Full Correlations across Broad NMR Spectra by Two-Field Total Correlation Spectroscopy.

Total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY) is a key experiment to assign nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of complex molecules. Carbon-13 TOCSY experiments are essential to assign signals of protein side chains. However, the performance of carbon-13 TOCSY deteriorates at high magnetic fields since the necessarily limited radiofrequency irradiation fails to cover the broad range of carbon-13 frequencies.

High-resolution two-field nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a ubiquitous branch of spectroscopy that can explore matter at the scale of an atom. Significant improvements in sensitivity and resolution have been driven by a steady increase of static magnetic field strengths. However, some properties of nuclei may be more favourable at low magnetic fields.

What are patients' expectations about the organization of their primary care physicians' practices?

Background: To our knowledge no study has at the same time assessed patients' satisfaction and their expectations concerning the organizational and contextual aspects of health care provided by their primary care physician (PCP). Assessing these aspects is important to inform future primary healthcare service planning. Our objective was thus to document patients' satisfaction with and expectations from their PCP, in terms of availability and organization of their practices, and to assess whether these indicators varied across age groups and type of practice (solo, duo, group).

Accuracy of doctors' anthropometric measurements in general practice.

Purpose: There is increasing pressure on general practitioners (GPs) to identify patients with abdominal obesity in order to reduce the life-threatening consequences of this condition in the population. We aimed to confirm previous findings on the inaccuracy of anthropometric measurements performed by GPs in an academic primary care clinic and to assess the effect of theoretical training to improve the quality of these measurements.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 26 GPs from private practices in Geneva, Switzerland.

Blood pressure measurements are unreliable to diagnose hypertension in primary care.

Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of blood pressure (BP) measurements performed by primary care physicians (PCPs), and to assess whether it improves following a short theoretical training.

Methods: Observational study in 26 primary care practices in Geneva, Switzerland. The PCPs were asked to measure BP on 10 volunteers, within the usual context of their practice.

Effectiveness of rapid transport of victims and community health education on snake bite fatalities in rural Nepal.

Snake bite is a major public problem in the rural tropics. In southern Nepal, most deaths caused by neurotoxic envenomation occur in the village or during transport to health centers. The effectiveness of victims' transport by motorcycle volunteers to a specialized treatment center, combined with community health education, was assessed in a non-randomized, single-arm, before-after study conducted in four villages (population = 62,127).

Growing discontent of Swiss doctors, 1998-2007.

Background: Work satisfaction of doctors is a useful indicator of the functioning of the health-care system. We documented the work satisfaction of doctors nine years apart, before and after the implementation of several health-care reforms (limitation of working hours for medical trainees, restrictions on new doctors' offices, new reimbursement fee schedule, greater administrative controls).

Methods: Two surveys of all doctors working in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland (1998: 1146 respondents, 2007: 1546 respondents).

[Epidemiological surveillance: family doctors' responsibility].

Epidemiological surveillance systems are essential and require efficient collaborations between family doctors and public health services. Such a system has to take into account the increase in the number of health problems to be studied. Information gathered at an individual level should imply decisions at a population level which in turn should impact on the individual patient.

What doctors think about the impact of managed care tools on quality of care, costs, autonomy, and relations with patients.

Background: How doctors perceive managed care tools and incentives is not well known. We assessed doctors' opinions about the expected impact of eight managed care tools on quality of care, control of health care costs, professional autonomy and relations with patients.

Methods: Mail survey of doctors (N = 1546) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Predicted 30-year protection after vaccination with an aluminum-free virosomal hepatitis A vaccine.

Few studies have examined the duration of protection following vaccination against hepatitis A virus (HAV) with currently licensed HAV vaccines. This study explored the long-term immunogenicity in individuals vaccinated with the virosomal hepatitis A virus, Epaxal. Adult volunteers (N = 130) previously enrolled into four different studies between 1992 and 1994 and who had completed a 0/12-month immunization regimen (primary and booster dose) were asked to participate in this follow-up study.

