Patent foramen ovale closure versus drug therapy in patients over 60 years and a follow-up of 5 years.

Background: The advantages of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure as protection from a recurrence of stroke remains controversial compared to drug therapy, especially in patients over 60 years.

Hypothesis: The aim of the study is to compare recurrence of stroke in patients over 60 years old with PFO closure versus drug therapy alone.

Methods: We included 342 patients over 60 years who suffered a crytopgenic stroke, and were also accepted for a PFO closure.

An old foe on peculiar paths: severe falciparum malaria in a Syrian refugee, possibly infected during migrant smuggling from Türkiye to Germany.

Infectious diseases and their imperative awareness gain major relevance through global warming and multi-continent refugee crises. Here, we demonstrate the challenges of malaria diagnosis, disease course, and treatment, including post-artesunate hemolysis in a Syrian refugee with severe falciparum malaria, most probably infected during migrant smuggling from Türkiye to Germany.

Randomized comparison of 4.5/6 Fr versus 6/7.5 Fr ureteroscopes for laser lithotripsy of lower/middle ureteral calculi: towards optimization of efficacy and safety of semirigid ureteroscopy.

Background And Purpose: To compare 4.5/6 Fr versus 6/7.5 Fr semirigid ureteroscopes in terms of safety and efficacy in adult non-obese patients with middle or lower ureteric stones.

Effects of COPD on Left Ventricular and Left Atrial Deformation in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Strain Analysis Using Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography.

Myocardial strain analysis, which describes myocardial deformation (shortening or lengthening), provides more detailed information about left ventricular (LV) and atrial (LA) functions than conventional echocardiography and delivers prognostic information. To analyze the effects of COPD on left heart function upon acute myocardial infarction (AMI), consecutive AMI patients were retrospectively screened, and patients were included if a post-AMI echocardiography and results of recent pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were available. Strain analysis was performed by a cardiologist who was blinded to clinical information.

Onlay Pedicled Transverse Skin Flap versus One-Stage Inlay Buccal Mucosal Graft in Penile Urethroplasty: A Prospective Matched-Pair Analysis.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare urethroplasty using onlay pedicled transverse skin flap (PSF) versus one-stage inlay buccal mucosa graft (BMG) in repair of penile urethral strictures.

Methods: We conducted a prospective matched-pair analysis of 44 male patients receiving penile urethroplasty between June 2016 and June 2019. There were 22 patients who received PSF and 22 patients who received BMG.

Establishment of the German Burn Registry - five years of prospective data collection.

Background: From 1991-2014, all major burn centers of the German-speaking countries participated in a multicenter study in which essentially demographic data were collected. Individual patient data was located at the particular burn centers and only cumulated data were summarized annually for presentation. Retrospective statistical analysis of the entire data collection and identification of subgroups was not possible.

The CALCIPHYX study: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 clinical trial of SNF472 for the treatment of calciphylaxis.

Background: Calcific uraemic arteriolopathy (CUA; calciphylaxis) is a rare disease seen predominantly in patients receiving dialysis. Calciphylaxis is characterized by poorly healing or non-healing wounds, and is associated with mortality, substantial morbidity related to infection and typically severe pain. In an open-label Phase 2 clinical trial, SNF472, a selective inhibitor of vascular calcification, was well-tolerated and associated with improvement in wound healing, reduction of wound-related pain and improvement in wound-related quality of life (QoL).

Effect of Aprotinin on Liver Injury after Transplantation of Extended Criteria Donor Grafts in Humans: A Retrospective Propensity Score Matched Cohort Analysis.

The number of patients awaiting liver transplantation still widely exceeds the number of donated organs available. Patients receiving extended criteria donor (ECD) organs are especially prone to an aggravated ischemia reperfusion syndrome during liver transplantation leading to massive hemodynamic stress and possible impairment in organ function. Previous studies have demonstrated aprotinin to ameliorate reperfusion injury and early graft survival.

Cardiovascular Evaluation of Liver Transplant Patients by Using Coronary Calcium Scoring in ECG-Synchronized Computed Tomographic Scans.

Background: The goal of cardiac evaluation of patients awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is to identify the patients at risk for cardiovascular events (CVEs) in the peri- and postoperative periods by opportunistic evaluation of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in non-gated abdominal computed tomographs (CT).

Methods: We hypothesized that in patients with OLT, a combination of Lee's revised cardiac index (RCRI) and CAC scoring would improve diagnostic accuracy and prognostic impact compared to non-invasive cardiac testing. Therefore, we retrospectively evaluated 169 patients and compared prediction of CVEs by both methods.

Early Revision after Artificial Urinary Sphincter Implantation Does Not Impair the Long-Term Treatment Success.

Introduction: After implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) due to stress urinary incontinence, in some cases revision procedures may be necessary. This is mostly due to device infection or cuff erosion in the long term. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of early revision procedures (prior to or immediately after AUS activation) on the long-term outcome.

Dual-center experiences with interventional closure of patent foramen ovale: A medium-term follow-up study comparing two patient groups aged under and over 60 years.

Background: Current guidelines recommend interventional closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke who are under 60 years of age.

Hypothesis: The hypothesis of this study was to compare follow-up results of PFO closure in patients over 60 years of age to those of patients under 60 years of age in order to determine whether the procedure is safe and effective for both age groups.

Methods: We included 293 patients who had a cryptogenic ischemic stroke and a PFO confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and who were scheduled for percutaneous closure of the PFO between 2014 and 2019.

Dynamic handgrip exercise for the evaluation of mitral valve regurgitation: an echocardiographic study to identify exertion induced severe mitral regurgitation.

Handgrip exercise (HG) has been occasionally used as a stress test in echocardiography. The effect of HG on mitral regurgitation (MR) is not well known. This study aims to evaluate this effect and the possible role of HG in the echocardiographic evaluation of MR.

Impact of previous urethroplasty on the outcome after artificial urinary sphincter implantation: a prospective evaluation.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of previous urethroplasty on complication rates and postoperative continence after primary artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation in male patients with severe stress urinary incontinence.

Patients And Methods: A prospective evaluation of patients undergoing primary AUS implantation was conducted. Patients with previous radiotherapy, AUS implantation or urethral stent placement were excluded.