University Hospitals In Germany Research Articles

Psychiatric care in a native-speaking Ukrainian outpatient clinic for refugees at a psychiatric university hospital in Germany

Psychiatric care in a native-speaking Ukrainian outpatient clinic for refugees at a psychiatric university hospital in Germany

Expert recommendations for magnetic resonance imaging of muscle disorders

Magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging of the skeletal muscles (muscle MRI for short) is increasingly being used in clinical routine for diagnosis and longitudinal assessment of muscle disorders. However, cross-centre standards for measurement protocol and radiological assessment are still lacking. The aim of this expert recommendation is to present standards for the application and interpretation of muscle MRI in hereditary and inflammatory muscle disorders. This work was developed in collaboration between neurologists, neuroradiologists, radiologists, neuropaediatricians, neuroscientists and MR physicists from different university hospitals in Germany. The recommendations are based on expert knowledge and afocused literature search. The indications for muscle MRI are explained, including the detection and monitoring of structural tissue changes and oedema in the muscle, as well as the identification of asuitable biopsy site. Recommendations for the examination procedure and selection of appropriate MRI sequences are given. Finally, steps for astructured radiological assessment are presented. The present work provides concrete recommendations for the indication, implementation and interpretation of muscle MRI in muscle disorders. Furthermore, it provides apossible basis for the standardisation of the measurement protocols at all clinical centres in Germany.

Validation of the predictive value of BDNF -87 methylation for antidepressant treatment success in severely depressed patients—a randomized rater-blinded trial

BackgroundBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is essential for antidepressant treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Our repeated studies suggest that DNA methylation of a specific CpG site in the promoter region of exon IV of the BDNF gene (CpG -87) might be predictive of the efficacy of monoaminergic antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and others. This trial aims to evaluate whether knowing the biomarker is non-inferior to treatment-as-usual (TAU) regarding remission rates while exhibiting significantly fewer adverse events (AE).MethodsThe BDNF trial is a prospective, randomized, rater-blinded diagnostic study conducted at five university hospitals in Germany. The study’s main hypothesis is that {1} knowing the methylation status of CpG -87 is non-inferior to not knowing it with respect to the remission rate while it significantly reduces the AE rate in patients experiencing at least one AE. The baseline assessment will occur upon hospitalization and a follow-up assessment on day 49 (± 3). A telephone follow-up will be conducted on day 70 (± 3). A total of 256 patients will be recruited, and methylation will be evaluated in all participants. They will be randomly assigned to either the marker or the TAU group. In the marker group, the methylation results will be shared with both the patient and their treating physician. In the TAU group, neither the patients nor their treating physicians will receive the marker status. The primary endpoints include the rate of patients achieving remission on day 49 (± 3), defined as a score of ≤ 10 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-24), and the occurrence of AE.Ethics and disseminationThe trial protocol has received approval from the Institutional Review Boards at the five participating universities. This trial holds significance in generating valuable data on a predictive biomarker for antidepressant treatment in patients with MDD. The findings will be shared with study participants, disseminated through professional society meetings, and published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trial Register DRKS00032503. Registered on 17 August 2023.

Abstract 3418: Preoperative nutritional status and overall survival among non-metastatic colorectal cancer patients: The ColoCare Study

