[2022 Update of the Austrian Society for Rheumatology and Rehabilitation nutrition and lifestyle recommendations for patients with gout and hyperuricemia]. / Empfehlungen der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Rheumatologie und Rehabilitation zu Ernährung und Lebensstil bei Gicht und Hyperurikämie ­ Update 2022.

BACKGROUND: Gout is the most frequent inflammatory joint disease in the western world and has a proven genetic background. Additionally, lifestyle factors, such as increasing life expectation and standard of living, sufficient or excess nutrition and a growing prevalence of obesity in the population as well as e.g. alcohol consumption, contribute to the rising incidence of hyperuricemia and gout. Apart from an adequate medication, medical consultation on nutrition and lifestyle is an essential part of the management of gout patients, who have a high risk of internal comorbidities. OBJECTIVE: In 2015 the Austrian Society for Rheumatology and Rehabilitation (ÖGR) working group for osteoarthritis and crystal arthropathies published nutrition and lifestyle recommendations for patients with gout and hyperuricemia. Since then, a multitude of studies have been published addressing this topic, which necessitated an update. METHODS: First, the authors performed a hierarchical literature search to screen for the literature published since 2015. Considering references given in the first publication, the relevant literature was selected and the recommendations from 2015 were either kept as published, reformulated or recreated. Finally, the evidence level and the level of agreement for each recommendation were added by the authors. RESULTS: Based on this process, 10 recommendations were generated instead of the initial 9. As in the original publication, a graphical presentation with symbols was constructed to complement the written text. CONCLUSION: The ÖGR recommendations on nutrition and lifestyle for patients with gout and hyperuricemia were updated in accordance with the most recent relevant literature. These are supposed to serve as information and education material for patients and updated information for physicians.

Improving patient flow of people with rheumatoid arthritis has the potential to simultaneously improve health outcomes and reduce direct costs.

BACKGROUND: In our current economic climate of scarce resources there is a lot of debate around the best - and most efficient - way of delivering care, which points patients towards the right physician at the earliest opportunity. The aim of the study was to assess whether an improvement in the interdisciplinary management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has the potential to simultaneously improve health outcomes and reduce costs. METHODS: In a first step, we modelled the ways which lead patients with RA to the correct diagnosis, and the relevant specialist, respectively. On average, a patient experiences 3 GP visits before referral to a specialist. We compared this situation against a reconfiguration of current practice towards a more proactive identification and referral method with initiation of care by a rheumatologist early in the disease. We evaluated the impact of this reconfiguration on the number of RA patients diagnosed and the costs associated with the diagnostic process. RESULT: Using data on epidemiology and Austrian practice patterns, we estimate a total of 5294 people with undifferentiated arthritis per year, of which 1765 suffer from RA. Modelling for diagnostic accuracy, we found that 1200 of these patients are initially misdiagnosed in a primary care setting and 95 at a rheumatologist. Our model found that a reconfiguration of current practice towards an approach of more integrated care has the potential to be not only cost-effective, but cost-saving: EUR 100,188 could be saved annually by exclusively adopting the new approach. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that by better directing the flow of people with RA, simultaneous clinical and economic benefits may be reaped:.

[Austrian nutrition and lifestyle recommendations for gout and hyperuricemia]. / Österreichische Ernährungs- und Lebensstilempfehlungen bei Gicht und Hyperurikämie.

BACKGROUND: Gout is the most common inflammatory arthropathy in the Western world. This is mainly due to the high socioeconomic status, sufficient even superfluous nutrition, overweight and alcohol consumption. Despite adequate medication, information and advice on nutrition and lifestyle are one of the cornerstones in the management of these patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to provide recommendations on nutrition and lifestyle in cases of gout and hyperuricemia by a group of rheumatologists, based on a review of the most recent literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group for osteoarthritis and crystal arthropathies of the Austrian Society for Rheumatology and Rehabilitation (ÖGR) carried out a literature search on this topic. The selected papers were listed according to the level of evidence. RESULTS: Based on this literature search nine recommendations were generated and modified via a Delphi approach: four red "don'ts" concerning nutrition and beverages to be avoided, three green "do's" concerning favorable food as well as two blue general lifestyle recommendations. The format of the recommendations is a two-page leaflet with the list of recommendations, level of evidence, strength of recommendation and literature citations on the front page and a colored icon presentation of food and beverages in a circle, matching the colors of the written recommendations, on the reverse. CONCLUSION: For the first time in Austria, nine recommendations on nutrition, beverages and lifestyle for patients with gout and hyperuricemia were defined for everyday practice, as education material for patients and updated information for physicians.

[Job satisfaction and future prospects among Austrian rheumatologists]. / Zufriedenheit und zukunftsperspektive österreichischer rheumatologen.

