Who Benefited the Most? Effectiveness of a Lifestyle Intervention Against Cognitive Decline in Older Women and Men - Secondary Analysis of the AgeWell.de-trial.

INTRODUCTION: Differences between women and men matter in the prevalence and risk factors of dementia. We aimed to examine potential sex differences regarding the effectiveness by running a secondary analysis of the AgeWell.de trial, a cluster-randomized multicenter multi-domain lifestyle intervention to reduce cognitive decline. METHODS: Intention-to-treat analyses of women (n=433) and men (n=386) aged 60 to 77 years were used for models including interactions between intervention group allocation and sex followed by subgroup analysis stratified by sex on primary and secondary outcomes. Further, the same procedure was repeated for age groups (60-69 vs. 70-77) within sex-specific subgroups to assess the effectiveness in different age groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register (ref. number: DRKS00013555). RESULTS: No differences were found between women and men in the effectiveness of the intervention on cognitive performance. However, women benefitted from the intervention regarding depressive symptoms while men did not. Health-related quality of life was enhanced for younger intervention participants (60-69 years) in both women and men. CONCLUSION: The AgeWell.de intervention was able to improve depressive symptoms in women and health-related quality of life in younger participants. Female participants between 60 and 69 years benefited the most. Results support the need of better individually targeted lifestyle interventions for older adults.

Topological aspects of multi-kantiferromagnetism in cubic rare-earth compounds.

We advertise rare-earth intermetallics with high-symmetry crystal structures and competing interactions as a possible materials platform hosting spin structures with non-trivial topological properties. Focusing on the series of cubicRCu compounds, whereR= Ho, Er, Tm, the bulk properties of these systems display exceptionally rich magnetic phase diagrams hosting an abundance of different phase pockets characteristic of antiferromagnetic order in the presence of delicately balanced interactions. The electrical transport properties exhibit large anomalous contributions suggestive of topologically non-trivial winding in the electronic and magnetic structures. Neutron diffraction identifies spontaneous long-range magnetic order in terms of commensurate and incommensurate variations of(ππ0)antiferromagnetism with the possibility for various multi-kconfigurations. Motivated by general trends in these materials, we discuss the possible existence of topologically non-trivial winding in real and reciprocal space in the class ofRCu compounds including antiferromagnetic skyrmion lattices. Putatively bringing together different limits of non-trivial topological winding in the same material, the combination of properties inRCu systems promises access to advanced functionalities.

Chronic hand eczema in Europe: Patient experiences and perspectives (CHEPEP) in qualitative interviews.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a very common skin disease among the European population. It causes itch and pain and, in more severe cases, seriously impairs hand functioning at work and in private life. OBJECTIVES: To explore perspectives of people with lived experience on CHE-related problems, wishes and goals. METHODS: Following a qualitative approach, we conducted topic-guided interviews in five European countries and applied template analysis to identify recurrent themes among patients with CHE. RESULTS: We interviewed 60 patients in seven outpatient dermatological and occupational medicine clinics in Croatia, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. Five main themes were identified: (1) knowledge about the disease and its course, (2) preventive behaviour, (3) hand eczema therapy, (4) impact on everyday life and (5) attitudes towards CHE and healthcare. Participants did not feel well informed about CHE, especially about causes, triggers and treatment options. Preventive measures were experienced as more or less effective but also cumbersome. Experiences with therapy were diverse. Treatment satisfaction depended on the results and on the perceived support from the treatment teams. Participants found it important to be taken seriously, to receive practical advice, to try out additional treatments or examinations, find new hope and have occupational perspectives. They wished that others could better understand the physical and emotional burden of CHE. Patient support groups were not mentioned. Participants found it important to learn to take care of themselves and accept life with CHE. CONCLUSIONS: Due to its annoying symptoms, high visibility and impaired functioning at work and in private life, CHE has a high emotional and social impact. Some people may require support to learn coping with CHE and its prevention. Patients wish for information about causes and triggers. They value physicians who listen to them and keep looking for solutions.

Far from urban areas: plastic uptake in fish populations of subtropical headwater streams.

