[Benefits of the Curriculum "Social Medicine for the Rehabilitation Team" in Rehabilitation Practise]. / Nutzen des Curriculums "Sozialmedizinische Leistungsbeurteilung im Reha-Team" für die Rehabilitationspraxis.

The Federal German Pension Insurance in cooperation with professional organisations developed a curriculum for further socio-medical education of psychologists/psychotherapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, sports therapists and social workers/social pedagogues involved in medical rehabilitation. This curriculum aims to improve the professional competence of the therapeutic groups named above with regards to their contributions to the socio-medical capacity evaluation and related communication within the rehabilitation team. The curriculum was implemented for the first time in 2013. Using the results of the usibility evaluation the continued education concept was revised and manualised. The manual allows for a wide dissemination of the education concept.

A lecture program on complementary and alternative medicine for cancer patients--evaluation of the pilot phase.

About half of all patients with cancer use complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). In 2013, we started a lecture program for patients, followed by evidence-based recommendations on counseling on CAM. These recommendations have been published before by this working group. The aim of the program is to provide scientific facts on the most often used CAM methods in standardized presentations which help patients discuss the topic with their oncologists and support shared decision making. The article presents the evaluation of the pilot phase. Participants received a standardized questionnaire before the start of the lecture. The questionnaire comprises four parts: demographic data, data concerning experience with CAM, satisfaction with the lecture, and needs for further information on CAM. In 2013, seven lectures on CAM were given in cooperation with regional branches of the German Cancer Society in several German states. Four hundred sixty patients and relatives took part (75% females and 16% males). Forty-eight percent formerly had used CAM. Most often named sources of information on CAM were print media (48%) and the Internet (37%). Most participants rated additional written information valuable. About one third would like to have an individual consultation concerning CAM. A standardized presentation of evidence on CAM methods most often used, together with recommendations on the self-management of symptoms, is highly appreciated. The concept of a highly interactive lecture comprising is feasible and if presented in lay terminology, adequate. In order to give additional support on the topic, written information should be provided as the first step.

Computed tomography for evaluation of abdominal wall hernias-what is the value of the Valsalva maneuver?

PURPOSE: To investigate the differences in the visibility and size of abdominal wall hernias in computed tomography (CT) with and without Valsalva maneuver. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent abdominal CTs with Valsalva maneuver between January 2018 and January 2022. Inclusion criteria was availability of an additional non-Valsalva CT within 6 months. A combined reference standard including clinical and surgical findings was used. Two independent, blinded radiologists measured the hernia sac size and rated hernia visibility on CTs with and without Valsalva. Differences were tested with a Wilcoxon signed rank test and McNemar's test. RESULTS: The final population included 95 patients (16 women; mean age 46 ± 11.6 years) with 205 hernias. Median hernia sac size on Valsalva CT was 31 mm compared with 24 mm on non-Valsalva CT (p < 0.001). In 73 and 82% of cases, the hernias were better visible on CT with Valsalva as compared to that without. 14 and 17% of hernias were only visible on the Valsalva CT. Hernia visibility on non-Valsalva CT varied according to subtype, with only 0 and 3% of umbilical hernias not being visible compared with 43% of femoral hernias. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal wall hernias are larger and better visible on Valsalva CT compared with non-Valsalva CT in a significant proportion of patients and some hernias are only visible on the Valsalva CT. Therefore, this method should be preferred for the evaluation of abdominal wall hernias.

Are ratings on the positive and negative syndrome scale for schizophrenia biased by personality traits?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the potential bias by personality traits for ratings on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). METHODS: Personality dimensions (five factor model), personality traits (SCID-II) and PANSS scores were assessed prospectively in 45 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). RESULTS: Borderline (r=0.34; p=0.021), avoidant (r=0.66; p<0.001) and depressive (r=0.51; p<0.001) personality traits were significantly correlated with the PANSS total score. There were significant correlations for all PANSS subscores with the exemption of PANSS positive. In multivariate analyses, the final models for PANSS total score and PANSS depressive explained a total of 45.3% and 54.3% of the variance. Avoidant traits could lead to a difference of 13.1 (95% CI: 5.6-20.7) points regarding PANSS total score, depressive traits could cause differences of 4.8 points (95% CI: 2.2-7.3) for PANSS depressive subscore. CONCLUSION: Although PANSS positive subscore and PANSS excited component are relatively robust against bias by personality traits, PANSS total score and the remaining subscores are affected to a clinically relevant degree. Outcome studies in SSD patients should control for personality traits.

