[Quality of life and depression in hearing-impairment : A German survey]. / Lebensqualität und Depression bei Hörminderung : Eine deutsche Bedarfsanalyse.

BACKGROUND: Hearing-impairment can lead to a reduced quality of life and thus represents a vulnerability factor for mental disorders. OBJECTIVE: This study represents the first psychiatric analysis of subjective quality of life and depression in people with hearing-impairment in Germany. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient group included 30 hearing-impaired participants (27 women, 3 men) with a current or previous mental disorder and/or psychiatric/psychotherapeutic treatment (age: mean, M = 49.67 years; standard deviation, SD = 13.54 years). The control group consisted of 22 hearing-impaired participants (16 women, 6 men) without mental disorders or treatment (age: M = 52.41 years, SD = 17.30 years). Besides sociodemographic variables, we registered onset/extent of the various hearing-impairments and hearing aid provision. Both groups underwent extensive diagnostic assessment comprising subjective functional impairment (Sheehan Disability Scale, SDS), health-related quality of life (SF-36 Health Survey), and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI-II). RESULTS: Groups did not differ significantly in terms of sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, or intelligence. Participants of the patient group had a significantly greater subjective impairment, a lower quality of life, and more pronounced symptoms of depression. The invasiveness of the hearing aid (i. e., cochlear implant) as well as the timepoint of hearing-impairment onset (postlingually) appear to serve as vulnerability factors for mental health problems in this group. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that besides delivering high-quality acoustic care, practitioners should continuously check patients' requirements for psychosocial treatment due to a loss of quality of life. The development of a specific psychotherapeutic treatment for hearing-impaired clients requires additional research focused on protective and vulnerability factors which may influence the emergence of mental disorders in these patients.

Communicative reprogramming non-curative hepatocellular carcinoma with low-dose metronomic chemotherapy, COX-2 inhibitor and PPAR-gamma agonist: a phase II trial.

Systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still challenging. A biomodulatory therapy approach targeting the communicative infrastructure of HCC, including metronomic low-dose chemotherapy with capecitabine, pioglitazone and rofecoxib, has been evaluated in patients with non-curative HCC. Altogether 38 patients were evaluable in this one-arm, multicenter phase II trial. The primary endpoint, median progression-free survival was 2.7 months (95% CI: 1.6-3.79) for all evaluable patients and 8.4 months (95% CI: 0-18.13) for patients ≥ 6 weeks on protocol. Median overall survival (OS) was 6.7 months (95% CI: 4.08-9.31) and 9.4 months (95% CI: 4.82-13.97), respectively. Most common adverse events were edemas grade 3, which were commonly related to the advanced stage, with 66% of the patients suffering from liver cirrhosis. Exploratory data analyses showed significant impact of ECOG performance status grade 0 versus 1 and CLIP score 0/1 versus > 1 on OS, 9.8 months (95% CI: 4.24-15.35) versus 2.7 months (95% CI: 1.03-4.36; P = 0.002), and 9.8 months (95% CI: 3.23-16.37) versus 4.4 months (95% CI: 3.14-5.66; P = 0.009), respectively. Preceding tumor surgery had significant beneficial impact on survival, as well as maximal tumor diameter of < 5 cm. The correlation of C-reactive protein decrease with significantly improved OS underlines the close link between inflammation and tumor control. Biomodulatory therapy in advanced HCC may be a low toxic, efficacious treatment and principally demonstrates that such approaches should be followed further for treatment of advanced HCC.

[Clinical evaluation of PFNA® and relationship between the tip-apex distance and mechanical failure]. / Klinische Evaluation des PFNA® und Zusammenhang zwischen Tip-Apex-Distanz und mechanischem Versagen.

The incidence of trochanteric fractures is increasing in Europe, and the economic impact and mortality is high. The aim of the study was to evaluate the PFNA® (proximal femoral nail antirotation) with respect to its clinical use and mechanical complications.All patients with a trochanteric fracture who had been treated with a PFNA® between 12/2004 and 12/2007 were identified and analysed regarding complications and radiological findings. The study included 195 patients; 61.2% of the patients were classified as Singh I und II. The mean duration of surgery was 57 min. In ten cases (5.1%) the blade migrated, four cases (2.1%) showed blade cut out and in one case the nail broke (0.5%). The mean TAD was 26.7 mm, in cases of cut out 41.3 mm and in blade migrations 38.6 mm. No failure could be documented when the TAD was less then 30 mm. There is a strong relationship between increasing TAD and mechanical failure (P<0.001); 84.6% of the patients have been followed up, and 30.2% died in the follow-up period.The PFNA® is an easy-to-use implant for the treatment of stable and instable proximal femur fractures. Mechanical failure depends on the TAD.

[Recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and chain-like choledocholithiasis in a female patient with stop codon in the ABDC4-gene of the hepatobiliary phospholipid transporter]. / Rezidivierende Schwangerschaftscholestase und perlenschnurartige Choledocholithiasis bei einer Patientin mit Stoppcodon im ABCB4-Gen des hepatischen Phospholipidtransporters.

We report the case of a 40-years-old female patient with recurrent cholestatic liver disease who presented twice with severe intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and pronounced choledocholithiasis between pregnancies. Bile duct stones were removed endoscopically and a laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed after the second pregnancy. Liver histology revealed intrahepatic cholestasis with portal inflammation and fibrosis, resembling progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). Molecular genetic studies identified the heterozygous mutation c.957C > T in the ABCB4 gene encoding the hepatobiliary phospholipid transporter. This is the first report of this mutation that introduces a stop codon in an index patient with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and multiple bile duct stones. In addition, we detected the ABCB11 polymorphism V 444A, which is associated with a decreased expression of the bile salt export pump. Whereas homozygous carriers of the ABCB4 mutation develop PFIC type 3, the heterozygous ABC transporter mutations represent genetic risk factors for cholelithiasis and recurrent cholestatic hepatitis upon challenge with oral contraceptives or during pregnancy. Of note, the patient presented with normal serum gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activities during pregnancy-associated cholestatic episodes but normal liver enzymes after delivery, whereas choledocholithiasis was associated with high gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels. It is unknown whether ursodeoxycholic acid prevents cholestasis or gallstones in patients with ABCB4 deficiency.

Safety, tolerability and efficacy of peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C in clinical practice: The German Open Safety Trial.

The combination treatment of peginterferon alpha-2a (PEG-IFN alpha-2a; Pegasys) plus ribavirin (RBV) is recommended as a standard care for HCV infections. Side effects and aspects of efficacy and safety have to be balanced. This study evaluates clinical practice data on safety and efficacy of HCV treatment with PEG-IFN in combination with RBV over 24 and 48 weeks. This study was a phase III, multi-centre, open-label study with two treatment groups: PEG-IFN in combination with RBV for 24 or 48 weeks. The allocation to the treatment groups was at the discretion of the investigator; 309 patients entered active treatment: 90 patients received PEG-IFN plus RBV for 24 weeks and 219 patients PEG-IFN plus RBV for 48 weeks. A sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved in 48.9% of all patients. Genotype 1 patients with a 48-week combination treatment achieved an SVR of 39.9%. In the 48-week group a low baseline viral load was associated with a higher SVR rate (47.0% vs. 32.4%). For genotype 2 or 3 patients, the SVR was 67.9%. For these patients there was no relevant difference between patients with low and high viral loads; 97.7% of the patients experienced at least one adverse event. The incidence of serious adverse events was distinctly lower in the 24-week group (4.4% vs. 10.5%). This investigation confirms the well-known risk-benefit ratio found in controlled studies in a clinical practice setting. The safety profile is similar and shows the highest incidence of adverse events in the first 12 weeks of treatment.

[Lipoma of the small bowel]. / Dünndarmlipom - Seltene Ursache von Abdominalschmerzen und chronischen, blutigen Diarrhöen.

CLINICAL FEATURES: A 40-year-old female presented with chronic diarrhoea, intermittent abdominal pain, and melena. She reported of a 7 kg loss of weight within the preceding 6 weeks and showed signs of mild abdominal pain upon palpation of the right lower quadrant. Our clinical diagnosis was Crohn's disease or infectious gastro-enteritis as a CT scan showed thickening of the colonic wall in the right lower quadrant. However a previously performed ileocolonoscopy was normal. TECHNICAL EXAMINATIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging showed a thickened terminal ileum with extensive narrowing of the bowel lumen, in addition a polyp obstructing the lumen of the terminal ileum at 30 cm was detected during colonoscopy. THERAPY: The involved portion of ileum was resected. Intraoperatively an intussusception with the polyp forming the leading edge was found. Histological analysis led to the diagnosis "lipoma". Postoperatively the patient is now feeling well without any abdominal pain. CONCLUSION: Tumours of the small bowel are rare and are therefore often forgotten in the list of differential diagnoses of abdominal pain. If symptomatic, these tumours present mainly with uncharacteristic and unspecific signs, often leading to a delay in correct diagnosis as in the presented case. We therefore suggest that small bowel tumours should be considered at earlier stages in the differential diagnosis of unexplained abdominal pain in the middle-aged patient with signs of intestinal obstruction.

