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The Internet is becoming increasing-ly important as a source of information for patients in medical issues. However, many patients have problems to adequately understand texts, especially with medical content. A basic requirement to understand a written text is the read-ability of a text. The aim of the present study was to examine texts on the websites of German -plastic-surgical hospitals with patient information regarding their readability.In this study, the read-ability of texts of 27 major departments of plastic and Hand surgery in Germany was systematically analysed using 5 recognised readability indices. First, texts were searched based on 20 representative key words and themes. Thereafter, texts were assigned to one of 3 major themes in order to enable statistical analysis. In addition to the 5 readability indices, further objective text parameters were also recorded.Overall, 288 texts were found for analyzation. Most articles were found on the topic of "handsurgery" (n=124), less were found for "facial plastic surgery" (n=80) and "flaps, breast and reconstructive surgery" (n=84). Consistently, all readability indices showed a poor readability for the vast majority of analysed texts with the text appearing readable only for readers with a higher educational level. No significant differences in readability were found between the 3 major themes.Especially in the communication of medical information, it is important to consider the knowledge and education of the addressee. The texts studied consistently showed a readability that is understandable only for academics. Thus, a large part of the intended target group is probably not reached. In order to adequately deliver online information material, a revision of the analysed internet texts appears to be recommendable.

Besides their function as one of the main contact points, websites of hospitals serve as medical information portals. All patients should be able to understand medical information texts; regardless of their literacy skills and educational level. Online texts should thus have an appropriate structure to ease their comprehension.Patient information texts on every German nonuniversity ENT hospital website (n = 125) were systematically analysed. For ten different ENT topics a representative medical information text was extracted from each website. Using objective text parameters and five established readability indices, the texts were analysed in terms of their readability and structure. Furthermore, we stratified the analysis in relation to the hospital organisation system and geographical region in Germany.Texts from 142 internet sites could be used for the definite analysis. On average, texts consisted of 15 sentences and 237 words. Readability indices congruously showed that the analysed texts could generally only be understood by a well-educated or even academic reader.The majority of patient information texts on German hospital websites are difficult to understand for most patients. In order to fulfil their goal of adequately informing the general population about disease, therapeutic options and the particular focal points of the clinic, a revision of most medical texts on the websites of German ENT hospitals is recommended.

This article will review the clinical and laboratory characteristics of urinary tract infection in children. The diagnostic workup, the current recommended treatment and the long-term prognosis will also be reviewed.

A case of a previously healthy, 13-year-old male with IgA nephropathy is presented in order to illustrate clinical onset and differential diagnosis of this rather common clinical entity. The laboratory and histopathological diagnosis is illustrated and discussed, as well, together with a brief discussion of possible pathogenesis. In this disorder, in which approximately 11% of affected patients experience spontaneous remission, future development of molecular probes to determine prognosis is of great importance.

To examine the relationship between the objective premedical credentials and performances on Step 2 on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) of 480 students in three classes at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia School of Medicine. The purpose of the study was to seek those selection criteria that might best predict performance on an examination designed to assess problem-solving skills, the essence of clinical medicine.Premedical data from two classes (1193, 1994) were analyzed, and a regression equation was used to calculate theoretical USMLE Step 2 scores for the students in the class of 1995, who had not yet taken this examination. The premedical variables were scores on the verbal and math section on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), scores on the six sections of the pre-1991 Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), grade-point average (GPA) in science courses required of premedical students, and undergraduate major. Once the class of 1995 had taken the USMLE Step 2, the equation was cross validated, and the theoretical and actual scores of the class of 1995 were correlated.The correlation between theoretical and actual scores was r = .443. In the analysis for the classes of 1993 and 1994, the single variables most highly predictive of USMLE Step 2 performance were scores on the verbal section of the SAT (r = .317) and the Skills Analysis: Reading section of the MCAT (r = .331). However, the MCAT scores were excluded from the final regression analysis because of the pre-1991 MCAT cannot be useful in predicting the performances of present medical school applicants. The resulting regression equation (using the SAT verbal section and premedical GPA) was able to account for 21.2% of the variance for the class of 1995.The use of the verbal section of the SAT as a predictive factor is unique. It is significant that this variable was strongly related to premedical GPA, suggesting that high verbal aptitude serves one well, even when coping with complex scientific concepts.

The recent developments in cofactor therapy of inherited biochemical disease has awakened interest in biotin as a therapeutic agent. This review briefly details the physiological and biochemical aspects of human biotin metabolism. The role of biotin in therapy of human disease is critically examined and the relevant literature extensively reviewed. It is our hope that this review will stimulate further clinical interest in the treatment of biotin-responsive human disorders.

3-Methylglutaconic aciduria has been found in two distinct syndromes. In one there is deficient activity of 3-methylglutaconyl coenzyme A hydratase, and the only clinical manifestation observed has been retardation of speech development. In the other, which includes a majority of the patients studied, we document that the activity of this enzyme in fibroblast extracts is normal. The phenotype of this disorder is one of profound neurological impairment with retarded psychomotor development, hypotonicity and/or spasticity, convulsions or EEG abnormalities, and sensorineural changes in the eye and ear.

A hemodensitometer (photoelectric plethysmograph) has been utilized to sense the perfusion pulse at the plantar surface of the arch of the foot of premature babies. The sensed pulse-wave signal is then passed through a low-pass filter and then recorded. The resultant signal correlated well with the nasal mask respiration signal.