Influence of rate of administration on the mechanism behind propofol induced loss of consciousness.

BACKGROUND: Propofol effect-site time course models included in TCI systems have been under discussion. We hypothesized that the rate of administration is a major contributor affecting the construction of a useful effect-site model: yielding different plasmatic concentrations, loss of consciousness may occur by different mechanisms more complex than the pharmacological effect-site. METHODOLOGY: ASA III patients were randomized in two groups: rapid induction (RI) received TCI of propofol effect-site (CeCALC) 5.4 µg/mL (modified Marsh model), and slow induction (SI) propofol infusion of 10 mg/kg/hour. A neurologist, blinded to induction method, performed neurological assessments using the FOUR score until the loss of consciousness (LOC). At LOC, the presence of brain stem reflexes, EEG index (PSI) and infusion time/mass of drug were registered. Fisher's exact test was used to describe differences between brain stem reflexes and respiration components of the FOUR score and CeCALC for 4 propofo models at LOC time. RESULTS: 16 patients divided in two groups were included. All patient in SI had brainstem reflexes free at LOC. In the RI, all patients had brain stem reflexes abolished and 1 patient had B and R of 4 points in the FOUR score (brain stem reflexes unaffected; P < .001). CeCALC at LOC time were contradictory at LOC in both groups and using 4 different Pk/Pd models. CONCLUSIONS: Depending of the infusion rate, propofol CeCALC at LOC calculated by different Pk/Pd models could be the source of confuse data to be used to guide the state of general anesthesia.

Influence of rate of administration on the mechanism behind propofol induced loss of consciousness. / Influencia de la tasa de administración en el mecanismo subyacente a la pérdida de consciencia inducida por propofol.

BACKGROUND: Propofol effect-site time course models included in TCI systems have been under discussion. We hypothesized that the rate of administration is a major contributor affecting the construction of a useful effect-site model: yielding different plasmatic concentrations, loss of consciousness may occur by different mechanisms more complex than the pharmacological effect-site. METHODOLOGY: ASA I-II patients were randomized in two groups: rapid induction (RI) received TCI of propofol effect-site (CeCALC) 5.4µg/mL (modified Marsh model), and slow induction (SI) propofol infusion of 10mg/kg/hour. A neurologist, blinded to induction method, performed neurological assessments using the FOUR score until the loss of consciousness (LOC). At LOC, the presence of brain stem reflexes, EEG index (PSI) and infusion time/mass of drug were registered. Fisher's exact test was used to describe differences between brain stem reflexes and respiration components of the FOUR score and CeCALC for 4 propofol models at LOC time. RESULTS: 16 patients divided in two groups were included. All patient in SI had brainstem reflexes free at LOC. In the RI, all patients had brain stem reflexes abolished and 1 patient had B and R of 4 points in the FOUR score (brain stem reflexes unaffected; P<.001). CeCALC at LOC time were contradictory at LOC in both groups and using 4 different Pk/Pd models. CONCLUSIONS: Depending of the infusion rate, propofol CeCALC at LOC calculated by different Pk/Pd models could be the source of confuse data to be used to guide the state of general anesthesia.

'In silico' oncology for clinical decision making in the context of nephroblastoma.

The present paper outlines the initial version of the ACGT (Advancing Clinico-Genomic Trials) -- an Integrated Project, partly funded by the EC (FP6-2005-IST-026996)I-Oncosimulator as an integrated software system simulating in vivo tumour response to therapeutic modalities within the clinical trials environment aiming to support clinical decision making in individual patients. Cancer treatment optimization is the main goal of the system. The document refers to the technology of the system and the clinical requirements and the types of medical data needed for exploitation in the case of nephroblastoma. The outcome of an initial step towards the clinical adaptation and validation of the system is presented and discussed. Use of anonymized real data before and after chemotherapeutic treatment for the case of the SIOP 2001/GPOH nephroblastoma clinical trial constitutes the basis of the clinical adaptation and validation process. By using real medical data concerning nephroblastoma for a single patient in conjunction with plausible values for the model parameters (based on available literature) a reasonable prediction of the actual tumour volume shrinkage has been made possible. Obviously as more and more sets of medical data are exploited the reliability of the model "tuning" is expected to increase. The successful performance of the initial combined ACGT Oncosimulator platform, although usable up to now only as a test of principle, has been a particularly encouraging step towards the clinical translation of the system, being the first of its kind worldwide.

