Theological Seminary Bienenberg

Healthcare across Europe was affected by COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. How different national healthcare systems coped with this impact remains unclear. Healthcare in Switzerland differs significantly from that in Scotland, for example, in terms of centralization. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in contrasting healthcare systems. This retrospective cohort study was conducted in south-east Scotland and in the extended north-west of Switzerland from January 1st, 2019 to February 28th, 2023. All patients diagnosed with CRC were included. The primary outcomes were the time from CRC diagnosis to treatment and the UICC stage at diagnosis, assessed prior to, during, and following the period of lockdown. The lockdown in Scotland lasted from March 2020 to October 2020 and in Switzerland from March 2020 to April 2020. A total of 6745 patients were included (4127 from Scotland and 2618 from Switzerland). Median time from diagnosis to treatment remained unaltered during the lockdown period in both countries. However, after the lockdown, the median time from diagnosis to treatment increased from 59 to 76days in Scotland. The median number of patients who were diagnosed per annual quarter declined from 177 (IQR: 171-190) to 152 (IQR: 150-154), and the median number of who received treatment from declined from 256 (IQR: 253-259) to 203 (IQR: 186-218) during lockdown in Scotland. In multivariable logistic regression, the odds of being diagnosed with UICC stage IV increased by 42% for patients diagnosed during lockdown (95%-CI: 12%-81%). In Switzerland, the time from diagnosis to treatment increased slightly after the pandemic. However, the other effects described above were not observed in Switzerland. This descriptive study demonstrated that the impact of the pandemic on colorectal cancer care was less pronounced in Switzerland, but considerable in Scotland. Because separate subgroup analyses were conducted, direct comparisons cannot be made between Scotland and Switzerland. This trial is registered on clinicaltrials.gov as part of the EvaCol study (NCT04550156).

<bold>Background:</bold> Despite increasing recognition of sex differences in cardiovascular disease, the consideration of sex disparities in respiratory medicine remains under-investigated. This study aims to analyze sex-specific variations in the clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of respiratory diseases in a Swiss public hospital. <bold>Methods:</bold> A 2-year retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients presenting with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and pulmonary embolism (PE) at the Cantonal Hospital Baselland. <bold>Results:</bold> A total of 795 patients were included in the study. The majority of statistically significant differences were observed in patients with PE , followed by COPD, CAP and asthma. Disparities were identified across multiple aspects, encompassing demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, outcomes, and patients’ management. Females with PE presented higher rates of tachycardia and additional deep vein thrombosis, received lysis therapy promptly, but had longer hospital stays and more transfers. In COPD, women experienced exacerbations at a slightly younger age, with higher rates of depression, while men had more cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In CAP, males had a higher prevalence of atypical pneumonia and more frequent antibiotic therapy adjustments. Asthma showed no significant sex differences, although women tended to present at an older age with elevated CRP levels. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> This study identified several sex-based differences in the presentation, management, and outcomes of respiratory diseases. Our results underscore the importance of considering sex disparities in respiratory medicine to optimize patient care and outcomes.

years of operation of a road tunnel in swelling rockresults of special measures Jahre Betrieb eines Straentunnels im Gipskeuper -Ergebnisse der SpezialmanahmenUnderground structures in swelling rock are known to show a structural development over several years and decades.Already during the construction of the Chienberg Tunnel, heave of tunnel invert was detected in two sections, caused by the swelling anhydrite rock (gypsum keuper).In order to be able to safely open the tunnel to traffic, a completely new and unique system came into use.The installed modular yielding system limits the load on the tunnel structure and thus prevents unacceptable deformation of the tunnel tube.The system was installed 16 years ago.Tunnel operation has so far been maintained without any considerable disturbances.The modular yielding system has already been reported on in various publications.This article describes the experiences gained so far with the new system, the conducted maintenance measures.It shows the latest results of several years of measurements and gives an outlook on the future operation of the tunnel.

ZusammenfassungDie digitale ID gilt als wichtige Voraussetzung zur Realisierung ökonomischer, sozialer und politischer Potenziale in einer digitalen Welt. Nach der Ablehnung der E-ID-Vorlage in einer Volksabstimmung am 7. März 2021 versucht die Schweizer Politik, im Rahmen der Konzeption neuer E-ID-Lösungen die Interessen von Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft und Zivilgesellschaft besser zu berücksichtigen. Der Beitrag befasst sich mit einem E-ID-Lösungsansatz auf der Basis von Blockchain-Technologie. Die Forschungsergebnisse einer quantitativ-empirischen Befragung unter 1730 Stimmberechtigten zeigen, dass die Bevölkerung einer derartigen Lösung positiv gegenüberstehen würde. Dieser Befund gilt sowohl geschlechter-, sprach- als auch annähernd parteiübergreifend. Ferner zeigt sich, dass die Bevölkerung dem Einsatz der Blockchain-Technologie auch in anderen Anwendungsbereichen nicht generell ablehnend gegenübersteht und die teils vorhandene Skepsis mittels allgemein verständlicher Erklärungen zu überwinden ist.

