Cerebrovascular diseases in ADHD patients with metabolic comorbidities: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: ADHD is associated with several health outcomes, but its long-term cerebrovascular associations, particularly in adults with metabolic conditions, remain poorly understood.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed using the Disease Analyzer database (IQVIA) and included adults with ADHD which were compared to a propensity score matched non-ADHD cohort. The 10-year incidence of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and univariable conditional Cox regression models with hazard ratios (HRs) and 99% confidence intervals (CIs).

Applications of Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Stress Echocardiography: A Systematic Review on Feasibility, Diagnostic, and Clinical Utility.

Purpose: This review evaluates the applications of speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) in stress echocardiography, focusing on feasibility, physiological adaptations, and its diagnostic and prognostic utility in cardiovascular conditions.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed identified studies published up to December 28, 2024, using terms related to STE, stress echocardiography, and myocardial strain. Grey literature was excluded.

Effects of an app-based physical training for long- and post-COVID treatment (A PILOT) study: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Long- and post-COVID syndrome (PCS) affect at least 65 million individuals globally, with an estimated incidence of 10% among over 651 million documented cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. PCS impacts nearly every organ system, posing significant challenges for healthcare systems and patients. Despite this, effective guidelines for multimodal training or rehabilitation remain absent.

Discharge Against Medical Advice in Cancer Patients: Insights from a Multicenter Study in Germany.

Background: Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) disrupts continuity of care and is associated with increased readmission rates, morbidity, and mortality. While extensively studied in general hospital populations, its prevalence and associated factors in cancer patients, where treatment adherence is critical for outcomes, remain underexplored.

Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study analyzed anonymized data from the IQVIA hospital database, including cancer patients hospitalized in 36 German hospitals between January 2019 and December 2023.

Depression in patients with anorectal fistulas and anal fissures: a propensity score-matched cohort study.

Purpose: Anal fissures and anorectal fistulas are diseases often associated with significant pain and prolonged discomfort, resulting in a significantly reduced quality of life (QoL). They are not only a surgical problem but also have a profound psychosocial impact and influence on QoL. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of depression in patients with these pathologies and to highlight the need to address the psychosocial aspects of these diseases.

Exploring the Spectrum of Comorbidities Associated with Primary Aldosteronism: Insights from a Large Real-World Case-Control Study.

: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common cause of endocrine hypertension, characterized by excessive aldosterone secretion leading to hypertension, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis. While historically diagnosed based on this classic triad of symptoms, current understanding reveals a more nuanced presentation. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of PA-associated diseases in a large German population.

Medication Burden Before and After Prescription of Biologics in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Biologics are a cornerstone in the treatment of severe cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and aim to control the disease and improve quality of life. This study investigated changes in nonbiologic medication prescriptions for IBD patients initiating biologic therapy in Germany. This study used data from anonymized pharmacy records in the German longitudinal prescription (LRx) database and included biologic-naive IBD patients who received their first biologic therapy prescription between 2016 and 2022.

The Prognostic Impact of Radioiodine Therapy in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

Radioiodine (RAI) therapy after surgery, is an important component for the treatment of patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), the most common thyroid cancer. In this study we sought to evaluate the cancer-specific survival (CSS) impact of RAI in specific thyroid cancer subgroups. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were used to identify patients with PTC who underwent surgery between 2000 and 2019.

ADAMTS12 promotes fibrosis by restructuring extracellular matrix to enable activation of injury-responsive fibroblasts.

Fibrosis represents the uncontrolled replacement of parenchymal tissue with extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by myofibroblasts. While genetic fate-tracing and single-cell RNA-Seq technologies have helped elucidate fibroblast heterogeneity and ontogeny beyond fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation, newly identified fibroblast populations remain ill defined, with respect to both the molecular cues driving their differentiation and their subsequent role in fibrosis. Using an unbiased approach, we identified the metalloprotease ADAMTS12 as a fibroblast-specific gene that is strongly upregulated during active fibrogenesis in humans and mice.

Trends and outcomes in colorectal cancer surgery: a multicenter cross-sectional study of minimally invasive versus open techniques in Germany.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the trend from open to modern minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robot-assisted) surgical techniques for colorectal cancer (CRC) in Germany, with a particular focus on hospital mortality, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay.

Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 36 German hospitals, encompassing 1,250,029 cases from January 2019 to December 2023. The study included all hospitalized patients aged ≥ 18 with CRC who underwent surgery.

Association between and its eradication and the development of cancer.

Background: () is a gram-negative gastrointestinal pathogen that colonises the human stomach and is considered a major risk factor for gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Furthermore, is a potential trigger of a wide spectrum of extragastric cancer entities, extraintestinal chronic inflammatory processes and autoimmune diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the association between infection and its eradication with the development of subsequent gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal cancer.

What Is the Link between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Dyslipidemia in Adults? A German Retrospective Cohort Study.

Alterations in the serum lipid profile have been suspected in many psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression. However, studies on lipid status in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are sparse and inconsistent. Using the nationwide, population-based IQVIA Disease Analyzer database, this retrospective cohort study included 5367 outpatients from general practices in Germany aged ≥18 years with a documented first diagnosis of ADHD between January 2005 and December 2021 and 26,835 propensity score-matched individuals without ADHD.

