Early identification and awareness of child abuse and neglect among physicians and teachers.

BACKGROUND: Child abuse and neglect (CAN) causes enormous suffering for those affected. OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the current state of knowledge concerning the recognition of CAN and protocols for suspected cases amongst physicians and teachers. METHODS: In a pilot study conducted in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania from May 2020 to June 2021, we invited teachers and physicians working with children to complete an online questionnaire containing mainly multiple-choice-questions. RESULTS: In total, 45 physicians and 57 teachers responded. Altogether, 84% of physicians and 44% of teachers were aware of cases in which CAN had occurred in the context of their professional activity. Further, 31% of physicians and 23% of teachers stated that specific instructions on CAN did not exist in their professional institution or that they were not aware of them. All physicians and 98% of teachers were in favor of mandatory training on CAN for pediatric residents and trainee teachers. Although 13% of physicians and 49% of teachers considered a discussion of a suspected case of CAN to constitute a breach of confidentiality, 87% of physicians and 60% of teachers stated that they would discuss a suspected case with colleagues. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that a large proportion of respondents had already been confronted with suspected cases of CAN, further guidelines for reporting procedures and training seem necessary. There is still uncertainty in both professions on dealing with cases of suspected CAN.

How do parents perceive their children's epileptic seizures? Experiences of the first seizure and changes during the course of the epilepsy.

PROBLEM: Experiencing a child's seizure can be challenging for parents. METHODS: We investigated parental experiences of their child's first seizure and how their perception and management of seizures changed over time. From September 2020 to March 2021, we invited parents who had witnessed at least two of their child's seizures to take part in a semi-structured interview. Parents whose children experienced solely absence seizures were excluded. RESULTS: Of the parents, 52/74 (70%) did not recognize their child's first epileptic seizure and assumed the event to be due to a different cause, for instance teething. Parents overwhelmingly reported fear (48/74; 65%) and surprise (13/74; 18%) as the predominant emotional responses to the first seizure. In response to the most recently observed seizure parents reported feelings related to fear (33/74; 45%) and happiness (16/74; 22%), with regard to the latter, especially "being calm" or "feeling safe". Asked for thoughts in response to the first seizure, 22/74 (30%) reported concerns about their child's future, with regard to the most recent seizure, 15/74 (20%) expressed such thoughts. Of the parents, 53/74 (72%) did not know how to respond to the first seizure. Concerning the most recent seizure, 48/74 (65%) said they felt confident in managing the seizure. CONCLUSION: Experiencing the child's first seizure was very challenging for parents. During the course of the epilepsy, changes were observed in both parental perception of and confidence in managing the seizures. Physicians should consider these changes when counselling parents in order to better target their evolving needs.

Knowledge and attitudes towards epilepsy: A survey of people with epilepsy.

PROBLEM: Many studies focus on knowledge and attitudes of unaffected people towards epilepsy and people with epilepsy (PWE). The perspective of PWE themselves is much less explored. METHODS: We invited PWE in Germany to answer a questionnaire on their knowledge and attitudes towards epilepsy and PWE. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 230 PWE (median age: 40 years; min./max.: 19/83; 66 % female). Of PWE, 22 % thought that PWE are more helpful, and 10 % thought that PWE are friendlier than other people. Nevertheless, reservations about relationships and friendships with other PWE existed: of the participants, only 74 % would definitely go on a date with another PWE, and 90 % would definitely include another PWE they liked into their circle of friends. Swimming was judged as more dangerous for PWE than for healthy people by 71 % of PWE. Of PWE, 86 % correctly assumed it was not useful to hold a person having a seizure to the ground. Putting a solid object in the mouth was considered not useful by 85 % of PWE. Of PWE, 20 % would definitely administer an available emergency medication if another PWE had a seizure. For 67 % of PWE, certain preconditions should have to be fulfilled such as an available document with instructions. Of PWE, 11 % stated they would not administer an available emergency medication if another PWE had a seizure. CONCLUSION: Although positive attitudes of PWE towards other PWE exist, we also found some reservations calling for psychosocial support. Most PWE had sufficient knowledge about risks of certain activities and about measures to be taken during a seizure. Nevertheless, a small group of PWE showed knowledge gaps. Thus, educational support still seems essential.

Knowledge of epilepsy among German pharmacists.

