[Lung cancer screening - an overview about chances and risks].

Lung cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Patients are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage and have a very poor prognosis. In Switzerland, lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death in men and the second most frequent cause of cancer death in women.

Contribution of genetic background, traditional risk factors, and HIV-related factors to coronary artery disease events in HIV-positive persons.

Background: Persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have increased rates of coronary artery disease (CAD). The relative contribution of genetic background, HIV-related factors, antiretroviral medications, and traditional risk factors to CAD has not been fully evaluated in the setting of HIV infection.

Methods: In the general population, 23 common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were shown to be associated with CAD through genome-wide association analysis.

Comment on "Lethally hot temperatures during the Early Triassic greenhouse".

Sun et al. (Reports, 19 October 2012, p. 366) reconstructed Permian to Middle Triassic equatorial seawater temperatures.

Low levels of mannan-binding lectin or ficolins are not associated with an increased risk of cytomegalovirus disease in HIV-infected patients.

Background: In HIV-infected patients, prediction of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease remains difficult. A protective role of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and ficolins against CMV disease has been reported after transplantation, but the impact in HIV-infected patients is unclear.

Methods: In a case-control study nested within the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, we investigated associations between plasma levels of MBL/ficolins and CMV disease.

Risk of cardiovascular events and blood pressure control in hypertensive HIV-infected patients: Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS).

Background: Prevalence of hypertension in HIV infection is high, and information on blood pressure control in HIV-infected individuals is insufficient. We modeled blood pressure over time and the risk of cardiovascular events in hypertensive HIV-infected individuals.

Methods: All patients from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study with confirmed hypertension (systolic or diastolic blood pressure above 139 or 89 mm Hg on 2 consecutive visits and presence of at least 1 additional cardiovascular risk factor) between April 1, 2000 and March 31, 2011 were included.

Outcome at two years of age in a Swiss national cohort of extremely preterm infants born between 2000 and 2008.

Background: While survival rates of extremely preterm infants have improved over the last decades, the incidence of neurodevelopmental disability (ND) in survivors remains high. Representative current data on the severity of disability and of risk factors associated with poor outcome in this growing population are necessary for clinical guidance and parent counselling.

Methods: Prospective longitudinal multicentre cohort study of preterm infants born in Switzerland between 24(0/7) and 27(6/7) weeks gestational age during 2000-2008.

Impact of HIV-1 subtype on CD4 count at HIV seroconversion, rate of decline, and viral load set point in European seroconverter cohorts.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype may influence disease progression. We compared CD4 lymphocyte cell count levels at seroconversion, decline rates and viral load set point in individuals infected with different HIV-1 subtypes.

Methods: We used data from the Concerted Action on SeroConversion to AIDS and Death in Europe (CASCADE) collaboration, restricted to those infected since 1996, aged ≥15 years, and applied mixed effects models for CD4 cell count decline and median regression for viral load set point (mean level 6-24 months from seroconversion).

Delayed cyclic activity development on early amplitude-integrated EEG in the preterm infant with brain lesions.

Background: Maturation of amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) activity is influenced by both gestational age (GA) and postmenstrual age. It is not fully known how this process is influenced by cerebral lesions.

Objective: To compare early aEEG developmental changes between preterm newborns with different degrees of cerebral lesions on cranial ultrasound (cUS).

Self-perceived health status and mental health outcomes in young adults born with less than 1000 g.

Aim: To assess self-perceived health status and mental health outcomes of former extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants at young adulthood compared with community norms and to analyse predictors of poor outcome.

Methods: Fifty-five ELBW adults, 18 men (33%), with median (range) gestational age of 28.7 (25.

An internationally generalizable risk index for mortality after one year of antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: Despite the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART), excess mortality continues for those with HIV infection. A comprehensive approach to risk assessment, addressing multiorgan system injury on ART, is needed. We sought to develop and validate a practical and generalizable mortality risk index for HIV-infected individuals on ART.

Resurgence of HIV infection among men who have sex with men in Switzerland: mathematical modelling study.

Background: New HIV infections in men who have sex with men (MSM) have increased in Switzerland since 2000 despite combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The objectives of this mathematical modelling study were: to describe the dynamics of the HIV epidemic in MSM in Switzerland using national data; to explore the effects of hypothetical prevention scenarios; and to conduct a multivariate sensitivity analysis.

Methodology/principal Findings: The model describes HIV transmission, progression and the effects of cART using differential equations.

Development and validation of a coronary risk prediction model for older U.S. and European persons in the Cardiovascular Health Study and the Rotterdam Study.

Background: Risk scores for prediction of coronary heart disease (CHD) in older adults are needed.

Objective: To develop a sex-specific CHD risk prediction model for older adults that accounts for competing risks for death.

Design: 2 observational cohort studies, using data from 4946 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) and 4303 participants in the Rotterdam Study (RS).

Procalcitonin to initiate or discontinue antibiotics in acute respiratory tract infections.

