[Profile of Kaposi sarcoma patients in the competence network HIV/AIDS]. / Profil der Kaposi-Sarkom-Patienten im Kompetenznetz HIV/AIDS.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) represents the most common AIDS-defining neoplasm. Only very few studies regarding the course and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated KS have been carried out in Germany. OBJECTIVE: In this study the course of HIV-associated KS was observed in patients from the cohort database of the competence network for HIV/AIDS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from HIV-associated KS patients from 9 German core centers from 1987 to 2011 were retrospectively collected. Kaplan-Meier curves for the recurrence and survival probability were calculated. RESULTS: In 222 patients KS was diagnosed at a median age of 38.5 ± 10.1 years. Men were almost exclusively affected (97.7%). The HIV viral load at the time of diagnosis was in 7.4% <50 copies/ml. Of the patients 55.5% developed KS with a CD4 cell count of <200 cells/µl and 9.5% with >500 cells/µl. In 68 patients KS therapy consisted exclusively of the optimization or initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). In addition, 71 patients were treated with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. During the median follow-up period of 8.9 ± 4.9 years, 80.2% of the patients were free of KS recurrence. Survival rates after 5 and 10 years were 96.8% and 91.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Even with a good immune status HIV-associated KS occurred. An effective ART was the most important mainstay of therapy. With appropriate therapy, HIV-positive patients with KS showed a good survival rate.

[Local health study : Outreach medical services for female sex workers in Bochum]. / Local Health Study : Aufsuchende medizinische Angebote für Sexarbeiterinnen in Bochum.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate access to prevention and medical treatment for female sex workers (SW) represents a challenge for the German health system. Accessibility and care for SW in Bochum (Germany) through a cooperation between the Interdisciplinary Immunology Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine of St. Josef's Hospital, the Bochum health department and the Madonna e.V. was the focus of this work. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical outreach services were provided for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in SW in brothels in Bochum between August 2013 and January 2014. After clarification and verbal consent from the SW, free HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis tests were offered and carried out using pseudonyms for the SW. RESULTS: A total of 112 SW were reached (up to 55.4 % within the framework of the STI Outreach Study). Of the SW, 94.6 % had an immigrant background. The majority (61.3 %) of SW were between 20 und 29 years old. Only 19.0 % of the collective had health insurance. The following STIs were diagnosed: 12.5 % chlamydia, 6.2 % syphilis, 3.6 % gonorrhea, 3.6 % trichomoniasis, and 0.9 % HIV. These results were compared with results from STI studies in SW in Germany. Treatment was performed in accordance with the standards of the German STI Society. CONCLUSION: The offer improved the accessibility and the utilization of medical services by SW in Bochum. A further improvement of services is urgently needed.

Rational approach to genetic testing of cystic fibrosis (CF) in infertile men.

Male infertility as a result of isolated congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) is one primary genital form of cystic fibrosis (CF) and occurs in 1-2% of infertile men. Assisted fertilization in patients with CBAVD increases the risk of transmitting mutations in the CF gene. We developed a rational approach to genetic CF testing in infertile men. A total of 282 infertile male patients were screened for the most common CF mutations (DeltaF508, R117H, IVS8-5T). Clinical data including medical history, examination, semen analysis, sweat tests, karyotypes and hormonal values were analysed. We identified 23 patients carrying mutations in the CF gene (DeltaF508: 10 patients; R117H: six patients; IVS8-5T: 11 patients). Two patients were compound heterozygote for DeltaF508/R117H, two others for DeltaF508/IVS8-5T. Correlating these molecular analyses with the clinical data pertaining to serum follicle-stimulating hormone concentration, semen pH, sperm count and total testicular volume, we were able to develop a score with a high specificity (98.4) for the presence of a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutation, but only with a low sensitivity (positive post-test likelihood: 62.5%; negative post-test likelihood: 6.3%). With regard to the low sensitivity and the high number of CFTR mutations found in this heterogeneous group of infertile men, we still recommend genetic CF testing before assisted fertilization.

[Recurrent hypoglycemia caused by malignant insulinoma: chemoembolization as a therapeutic option]. / Rezidivierende Hypoglykämien bei malignem Insulinom. Chemoembolisation als Therapieoption.

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 73-year-old previously healthy woman presented with recurrent weakness, vertigo and perioral paresthesia of 3 months' duration. Physical examination on admission was unremarkable and revealed a patient in good condition. INVESTIGATIONS: Recurrent episodes of fasting hypoglycemia let us to proceed with a fasting test. The test was stopped after 24 hours when the patient became presyncopal and was found to have a blood sugar value of 2.2 mmol/l (accompanied by inadequately increased values for proinsulin, insulin and C-peptide). Ultrasound and computertomography of the abdomen showed a huge inhomogeneous mass in the tail of pancreas and multiple lesions in the liver, respectively. Core needle biopsies revealed typical histopathological findings of a neuroendocrine carcinoma. TREATMENT AND COURSE: Eight cycles of chemotherapy were given using streptozotocin/doxorubicin for three cycles and streptozotocin/5-fluorouracil for the remaining therapy over a period of 16 months resulting in a reduction in size of liver metastases and improvement of symptoms. Following 6 months without any therapy new episodes of severe hypoglycemia and progression of the liver metastases occurred. Despite seven further cycles of chemotherapy and additional treatment with diazoxide/octreotide the patient remained hypoglycemic and continuous glucose infusions became necessary. Therefore, chemoembolization of the liver with streptozotocin/5-fluorouracil and lipiodol-emulsion was performed. This resulted in a significant improvement of symptoms and the patient could subsequently be discharged. The patient died 4 months later. CONCLUSION: Chemoembolization is an effective possibility in the palliative treatment of advanced malignant insulinoma.