PROBLEM: Pharmacists can have a large impact on attitude, acceptance and adherence in patients with long-term conditions. They should be able to give appropriate advice. METHODS: We invited pharmacists in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony, Germany, to complete a questionnaire mainly containing multiple-choice-questions. RESULTS: Overall, 238 pharmacists took part in the survey. 199 (84%) said they were insecure counselling people with epilepsy or had no experience at all. 205 (86%) rightly assumed a seizure can result in death. Concerning an acute seizure, administration of a rescue medication was considered as possible useful measure by 127 (53%) participants. Of the participants, 206 (87%) stated a physician should be consulted for every first afebrile seizure, 188 (79%) for every first febrile seizure. Exanthema as especially clinically relevant adverse drug event was rightly chosen for carbamazepine by 18 (8%) and for lamotrigine by 12 (5%) participants. 60 (25%) rightly chose liver toxicity for valproate. The increase of carbamazepine plasma concentration when adding erythromycin was chosen by 66 (28%) of pharmacists. 13 (5%) knew about the reduction of effectiveness of lamotrigine when adding hormonal contraceptives. For valproate, 201 (84%) stated that it is important to counsel patients concerning contraception. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists are insecure counselling people with epilepsy. Some of them would not suggest to seek medical advice for every first seizure. This can lead to reduced patient safety. The adverse drug events of valproate are well known, important adverse drug events and interactions of other anticonvulsants are less present to the pharmacists and should be regularly addressed in training courses.

PVDF-HFP/ether-modified polysiloxane membranes obtained via airbrush spraying as active separators for application in lithium ion batteries.

Improved hybrid polymer electrolyte membranes are introduced based on ether-modified polysiloxanes and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) yielding a safe separator membrane, which is able to be sprayed directly onto lithium ion battery active materials, with an active role for enhanced ion transport.

[Potential and effectiveness of a telemedical rescue assistance system. Prospective observational study on implementation in emergency medicine]. / Potenzial und Wirksamkeit eines telemedizinischen Rettungsassistenzsystems: Prospektive observationelle Studie zum Einsatz in der Notfallmedizin.

BACKGROUND: The demographic change and an increasing multimorbidity of patients represent increasing challenges for the adequate prehospital treatment of emergency patients. The incorporation of supplementary telemedical concepts and systems can lead to an improved guideline-conform treatment. Beneficial evidence of telemedical procedures is only known for isolated disease patterns; however, no mobile telemedical concept exists which is suitable for use in the wide variety of different clinical situations. AIM: This article presents a newly developed and evaluated total telemedical concept (TemRas) that encompasses organizational, medical and technical components. The use of intelligent and robust communication technology and the implementation of this add-on system allows the telemedical support of the rescue service for all emergencies. METHODS: After development of the telemedical rescue assistance system, which includes organizational, medical and technical components, a telemedical centre and six ambulances in five different districts in North-Rhine Westphalia were equipped with this new tool. During the evaluation phase of 1 year in the routine emergency medical service the rate of complications as well as differences between urban and rural areas were analyzed with respect to different target parameters. RESULTS: Between August 2012 and July 2013 a total of 401 teleconsultations were performed during emergency missions and 24 during secondary interhospital transfers. No complications due to teleconsultation were observed. The mean duration (±SD) of teleconsultations was longer in rural areas than in urban areas with 28.6±12.0 min vs. 25.5±11.1 min (p < 0.0001). In 63.2% of these missions administration of medications was delegated to the ambulance personnel (52.0% urban vs. 73.6% rural, p < 0.0001). The severity of ailments corresponded to scores of III and VI in the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) classification. CONCLUSION: Emergency medical care of patients with support by a telemedical system is technically feasible, safe for the patient and allows medical treatment independent of spatial availability of a physician in different emergency situations.

[Sentinel lymph node dissection for localized prostate cancer]. / Papel de la biopsia dinámica del ganglio centinela en el cáncer de próstata organoconfinado.

Proper assessment of lymph node status is of crucial importance in the management of newly diagnosed prostate cancer. Early stage metastatic disease takes the form of microscopic tumor-cell deposits rather than grossly enlarged nodes. So far there is no imaging technique, however, which allows detecting small metastases in the range of a few millimetres. Therefore pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is the only reliable method of staging for clinically localized prostate cancer. The cornerstone of radioguided prostate surgery is a radiopharmaceutical--a carrier molecule labeled by radionuclide. After injection to at the prostate, the radiopharmaceutical crosses the lymphatic pores and migrates into the lymph vessels and from there to the first echelon of lymph nodes. We were the first to show that sentinel PLND can be performed by means of laparoscopy preceding laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Our most recent publication presents data of 140 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer in which laparoscopic sentinel PLND was performed preceding radical prostatectomy from November 2001 to January 2005. On the preoperative scintigraphy SLNs were detected bilaterally,unilaterally, not on the pelvic-walls in 113 (80.7%), 20 (14.2%) and 6 (4.2%) patients and intraoperatively in 96 (68.6%), 36 (25.7%), 8 (5.7%) patients respectively. In 99 out of 140 patients (70.7%) intraoperatively SLN was detected in the same position as on preoperative scan. At least one SLN was detected in 133 patients (95.3%). Whenever PLND is indicated it should not be limited to lymph node sampling as provided by standard limited PLND but has to be performed in the template of extended PLND. There is only limited experience with sentinel PLND, but all the data collected so far indicate that this method has the potential to become an alternative to extended PLND since it allows for reduction of the extent of PLND without compromising diagnostic accuracy.

