Long-Term Impact of Recurrent Acute Otitis Media on Balance and Vestibular Function in Children.

Background/objectives: Recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM) is a common disease in childhood, but its impact on the vestibular system remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of rAOM on balance and vestibular function in pediatric patients.

Methods: A total of 55 children, aged 8 years (25 males and 30 females), with a documented history of rAOM, no AOM episodes in the past year, and no previous ear surgery were assessed.

Reduced interhemispheric connectivity in traumatic brachial plexopathies after bionic reconstruction.

Traumatic brachial plexus lesions (TBPL) can lead to permanent impairment of hand function despite timely brachial plexus surgical treatment. In selected cases with no recovery of hand function, the affected forearm can be amputated and replaced by a bionic hand to regain prehensile function. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess (sub)cortical motor activity and functional connectivity changes after TBPL and bionic reconstruction.

Stiffness-Dependent Lysyl Oxidase Regulation through Hypoxia-Inducing Factor 1 Drives Extracellular Matrix Modifications in Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by a thickened epidermis with elongated rete ridges and massive immune cell infiltration. It is currently unclear what impact mechanoregulatory aspects may have on disease progression. Using multiphoton second harmonic generation microscopy, we found that the extracellular matrix was profoundly reorganized within psoriatic dermis.

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma atlas reveals malignant T2 cells supported by a B cell-rich tumor microenvironment.

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a potentially fatal clonal malignancy of T cells primarily affecting the skin. The most common form of CTCL, mycosis fungoides, can be difficult to diagnose, resulting in treatment delay. We performed single-cell and spatial transcriptomics analysis of skin from patients with mycosis fungoides-type CTCL and an integrated comparative analysis with human skin cell atlas datasets from healthy and inflamed skin.

Application of the openEHR reference model for PGHD: A case study on the DH-Convener initiative.

Objectives: Patient-Generated Health Data (PGHD) is increasingly influential in therapy and diagnostic decisions. PGHD should be integrated into electronic health records (EHR) to maximize its utility. This study evaluates the openEHR Reference Model (RM) compatibility with the DH-Convener initiative's modules (Data Collection Module and Data Connector Module) as a potential concept for standardizing PGHD across wearable health devices, focusing on achieving interoperability.

Free functional gracilis transfer for reconstruction of isolated anterior deltoid atrophy following surgical proximal humerus fixation.

Background: Palsy of the clavicular head of the deltoid is a complication after surgical fixation of proximal humerus fractures. Flexion of the shoulder joint may be impaired as a result. Additionally, patients may complain of joint instability, visible atrophy, and pain.

Integrating AI-Generated Summaries of Medication Leaflets into a Mobile Application for Medication Management.

Effective medication management poses significant challenges, particularly when navigating multiple medications with intricate dosages and schedules. This paper presents a prototype mobile application to streamline information retrieval from dense medication leaflets. By utilizing automated information extraction based on large language models, the application seamlessly retrieves pertinent details from the Austrian medicinal product index upon scanning the medication package.

Tracking Usage Patterns of a Mobile Application for Dementia Risk Assessment in Elderly Individuals.

Among elderly individuals, dementia stands as a prominent contributor to disability. However, multidomain lifestyle interventions have emerged as a promising approach for enhancing cognition. Taking a progressive step, integrating digital elements such as a mobile intervention application for elderly participants becomes crucial.

An In-Depth Exploration of Mapping openEHR and PGHD: A Case Study on Fitbit-Generated Data.

In recent years, the adoption of wearable gadgets such as Fitbit has revolutionized the way individuals track and monitor their personal activity data. These devices provide valuable in-sights into an individual's physical activity levels, sleep patterns, and overall health metrics. Integrating this data into healthcare informatics systems can offer significant benefits in terms of personalized healthcare delivery and improved patient outcomes.

Accelerated mapping and robust parallel transmit pulse design for heart and prostate imaging at 7 T.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of reduced k-space sampling on mapping and the resulting impact on phase shimming and dynamic/universal parallel transmit (pTx) RF pulse design.

