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Postpartum pubic symphysis diastasis (PSD) refers to an abnormal widening of the pubic symphysis after delivery. It is a rare and underdiagnosed condition that causes severe pain and can be complicated by osteomyelitis and abscess formation. This article reports a case of a para 4 woman in her 30s with postpartum PSD after vaginal delivery who presented with a prepubic abscess. Multimodal treatment consisted of incision and drainage, physiotherapy and prolonged antibiotic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Part-time nursing students who are seeking for academic qualification besides their everyday working life are confronted with manifold strains: Finding a balance between work, study and family commitments, high work load and the "foreignness" of academic demands are often reported to be stressful (Evans, Brown, Timmins, and Nicholl, 2007). In order to ensure a motivating and healthy learning environment universities have to consider the students' needs. Universities have been identified as an important setting for health promotion (Whitehead, 2004). In the case of nurse education health promotion plays a crucial role focussing two perspectives: We have to care for the students' health and health promotion is an integral part of the curricula. Following these considerations a course for health promotion for part-time nursing students at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (Austria) was designed. Besides lectures regarding theories and concepts of health promotion different methods for assessing strains and resources were presented. Health circles (Meggeneder, and Sochert, 1999) and a standardized questionnaire for work strains (Prümper, Hartmannsgruber, and Frese, 1995) were not only discussed theoretically. Students actively took part in health circles (2 circles with 8 and 10 participants) which were dedicated to explore strains and resources at the university. They also completed a questionnaire (N = 17) which helped to identify stressors at their workplace. Balancing work, study and family, time pressure as well as the organizational structure of the study programme were found to be the major stressors. The students also reported a lack of variety of tasks and task identity in their workplace. The results indicate a need for action in the university, but also at the workplace. A concept integrating "Health Promoting University" and "Health Promoting Workplace" is required. Furthermore, the students had the possibility to become acquainted with health promotion from a practical point of view using introspection which promotes active learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate molecular phenotypes of myocardial B19V-infection to determine the role of B19V in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)., Methods: Endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) from 498 B19V-positive patients with myocarditis and DCM were analyzed using molecular methods and functional experiments. EMBs were obtained from the University Hospitals of Greifswald and Tuebingen and additionally from 36 German cardiology centers. Control tissues were obtained at autopsy from 34 victims of accidents, crime or suicide. Identification of mononuclear cell infiltrates in EMBs was performed using immunohistological staining. Anti-B19V-IgM and anti-B19V-IgG were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). B19V viral loads were determined using in-house quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For B19V-genotyping a new B19V-genotype-specific restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-PCR was established. B19V-genotyping was verified by direct DNA-sequencing and sequences were aligned using BLAST and BioEdit software. B19V P6-promoter and HHV6-U94-transactivator constructs were generated for cell culture experiments. Transfection experiments were conducted using human endothelial cells 1. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to determine B19V-replication activity. Statistical analysis and graphical representation were calculated using SPSS and Prism5 software., Results: The prevalence of B19V was significantly more likely to be associated with inflammatory cardiomyopathy (iCMP) compared to uninflamed DCM (59.6% vs 35.3%) (P < 0.0001). The detection of B19V-mRNA replication intermediates proved that replication of B19V was present. RFLP-PCR assays showed that B19V-genotype 1 (57.4%) and B19V-genotype 2 (36.7%) were the most prevalent viral genotypes. B19V-genotype 2 was observed more frequently in EMBs with iCMP (65.0%) compared to DCM (35%) (P = 0.049). Although there was no significant difference in gender-specific B19V-loads, women were more frequently infected with B19V-genotype 2 (44.6%) than men (36.0%) (P = 0.0448). Coinfection with B19V and other cardiotropic viruses was found in 19.2% of tissue samples and was associated with higher B19V viral load compared to B19V-monoinfected tissue (P = 0.0012). The most frequent coinfecting virus was human herpes virus 6 (HHV6, 16.5%). B19V-coinfection with HHV6 showed higher B19V-loads compared to B19V-monoinfected EMBs (P = 0.0033), suggesting that HHV6 had transactivated B19V. In vitro experiments confirmed a 2.4-fold increased B19V P6-promoter activity by the HHV6 U94-transactivator., Conclusion: The finding of significantly increased B19V loads in patients with histologically proven cardiac inflammation suggests a crucial role of B19V-genotypes and reactivation of B19V-infection by HHV6-coinfection in B19V-associated iCMP. Our findings suggest that B19V-infection of the human heart can be a causative event for the development of an endothelial cell-mediated inflammatory disease and that this is related to both viral load and genotype.