Papel de la biopsia dinámica del ganglio centinela en el cáncer de próstata organoconfinado / Sentinel lymph node dissection for localized prostate cancer

La correcta valoración de la afectación ganglionar es de gran importancia en el manejo de los nuevos casos de cáncer de próstata. El estadio precoz de la enfermedad metastásica se manifiesta como pequeños focos microscópicos más que como ganglios linfáticos engrosados. Sin embargo, hasta ahora no hay ninguna técnica de imagen que permita detectar metástasis cuyo diámetro alcance unos pocos milímetros. Por tanto, la linfadenectomía pélvica (LNDP) es el único método fiable para el estadiaje del cáncer de próstata organoconfinado (CPO). El pilar de la cirugía prostática radioguiada es el uso de un radiofármaco, una molécula transportadora marcada con radionúclido. Tras la inyección en la glándula prostática, el radiofármaco alcanza el territorio linfático y migra al primer escalón linfático, el ganglio centinela (GC). Fuimos los primeros en demostrar que la LDNP del GC se podía llevar a cabo mediante abordaje laparoscópico previo a la prostatectomía radical (PTR) laparoscópica. En nuestra publicación más reciente se presentan los datos de 140 pacientes diagnosticados de CPO entre noviembre de 2001 a enero 2005 en los que se realizó LDNP laparoscópica del GC previa a la PTR, también laparoscópica14. En la gammagrafía preoperatoria, se detectaron GC de forma bilateral en 113 pacientes (80,7%), de forma unilateral en 20 (14,2%) y no se detectaron en 6 (4,2%), mientras que en la realizada durante la cirugía se detectaron en 96 pacientes (68,6%), 36 (25,7%), 8 (5,7%) respectivamente. Los GC se hallaron en la misma localización con ambos procedimientos en 99 de 140 pacientes (70,7%). Al menos se objetivó un GC en 133 pacientes (95,3%). Cuando la LDNP está indicada, ésta no debería restringirse a la exéresis de adenopatías, según la técnica de LDNP limitada o estándar, sino que tiene que realizarse siguiendo el patrón de la LDNP extendida. Hay poca experiencia con la LDNP del GC, pero todos los datos publicados hasta ahora indican que este procedimiento puede ser una alternativa a la LDNP extendida, ya que permite reducir la extensión de la LDNP sin comprometer la exactitud diagnóstica

Proper assessment of lymph node status is of crucial importance in the management of newly diagnosed prostate cancer. Early stage metastatic disease takes the form of microscopic tumor-cell deposits rather than grossly enlarged nodes. So far there is no imaging technique, however, which allows detecting small metastases in the range of a few millimetres. Therefore pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is the only reliable method of staging for clinically localized prostate cancer. The cornerstone of radioguided prostate surgery is a radiopharmaceutical - a carrier molecule labeled by radionuclide. After injection to at the prostate, the radiopharmaceutical crosses the lymphatic pores and migrates into the lymph vessels and from there to the first echelon of lymph nodes. We were the first to show that sentinel PLND can be performed by means of laparoscopy preceding laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Our most recent publication presents data of 140 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer in which laparoscopic sentinel PLND was performed preceding radical prostatectomy from November 2001 to January 200514. On the preoperative scintigraphy SLNs were detected bilaterally, unilaterally, not on the pelvic-walls in 113 (80.7%), 20 (14.2%) and 6 (4.2%) patients and intraoperatively in 96 (68.6%), 36 (25.7%), 8 (5.7%) patients respectively. In 99 out of 140 patients (70.7%) intraoperatively SLN was detected in the same position as on preoperative scan. At least one SLN was detected in 133 patients (95.3%). Whenever PLND is indicated it should not be limited to lymph node sampling as provided by standard limited PLND but has to be performed in the template of extended PLND. There is only limited experience with sentinel PLND, but all the data collected so far indicate that this method has the potential to become an alternative to extended PLND since it allows for reduction of the extent of PLND without compromising diagnostic accuracy