Characterization of dendritic cell subsets in patients undergoing renal transplantation.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in transplantation tolerance and immune reactions to transplants. In order to ascertain whether DC levels are predictive for rejection, we examined the levels and expression patterns of DCs of renal transplant patients following immunosuppressive and/or surgical interventions. Myeloid (HLA-DR+/CD11c+) and plasmacytoid (HLA-DR+/CD123+) DCs were characterized by flow cytometry over 28 days. We demonstrated that myeloid DCs and plasmacytoid DCs in peripheral blood were discernable and dramatically decreased following renal transplantation and immunosuppression. Furthermore, the expression of CD62L was significantly up-regulated (P=.032), while CD86 was significantly down-regulated (P=.008) on myeloid but not plasmacytoid DCs. Although DC levels alone were not predictive for the occurrence of a rejection episode, in combination with other factors they may be indicative of rejection, thereby sparing the patient a biopsy.

Acupuncture for chronic pain within the research program of 10 German Health Insurance Funds--basic results from an observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate which patients receive acupuncture in the framework of statutory health insurance in Germany, how treatment was carried out, and what results were achieved. DESIGN: Basic documentation (carried out by physician) within a prospective observational study. SETTING: 454,920 patients with at least one of the three chronic pain conditions including headache, low back pain and osteoarthritis treated by 8727 medical acupuncturists (panel doctors) within the scope of a reimbursement program. RESULTS: Fifty-three percent of the patients were treated by general practitioners, 19% by orthopaedists and 9% by internists. Eighty percent of patients were female, mean age was 53.6 (S.D.=15.7) years. Primary indication for acupuncture was low back pain (45%), headache (36%), and osteoarthritis (12%). Median time since the initial diagnosis was 3 years. 8.4 (S.D.=3.0) acupuncture sessions (body acupuncture) were administered on average. In 28% a concomitant treatment was reported. Effectiveness of acupuncture was rated by physicians in 22% of the patients as marked, in 54% as moderate, in 16% as minimal and in 4% as poor (unchanged). In 8% of the patients mild adverse reactions were reported, severe side effects occurred in 13 patients (0.003%). Orthopaedists rated the effectiveness of acupuncture lower, showing shortest time for face-to-face contact with the patient. More acupuncture training did not correspond to better therapeutic effect assessed by physicians. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture proved a highly demanded treatment option for chronic pain conditions within the German research program. Results indicate that acupuncture provided by qualified therapists is safe, and patients benefited from the treatment.

[Quality of training and professional outcomes of medical students in pediatric residency programs: survey of graduating classes between 1990 and 2000, in the western interregion]. / Qualité de la formation et devenir professionnel des étudiants du diplôme d'études spéciales de pédiatrie: enquête auprès des promotions 1990 à 2000 de l'interrégion ouest.

OBJECTIVES: Little information is available to incoming students in pediatrics residency programs on the experiences of past residents. The objective of this study was to investigate the pediatrics training programs and determine the professional outcomes of graduating residents between 1990 and 2000 in the Western Interregion. POPULATION AND METHODS: Questionnaires were distributed to the 187 medical students enrolled in pediatrics residency programs between 1990 and 2000 in the six university hospital centers of the Western Interregion. The questions concerned the details of training, the modes of residency positions, and current professional and personal situations. One hundred and sixty-five (88%) individuals responded. RESULTS: Seventy-seven percent of the practicing pediatricians stated that the training they had received during residency was adapted to their current practice. This percentage was higher for hospital staff physicians (82%) than for the physicians in private practice (50%) or those with salaried positions outside the hospital system (58%). One hundred and twenty-four had either completed post-residency training (97) or were doing so (27) at the time of the survey. All but one were professionally active, three quarters of them in hospitals and, of these, most were in the hospitals where they had trained. Eighty-six percent of the practicing pediatricians said they were satisfied with their professional work and 73% said they were satisfied with their personal lives. CONCLUSION: These results support the current reflection on reforming the residency training program in pediatrics, especially with regard to its prolongation and the diversification of the training options to take into account the individual student's professional orientation.

