Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 2024
External quality assessments for SARS-CoV-2 genome detection in Austria : A comparison of the first postpandemic round with results from the pandemic era.
External quality assessment (EQA) schemes provide objective feedback to participating laboratories about the performance of their analytical systems and information about overall regional analytical performance. The EQAs are particularly important during pandemics as they also assess the reliability of individual test results and show opportunities to improve test strategies. With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the testing frequency significantly decreased in Austria. Here, we analyzed whether this decrease had an effect on participation and/or performance in SARS-CoV‑2 virus detection EQAs, as compared to the pandemic era. ⋯ Overall ratios of true positive results were below the mean of all results during the pandemic but were similar to the first round of the pandemic. A lower post-pandemic true positive ratio was associated with specific laboratory types and assay formats, particularly for samples with low concentration. The EQAs will continue to monitor the laboratory performance to ensure the same quality of epidemiological data after the pandemic, even if vigilance has decreased.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 2024
The Landsteiner lung cancer research platform (LALUCA) : Objectives, methodology and implementation of a real-world clinical lung cancer registry.
Lung cancer is a major health burden in Austria; however, limited real-world data exist on the diagnostic and treatment reality of lung cancer patients in Austria. The collection of high-quality data in a clinical setting is needed to gain insights into the real-world diagnostic and therapeutic management of lung cancer patients. ⋯ The LALUCA registry is a web-based platform for the collection of real-world clinical data of lung cancer patients. Combining a large number of patients with a focus on gathering comprehensive data on diagnosis and treatment, the LALUCA registry provides a tool for investigation, evaluation, and improvement of the clinical management, survival and quality of care of Austrian lung cancer patients.
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A complete review of the development of neonatology in the last 40 years would probably require a compendium with several volumes, to bring to view the remarkable improvements in survival rates and neurodevelopmental outcomes of ill babies in Austria, most industrial countries and to some extent worldwide. The challenge I had to solve here was to integrate my own contributions to the field of neonatology during this period and particularly the contributions of my team from the Division of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, Medical University Vienna where I was working first as an intern and resident and later had the privilege to become head of department. ⋯ As we look ahead it is imperative to build upon the progress made, harnessing the power of science and technology to further improve the survival and quality of life for preterm infants in Austria and worldwide. At the same time, neonatology must continue to prioritize ethical reflection and education, fostering a culture of integrity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of guidelines and protocols that uphold ethical standards while addressing the evolving needs and complexities of neonatal medicine.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 2024
Masqueraded sebaceous gland carcinoma of the lower eyelid in a young pregnant patient.
The purpose of this case report is to present misdiagnosed sebaceous gland carcinoma of the lower eyelid with rapid growth in a young woman during pregnancy. Eyelid sebaceous gland carcinoma is a relatively rare tumor and a disease primarily of older patients. It occurs more commonly in oriental populations and with a predilection for the upper eyelid. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment may help improve disease control and patient survival.