Methods: Channel-wise 3D maps were measured at 7 T in 35 and 23 healthy subjects for the heart and prostate region, respectively. With these maps, universal phase shims optimizing homogeneity and efficiency were designed for heart and prostate imaging.

Off-targets of BRAF inhibitors disrupt endothelial signaling and vascular barrier function.

Targeted therapies against mutant BRAF are effectively used in combination with MEK inhibitors (MEKi) to treat advanced melanoma. However, treatment success is affected by resistance and adverse events (AEs). Approved BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) show high levels of target promiscuity, which can contribute to these effects.

Long-term functional and clinical outcome of combined targeted muscle reinnervation and osseointegration for functional bionic reconstruction in transhumeral amputees: a case series.

Objective: To describe and evaluate the combination of osseointegration and nerve transfers in 3 transhumeral amputees.

Design: Case series.

Patients: Three male patients with a unilateral traumatic transhumeral amputation.

A Special Issue on "Food Perception and Preferences in the Context of Health and Sustainability".

In a rapidly changing world with increasing environmental and health issues, it is necessary to steer research in an appropriate direction while keeping our health in mind [...

CareNet Tyrol - Information System Success Assessment for Case & Care Management Service.

Background: CareNet is the IT-based tool for Case and Care Management (CCM) in Tyrol, which facilitates standardised documentation of CCM activities.

Objectives: Analysing the pilot usage of CareNet Tyrol.

Methods: Evaluation of the success and user experience of CareNet, expert interviews and a questionnaire-based assessment.

Interprofessional Paediatric High-Fidelity Simulation Training: A Mixed Methods Study of Experiences and Readiness among Nursing and Medical Students.

Background: Training in communication skills between nursing and medical students during interprofessional paediatric emergency simulation training represents a significant aspect of safe patient care. Evidence highlights that poor communication in paediatric emergency scenarios jeopardises patient safety. Through realistic simulations, students practice the communication strategies of crisis resource management (CRM), such as "closed-loop communication", "speaking up", and "team time-out".

Enhancing interprofessional collaboration in paediatric training: Insights from profession-specific experiences and implications for future education.

Aim: There is limited evidence on trainees' and instructors' needs and perspectives concerning interprofessional simulation-based trainings. We aimed to study task distribution among team members, profession-specific learning effects and enhancing collaboration and competencies within medical teams.

Methods: This prospective study examined expectations and experiences of medical and nursing students during paediatric emergency training in a tertiary care centre with questionnaires before and after a training.

Ultrasound education across European Federation of Radiographers Societies (EFRS) countries: Similarities and differences.

Introduction: Ultrasound education varies greatly across European healthcare systems. This paper focuses on ultrasound academic education as a part of wider suite of surveys on radiographers working in ultrasound. The aim was to investigate sonography educational levels, methods of training, course duration and other factors in European Federation of Radiographers Societies (EFRS) member countries.

DNA Methylation Signatures Correlate with Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Metastatic Melanoma.

Background: DNA methylation profiles have emerged as potential predictors of therapeutic response in various solid tumors.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the DNA methylation profiles of patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma undergoing first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment and evaluate their correlation with a radiological response according to immune-related Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (iRECIST).

Methods: A total of 81 tissue samples from 71 patients with metastatic melanoma (27 female, 44 male) were included in this study.

Development of clinical items to identify dysphagia in patients with dementia-An e-Delphi study.

Aim: To identify clinical observable items that can be used to identify dysphagia while observing a typical eating situation.

Design: A three-round e-Delphi survey.

Methods: An expert panel consisting of five nurses, eight speech language therapists and five physicians participated in this three-round e-Delphi survey from November 2022 to January 2023.

Sonographers' perspectives on research - A worldwide online questionnaire study.

Introduction: Research has been performed by sonographers (also known as ultrasound reporting radiographers) for many years for improving diagnosis of disease, developing new imaging approaches, and enhancing patient outcomes. Despite this, sonographers' perspectives on research have not been well studied. To understand the views of sonographers is essential, as they have an important role in the successful implementation of research outcomes during their daily work.