This study investigated the occurrence of plastic particles in the digestive tracts of fish from headwater streams in a human-thinly populated region of the subtropical Sinos River basin in southern Brazil. In total, 258 individuals from 17 species were collected using electric fishing. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of the specimens contained plastic particles. All of them were fibers, with a maximum count of 43 per individual. Plastic fibers were the fourth most abundant food category. Results showed that the uptake of these plastic particles was proportional to the number of ingested food items. Fiber counts in the guts correlated with the uptake of Trichoptera, which are invertebrates using plastic particles to construct their protective cases. No significant difference in plastic uptake was detected between benthic and water column fish. No evidence of bioaccumulation of plastic particles was found in the intestines. The distance from urban areas was not related to the number of ingested plastic particles, concluding that plastics are ubiquitous and available to biota, even in remote locations. The most probable source of these particles is residences close to the streams which discharge the sewage of washing machines without any treatment.

Self-report and urine drug screen concordance among women with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorders participating in a clinical trial: Impact of drug type and participant characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Self-report measures are important in substance use assessment, yet they are susceptible to reporting errors. Urine drug screens (UDS) are often considered a more valid alternative. However, collecting in-person UDS may not always be feasible, contributing to the need to understand factors that influence the validity of self-reported substance use. METHODS: In this secondary analysis of data from 295 women with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorders (SUD) who participated in a clinical trial testing behavioral interventions, we examined concordance and discordance between self-reported drug use and associated UDS results. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the impact of treatment type and participant characteristics on the associations between self-reported drug use and UDS results. RESULTS: Findings revealed higher disagreement between self-report and UDS for opioids and sedatives (ranging from.77 to.90) and lower disagreement rates for cannabis and cocaine (ranging from.26 to.33). Treatment type was not a significant moderator of the associations between self-report and UDS across all drugs. Among those with a positive opioid UDS, those who reported employment in the past three years were more likely to self-report no opioid use compared to their counterparts without employment in the past three years. CONCLUSIONS: Findings add to the literature that supports the validity of self-reported cannabis and cocaine use. The greater discrepancies between self-report and UDS test results of opioids and sedatives suggest adjunctive UDS may be required, although a variety of factors other than inaccurate self-report may be associated with this discrepancy.

Surgical outcomes in survivors of childhood cancer undergoing thyroidectomy: A single-institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at increased risk for thyroid disease, and many require definitive management with thyroid surgery. Despite this, there is limited evidence on surgical outcomes among CCS. We sought to evaluate postoperative outcomes at our institution among CCS undergoing thyroid surgery compared to patients without a history of primary childhood malignancy. PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed for 638 patients treated at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Pediatric Thyroid Center between 2009 and 2020. Rates of surgical complications, including recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis and hypoparathyroidism, among CCS were compared to patients with sporadic/familial thyroid cancer, Graves' disease, and other benign thyroid conditions. Operative time and intraoperative parathyroid hormone levels were also evaluated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in long-term surgical complication rates, such as permanent RLN paralysis and hypoparathyroidism, between CCS and patients without a history of primary childhood malignancy (all p > .05). For all surgical outcomes, there were no significant differences in complication rates when CCS were compared to those undergoing surgery for sporadic/familial thyroid cancer or Graves' disease (all p > .05). CCS with benign final pathology had significantly higher rates of transient hypoparathyroidism compared to patients with benign thyroid conditions (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that CCS are not at higher risk of long-term complications from thyroid surgery when treated by high-volume surgeons within a multidisciplinary team.

Topological magnon band structure of emergent Landau levels in a skyrmion lattice.

The motion of a spin excitation across topologically nontrivial magnetic order exhibits a deflection that is analogous to the effect of the Lorentz force on an electrically charged particle in an orbital magnetic field. We used polarized inelastic neutron scattering to investigate the propagation of magnons (i.e., bosonic collective spin excitations) in a lattice of skyrmion tubes in manganese silicide. For wave vectors perpendicular to the skyrmion tubes, the magnon spectra are consistent with the formation of finely spaced emergent Landau levels that are characteristic of the fictitious magnetic field used to account for the nontrivial topological winding of the skyrmion lattice. This provides evidence of a topological magnon band structure in reciprocal space, which is borne out of the nontrivial real-space topology of a magnetic order.

Impact of myocardial injury after coronary artery bypass grafting on long-term prognosis.

