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OBJECTIVE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the world. Pulmonary rehabilitation is recommended for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of non-invasive ventilation, supplemental oxygen, and exercise training and supplemental oxygen during exercise training during pulmonary rehabilitation practice in comparison with only exercise training on lung functions, blood gases, lactate levels, respiratory muscle pressures, dyspnea, walking distances, quality of life, and depression in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The main outcome measure is exercise capacity (6-minute walk test), and the secondary end-point included quality of life. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (mean ± SD age, 65.4 ± 6.5 years) with a mean bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration of 39.4 ± 7%, undergoing an 8-week outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation, were randomized to either non-invasive ventilation, supplemental oxygen, and exercise training, supplemental oxygen during exercise training, or exercise training groups. The improvements in respiratory muscle strength were higher in non-invasive ventilation, supplemental oxygen, and exercise training patients than the moderate improvements in the exercise training group. Both non-invasive ventilation, supplemental oxygen, and exercise training and supplemental oxygen during exercise training groups showed significant increases in the 6-minute walk test and incremental shuttle walk test. However, the increase in walking distance was better in non-invasive ventilation, supplemental oxygen, and exercise training group (69.8 ± 53.2 m in 6-minute walk test and 66.6 ± 65.2 m in incremental shuttle walk test, P = .001 and P = .005, respectively) compared to supplemental oxygen during exercise training group (42.5 + 55.5 m in 6-minute walk test and 53.5 + 70.2 m in incremental shuttle walk test, P = .01 each, respectively). The total St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire score was similar in all study groups after the intervention. Symptoms of depression significantly improved only in non-invasive ventilation, supplemental oxygen, and exercise training group (-2.8 + 2.8, P = .006). CONCLUSION: Non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) added to supplemental oxygen during exercise training was associated with better physiological adaptations than other modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: A small percentage of acute pulmonary thromboembolisms (PTE) persist as chronic fibrin clots, potentially leading to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). A scoring system for evaluating the burden of acute PTE based on computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) findings was tested for its association with CTEPH within one year. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective cohort of 475 patients with a definitive diagnosis of acute PTE, the Qanadli score (QS) was calculated on the initial CTPA. Through regular follow-up over 1 year, symptomatic patients underwent extensive evaluation. RESULTS: Of the 475 patients enrolled in the study [age 58.3 ± 16.6, 195 (41.1%) female, QS: 13.01 ± 7.37/40], 321 patients completed the study. A total of 22 (6.8%) patients were definitively diagnosed with CTEPH. In univariate analysis, the initial QS was significantly higher in patients with subsequent CTEPH than in patients without (17 ± 5.6 vs. 13 ± 7.6, P = .009). QS was directly associated with CTEPH (odds ratio: 1.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.0-1.16, P = .042). The evolution of CTEPH in men could be predicted with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 54% when a cut-off point of 14.5 (43.5%) was set for QS. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in this setting was 0.74 with a P-value of .032. Qanadli score failed to predict CTEPH in women. CONCLUSION: Scoring the clot burden in the pulmonary arteries through the Qanadli method can predict the evolution of CTEPH only in men 1 year after acute PTE. Women comprise most of the CTEPH patients. Thus, strict follow-up adherence seems to be even more important in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Pleural fluid pH measurement is recommended for tube thoracostomy decisions in complicated parapneumonic pleural effusions. However, pleural fluid pH may be affected by blood pH in critically ill patients with common systemic acid-base disorders. We aimed to investigate the use of pleural fluid lactate to distinguish culture-positive parapneumonic effusions from other pleural effusions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective observational study included 121 eligible patients (51 female and 70 male). All patients with pleural effusion who underwent thoracentesis were assessed. Pleural fluid lactate was measured by a blood gas analyzer. RESULTS: Of the 121 patients, 30 (24.8%) were transudate and 91 (75.2%) were exudate. Of the 91 patients with exudative pleural effusion, 61 were diagnosed as culture-negative parapneumonic, 13 as culture-positive parapneumonic, 9 as malignant, and 8 as other exudative effusion. There was a strong positive linear association between serum pH and pleural fluid pH (R = 0.77, P < .001). The post hoc tests for pleural fluid lactate revealed there was a significant difference between culture-positive parapneumonic versus culture-negative parapneumonic groups (P = .004), culture-positive parapneumonic versus transudative effusion groups (P < .001), culture-negative parapneumonic versus transudative effusion groups (P = .008) and lastly; malignant effusion versus transudative effusion groups (P = .001). Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis for culture-positive parapneumonic indicated a cutoff of 4.55 mmol/L for pleural fluid lactate to have a sensitivity of 76.9% and a specificity of 84.3% (positive predictive value: 37%, negative predictive value: 96.8%). CONCLUSION: A cutoff of 4.55 mmol/L of pleural fluid lactate can be used as a useful tool to distinguish culture-positive parapneumonic effusions from other effusions in critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study reports the results of stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery treatment for brain metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with modern systemic treatment methods (immunotherapy, targeted agents, and current chemotherapy agents). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer and brain metastases who underwent stereotactic radio surge ry/fr actio nated stereotactic radiosurgery in the Radiation Oncology Clinic of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital between February 21, 2019, and August 15, 2022. The study's primary endpoint was accepted as the lesions' response status after stereotactic radio surge ry/fr actio nated stereotactic radiosurgery. The secondary endpoint was accepted as the patients' intracranial progression-free survival and overall survival. RESULTS: This study included 85 patients treated for 174 lesions. Their median follow-up was 6.6 (range: 1-42) months. Their median intracranial progression-free survival after radiotherapy was 5.3 (range: 1-33) months, and their median overall survival was 6.6 (range: 1-42) months. Concurrent immunotherapy was administered to 10 (11%) patients and targeted therapy to 8 (9%). Magnetic resonance imaging indicated that 14 (6%) patients had a complete response, 62 (35.6%) had a partial response, 10 (5.7%) had stable disease, and 23 (13.2%) had progressive disease. The complete response rate was significantly higher in patients receiving targeted therapy (P < .001; odds ratio = 0.0025, 95% CI = 0.006-0.109). Intracranial recurrence was observed in 28 (32.9%) patients after stereotactic radio surge ry/fr actio nated stereotactic radiosurgery: 7 (8.2%) were inside the radiotherapy field, 13 (15.3%) were outside the radiotherapy field, and 8 (9.4%) overlapped the radiotherapy field. Intracranial progression-free survival was higher in patients receiving concomitant immunotherapy (P = .028; hazard ratio = 0.107, 95% CI = 0.015-0.783). However, overall survival was higher in patients receiving targeted therapy (P = .035; hazard ratio = 0.217, 95% CI = 0.053-0.897). CONCLUSION: Using current systemic agents with radiotherapy for brain metastasis significantly affected post-radiotherapy intracranial progression-free survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with agent demotion and self-reference in German as an academic language used by non-native speakers. It examines two comparative corpora consisting of German language Master theses written by L1 and L2 speakers, it detects significant differences between the two groups. A comparison with a previous study of Bachelor theses shows that such differences diminish with increasing academic expertise. At Bachelor level, constructions that are rarely used by L1 speakers tend to be even less common with L2 speakers. At Master level, this effect seems to have waned. Apart from statistical analyses, the study also examines some forms of non-standard language use by the L2 speakers that may be traced to Polish influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: According to the Master Plan 2020, science education will play a critical role in future medical curricula. Science modules have already been implemented at many locations. Other medical faculties will follow in the next few years, as legislation is expected to make recommendations of the national competence-based learning objectives curriculum for medicine (NKLM) mandatory. This article aims to present an implementation example from epidemiology and biometry as a contribution to the didactic discussions within the data sciences in medicine. Project description: We report on our experiences with a data analysis project for second-year medical students, which has been compulsory at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences since 2019. The project is intended to train the scientific skills required from the subjects of epidemiology and biometry for student research projects. Emphasis is placed on responsible data handling, transparency, and reproducibility. For example, the writing of a statistical analysis plan is required prior to data access. Improved standardization of materials, optional use of the English language, and digital support will be implemented to help manage the project when student numbers increase. Discussion: The experience from five years is very positive, although a formal evaluation of the learning success is still pending. Current challenges concern staffing, additional time and supervision requirements for those students who do statistical programming with R, and improved integration into the medical curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital learning and teaching have become significantly more relevant for training, specialist training and advanced training because of the requirements during the Corona pandemic. This also applies to higher education. As a digital healthcare service provider, Thieme supports information and communication processes in medicine and related health and natural sciences for the benefit of young medical professionals, among others. In this article, we introduce via medici. Thiemes digital learning and teaching portal offers students and lecturers professionally tailored and practical content for all phases within medical studies: starting with the introduction to medical content in the pre-clinical and clinical phase, followed by practice-oriented knowledge and completed with hands-on preparation for the major state examinations using the original IMPP questions. Students can display the content in via medici in accordance with their university's curriculum, among other things, and thus study in a focused manner throughout the term. Lecturers have the possibility to compile medical content from via medici for their students to prepare for or to follow up on courses and to combine it with their own teaching materials and other external content. via medici is thus more and more becoming an individual learning and teaching environment for universities. Thieme