[SARS-CoV-2 Exposure and Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies among Medical Students in the First Phase of the Pandemic 2020-2021]. / SARS-CoV-2 Exposition und Seroprävalenz von SARS-CoV-2-Antikörpern bei Medizinstudierenden in der ersten Phase der Pandemie, 2020­2021.

BACKGROUND: Due to their clinical training and secondary activities in the hospital, medical students are exposed to contact with SARS-CoV-2 infected people more often than the general population. We determined the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in medical students in clinical training at different times during the pandemic and asked participants about possible SARS-CoV-2 exposures in both medical and private settings. METHODS: From May 2020 to June 2021, medical students each in their 3rd year of training at the University Hospital Würzburg participated in the cross-sectional survey. All SARS-CoV-2 unvaccinated students were offered a determination of their SARS-CoV-2 serostatus. The blood samples were tested by an immunoassay (Elecsys, Roche) for IgG/IgM/IgA antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 N antigen. Demographic data, SARS-CoV-2 disease and vaccination status, as well as possible SARS-CoV-2 exposures were collected using a questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall, 383 (86.1%) of 445 students took part in the cross-sectional survey (65% female; median age 22 years; IQR 21-24). Serostatus was determined in 223 (58.2% of 383) SARS-CoV-2 unvaccinated participants. In the period between the beginning of the pandemic in Germany (February 2020) and the time of the survey, 332 (86.7% of 383) students stated that they worked in the medical field, mainly in the context of clinical traineeships (76.8%) or secondary activities with patient contact (48.8%); 129 (33.7%) reported previous contact with a COVID-19 patient, of which 78.3% of contacts took place at a medical facility. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected in 8 (3.6%) of the 223 unvaccinated participants tested, and in 3 infected persons an association between infection and contact in the course of medical activity seemed likely. CONCLUSION: Despite frequent patient contact and the associated increased risk of infection, medical students in their 3rd year of training did not show an increased seroprevalence compared to the general population and showed a lower or similar seroprevalence rate than medical students in other European countries in the first 18 months of the pandemic. This indicates sufficient protection of medical students at the beginning of clinical training through the hygiene and infection protection measures implemented at that time during medical activities.

Online-rotation in paediatrics - digital live-interaction with children.

The two-week block rotation in paediatrics (tenth semester) took place for 62 students purely as online teaching in the summer semester of 2020, at the time of the initial restrictions. As a teaching module, virtual patient presentations including debriefing took place as synchronous teaching. Patients and one parent were broadcast from the wards and outpatient clinics via video conference. Students were able to interact in small groups with 15-22 patients or their parents, respectively, via a doctor and both conduct the case history interview and brief the examination steps. Despite the limitation of not being able to perform the clinical examination themselves, participants rated the block rotation with good marks. They particularly appreciated the ability to interact with the children online as an indispensable compromise in times of suspended classroom teaching during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Influence of inspiratory capacity on bronchodilatation via Turbuhaler or pressurized metered-dose inhaler in asthmatic children: a comparison.

This study was designed to compare the bronchodilatatory effect of terbutaline inhaled through Turbuhaler (TH) or pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) in young asthmatics, and to assess the possible relationship between patients' inspiratory capacity and bronchodilatation for both devices. One hundred and eighteen asthmatics (aged 4 10/12-20 6/12 years) with bronchial obstruction (mean Vmax 50%: 59.5% pred, SD 17.8% pred) were allocated at random to two groups of 59 patients to inhale 0.5 mg terbutaline either by TH or by pMDI (and placebo by dummy of the other device). In- and expiratory spirometry and bodyplethysmography were conducted before and 10 min after inhalation. Bronchodilatation was effective [change in airways resistance (delta RAW) -50%, change in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (delta FEV1)+15%, delta Vmax 50% or 25% + 25% of baseline] in 41 of 59 patients with pMDI (69.5%) and 33 of 59 patients with TH (55.9%). The effect on Vmax 50% was significantly better with pMDI than with TH. Turbuhaler users with higher inspiratory flow [forced inspiratory volume in 1 s (FIV1), forced inspiratory flow at 50% vital capacity (FIF50)] reached better bronchodilatation, while bronchodilatatory effect was not correlated with inspiratory performance in MDI users. Peak inspiratory flow (PIF) did not correlate well with bronchodilatation by TH. When using TH for bronchodilatation, the effectiveness of terbutaline depends upon the degree of inspiratory capacity. This can lead to impaired bronchodilatatory effect in subgroups of obstructive young asthmatics with low inspiratory flow. In contrast, when using a pMDI, inspiratory capacity does not seem to influence the effectiveness of terbutaline.

