Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae Misinterpreted as SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Background. In 2020, a novel coronavirus caused a global pandemic with a clinical picture termed COVID-19, accounting for numerous cases of ARDS. However, there are still other infectious causes of ARDS that should be considered, especially as the majority of these pathogens are specifically treatable. Case Presentation. We present the case of a 36-year-old gentleman who was admitted to the hospital with flu-like symptoms, after completing a half-marathon one week before admission. As infection with SARS-CoV-2 was suspected based on radiologic imaging, the hypoxemic patient was immediately transferred to the ICU, where he developed ARDS. Empiric antimicrobial chemotherapy was initiated, the patient deteriorated further, therapy was changed, and the patient was transferred to a tertiary care ARDS center. As cold agglutinins were present, the hypothesis of an infection with SARS-CoV-2 was then questioned. Bronchoscopic sampling revealed Mycoplasma (M.) pneumoniae. When antimicrobial chemotherapy was adjusted, the patient recovered quickly. Conclusion. Usually, M. pneumoniae causes mild disease. When antimicrobial chemotherapy was adjusted, the patient recovered quickly. The case underlines the importance to adhere to established treatment guidelines, scrutinize treatment modalities, and not to forget other potential causes of severe pneumonia or ARDS

Commissioning and integration of an DMX-Controller as a standalone lighting controlsystem for an aircraft cabin mockup

Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit der Integration und Inbetriebnahme eines DMXControllers als Lichtsteuerung eines Flugzeugkabinen-Teststands. Dazu gehört die Analyse des DMX512 Bussystems, die Aufarbeitung der Programmierung und Inbetriebnahme des Butler XT an einer RGB LED Matrix, die Analyse der vorhandenen Schnittstellen und Eingabemöglichkeiten, sowie die Integration des Systems in ein Airbus-Kabinen-Modell. Außerdem wird eine mögliche Implementierung eines Touchscreens für die Bedienung des Controllers untersucht.This thesis deals with the integration and commissioning of an DMX-controller as lighting control for an aircraft cabin mockup. That includes the analysis of the DMX512 bus system, the processing of programming and commissioning of the Butler XT on an RGB LED matrix, the analysis of the existing interfaces and input options as well as the integration of the system into an Airbus cabin mockup. Additional to that the possibility of the implementation of a touchscreen for operating the controller will be developed

Preisträger des „Manfred Lautenschlaeger Award for Theological Promise“ benannt

Zehn junge Forscher werden für ihre Arbeiten zum Thema „Gott und Spiritualität“ ausgezeichnet Das Forschungszentrum Internationale und Interdisziplinäre Theologie (FIIT) der Universität Heidelberg hat die Preisträger des erstmals vergebenen „Manfred Lautenschlaeger Award for Theological Promise“ bekannt gegeben: Danach werden 2013 zehn junge Forscherpersönlichkeiten aus Australien, Deutschland, Großbritannien, Israel und den USA für herausragende Dissertationen oder Publikationen zum Thema „Gott und Spiritualität“ ausgezeichnet. Zu den Preisträgern gehört auch Alexander Maßmann von der Heidelberger Theologischen Fakultät. Er erhält den Preis für seine Arbeit „Bürgerrecht im Himmel und auf Erden. Karl Barths Ethik“. Der Lautenschläger Award, der jährlich an zehn Nachwuchswissenschaftlerinnen und Nachwuchswissenschaftler weltweit aus unterschiedlichen Disziplinen wie Theologie, Philosophie, Religionswissenschaft, Ethik und Nachbardisziplinen vergeben wird, ist mit einem Preisgeld von jeweils 10.000 Dollar verbunden. "Campus-Report" heißt die Radiosendung der Universitäten Heidelberg, Mannheim, Karlsruhe und Freiburg. Die Reportagen über aktuelle Themen aus Forschung und Wissenschaft werden montags bis freitags jeweils um ca. 19.10h im Programm von Radio Regenbogen gesendet

