Diagnosis of Ureaplasma urealyticum Septic Polyarthritis by PCR Assay and Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry in a Patient with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

We report a case of polyarthritis with axial involvement in a young female patient treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Detection in the hip fluid of Ureaplasma urealyticum by broad-range PCR followed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry allowed the diagnosis of septic arthritis and ad integrum recovery upon adapted antibiotic therapy.     

Current status of identification of victims of the National Socialist regime whose bodies were used for anatomical purposes

Research on the history of anatomy in the Third Reich has often focused on anatomists who collaborated with the National Socialist (NS) regime. Only recently has attention shifted to investigations of the victims, of which there are two groups: anatomists whose careers were disrupted by NS policies, and victims of the NS regime whose bodies were used for anatomical purposes. No systematic approach has yet been undertaken toward the identification of all the different groups of victims and the individuals' fates. This overview of currently available data on NS victims whose bodies were used for anatomical purposes reveals that an estimated total number of all bodies delivered to departments of anatomy lies at more than 40,000, and the so far documented number of executed persons among them at a minimum of 3,749. The traditional sources of body procurement and their significant changes in character during the NS period can be traced. Postwar attempts on finding the fate and identity of bodies of NS victims in anatomy can be divided into three phases. Most investigations focused on the removal of remaining “material” from NS victims from the anatomical collections, while identification and remembrance of individual victims was not a priority. So far, about 500 NS victims' names and biographies have been at least partially identified. Existing memorials rarely name individuals. New approaches to the identification of victims and the potential of a databank for these victims' biographies as an appropriate manner of remembrance are examined in this study. Clin. Anat. 514–536, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Direkter Nachweis von Zytomegalievirus in koronaren Atheromen von Patienten mit fortgeschrittener koronarer Herzerkrankung

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund und Ziel: Experimentelle und klinische Studien weisen auf einen möglichen Zusammenhang zwischen dem Zytomegalievirus und der koronaren Herzerkrankung hin. Es war Ziel dieser Studie, mit Hilfe hochsensitiver molekularbiologischer Methoden in seriellen Analysen die Prävalenz von Zytomegalievirusgenom in koronaren Atheromen zu bestimmen sowie eine Assoziation zwischen dem Erregernachweis in koronaren Atheromen, der Läsionsmorphologie und dem klinischen Erscheinungsbild der Patienten herzustellen. Patienten und Methoden: Bei 53 Patienten mit koronarer Herzerkrankung wurde im Rahmen einer aortokoronaren Bypassoperation eine koronare Thrombendatherektomie durchgeführt. Von jedem Atherom wurden zwei Stellen zur molekularbiologischen Analyse verwendet. Ergebnis: Es konnte bei bis zu 30% der untersuchten Patienten mit schwerer koronarer Herzerkrankung Zytomegalievirus-DNA in koronaren Atheromen nachgewiesen werden. Das Verteilungsmuster der Zytomegalievirus in den Läsionen war inhomogen. Schlussfolgerung: Durch den höheren Anteil an Sekundärläsionen sowie den geringeren Kalzifizierungsgrad zytomegalieviruspositiver Atherome wird die Hypothese einer Mitbeteiligung des Zytomegalievirus an Restenosemechanismen unterstützt. Der Einsatz antiviraler Substanzen zur Behandlung der Atherosklerose oder zur Prävention der Restenose ist aufgrund der bestehenden Daten jedoch nicht gerechtfertigt. Abstract Background and Aim: Experimental and clinical data support an infectious cause of atherosclerosis and thereby coronary artery disease. This study was intended to assess the prevalence and possible clinical associations of the presence of cytomegalovirus DNA within coronary samples from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients and Methods: A coronary thrombendatherectomy was performed in 53 patients with advanced coronary artery disease. Two samples of each atheroma were used for further analysis and pathogen detection. Result: In 30% of patients with advanced coronary artery disease cytomegalovirus DNA was detected in coronary samples as assessed by highly sensitive PCR methods. The occurrence of the virus within the vessels was characterized by an inhomogeneous distribution pattern. Conclusion: Due to an increased proportion of restenotic lesions and a higher degree of calcification in cytomegalovirus-positive lesions, a causative association between the virus presnece and mechanisms of restenosis post angioplasty is further supported. Antiviral pharmacological interventions to prevent restenosis in high-risk patients, however, seem not to be justified by the data currently available.     

Evaluation of two group therapies to reduce fear of progression in cancer patients

Purpose  

This paper aims to evaluate the effects of two psychotherapeutic interventions on dysfunctional fear of progression (FoP) in cancer patients and to investigate illness-specific influences.     

„Bürgerversicherung fehlt die Evidenz“

Der Freie Zahnarzt - Hätte eine einheitliche Krankenversicherung – etwa nach dem Modell „Bürgerversicherung“ – Bestand vor dem Grundgesetz? Um diese...