Abstract Introduction: Preoperative malnutrition in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients undergoing major abdominal surgery is a common and serious issue that affects postoperative recovery and clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between preoperative nutritional status and overall survival (OS) of prospectively followed, non-metastatic CRC patients. Methods: The target cohort consisted of 415 patients with newly-diagnosed stage I-III CRC who underwent curative surgery at the Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany. Nutritional status was evaluated using predefined accessible laboratory parameters (haemoglobin, albumin, total protein, and thrombocytes), and the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), a screening tool to identify patients with malnutrition: (GNRI) = 14.89 × serum albumin concentration (g/dl) + 41.7 × present weight/ideal weight. Ideal weight was calculated as follows: height(cm)-100-[(height(cm)-150)/4] for men and height(cm)-100-[(height(cm)-150)/2.5] for women. Patients were categorized into normal vs. out of normal range for laboratory parameters and into four grades of nutrition-related risk: major risk (GNRI: <82), moderate risk (GNRI: 82 to <92), low risk (GNRI: 92 to ≤98), and no risk (GNRI: >98). Vital status has been obtained through study-specific follow-ups or the tumor registry. OS was calculated as the interval between the date of surgery and the date of death from any cause or the last follow-up examination. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we examined associations of the nutritional status with OS. Models were adjusted for potential confounders. Results: After a median follow-up of 2.24 years for OS, 13% (54) of the 415 patients died. Of all patients, 35.1%, 3.4%, 12.5%, and 10,8% had values out of the normal range for haemoglobin, albumin, total protein, and thrombocytes, respectively. Further, 6.4%, 33.8%, 29.7%, and 30.2% of the patients had major, moderate, low, and no nutrition-related risk, respectively. Patients with out of normal range haemoglobin and thrombocyte values had a significantly increased risk of death (HRHb: 2.8; 95% CI, 1.6-4.9, p<0.001 and HRThr: 3.0; 95% CI, 1.5-6.1, p=0.003). The major nutrition-related risk group had a significantly increased risk of death compared to the no nutrition-related risk group (HRGNRI: 7.2; 95% CI, 2.7-19.3, p<0.001). We did not observe significant associations between preoperative albumin and total protein values and OS among CRC patients. Conclusion: Patients with out of normal range levels of preoperative haemoglobin and thrombocytes had a significantly worse OS. Further, the GNRI may have a close relationship with the prognosis in non-metastatic CRC patients. Findings from this study yield important clinical information that could help to strategically combat malnutrition prior to surgery in order to improve clinical outcomes. Citation Format: Biljana Gigic, Victoria Damerell, Tengda Lin, Jennifer Ose, Christoph Kahlert, Jane C. Figueiredo, Christopher I. Li, Martin Schneider, David Shibata, Erin M. Siegel, Adetunji T. Toriola, Cornelia M. Ulrich. Preoperative nutritional status and overall survival among non-metastatic colorectal cancer patients: The ColoCare Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3418.

The association of off-hour vs. on-hour intensive care unit admission time with mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock: a retrospective multi-centre analysis.

Studies have shown a so-called off-hour effect for many different diseases, but data are scarce concerning cardiogenic shock. We therefore assessed the association of off-hour vs. on-hour intensive care unit admission with 30-day mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock. In total, 1720 cardiogenic shock patients (666 admitted during off-hours) from two large university hospitals in Germany were included in retrospect. An admission during off-hours was associated with increased 30-day mortality compared to an admission during on-hours [crude mortality 48% vs. 41%, HR 1.17 (1.03-1.33), P = 0.017]. This effect remained significant after propensity score matching (P = 0.023). Neither patients with a combined SCAI stage D and E (P = 0.088) or C (P = 0.548) nor those requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (P = 0.114) had a higher mortality at off-hour admission. In contrast, those without veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [HR 1.17 (1.00-1.36), P = 0.049], without acute myocardial infarction [HR 1.27 (1.02-1.56), P = 0.029] or a with combined SCAI stage A and B [HR 2.23 (1.08-4.57), P = 0.025] had an increased mortality at off-hour admission. Our study showed an increased mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock admitted during off-hours, especially in those with a milder onset of disease. This stresses the importance of a thorough workup of each patient, especially at times of limited resources, the menace of underestimating the severity of cardiogenic shock, and the need for an improved 24×7 available risk stratification.

The importance of the bacterial spectrum in the clinical diagnostics and management of patients with spontaneous pyogenic spondylodiscitis and isolated spinal epidural empyema: a 20-year cohort study at a single spine center

