Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the aerodigestive tract routinely undergo panendoscopy to detect possible synchronous second primary tumors. The aim of our study was to assess the incidence of synchronous and metachronous second primary tumors and to refine the role of panendoscopy. The charts of 358 patients evaluated by means of panendoscopy during work-up of a first primary squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract were reviewed. The incidence of a second primary tumor was 16.2%, with 6.4% being synchronous and 9.8% being metachronous. In only 3.1% of all patients, a synchronous tumor was clinically silent and only revealed by means of the panendoscopy. The synchronous tumors were mainly in the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx (61%), whereas the metachronous tumors were most likely in the lung (57%). Despite the low incidence of synchronous second primary tumors, we still recommend panendoscopy for assessment of the primary tumor and as a training field for residents.

BackgroundThe HIV surveillance system in Germany is based on mandatory, anonymous notification of newly diagnosed HIV cases by laboratories. Because the time between HIV infection and the diagnosis of HIV varies widely between persons, it is difficult to determine the number of cases of recent HIV infection among newly diagnosed cases of HIV. In Germany, the BED-capture-enzyme immunoassay (BED-CEIA) has been used to distinguish between recent and long-standing HIV infection. The aim of this analysis is to report the proportion of cases of recent HIV infection among newly diagnosed cases in Germany between 2008 and 2014 and to identify factors associated with recent infections.MethodsA sample of voluntary laboratories among all HIV diagnostic laboratories was recruited. Residual blood from HIV diagnostic tests was spotted on filter paper as dried serum or dried plasma spots and was sent along with the notification form of the HIV cases. The BED-CEIA test was performed. A case was defined as recent HIV infection with a BED-CEIA test result of less than 0.8 normalized optical density, with the exclusion of CDC stage C. The proportion of recent newly diagnosed HIV infections among different groups (such as transmission groups, gender or age groups) was calculated. We used logistic regression to identify factors associated with recent HIV infection and to identify subpopulations with high proportions of recent HIV infections.ResultsApproximately 10,257 newly diagnosed cases were tested for recency using the BED-CEIA. In total, 3084 (30.4%) of those were recently infected with HIV. The highest proportion of recent HIV infections was found among men who had sex with men (MSM) (35%) and persons between 18 and 25 years of age (43.0%). Logistic regression revealed that female German intravenous drug users with a recent HIV infection had a higher chance of being detected than German MSM (OR 2.27).ConclusionsSurveillance of recent HIV infection is a useful additional tool to monitor the HIV epidemic in Germany. We could observe ongoing HIV transmission in Germany in general and in different subgroups, and we could identify factors associated with recent HIV infection in Germany.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a hereditary polyneuropathy caused by mutations in Mitofusin-2 (MFN2), a GTPase in the outer mitochondrial membrane involved in the regulation of mitochondrial fusion and bioenergetics. Autosomal-dominant inheritance of a R94Q mutation in MFN2 causes the axonal subtype 2A2A which is characterized by early onset and progressive atrophy of distal muscles caused by motoneuronal degeneration. Here, we studied mitochondrial shape, respiration, cytosolic and mitochondrial ATP content as well as mitochondrial quality control in MFN2-deficient fibroblasts stably expressing wildtype or R94Q MFN2. Under normal culture conditions, R94Q cells had slightly more fragmented mitochondria but similar mitochondrial oxygen consumption, membrane potential and ATP production. Mild oxidative stress procured by 100 µM hydrogen peroxide applied 24 h before analysis, however, significantly increased respiration but decreased mitochondrial ATP production only in R94Q cells. This was accompanied by increased glucose uptake and an upregulation of hexokinase 1 and pyruvate kinase M2 suggesting increased pyruvate shuttling into mitochondria. As these changes coincided with decreased levels of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in R94Q cells, we conclude that the disease-causing R94Q mutation in MFN2 causes uncoupling of mitochondrial respiration from ATP production by a less efficient mitochondrial quality control.

Recent research on the subject of information-gathering processes among pregnant women has revealed a shift towards online sources. Health professionals’ knowledge about sources of information has been shown to improve the understanding and counseling of patients. The objective of this study was to create an overview of all types of sources relevant to information gathering and to put their role and perception into perspective. Methods: A total of 249 women were included in this study and recruited over a period of one month at the University Hospital of Zurich (USZ). Exclusion criteria included cases of fetal demise and late abortions. The survey on information-gathering processes was divided into three stages: pregnancy, birth, and puerperium. The different sources of information were compared based on women’s characteristics. Results: The response rate was 78% (n = 197). The main findings include a significant difference in information gathering based on varying levels of education, with women at the lowest educational level using the Internet the least during pregnancy (p = 0.029). During puerperium, significant differences could be observed in the involvement of the gynecologist. Primipara women as well as women of lower educational levels contacted their gynecologist less in contrast to multipara women (p = 0.006) and women of higher educational levels (p = 0.011). Overall, health professionals were considered to be the most important source of information. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that parity and educational level influence the information-gathering process. As the most important source for information gathering, health professionals must use this advantage to better assist their patients in accessing reliable information.

