Sex-specific differences in pulmonary embolism

Abstract Introduction Sex-specific differences regarding risk factors, symptoms and prognosis have been reported for several cardiovascular diseases. For patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), sex-specific data are limited and inconsistent. We aimed to investigate sex-specific differences in PE. Materials and methods Over a 10-year period (01/2003–09/2013), patients with confirmed PE were enrolled in a prospective single-centre cohort study. Results We prospectively examined 569 PE patients (55.9% women). Men more often had cancer (20.7% vs. 13.5%, p = 0.024) and unprovoked PE (61.0% vs. 47.5%, p = 0.001) while women more frequently presented with risk factors for venous thromboembolism suc…

Fertility After Ovarian Cystectomy: How Does Surgery Affect IVF/ICSI Outcomes?

Abstract Introduction For patients considering undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART), many concerns arise when persistent ovarian cysts are found. This large study aimed to determine how ovarian cyst removal affects success rates of IVF/ICSI therapies. Methods 550 patients who underwent an IVF/ICSI treatment between 2002 and 2011 with a persistent ovarian cyst ≤ 5 cm before treatment were analyzed retrospectively. 328 patientsʼ preference was to undergo a laparoscopic cystectomy and 222 patients opted for a conservative management. Control subjects included 13 552 patients undergoing IVF/ICSI at the same period of time without an ovarian cyst. Results After adjusting for age, pa…

1649 Retrospective Analysis of Doxapram for the Treatment of Apnea of Prematurity

Background and Aims Only one small randomized controlled study on doxapram to treat apnea of prematurity is available. Before the implementation of a local treatment protocol, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of administration of doxapram in our NICU. We asked, if frequency and severity of apneas were affected by doxapram, if intubation for apnea was avoided, and if side effects occurred. Methods We retrospectively analysed all premature infants Results 17 of 64 (27%) infants (mean gestational age 26.1 weeks, mean birth weight 733g) were treated during two years. All of them had been treated with caffeine before doxapram was applied. 70 therapy courses of 16 infants were analyzed. In 8 of…

Prospective randomized comparison of conventional instruments and the Harmonic Focus(®) device in breast-conserving therapy for primary breast cancer.

Abstract Background In recent years, surgeons have utilized Harmonic instruments to perform breast cancer resection. Retrospective and prospective studies have demonstrated that the use of this surgical device for mastectomy and axillary dissection can reduce perioperative blood loss, seroma formation, and duration and total amount of drainage. No study has analyzed the feasibility of Harmonic instruments in breast-conserving surgery. We conducted a prospective, randomized clinical trial comparing Harmonic instrument and conventional surgery in the performance of breast-conserving surgery and axillary procedures to determine differences in surgical procedures, postoperative outcome, and com…

Root coverage with connective tissue graft associated with coronally advanced flap or tunnel technique: a randomized, double-blind, mono-centre clinical trial

Aim: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare the coronally advanced flap (CAF) with the modified microsurgical tunnel technique (MMTT) for treatment of Miller class I and II recessions. Material and Methods: Forty patients with 71 gingival recessions were recruited and randomly assigned to either CAF or to MMTT. In both groups, a connective tissue graft was applied. Clinical evaluations were performed after 3, 6, and 12 months. Impressions were taken and digitally scanned three-dimensionally to evaluate the quantitative soft tissue changes in the operative region. Patient satisfaction was measured with the root coverage aesthetic score (RES). Results: After a period of 12 m…

TRTH-08. HIGH GRADE NEUROEPITHELIAL TUMOR OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH BCOR ALTERATION IS SENSITIVE TO IGF1R INHIBITION

High grade neuroepithelial tumor of the central nervous system with BCOR alteration (CNS HGNET-BCOR) is a recently described new tumor entity which was formerly diagnosed with diverse histological diagnoses, for example as ependymoma. This tumor predominantly affects children and has a dismal prognosis. No standard therapies for this entity exist so far. Recently we described the activation of the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) and the WNT signaling pathway in this tumor and described a primary cell culture (PhKh1) isolated from a skull metastasis of a seven years old patient. We also detected a high expression of IGF2, which is known to be required for SHH signaling in medulloblastoma. IGF2 signals …

