Different views about work-hour limitations in medicine: a qualitative content analysis of surgeons', lawyers', and pilots' positive and negative arguments.

Background: Whereas work-hour regulations have been taken for granted since 1940 in other occupational settings, such as commercial aviation, they have been implemented only recently in medical professions, where they lead to a lively debate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate arguments in favour of and against work-hour limitations in medicine given by Swiss surgeons, lawyers, and pilots.

Methods: An electronic questionnaire survey with four free-response items addressing the question of what arguments speak in favour of or against work-hour limitations in general and in medicine was sent to a random sample of board-certified surgeons, lawyers in labour law, and pilots from SWISS International Airlines Ltd.

Porcelain laminate veneers: Clinical survey for evaluation of failure.

Objective: To investigate the association of the failure of porcelain laminate veneers with factors related to the patient, material, and operator.

Methods: This clinical survey involved 29 patients (19 women and 10 men) and their dentists, including undergraduate and postgraduate dental students and dental interns. Two questionnaires were distributed to collect information from participants.

Association of smoking and nicotine dependence with pre-diabetes in young and healthy adults.

Introduction: Several studies have shown an increased risk of type 2 diabetes among smokers. Therefore, the aim of this analysis was to assess the relationship between smoking, cumulative smoking exposure and nicotine dependence with pre-diabetes.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of healthy adults aged 25-41 in the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Investigations of thiol-modified phenol derivatives for the use in thiol-ene photopolymerizations.

Thiol-ene photopolymerizations gain a growing interest in academic research. Coatings and dental restoratives are interesting applications for thiol-ene photopolymerizations due to their unique features. In most studies the relative flexible and hydrophilic ester derivative, namely pentaerythritoltetra(3-mercaptopropionate) (PETMP), is investigated as the thiol component.

The surgeon's perspective: promoting and discouraging factors for choosing a career in surgery as perceived by surgeons.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the factors perceived by surgeons that promote surgery as an attractive or unattractive career choice for today's graduates. In addition, it examined whether the perspectives of surgeons in different professional situations converges. The content of work, contextual work conditions, and calling to this job are discussed in the context of choosing surgery as a career.

Accurate quantitation of JAK2 V617F allele burden by array-based digital PCR.

Introduction: The JAK2 V617F mutation is highly prevalent in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Several studies have shown that allele burden correlates with hematologic characteristics and clinical end-points in patients with MPN. Allele-specific real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) is probably the most commonly used technique for detection and quantitation of the JAK2 V617F mutation.

Significant survival impact of MACC1 polymorphisms in HER2 positive breast cancer patients.

Background: Deregulation of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) signalling has been associated with poor clinical outcome in breast cancer and other cancers. The recently discovered metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) gene is a key regulator of the HGF/MET pathway. Potential links between genetic variants of the MACC1 gene and survival in breast cancer patients are unknown.

Impact of the albumin to creatinine ratio and the coronary artery state on vascular events.

Albuminuria is an important indicator of cardiovascular risk. However, whether albuminuria predicts cardiovascular events independently of the baseline coronary artery state has not yet been investigated. We measured urinary albumin and creatinine concentrations in 867 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography for the evaluation of suspected or established stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Three-year clinical evaluation of a silorane composite resin.

Statement Of Problem: Composite resins are still outperformed by amalgams in the clinical practice with secondary caries and fractures being their most common failures. A material that suffers less polymerization shrinkage might improve the clinical performance of composite resins.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical performance of a low-shrink silorane-based composite resin (Filtek LS Low Shrink Posterior Restorative, 3M ESPE, St.

Hypoxia induces a HIF-1α dependent signaling cascade to make a complex metabolic switch in SGBS-adipocytes.

To elucidate the complex impact of hypoxia on adipose tissue, resulting in biased metabolism, insulin resistance and finally diabetes we used mature adipocytes derived from a Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome patient for microarray analysis. We found a significantly increased transcription rate of genes involved in glycolysis and a striking association between the pattern of upregulated genes and disease biomarkers for diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance. Although their upregulation turned out to be HIF-1α-dependent, we identified further transcription factors mainly AP-1 components to play also an important role in hypoxia response.

Evaluation of the prevalence and prospective clinical impact of the JAK2 V617F mutation in coronary patients.

The JAK2 V617F mutation is not only found in the majority of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), including essential thrombocythemia (ET), but also has been reported in individuals without overt MPN. A close relation of the JAK2 V617F mutation to atherothrombotic events has been described, at least in patients with MPN. The prevalence of the JAK2 V617F mutation and its clinical impact in coronary patients is unknown.

Effect on in vitro fracture resistance of the technique used to attach lithium disilicate ceramic veneer to zirconia frameworks.