BackgroundPersonalized clinical management of spondylodiscitis (SD) and isolated spinal epidural empyema (ISEE) is challenging due to limited evidence of microbiologic findings and their clinical impact during the clinical course of the disease. We aimed to characterize clinico-microbiological and imaging phenotypes of SD and ISEE to provide useful insights that could improve outcomes and potentially modify guidelines.MethodsWe performed chart review and collected data on the following parameters: bacterial antibiogram-resistogram, type of primary spinal infection, location of spinal infection, source of infection, method of detection, clinical complications (sepsis, septic embolism, and endocarditis), length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, relapse rate, and disease-related mortality in patients with proven pyogenic SD and ISEE treated surgically in a university hospital in Germany between 2002 and 2022.ResultsWe included data from 187 patients (125 SD, 66.8% and 62 ISEE, 33.2%). Gram-positive bacteria (GPB) were overall more frequently detected than gram-negative bacteria (GNB) (GPB: 162, 86.6% vs. GNB: 25, 13.4%, p < 0.001). Infective endocarditis was caused only by GPB (GPB: 23, 16.5% vs. GNB: 0, 0.0%, p = 0.046). Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated strain (MSSA: n = 100, 53.5%), occurred more frequently in the cervical spine compared to other bacteria (OB) (MSSA: 41, 41.0% vs. OB: 18, 20.7%, p = 0.004) and was most frequently detected in patients with skin infection as the primary source of infection (MSSA: 26, 40.6% vs. OB: 11, 16.7%, p = 0.002). Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. (SE: n = 31, 16.6%) were more often regarded as the cause of endocarditis (SE: 8, 27.6% vs. OB: 15, 11.4%, p = 0.037) and were less frequently detected in intraoperative specimens (SE: 19, 61.3% vs. OB: 138, 88.5%, p < 0.001). Enterobacterales (E: n = 20, 10.7%) were identified more frequently in urinary tract infections (E: 9, 50.0% vs. OB: 4, 3.6%, p < 0.001). Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS: n = 20, 10.7%) were characterized by a lower prevalence of sepsis (CoNS: 4, 20.0% vs. OB: 90, 53.9%, p = 0.004) and were more frequently detected in intraoperative specimens (CoNS: 20, 100. 0% vs. OB: 137, 82.0%, p = 0.048). Moreover, CoNS-associated cases showed a shorter length of ICU stay (CoNS: 2 [1–18] days vs. OB: 6 [1–53] days, median [interquartile range], p = 0.037), and occurred more frequently due to foreign body-associated infections (CoNS: 8, 61.5% vs. OB: 15, 12.8%, p = 0.008). The presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prolonged hospital stay by 56 [24–58] days and ICU stay by 16 [1–44] days, whereas patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa spent only 20 [18–29] days in the hospital and no day in the ICU 0 [0–5] days.ConclusionsOur retrospective cohort study identified distinct bacterial-specific manifestations in pyogenic SD and ISEE regarding clinical course, neuroanatomic targets, method of pathogen detection, and sources of infection. The clinico-microbiological patterns varied depending on the specific pathogens.

Drug safety in older patients with alcohol use disorder: a retrospective cohort study.

Older patients with alcohol use disorder are at particular risk of developing adverse drug reactions due to multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and altered organ function. In this study, we investigated the frequency and characteristics of potentially serious alcohol-medication interactions, potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) for older adults, and potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) in a population of older patients with alcohol use disorder over a 10-year period. Retrospective monocentric cohort study. Prescribed medications were screened for potentially serious alcohol-medication interactions, PIMs, and pDDIs using the POSAMINO (POtentially Serious Alcohol-Medication INteractions in Older adults) criteria, the PRISCUS 2.0 list, the FORTA (Fit fOR The Aged) classification, and the drug interaction program AiDKlinik®. We enrolled 114 patients aged ⩾65 years with alcohol use disorder, who were treated in an addiction unit of a university hospital in Germany. About 80.7% of the study population had at least one potentially serious alcohol-medication interaction. Potentially serious alcohol-medication interactions most commonly affected the cardiovascular (57.7%) and the central nervous system (32.3%). A total of 71.1% of the study population received at least one prescription of a FORTA C or D drug, compared with 42.1% who received at least one PIM prescription according to the PRISCUS 2.0 list. A total of 113 moderate and 72 severe pDDIs were identified in the study population. Older patients with alcohol use disorders are frequently exposed to potentially serious alcohol-medication interactions, PIMs, and pDDIs. Improvements in the quality of prescribing should primarily target the use of cardiovascular and psychotropic drugs.