is increasingly focusing on the (further) development of digital products, offerings and solutions. In addition, traditional teaching media will continue to play an important role in the Thieme Group's portfolio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of administrative data and official statistics data for (basic) research becomes increasingly a determinant for the competitiveness of a country's research capabilities. This is particular true for the social sciences including economics as well as health research and could provide an important contribution for evidencebased politics and public administration. In Austria, the greatest challenges are the unclear and uneven legal situation and political resistance against a more open and better structured access to registry and statistical data for science. From an international perspective, the accessibility of administrative data is self-evident and state of the art in many European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AIMS (African Institute of Mathematical Sciences) supports the higher mathematical education of African Master students by providing postgraduate courses, which are taught by lecturers from both local and international institutes. This report reflects the author's own experience; it aims to motivate lecturers to offer courses or supervision of research topics for AIMS students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer (C53 by ICD-10) have to be corrected significantly upwards after excluding the women from the reference population whose uterus was removed surgically. The current study is based on the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1) according to which the prevalence of hysterectomy in Germany in 2011 among women aged over 18 years was 17.4%. As per age pattern of this prevalence the incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer are corrected. Maximal corrections can be found women of 70-79 years. In this age group the incidence rate is corrected from 13.6 to 22.5 by 65.4%, the mortality rate from 7.5 to 12.4 by 65.3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the development and status quo of repositories in Austria, which have received an important impulse by the project e-Infrastructures Austria. While in the years following the "Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Scientific Knowledge" (2003), mainly the areas of publications and Green Open Access were dealt with, but recently research data has become increasingly popular, especially in the context of initiatives like the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). This upturn is also reflected in the ongoing increase in the number of Austrian repositories listed in the Directory of Open Access Repositories (OpenDOAR) and the Registry of Research Data Repositories (re3data.org). By means of statistical evaluations it was ascertained which types of documents are included in these repositories, which academic disciplines they represent, the extent of their content, which software is used, whether already existing interfaces (such as OAI) are available and which policies are being followed for the respective repositories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries play a fundamental role in society. In order to make library services visible, the Library Index BIX measures the performance of public and academic libraries in Germany. An increasing number of libraries from other countries join the BIX every year. Austrian university libraries make up the largest group of foreign participants. Committed to develop quality management systems, library performance measurement plays an important role at the universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a number of statistics relating to holdings and finances of French university libraries, based on the official figures in "Annuaire des Bibliothèques Universitaire." Tallies are given of book holdings, microforms, and journals. Figures for library budgets, electronic resources, numbers of patron visits, and number of materials loaned out are presented.

The article presents a report on a panel on the measurement of the success of national and dynastic actors in the era of Enlightenment, convened during the Historikertag, the annual congress of the Verband der Historiker und Historikerinnen Deutschlands (VHD) and Verband der Geschichtslehrer Deutschlands (VGD) professional associations in Göttingen, Germany, from September 23-26, 2014. Topics discussed included the effectiveness of symbolic communication of rank and social status in 18th century, the use of statistics as measures of political successes, and the organization of knowledge espoused by French politician Jean-Baptiste Colbert.

The book of Chow gives an overview over many controversial aspects in conducting and analyzing of clinical trials. The author of this book review (translation of the ISCB Bulletin) concludes, that all parties involved in clinical trials should have access to the book to enable them to cope with the most important controversial aspects in planning and execution of clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses eBook acquisitions by the university and provincial library of Darmstadt, Germany as of 2007. Different eBook licensing and sales models of different publishers are described. Various download statistics are presented. The availability of eBooks is said not to have negatively affected hardcover check-outs and sales of the same titles.

The article reports on the publication of the summary analysis data of the Deutsche Bibliotheksstatistik (DBS - German Library Statistics), which covers the year 2007. Subscribers to the publication include 83% of German public libraries and 75% of German scientific libraries. A website offering access to the information is provided.

The article discusses a new analysis tool from the German Library Statistics office (DBS) which offers data collection and reporting which can be compared relative to library equipment, supplies. loans, finances, and personnel. The results can be viewed directly in a browser or exported to tools like Excel for further manipulation.