γδ T cell profiling in a cohort of preterm infants reveals elevated frequencies of CD83+ γδ T cells in sepsis.

Preterm infants are at high risk of developing neonatal sepsis. γδ T cells are thought to be an important set of effector cells in neonates. Here, γδ T cells were investigated in a longitudinal cohort of preterm neonates using next-generation sequencing, flow cytometry, and functional assays. During the first year of life, the Vγ9Vδ2 T cell subset showed dynamic phenotypic changes and elevated levels of fetal-derived Vγ9Vδ2 T cells were evident in infants with sepsis. Single-cell transcriptomics identified HLA-DRhiCD83+ γδ T cells in neonatal sepsis, which expressed genes related to antigen presentation. In vitro assays showed that CD83 was expressed on activated Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in preterm and term neonates, but not in adults. In contrast, activation of adult Vγ9Vδ2 T cells enhanced CD86 expression, which was presumably the key receptor to induce CD4 T cell proliferation. Together, we provide a map of the maturation of γδ T cells after preterm birth and highlight their phenotypic diversity in infections.

Effectiveness of Systematic Periodontal Treatment in Male HIV-Infected Patients after 9 Years: A Case Series.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effectiveness of systematic periodontal treatment in the long term in HIV-infected patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral treatment. METHODS: Longitudinal, prospective, open-label case series over a period of nine years. Periodontal treatment was performed by scaling and root planing and supportive periodontal care (SPC) at regular intervals. To measure effectiveness, reductions of pocket probing depths were defined as primary study endpoint. RESULTS: During the study period, there was a proportional increase in periodontal pockets ≥4 mm of +53% and in pockets ≥ 6 mm of +100%. Mean pocket depth reductions on patient's level were, however, 0.4 mm nine years after scaling and root planing and supportive periodontal care (p=0.180). No teeth were lost during the observation period. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of best evidence available, it is concluded that systematic periodontal treatment including SPC is effective in virologically controlled HIV infection and can be performed in dental practice safely.

Using the Oxford Foot Model to determine the association between objective measures of foot function and results of the AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale and the Foot Function Index: a prospective gait analysis study in Germany.

OBJECTIVE: After cross-cultural adaption for the German translation of the Ankle-Hindfoot Scale of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS-AHS) and agreement analysis with the Foot Function Index (FFI-D), the following gait analysis study using the Oxford Foot Model (OFM) was carried out to show which of the two scores better correlates with objective gait dysfunction. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Results of the AOFAS-AHS and FFI-D, as well as data from three-dimensional gait analysis were collected from 20 patients with mild to severe ankle and hindfoot pathologies.Kinematic and kinetic gait data were correlated with the results of the total AOFAS scale and FFI-D as well as the results of those items representing hindfoot function in the AOFAS-AHS assessment. With respect to the foot disorders in our patients (osteoarthritis and prearthritic conditions), we correlated the total range of motion (ROM) in the ankle and subtalar joints as identified by the OFM with values identified during clinical examination 'translated' into score values. Furthermore, reduced walking speed, reduced step length and reduced maximum ankle power generation during push-off were taken into account and correlated to gait abnormalities described in the scores. An analysis of correlations with CIs between the FFI-D and the AOFAS-AHS items and the gait parameters was performed by means of the Jonckheere-Terpstra test; furthermore, exploratory factor analysis was applied to identify common information structures and thereby redundancy in the FFI-D and the AOFAS-AHS items. RESULTS: Objective findings for hindfoot disorders, namely a reduced ROM, in the ankle and subtalar joints, respectively, as well as reduced ankle power generation during push-off, showed a better correlation with the AOFAS-AHS total score-as well as AOFAS-AHS items representing ROM in the ankle, subtalar joints and gait function-compared with the FFI-D score.Factor analysis, however, could not identify FFI-D items consistently related to these three indicator parameters (pain, disability and function) found in the AOFAS-AHS. Furthermore, factor analysis did not support stratification of the FFI-D into two subscales. CONCLUSIONS: The AOFAS-AHS showed a good agreement with objective gait parameters and is therefore better suited to evaluate disability and functional limitations of patients suffering from foot and ankle pathologies compared with the FFI-D.

