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Oral cancer is among the most common tumour worldwide. Due to the anatomical peculiarities of the head and neck region, the treatment of oral cancer is a major challenge with regard to the preservation of aesthetics and function. The aim of the present study is to analyze currently practiced therapeutic strategies as well as current and future challenges in the therapy of oral cancer.

As an essential part of the health care system, the requirements for specialist training are subject to a continuous process of change. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the current specialist training situation of all departments in a tertiary care hospital in Germany. Differences between assistant and chief physicians should be pointed out.

Abstract Background It is increasingly recognized that infectious complications in patients treated with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) may be caused by altered immune responses. Neutrophils and monocytes are the first line of defence against bacterial and fungal infection through superoxide anion production during the respiratory burst. To characterize the impact of three different types of lipid solutions that are applied as part of TPN formulations, we investigated the unstimulated respiratory burst activation of neutrophils and monocytes in whole blood. Methods Whole blood samples were incubated with LCT (Intralipid®), LCT/MCT (Lipofundin®) and LCT-MUFA (ClinOleic®) in three concentrations (0.06, 0.3 and 0.6 mg ml-1) for time periods up to one hour. Hydrogen peroxide production during the respiratory burst of neutrophils and monocytes was measured by flow cytometry. Results LCT and LCT-MUFA induced a hydrogen peroxide production in neutrophils and monocytes without presence of a physiological stimulus in contrast to LCT/MCT. Conclusion We concluded that parenteral nutrition containing unsaturated oleic (C18:1) and linoleic (C18:2) acid can induce respiratory burst of neutrophils and monocytes, resulting in an elevated risk of tissue damage by the uncontrolled production of reactive oxygen species. Contradictory observations reported in previous studies may in part be the result of different methods used to determine hydrogen peroxide production.

Background: Digital health has been taught at medical faculties for a few years. However, in general, the teaching of digital competencies in medical education and training is still underrepresented., Objective: This study aims to analyze the objective acquisition of digital competencies through the implementation of a transdisciplinary digital health curriculum as a compulsory elective subject at a German university. The main subject areas of digital leadership and management, digital learning and didactics, digital communication, robotics, and generative artificial intelligence were developed and taught in a transdisciplinary manner over a period of 1 semester., Methods: The participants evaluated the relevant content of the curriculum regarding the competencies already taught in advance during the study, using a Likert scale. The participants' increase in digital competencies were examined with a pre-post test consisting of 12 questions. Statistical analysis was performed using an unpaired 2-tailed Student t test. A P value of <.05 was considered statistically significant. Furthermore, an analysis of the acceptance of the transdisciplinary approach as well as the application of an alternative examination method (term paper instead of a test with closed and open questions) was carried out., Results: In the first year after the introduction of the compulsory elective subject, students of human medicine (n=15), dentistry (n=3), and medical biotechnology (n=2) participated in the curriculum. In total, 13 participants were women (7 men), and 61.1% (n=11) of the participants in human medicine and dentistry were in the preclinical study stage (clinical: n=7, 38.9%). All the aforementioned learning objectives were largely absent in all study sections (preclinical: mean 4.2; clinical: mean 4.4; P=.02). The pre-post test comparison revealed a significant increase of 106% in knowledge (P<.001) among the participants., Conclusions: The transdisciplinary teaching of a digital health curriculum, including digital teaching methods, considers perspectives and skills from different disciplines. Our new curriculum facilitates an objective increase in knowledge regarding the complex challenges of the digital transformation of our health care system. Of the 16 student term papers arising from the course, robotics and artificial intelligence attracted the most interest, accounting for 9 of the submissions., (© Juliane Kröplin, Leonie Maier, Jan-Hendrik Lenz, Bernd Romeike. Originally published in JMIR Medical Education (https://mededu.jmir.org).)