Teacher Identity of pediatricians at university hospitals in Germany

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Die Lehre in der Kinderheilkunde ist hinsichtlich ihrer Qualität und ihres Gelingens wesentlich von den individuellen Einstellungen der Lehrenden zur Lehre, von ihren Kenntnissen und ihrem individuellen Engagement abhängig. Nicht zuletzt mit dem Ziel einer kontinuierlichen Verbesserung der Ausbildungsqualität sollten diese Einstellungen stärker wahrgenommen und reflektiert werden. Fragestellung und Methodik Diese Arbeit untersucht das Selbstbild von Kinderärzt:innen als Lehrende an 6 deutschen Universitätskliniken, ihre Einstellung zur Lehre und ihre Erwartungen an die Lehre. Hierfür wurde ein Fragebogen zur „teacher identity“ (TI) erstmalig aus dem Amerikanischen ins Deutsche übersetzt und eingesetzt. Der Fragebogen zur TI setzt sich aus 9 Subskalen zusammen: i) globale TI, ii) intrinsische Befriedigung durch Lehre, iii) Kenntnisse und Fertigkeiten, iv) Zugehörigkeit zu einer Gruppe von Lehrenden, v) Überzeugung, dass ein Mediziner immer ein Lehrender sein muss, vi) Verantwortlichkeit für Lehre, vii) Teilen klinischer Expertise, viii) Honorierung von Lehre und ix) Wünsche an die Lehre. Ergebnisse und Diskussion 252 Kolleg:innen haben an der Befragung teilgenommen. Es zeigten sich einerseits ein hohes Maß an Identifizierung mit der Lehre, aber ebenso auch Bereiche mit gewünschtem Verbesserungspotenzial. Männer zeigten höhere TI-Werte als Frauen. Eine angestrebte oder bereits eingeschlagene universitär-klinische Laufbahn korrelierte ebenfalls mit höheren TI-Werten. Es fanden sich keine Unterschiede zwischen den teilnehmenden Kliniken. Zusätzlich belegen Daten zur Lehrleistung und zu absolvierten Fortbildungen im Bereich der Lehre ein hohes Maß an Engagement der Kinder- und Jugendärzte:innen in der studentischen Lehre.

On- vs. Off-Pump CABG in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF): A Multicenter Analysis.

This study aimed to compare postoperative outcomes and 30-day mortality in patients with reduced ejection fraction (<40%) who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with (ONCAB) and without (OPCAB) the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. data from four university hospitals in Germany, spanning from January 2017 to December 2021, were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 551 patients were included in the study, and various demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative data were compared. demographic parameters did not exhibit any differences. However, the OPCAB group displayed notably higher rates of preoperative renal insufficiency, urgent surgeries, and elevated EuroScore II and STS score. During surgery, the ONCAB group showed a significantly higher rate of complete revascularization, whereas the OPCAB group required fewer intraoperative transfusions. No disparities were observed in 30-day/in-hospital mortality for the entire cohort and the matched population between the two groups. Subsequent to surgery, the OPCAB group demonstrated significantly shorter mechanical ventilation times, reduced stays in the intensive care unit, and lower occurrences of ECLS therapy, acute kidney injury, delirium, and sepsis. the study's findings indicate that OPCAB surgery presents a safe and viable alternative, yielding improved postoperative outcomes in this specific patient population compared to ONCAB surgery. Despite comparable 30-day/in-hospital mortality rates, OPCAB patients enjoyed advantages such as decreased mechanical ventilation durations, shorter ICU stays, and reduced incidences of ECLS therapy, acute kidney injury, delirium, and sepsis. These results underscore the potential benefits of employing OPCAB as a treatment approach for patients with coronary heart disease and reduced ejection fraction.

Trends and Differences in Status Epilepticus Treatment of Children and Adults Over 10 Years: A Comparative Study of Medical Records (2012-2021) from a University Hospital in Germany.

Over the last decade, significant advancements have been made in status epilepticus (SE) management, influenced by landmark trials such as ESETT and RAMPART. The objectives of this study were to explore the evolution of drug treatments for patients with SE, to investigate its association with outcomes and mortality, and to evaluate differences in treatment patterns between adults and children for a potential shift in medication trends due to the above mentioned trials. The medical records of patients with SE treated at University Hospital Frankfurt between 2012 and 2021 were evaluated for medication trends and outcomes. Children and adults were analyzed separately and jointly. This study included 1151 SE episodes in 1021 patients (mean age = 53.3 ± 28.3 years; 52.5 % female [n = 533]). The overall percentage of patients with SE treated prehospital was stable over the last decade. More than half (53.6 %) of children were treated prehospital, compared with less than one-third (26.7 %) of adults. Prehospital midazolam use increased over time, while diazepam use decreased. Lorazepam was the most commonly used benzodiazepine in hospitals in 2012-2013, used in 40.8 % of all episodes. However, its use declined to 27.2 % in 2020-2021, while midazolam use increased to 44.0 %. While the use of older antiseizure medications (ASMs) such as phenobarbital (p = 0.02), phenytoin (p < 0.001), and valproate (p < 0.001) decreased, the use of newer ASMs such as levetiracetam and lacosamide significantly increased (p < 0.001). Propofol and continuous midazolam infusion remained the most used third-line therapy drugs. Overall mortality was 16.5 % at discharge and 18.9 % at 30 days. Mortality rates did not change between 2012 and 2021. Midazolam has become the preferred benzodiazepine in pre- and in-hospital settings, both in children and adults. The same applies to the increased use of levetiracetam and lacosamide over time in children and adults, while phenobarbital, phenytoin, and valproate use decreased. Continuous midazolam infusion and propofol remain the most frequently used anesthetic drugs. Mortality and outcome remain stable despite changes in medication patterns.

