Impact of habitual physical activity and exercise capacity on quality of life in adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis.

Background: The influence of habitual physical activity and exercise capacity on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) is poorly characterized. This study investigated the influence of habitual physical activity, exercise capacity, lung function, and body mass index (BMI) on HRQoL in adolescent and adult pwCF.

Method: Subjects were fitted with an accelerometer to determine habitual physical activity (steps/day), including time spent at different intensities, for up to 4 weeks.

Periprocedural Outcomes of Rotational Atherectomy-Assisted Balloon Angioplasty in Isolated Atherosclerotic Popliteal Artery Lesions: The ISO-POP Trial.

Background: Treatment of calcified popliteal artery lesions represents an ongoing challenge for vascular specialists. Biomechanical forces of external compression, torsion and elongation that occur with locomotion in the popliteal segment can lead to stent fractures and occlusions. The aim of our study was to assess the procedural success rate of atherectomy in combination with balloon angioplasty for isolated calcified popliteal artery lesions.

Bronchodilator Reversibility in the GAN Severe Asthma Cohort.

Background And Objective: Positive bronchodilator reversibility (BDR) is a diagnostic criterion for asthma. However, patients with asthma may exhibit a negative BDR response. Aim: To describe the frequency of positive and Negative BDR response in patients with severe asthma and study associations with phenotypic characteristics.

Comparison of the Lung Clearance Index in Preschool Children With Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia and Cystic Fibrosis.

Background: Previous studies showed that the lung clearance index (LCI) determined by multiple-breath washout (MBW) is sensitive to detecting early lung disease in preschool children with cystic fibrosis (CF). In preschool children with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), data on the onset and severity of lung disease and on the sensitivity of the LCI as a noninvasive quantitative outcome measure remain limited.

Research And Study Question: Is MBW feasible and sensitive to detect ventilation inhomogeneity in preschool children with PCD?

Study Design And Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study and included preschoolers with PCD, preschoolers with CF, and healthy control (HC) participants.

Mutations in TP73 cause impaired mucociliary clearance and lissencephaly.

TP73 belongs to the TP53 family of transcription factors and has therefore been well studied in cancer research. Studies in mice, however, have revealed non-oncogenic activities related to multiciliogenesis. Utilizing whole-exome sequencing analysis in a cohort of individuals with a mucociliary clearance disorder and cortical malformation, we identified homozygous loss-of-function variants in TP73 in seven individuals from five unrelated families.

Gender and career in cardiology-a cross-sectional study.

Background: The proportion of women as leading physicians in cardiology in university medicine has stagnated and the share of women in senior positions in cardiology is low compared with other medical specialist fields. Here, we analyze the typical barriers for women as doctors in cardiology and point to issues that make the discipline less attractive for both genders.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a standardized online questionnaire was sent to 3873 members of the German Cardiac Society (DGK).

Evaluation of a multiple breath nitrogen washout system in children.

Introduction: The multiple breath nitrogen washout (MBW) test offers a sensitive measure of airway function. In this study we aim to (a) assess the validity of the EasyOne Pro LAB (MBW ) in an in vitro lung model, (b) assess the feasibility, repeatability, and reproducibility of MBW and (c) compare outcomes with the Exhalyzer D (MBW ) and body plethysmography.

Methods: In vitro, functional residual capacity (FRC) measurements were assessed using a lung model under quasi-physiological conditions and compared to measured FRC.

Differences of Medical Care for Acute Severe Viral Bronchiolitis in Two Urban Areas in Europe.

Background: Acute viral bronchiolitis is a frequent disease in infancy. There is little knowledge on medical care of severely affected infants in different European countries.

Patients: Infants (n=146) with bronchiolitis requiring respiratory support in winter season 2015/2016 treated in either one of two regions in Central Europe: South of greater Paris region in France (group 1) and Ruhr area in Germany (group 2).

Priorities for future research into asthma diagnostic tools: A PAN-EU consensus exercise from the European asthma research innovation partnership (EARIP).

The diagnosis of asthma is currently based on clinical history, physical examination and lung function, and to date, there are no accurate objective tests either to confirm the diagnosis or to discriminate between different types of asthma. This consensus exercise reviews the state of the art in asthma diagnosis to identify opportunities for future investment based on the likelihood of their successful development, potential for widespread adoption and their perceived impact on asthma patients. Using a two-stage e-Delphi process and a summarizing workshop, a group of European asthma experts including health professionals, researchers, people with asthma and industry representatives ranked the potential impact of research investment in each technique or tool for asthma diagnosis and monitoring.

Unresectable isolated hepatic metastases from solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas: a case report of chemosaturation with high-dose melphalan.

Background/objectives: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas (SPN) are rare tumors. For patients with unresectable liver metastases of SPN, no standard treatment has been defined so far. Here we report a case of a 40-year-old woman with SPN and metastases confirmed to the liver, and disease progression in the liver after primary tumor resection and chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin.

[State of the art in carotid artery stenting 2012].

Stenosis of the internal carotid arteries is one of the leading causes of ischemic stroke. With increasing age of the general population, both physicians and patients have to increasingly face that problem, which is often found accidentally for example in the context of a routine checkup examination. In patients over seventy years, the incidence of carotid artery stenosis is about 15%.

Necrotizing fasciitis following laparoscopic left hemicolectomy for diverticulitis.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressing bacterial infection of soft skin tissue layers, combined with high mortality rates. Association with laparoscopic surgery is rare. In this article, we report a case of a 61-year-old patient suffering from severe NF after laparoscopic left hemicolectomy with low anterior resection due to diverticulitis of sigmoid colon.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of ciclesonide 160 microg once daily vs. budesonide 400 microg once daily in children with asthma.

Ciclesonide is an onsite-activated inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for the treatment of asthma. This study compared the efficacy, safety and effect on quality of life (QOL) of ciclesonide 160 microg (ex-actuator; nominal dose 200 microg) vs. budesonide 400 microg (nominal dose) in children with asthma.

[The importance of surgical arthroscopy for a small trauma surgery specialty department].

The introduction of operative arthroscopy as a treatment option for a wide spectrum of trauma and orthopaedic complaints in a small group of in-patients has led to changes in operative procedures. With knee-joint injuries, any operative procedure can be precisely planned and is often carried out in two steps. Anterior displacement of the tibial tuberosity and other repair procedures for cartilage lesions have now largely given way to arthroscopic treatment.

[A new beta-2 sympathomimetic drug with longer effectiveness. Comparison with current beta-2 sympathomimetic drugs in therapy of bronchial asthma in childhood].

Inhaled beta-2-agonists are well established for the treatment of bronchial asthma. Treatment in childhood asthma has to take into account the longer night rests and intensive physical activity of the children. The new inhaled beta-2-agonist Formoterol meets these aspects because of the long lasting efficacy.