Purpose: The aim of the study was to get a cross-sectional overview of the current status of specific organizational procedures, quality control systems, and standard operating procedures for the use of three-dimensional (3D) printing to assist in-house workflow using additive manufacturing in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) in Germany., Methods: An online questionnaire including dynamic components containing 16-29 questions regarding specific organizational aspects, process workflows, quality controls, documentation, and the respective backgrounds in 3D printing was sent to OMF surgeons in university and non-university hospitals as well as private practices with and without inpatient treatment facilities. Participants were recruited from a former study population regarding 3D printing; all participants owned a 3D printer and were registered with the German Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery., Results: Sixty-seven participants answered the questionnaires. Of those, 20 participants ran a 3D printer in-unit. Quality assurance measures were performed by 13 participants and underlying processes by 8 participants, respectively. Standard operating procedures regarding computer-aided design and manufacturing, post-processing, use, or storage of printed goods were non-existent in most printing units. Data segmentation as well as computer-aided design and manufacturing were conducted by a medical doctor in most cases (n = 19, n = 18, n = 8, respectively). Most participants (n = 8) stated that "medical device regulations did not have any influence yet, but an adaptation of the processes is planned for the future.", Conclusion: The findings demonstrated significant differences in 3D printing management in OMFS, especially concerning process workflows, quality control, and documentation. Considering the ever-increasing regulations for medical devices, there might be a necessity for standardized 3D printing recommendations and regulations in OMFS., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the current state of training of German interns in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. A previously tested questionnaire consisting of 53 questions was sent to interns in German OMFS (non-) university hospitals and private practices as an online survey. The questionnaire was adapted to current topics, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, aspects concerning nighttime and weekend services, overtime hours, surgical logbooks, benefits of academic degrees and support for scientific activities, part-time employment, parental leave and childcare. Next, results of questions from before the COVID-19 pandemic were re-evaluated. The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the clinical work (71.83%) and the current state of training (68.64%) in OMFS of most participants. Nighttime and weekend services are possible for employees in possession of only one degree (87.93% with a medical degree) in most hospitals. Not having one or both doctorate degrees was considered to be a disadvantage by 54.95%. In all, 42.11% of the participants attested to a positive influence of research on their training situation, and 50% reported financial or non-financial research support from the employer. Part-time employment was possible for 78.81% of the participants. The course of training was interrupted more often for women due to parental or maternity leave (10.53% of men and 30.95% of women). A total of 40.71% of the participants reported that childcare was available at the hospital, theoretically. The state of OMFS training in Germany can be referred to as positive. Current and future challenges are diverse, including aspects originating from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, gender aspects, reconciliation of family and work, and flexible working hours. Addressing these topics will ensure OMFS training at the highest surgical level and further increase interns' satisfaction, preserving the specialty's popularity and reception., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) has undergone pioneering progress through the development of three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of 3D printing at OMFS university and non-university hospitals and private practices in Germany., Materials and Methods: For explorative assessment, a dynamic online questionnaire containing 10-22 questions about the current use of 3D printing and the reasons behind it was sent to OMFS university and non-university hospitals and private practices in Germany by the study group from the German Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (DGMKG)., Results: In total, 156 participants responded from university (23 [14.7%]) and non-university hospitals (19 [12.2%]) and private practices without (85 [50.5%]) and with 29 (18.6%) inpatient treatment facility. Highest applications of 3D printing were in implantology (57%), microvascular bone reconstructions (25.6%), and orthognathics (21.1%). Among the participants, 37.8% reportedly were not using 3D printing. Among the hospitals and private practices, 21.1% had their own 3D printer, and 2.5% shared it with other departments. The major reason for not having a 3D printer was poor cost efficiency (37.6%). Possessing a 3D printer was motivated by independence from external providers (91.3%) and rapid template production (82.6%). The preferred printing methods were stereolithography (69.4 %) and filament printing (44.4%)., Conclusions: OMFS 3D printing is established in Germany with a wide range of applications., Clinical Relevance: The prevalence of 3D printing in hospitals and private practices is moderate. This may be enhanced by future innovations including improved cost efficiency., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is accompanied by increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Treatment of AAV patients includes the management of conventional CV risk factors, primarily hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, while lipoprotein(a) (LP(a)) is an emerging potential target., Methods: We performed a multicenter, retrospective study in Germany. Patients were considered if they were between 18 and 90 years old and presented with AAV. Patients with arterial hypertension but no autoimmune disease were used as a control group (HTN reference group)., Results: Compared to the reference group (n = 52), CV disease burden was significantly greater in patients with AAV (n = 53). Hypercholesterolemia was also more common in the AAV patients (71.7% vs 46.2% for the HTN; P = .008). Lipoprotein(a) levels were elevated in both groups, with 11.3% and 17.3% of the AAV and HTN groups, respectively, displaying a level above 0.6 g/l (P = .083). Guideline-recommended targets for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood pressure levels were rarely met. According to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines, 72.5% of the patients with AAV should have been taking statins and/or ezetimibe for treatment of hyperlipidemia; however, only 24.3% of them were receiving such treatment. Blood pressure below ≤140/90 mmHg was reached in 78.6% of the patients with chronic kidney disease. However, for patients with chronic kidney disease and an albumin excretion rate of >30 mg/day, the recommended blood pressure is ≤130/80 mmHg, a value that was not reached in 65% of the AAV patients., Conclusion: Patients with AAV are at high CV risk, but management of the associated risk factors is poor. In addition to improving the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, lipoprotein(a) is a further potential target for reducing CV risk in individuals with AAV., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: It is increasingly recognized that infectious complications in patients treated with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) may be caused by altered immune responses. Neutrophils and monocytes are the first line of defence against bacterial and fungal infection through superoxide anion production during the respiratory burst. To characterize the impact of three different types of lipid solutions that are applied as part of TPN formulations, we investigated the unstimulated respiratory burst activation of neutrophils and monocytes in whole blood., Methods: Whole blood samples were incubated with LCT (Intralipid(R)), LCT/MCT (Lipofundin(R)) and LCT-MUFA (ClinOleic(R)) in three concentrations (0.06, 0.3 and 0.6 mg ml-1) for time periods up to one hour. Hydrogen peroxide production during the respiratory burst of neutrophils and monocytes was measured by flow cytometry., Results: LCT and LCT-MUFA induced a hydrogen peroxide production in neutrophils and monocytes without presence of a physiological stimulus in contrast to LCT/MCT., Conclusion: We concluded that parenteral nutrition containing unsaturated oleic (C18:1) and linoleic (C18:2) acid can induce respiratory burst of neutrophils and monocytes, resulting in an elevated risk of tissue damage by the uncontrolled production of reactive oxygen species. Contradictory observations reported in previous studies may in part be the result of different methods used to determine hydrogen peroxide production.