Author
Rainer Koch
Bio: Rainer Koch is an academic researcher from Dresden University of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Prostatectomy & Prostate cancer. The author has an hindex of 31, co-authored 177 publications receiving 4713 citations.
Topics: Prostatectomy, Prostate cancer, Hazard ratio, Comorbidity, Cystectomy
Papers published on a yearly basis
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TL;DR: Analysis of SEPT9 DNA methylation in plasma represents a straightforward, minimally invasive method to detect all stages of CRC with potential to satisfy unmet needs for increased compliance in the screening population.
Abstract: Background
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths despite the fact that detection of this cancer in early stages results in over 90% survival rate. Currently less than 45% of at-risk individuals in the US are screened regularly, exposing a need for better screening tests. We performed two case-control studies to validate a blood-based test that identifies methylated DNA in plasma from all stages of CRC.
384 citations
TL;DR: Intensive locomotor training plus physiotherapy resulted in a significantly better gait ability and daily living competence in subacute stroke patients compared with physiotherapy alone.
Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the effect of repetitive locomotor training on an electromechanical gait trainer plus physiotherapy in subacute stroke patients.Design: Randomized controlled trial.Setting: Four German neurological rehabilitation centres. Subjects: One hundred and fifty-five non-ambulatory patients (first-time stroke <60 days).Intervention: Group A received 20 min locomotor training and 25 min physiotherapy; group B had 45 min physiotherapy every week day for four weeks.Main outcome measures: Primary variables were gait ability (Functional Ambulation Category, 0-5) and the Barthel Index (0-100), blindly assessed at study onset, end, and six months later for follow-up. Responders to the therapy had to become ambulatory (Functional Ambulation Category 4 or 5) or reach a Barthel Index of ≥ 75. Secondary variables were walking velocity, endurance, mobility and leg power.Results: The intention-to-treat analysis revealed that significantly greater number of patients in group A could walk independently: 41...
304 citations
TL;DR: Patterns of NMS fluctuations are heterogeneous and complex, but psychic NMS fluctuate more frequently and severely, but demographic parameters and motor function do not correlate with NMS or nonmotor fluctuation severities in fluctuating PD.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate frequency, severity, and correlation of nonmotor symptoms (NMS) with motor complications in fluctuating Parkinson disease (PD). METHODS: The Multicenter NonMotor Fluctuations in PD cross-sectional study used clinical examination of 10 NMS (dysphagia, anxiety, depression, fatigue, excessive sweating, inner restlessness, pain, concentration/attention, dizziness, bladder urgency) quantified using a visual analogue scale (VAS) in motor-defined on (NMS(On)) and off state (NMS(Off)) combined with motor assessments and self-ratings at home in 100 patients with advanced PD. RESULTS: All NMS except dysphagia, excessive sweating, and bladder urgency fluctuated in conjunction to motor fluctuations with more frequent and severe symptoms in off compared to on state. The proportions of patients experiencing autonomic/sensory NMS in both motor states were similar to those with these NMS exclusively in off state (ratios 0.4-1.3), while for mental/psychic NMS the proportions with exclusive manifestation in off state were higher (ratios 1.8-3.1). Demographic and clinical characteristics correlated neither with NMS frequency patterns and severities nor with ΔNMS(On/Off) severities (defined as the differences of VAS scores between on and off). Severities of NMS(on), NMS(Off), and ΔNMS(On/Off) did not correlate with motor function. Presence of anxiety, depression, fatigue, and pain had negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measured by Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-8 scoring independent of their occurrence with respect to motor state. Fluctuations of these NMS but not of fatigue deteriorated HRQOL. CONCLUSION: Patterns of NMS fluctuations are heterogeneous and complex, but psychic NMS fluctuate more frequently and severely. Demographic parameters and motor function do not correlate with NMS or nonmotor fluctuation severities in fluctuating PD.
278 citations
TL;DR: An asymmetric closure technique for primary closure of a chronic pilonidal sinus is recommended, as these asymmetric procedures provide better results than the simple closure in the natal midline but are not as sophisticated as the full-thickness plasty techniques.