Randomized, controlled trial with IFN-alpha combined with ribavirin with and without amantadine sulphate in non-responders with chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Efficacy and safety of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha)/ribavirin retreatment with or without amantadine sulphate were evaluated in non-responders with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: Two hundred twenty five consecutive non-responders to previous antiviral treatment(s) with IFN-alpha alone or in combination with ribavirin or amantadine were treated with IFN-alpha 2b 5 MU daily for 4 weeks, 5 MU tiw for 20 weeks, followed by 3 MU tiw for additional 24 weeks combined with ribavirin 1000-1200 mg/d. One hundred fifteen of 225 patients were randomized to receive amantadine sulphate 100 mg bid for 48 weeks. Treatment was discontinued in patients with detectable serum hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA at treatment week 24. RESULTS: An overall sustained virologic response with undectable serum HCV-RNA levels was observed in 49/225 patients (22%). Patients infected with HCV-genotype non-1 (P<0.001), low viremia (P=0.011) and only one previous antiviral treatment (P=0.032) were more likely to respond to antiviral retreatment. There was a trend towards higher sustained virologic response rates in patients receiving triple retreatment compared with those treated with IFN-alpha/ribavirin alone (25 versus 18%, P=0.172). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of amantadine was well tolerated and led to an improvement of sustained virologic responses compared with retreatment with IFN-alpha/ribavirin alone, in particular in patients with low baseline viremia.

[Intestinal pseudoobstructions and gastric necrosis in mitochondrial myopathy]. / Intestinale Pseudoobstruktionen und Magenwandnekrose bei mitochondrialer Myopathie.

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 24-year-old female patient suffered for 4 months from recurrent abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Signs of an acute abdomen were the initial reason for admitting the patient to our hospital. The slim, pale patient had a complete bloated abdomen. Neurological status was normal. INVESTIGATIONS, TREATMENT AND COURSE: Radiographic examination showed a paralytic ileus with a megacolon. The recurrent abdominal symptoms were due to a covered perforation of the stomach. This was shrunken, scarred and had to be resected. Further intestinal pseudoobstructions were accompanied by substantial exsudations in the lungs, intestines and abdomen. At this time mutism like behavior patterns and an ophthalmoplegia appeared. Leukoencephalopathy in brain MRI scans and increased liquor-lactate suggested mitochondrial myopathy. DIAGNOSIS: The diagnosis of a mitochondrial myopathy was confirmed by increased liquor-lactate level, muscle biopsy with ragged-red fibers as well as abnormal mitochondrias and molecular-genetic investigations (mtDNA point mutation A3243G). Associations to MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) and MNGIE (mitochondrial neuro-gastrointestinal encephalomyopathy) syndrome are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Unclear recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms even in the absence of neurological changes may reflect a mitochondrial disease. This applies especially to young patients with recurrent anorexia, vomiting and pseudoobstruction. In case of additional symptoms like ophthalmopathy, deafness, diabetes mellitus or signs of a MELAS syndrome the search for a mitochondrial system disorder is mandatory.

Effect of programmed endoscopic follow-up examinations on the rebleeding rate of gastric or duodenal peptic ulcers treated by injection therapy: a prospective, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: A second-look endoscopy is often performed to evaluate the efficacy of a prior injection therapy in patients with bleeding peptic gastric or duodenal ulcers. Although this strategy is widely established, it does not rely on unequivocal data from controlled studies. In a prospective, randomized, controlled multicenter trial we assessed the effect of programmed endoscopic follow-up examinations with eventual retreatment on the outcome of bleeding ulcers in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and five patients with gastric or duodenal peptic ulcers presenting with active (Forrest type I) or recent (Forrest type IIa and IIb) bleeding upon endoscopy within four hours after admission were included in the study. Emergency treatment consisted of the sequential injection of both epinephrine (1:10,000 v/v) and up to 2 ml of fibrin/thrombin around the ulcer base. Fifty-two patients were randomized to receive programmed endoscopic monitoring with eventual retreatment in cases of Forrest type I, IIa, or IIb ulcers beginning within 16-24 hours after the index bleed. Follow-up endoscopies were continued until the macroscopic appearance revealed a Forrest type IIc or III ulcer. Fifty-three patients in the control group were closely monitored, and only received a second endoscopy when there was clinical or biochemical evidence of recurrent bleeding. The groups did not differ with respect to age, sex, site and severity of bleeding. RESULTS: The numbers of patients with recurrent bleeding were similar whether they were endoscopically monitored or not (21% versus 17%, P=0.80 chi-squared test). In addition, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to the number of blood units transfused, need for surgical intervention, hospital stay or number of deaths (Mann-Whitney U-test). Improving local ulcer stigmata was not related to a better outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Programmed endoscopic follow-up examinations with eventual retreatment in patients locally injected for an acute or recent hemorrhage from a gastric or duodenal ulcer did not influence their outcome when compared to patients receiving only a second endoscopic intervention upon evidence for recurrent hemorrhage. Scheduled control endoscopies cannot be recommended after an initial successful endoscopic treatment of peptic ulcer bleeding when selection of the patients for second-look endoscopy is directed by the Forrest criteria.