Childhood and adolescence factors and multiple sclerosis: results from the German National Cohort (NAKO).

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) represents the most common inflammatory neurological disease causing disability in early adulthood. Childhood and adolescence factors might be of relevance in the development of MS. We aimed to investigate the association between various factors (e.

Glioblastoma and Internal Carotid Artery Calcium Score: A Possible Novel Prognostic Partnership?

Clinical evidence suggests an association between comorbidities and outcome in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). We hypothesised that the internal carotid artery (ICA) calcium score could represent a promising prognostic biomarker in a competing risk analysis in patients diagnosed with GBM. We validated the use of the ICA calcium score as a surrogate marker of the coronary calcium score in 32 patients with lung cancer.

Sleep-stage dependence and co-existence of cardio-respiratory coordination and phase synchronization.

Interactions between the cardiac and respiratory systems play a pivotal role in physiological functioning. Nonetheless, the intricacies of cardio-respiratory couplings, such as cardio-respiratory phase synchronization (CRPS) and cardio-respiratory coordination (CRC), remain elusive, and an automated algorithm for CRC detection is lacking. This paper introduces an automated CRC detection algorithm, which allowed us to conduct a comprehensive comparison of CRPS and CRC during sleep for the first time using an extensive database.

Health Service Use Among Migrants in the German National Cohort-The Role of Birth Region and Language Skills.

To compare health service use (HSU) between migrants and non-migrants in Germany. Using data from the population-based German National Cohort (NAKO), we compared the HSU of general practitioners, medical specialists, and psychologists/psychiatrists between six migrant groups of different origins with the utilization of non-migrants. A latent profile analysis (LPA) with a subsequent multinomial regression analysis was conducted to characterize the HSU of different groups.

Shared and unique characteristics of metabolic syndrome in psychotic disorders: a review.

Introduction: People with psychosis spectrum disorders (PSD) face an elevated risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS), which may reduce their life expectancy by nearly 20%. Pinpointing the shared and specific characteristics and clinical implications of MetS in PSD is crucial for designing interventions to reduce this risk, but an up-to-date review on MetS across the psychosis spectrum is lacking.

Methods: This narrative review fills this gap by examining the clinical literature on characteristics and implications of MetS in both distinct PSD and transdiagnostically, i.

Prioritization and Resource Allocation in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations for Colorectal and Pancreatic Cancer in Germany.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a scarcity of resources with various effects on the care of cancer patients. This paper provides an English summary of a German guideline on prioritization and resource allocation for colorectal and pancreatic cancer in the context of the pandemic. Based on a selective literature review as well as empirical and ethical analyses, the research team of the CancerCOVID Consortium drafted recommendations for prioritizing diagnostic and treatment measures for both entities.

Safety and efficacy of levosimendan in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.

Background: Patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) often experience heart failure (HF) episodes. No evidence is available on inotropic therapy. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the safety and efficacy of levosimendan.

Participation of adolescents with and without physical disabilities and chronic diseases: A comprehensive conceptualization.

Background: In 2001, the International Classification of Functioning and Disability (ICF) introduced participation as a main goal of rehabilitation processes. However, to date, a comprehensive concept of participation in the rehabilitative context is missing, particularly in German-speaking countries. We thus aimed to refine and extend the existing concepts of participation in this brief communication.

The role of mesolevel characteristics of the health care system and socioeconomic factors on health care use - results of a scoping review.

Background: Besides macrolevel characteristics of a health care system, mesolevel access characteristics can exert influence on socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare use. These reflect access to healthcare, which is shaped on a smaller scale than the national level, by the institutions and establishments of a health system that individuals interact with on a regular basis. This scoping review maps the existing evidence about the influence of mesolevel access characteristics and socioeconomic position on healthcare use.

Differences in Anthropometric Measures Based on Sex, Age, and Health Status: Findings From the German National Cohort (NAKO).

Background: Obesity is a worldwide health problem. We conducted detailed analyses of anthropometric measures in a comprehensive, population-based, current cohort in Germany.

Methods: In the German National Cohort (NAKO), we analyzed cross-sectional data on body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) as measured by ultrasound, and body fat percentage.

Changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior during the first COVID-19 pandemic- restrictions in Germany: a nationwide survey : Running head: physical activity during the COVID-19 restrictions.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions posed challenges to maintaining healthy lifestyles and physical well-being. During the first mobility restrictions from March to mid-July 2020, the German population was advised to stay home, except for work, exercise, and essential shopping. Our objective was to comprehensively assess the impact of these restrictions on changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior to identify the most affected groups.

Correlation of Increased Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 with Mortality and Dependence on Treatment in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a multipotent cytokine involved in inflammation and anti-tumor activity. TNF-α exerts its function upon binding to TNF-receptor 1 (TNF-R1) and TNF-receptor 2 (TNF-R2). This study investigates the relationship of soluble (s) TNF-R1 levels in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with treatment and overall survival.

Terminological Confusion About Sedation in Palliative Care: Results of an International Online Vignette Survey.

Terminological problems concerning sedation in palliative care and consequences for research and clinical decision making have been reported frequently. To gather data on the application of definitions of sedation practices in palliative care to clinical cases and to analyze implications for high-quality definitions. We conducted an online survey with a convenience sample of international experts involved in the development of guidelines on sedation in palliative care and members of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC).

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination may mitigate dysregulation of IL-1/IL-18 and gastrointestinal symptoms of the post-COVID-19 condition.

The rapid development of safe and effective vaccines helped to prevent severe disease courses after SARS-CoV-2 infection and to mitigate the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic. While there is evidence that vaccination may reduce the risk of developing post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC), this effect may depend on the viral variant. Therapeutic effects of post-infection vaccination have been discussed but the data for individuals with PCC remains inconclusive.

The Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio app: a digital health system to improve wellbeing of inpatients with heart or lung disease.

Background: An app providing material for education and entertaining is a possible way to support patients and healthcare providers in achieving person-centered care.

Methods: An app tailored on the Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio (FTGM), a research hospital treating cardiac and lung disorders, was created. A pilot evaluation project was conducted on consecutive patients hospitalized for heart or lung disorders.

SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with physical but not mental fatigue - Findings from a longitudinal controlled population-based study.

Objective: Fatigue has been identified as the core symptom of long-Covid, however, putative pandemic-related influences remain largely unclear. We investigated trajectories of total, physical and mental fatigue and the factors associated with it in previously infected and non-infected individuals up to one year post- infection.

Methods: We used data from a longitudinal cohort study of German adults with two samples: A representative probability sample and a sample of individuals with proven SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Screening the health status of people working in a university.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the physical and mental well being of people working in our academic institution.

Methods: This online survey targeted professors ( n  = 108), researchers ( n  = 78), technical and administrative staff ( n  = 279) working in the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (Pisa, Italy). Twenty-four multiple-choice questions explored the physical and mental health status, the main cardiovascular risk factors and levels of physical activity, the risk of cancer, and eating and drinking habits.

Clinical and prognostic implications of left ventricular dilatation in heart failure.

Aims: To assess the agreement between left ventricular end-diastolic diameter index (LVEDDi) and volume index (LVEDVi) to define LV dilatation and to investigate the respective prognostic implications in patients with heart failure (HF).

Methods And Results: Patients with HF symptoms and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance were evaluated retrospectively. LV dilatation was defined as LVEDDi or LVEDVi above the upper normal limit according to published reference values.

Unmet needs in end-of-life care for heart failure patients.

Objective: To investigate end-of-life (EoL) care for heart failure (HF) in Tuscany (Italy) from healthcare professionals' perspective and identify areas for intervention.

Methods: All the directors of Cardiology units (n = 29) and palliative care (PC) units (n = 14) in Tuscany were surveyed on the practices of EoL care.

Results: Forty-five percent of cardiologists reported that their hospital had some EoL care services for HF patients.

Associations of loneliness with mental health and with social and physical activity among university students in Germany: results of the COVID-19 German student well-being study (C19 GSWS).

Introduction: University students are at high risk for loneliness with a potential negative impact on health. The COVID-19 measures disrupted students' academic routine and social life, which might have affected their perception of loneliness. This study investigated the prevalence of perceived loneliness among university students in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic and its associations with mental health, behavioral outcomes, and sociodemographic characteristics.