SARS-CoV-2 incidence and effect on absences at a university hospital in Germany

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the challenges and risks of in-hospital exposures among the health workforce. Health facilities were compelled to conduct their operation while both securing patient care and employees’ health in the context of changing regulatory requirements. Methods We performed Time Series Models and a T-Test for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) SARS-CoV-2 in-hospital test results reported via the digital COVID-19 platform of the LMU University Hospital, Germany. The cohort consists of all persons employed at the hospital during the platform's utilisation (N = 14,419; 11.2021-12.2022). Results Overall, 179,135 in-hospital PCR tests were executed (monthly range: 5,528-24,560; R2=.993) of which 6,538 were positive (monthly range: 92-1,095; R2=.991). In a symptomless or evanescent course of infection, employees were able to get a control test and resume their duties prior to the designated end of isolation if their viral load were below the benchmark of, initially, 100,000 or, as adapted later, 1,000,000 copies/ml (as per Robert Koch Institute's recommendation): 8,100 PCR control results below the respective benchmark were reported (monthly range: 92-1,429; R2=.995). In total, 6,841 persons were able to resume duties prior to their isolation expiration date (monthly range: 10-1,478; R2=.996). No significant differences between the monthly number of PCR tests indicating a new infection and control tests were observed (t=−1.246, p=.235). Incidence trends were tracked closely via the hospital's platform. Conclusions The number of executed and positively reported tests fluctuated considerably. The benchmark for PCR tests in positive symptomless or evanescent cases allowed for a large number of staff to resume their duties prior to the expiration of their mandated isolation, yet without presenting a risk to other employees or patients. This measure prevented major staff shortages and ensured the uninterrupted provision of patient care at the hospital. Key messages • The establishment of a control test process facilitates the risk-reduced resumption of duty following a positive PCR test and reduces the isolation period with a decisive effect on staff capacity. • In-hospital test surveillance requires evidence-informed and agile adaptations, thus highlighting the need for centralised strategic management, including segmented visualisation and analysis.

Implementation of a piritramide based patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) as a standard of care for pain control in late abortion induction: A prospective cohort study from a patient perspective

ObjectiveTo assess whether the implementation of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with piritramide using an automatic pump system under routine conditions is effective to reduce pain in late abortion inductions Study designProspective observational cohort study SettingPatients requiring medically indicated abortion induction from 14 weeks of pregnancy onwards between July 2019 and July 2020 at the department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine of the Bonn University Hospital in Germany. MethodsEvaluation of pain management after implementation of a PCA system compared with previous nurse-controlled tramadol-based standard under routine conditions. Patients answered a validated pain questionnaire and requirement of rescue analgesics was assessed. Pain intensity and satisfaction were measured on a ten-point numeric rating scale. Main Outcome Measure Maximal pain intensity ResultsForty patients were included. Patients using Piritramide-PCA complained of higher pain sores than those in the standard group (6.90 (± 2.34) vs. 4.83 (± 2.87), (p < 0.05)). In both groups the level of satisfaction with the analgesia received was comparable (8.00 (± 2.45) vs 7.67 (± 2.62), (p = 0.7)). Patients in the PCA group suffered more nausea (63.2 % vs 30 % respectively, OR 4.0, 95 % CI 1.05–15.20, p < 0.05) and expressed more the desire for more analgesic support compared to the control group (OR 5.7 (1–33.25), p = 0.05). ConclusionWomen with abortion induction after 14 weeks of gestation suffer from relevant severe pain, which requires adequate therapy. However, addition of PCA does not seem to bring any advantage in patients undergoing this procedure.