Trend of burnout among Swiss doctors.

Question Under Study: Over the last decade the Swiss health care system has undergone several changes, resulting in stronger economic constraints, a heavier administrative workload and limited work autonomy for doctors. In this context we examined the change in burnout prevalence over time among Swiss doctors surveyed during this period.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey data collected by mail in 2002, 2004 and 2007 throughout the country were used.

Prevalence and associated factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection among undocumented immigrants in a primary care facility in Geneva, Switzerland: a cross-sectional study.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection (CTI) is the most frequent sexually transmitted infection in western countries. Its prevalence in undocumented immigrants, a rapidly growing vulnerable population, remains unknown. We aimed to document the prevalence of CTI and associated factors at the primary health care level.

Relationships between work satisfaction, emotional exhaustion and mental health among Swiss primary care physicians.

Background: Work-related satisfaction is an important determinant of quality of care. However, its relationship with doctors' mental health is poorly understood. It could have an independent beneficial effect on mental health (direct association) or simply reduce the impact of work stress on mental health (moderating or 'buffering' role).

Epaxal: a virosomal vaccine to prevent hepatitis A infection.

Over the last few decades, different types of inactivated hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccines have been developed: several aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines and an aluminum-free, virosome-formulated vaccine. Both types of vaccines are whole-virus preparations that are produced by growth of HAV strains in human diploid cell cultures and are subsequently inactivated with formaldehyde. This review summarizes all published papers on a virosome-formulated vaccine, Epaxal, based on formalin inactivated HAV (strain RG-SB) adsorbed to the surface of special liposomes (virosomes), that replace aluminum hydroxide as the adjuvant principle.

Reliability of doctors' anthropometric measurements to detect obesity.

Objective: To evaluate the reliability of anthropometric measurements (weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences (WC; HC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) performed by doctors to assess obesity.

Method: Repeated anthropometric measurements were performed by 12 primary care physicians on 24 adult volunteers in Geneva, Switzerland, 2006. Volunteers (54% women, mean age 41) had a mean BMI of 28.

Recent advances with a virosomal hepatitis A vaccine.

Background: Epaxal, a virosomal vaccine against hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection, has been in use for nearly 15 years, especially among at-risk adults. Recent studies have shown that it is also a potent vaccine for children.

Objective: To summarise recent advances of Epaxal Junior (0.

[Medical tourism: a new kind of traveler?].

In an era of globalisation, an increasing number of patients are seeking medical care abroad, for a fraction of the price in their home country The reasons are numerous. Some countries face an increasing demand, either because of inappropriate health insurance coverage (e.g.

Prevalence of burnout among Swiss cancer clinicians, paediatricians and general practitioners: who are most at risk?

Goals Of Work: Increasing economical and administrative constraints and changes in health-care systems constitute a risk for burnout, especially for cancer physicians. However, little is known about differences across medical specialties and the importance of work characteristics.

Methods: A postal questionnaire addressing burnout, psychiatric morbidity, sociodemographics and work characteristics was administered to 180 cancer physicians, 184 paediatricians and 197 general practitioners in Switzerland.

Doctor-patient gender concordance and patient satisfaction in interpreter-mediated consultations: an exploratory study.

Background: Research suggests that doctor-patient communication patterns and patient satisfaction are influenced by gender. However, little is known about the effect of gender in consultations with foreign language-speaking patients and in interpreter-mediated consultations.

Methods: The objective of the study was to explore the effect of doctor-patient gender concordance on satisfaction of foreign language-speaking patients in consultations with and without a professional interpreter.

Transcultural validity of a structured diagnostic interview to screen for major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among refugees.

Refugees and asylum seekers have a high risk of developing mental health problems and appropriate screening in people from diverse origins remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to validate a structured diagnostic interview, adapted from the Major Depressive Episode (MDE) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) sections of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, to detect these disorders among newly arrived asylum seekers. The adapted questionnaire was administered by nurses in a primary care context and its performance was judged against the expert opinion of a mental health specialist.