-outcomes of an expert consensus meeting organized by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO).

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to review the available approaches for bone strength assessment, osteoporosis diagnosis and fracture risk prediction, and to provide insights into radiofrequency echographic multi spectrometry (REMS), a non-ionizing axial skeleton technique.

Methods: A working group convened by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis met to review the current image-based methods for bone strength assessment and fracture risk estimation, and to discuss the clinical perspectives of REMS.

Results: Areal bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the consolidated indicator for osteoporosis diagnosis and fracture risk assessment.

Comparing routine administrative data with registry data for assessing quality of hospital care in patients with inguinal hernia.

Introduction: Collecting clinical data is viewed as the gold standard for assessing health-care quality. However, considerable investment is needed if the quality of care is to be recorded over a long period of time. Accordingly, the question arises as to whether routine administrative data may be used for quality assurance purposes if certain methodological standards are followed.

Long-term outcome and chronic pain in atraumatic fibrin glue versus staple fixation of extra light titanized meshes in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (TAPP): a single-center experience.

Background: Inguinal hernia repair belongs to the most frequently performed surgical procedures. Endoscopic techniques like TAPP and TEP have become standard of care together with the conventional open techniques. Especially in endoscopic techniques, there is a confusing amount of different meshes and fixation techniques with impact on perioperative and long-term outcome.

Perspectives of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy Gastrointestinal Scientific Committee on the Intravenous Use of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PeMeGi).

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), namely, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, remains a grievous and recalcitrant problem incurring significant human and health care costs, even in consideration of the growing incidence. Initial goals of care aimed to achieve the induction and maintenance of clinical remission. The advent of novel treat-to-target approaches using patient stratification, early introduction of immunosuppressants and rapid escalation to biologics or early use of combination therapy has refocused the goals of care toward the achievement of mucosal healing.

Recurrent Incisional Hernia Repair-An Overview.

Recurrent incisional hernias with a rate of around 20% account for a relatively large proportion of all incisional hernias. It is difficult to issue any binding recommendations on optimum treatment in view of the relatively few studies available on this topic. This review now aims to collate the data available on recurrent incisional hernia.

Diagnostic error increases mortality and length of hospital stay in patients presenting through the emergency room.

Background: Diagnostic errors occur frequently, especially in the emergency room. Estimates about the consequences of diagnostic error vary widely and little is known about the factors predicting error. Our objectives thus was to determine the rate of discrepancy between diagnoses at hospital admission and discharge in patients presenting through the emergency room, the discrepancies' consequences, and factors predicting them.

TEP for elective primary unilateral inguinal hernia repair in men: what do we know?

Introduction: Based on the new international guidelines for groin hernia management, there is no one surgical technique that is suited to all patient characteristics and diagnostic findings. Therefore, a tailored approach should be used. Here, a distinction must be made between primary unilateral inguinal hernia in men and in women, bilateral inguinal hernia, scrotal inguinal hernia, inguinal hernia following pelvic and lower abdominal procedures, patients with severe cardiopulmonary complications, recurrent inguinal hernias and incarcerated inguinal and femoral hernias.

What Do We Know About the Chevrel Technique in Ventral Incisional Hernia Repair?

In publications on ventral incisional hernia repair, the Chevrel technique and the onlay operation are often equated. This present review now aims to present the difference between these surgical techniques and analyze the findings available on the Chevrel technique. A systematic search of the available literature was performed in January 2019 using Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Springer Link, and the Cochrane Library, as well as a search of relevant journals, books, and reference lists.

Analysis of the integrin β receptor for pathogenic orthohantaviruses in rodent host species.

Host reservoir specificity of pathogens is complex and may depend on receptor variability. For pathogenic orthohantaviruses, integrin β had been previously identified as entry receptor and the presence of aspartic acid residue at position 39 (D39) in human integrin β was described to be a prerequisite for infection of primate cells with Hantaan virus (HTNV). However, the role of integrin β in orthohantavirus infection of host animals is not completely understood.

Application of prothrombin complex concentrate for reversal of direct oral anticoagulants in clinical practice: indications, patient characteristics and clinical outcomes compared to reversal of vitamin K antagonists.

Background: Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) is widely used to reverse the action of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in accordance with current guidelines and because of a lack of specific reversal agents. Indications, clinical characteristics and patient outcomes of patients might differ in comparison to reversal of vitamin K antagonists where reversal with PCC is well established.

Methods: Our cohort study explores patient characteristics, indications and clinical outcomes for reversal of all DOAC patients receiving PCC at our university emergency department from 01.

Biological Therapies in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: Can Biosimilars Reduce Access Inequities?

Biological therapies are an effective treatment for a range of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel diseases. However, due to their high costs, considerable differences in their utilization exist across the world, even among the various European countries, with many countries restricting access despite professional society guideline recommendations. Adoption of biologics by healthcare providers has been particularly poor in many Central and Eastern European countries.

Influencing Factors on the Outcome in Female Groin Hernia Repair: A Registry-based Multivariable Analysis of 15,601 Patients.

Objective: Based on an analysis of data from the Herniamed Registry, this study aims to identify all factors influencing the outcome in female groin hernia repair.

Background: In a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies, female sex was found to be a significant risk factor for recurrence. In the guidelines, the totally extraperitoneal patch plasty (TEP) and transabdominal preperitoneal patch plasty (TAPP) laparo-endoscopic techniques are recommended for female groin hernia repair.

Coronary Calcium Characteristics as Predictors of Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Symptomatic Patients: Insights From the CORE 320 Multinational Study.

Background The predictive value of coronary artery calcium ( CAC ) has been widely studied; however, little is known about specific characteristics of CAC that are most predictive. We aimed to determine the independent associations of Agatston score, CAC volume, CAC area, CAC mass, and CAC density score with major adverse cardiac events in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. Methods and Results A total of 379 symptomatic participants, aged 45 to 85 years, referred for invasive coronary angiography, who underwent coronary calcium scanning and computed tomography angiography as part of the CORE 320 (Combined Noninvasive Coronary Angiography and Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Using 320 Detector Computed Tomography) study, were included.