AIMS: The most appropriate definition of perioperative myocardial infarction (pMI) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and its impact on clinically relevant long-term events is controversial. We aimed to (i) analyse the incidence of pMI depending on various current definitions in a 'real-life' setting of CABG surgery and (ii) determine the long-term prognosis of patients with pMI depending on current definitions. METHODS AND RESULTS: A consecutive cohort of 2829 coronary artery disease patients undergoing CABG from two tertiary university centres with the presence of serial perioperative cardiac biomarker measurements (cardiac troponin and creatine kinase-myocardial band) were retrospectively analysed. The incidence and prognostic impact of pMI were assessed according to (i) the 4th Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (4UD), (ii) the definition of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), and (iii) the Academic Research Consortium (ARC). The primary endpoint of this study was a composite of myocardial infarction, all-cause death, and repeat revascularization; secondary endpoints were mortality at 30 days and during 5-year follow-up. There was a significant difference in the occurrence of pMI (49.5% SCAI vs. 2.9% 4UD vs. 2.6% ARC). The 4th Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction and ARC criteria remained strong independent predictors of all-cause mortality at 30 days [4UD: odds ratio (OR) 12.18; 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.00-29.67; P < 0.001; ARC: OR 13.16; 95% CI 5.41-32.00; P < 0.001] and 5 years [4UD: hazard ratio (HR) 2.13; 95% CI 1.19-3.81; P = 0.011; ARC: HR 2.23; 95% CI 1.21-4.09; P = 0.010]. Moreover, the occurrence of new perioperative electrocardiographic changes was prognostic of both primary and secondary endpoints. CONCLUSION: Incidence and prognosis of pMI differ markedly depending on the underlying definition of myocardial infarction for patients undergoing CABG. Isolated biomarker release-based definitions (such as troponin) were not associated with pMI relevant to prognosis. Additional signs of ischaemia detected by new electrocardiographic abnormalities, regional wall motion abnormalities, or coronary angiography should result in rapid action in everyday clinical practice.

Feasibility and effectiveness of a multidimensional post-discharge disease management programme for heart failure patients in clinical practice: the HerzMobil Tirol programme.

AIMS: It remains unclear whether transitional care management outside of a clinical trial setting provides benefits for patients with acute heart failure (AHF) after hospitalization. We evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of a multidimensional post-discharge disease management programme using a telemedical monitoring system incorporated in a comprehensive network of heart failure nurses, resident physicians, and secondary and tertiary referral centres (HerzMobil Tirol, HMT), METHODS AND RESULTS: The non-randomized study included 508 AHF patients that were managed in HMT (n = 251) or contemporaneously in usual care (UC, n = 257) after discharge from hospital from 2016 to 2019. Groups were retrospectively matched for age and sex. The primary endpoint was time to HF readmission and all-cause mortality within 6 months. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the effectiveness. The primary endpoint occurred in 48 patients (19.1%) in HMT and 89 (34.6%) in UC. Compared with UC, management by HMT was associated with a 46%-reduction in the primary endpoint (adjusted HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.37-0.77; P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed consistent effectiveness. The composite of recurrent HF hospitalization and death within 6 months per 100 patient-years was 64.2 in HMT and 108.2 in UC (adjusted HR 0.41; 95% CI 0.29-0.55; P < 0.001 with death considered as a competing risk). After 1 year, 25 (10%) patients died in HMT compared with 66 (25.7%) in UC (HR 0.38; 95% CI 0.23-0.61, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A multidimensional post-discharge disease management programme, comprising a telemedical monitoring system incorporated in a comprehensive network of specialized heart failure nurses and resident physicians, is feasible and effective in clinical practice.

