Characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients during B.1.1.529 (Omicron) dominance compared to B.1.617.2 (Delta) in 89 German hospitals.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.

Coronavirus disease 2019 aftermath: psychological trauma in ICU healthcare workers.

Purpose Of Review: We aim to describe the extent of psychological trauma and moral distress in healthcare workers (HCW) working in the intensive care unit (ICU) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Specifically, we review reports on prevalence of mental health symptoms, highlight vulnerable populations and summarize modifiable risk factors associated with mental health symptoms in ICU HCW.

Recent Findings: The pandemic has resulted in a multitude of closely intertwined professional and personal challenges for ICU HCW.

Microcephaly is associated with impaired educational development in children with congenital heart disease.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the school careers of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and microcephaly.

Methods: An exploratory online survey was conducted on patients from a previous study on somatic development in children with CHD in 2018 ( = 2818). A total of 750 patients participated in the online survey (26.

Rationale and design of the peripheral nerve tumor registry: an observational cohort study.

Aim: Peripheral nerve tumors (PNT) are rare lesions. To date, no systematic multicenter studies on epidemiology, clinical symptoms, treatment strategies and outcomes, genetic and histopathologic features, as well as imaging characteristics of PNT were published. The main goal of our PNT Registry is the systematic multicenter investigation to improve our understanding of PNT and to assist future interventional studies in establishing hypotheses, determining potential endpoints, and assessing treatment efficacy.

A causal association of ANKRD37 with human hippocampal volume.

Human hippocampal volume has been separately associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), DNA methylation and gene expression, but their causal relationships remain largely unknown. Here, we aimed at identifying the causal relationships of SNPs, DNA methylation, and gene expression that are associated with hippocampal volume by integrating cross-omics analyses with genome editing, overexpression and causality inference. Based on structural neuroimaging data and blood-derived genome, transcriptome and methylome data, we prioritized a possibly causal association across multiple molecular phenotypes: rs1053218 mutation leads to cg26741686 hypermethylation, thus leads to overactivation of the associated ANKRD37 gene expression in blood, a gene involving hypoxia, which may result in the reduction of human hippocampal volume.

Arthroscopic Posterior Articular Coverage and Shift (PACS) Procedure for Treatment of Preosteoarthritic Constitutional Static Posterior Shoulder Instability (Type C1).

Background: Different joint-preserving techniques for treatment of preosteoarthritic, constitutional static (type C1) posterior shoulder instability (PSI) have been proposed, including posterior glenoid open wedge osteotomy and bone graft augmentation. However, the techniques are demanding, the reported complication and reoperation rates are high, and posterior decentering cannot reliably be reversed.

Purpose: To assess the clinical and radiological longitudinal outcomes of patients with type C1 PSI after arthroscopic posterior articular coverage and shift (PACS) surgery.

A program for volunteers accompanying older patients with cognitive dysfunction to improve the quality of emergency department care: A pilot study.

Admission to an emergency department (ED) is challenging for older patients with cognitive dysfunction (PWCD). Targeted patient-oriented approaches to improve the care for PWCD are needed. The aim of this pilot study was to design and evaluate a program for volunteers to support PWCD in the ED.

Machine learning-derived prediction of in-hospital mortality in patients with severe acute respiratory infection: analysis of claims data from the German-wide Helios hospital network.

Background: Severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) are the most common infectious causes of death. Previous work regarding mortality prediction models for SARI using machine learning (ML) algorithms that can be useful for both individual risk stratification and quality of care assessment is scarce. We aimed to develop reliable models for mortality prediction in SARI patients utilizing ML algorithms and compare its performances with a classic regression analysis approach.

Tocilizumab for the Treatment of Familial Mediterranean Fever-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Study.

Background: The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the IL-6 receptor antibody Tocilizumab (TCZ) in the treatment of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). Methods: This was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase II trial in adult patients with active FMF and an inadequate response or intolerance to colchicine (crFMF). The physician’s global assessment of disease activity (PGA), based on a five-point scale for six symptoms, was used as a clinical score, which had to be >2 at screening, together with elevated c-reactive protein (CRP) or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum amyloid A (SAA) levels, to be eligible for inclusion.

Intensivists' perceptions of what is missing in their compassionate care during interactions in the intensive care unit.

Background: We proposed that the behaviors that demonstrate compassionate care in the intensive care unit (ICU) can be self-assessed and improved among ICU clinicians. Literature showing views of intensivists about their own compassionate care attitudes is missing.

Methods: This was an observational, prospective, cross-sectional study.

Image-guided robotic radiosurgery for the treatment of arteriovenous malformations.

Background: Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are challenging lesions, often requiring multimodal interventions; however, data on the efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery for cerebral AVMs are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results following robotic radiosurgery, alone or in combination with endovascular treatment, and to investigate factors associated with obliteration and complications in patients with AVM.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and imaging characteristics of 123 patients with AVMs of all Spetzler-Martin grades treated at two institutions by robotic radiosurgery in single-fraction doses (CyberKnife).