Resilience against IT attacks in hospitals : Results from an exercise in aGerman university hospital

According to the legal definition healthcare systems and their components (e.g., hospitals) are part of the critical infrastructure of modern industrial nations. During the last few years hospitals increasingly became targets of cyber attacks causing severe impairment of their operability for weeks or even months. According to the German federal strategy for protection of critical infrastructures (KRITIS strategy), hospitals are obligated to take precautions against potential cyber attacks or other IT incidents. This article describes the process of planning, execution and results of an advanced table-top exercise which took place in a university hospital in Germany and simulated the first 3 days after acyber attack causing atotal failure of highly critical IT systems. During afirst stage lasting about 8 months IT-dependent processes within the clinical routine were identified and analyzed. Then paper-based and off-line back-up processes and workarounds were developed and department-specific emergency plans were defined. Finally, selected central facilities such as pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, IT and the hospitals crisis management team took part in the actual disaster exercise. Afterwards the participants were asked to evaluate the exercise and the hospitals cyber security using aquestionnaire. On this basis the authors visualized the hospital's resilience against cyber incidents and defined short-term, medium-term and long-term needs for action. Of the participants 85% assessed the exercise as beneficial, 97% indicated that they received adequate support during the preparations and 75% had received sufficient information; however, only 34% had the opinion that the hospital's and their own preparedness against critical IT failures were sufficient. Before the exercise took place, IT-specific emergency plans were present only in 1.7% of the hospital facilities but after the exercise in 86.7% of the clinical and technical departments. The highest resilience against cyber attacks was not surprisingly reported by facilities that still work routinely with paper-based or off-line processes, the IT department showed the lowest resilience as it would come to acomplete shutdown in cases of atotal IT failure. The authors concluded that the planning phase is the most important stage of developing the whole exercise, giving the best opportunity for working out fallback levels and workarounds and through this strengthen the hospitals resilience against cyber attacks and comparable incidents. Ameticulous preparedness can minimize the severe effects atotal IT failure can cause on patient care, staff and the hospital as awhole.

Expectations of new technologies in nursing care among hospital patients in Germany - an interview study.

New technologies will be increasingly available for nursing care, including robots, patient mobilisation devices, digital event detection or prevention equipment. Technologies are expected to support nurses, increase patients' safety and reduce costs. Yet, although these technologies will significantly shape patients' experience, we need to learn more about patients' perspectives regarding new technology in care. This study aims to investigate attitudes, expectations, worries and anticipated implementation effects of new assistive technology in nursing care by patients. Qualitative, guided, semi-open interviews were conducted. The recruitment was carried out in a trauma surgery ward of a university hospital in Germany. Eight different technologies were presented via video clips and additional information to the patients, followed by in-depth discussions. The interviews were analysed using qualitative evaluative content analysis. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) Checklist was used to ensure study quality. Study participants anticipate different outcomes for the implementation of new nursing technology: (1) For patients, they consider the potential for improvement in health and well-being as well as for their hospital stay experience, but also fear possible health risks or social or emotional factors like loss of autonomy or loneliness. (2) For professional nurses, participants expect relief from physically stressful work routines; however, they might be replaced by machines and lose their employment (3) For the nursing process, safety and quality improvements for care delivery may encounter a negative quantification of human life and risks of constant surveillance. Patients identify opportunities, challenges and shortcomings of nursing technology implementation. They describe nuanced and mixed accounts of patients' perspectives that are structured in a 'continuum of anticipated effects' of implementing technology in our article. The results can inform future implementation strategies.

Characterization and diagnosis spectrum of patients with cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis

PurposeThere is an overlap in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) characteristics of patients presenting with different etiologies of CSF pleocytosis. Here, we characterized patients with CSF pleocytosis treated in a large hospital.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of 1150 patients with an elevated CSF leukocyte count > 5 cells/µl treated at a university hospital in Germany from January 2015 to December 2017 was performed. Information on clinical presentation, laboratory parameters, diagnosis and outcome was collected. Clinical and laboratory features were tested for their potential to differentiate between bacterial meningitis (BM) and other causes of CSF pleocytosis.ResultsThe most common etiologies of CSF pleocytosis were CNS infections (34%: 20% with detected pathogen, 14% without), autoimmune (21%) and neoplastic diseases (16%). CSF cell count was higher in CNS infections with detected pathogen (median 82 cells/µl) compared to autoimmune (11 cells/µl, p = 0.001), neoplastic diseases (19 cells/µl, p = 0.01) and other causes (11 cells/µl, p < 0.001). The CHANCE score was developed to differentiate BM from other causes of CSF pleocytosis: Multivariate regression revealed that CSF cell count > 100 cells/µl, CSF protein > 100 mg/dl, CRP > 5 mg/dl, elevated white blood cell count, abnormal mental status and nuchal rigidity are important indicators. The CHANCE score identified patients with BM with high sensitivity (92.1%) and specificity (90.9%) (derivation cohort: AUC: 0.955, validation cohort: AUC: 0.956).ConclusionOverall, the most common causes for CSF pleocytosis include infectious, neoplastic or autoimmune CNS diseases in ~ 70% of patients. The CHANCE score could be of help to identify patients with high likelihood of BM and support clinical decision making.