Hourglass-like constrictions (HGCs) occur in neuralgic amyotrophy (NA), but the earliest time at which they can be recognized by imaging is poorly understood. We aimed to determine the prevalence of abnormal imaging findings in the acute phase of NA. Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) and high-resolution ultrasound (US) examinations were performed at five sites. The investigation included 39 patients with acute NA who underwent imaging within 31 days of symptom onset. Correlation between imaging and electromyography (EMG) findings was measured. US was performed in 29 patients and MRN in 23; 16 patients underwent US only, 10 MRN only, and 13 had both. US and MRN showed nerve abnormalities within 1mo from NA onset in 90% of patients. HGCs were found in 74% (29/39) of the patients: 4 within 1wk, 8 within 2wk, 5 within 3wk, and 12 within 4wk. The earliest HGC on US was found within 12 h, and on MRN within 3 days from symptom onset. MRN demonstrated a denervation edema pattern of affected muscles in 91% of the patients. The shortest time to observe an edema pattern on MRN was 8 days. EMG was performed in 30 patients and revealed fibrillation potentials in affected muscles in 22 (73%). A denervation edema pattern on MRN was significantly associated with the presence of HGCs both on MRN and US, and with fibrillation potentials on EMG. In the early phase of NA, US and MRN are useful diagnostic techniques for demonstrating nerve abnormalities.

ObjectiveSince its foundation, Cochrane Rehabilitation has faced challenges with rehabilitation definitions because existing definitions did not indicate what rehabilitation includes and what it excludes. We aimed to develop a comprehensive and shared rehabilitation definition for research purposes to: (1) support the conduct of primary studies and systematic reviews and (2) identify relevant systematic reviews for knowledge translation purposes.DesignWe performed a multimodal study including seven preliminary research and discussion papers, four Consensus Meetings, and three Delphi rounds with 80 rehabilitation stakeholders. The Delphi Study aimed to obtain agreement and refine and complete the items composing the definition and meanings of rehabilitation. These stakeholders covered 5 continents, representing 11 global and continental rehabilitation organizations, 11 scientific journals, 4 Cochrane Networks, and 3 Cochrane Groups and included invited experts and representatives of low middle-income countries and consumers.ResultsWe had a 70% to 82.5% response rate to the three Delphi rounds, during which participants responded to all items (100%) and provided relevant comments (range, 5.5%–50% per item). This participation led to several refinements to the rehabilitation definition through three preliminary versions, and the final items reached an agreement between 88.9% and 100%. We structured the definition using the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) framework. We concluded that “In a healthcare context,” rehabilitation is defined as a “multimodal, person-centered, collaborative process” (Intervention-general), including interventions targeting a person’s “capacity (by addressing body structures, functions, and activities/participation) and/or contextual factors related to performance” (Intervention-specific) with the goal of “optimizing” the “functioning” (Outcome) of “persons with health conditions currently experiencing disability or likely to experience disability, or persons with disability” (Population). Rehabilitation requires that all the items of the definition are satisfied. We defined a “rehabilitation intervention” as “any intervention provided within the rehabilitation process.”ConclusionsWe developed a rehabilitation definition for research purposes achieving a broad agreement with global stakeholders. This definition provides explicit criteria to define rehabilitation. Using the proposed definition will improve rehabilitation research by standardizing the description of interventions. Our definition may require revision in the future, as further research enhances understanding and communication of the essence and complexity of rehabilitation.

BackgroundThe continued spread of SARS-CoV-2 and emergence of new variants with higher transmission rates and/or partial resistance to vaccines has further highlighted the need for large-scale testing and genomic surveillance. However, current diagnostic testing (e.g., PCR) and genomic surveillance methods (e.g., whole genome sequencing) are performed separately, thus limiting the detection and tracing of SARS-CoV-2 and emerging variants.ResultsHere, we developed DeepSARS, a high-throughput platform for simultaneous diagnostic detection and genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 by the integration of molecular barcoding, targeted deep sequencing, and computational phylogenetics. DeepSARS enables highly sensitive viral detection, while also capturing genomic diversity and viral evolution. We show that DeepSARS can be rapidly adapted for identification of emerging variants, such as alpha, beta, gamma, and delta strains, and profile mutational changes at the population level.ConclusionsDeepSARS sets the foundation for quantitative diagnostics that capture viral evolution and diversity.Graphical abstractDeepSARS uses molecular barcodes (BCs) and multiplexed targeted deep sequencing (NGS) to enable simultaneous diagnostic detection and genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. Image was created using Biorender.com.

Die Urkunden des Freiherrlich von Gemmingen’schen Archivs von Burg Hornberg über dem Neckar, Regesten 1283 bis 1845 (Heimatverein Kraichgau e. V., Sonderveröffentlichung Nr. 38), bearb. von Kurt Andermann und Franz Maier unter Mitwirkung von Karl Borchardt, Heidelberg/Ubstadt-Weiher/Basel: verlag regionalkultur 2018. 560 S. ISBN 978-3-95505-057-3. € 34,80