CXCL13 as a biomarker in the diagnostics of European lyme Neuroborreliosis - A prospective multicentre study in Austria.

Background: 'Definite Neuroborreliosis (NB)' is diagnosed with the presence of NB-specific symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis and an elevated antibody index. However, some diagnostic uncertainties exist. The B-cell chemokine CXCL13 represents an emerging biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of NB because its intrathecal concentration rises prior to the Borrelia antibody index and drops rapidly after antibiotic therapy.

SARS-CoV-2 Associated Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome With a High Prevalence of Myocarditis - A Multicenter Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics, Treatment and Outcome.

Introduction: comprises a new disease entity having emerged after the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019.

Materials And Methods: For this multicenter, retrospective study children between 0 and 18 years with PIMS-TS between March 2020 and May 2021 were included, before availability of vaccination for children. Frequent SARS-CoV-2 variants at that period were the wildtype virus, alpha, beta and delta variants.

Abnormal liver findings as the first manifestation in a patient with brucellosis : Case report.

In January 2019, a 30-year-old woman admitted to our inpatient department presented with undulating fever, pain in several joints, and significantly elevated liver enzymes and lactate dehydrogenase. After extended examination, infection with Brucella melitensis with liver, musculoskeletal, and pulmonary involvement was diagnosed and treated. Diagnosis was based on clinical examination, laboratory findings including seroconversion as a proof of immune response, magnetic resonance imaging, three-phase bone scintigraphy, and F‑18 FDG-PET (F-18 Flourdeoxyglucose positron emission tomography) illustrating the bone involvement and its normalization upon treatment.

Hemiagenesis of the thyroid gland detected by coincidence-what is the clinical relevance? : Case report and review of the literature.

Hemiagenesis of the thyroid gland (THA) represents a rare congenital anomaly. It is characterized by the absence of one thyroid lobe, and sometimes the isthmus as well. It can occur with all kinds of other thyroid pathologies that may be present in the remaining thyroid lobe.

Direct postoperative protein S100B and NIRS monitoring in infants after pediatric cardiac surgery enrich early mortality assessment at the PICU.

Background: Neuromonitoring using plasmatic biomarkers such as S100B and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) represents a standard procedure for detecting cerebral damage after cardiac surgery. Their use in pediatric clinical assessment, however, is negligible.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the predictive role of S100B levels and cerebral oxygenation in postoperative pediatric cardiac patients for survival and potential cerebral injuries.

Long-Term Respiratory Support for Children and Adolescents in Austria: A National Survey.

Background: Population-based data on pediatric patients on long-term respiratory support (LTRS) in Austria are lacking. This study aimed to record the pediatric departments active in this field, as well as number and characteristics of patients on LTRS.

Methods: A national cross-sectional study was carried out by means of questionnaires sent to all pediatric departments in Austria.

Innovative chemotherapies for stage III colon cancer: a cost-effectiveness study.

Background/aims: The lower mortality rate associated with Oxaliplatin or Irinotecan added to Fluorouracil chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer should outweigh significantly higher costs of these therapies. While efficacy data currently are lacking, our aim was to generate cost-effectiveness data about a range of potential benefits to define the increase in mortality reduction required for the future acceptance of these new chemotherapies.

Methodology: Estimates of efficacy were derived from the literature.

Cost-effectiveness of defunctioning stomas in low anterior resections for rectal cancer: a call for benchmarking.

Hypothesis: Anastomotic leakage is the most important cost driver in patients who undergo low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer. Creating defunctioning stomas to protect colorectal anastomoses may also have a major effect on the overall costs. Unselected creation of defunctioning stomas in most of these patients may be associated with higher overall costs compared with a program that has a low rate of defunctioning stomas and an acceptable anastomotic leakage rate.

Diagnosis and treatment of bleeding colonic diverticula.

Background/aims: Colonic diverticula are the most frequent cause of major lower intestinal bleeding and pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the attending physician. Emergency surgical resection is associated with a high mortality and morbidity and patients who will stop bleeding spontaneously cannot be distinguished from those who will continue to bleed. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of barium enema as a sole less invasive treatment option for severe diverticular bleeding.

Risk stratification in emergency surgical patients: is the APACHE II score a reliable marker of physiological impairment?

Hypotheses: The APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) score used as an intensive care unit (ICU) admission score in emergency surgical patients is not independent of the effects of treatment and might lead to considerable bias in the comparability of defined groups of patients and in the evaluation of treatment policies. Postoperative monitoring with the APACHE II score is clinically irrelevant.

Design: Inception cohort study.

Assisted reproductive technology in the management of azoospermic men--the Austrian experience.

Experience with intracytoplasmic injection of epididymal (MESA) and testicular spermatozoa (TESE) in Austria is summarized. Data from recent publications in scientific journals and results presented at different meetings were stratified for male factors, sperm retrieval methods, assisted reproductive techniques and conceptions. Four cooperative groups of andrologists and gynaecologists reported on MESA and TESE in Austria.

Efficacy and tolerability of Casodex in patients with advanced prostate cancer. International Casodex Study Group.

The efficacy and tolerability of Casodex, a new non-steroidal antiandrogen, were studied in 267 patients with advanced prostate cancer. All patients received Casodex, 50 mg daily, as monotherapy. The objective response rate was 55.