Disturbances of menstrual cycle after immunization against SARS-CoV-2 and their risk factors: Cross-sectional clinical study.

Abnormalities of the menstrual cycle were reported after infection with SARS-CoV-2 and vaccination against it, but the available data are very heterogeneous, do not reflect intermenstrual variations or regional differences, and their risk factors are missing. We performed a survey-based study among 6383 employees and students of Ulm University Hospital in Germany between March 1 and 31, 2021. Attributes of menstrual cycles such as cycle length (CL), menses duration (MD), and bleeding volume (BV) were reported as categorical variables before and after immunization against SARS-CoV-2 (first, second, third vaccination or infection). Additionally, the potential risk factors for cycle changes were evaluated and all participants reported the subjective perception of changes, their duration, and time of occurrence. The final analysis included 1726 participants. CL and BV significantly changed after vaccination, but not MD. The subjective perception showed only slight levels of agreement with the objective changes, with the highest Cohen's kappa for CL. The risk factors for the variations in CL were previous cycle irregularities, and risk factors for the changes in BV were age and body mass index. The combination of vaccines (homogenous or heterogeneous) and different types of immunization (infection and vaccination) had no significant effect on cycle irregularities. In summary, immunization against SARS-CoV-2 causes changes in the characteristics of the menstrual cycle, which are mostly temporary. The individual risk factors, but not the type of immunization, can affect the mentioned changes.

Recalled parental rearing behavior shapes mental health after preterm birth: Evidence from the Gutenberg Prematurity Study

Associations of preterm birth with later-life mental distress are well-established. A research gap concerns the role of psychosocial factors such as the family context. This study investigated associations of recalled parental rearing behavior with both preterm birth characteristics and psychological symptom burden later in life.Based on birth registry data of the Mainz University Hospital in Germany (infants born between 1969 and 2002) and using a selection algorithm, a cohort study comprising four gestational age (GA) strata was conducted (≥ 37 weeks: n = 138; 33–36 weeks: n = 132; 29–32 weeks: n = 106; ≤ 28 weeks: n = 132). Participants underwent a medical examination and completed standardized questionnaires. We investigated differences in dimensions of recalled parental rearing behavior according to GA and tested pre-/perinatal stress indicators and recalled parental rearing behavior as statistical predictors of depression and anxiety symptoms later in life.Lower GA was associated with more recalled emotional warmth and overprotection. Recalled emotional warmth was associated with fewer depression and anxiety symptoms, while recalled overprotection co-occurred with more depression symptoms.The findings indicate the relevance of parental rearing behavior for the offspring's mental health. As preterm birth implicates stress for the whole family requiring adaptive parental behavior, the latter could be an important modifiable risk factor.

Assessment and Evaluation of Psychosocial Distress in Outpatients with Cancer at a University Hospital in Germany

Introduction: Cancer patients (pts) suffer from a significant amount of psychosocial distress related to tumor disease itself or straining treatments. Despite recommendations on how to screen for and to deal with psychosocial distress in cancer pts, data about implementation of psycho-oncological interventions (poi) in outpatient settings of cancer pts are scarce. The aim of this study was to identify outpatients with cancer in need of poi and to evaluate different assessment instruments. Methods: N = 200 outpatients with hemat-/oncological malignancies were interviewed between October 2015 and December 2017 at the University Hospital Mannheim using the Basic Documentation for Psycho-Oncology (PO-Bado) and the Hornheider Screening Instrument (HSI) – both clinician-administered assessment tools – followed by descriptive, univariate, and agreement analysis. Results: N = 61 cancer pts (31%) were identified to be in need for poi considering the results of both questionnaires. The number of identified pts in need of poi was lower when analyzing the results of the PO-Bado (n = 42, 21%) and the HSI (n = 39, 20%) separately. The degree of agreement between the results of PO-Bado and HSI was low (kappa = 0.3655). Several factors like gender, age and diagnosis were identified to have significant impact on the need for poi (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Our study underlines that different screening instruments for psychosocial distress may identify disparate populations of cancer pts. The study data also revealed significant characteristics that might be associated with elevated levels of psychosocial distress and a clear indication for poi. However, further analyses on larger populations of cancer pts are needed to provide information how to transfer positive screening to poi in clinical routine.