Temporal Trends in Mental Disorder Rates among Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Comprehensive Analysis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) stands as one of the most prevalent and burdensome malignancies worldwide. Similar to other cancers, CRC has been associated with the development of psychiatric diseases, including anxiety and depression. However, temporal trends in psychiatric disorders rates within CRC patients have not been investigated so far.

Trends in hypertension and hypertension treatment in primary care in general practices in Germany between 2013 and 2022.

Background: There is a scarcity of data on the epidemiology of hypertension and its treatment in Germany in recent years.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate trends in the number of adults diagnosed with hypertension and those being prescribed antihypertensive drugs each year in general practices from this country between 2013 and 2022.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data of adults aged ≥18 years continuously collected from 336 general practices in Germany (IQVIA) during 2013-2022.

Risk of Lymphoma and Leukemia in Thyroid Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Germany.

Thyroid cancer is the ninth most common cancer worldwide. While differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has a high survival rate, concerns arise regarding optimal treatment strategies and potential long-term risks, including second primary malignancies (SPMs), associated with therapies such as radioiodine (RAI). The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between thyroid cancer and the incidence of subsequent lymphoma and leukemia in Germany.

Hemorrhoids are associated with an increased risk of depression in Germany: A retrospective cohort study in primary care outpatients.

Background: The aim of the present study was to analyze the cumulative incidence of depression diagnosis in patients with hemorrhoids and to evaluate the association between hemorrhoids and subsequent depression diagnosis.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was based on electronic medical records from the Disease Analyzer database (IQVIA) and included 87,264 individuals with hemorrhoids (mean age: 54.2 years; 42% women) and 87,264 propensity score-matched individuals without hemorrhoids in 1284 general practices in Germany between January 2005 and December 2021.

Is there a link between appendicitis and the risk of diverticular disease?: a large German cohort study.

Purpose: Appendicitis, characterized by inflammation of the vermiform appendix, is a common abdominal emergency necessitating appendectomy. Recent evidence suggests a potential link between appendicitis and subsequent diverticular disease, yet population-based studies investigating this association are limited.

Methods: Utilizing the Disease Analyzer database encompassing data from over 1000 primary care practices in Germany, we conducted a retrospective cohort study.

Metabolic Signaling in Cancer Metastasis.

Unlabelled: Metastases, which are the leading cause of death in patients with cancer, have metabolic vulnerabilities. Alterations in metabolism fuel the energy and biosynthetic needs of metastases but are also needed to activate cell state switches in cells leading to invasion, migration, colonization, and outgrowth in distant organs. Specifically, metabolites can activate protein kinases as well as receptors and they are crucial substrates for posttranslational modifications on histone and nonhistone proteins.

Associating Appendicitis with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): A Novel Insight into an Unexpected Connection.

Background: The gut microbiome modulates the liver immune microenvironment and is deeply integrated into the pathophysiology of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Appendectomies, which are performed in almost all patients diagnosed with appendicitis, cause long-term alterations to the gut microbiome, providing a potential link with the development of MASLD. We therefore investigated a potential link between appendicitis and the presence of MASLD in a large cohort of outpatients in Germany.

Prevalence of and Variables Associated with Syncope-Related Injuries and Fractures in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Study in General Practices.

There is a lack of studies investigating the prevalence of syncope-related injuries in a large representative cohort. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the prevalence of, and variables associated with syncope-related injuries and fractures in a large outpatient population in Germany. The present study used data from the Disease Analyzer database (IQVIA) and included adults with first-time diagnoses of syncope in 1 of 1284 general practices in Germany between 2005 and 2022 (index date).

In-Hospital Mortality and Associated Factors among Colorectal Cancer Patients in Germany.

Background: In the present study, we used the data from 14 hospitals to systematically evaluate the in-hospital mortality of patients with colorectal cancer as well as its influencing factors in Germany.

Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study included hospitalized patients with a main diagnosis of colorectal cancers in the period between January 2019 and July 2023. The outcome of the study was the prevalence of in-hospital mortality.

Cancer Risk in Patients with Down Syndrome-A Retrospective Cohort Study from Germany.

Background: Individuals with Down syndrome are thought to have a unique tumor profile.

Methods: Using the IQVIA Disease Analyzer database, patients aged ≥18 years diagnosed with Down syndrome in German general practices between 2005 and 2021 were compared with patients without Down syndrome for cancer incidence, adjusting for age, sex, average annual visit frequency, and comorbidity. The 5-year cumulative incidence of cancer overall and specific cancers was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and compared using the log-rank test.

Association between iron deficiency anemia and subsequent stomach and colorectal cancer diagnosis in Germany.

Purpose: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common form of anemia worldwide, resulting in a high burden of disease. Accumulating evidence suggests that IDA is associated with the development of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.

Methods: Data from the IDA database (IQVIA) of primary care practices in Germany of adult patients first diagnosed with IDA between January 2005 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed and compared with a 1:1 propensity score-adjusted cohort without IDA.

Intracorporeal Versus Extracorporeal Colo-colic Anastomosis in Minimally-invasive Left Colectomy: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: The primary aim was to investigate the operative outcomes of intracorporeal (IA) and extracorporeal (EA) anastomosis in left-sided minimally-invasive colectomy.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted for studies comparing operative outcomes and follow-up data of IA versus EA in minimally-invasive left colectomy. Studies that investigated recto-sigmoid resections using transanal circular staplers were excluded.