IntroductionThe Robert Koch Institute (RKI) aimed to assess a molecular surveillance strategy based on filter-dried serum spots (DSS) of all newly diagnosed HIV infections in Germany. In 2013, diagnostic laboratories sent DSS to the RKI representing 55% of the newly diagnosed HIV infections reported to the RKI (protection against infection act). DSS were first tested serologically to identify recently acquired infections (<140 days duration of infection); those classified as “recent infection” were processed for HIV-1 genotyping. The aim of this study was to assess the level of TDR and the current HIV-1 subtypes in the main HIV transmission group categories (TrGrpC) in 2013: men who have sex with men (MSM), women/men with heterosexual contacts (HET) and injecting drug users (IDUs).Materials and MethodsDSS were tested for recency of infection using the BED capture EIA. Viral RNA from “recent infections” was amplified by HIV-1 group M generic pol-RT-PCR covering all resistance-associated positions in the HIV-1 protease (AS1-99) and reverse transcriptase (AS1-252) if viral loads were ≥6,500 copies/mL. PCR amplicons were sequenced (Sanger) to analyze genotypic resistance and the HIV-1 subtype. Results were merged to data from the HIV report, i.e. the TrGrpC.ResultsIn 2013, 1027 DSS were classified as recent HIV infections (506 MSM, 118 HET, 31 IDUs, 6 others, 366 unknown). RNA was extracted from 703 recent cases and 389/503 samples with sufficient viral load were PCR-positive. By June 2014, 276/389 samples were sequenced: TDR was identified in 13% (35/276) of the recent infections including single (PI, NRTI, NNRTI) and dual drug class resistant strains (NRTI/NNRTI; NNRTI/PI). 18% (51/276) of recent HIV-1 infections were caused by non-B subtypes (A1, C, CRF01_AE, CRF02_AG, D, F, G, URFs). TDR was observed at comparable levels in all TrGrpC. Proportions of non-B infections were significantly higher in HET (78%; 14/18) and IDUs (60%; 3/5) compared to MSM (8%; 14/169) (p<0.01).ConclusionsThe proportion of TDR was similar but the proportion of HIV-1 subtype non-B infections was higher as previously described for Germany based on results from the German HIV-1 Seroconverter Cohort [1,2]. This difference could be the result of a broadened inclusion of HET and IDUs due to the sampling method used making this study representative for molecular surveillance of HIV-1 in Germany.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Contradictory information exists regarding the relevance of prepartum platelet count on postpartum hemorrhage. We have shown prepartum coagulation factor XIII to be associated with postpartum blood loss; however, little is known about the association of platelet count with factor XIII activity. Our objectives were, first, to evaluate the impact of prepartum platelet count on measured postpartum blood loss in the context of prepartum measurements of coagulation factors I, II, and XIII and, second, to evaluate the association of platelet count with coagulation factor XIII, both pre- and postpartum. <b><i>Material and Methods:</i></b> This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study (PPH 1,300 study) which analyzed the impact of prepartum blood coagulation factors on postpartum blood loss in 1,300 women. Blood loss was quantified using a validated technique. The impact of prepartum platelet count on measured blood loss was assessed by continuous outcome logistic regression; the association of platelet count with factor XIII activity by Spearman rank correlation. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Prepartum platelet count was significantly associated with measured postpartum blood loss: every one unit (G/L) increase in prepartum thrombocytes was associated with an odds ratio of 1.002 (95% confidence interval, 1.001–1.004, <i>p</i> = 0.005) to keep blood loss below any given cut-off level. This means that the probability of postpartum hemorrhage decreases with increasing prepartum platelet levels. Moreover, a significant association of platelet count with factor XIII activity was shown (Spearman rank correlation coefficient for prepartum values 0.228, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001, and for postpartum values 0.293, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> The significant association of prepartum platelet count and postpartum blood loss as well as the association of platelet count with blood coagulation factor XIII activity support the likely role of platelets in preventing postpartum hemorrhage and support the new guidelines for the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, which calls for optimizing platelet counts peripartally in case of postpartum hemorrhage. A possible effect of platelets on the level of circulating factor XIII cannot be ruled out and should prompt further investigation.

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of peripartal maternal mortality and accounts for 25% of all maternal deaths worldwide. The most common reasons of PPH are uterine atony, retained placenta, or placenta accreta spectrum. Treatment of PPH depends on the etiology and corresponds to a stepwise approach, which follows the German, Austrian and Swiss guideline for the diagnosis and therapy of PPH in Switzerland. In severe ongoing PPH, hysterectomy has been the ultima ratio for many decades. Nowadays, interventional embolization of the pelvic arteries (PAE) has become a popular alternative. Besides being a highly effective minimally invasive method, PAE avoids hysterectomy with consecutively reduced morbidity and mortality. However, data on the long-term effects of PAE on fertility and menstrual cycle are scarce. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We performed a monocentric study consisting of a retro- and a prospective part including all women who had undergone a PAE between 2012 and 2016 at University Hospital Zurich. Descriptive characteristics of patients and efficacy of PAE defined as cessation of bleeding were analyzed retrospectively. In the prospective part, all patients were contacted for a follow-up questionnaire regarding menstruation and fertility after embolization. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Twenty patients with PAE were evaluated. Our data showed a success rate of PAE in 95% of patients with PPH; only 1 patient needed a second, then successful, PAE. No patient needed a hysterectomy or any other surgical intervention. In our study, an association between mode of delivery and identified etiology of PPH is observed. After spontaneous delivery (<i>n</i> = 6), the main reason of severe PPH was retained placenta (<i>n</i> = 4), while after cesarean section (<i>n</i> = 14), uterine atony was identified in most cases (<i>n</i> = 8). Regarding menstruation after embolization, all women reported regular menstruation after the breastfeeding period (100%). The majority reported a regular pattern with a shorter or similar duration (73%) and lower or similar intensity (64%). Dysmenorrhea decreased in 67% of patients. Four patients planned another pregnancy, of whom only one had become pregnant with assisted reproductive technology and ended up in a miscarriage. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> Our study confirms the efficacy of PAE in PPH, thus obviating complex surgical interventions and associated morbidity. The success of PAE does not depend on the primary cause of PPH. Our results may encourage the prompt decision to perform PAE in the management of severe PPH in case of failure of conservative management and help physicians in the post-interventional counseling regarding menstruation patterns and fertility.

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