Evaluation of hypersensitivity after the placement of metal-ceramic crowns cemented with two luting agents: Long-term results of a prospective clinical study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Different luting materials are available for the cementation of fixed dental prostheses. Postcementation hypersensitivity is an occasional complication in the definitive delivery. How the choice of luting agent affects long-term postcementation sensitivity is unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this prospective, randomized, controlled, split-mouth clinical trial was to compare the hypersensitivity of 2 cementation methods for metal-ceramic crowns. The primary endpoint was the evaluation of differences in hypersensitivity between the study groups over a study period of 5 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study investigated 20 participants with 40 metal-ceramic crowns cemented with either zinc phosphate cement or a self-adhesive resin cement, each in nonantagonistic contralateral quadrants (observation period of 5 years). The data regarding postcementation hypersensitivity included continuous patient-related outcome variables assessed using a visual analog scale (sign test; primary endpoint, level of significance α/3=.0167; secondary endpoint, level of significance, α=.05) and categorical variables represented by yes/no replies (absolute and relative frequencies). The sensitivity of teeth was controlled in relation to mastication, air streams, and hot and cold temperatures. RESULTS: The observation period was 5 years, with a dropout rate of 12.5% in the last 2 years. The results indicated no significant differences between the cement groups for patient- and clinical-related outcomes at any of the observed time points. CONCLUSIONS: As no differences were found between the 2 different cementation modes with respect to developing hypersensitivity after 5 years, the choice of a luting agent remains an individual practitioner decision.

Bowel preparation in pediatric colonoscopy: results of an open observational study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The goal of this study was to analyze the bowel cleansing methods currently used for pediatric colonoscopy in terms of effectiveness, tolerance and safety. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 768 colonoscopies reported by 28 centers were registered in an online database for further analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to determine how preparation methods affected the cleaning effect (Aronchick score) and the rate of adverse events (Aes) and complications. RESULTS: The most frequently reported cleansing agents were sodium picosulphate (54.2 %) and polyethylene-glycol (41.3 %) in various combinations. The cleaning effect was good to excellent in 72.6 % of patients. AEs during the preparation period occurred in 21.5 % of patients. Complications during endoscopy were reported in 12.1 % and were mostly mild. The different agents had no influence on the cleaning effect. In contrast the risk of AEs during preparation was significantly increased when polyethylene-glycol was used (odds ratio (OR) 2.112, P = 0.002) but reduced with the use of sodium picosulphate (OR 0.380, P < 0.001). In particular, the risk of needing a nasogastric tube to complete clean-out was about 10-fold higher when polyethylene-glycol was used. CONCLUSIONS: A large variety of regimens are used for bowel preparation in children. We found a good overall cleaning result independent of the agents used. Cleansing agents, on the other hand, had a significant influence on tolerance and safety.

Adhesion of different resin cements to enamel and dentin.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of five different resin cements to human enamel and dentin under different storage conditions. Five resin cements and their dedicated systems were tested. Teeth were embedded, ground flat to expose enamel or dentin and polished with sandpaper. Adhesive systems were applied according to the manufacturers'instructions. V2A steel cylinders with were silicated, coated, and cemented onto the teeth. Specimens were stored at three different conditions and subsequently thermocycled. SBS was measured. Significant differences were observed between the tested resin cements depending on the tooth surface. Different storage conditions influenced the bond strength, independent of the tooth surface, in all test cements. The bond strength of all experimental materials to enamel is higher than that to dentin surfaces. Furthermore, the adhesiveness decreases after wetness (hydro-) and hydrothermal stress, regardless of the tooth surface.

Midterm Outcome after Mega-Prosthesis Implanted in Patients with Bony Defects in Cases of Revision Compared to Patients with Malignant Tumors.

Use of mega-prostheses is a common option for the treatment of patients with malignant tumors as well as in patients with large osseous defects at the time of revision surgery. No studies have compared the two groups to determine whether there is a relative difference in clinical outcomes. We performed a midterm-outcome-study to evaluate our results in these two patient populations. Deep infection was found more often in our revision group (29.5% vs. 9.1%), however no significant differences in WOMAC-results could be found between the two groups. Surgeons should recognize the high complication rate as well as the differences in results using mega-prostheses in these two distinct groups of patients.

