Booster-free anti-retroviral therapy for persons living with HIV and multidrug resistance (B-Free): protocol for a multicentre, multistage, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial.

Introduction: Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) simplification strategies are needed for treatment-experienced people with HIV (PWH) and multidrug-resistant viruses. These individuals are commonly treated with boosted ART regimens and are thereby at risk for harmful drug-drug interactions (DDI). In this trial, we aim to assess the efficacy of the combination doravirine, dolutegravir and lamivudine (DOR/DTG/3TC) among people with a history of virological failure who receive boosted ART.

Effect of goal-directed mobilisation versus standard care on physical functioning among medical inpatients: the GoMob-in randomised, controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effect of goal-directed mobilisation (GDM) on physical functioning in medical inpatients.

Design: Randomised, controlled, single-centre, parallel, superiority trial with a 3-month follow-up and blinded outcome assessment.

Setting: General internal medicine wards of a Swiss tertiary acute hospital, September 2021 to April 2023.

Efficacy and Safety of Dolutegravir Plus Emtricitabine vs Combined Antiretroviral Therapy for the Maintenance of HIV Suppression: Results Through Week 144 of the SIMPL'HIV Trial.

The SIMPL'HIV study investigated whether switching to dolutegravir (DTG) + emtricitabine (FTC) was noninferior to continuing combined antiretroviral therapy for maintaining HIV-1 suppression at 144 weeks. The study demonstrated that viral suppression, CD4 gains, adverse events, quality of life, and patient satisfaction were comparable between groups, confirming DTG + FTC's safety and efficacy for long-term management of HIV-1 infection.

Baseline platelet count and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute venous thromboembolism: a prospective cohort study.

An abnormal platelet count (PC) is common in acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) but its relationship with clinical outcomes remains ill-defined. We aimed to explore the association between baseline PC and the long-term risk of clinically relevant outcomes in a prospective cohort of 991 patients with acute VTE. We classified patients into four PC groups: very low (< 100 G/l), low (≥ 100 to < 150 G/l), normal (≥ 150 G/l to ≤ 450 G/l), and high (> 450 G/l).

Histological Phenotyping in Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Localized Proximal Disease Is Infrequent but Associated with Less Severe Disease and Better Disease Outcome.

Introduction: It is still unknown whether eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) patients with localized disease are different from those with extended disease.

Methods: We evaluated prospectively included patients in the Swiss EoE cohort. Data on all patients with active disease at baseline, no concomitant gastroesophageal reflux disease, no strictures at baseline, and at least one follow-up visit were analyzed.

Quality of life in elderly patients with venous thromboembolism assessed using patient-reported outcome measures.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL), using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), in elderly patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and to explore whether VTE complications (recurrence, bleeding, or postthrombotic syndrome) had an impact on later QoL.

Methods: We used data from the SWIss venous Thromboembolism COhort of older patients(SWITCO65+), a prospective multicenter cohort of patients aged ≥65 years with acute, symptomatic VTE. Primary outcome was changes in QoL up to 24 months, assessed using generic (36-Item Short-Form Health Survey), with physical (PCS) and mental component score (MCS), and disease-specific (Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study [VEINES]-QoL, [VEINES-Sym], and Pulmonary Embolism QoL) PROMs.

Investigating the influence of long-axial versus short-axial field of view PET/CT on stage migration in lymphoma and non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of a long-axial field-of-view (LAFOV) on stage migration using a large single-centre retrospective cohort in lymphoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: A retrospective study is performed for patients undergoing PET/computed tomography (CT) on either a short-axial field-of-view (SAFOV) or LAFOV PET/CT system for the staging of known or suspected NSCLC or for therapeutic response in lymphoma. The primary endpoint was the Deauville therapy response score for patients with lymphoma for the two systems.

Effect of the Friendship Bench Intervention on Antiretroviral Therapy Outcomes and Mental Health Symptoms in Rural Zimbabwe: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

Importance: Common mental disorders (CMD), which include depression and anxiety, are prevalent among people living with HIV and are associated with suboptimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence.

Objective: To assess the effect of a lay health worker-led psychological intervention on ART adherence, virologic suppression, and mental health symptoms.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Open-label pragmatic cluster trial with 1:1 block randomization of 16 health facilities in rural Bikita, Zimbabwe.

Accuracy of screening tests for cervical pre-cancer in women living with HIV in low-resource settings: a paired prospective study in Lusaka, Zambia.

Introduction: To provide evidence to improve cervical screening for women living with HIV (WLHIV), we assessed the accuracy of screening tests that can be used in low-resource settings and give results at the same visit.

Methods: We conducted a paired, prospective study among consecutive eligible WLHIV, aged 18-65 years, receiving cervical cancer screening at one hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. The histopathological reference standard was multiple biopsies taken at two time points.

Near-peer compared to faculty teaching of abdominal ultrasound for medical students - A randomized-controlled trial.

Purpose: Medical schools increasingly rely on near-peer tutors for ultrasound teaching. We set out to compare the efficacy of a blended near-peer ultrasound teaching program to that of a faculty course in a randomized controlled trial.

Methods: 152 medical students received 21 hours of ultrasound teaching either by near-peer teachers or medical doctors.

