Medical University of Graz

About: Medical University of Graz is a education organization based out in Graz, Steiermark, Austria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 5684 authors who have published 12349 publications receiving 417282 citations.

Body image and self-esteem in lower-limb amputees.

Abstract: Background Limb amputation is often an inevitable procedure in the advanced condition of various diseases and poses a dramatic impact on a patient's life. The aim of the present study is to analyze the impact of lower-limb amputations on aesthetic factors such as body image and self-esteem as well as quality of life (QoL).

Grading of Urothelial Carcinoma and The New "World Health Organisation Classification of Tumours of the Urinary System and Male Genital Organs 2016".

Abstract: Context In the management of urothelial carcinoma, determination of the pathological grade aims at stratifying tumours into different prognostic groups to allow evaluation of treatment results, and optimise patient management. This article reviews the principles behind different grading systems for urothelial bladder carcinoma discussing their reproducibility and prognostic value. Objective This paper aims to show the evolution of the World Health Organisation (WHO) grading system, discussing their reproducibility and prognostic value, and evaluating which classification system best predicts disease recurrence and progression. The most optimal classification system is robust, reproducible, and transparent with comprehensive data on interobserver and intraobserver variability. The WHO published an updated tumour classification in 2016, which presents a step forward, but its performance will need validation in clinical studies. Evidence acquisition Medline and EMBASE were searched using the key terms WHO 1973, WHO/International Society of Urological Pathology 1998, WHO 2004, WHO 2016, histology, reproducibility, and prognostic value, in the time frame 1973 to May 2016. The references list of relevant papers was also consulted, resulting in the selection of 48 papers. Evidence synthesis There are still inherent limitations in all available tumour classification systems. The WHO 1973 presents considerable ambiguity for classification of the G2 tumour group and grading of the G1/2 and G2/3 groups. The 2004 WHO classification introduced the concept of low-grade and high-grade tumours, as well as the papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential category which is retained in the 2016 classification. Furthermore, while molecular markers are available that have been shown to contribute to a more accurate histological grading of urothelial carcinomas, thereby improving selection of treatment for a given patient, these are not (yet) part of standard clinical practice. Conclusions The prognosis of patients diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma greatly depends on correct histological grading of the tumour. There is still limited data regarding intraobserver and interobserver variability differences between the WHO 1973 and 2004 classification systems. Additionally, reproducibility remains a concern: histological differences between the various types of tumour may be subtle and there is still no consensus amongst pathologists. The recent WHO 2016 classification presents a further improvement on the 2004 classification, but until further data becomes available, the European Association of Urology currently recommends the use of both WHO 1973 and WHO 2004/2016 classifications. Patient summary Bladder cancer, when treated in time, has a good prognosis. However, selection of the most optimal treatment is largely dependent on the information your doctor will receive from the pathologist following evaluation of the tissue resected from the bladder. It is therefore important that the classification system that the pathologist uses to grade the tissue is transparent and clear for both urologists and pathologists. A reliable classification system will ensure that aggressive tumours are not misinterpreted, and less aggressive cancer is not overtreated.

The homeostatic role of neuropeptide Y in immune function and its impact on mood and behaviour

Abstract: Neuropeptide Y (NPY), one of the most abundant peptides in the nervous system, exerts its effects via five receptor types, termed Y1, Y2, Y4, Y5 and Y6. NPY's pleiotropic functions comprise the regulation of brain activity, mood, stress coping, ingestion, digestion, metabolism, vascular and immune function. Nerve-derived NPY directly affects immune cells while NPY also acts as a paracrine and autocrine immune mediator, because immune cells themselves are capable of producing and releasing NPY. NPY is able to induce immune activation or suppression, depending on a myriad of factors such as the Y receptors activated and cell types involved. There is an intricate relationship between psychological stress, mood disorders and the immune system. While stress represents a risk factor for the development of mood disorders, it exhibits diverse actions on the immune system as well. Conversely, inflammation is regarded as an internal stressor and is increasingly recognized to contribute to the pathogenesis of mood and metabolic disorders. Intriguingly, the cerebral NPY system has been found to protect against distinct disturbances in response to immune challenge, attenuating the sickness response and preventing the development of depression. Thus, NPY plays an important homeostatic role in balancing disturbances of physiological systems caused by peripheral immune challenge. This implication is particularly evident in the brain in which NPY counteracts the negative impact of immune challenge on mood, emotional processing and stress resilience. NPY thus acts as a unique signalling molecule in the interaction of the immune system with the brain in health and disease.

Strategic white matter tracts for processing speed deficits in age-related small vessel disease

Abstract: Objective: Cerebral small vessel disease is the most common cause of vascular cognitive impairment and typically manifests with slowed processing speed We investigated the impact of lesion location on processing speed in age-related small vessel disease Methods: A total of 584 community-dwelling elderly underwent brain MRI followed by segmentation of white matter hyperintensities Processing speed was determined by the timed measure of the Trail Making Test part B The impact of the location of white matter hyperintensities was assessed by voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping and graph-based statistical models on regional lesion volumes in major white matter tracts Results: Voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping identified multiple voxel clusters where the presence of white matter hyperintensities was associated with slower performance on the Trail Making Test part B Clusters were located bilaterally in the forceps minor and anterior thalamic radiation Region of interest–based Bayesian network analyses on lesion volumes within major white matter tracts depicted the same tracts as direct predictors for an impaired Trail Making Test part B performance Conclusions: Our findings highlight damage to frontal interhemispheric and thalamic projection fiber tracts harboring frontal-subcortical neuronal circuits as a predictor for processing speed performance in age-related small vessel disease

Mobile teledermatology: a feasibility study of 58 subjects using mobile phones.

Abstract: We investigated the diagnostic agreement between teledermatology based on images from a mobile phone camera and face-to-face (FTF) dermatology. Diagnostic agreement was assessed for two teledermatologists (TD) in comparison with FTF consultations in 58 subjects. In almost three-quarters of the cases (TD1: 71%; TD2: 76%), the telediagnosis was fully concordant with the FTF diagnosis. Furthermore, the diagnosed diseases were almost all in the same diagnostic category (TD1: 97%; TD2: 90%). If mobile teledermatology had been used for remote triage, TD1 could have treated 53% subjects remotely and 47% subjects would have had to consult a dermatologist FTF. TD2 could have treated 59% subjects remotely, whereas 41% subjects would have had to consult a dermatologist FTF. Forty-eight subjects responded to a questionnaire, of whom only 10 had any concerns regarding teledermatology. Thirty-one subjects stated that they would be willing to pay to use a similar service in future and suggested an amount ranging from euro5 to euro50 per consultation (mean euro22) (euro = pound0.7, US $1.4). These results are encouraging as patient acceptance and reimbursement represent potential obstacles to the implementation of telemedicine services.