Vascular robustness: The missing parameter in cardiovascular risk prediction

Undetected high risk for premature death of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among individuals with low-to-moderate risk factor scores is an acknowledged obstacle to CVD prevention. The vasculature's functional robustness against risk factor derailment may serve as a novel discriminator of mortality risk under similar risk factor loads. To test this assumption, we hypothesized that the expected inverse robustness-mortality association is verifiable as a significant trend along the age spectrum of risk factor-challenged cohorts.This is a retrospective cohort study of 372 adults (mean age 56.1 years, range 21–92; 45% female) with a variety of CV risk factors.An arterial model (VascAssist 2, iSYMED GmbH, Germany) was used to derive global parameters of arterial function from non-invasively acquired pulse pressure waves. Participants were stratified by health status: apparently healthy (AH; n = 221); with hypertension and/or hypercholesterolemia (CC; n = 61); with history of CV event(s) (CVE; n = 90). Multivariate linear regression was used to derive a robustness score which was calibrated against the CVD mortality hazard rate of a sub-cohort of the LURIC study (n = 1369; mean age 59.1 years, range 20–75; 37% female).Robustness correlated linearly with calendar age in CC (F(1, 59) = 10.42; p < 0.01) and CVE (F(1, 88) = 40.34; p < 0.0001) but not in the AH strata, supporting the hypothesis of preferential elimination of less robust individuals along the aging trajectory under risk factor challenges.Vascular robustness may serve as a biomarker of vulnerability to CVD risk factor challenges, prognosticating otherwise undetectable elevated risk for premature CVD mortality. Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases, Risk factors, Robustness, Preventio

Carotid ultrasound for pulmonary arteriovenous malformation screening

Objective: In patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) can cause serious neurological complications. Our aim was to evaluate the potential of contrast-enhanced Doppler ultrasound (CE-US) of the common carotid artery as a screening test for detection of PAVMs. Methods: A total of 124 consecutive patients with HHT or a positive family history underwent screening for PAVMs with CE-US and thoracic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA). CE-US was performed after receiving (D)-galactose microparticulate, and CE-MRA with gadobenate dimeglumine. Twenty-five patients with confirmed PAVMs were referred to conventional pulmonary catheter angiography (PA). Findings on CE-US and CE-MRA were evaluated using contingency tables and McNemar’s test. Results: Using CE-MRA as the reference test, CE-US had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 87%, and a negative predictive value of 100%. In 25 patients who underwent PA, PAVMs that had been diagnosed on CE-US and CE-MRA were confirmed. Of the PAVMs detected by CE-MRA, 24% were not identified on PA. Conclusion: CE-US is a simple, minimally invasive screening method that can easily be performed in different settings. CE-US can predict PAVMs with high probability of success. CE-US may be a simple alternative to transthoracic echocardiography in the assessment of PAVMs in certain HHT-patients

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae Misinterpreted as SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Background. In 2020, a novel coronavirus caused a global pandemic with a clinical picture termed COVID-19, accounting for numerous cases of ARDS. However, there are still other infectious causes of ARDS that should be considered, especially as the majority of these pathogens are specifically treatable. Case Presentation. We present the case of a 36-year-old gentleman who was admitted to the hospital with flu-like symptoms, after completing a half-marathon one week before admission. As infection with SARS-CoV-2 was suspected based on radiologic imaging, the hypoxemic patient was immediately transferred to the ICU, where he developed ARDS. Empiric antimicrobial chemotherapy was initiated, the patient deteriorated further, therapy was changed, and the patient was transferred to a tertiary care ARDS center. As cold agglutinins were present, the hypothesis of an infection with SARS-CoV-2 was then questioned. Bronchoscopic sampling revealed Mycoplasma (M.) pneumoniae. When antimicrobial chemotherapy was adjusted, the patient recovered quickly. Conclusion. Usually, M. pneumoniae causes mild disease. When antimicrobial chemotherapy was adjusted, the patient recovered quickly. The case underlines the importance to adhere to established treatment guidelines, scrutinize treatment modalities, and not to forget other potential causes of severe pneumonia or ARDS