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Studies the root growth of Norway spruce, in an approximately 80-year-old forest stand, in southern Germany. Methods used in the measurement of root growth; Effects of acid irrigation and liming on root growth; Factors contributing towards the response shown by root growth due to acid irrigation and liming.

Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) can cause significant morbidity, including bone pain and damage. In the absence of clinical trials, treatments include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, TNF-inhibitors (TNFi) and/or bisphosphonates. In a retrospective chart review in the United Kingdom and Germany, we investigated response to TNFi and/or pamidronate. Ninety-one patients were included, receiving pamidronate (n = 47), TNFi (n = 22) or both sequentially (n = 22). Patients with fatigue [ p = 0.003] and/or arthritis [ p = 0.002] were more frequently treated with TNFi than pamidronate. Both therapies were associated with clinical remission at 6 months, and reduction of bone lesions on MRI at 12 months. While not reaching statistical significance, pamidronate resulted in faster resolution of MRI lesions. Fewer flares were observed with TNFi. Failure to respond to pamidronate was associated with female sex [ p = 0.027], more lesions on MRI [ p = 0.01] and higher CRP levels [ p = 0.03]. Randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm observations and generate evidence. • In the absence of clinical trials, treatment of CNO is empiric. • TNF inhibitors and pamidronate are effective in CNO. • Pamidronate induces remission more rapidly, TNF inhibitors are associated with fewer flares. • Failure to respond to pamidronate is associated with female sex, high numbers of bone lesions, and elevated CRP. • Observations argue for the use of TNF inhibitors and/or pamidronate in CNO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have advocated the use of ultrasound to diagnose distal forearm fractures in children. However, there is limited data on the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for distal forearm fractures when conducted by pediatric surgeons or trainees who manage orthopedic injuries in children. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for pediatric distal forearm fractures when conducted by pediatric surgeons and trainees after minimal training., Methods: This diagnostic study was conducted in a tertiary hospital emergency department in Germany. Participants were children and adolescents under 15 years of age who presented to the emergency department with an acute, suspected, isolated distal forearm fracture requiring imaging. Pediatric surgeons and trainees, after minimal training for sonographic fracture diagnosis, performed 6-view distal forearm POCUS on each participant prior to X-ray imaging. All data was retrospectively collected from the hospital's routine digital patient files. The primary outcome was the diagnostic accuracy of POCUS compared to X-ray as the reference standard., Results: From February to June 2021, 146 children under 15 met all inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 106 data sets were available for analysis. Regarding the presence of a fracture, X-ray and Wrist-POCUS showed the same result in 99.1%, with 83/106 (78.3%) fractures detected in both modalities and one suspected buckle fracture on POCUS not confirmed in the radiographs. Wrist-POCUS had a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI [0.956, 1]) and a specificity of 95.8% (95% CI [0.789, 0.999]) compared to radiographs. In 6 cases, there were minor differences regarding a concomitant ulnar buckle. The amount of prior ultrasound training had no influence on the accuracy of Wrist-POCUS for diagnosing distal forearm fractures. All fractures were reliably diagnosed even when captured POCUS images did not meet all quality criteria., Conclusion: Pediatric surgeons and trainees, after minimal training in POCUS, had excellent diagnostic accuracy for distal forearm fractures in children and adolescents using POCUS compared to X-ray., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a noninvasive method to monitor regional lung ventilation in infants and children without using radiation. The objective of this prospective study was to determine the value of EIT as an additional monitoring tool to assess regional lung ventilation after pediatric cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease in infants and children. EIT monitoring was performed in a prospective study comprising 30 pediatric patients who were mechanically ventilated after cardiac surgery. Data were analyzed off-line with respect to regional lung ventilation in different clinical situations. EIT data were correlated with respirator settings and arterial carbon dioxide (CO2) partial pressure in the blood. In 29 of 30 patients, regional ventilation of the lung could sufficiently and reliably be monitored by means of EIT. The effects of the transition from mechanical ventilation to spontaneous breathing after extubation on regional lung ventilation were studied. After extubation, a significant decrease of relative impedance changes was evident. In addition, a negative correlation of arterial CO2 partial pressure and relative impedance changes could be shown. EIT was sufficient to discriminate differences of regional lung ventilation in children and adolescents after cardiac surgery. EIT reliably provided additional information on regional lung ventilation in children after cardiac surgery. Neither chest tubes nor pacemaker wires nor the intensive care unit environment interfered with the application of EIT. EIT therefore may be used as an additional real-time monitoring tool in pediatric cardiac intensive care because it is noninvasive.