BACKGROUND: over the last century the medical profession has changed considerably. This study analyses both job satisfaction and future prospects among Austrian rheumatologists. METHODS: a questionnaire was sent to all members of the Austrian Society of Rheumatologists (ÖGR). The main topics were job satisfaction, career choice, rheumatological strategies for the future and central issues relating to their profession. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: of the respondents, 43% would"definitely" and 36%"likely" choose medical studies again. A total of 29% stated that they would definitely (55% probably) choose their current profession as rheumatologist either in a hospital or a practice. Austrian rheumatologists are generally satisfied with their profession. Although 78% are optimistic about their professional prospects, more than half expect a worsening of the economic situation in general. Austrian rheumatologists suffer from the additional workload caused by administration and bureaucracy. In all, 83% of rheumatologists questioned are satisfied with the work of the ÖGR. Suggestions for improvement included increasing advanced training and keeping guidelines and homepages up to date.

Rare causes of acute non-variceal gastrointestinal bleeding episodes: results of endoscopic therapy.

In this study the frequency of rare causes of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding was studied retrospectively using the case load of a large teaching hospital. Nine hundred and eighty patients with a clinical diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding were endoscoped between November 1987 and February 1993. Of these, 156 patients were found to be actively bleeding or had a visible vessel. Rare causes of bleeding were identified in 11 patients (7%). A Dieulafoy ulcer was found in five cases, and a mesenchymal tumor of the stomach in three patients. In the three remaining patients a bleeding gastric polyp, hemobilia and ischemic necrosis of the small bowel were identified as the source of bleeding. In three of these 11 patients the diagnosis was delayed and only made on repeat endoscopy the following day. Therapeutic endoscopy with circumlesional injection of epinephrine was successful in the majority of patients, and only three patients underwent emergency surgery. Two patients died during the acute bleeding episode, one of them had a Dieulafoy ulcer, the other suffered from ischemic bowel necrosis. Diagnosis of rare causes of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding may be delayed, morbidity and mortality increased. Familiarity with these conditions may improve the outcome.

[Complications of diagnostic and interventional colonoscopy]. / Komplikationen der diagnostischen und interventionellen Koloskopie.

The Wels General Hospital is a large teaching hospital where all endoscopies are performed by the staff of the First Department of Internal Medicine. The reports of 10,000 colonoscopies between January 1st, 1986 and February 15th, 1994 were scrutinized by the authors, 15 complications of diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopies were identified. There were seven perforations and one ileus associated with diagnostic colonoscopy (8989 patients) and five bleeding episodes and two perforations after polypectomy (1609 polyps removed; 1011 patients). Four bleeding episodes after polypectomy were controlled endoscopically with circumlesional injection of adrenaline. One patient required emergency surgical treatment. All perforations were treated surgically. Two elderly patients with multimorbidity died after perforation and emergency surgery (peritonitis and pulmonary embolism being the respective causes of death). The frequency of perforation was 0.09% (9 of 10,000), the mortality rate was 0.02% (2 of 10,000), and the bleeding rate after polypectomy was 0.05% (5 of 10,000). The frequency of complications in relation to the experience of the physicians revealed that five of seven perforations associated with diagnostic colonoscopy occurred in the hands of less experienced endoscopists (doctors in training with less than 400 completed endoscopies). Life-threatening complications related to the performance of flexible fiberoptic colonoscopies are rare, especially during diagnostic procedures. As reported in the literature, our results show that the risks are greatest with relatively inexperienced physicians but are not entirely avoidable even with the most experienced endoscopists.

Opening and closure characteristics of different types of stented biological valves.

BACKGROUND: In an increasingly senescent population stented biological valves have regained renewed popularity because of the absence of anticoagulation, while the stented design allows for safe and easier implantation. Constructed bovine pericardial valves as well as valves with porcine cusps are used, both of which exhibit good clinical results although degeneration still appears. While clinical hemodynamic studies did not show particular differences between both valves types, the opening and closure behavior of native cusps and artificially constructed pericardial leaflets is different. It is unclear whether these phenomena account for differences in load and stress which may influence onset and course of degeneration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Edwards Perimount (EP) and Medtronic Mosaic (MM) heart valves with diameters of 21 mm, 23 mm, and 25 mm were investigated in a pulse duplicator. Movements of the valves were visualized with a high-speed camera (1000 frames/sec). Mean transvalvular gradient (mm Hg), dissipated power (mW), and power transfer by stretching (mW), mean orifice area (mm2), opening time (ms), and closure time (ms) were analyzed in a range of cardiac outputs from 1.4 l/min to 6.3 l/min and 70 beats per minute. RESULTS: Closure times were generally longer than opening times for both valve types. Opening time of EP valves was longer than opening time of the MM valves of the same size (EP23: 31.2 +/- 2.5 ms; MM23: 12.7 +/- 0.1 ms). With respect to closure times, however, there were no marked differences between all valves (EP23: 69.3 +/- 2.0 ms; MM23: 63.2 +/- 6.3 ms). Smaller sized Perimount valves exhibited lower mean transvalvular gradients than Mosaic valves of the same size (EP23: 7.21 +/- 0.07 mm Hg; MM23: 10.5 +/- 0.15 mm Hg). In larger sizes these differences diminished. Power transfer to the valve's structures was significantly enhanced in EP valves (EP23: 134 +/- 1.3 mW; MM23: 64 +/- 0.9 mW). CONCLUSIONS: While valves with constructed pericardium showed lower mean transvalvular gradients, particularly in the smaller sizes, this valve type exhibited alterations of movement performance in contrast to porcine valves. It can be speculated that constant power transfer to the valve's structures may result in an earlier degeneration because of the impact of the increased load and stress on the suspension apparatus of the constructed pericardial leaflets.