Maneuver protocol for outpatient telemetric intracranial pressure monitoring in hydrocephalus patients.

Introduction: Telemetric intracranial pressure measurement (tICPM) offers new opportunities to acquire objective information in shunted and non-shunted patients. The sensor reservoir (SR) provides tICPM modality at a decent sampling rate as an integrated component of the CSF shunt system. The aim of this study is to perform tICPM during a defined protocol of maneuvers in an outpatient setting as feasibility study including either shunt-dependent patients or candidates for possible shunt therapy.

Maintenance olaparib plus bevacizumab in patients with newly diagnosed advanced high-grade ovarian cancer: Main analysis of second progression-free survival in the phase III PAOLA-1/ENGOT-ov25 trial.

Background: PAOLA-1/ENGOT-ov25 (NCT02477644) demonstrated a significant progression-free survival (PFS) benefit with maintenance olaparib plus bevacizumab versus placebo plus bevacizumab in newly diagnosed, advanced ovarian cancer. We report the prespecified main second progression-free survival (PFS2) analysis for PAOLA-1.

Methods: This randomised, double-blind, phase III trial was conducted in 11 countries.

Fragmentation, circadian amplitude, and fractal pattern of daily-living physical activity in people with multiple sclerosis: Is there relevant information beyond the total amount of physical activity?

Background: Physical activity is lower in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) compared to healthy controls. Previous work focused on studying activity levels or activity volume, but studies of daily-living rest-activity fragmentation patterns, circadian rhythms, and fractal regulation in pwMS are limited. Based on findings in other cohorts, one could suggest that these aspects of daily-living physical activity will provide additional information about the health and well-being of pwMS.

Physicians' responsibility toward environmental degradation and climate change: A position paper of the European Federation of Internal Medicine.

The current data on climate change and environmental degradation are dramatic. The consequences of these changes are already having a significant impact on people's health. Physicians - as advocates of the patients, but also as citizens - have an ethical obligation to be involved in efforts to stop these changes.

Acute Kidney Injury With a Miniaturized Extracorporeal Circuit for Neonatal Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the incidence and to identify risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) in neonates undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with a miniaturized bloodless primed extracorporeal circuit.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A single-center, tertiary academic hospital.

Burden of hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infections in Germany: occurrence and outcomes of different variants.

Background: Avoiding in-hospital transmissions has been crucial in the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known on the extent to which hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 variants have caused infections in Germany.

Aim: To analyse the occurrence and the outcomes of HAI with regard to different SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Soft-tissue fixation is not inferior to suture-anchor fixation in reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament using a nonresorbable suture tape.

Purpose: Reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL-R) with nonresorbable suture tape (FiberTape, FT) is becoming popular. Patella-side fixation of the FT can be performed with suture anchors or via soft-tissue fixation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patella-side soft-tissue fixation can achieve equivalent primary stability compared to suture-anchor fixation.

Using the alcohol use disorders identification test to predict hospital admission for alcohol-related conditions in the Danish general population: a record-linkage study.

Background And Aims: Most studies validating the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) have either assessed its factor structure and/or test-retest reliability or used diagnostic interviews as validators of current alcohol use disorders. The aim of the present study was to determine whether AUDIT and AUDIT-Consumption (AUDIT-C) scores are associated with subsequent risk of hospital admission for alcohol-related disorders and diseases (ARDDs).

Design: We used a historical cohort study.

Bilateral glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) in elite gymnasts.

Introduction: The "Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit (GIRD)" is known as the difference in internal rotation range of motion (IRRM) between the dominant and non-dominant shoulder of overhead athletes as a result of asymmetric loading. As in contrast loading pattern in gymnastics are quite symmetric and structural changes often occur bilaterally, the question arises if GIRD might develop bilaterally in gymnasts as one source of common bilateral shoulder pathologies and to search for underlying structural adaptations.

Materials And Methods: A group of 35 elite gymnasts (8-24 years) were recruited from a local Olympic Training Centre and compared to a paired cohort of 28 non-overhead athletes.

BH3 mimetics targeting BCL-XL impact the senescent compartment of pilocytic astrocytoma.

Background: Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is the most common pediatric brain tumor and a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-driven disease. Oncogenic MAPK-signaling drives the majority of cells into oncogene-induced senescence (OIS). While OIS induces resistance to antiproliferative therapies, it represents a potential vulnerability exploitable by senolytic agents.

The role of ex-situ perfusion for thoracic organs.

Purpose Of Review: Ex-situ machine perfusion for both heart (HTx) and lung transplantation (LuTx) reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), allows for greater flexibility in geographical donor management, continuous monitoring, organ assessment for extended evaluation, and potential reconditioning of marginal organs. In this review, we will delineate the impact of machine perfusion, characterize novel opportunities, and outline potential challenges lying ahead to improve further implementation.

Recent Findings: Due to the success of several randomized controlled trials (RCT), comparing cold storage to machine perfusion in HTx and LuTx, implementation and innovation continues.