[Doctoral thesis projects for medical students? Retrospective estimation of the fraction of successfully completed medical doctoral thesis projects at Witten/Herdecke University]. / Initiierung von Promotionsvorhaben während des Medizinstudiums? Retrospektive Erhebung zum Anteil zeitnah nach Studienende abgeschlossener Promotionsvorhaben zum "Dr. med." an der Universität Witten/Herdecke.

BACKGROUND: The German "Dr med" plays a specific role in doctoral thesis settings since students may start the underlying doctoral project during their studies at medical school. If a Medical Faculty principally encourages this approach, then it should support the students in performing the respective projects as efficiently as possible. Consequently, it must be ensured that students are able to implement and complete a doctoral project in parallel to their studies. As a characteristic efficiency feature of these "Dr med" initiatives, the proportion of doctoral projects successfully completed shortly after graduating from medical school is proposed and illustrated. METHODS: The proposed characteristic can be estimated by the time period between the state examination (date of completion of the qualifying medical examination) and the doctoral examination. Completion of the doctoral project "during their medical studies" was then characterised by a doctoral examination no later than 12 months after the qualifying medical state examination. To illustrate the estimation and interpretation of this characteristic, it was retrospectively estimated on the basis of the full sample of all doctorates successfully completed between July 2009 and June 2012 at the Department of Human Medicine at the Faculty of Health of the University of Witten/Herdecke. RESULTS: During the period of investigation defined, a total number of 56 doctoral examinations were documented, 30 % of which were completed within 12 months after the qualifying medical state examination (95% confidence interval 19 to 44 %). The median duration between state and doctoral examination was 27 months. The proportion of doctoral projects completed parallel to the medical studies increased during the investigation period from 14 % in the first year (July 2009 till June 2010) to 40 % in the third year (July 2011 till June 2012). CONCLUSION: Only about a third of all "Dr med" projects at the Witten/Herdecke Faculty of Health were completed during or close to the qualifying medical studies. This proportion, however, increased after the introduction of a curriculum on research methodology and practice in 2010; prospective longitudinal studies will have to clarify whether this is causal or mere chronological coincidence. In summary, the proposed method for determining the process efficiency of a medical faculty's "Dr med" programme has proven to be both feasible and informative.

Analysis of agreement between the German translation of the American Foot and Ankle Society's Ankle and Hindfoot Scale (AOFAS-AHS) and the Foot Function Index in its validated German translation by Naal et al. (FFI-D).

BACKGROUND: Despite its wide use in clinical outcome measurement, there is yet no validated German language version of the AOFAS-AHS available. After finishing cross-cultural adaption of the AOFAS-AHS according to the AAOS guidelines, an analysis of agreement was carried out. METHODS: This was done by means of the 18-item Foot Function Index in its validated German translation by Naal et al. (FFI-D). The results of 91 orthopedic patients as well as healthy persons in both scores were then compared intraindividually. The cohort consisted of 46 individuals with hindfoot disorders and 45 persons without any hindfoot complaints. The FFI-D-Score was linearly transformed in the range 0-100 points of the AOFAS. RESULTS: Encouraging correlation was then found for the patients with hindfoot disorders (Spearman's correlation 0.73 (95% CI 0.52-0.85); a median deviation of -2 points (interquartile range -13 points; +13 points) in patients with hindfoot disorders implied good median intraindividual score concordance. However, with 30 of these 46 patients showing score deviations beyond or below a pre-specified ±10 points range of clinically tolerable deviations, the scores cannot be considered exchangeable. CONCLUSION: Although the agreement analysis was performed for the German translation of the two questionnaires, analogous results can be expected also for other languages. It should be noted that the results do not allow for judging which of the scores is better suited to give a valid statement on patient outcome in treatment of hindfoot disorders. To verify which of these two scores is better suited to represent hindfoot-dysfunction a subsequent study using instrumental gait analysis and surface EMG is being carried out.