Different tilting disc valves show similar rotation-dependent impairment in hemodynamic performance under a tilted implantation position.

BACKGROUND: Aortic annulus calcification can promote tilted implantation of mechanical valves. This study evaluates the hemodynamics of tilting disc valves under this condition. METHODS: 23 mm and 25 mm Ultracor (UC) and Medtronic-Hall-Easy-Fit (MH) valves were investigated in a pulse-duplicator under physiological conditions. Mean pressure gradient (dP(mean)), systolic energy loss (dW(sys)), effective orifice area (EOA), closure (V(Cl)), leakage (V(L)), and total regurgitation volume (V(R)) were assessed. Valves were independently positioned at five axial rotations (0 - 180 degrees , zero defined as major orifice facing the top of the "tilt-ramp") and three tilt angles (0 degrees, 10 degrees, 20 degrees) by lifting the prosthesis in the noncoronary sinus. RESULTS: Diameter-enhanced MH valves exhibited a better systolic performance but a higher regurgitation than corresponding UC valves. Moderate tilting showed a rotation-independent increase in dP(mean) and dW(sys) and a decrease in V (R) and EOA with no fundamental differences between valve types. Further tilting caused small additional changes at 90 - 180 degrees rotation. At 0 degrees rotation, however, dramatic regurgitation occurred throughout. CONCLUSION: Tilting worsened systolic performance regardless of valve type. It should therefore be avoided. Due to extensive regurgitation at 0 degrees rotation, this position should be corrected whenever tilting is inevitable.

[The value of diagnostic and interventional endoscopy in acute, non-varicose, upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage]. / Stellenwert der diagnostischen und interventionellen Endoskopie bei der akuten, nichtvarikösen, oberen gastrointestinalen Blutung.

There is a broad consensus about the benefits of emergency endoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The Wels General Hospital is a large teaching hospital where all emergency endoscopies are performed by the staff of the First Department of Internal Medicine. The reports of 11,078 esophagogastro-duodenoscopies performed between November 1987 and February 1993 were scrutinized by the authors and 980 cases identified where a clinical diagnosis of suspected upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage had been made. All together 156 patients showed signs of active or recent bleeding on endoscopy (Forrest Ia, Ib, IIa) and were selected as database for this analysis. We identified 64 patients with duodenal ulcers, 43 patients with gastric ulcers and 15 patients with Mallory-Weiss-tears. Erosions, anastomotic ulcers, cancer and so called rare causes (Dieulafoy ulcers, mesenchymal tumors Hemobilia) were identified in 34 patients. Therapeutic endoscopy was performed in 69 patients (44.2%). For hemostatic therapy we used the injection method with epinephrine. 34 patients underwent surgical therapy (13 cases underwent emergency surgery). 10 of 156 patients 10 (6.4%) died secondary to their acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

[Low dosage methotrexate treatment in chronic polyarthritis]. / Die niedrig dosierte Methotrexatbehandlung der chronischen Polyarthritis.

30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with a weekly low dose of Methotrexate for a period of 12 months. In the course of treatment there was significant improvement in pain and mobility, in the number of inflamed joints and use of steroids. There was a fall in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hemoglobin content rose significantly. 81% of the patients improved. Of these 14% had a complete clinical remission. There were 19% non-responders. Adverse reactions developed in 13 patients (43.3%, gastrointestinal symptoms, elevated liver enzymes, loss of hair, stomatitis). After decreasing or temporary discontinuing in 10 of them the drug was taken again later on. It had to be withdrawn in 3 patients (10%). All recovered when Methotrexate was discontinued. It is concluded that low dose Methotrexate is effective in the long term treatment of chronic rheumatoid arthritis.

[Spontaneous regression of a small cell bronchial carcinoma]. / Spontanregression eines kleinzelligen Bronchuskarzinoms.

A circular focus of 1 cm diameter was discovered by chance on a thoracic x-ray of a female patient of 66 years of age suffering from chronic interstitial nephritis due to analgesics. Bronchoscopic suction revealed histologically a small-cell carcinoma of the lung but there was no indication of formation of metastases. The patient refused any tumor-specific treatment. In the further course of the disease the focus showed up radiologically for seven months and was then no longer visible throughout the following 14 months. The patient finally died subsequent to an extensive posterior myocardial infarction. Postmortem examination excluded the presence of a primary tumor of the lung or metastases. Our case suggests the rare occurrence of a spontaneous regression of a small-cell bronchial carcinoma. Although spontaneous regression of malignant diseases is ascribed to immunological factors, such regression can also occur if the immunological system is impaired, as had been the case in this particular patient with chronic renal insufficiency.