Lykkeagger5255

Lung involvement is one of the most frequent organ manifestation in rheumatic diseases (CTD-ILD). Especially patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are affected. Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are still associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The last years have brought advances in management and treatment of ILDs. Methotrexate is probably not a significant cause of lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis but might even delay the presentation of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Tocilizumab could be a treatment option in SSc-ILD, despite the limitations of the current studies. For Systemic Sclerosis-ILD (SSc-ILD) and progressive fibrosing ILD, antifibrotic therapy with nintedanib is now approved.In hospital, effective smoking cessation can be organized through counselling, pharmacological aids and, above all, continuous care in outpatient structures following discharge. Pharmacological treatment has proven to be effective and safe with nicotine replacement therapy as well as varenicline. Counselling plus pharmacotherapy is more effective in combination than either therapy is on its own. To better implement structures medical societies in Germany are seeking adequate funding e. g. in the DRG system for hospitalised patients.There are obvious and relevant benefits in smoking cessation. Not only for the main tobacco-related diseases such as coronary heart disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), positive effects of quitting on morbidity and mortality have been confirmed by high-quality meta-analyses. Furthermore, quality of life is increasing following cessation. Presently, smoking is found to be a significant risk factor for severe disease and mortality following coronavirus infection.Do e-cigarettes offer an alternative in smoking cessation? No. Animal and human data are suggesting toxic effects especially following longer use. The long-term effectiveness of e-cigarettes in tobacco cessation is still uncertain and epidemiologic data clearly point toward ineffectiveness. Furthermore, dual use with potentiation of the toxic effects is common. Therefore, e-cigarettes cannot be recommended for tobacco cessation.Resistant hypertension (RH) is defined in patients who do not meet their blood pressure targets despite the daily intake of three antihypertensive drugs in maximally tolerated dosages. This triple treatment should comprise (1) an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), (2) a calcium channel blocker and (3) a diuretic. RH should also be diagnosed in patients on four or more antihypertensive drug classes. read more Of note, the diagnosis of RH requires the exclusion of non-adherence, "white coat effect", and incorrect BP-measurement.After diagnosing RH, it is important to recommend lifestyle interventions (e. g. low dietary salt intake, regular physical activity), to pause BP-elevating substances, and to consider the presence of secondary hypertension.Such secondary forms of hypertension primarily include endocrine disorders and renal disease (both acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease). The leading endocrine cause is primary hyperaldosteronism, the management of which was highlighted in a recent guideline. Other endocrine causes - such as phaeochromocytoma or hypercortisolism - are much less frequent. In contrast, sleep apnoea disorders are now mostly considered as a comorbidity rather than as a cause of secondary hypertension.Treatment options for RH include lifestyle optimisation and escalation of antihypertensive medication. In most patients on triple treatment (ACE-I or ARB plus calcium channel blocker plus diuretic), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) should be the next treatment choice. As MRA may be associated with hyperkalemia (particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease), the concurrent use of potassium-lowering agents such as patiromer may allow a safe long-term treatment. In contrast, novel interventional treatment options in RH such as renal denervation are still controversially discussed.Psychocardiological research has contributed a better understanding of mental health, psychosocial factors and quality of life of in patients with cardiovascular diseases. In this update of psychocardiology in 2021, stressful experiences in childhood and adolescence are found to increase the risk of type II diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease and stroke along the life course. Higher level of optimism, sense of purpose, and mindfulness can be possible protective factors for cardiovascular health. Summarizing the update of psychocardiological interventions, the effectiveness of team-based treatment ("blended collaborative care") in secondary prevention is currently being tested in Germany in the randomized, controlled TEACH multicenter trial of patients with coronary heart disease and distress. Interventions such as positive psychology and mindfulness training can lead to a significant reduction in anxiety, stress and depression in heart patients.Cardiac arrest is one of the most dramatic medical emergencies. The occurence of cardiac arrest in hospitalized patients, the so called in-hospital cardiac arrest, is common and associated with high mortality. However, in-hospital cardiac arrest has received quite little attention compared to cardiac arrest occuring outside the hospital. The present article reviews the recent literature of in-hospital cardiac arrest and outlines differences in characteristics and outcome compared to out of hospital cardiac arrest. Moreover, current literature regarding occurence and outcome of in-hospital cardiac arrest in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is concisely summarized.Lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne infectious disease caused by the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Lyme borreliosis is the most frequent zoonosis in Germany.Most cases show dermatological manifestations, like erythema migrans, followed by infections of the nervous system. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis should be performed if Lyme neuroborreliosis is suspected. Cell-based assays (like LTT or ELISPOT) should not be used when investigating Lyme disease.A recent randomized controlled trial showed a similar effect of doxycycline compared to betalactam-antibiotics regarding neurological symptoms in Lyme neuroborreliosis. This corroborates current German guideline recommendations.The prognosis of Lyme disease after antibiotic treatment is usually favorable. Frequency of fatigue, depression, impairments in quality of life and cognitive impairment are similar in patients after treatment of Lyme neuroborreliosis when compared to the general population.