Objectives: This in vitro study should assess the fracture resistance of veneered zirconia-based crowns with either luted or fused veneer.

Methods: Thirty-two identical zirconia frameworks (IPS e.max ZirCAD; Ivoclar/Vivadent), were constructed (inLab 3.

Usefulness of serial decline of kidney function to predict mortality and cardiovascular events in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Chronic kidney disease increases cardiovascular risk and all-cause mortality. However, data on the predictive power of dynamic changes in kidney function are sparse. The aim of this research was to assess the predictive power of serial changes in kidney function on mortality and cardiovascular risk.

Long-term infection of goats with bluetongue virus serotype 25.

Toggenburg Orbivirus (TOV) is the prototype of bluetongue virus serotype 25 (BTV-25). It was first detected in goats in Switzerland in 2008. The virus does not induce clinical signs in infected goats.

The effects of an 8-week multicomponent inpatient treatment program on body composition and anaerobic fitness in overweight and obese children and adolescents.

Background: High intensity exercise is considered as an effective means for reducing body fat. The aims of the present study were to investigate (1) whether body mass would be lost and body composition would change and (2) whether variables of anaerobic fitness prior to the intervention period would be related to loss of body mass and changes in body composition in overweight and obese children and adolescents.

Methods: A total of 28 children and adolescents (19 boys, 9 girls) attended an 8-week multicomponent inpatient program.

Surveillance of bovine tuberculosis and risk estimation of a future reservoir formation in wildlife in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis or M. caprae has recently (re-) emerged in livestock and wildlife in all countries bordering Switzerland (CH) and the Principality of Liechtenstein (FL). Comprehensive data for Swiss and Liechtenstein wildlife are not available so far, although two native species, wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus), act as bTB reservoirs elsewhere in continental Europe.

Genetic and phenotypic determinants of blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors (GAPP).

Background: The pathogenesis of elevated blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors in the population and their progression over time is still incompletely understood, especially in young and healthy adults.

Methods: The genetic and phenotypic determinants of blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors (GAPP) study is a population-based prospective cohort study involving a representative sample of healthy adults aged 25-41 years in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Exclusion criteria are any cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, daily intake of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and a body mass index >35 kg/m².

Prevalence of vitamin B(12) depletion and deficiency in Liechtenstein.

Objective: Data about vitamin B(12) (B(12)) deficiency in the general population are scarce. The present study was performed to determine the prevalence of B(12) deficiency in the general population of the Principality of Liechtenstein, as well as to identify sub-populations potentially at high risk.

Design: Retrospective study.

Schoolchildren in the Principality of Liechtenstein are mildly iodine deficient.

Objective: To investigate the iodine status of schoolchildren in the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Design: A representative, cross-sectional principality-wide screening of iodine level in household salt and urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) in primary-school children. Data were compared with the WHO criteria and with 2009 iodine survey data from Switzerland, a neighbouring country that supplies most of the salt used in Liechtenstein.

Seroprevalence survey for Salmonella Abortusovis infection in Swiss sheep flocks.

Between 1976 and 2003, no infections with Salmonella Abortusovis had been officially recorded in Switzerland. Since then, however, several sheep flocks were infected and suffered massive fetal losses suggesting a re-emergence of the disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological situation of S.

Serial decline of kidney function as a novel biomarker for the progression of atherothrombotic disease.

Objective: Impaired kidney function is associated with cardiovascular disease. However, from the available data it cannot be discerned which of the two entities presents first and entails the other. If renal dysfunction is first, a dynamic decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) should predict vascular events and prove a useful biomarker for atherothrombotic disease.

Body mass index, blood pressure, and serum cholesterol in young Swiss men: an analysis on 56784 army conscripts.

Questions Under Study: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of excess bodyweight and high blood pressure in young Swiss men and to evaluate the associations of these disorders with serum cholesterol in this important population.

Methods: The study investigated a large cohort of 56784 Swiss army conscripts aged 18-25 years from 2004 through to 2007.

Results: From the investigated men, 2231 (3.

Prevalence of decreased glomerular filtration rate in patients seeking non-nephrological medical care--an evaluation using IDMS-traceable creatinine based MDRD as well as Mayo Clinic quadratic equation estimates.

Background: Data on the prevalence of decreased glomerular filtration rate in Europe are limited. Most of the available studies did not employ laboratory methods providing creatinine concentrations traceable to the reference method, i.e.

Clinical applications of glass-ceramics in dentistry.

Glass-ceramics featuring special properties can be used as a basis to develop biomaterials. It is generally differentiated between highly durable biomaterials for restorative dental applications and bioactive glass-ceramics for medical use, for example, bone replacements. In detail, this paper presents one biomaterial from each of these two groups of materials.