Effect of PEEP and suction via chest drain on functional residual capacity and lung compliance after surgical repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: preliminary observations in 5 patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is associated with pulmonary hypoplasia that limits survival. The authors' knowledge on lung mechanics and lung volumes in these patients with hypoplastic lungs is still limited. Therefore, the authors performed measurements of functional residual capacity (FRC), compliance of the respiratory system (CRS), and tidal volume in 5 full-term infants (gestational age, 38 to 40 weeks; birth weight, 2,800 to 3,530 g) before and after surgical repair of neonatal CDH. METHODS: The authors studied the influence of different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and suction via inserted ipsilateral chest tube connected to a water seal on lung volume and lung mechanics. A computerized tracer gas (SF6) washout method was used for serial measurements of FRC. Compliance of the respiratory system was determined according to insufflatory method. RESULTS: The authors found a preoperative compliance between 1.5 and 3.9 mL/kPa/kg and a preoperative FRC between 9.1 and 12.9 mL/kg indicating severe hypoplasia of the lungs in all patients. Immediately after surgical repair of CDH, compliance decreased to 85% (78% to 91%) of preoperative value, and FRC increased to 132% (110% to 150%) of preoperative value under mechanical ventilation while at 4 cm of water of PEEP and at -10 cm of water of suction via chest drain with the need of high fraction of inspired oxygen. After reduction of PEEP from 4 to 2 or 1 cm of water and lowering suction from -10 cm of water to -2 or 0 cm of water FRC decreased to 103% (80% to 122%) of preoperative value and compliance, and tidal volume improved to 135% (110% to 147%) of preoperative value resulting in increased alveolar ventilation, correction of acidosis and improvement in oxygenation. During the first days after surgery inadequate high PEEP or strong suction via chest tube drainage resulted in increase in FRC paralleled by decrease in compliance indicating overdistension of these hypoplastic lungs. CONCLUSIONS: The data show that overdistension of hypoplastic lungs in infants with CDH can be detected and excluded by repeated measurements of FRC and compliance in these critical ill infants. These data might help setting appropriate ventilator parameters, adequate suction via chest drain, and thereby improve gas exchange and outcome.

A molecular survey on cystic echinococcosis in Sinnar area, Blue Nile state (Sudan).

BACKGROUND: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonosis caused by the cestodes of the Echinococcus species. Its life cycle involves dogs and other canids as definitive hosts for the intestinal tapeworm, as well as domestic and wild ungulates as intermediate hosts for the tissue-invading metacestode (larval) stage. The disease has a special impact on disadvantaged pastoralist communities and is listed now among the three top priority neglected tropical disease (NTD). Therefore, CE is a neglected disease even in high endemicity regions. This study aimed at investigation of the prevalence of CE in different animals slaughtered for food consumption in Sinnar area, Blue Nile states in Sudan. METHODS: A survey of CE in livestock was conducted from April 2009 to March 2011 in Sinnar area, Blue Nile state in Sudan. Location, parasitological status and fertility conditions were determined. In addition, 120 hydatid cysts (30 from camels, 62 from cattle and 28 from sheep) were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and mitochondrial gene sequencing for the genetic allocation of Echinococcus strains or species RESULTS: The prevalence of CE was 29.7% (30/101) in camels, 2.7% (62/2310) in cattle and 0.6% (26/4378) in sheep. It was shown that infection rates increased with age in camels, cattle and sheep. In camels, 67% (20/30) of the infected animals were aged between 2 - 5 years whereas 58% (36/62) of the infected cattle were > 5 years. In sheep, the prevalence rate was distributed equally between animals ranging 2 - 5 years and > 5 years. Even though multiple cysts were found in some animals, the average number of cysts per animal was close to 1 in all examined species. Lungs were found to be the predilection sites for the parasite in both camels and cattle, while most of the cysts found in sheep were located in the liver. About 63.4% of cysts encountered in camels were considered as large (5 - 7 cm), whereas those in cattle and sheep were medium (2 - 4 cm) and small (< 2 cm) respectively. The highest fertility rate was found in camel cysts with 85.4% (35/41) followed by cattle (50.0%, 32/64) and sheep (39.0%, 11/28). All examined cysts belonged to Echinococcus canadensis G6, which was confirmed to be the overwhelmingly predominant species in that area. CONCLUSION: The epidemiological situation in Sinnar area, Blue Nile state is characterized by intense transmission of Echinococcus canadensis G6, thereby closely resembling the situation in most other regions of Sudan.

[Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF): clinical significance, diagnosis and therapy]. / Die allergische bronchopulmonale Aspergillose (ABPA) bei Patienten mit Mukoviszidose (CF): Klinische Bedeutung, Diagnostik und Therapie.

Intermittent or long term treatment with antibiotics, progredient destruction of the lungs as well as dystrophy of individuals are predisposing factors for the colonization of the respiratory tract with Aspergillus fumigatus in CF patients. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a significant problem in CF patients. It has been reported with an incidence of 10%. The diagnosis of ABPA in patients with CF is difficult since it is common for both diseases to have several of the same clinical and laboratory features. Prednisolone with an initial dose of between 0,5-1,0 mg/kg/day remains the treatment of choice for ABPA. The doses reduction and the duration of the treatment depend on clinical findings and on serum IgE levels.