Biomarkers Predictive for In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Prediabetes Hospitalized for COVID-19 in Austria: An Analysis of COVID-19 in Diabetes Registry.

Background: This study assessed the predictive performance of inflammatory, hepatic, coagulation, and cardiac biomarkers in patients with prediabetes and diabetes mellitus hospitalized for COVID-19 in Austria.

Methods: This was an analysis of a multicenter cohort study of 747 patients with diabetes mellitus or prediabetes hospitalized for COVID-19 in 11 hospitals in Austria. The primary outcome of this study was in-hospital mortality.

COVID-19 fatality prediction in people with diabetes and prediabetes using a simple score upon hospital admission.

Aim: To assess predictors of in-hospital mortality in people with prediabetes and diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19 infection and to develop a risk score for identifying those at the greatest risk of a fatal outcome.

Materials And Methods: A combined prospective and retrospective, multicentre, cohort study was conducted at 10 sites in Austria in 247 people with diabetes or newly diagnosed prediabetes who were hospitalized with COVID-19. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and the predictor variables upon admission included clinical data, co-morbidities of diabetes or laboratory data.

State-of-the-art consensus on non-transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy.

Within the last decade, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) systems with non-transvenous leads were developed in order to minimize complications related to the cardiovascular position of transvenous ICD leads. This national expert consensus gives an overview of potential indications for the implantation of non-transvenous ICD systems, and provides specific recommendations for implantation, follow-up, and complication management in patients with subcutaneous ICD. Regarding particular issues like the necessity for shock efficacy testing, or the clinical outcome as compared to transvenous ICD, randomized data are expected in the near future.

Plasma MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels on ICU admission are associated with 30-day survival.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in systemic inflammatory responses and organ failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate early circulating plasma levels of MMP‑2, MMP‑9 and their inhibitors TIMP‑1 and TIMP‑2 and their prognostic significance in critically ill patients on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: In a single center prospective study 120 consecutive patients (72.

Calculated Serum Osmolality, Acute Kidney Injury, and Relationship to Mortality after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: Data on the associations between serum osmolality (sOsmo) and acute kidney injury (AKI) as well as short- and long-term mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are limited.

Objectives: To investigate the association between sOsmo and development of AKI and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing PCI.

Methods: We investigated 1,927 consecutive patients undergoing PCI from the registry of a single center.

Specific indications and clinical outcome in patients with subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) - A nationwide multicentre registry.

Background: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICD) are an innovative and less invasive alternative to transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) in selected patients. We aimed to investigate the underlying diseases and the specific indications for implanting S-ICD in clinical practice, as well as the prevalence of shock delivery and complications.

Methods And Results: From December 2012, data of 236 patients (30,5% female; age 48,6±16,8years) were gathered from 12 centres in Austria.

Progression of function and pain relief as indicators for returning to sports after arthroscopic isolated type II SLAP repair-a prospective study.

Background: One of the currently used surgical techniques in isolated type II SLAP lesions is arthroscopic SLAP repair. Postoperatively, patients tend to suffer from a prolonged period of pain and are restricted in their sports activities for at least 6 months. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the clinical outcome as well as the postoperative course of pain after arthroscopic type II SLAP repair.

Love is a pain? Quality of sex life after surgical resection of endometriosis: a review.

Dyspareunia, a common symptom of endometriosis and may severely affect quality of sex life in affected patients. The objective of the present work was to review the effect of surgical resection of endometriosis on pain intensity and quality of sex life. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for papers investigating the outcome after surgical endometriosis resection on dyspareunia and quality of sex life measured via VAS/NAS respectively via standardized measuring instruments.

Hand hygiene--evaluation of three disinfectant hand sanitizers in a community setting.

Hand hygiene is acknowledged as the single most important measure to prevent nosocomial infections in the healthcare setting. Similarly, in non-clinical settings, hand hygiene is recognised as a key element in helping prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of three different disinfectant hand sanitizers in reducing the burden of bacterial hand contamination in 60 healthy volunteers in a community setting, both before and after education about the correct use of hand sanitizers.

Learning curve for the detection of pouch of Douglas obliteration and deep infiltrating endometriosis of the rectum.

Study Question: How long does it take to be proficient in diagnosing pouch of Douglas (POD) obliteration and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) of the rectum with transvaginal sonography (TVS)?

Summary Answer: Sonographers familiar with the general use of TVS are expected to be proficient in the diagnosis of endometriosis nodules of the rectum and the detection of POD obliteration using the 'sliding sign' after ∼40 examinations, performed in a referral clinic for pelvic pain.

What Is Already Known: With rectal DIE, the reasons for the obvious diagnostic problems are complex. Menstrual pain or cramps are still considered to be 'normal' and do not provide a reason for patients and even health-care providers to seek expert help.

Serologic markers of autoimmunity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate whether women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased rate of elevated serum levels of common autoimmunologic parameters.

Design: Prospective case-control study.

Setting: Academic research institution.

Fibrinolytic dysfunction in insulin-resistant women with previous gestational diabetes.

Background: Women with a history of gestational diabetes (p-GDM) are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) later in life, and therefore at increased risk for future cardiovascular disease.

Materials And Methods: Three months after delivery we investigated the plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor (vWF) in 74 women with p-GDM and 20 healthy females with normal glucose tolerance during and after pregnancy, as well as the relation of fibrinolytic parameters to insulin resistance and glycaemic control. All women underwent an oral (OGTT) as well as an intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT).

Risk assessment in patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and normal N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels by N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide.

Aims: To compare the accuracy of the N-terminal fragment of its pro-hormone (Nt-proBNP) and N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (Nt-proANP) in the prediction of the 2 year mortality and to investigate whether additional measurement of Nt-proANP to troponin I (TnI) could improve risk assessment in the subgroups of patients with unstable coronary artery disease (UCAD) and normal Nt-proBNP.

Methods And Results: Plasma levels of the TnI, Nt-proANP, and Nt-proBNP were determined in 120 consecutive patients with UCAD without ST-segment elevations and normal left ventricular function. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, TnI and Nt-proBNP were independent predictors of mortality (P=0.

Immunofluorescence assays (IFA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in autoimmune disease diagnostics--technique, benefits, limitations and applications.

Autoimmune diseases are relatively frequent disease complexes, affecting approximately five to seven percent of the population. After cardio-vascular and malignant diseases they come third in mortality. As the clinical diagnosis of rheumatic autoimmune diseases is difficult, laboratory tests are helpful in differential diagnosis and for verification of the clinical diagnosis.