Epidemiology, comorbidities, and healthcare utilization of patients with chronic urticaria in Germany.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive data on the epidemiology and comorbidities of chronic urticaria (CU) in Germany are either limited, or not contemporary. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the epidemiology of CU, overall comorbidities and healthcare resource utilized by patients with CU in Germany, using an anonymized statutory health insurance (SHI) database. METHODS: Anonymized SHI claims research database of the Institute for Applied Health Research, Berlin [InGef] (01 January 2015-30 September 2018) was used to analyse insured individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of CU (ICD-10-GM codes). Twelve-month diagnosed prevalence and incidence, comorbidities (vs. atopic dermatitis and psoriasis), and healthcare utilization by patients with CU were investigated. RESULTS: Of 4 693 772 individuals of all ages listed in the database, 3 538 540 were observable during 2017. Overall, 17 524 patients (˜0.5%) were diagnosed with CU; chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU: 71.2%), chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU: 19.7%), CSU+CIndU (9.1%). Females, vs. males, had higher diagnosed prevalence (0.62% vs. 0.37%) and diagnosed incidence (0.18% vs. 0.11%) of CU among all patients. Patients most frequently visited general practitioners (41.3% of total visits). Hypertensive diseases (43.5%), lipoprotein metabolism disorders (32.1%) and affective disorders (26.0%) were the most frequently reported comorbidities of special interest. Rates of most comorbidities of special interests were similar to atopic dermatitis and psoriasis patients, and all higher vs. overall population. More than half (54.1%) of all CU patients were not prescribed any treatment. Second-generation H1 -antihistamines were the most commonly prescribed medication for adult (17.9%) and paediatric (27.9%) patients. Patients with CIndU (paediatric, 15.5%; adult, 7.8%) were more often hospitalized versus patients with CSU (paediatric, 9.9%; adult, 4.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In Germany, prevalence of CU along with multiple comorbidities may pose increased burden on the healthcare system. Awareness of adhering to treatment guidelines, and aiming for complete control of urticaria, needs to be driven and may improve outcomes.

[Terbinafine-resistant dermatophytoses and onychomycosis due to Trichophyton rubrum]. / Terbinafin-resistente Dermatophytosen und Onychomykose durch Trichophyton rubrum.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, therapy-refractory courses of dermatophytoses have increasingly become the focus of attention. The most frequent pathogens are Trichophyton (T.) rubrum and T. mentagrophytes. In addition to local therapy, first-line treatment includes terbinafine, an allylamine antifungal agent that acts by inhibiting squalene epoxidase and thus interfering with ergosterol synthesis. In refractory cases, terbinafine resistance due to point mutation in the squalene epoxidase gene has been frequently detected. OBJECTIVES: The aim is to present specific aspects in the epidemiology of dermatophytoses with terbinafine resistance and to illustrate them on the basis of four patient cases including diagnostic procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of handbook knowledge, a selective literature search, and a review of four patient cases were performed. RESULTS: Detection of the terbinafine resistance was performed by in vitro testing using the breakpoint method as well as sequencing of the Trichophyton isolate and detection of the point mutation with amino acid substitution at position L393F or F397L of squalene epoxidase. CONCLUSION: In refractory and recurrent dermatophytoses, terbinafine resistance should be considered, especially in T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum, and in vitro resistance testing of the dermatophyte and point mutation analysis of squalene epoxidase (SQLE) should be performed. Therapeutically, intermittent administration of itraconazole in combination with antifungal local therapy is recommended. Nevertheless, a recurrent course is to be expected and long-term therapy with itraconazole is usually necessary.

Patch test informed consent form: position statement by European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Force on Contact Dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, an international consensus is lacking regarding the development of an adequate informed consent form for a patch test (PT) and the information that should be included in such document. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to reach a consensus on the specific points that need to be addressed in a PT consent form. METHODS: A Delphi survey, comprising 2 rounds and 1 final discussion, was used to gather and analyse data, which was conducted over the Internet. Each statement that reached a consensus with the respondents (9 expert dermatologists from Europe) was defined as a median consensus score (MED) of ≥7 and agreement among panelists as an interquartile range (IQR) of ≤3. All study participants were members of the EADV task force on contact dermatitis. RESULTS: The expert panel addressed several topics that should be included in an informed consent form for a PT: introduction, preparation for PT, testing procedure, allowed activities, adverse events and additional authorizations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results assess recommendations regarding points to be contained in an informed consent form for a PR. Future actions towards standardization and harmonization of this specific consent form are needed.

[Update on occupational skin cancer-basal cell carcinoma and solar UV exposure]. / Neues zum berufsbedingten Hautkrebs ­ Basalzellkarzinom und solare UV-Exposition.