[Eight-year-old children with numerous food allergy inducer by passive exposition to cannabis]. / Allergie alimentaire multiple chez un enfant de 8 ans par sensibilisation passive au cannabis.

We present a clinical case of a 8 old children with numerous food allergy inducer pas passive exposition to cannabis.

[Cannabis and crossed allergy with food]. / Cannabis et allergie croisée alimentaire.

Cannabis use has increased over the last decade. At the same time, we see cannabis allergies appearing, ranging from simple rhinoconjunctivitis to anaphylactic-type reactions, some of which are severe since fatal cases have been described, but we also see allergic-induced food allergies cross-linked in the family of lipid transfer proteins (LTP). Indeed, cannabis contains an LTP called Can s 3. The LT are very widespread in the vegetable kingdom and are present in many vegetables and fruits. LTPs have a similar chemical structure and therefore cross-allergy is common. Thus, by becoming aware of the LTP of cannabis, it is possible to become allergic by a mechanism of cross-allergy to the other LTPs present in fruits and vegetables. This syndrome is referred to as cannabis-fruit-vegetable syndrome.

Medical wastes management in the south of Brazil.

In developing countries, solid wastes have not received sufficient attention. In many countries, hazardous and medical wastes are still handled and disposed together with domestic wastes, thus creating a great health risk to municipal workers, the public and the environment. Medical waste management has been evaluated at the Vacacai river basin in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A total of 91 healthcare facilities, including hospitals (21), health centers (48) and clinical laboratories (22) were surveyed to provide information about the management, segregation, generation, storage and disposal of medical wastes. The results about management aspects indicate that practices in most healthcare facilities do not comply with the principles stated in Brazilian legislation. All facilities demonstrated a priority on segregation of infectious-biological wastes. Average generation rates of total and infectious-biological wastes in the hospitals were estimated to be 3.245 and 0.570 kg/bed-day, respectively.

Novel nanocomposite biomaterials with controlled copper/calcium release capability for bone tissue engineering multifunctional scaffolds.

This work aimed to develop novel composite biomaterials for bone tissue engineering (BTE) made of bioactive glass nanoparticles (Nbg) and alginate cross-linked with Cu(2+) or Ca(2+) (AlgNbgCu, AlgNbgCa, respectively). Two-dimensional scaffolds were prepared and the nanocomposite biomaterials were characterized in terms of morphology, mechanical strength, bioactivity, biodegradability, swelling capacity, release profile of the cross-linking cations and angiogenic properties. It was found that both Cu(2+) and Ca(2+) are released in a controlled and sustained manner with no burst release observed. Finally, in vitro results indicated that the bioactive ions released from both nanocomposite biomaterials were able to stimulate the differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells towards the osteogenic lineage. In addition, the typical endothelial cell property of forming tubes in Matrigel was observed for human umbilical vein endothelial cells when in contact with the novel biomaterials, particularly AlgNbgCu, which indicates their angiogenic properties. Hence, novel nanocomposite biomaterials made of Nbg and alginate cross-linked with Cu(2+) or Ca(2+) were developed with potential applications for preparation of multifunctional scaffolds for BTE.

Genetic algorithm based feature selection combined with dual classification for the automated detection of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is a condition that carries a high risk of severe visual impairment. The hallmark of PDR is the growth of abnormal new vessels. In this paper, an automated method for the detection of new vessels from retinal images is presented. This method is based on a dual classification approach. Two vessel segmentation approaches are applied to create two separate binary vessel map which each hold vital information. Local morphology features are measured from each binary vessel map to produce two separate 4-D feature vectors. Independent classification is performed for each feature vector using a support vector machine (SVM) classifier. The system then combines these individual outcomes to produce a final decision. This is followed by the creation of additional features to generate 21-D feature vectors, which feed into a genetic algorithm based feature selection approach with the objective of finding feature subsets that improve the performance of the classification. Sensitivity and specificity results using a dataset of 60 images are 0.9138 and 0.9600, respectively, on a per patch basis and 1.000 and 0.975, respectively, on a per image basis.