Hospital transfers from nursing homes are frequent, costly, often preventable, and can have negative effects on the residents' health. The present study investigated the current situation in Carinthia (Austria) regarding the characteristics of relocated nursing home residents, the proportion of avoidable transfers, the consequences of relocation from the physicians' and nurses' perspectives and ways for improving nursing home care. Retrospectively, the documentations of a regional hospital (N=4149), a rescue service (N=10754), and a social insurance agency (N=7051) were analysed; qualitative interviews with physicians (N=25) and nursing administrators (N=16) were conducted. A considerable proportion of these transports seemed to be avoidable: for example, about 40% of the ambulatory treatments in the emergency department of the investigated hospital were inappropriate. Options for improving the current situation will be discussed., (Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Despite of intensive professionalisation efforts and changed legal frameworks the public image of nursing is still full of gender-stereotypes. This study investigates to what extend public stereotypes of "typically female" and "typically male" are reflected in the self-concept and ideals of nurses. Using a cross-sectional research design 174 female nurses were surveyed regarding their sex-role orientation and ideals (femininity and masculinity) using a standardized questionnaire (BSRI). Contrary to stereotypes the respondents indentified more with masculine traits. Masculine attributes predominated especially in ideas about the ideal nurse. No differences between nurses who work in different areas could be revealed. In all endeavors regarding autonomy and masculinity the significance of the feminine function of "caring" must not be forgotten. Teachers in healthcare and nursing play a central role in sensibilising students for gender issues.

Interdisciplinary collaboration between nurses and physicians contributes to optimal patient outcomes. Both insufficient knowledge of each other's roles and competencies and the power position of physicians impede nurse-physician collaboration. Health care managers play an important role in the promotion of nurse-physician collaboration. Leadership is associated with masculine traits, but female attributes are crucial in social relationships. Austrian health care management students (n=141, response rate: 93 %) rated themselves, the typical nurse and the typical physician with respect to masculine and feminine traits using the Bem sex-role-inventory (BSRI). The respondents saw themselves as equally masculine and feminine (androgynous self-concept); nurses were rated as significantly more masculine than feminine, whereas physicians were described as masculine sex-typed and significantly less feminine than nurses. For health care managers who also have to promote interdisciplinary collaboration an androgynous self-concept can be regarded as advantageous. They need to reflect on their ideas about nurses and physicians in order to manage the challenge of promoting interprofessional co-operation., (Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

The daily routine of nurses in long term care units is characterized by a variety of physical and psychological burdens. This study is dedicated to work load, burnout, health and coping of this target group. Registered nurses were surveyed in two federal states of Austria, namely in Vienna (n = 78) and Carinthia (n = 59). The individuals of the, on average, older Viennese sample who often feel destined for this occupation face younger colleagues from rural areas whose motivations are predominantly pro-social and economic. The results show an alarming proportion of emotional exhaustion (23%) and aversion to residents (17%). The participants felt particularly burdened by work conditions and the old people they are caring for. Carinthian nurses estimated their state of health to be better than that of their Viennese colleagues. The Viennese sample was found to be significantly more discontent than the Carinthian one. The study underlines the high risk of burnout for nurses in long term care units.