Objective: Peptic ulcers are the leading cause of upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the recent clinical practice in drug therapy and endoscopic treatment of ulcer bleedings in Germany and to compare the results with the medical standard., Methods: A structured questionnaire (cross-sectional study) was sent to 1371 German hospitals that provide an emergency service for upper GI bleeding. The project was designed similar to a nationwide inquiry in France in 2001. Forty-four questions concerning the following topics were asked: hospital organisation, organisation of emergency endoscopy service, endoscopic and drug therapy of ulcer bleeding, endoscopic treatment of variceal bleeding. Return of the questionnaires was closed in August 2004., Results: Response rate was 675 / 1371 (49 %). Mean hospitals size was < 200 beds, 49 % (n = 325) had basic care level. 92 % provided a 24-hour endoscopy service, specialized nurses were available in 75 %. Fiberscopes were used only in 15 %. A mean of 10 +/- 12 (range: 0 - 160) bleeding cases/month were treated, 6 +/- 6 cases per month (60 %) were ulcer bleedings. Endoscopy was performed in 72 % immediately after stabilization but in all cases within 24 hours. The Forrest classification was used in 99 % whereas prognostic scores were applied only in 3 %. Forrest Ia,/Ib/IIa/IIb/IIc/III ulcers were indications for endoscopic therapy in 99 %/ 99 %/ 90 %/ 58 %/ 4 %/ 2 % respectively. Favoured initial treatment was injection (diluted epinephrine, mean volume 17 +/- 13 mL/lesion) followed by clipping. In re-bleedings, 93 % tried endoscopic treatment again. Scheduled re-endoscopy was performed in 63 %. PPI were used in 99.6 %, 85 % administered standard dose twice daily. PPI administration was changed from intravenous to oral with the end of fasting in nearly all hospitals. PPI administration schemes can be improved. Indications for Helicobacter pylori eradication followed rational principles., Conclusion: Medical and endoscopic treatment of bleeding ulcers reached a high standard, although some therapeutic strategies leave room for improvement. Bigger hospitals tend to be closer to the medical standard.

Aims: To develop standardised texts for assessing reading speed during repeated measurements and across languages for normal subjects and low vision patients., Methods: 10 texts were designed by linguistic experts in English, Finnish, French, and German. The texts were at the level of a sixth grade reading material (reading ages 10-12 years) and were matched for length (830 (plus or minus 2) characters) and syntactic complexity, according to the syntactic prediction locality theory of Gibson. 100 normally sighted native speaking volunteers aged 18-35 years (25 per language) read each text aloud in randomised order. The newly designed text battery was then applied to test the reading performance of 100 normally sighted native speaking volunteers aged 60-85 years (25 per language)., Results: Reading speed was not significantly different with at least seven texts in all four languages. The maximum reading speed difference between texts, in the same language was 6.8% (Finnish). Average reading speeds (SD) in characters per minute are, for the young observer group: English 1234 (147), Finnish 1263 (142), French 1214 (152), German 1126 (105). The group of older readers showed statistically significant lower average reading speeds: English 951 (97), Finnish 1014 (179), French 1131 (160), German 934 (117)., Conclusion: The authors have developed a set of standardised, homogeneous, and comparable texts in four European languages (English, Finnish, French, German). These texts will be a valuable tool for measuring reading speed in international studies in the field of reading and low vision research.

Background: Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patients are susceptible to recurrent opportunistic infections and to recurrent or chronic inflammations of presumably non-infectious origin. Both types of manifestations are often accompanied by granuloma formation. Both can remain unnoticed until they deteriorate considerably and can become life-threatening if not treated in time., Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of regular follow-up visits in CGD patients., Methods: Findings of imaging (ultrasound, radiographs, computer-tomography, magnetic resonance imaging), lung function tests, histopathological and microbiological assessments of biopsies have been reviewed., Results: A total of 32 CGD patients have been evaluated within 15 years. Of these eight patients have been checked regularly for more than 5 years. Early detection prior to specific clinical signs and consecutive treatment of six lung manifestations and one liver manifestation such as interstitial pneumonia with formation of small granulomas, formation of large granulomas, fibrosis, Aspergillus infections, and abscesses could presumably prevent considerable aggravation in seemingly healthy or mildly symptomatic patients. In contrast, patients without surveillance who presented with severe symptoms (seven manifestations) often had irreversible organ damage or even died., Conclusions: Regular follow-up visits can help prevent or mitigate clinical manifestations, improve life quality and expectancy and weigh indication for bone marrow transplantation in CGD patients.