A Systems Level Analysis Reveals Transcriptomic and Proteomic Complexity in Ixodes Ricinus Midgut and Salivary Glands During Early Attachment and Feeding

Although pathogens are usually transmitted within the first 24–48 h of attachment of the castor bean tick Ixodes ricinus, little is known about the tick's biological responses at these earliest phases of attachment. Tick midgut and salivary glands are the main tissues involved in tick blood feeding and pathogen transmission but the limited genomic information for I. ricinus delays the application of high-throughput methods to study their physiology. We took advantage of the latest advances in the fields of Next Generation RNA-Sequencing and Label-free Quantitative Proteomics to deliver an unprecedented, quantitative description of the gene expression dynamics in the midgut and salivary glan…

When do myopia genes have their effect? Comparison of genetic risks between children and adults

Item does not contain fulltext Previous studies have identified many genetic loci for refractive error and myopia. We aimed to investigate the effect of these loci on ocular biometry as a function of age in children, adolescents, and adults. The study population consisted of three age groups identified from the international CREAM consortium: 5,490 individuals aged 25 years. All participants had undergone standard ophthalmic examination including measurements of axial length (AL) and corneal radius (CR). We examined the lead SNP at all 39 currently known genetic loci for refractive error identified from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), as well as a combined genetic risk score (GRS). …

PNR-35CNS HGNET-BCOR - MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF POSSIBLE THERAPEUTIC TARGETS OF A NEW BRAIN TUMOR ENTITY

Immunoglobulin Kappa C Predicts Overall Survival in Node-Negative Breast Cancer

Background: Biomarkers of the immune system are currently not used as prognostic factors in breast cancer. We analyzedthe association of the B cell/plasma cell marker immunoglobulin kappa C (IGKC) and survival of untreated node-negative breast cancer patients.Material and Methods: IGKC expression was evaluated by immunostaining in a cohort of 335 node-negative breast cancer patients with a median follow-up of 152 months. The prognostic significance of IGKC for disease-free survival (DFS) and breast cancer-specific overall survival (OS) was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis as well as univariate and multivariate Cox analysis adjusted for age at diagnosis, pT stage, histological g…

Descriptive Statistics

A set of medical data is based on a collection of the data of individual cases or objects, also called observation units or statistical units. Every case, for example every study participant, patient, every experimental animal, every tooth or every cell shows comparable parameters (such as body weight, gender, erosion, pH). Each of these parameters, also called variables, has a specific parameter value (gender = male, age = 30 years, weight = 70 kg) for each observation unit (for example the patient). The aim of descriptive statistics is to summarize the data, so that they can be clearly illustrated (1–3). The property of a parameter is specified by its so-called scale of measure. Generally…

Standardized weaning of infants <32 weeks of gestation from continuous positive airway pressure – a feasibility study

The practice of weaning premature infants from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) varies considerably and is usually performed without written standards. In this study, the feasibility of a standardized weaning approach was evaluated. In a quasi-experimental design, data from a prospective, post-intervention cohort (n=41) were compared to data from a pre-intervention cohort (n=36). Standardized weaning was feasible but no significant differences in short-term respiratory outcomes were observed. Weaning from CPAP was achieved at 32.1 ± 1.6 (post-intervention) versus 32.5 ± 2.3 weeks (pre-intervention) postmenstrual age. More rigorous, large-scale clinical trials are necessary before …

Quality of life and functional limitations after pulmonary embolism and its prognostic relevance

Abstract Background While the importance of patients’ quality of life (QoL) in chronic cardiac or pulmonary disease is uncontroversial, the burden of an acute pulmonary embolism (PE) on QoL has received little attention thus far. Objectives We aimed to validate the German PEmb‐QoL questionnaire, identify associations between QoL and clinical/functional parameters, and investigate the prognostic relevance of QoL for long‐term survival in survivors of an acute PE episode. Patients/Methods Patients were invited for a clinical follow‐up visit including assessment of QoL using the German PEmb‐QoL questionnaire 6 months after an objectively confirmed PE at a single center. Internal consistency re…