Abstract: PURPOSE: Pilonidal sinus is a common disease and surgical removal and subsequent wound closure is crucial for lasting cure To evaluate the outcome of different primary closure techniques we performed a pooled analysis of data published in the past 35 years METHODS: We identified reports on wound infection, early failure, and late recurrence status in relation to treatment modality Surgical techniques were classified into five groups: simple closure technique in the midline, asymmetric or oblique closure techniques, and full-thickness flap techniques like rhomboid flaps, vy-plasty, and z-plasty Estimations of the incidences resulted from the quotient of number of responses and the number of patients for each study, and these quotients were summarized over all studies RESULTS: The MEDLINE search identified 74 publications including 10,090 patients Pooled data analysis revealed an inhomogeneous effect of the surgical techniques on the infection rate In contrast, there was a significantly lower early failure rate and late recurrence rate of both the asymmetric-oblique closure techniques and the full-thickness flap techniques when compared with the midline repair technique No difference was found between the asymmetric repairs and the full-thickness flap techniques CONCLUSION: Beside the various statistical considerations when using a pooled data analysis combining results from the literature, this overview suggests a significant benefit of asymmetric-oblique closure techniques or flap techniques in comparison with simple closure in the midline Thus, we recommend an asymmetric closure technique for primary closure of a chronic pilonidal sinus These asymmetric procedures provide better results than the simple closure in the natal midline Furthermore, they are not as sophisticated as the full-thickness plasty techniques
238 citations
TL;DR: In patients with severe brain injury and impaired consciousness the Modified Tardieu Scale provides higher test-retest and inter-rater reliability compared with the Modified Ashworth Scale and may therefore be a more valid spasticity scale in adults.
Abstract: Objective: To assess and to compare the reliability of the Modified Tardieu Scale with the Modified Ashworth Scale in patients with severe brain injury and impaired consciousness.Design: Cross-sectional observational comparison study.Setting: An early rehabilitation centre for adults with neurological disorders.Subjects: Thirty patients with impaired consciousness due to severe cerebral damage of various aetiologies.Measurement protocol: Four experienced physical therapists rated each patient in a randomized order once daily for two consecutive days. Shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle spasticity were assessed by the use of Modified Tardieu Scale and Modified Ashworth Scale data collection procedures.Main outcome measures: Test - retest and inter-rater reliability (k=kappa value) of the Modified Tardieu Scale and the Modified Ashworth Scale.Results: The test-retest reliability of the Modified Ashworth Scale was moderate to good (k = 0.47-0.62) and of the Modified Tardieu Scale moderate to very goo...
230 citations
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9,362 citations
TL;DR: Strong recommendations apply to most patients, whereas weak recommendations are sensitive to differences among patients, including their preferences.
5,924 citations
McMaster University1, American University of Beirut2, University of Alcalá3, University of Geneva4, Leiden University Medical Center5, Virginia Commonwealth University6, University of California, San Diego7, Ohio State University8, University of Utah9, UCLA Medical Center10, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute11, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences12
TL;DR: Recommendations on 12 topics that were in the 9th edition of these guidelines are updated, and 3 new topics are addressed.
3,934 citations
TL;DR: Findings are discussed with a specific focus on the clinical utility of cell-free nucleic acids as blood biomarkers for cancer screening, prognosis and monitoring of the efficacy of anticancer therapies.
Abstract: 1described the presence of cell-free nucleic acid (cfNA) in human blood for the first time. This attracted little attention in the scientific community and it was not until 1994 that the importance of cfNA was recognized as a result of the detection of mutated RAS gene fragments in the blood of cancer patients 2,3 (TIMELINE). In 1996, microsatellite alterations on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) were shown in cancer patients 4
2,427 citations
TL;DR: The findings provide cross-modality confirmation of PET studies demonstrating increased thalamic and subgenual cingulate activity in major depression and suggest that a quantitative, resting-state fMRI measure could be used to guide therapy in individual subjects.
2,048 citations