University Hospital of Bern

Tracking eco-evolutionary patterns among oropharyngeal pathobiome members in a pediatric cystic fibrosis cohort

ABSTRACT Polymicrobial airway colonization is common in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). Pathogen communities typically follow an ecological succession in which early colonizers, such as Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus, are later joined by Pseudomonas aerug...

Accuracy of visual estimation of coronary artery calcifications on low-dose CT from oncologic FDG PET/CT

To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of visual ordinal coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring on low-dose, non-gated CT scans acquired as part of oncologic PET/CT, using CAC scoring from ECG-gated non-contrast cardiac CT as the reference standard. 210 oncological patients who...

Cerebral No‐Reflow after Thrombectomy: International Delphi Consensus on Definition and Imaging Assessment

BACKGROUND: The operational definition and imaging assessment of the no-reflow phenomenon, a potential contributor to poor clinical outcome despite successful thrombectomy, remains debated. We aimed to develop expert-based international consensus on the definition, assessment, an...

Chronic alanine aminotransferase elevation in people with HIV : Time trends over 22 years and genetic predisposition

Abstract Introduction Chronic elevation of alanine aminotransferase (cALT) is common in people with HIV. Published reports on cALT prevalence time trends have not been uniform. It is unknown whether genetic background is associated with cALT in people with HIV. Methods cALT was d...

Th2/Th17 Inflammation: Pathogenic Drivers and Therapeutic Targets in Darier and Hailey‐Hailey Diseases

ABSTRACT Background The inherited acantholytic dermatoses Darier disease (DD) and Hailey‐Hailey disease (HHD) are characterized by a barrier dysfunction of the epidermis susceptible to inflammation and microbial infections. Objectives This study aimed at investigating the express...

A cognitive-behavioral and exercise intervention to reduce fear of falling in older adults in assisted living facilities: a pilot study

Abstract Background Fear of falling (FoF) is common in assisted living facilities (ALFs) and contributes to reduced mobility and well-being. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and exercise interventions are effective, but no culturally adapted programs exist for German-speaking A...

Dopaminergic state modulates shame and contextual emotional responses in Parkinson's disease

Background Shame is frequent in Parkinson's disease (PD) and negatively affects quality of life, yet its dopaminergic modulation remains unclear. Methods We investigated the effect of dopaminergic replacement therapy (DRT) on shame in 41 fluctuating PD patients using an experimen...

Data driven approach to identify vulnerable plaques in carotid atherosclerosis using computed tomography imaging and computational fluid dynamics: A pilot study

The current clinical gold standard for identifying vulnerable plaque is plaque Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). However, owing to its limited availability, many patients do not have access. This pilot study aims to explore whether computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling, es...

Outcomes of front-line tagraxofusp in patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) in a real-world scenario

Abstract Tagraxofusp (TAG), a CD123-directed protein-drug conjugate, is approved in front-line and relapsed/refractory blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). Multicenter real-world outcomes and the contribution of up-front consolidation post-TAG remain less defined...

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of thyroid nodules

OBJECTIVES: This is a protocol for a Cochrane review (diagnostic). The objectives are as follows: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of US, CT, and MRI - each considered separately - in identifying malignant thyroid nodules, using histopathological examination as the reference sta...

Simultaneous T 1 and T 2 Mapping in the Brain With QuantoRAGE : An MP2RAGE Variant Using T 2 ‐Prepared Inversion

ABSTRACT Purpose To develop and validate a repeatable and reproducible approach, QuantoRAGE, for simultaneous whole‐brain T 1 and T 2 mapping using adiabatic magnetization preparation. Methods QuantoRAGE is a 3D FLASH‐based sequence using an adiabatic T 2 ‐prepared inversion foll...

Customized chatbot for patient education in vitreoretinal diseases

Abstract Purpose To develop and evaluate the accuracy and safety of a customized, domain-restricted chatbot providing postoperative patient education after vitreoretinal surgery. Methods We evaluated a domain-restricted GPT-4 chatbot accessed through the OpenAI API and implemente...

The global cost of schizophrenia: a health economic modelling study

Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder that leads to substantial disability, impaired quality of life, and reduced life expectancy. In addition to its profound impact on affected individuals, the disorder places a considerable financial burden on heal...

Automated echocardiographic measurements for longitudinal monitoring of ATTR cardiomyopathy: agreement and repeatability analysis

Detection of disease progression is key to personalize treatment strategies in transthyretin cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), particularly with emerging therapies. Echocardiography can detect subtle longitudinal changes but is limited by operator dependence. This study evaluates agreeme...

The German version of the Sleep Inertia Questionnaire in central disorders of hypersomnolence: a validation study

Background Sleep inertia, or sleep drunkenness, is a transitional state between sleep and wakefulness characterized by cognitive and physical impairment. It is particularly relevant in central disorders of hypersomnolence (CDH), but validated instruments to assess sleep inertia i...

Safety and Efficacy of Left Atrial Ablation After Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in High-Bleeding-Risk Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Multicenter Analysis from the PROCEED-AF Ablation Registry

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with left atrial appendage (LAAO) devices are increasingly referred for AF ablation, yet anticoagulation strategies remain uncertain. The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in...

Laparoscopic visualisation of the ureters using near-infrared fluorescence imaging after retrograde indocyanine green injection in deep infiltrating endometriosis: the LAVIC trial

Abstract Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of intraureteral indocyanine green fluorescence for real-time ureter visualisation during laparoscopic surgery for deep infiltrating endometriosis. Materials and methods In this prospective, single-arm feasibility study, p...

Results of the validated German Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) from a large German cohort of healthy adults and different disease groups compared to historical reference values

Abstract Background Reference values of the validated German Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) were published in 2005 for healthy adults and individuals with different clinical conditions. We compared historical values with PSQ from the large German cohort participating in “Ri...

A multicenter randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled phase 2 trial to evaluate safety and efficacy of ilofotase alfa in patients at risk for kidney injury following open heart surgery

Acute impairment of kidney function after cardiac surgery is common and associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. Ilofotase alfa has demonstrated potential to attenuate renal injury through its immunomodulatory effects. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of ilofotas...

Accelerated TMS is associated with changes of subgenual cingulate–default mode network coupling in depression: an observational 7 Tesla fMRI study

Abstract Background Accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (aTMS) is an effective treatment for depression, but its neurobiological mechanisms of action remain to be elucidated. This study used high-resolution 7-Tesla MRI to investigate changes in resting-state functional...