BACKGROUND: Outdoor workers are occupationally exposed to significantly higher ultraviolet (UV) doses than the rest of the population. Recent data show a doubling of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) risk in outdoor workers with high occupational UV exposure. OBJECTIVES: To examine the stability and robustness of BCC risk estimators. METHODS: Sensitivity analyses to test model assumptions considering socioeconomic status, influence of matching procedure, gender and latency, regional differences (east/west), urban/rural cases/controls, and dual diagnoses (squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]/actinic keratoses grade III [AKIII]/Bowen disease [BD] and BCC) were performed. RESULTS: BCC risk was consistently higher for high occupationally UV-exposed individuals than for intermediate UV-exposed individuals, regardless of matching procedure, latency, regional differences (east/west), urban/rural recruitment of cases/controls, and dual diagnoses (SCC/AKIII/BD and BCC), sex, and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSION: The risk estimator for the association between exposure to solar UV radiation at work and the risk of developing BCC showed a high degree of stability and robustness for all variables investigated. The analyses support the recently published findings on the doubling of BCC risk in outdoor workers with high occupational UV exposure.

Bladder cancer-derived interleukin-1 converts the vascular endothelium into a pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulatory surface.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer cells orchestrate tumour progression by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cytokines modulate the local tumour microenvironment and increase the susceptibility of tumour distant tissues for metastasis. Here, we investigated the impact of human bladder cancer cell derived factors on the ability to modulate and activate human vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: The pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulatory potential of four different bladder cancer cell lines was accessed by qRT-PCR arrays and ELISA. Modulation and activation of endothelial cells was studied in microfluidic devices. Clinical relevance of our findings was confirmed by immune histology in tissue samples of bladder cancer patients and public transcriptome data. RESULTS: The unbalanced ratio between interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in the secretome of bladder cancer cells converted the quiescent vascular endothelium into a pro-adhesive, pro-inflammatory, and pro-coagulatory surface. Microfluidic experiments showed that tumour cell induced endothelial cell activation promoted leukocyte recruitment and platelet adhesion. Human bladder cancer tissue analysis confirmed that loss of IL-1ra and elevated IL-1 expression was associated with enhanced cancer progression. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that IL-1 and IL-1ra were dysregulated in bladder cancer and could facilitate tumour dissemination through endothelial cell activation. Targeting the IL-1/IL-1ra axis might attenuate tumour-mediated inflammation and metastasis formation.

Basal cell carcinoma risk and solar UV exposure in occupationally relevant anatomic sites: do histological subtype, tumor localization and Fitzpatrick phototype play a role? A population-based case-control study.

BACKGROUND: A two-fold risk increase to develop basal cell carcinoma was seen in outdoor workers exposed to high solar UV radiation compared to controls. However, there is an ongoing discussion whether histopathological subtype, tumor localization and Fitzpatrick phototype may influence the risk estimates. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of histological subtype, tumor localization and Fitzpatrick phototype on the risk to develop basal cell carcinoma in highly UV-exposed cases and controls compared to those with moderate or low solar UV exposure. METHODS: Six hundred forty-three participants suffering from incident basal cell carcinoma in commonly sun-exposed anatomic sites (capillitium, face, lip, neck, dorsum of the hands, forearms outside, décolleté) of a population-based, case-control, multicenter study performed from 2013 to 2015 in Germany were matched to controls without skin cancer. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted stratified for histological subtype, phototype 1/2 and 3/4. Dose-response curves adjusted for age, age2, sex, phototype and non-occupational UV exposure were calculated. RESULTS: Participants with high versus no (OR 2.08; 95% CI 1.24-3.50; p = 0.006) or versus moderate (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.15-3.65; p = 0.015) occupational UV exposure showed a more than two-fold significantly increased risk to develop BCC in commonly UV-exposed body sites. Multivariate regression analysis did not show an influence of phototype or histological subtype on risk estimates. The restriction of the analysis to BCC cases in commonly sun-exposed body sites did not influence the risk estimates. The occupational UV dosage leading to a 2-fold increased basal cell carcinoma risk was 6126 standard erythema doses. CONCLUSION: The risk to develop basal cell carcinoma in highly occupationally UV-exposed skin was doubled consistently, independent of histological subtype, tumor localization and Fitzpatrick phototype.

A nonsense variant in the KRT14 gene in a domestic shorthair cat with epidermolysis bullosa simplex.