Optimising prescribing in older adults with multimorbidity and polypharmacy in primary care (OPTICA): cluster randomised clinical trial.

Objective: To study the effects of a primary care medication review intervention centred around an electronic clinical decision support system (eCDSS) on appropriateness of medication and the number of prescribing omissions in older adults with multimorbidity and polypharmacy compared with a discussion about medication in line with usual care.

Design: Cluster randomised clinical trial.

Setting: Swiss primary care, between December 2018 and February 2021.

Prediction of very early major bleeding risk in acute pulmonary embolism: an independent external validation of the Pulmonary Embolism-Syncope, Anemia, and Renal Dysfunction (PE-SARD) bleeding score.

Background: The Pulmonary Embolism-Syncope, Anemia, and Renal Dysfunction (PE-SARD) bleeding score was derived to predict very early major bleeding (MB) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Before adoption into practice, the score requires external validation in different populations.

Objectives: We independently validated the PE-SARD score in a prospective multicenter Swiss cohort of 687 patients aged ≥65 years with acute PE.

Thrombophilia and outcomes of venous thromboembolism in older patients.

Background: Limited data exist on thrombophilic risk factors and clinical outcomes in the elderly with venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of laboratory thrombophilic risk factors and their association with VTE recurrence or death in a cohort of elderly people with VTE.

Methods: In 240 patients aged ≥65 years with acute VTE without active cancer or an indication for extended anticoagulation, we performed laboratory thrombophilia testing 1 year after the index VTE.

Effect of the Friendship Bench intervention on antiretroviral therapy outcomes and mental health symptoms in rural Zimbabwe: A cluster randomized trial.

Importance: Common mental disorders (CMD) are prevalent in people living with HIV and associated with suboptimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence.

Objective: To assess the effect of a lay health worker-led psychological intervention on adherence to ART, virologic suppression and mental health symptoms.

Design: Pragmatic cluster trial with block randomization of health facilities.

External validation of the PAGE-B score for HCC risk prediction in people living with HIV/HBV coinfection.

Background & Aims: HBV coinfection is common among people living with HIV (PLWH) and is the most important cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While risk prediction tools for HCC have been validated in patients with HBV monoinfection, they have not been evaluated in PLWH. Thus, we performed an external validation of PAGE-B in people with HIV/HBV coinfection.

VoiceS: voice quality after transoral CO laser surgery versus single vocal cord irradiation for unilateral stage 0 and I glottic larynx cancer-a randomized phase III trial.

Background: Surgery and radiotherapy are well-established standards of care for unilateral stage 0 and I early-stage glottic cancer (ESGC). Based on comparative studies and meta-analyses, functional and oncological outcomes after both treatment modalities are similar. Historically, radiotherapy (RT) has been performed by irradiation of the whole larynx.

Is Internal Rotation Measurement of the Hip Useful for Ruling in Cam or Pincer Morphology in Asymptomatic Males? A Diagnostic Accuracy Study.

Background: Cam and pincer morphologies are associated with limited internal rotation. However, the routine clinical examination for hip rotation has limited reliability. A more standardized method of measuring hip rotation might increase test-retest and interobserver reliability and might be useful as a screening test to detect different hip morphologies without the need for imaging.

Frailty as a Predictor of Poor Rehabilitation Outcomes among Older Patients Attending a Geriatric Day Hospital Program: An Observational Study.

Background: The Geriatric Day Hospital (GDH) is an important outpatient geriatric service, but there are few data on the role of frailty as a potential predictor of poor outcomes in this setting. Methods: Data were analyzed from 499 patients aged ≥ 60 years attending a 12-week GDH program between 2018 and 2021. Frailty status was defined as non-frail (68, 13.

Effect of goal-directed mobilisation intervention compared with standard care on physical activity among medical inpatients: protocol for the GoMob-in randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Despite the fact that immobilisation is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality, patients hospitalised in general internal medicine (GIM) wards spend up to 50% of time in bed. Previous studies in selected patient populations showed increased mobility after implementation of goal-directed mobilisation (GDM). Due to the study design used so far, the degree of evidence is generally low.

Profit-Influencing Factors in Orthopedic Surgery: An Analysis of Costs and Reimbursements.

The aging population and the associated demand for orthopedic surgeries are increasing health costs. Although the Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG) system was introduced to offer incentives for hospitals, concerns remain that reimbursements for older and frail patients do not cover all hospital expenses. We investigated further: (1) Does age influence net financial results in orthopedic surgery? (2) Are there patient or surgical factors that influence results? This retrospective, monocentric study compares costs and reimbursements for orthopedic patients in a tertiary care hospital in Switzerland between 2015 and 2017.

Incidence and clinical impact of bleeding events in older patients with acute venous thromboembolism.

Older patients anticoagulated for venous thromboembolism (VTE) have an increased risk of bleeding compared with younger patients. Little is known about the clinical impact of anticoagulation-related bleeding in this growing patient group. To prospectively assess the incidence, clinical impact, and predictors of bleeding in older patients anticoagulated for VTE, we analyzed 981 patients aged ≥65 years with acute VTE in a prospective multicenter cohort.