Are there any volume-related effects on treatment options for patients with penile cancer? Results of a survey among university hospitals in Germany and Austria

Currently, 959 men in Germany and 67 in Austria are diagnosed with penile cancer each year, with an increase of approximately 20% in the last decade [RKI 2021, Statcube.at 2023]. Despite the rising incidence, the number of cases per hospital remains low. The median annual number of penile cancer cases at university hospitals in the DACH region was 7 patients (IQR 5-10) in 2017 [E-PROPS group 2021]. The compromised institutional expertise due to low case numbers is compounded with inadequate adherence to penile cancer guidelines, as shown in several studies. The centralization, which is rigorously implemented in countries such as the UK, enabled a significant increase in organ-preserving primary tumor surgery and stage-adapted lymphadenectomies, as well as improved patient survival in cases of penile cancer, resulting in a claim for a similar centralization in Germany and Austria. The aim of this study was to determine the current effects of case volume on penile cancer related treatment options at university hospitals in Germany and Austria. In January 2023, a survey was sent to the heads of 48 urological university hospitals in Germany and Austria, including questions regarding case volume in 2021 (total number of inpatient and penile cancer cases), treatment options for primary tumors and inguinal lymphadenectomy (ILAE), the availability of a designated penile cancer surgeon, and the professional responsibility for systemic therapies in penile cancer. Correlations and differences related to case volume were statistically analyzed without adjustments. The response rate was 75% (n=36/48). In total, 626 penile cancer patients were treated at the 36 responding university hospitals in 2021, representing approximately 60% of the expected incidence in Germany and Austria. The annual median total number of cases was 2807 (IQR 1937-3653), and for penile cancer, it was 13 (IQR 9-26). There was no significant correlation between the total inpatient and penile cancer caseloads (p=0.34). The number of organ-preserving therapy procedures for the primary tumor, the availability of modern ILAE procedures, the presence of a designated penile cancer surgeon, and the responsibility for systemic therapies were not significantly influenced by the total inpatient or penile cancer case volume of the treating hospitals, regardless of whether the case volumes were dichotomized at the median or upper quartile. No significant differences between Germany and Austria were observed. Despite a significant increase in the annual number of penile cancer cases at university hospitals in Germany and Austria compared to 2017, we found no case volume-related effects on structural quality with respect to penile cancer therapy. In the light of the proven benefits of centralization, we interpret this result as an argument for the necessity of establishing nationally organized penile cancer centers with even higher case volumes compared to the status quo, in light of the proven benefits of centralization.

Future of University Medicine: How Important are Research and Teaching? - An Inventory

The requirements and challenges for the university hospitals in Germany are changing. Especially in surgical subjects, it is more and more difficult to adequately serve these three pillars of university medicine - clinic, research and education. This survey was intended to determine the status quo of general and visceral surgery at universities, in order to provide a basis for proposed solutions.For this online survey, 1505 visceral surgeons at the 38 university clinics were contacted. The questionnaire contained 29 questions on the structure of the clinic, scientific motivation, opportunities for time-off and the appreciation of academic achievements. The type and scope of student courses and the preparation for them were also determined. With regard to patient care, the type and number of services and the course of surgical training were examined. Based on the data published on the websites of the individual clinics on the number, gender, position and academic title of the doctors, a demographic analysis of university visceral surgeons could also be created.Of 1505 surgeons successfully contacted, 352 took part in the survey, which corresponds to a response rate of 23.4%. Of the participants, 93.5% were scientifically active, the majority being in the field of clinical data collection. Many indicated that they were also active in translational and/or experimental research, while educational research was rarely named. 45% confirmed that they could perform scientific work during their normal working hours. The reward for this activity was mostly in the form of time-off for congresses and clinical appreciation. Most participants stated that they were involved in 3-4 student courses per week, with 24.4% reporting that they were not adequately prepared for them.The compatibility of the classic three pillars of clinic, research and teaching continues to be of great relevance. There is a high level of motivation among the participating visceral surgeons not to neglect research and teaching, despite increasing economic pressure in the field of patient care. However, arrangements must be created in order to reward and promote commitment in research and teaching in a structured way.