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a hereditary blistering disease affecting the skin and mucous membranes. It has been reported in humans, cattle, buffaloes and dogs, but so far not in cats. In humans, EBS is most frequently caused by variants in the KRT5 or KRT14 genes. Here, we report a case of feline epidermolysis bullosa simplex and describe the causative genetic variant. An 11-month-old male domestic shorthair cat presented with a history of sloughed paw pads and ulcerations in the oral cavity and inner aspect of the pinnae, starting a few weeks after birth. Clinical and histopathological findings suggested a congenital blistering disease with a split formation within the basal cell layer of the epidermis and oral mucous epithelium. The genetic investigation revealed a homozygous nonsense variant in the KRT14 gene (c.979C>T, p.Gln327*). Immunohistochemistry showed a complete absence of keratin 14 staining in all epithelia present in the biopsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of feline EBS, and the first report of a spontaneous pathogenic KRT14 variant in a non-human species. The homozygous genotype in the affected cat suggests an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.

Protocol for the development of a core domain set for hand eczema trials.

BACKGROUND: Clinical hand eczema trials measure a variety of outcome domains to determine the success of interventions. This considerably limits the comparability and overall confidence in the study results, and thereby the strength of recommendations for clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: The Hand Eczema Core Outcome Set (HECOS) initiative aims to develop a core outcome set (COS) for the standardized evaluation of interventions in future hand eczema trials and reviews. This COS will define the minimum that should be measured and reported in controlled and randomized-controlled trials of therapeutic hand eczema interventions. The objective of this protocol is to specify the methods to develop a core domain set. METHODS: In Phase 1, a list of candidate domains will be derived from a systematic literature review concerning previously measured outcomes in hand eczema trials, from qualitative patient interviews and from expert interviews. In Phase 2, a consensus study about core domains will be conducted by an online 3-round Delphi survey and a face-to-face meeting, applying predefined consensus criteria. HECOS involves hand eczema and methods experts as well as patients and further stakeholders with an interest in the initiative. OUTLOOK: When a set of core domains has been defined, HECOS is going to identify appropriate outcome measurement instruments in a development process that will be detailed in another protocol. The COS will considerably enhance the methodological quality, comparability and usefulness of hand eczema trials for clinical decision-making and the development of new therapeutic options for hand eczema, and also reduce the effort of planning, conducting, and reporting individual hand eczema studies, reviews and meta-analyses.

Atopy patch testing with aeroallergens in a large clinical population of dermatitis patients in Germany and Switzerland, 2000-2015: a retrospective multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic significance of the atopy patch test for the management of dermatitis possibly triggered by aeroallergens is still controversial. However, sufficiently large studies with routinely tested standardized aeroallergen patch test preparations in dermatitis patients are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reaction frequency and the reaction profiles of 10 until mid-2015 commercially available, standardized aeroallergen patch test preparations of the 'Stallerpatch' test series (Stallergenes, Antony Cedex, France) in a large multicentre patient cohort. METHODS: A retrospective data analysis of patients with suspected aeroallergen-dependent eczematous skin lesions was performed, who were patch tested in 15 Information Network of Departments of Dermatology-associated clinics between 2000 and 2015. Patients were stratified according to their atopic dermatitis (AD) status. RESULTS: The study group included 3676 patients (median age 41 years, 34.8% males, 54.5% AD). The most common aeroallergens causing positive patch test reactions were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (19.6%), Dermatophagoides farinae (16.9%), birch (6.2%), timothy grass (6.0%), cat dander (5.4%), mugwort (4.9%) and dog dander (4.6%). Reactions to other pollen allergen preparations, that is 5 grasses (3.2%), cocksfoot (2.1%) and plantain (1.6%), were less common. Positive patch test reactions to aeroallergens were consistently more frequent in patients with AD. These patients showed proportionally less dubious, follicular, irritant and weak positive reactions. Independent of AD status, a patient history of past or present allergic rhinitis was associated with an increased chance of a positive aeroallergen patch test reaction to pollen allergens. CONCLUSION: The aeroallergen patch test is a useful add-on tool in clinical routine, especially in patients with AD and/or respiratory allergy. A patch test series comprising Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, birch, timothy grass, cat dander and mugwort seems to be suitable. Controlled studies with specific provocation and elimination procedures are required to further evaluate the diagnostic significance of the proposed screening series.