Direct evidence for the localization of the steroid-binding site of the plasma sex steroid-binding protein (SBP or SHBG) at the interface between the subunits.

Complete dissociation of dimeric plasma sex steroid-binding protein (SBP or SHBG) was obtained in 6 M urea at 10 degrees C. Removal of urea resulted in the refolding of monomers, followed by reformation of dimeric SBP, which migrates with the same mobility as the native protein. Dimerization does not require Ca+2 or steroid. Renatured monomers yield dimers with dissociation constants for 5 alpha-dihydrotesterone (DHT) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) indistinguishable from those of native human SBP. This phenomenon was also demonstrated by mixing human and rabbit SBPs that, upon renaturation, form a hybrid dimer composed of one human subunit and one rabbit subunit. The hybrid binds both DHT and E2 in contrast to rSBP, which only binds the androgen. Therefore, we conclude that (1) docking of the two subunits creates an asymmetric steroid-binding site located at the interface between the subunits, and (2) only one face of the dimer defines the specificity for binding E2 by encompassing portion of a structural motif that recognizes the flat ring A of E2. The remaining portion, which recognizes the saturated ring A of DHT, is shared by both faces of the dimer. Because native monomers do not exist alone, the often-asked question of whether the SBP monomer binds steroid can be considered meaningless; steroid-binding activity is expressed only in the dimeric state. Finally, formation of the hybrid indicates that SBP dimerization represents a conserved event during the molecular evolution of SBP, suggesting that the structural elements responsible for dimerization will be homologous in SBPs from other species.

Rapid purification of malate synthase from cotyledons of Brassica napus L.

A rapid and efficient method for the purification of malate synthase, an enzyme uniquely confined to glyoxysomes, from cotyledons of Brassica napus L. has been developed. The two step purification procedure is based on the consequent utilization of the tendency of malate synthase to form high molecular weight aggregates. Malate synthase was purified 75-fold to apparent homogeneity with a specific activity of 180 nkat/mg protein. The estimated molecular weight of malate synthase subunits was 63 kDa. Polyclonal antibodies raised against malate synthase in rabbits detect on Western blots only one single polypeptide with an identical molecular weight.

Propranolol stereoisomer plasma concentrations and portal haemodynamic response in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: The haemodynamic effect of propranolol on portal pressure in patients with portal hypertension is highly variable and does not correlate with propranolol racemate plasma concentrations. AIM: To investigate the stereoselective metabolism of the propranolol enantiomers and its impact on portal haemodynamics in patients with liver cirrhosis since only S-propranolol is haemodynamically active. METHODS: Twenty patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension received 40 mg propranolol orally. Portal blood velocity (PBV) and propranolol stereoisomer plasma concentrations were determined. RESULTS: During the 4 h examination period we observed a significant reduction in PBV (18.3 +/- 2.2%, P < 0.0001) vs. baseline. The area under the curve (AUC) during the study period was significantly different for the two isomers (S-propranolol 1217.0 +/- 118.5 nmol.h/L; R-propranolol 728.8 +/- 103.8 nmol.h/L, P < 0.0001). Seven patients (35%) were portal haemodynamic non-responders to propranolol. Propranolol stereoisomer AUC values were no different between responders (S-propranolol 1133. 3 +/- 132.0 nmol.h/L; R-propranolol 718.0 +/- 129.7 nmol.h/L) and non-responders (S-propranolol 1371.8 +/- 250.5 nmol.h/L; R-propranolol 746.9 +/- 200.3 nmol.h/L); neither was there a correlation between propranolol enantiomer plasma concentrations and the portal haemodynamic effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate a stereoselective metabolism of propranolol enantiomers in liver cirrhosis. However, following oral propranolol administration, stereoisomer plasma concentrations do not predict the portal haemodynamic effect.