German Red Cross

About: German Red Cross is a healthcare organization based out in Berlin, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Transplantation & Mesenchymal stem cell. The organization has 653 authors who have published 1146 publications receiving 40111 citations. The organization is also known as: Deutsches Rotes Kreuz & DRK.

Urethral hypermobility after anti-incontinence surgery - a prognostic indicator?

Abstract: The aim of this study was to define the concept of hypermobility of the bladder neck and determine its effects on the cure rate and postoperative complications in patients undergoing colposuspension. In a retrospective study, 310 patients who underwent primary colposuspen- sion for urodynamically proven genuine stress urinary incontinence were assessed by introital ultrasound before surgery and during follow-up for up to 48 months post- operatively. A total of 152 women completed 48 months of follow-up. Mobility of the bladder neck during straining was described as linear dorsocaudal movement (LDM) with LDM >15 mm being defined as hypermobility. The overall objective cure rate was 90.0% at 6-month follow-up vs 76.8% at 48-month follow-up (Kaplan-Meier estima- tors). Urge symptoms occurred in 12.6% (39/310) of the women and de novo urge incontinence in 2.3% (7/310). Bladder neck hypermobility was significantly reduced after anti-incontinence surgery, from 67.1% (208/310) before surgery to 5.5% (17/310) immediately after surgery (P<0.0001). Postoperative hypermobility was associated with a higher recurrence rate. In the hypermobility group, 52.9 and 34.0% of the patients were continent for up to 6 and 48 months, respectively, as opposed to 92.2 and 79.2% in the group without hypermobility (P<0.0001). Women with postoperative hypermobility had a 3.2-fold higher risk of recurrence within 48 months. Bladder neck hypermo- bility after surgery was also associated with postoperative voiding difficulty (P=0.0278). Patients in whom hypermo- bility of the bladder neck diagnosed before surgery persists after colposuspension have a higher risk of recurrence and are more likely to develop postoperative complications than those without this hypermobility.

Fracture load for periprosthetic femoral fractures in cemented versus uncemented hip stems: an experimental in vitro study.

Abstract: This cadaveric study examined fracture loads in cemented and uncemented hip stems. Additionally, individual data and bone quality were analyzed and correlated to fracture patterns and fracture load. Cemented or uncemented hip stems were implanted in a randomized fashion in 10 matched paired fresh-frozen femora (donor median age, 78 years, and donor median weight, 74.2 kg). Bone density was measured before the femurs were fractured under load (maximum load of 10,000 N), and fracture patterns were analyzed according to the Vancouver and Johansson classification systems. In the uncemented group, all of the femurs fractured with a median load of 2625 N (range, 1725-7647 N). In the cemented group, 5 femurs fractured with a median maximum load of 9127 N (range, 2845-10,000 N) and 5 femurs did not fracture with a maximum load of 10,000 N. Fracture load corresponded to 4 times and 8.8 times body weight in the uncemented and cemented groups, respectively. Fracture patterns corresponded to Vancouver type A fractures in uncemented stems and Vancouver type C fractures in cemented hip stems. Analysis showed a significant correlation between fracture load and bone density in the uncemented group, whereas there was no correlation in the cemented group. Patients with poor bone quality treated with an uncemented hip stem are at higher risk for periprosthetic fractures; therefore, we recommend cemented stems in this group of patients. Cementation appears to protect against periprosthetic fractures, probably from internal stiffening of the femoral cavity.

Safety of ultra-rush titration of sublingual immunotherapy in asthmatic children with tree-pollen allergy.

Abstract: The recommendation to use sublingual-swallow immunotherapy (SLIT) in children and adults with allergic rhinitis has been established over the past decade. Recently, ultra-rush titration of SLIT has become more and more common, raising concerns about its safety in children with asthma. Fifty-four children with asthma and adolescents aged 6–14 with documented allergic disease because of tree pollen (birch and possibly alder and/or hazel) from 14 study centers in Germany participated in a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Twenty-seven were randomized to receive SLIT with standardized birch pollen allergen extract and the other 27 to receive placebo. An ultra-rush high-dose SLIT titration regimen reaching the maintenance dose of 300 index of reactivity (IR) within 90 min (30–90–150–300 IR) was used. The difference in mean PFR changes during ultra-rush titration between SLIT and placebo was not significant (p = 0.056). A 95% probability that SLIT does not decrease PFR during ultra-rush titration was demonstrated. Neither anaphylactic shock nor else serious systemic reactions to the study drug occurred. No serious adverse event assessed by the investigator as related to study drug treatment was reported.