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) comprise a large and heterogeneous group of infections including bacterial, viral and other aetiologies. In recent years, procalcitonin - the prohormone of calcitonin - has emerged as a promising marker for the diagnosis of bacterial infections and for improving decisions about antibiotic therapy. Several randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated the feasibility of using procalcitonin for starting and stopping antibiotics in different patient populations with acute respiratory infections and different settings ranging from primary care to emergency departments (EDs), hospital wards and intensive care units (ICUs).

Rectal paracetamol in newborn infants after assisted vaginal delivery may increase pain response.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of paracetamol (acetaminophen) for neonatal pain relief.

Study Design: Randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial in 3 Swiss university hospitals. Term and near-term infants (n = 123) delivered by forceps or vacuum were randomized to receive 2 suppositories with paracetamol (60/80/100 mg in infants <3000 g/3000-4000 g/>4000 g birth weight) or placebo at 2 and 8 hours of life.

Urinary erythropoietin concentrations after early short-term infusion of high-dose recombinant epo for neuroprotection in preterm neonates.

Background: High-dose recombinant human erythropoietin (rEpo) has first been administered in clinical trials for neuroprotection in very preterm neonates at high risk of brain injury and in (near-) term neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. However, recent trials in adults raised concerns about the safety of high-dose rEpo for neuro- and cardioprotection.

Objectives: To evaluate the putative accumulation or renal leakage of Epo as a function of developmental stage after repetitive early short-term infusion of high-dose rEpo (3 × 3,000 U/kg within 42 h after birth; NCT00413946) for neuroprotection in very preterm infants.

Cycled light exposure reduces fussing and crying in very preterm infants.

Objective: To examine whether cycled lighting (CL) conditions during neonatal care in very preterm infants (<32 weeks' gestational age [GA]) decrease crying and fussing behavior, improve the consolidation of sleep, and influence activity behavior at 5 and 11 weeks' postterm corrected age (CA) compared with preterm infants cared for in dim lighting (DL) conditions.

Methods: Thirty-seven preterm infants were randomly assigned to CL (7 am-7 pm lights on, 7 pm-7 am lights off [n = 17; mean GA: 30.6 ± 0.

Procalcitonin to guide initiation and duration of antibiotic treatment in acute respiratory infections: an individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Procalcitonin algorithms may reduce antibiotic use for acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs). We undertook an individual patient data meta-analysis to assess safety of this approach in different ARI diagnoses and different clinical settings.

Methods: We identified clinical trials in which patients with ARI were assigned to receive antibiotics based on a procalcitonin algorithm or usual care by searching the Cochrane Register, MEDLINE, and EMBASE.

The effect of efavirenz versus nevirapine-containing regimens on immunologic, virologic and clinical outcomes in a prospective observational study.

Objective: To compare regimens consisting of either efavirenz or nevirapine and two or more nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) among HIV-infected, antiretroviral-naive, and AIDS-free individuals with respect to clinical, immunologic, and virologic outcomes.

Design: Prospective studies of HIV-infected individuals in Europe and the US included in the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration.

Methods: Antiretroviral therapy-naive and AIDS-free individuals were followed from the time they started an NRTI, efavirenz or nevirapine, classified as following one or both types of regimens at baseline, and censored when they started an ineligible drug or at 6 months if their regimen was not yet complete.

Health-related quality of life and behavior of triplets at adolescent age.

Objectives: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and behavior of triplets compared with matched singletons at adolescent age and to identify medical and sociodemographic predictors of outcome.

Study Design: Fifty-four triplets (19 sets, mean [SD] gestational age 32.0 [2.

Impact of antiretroviral therapy on tuberculosis incidence among HIV-positive patients in high-income countries.

Background: The lower tuberculosis incidence reported in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals receiving combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) is difficult to interpret causally. Furthermore, the role of unmasking immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is unclear. We aim to estimate the effect of cART on tuberculosis incidence in HIV-positive individuals in high-income countries.

CD4 cell count and the risk of AIDS or death in HIV-Infected adults on combination antiretroviral therapy with a suppressed viral load: a longitudinal cohort study from COHERE.

Background: Most adults infected with HIV achieve viral suppression within a year of starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). It is important to understand the risk of AIDS events or death for patients with a suppressed viral load.

Methods And Findings: Using data from the Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research Europe (2010 merger), we assessed the risk of a new AIDS-defining event or death in successfully treated patients.

Renal function in patients with HIV starting therapy with tenofovir and either efavirenz, lopinavir or atazanavir.

Background: Tenofovir is associated with reduced renal function, but it is not clear whether there is a greater decline in renal function when tenofovir is co-administered with a boosted protease inhibitor rather than with a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI).

Methods: We calculated the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for patients in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. We estimated the difference in eGFR over time between first therapies containing tenofovir and either the NNRTI efavirenz or the protease inhibitors lopinavir (LPV/r) or atazanavir (ATV/r), both boosted with ritonavir.

Population based trends in mortality, morbidity and treatment for very preterm- and very low birth weight infants over 12 years.

Background: Over the last two decades, improvements in medical care have been associated with a significant increase and better outcome of very preterm (VP, < 32 completed gestational weeks) and very low birth weight (VLBW, < 1500 g) infants. Only a few publications analyse changes of their short-term outcome in a geographically defined area over more than 10 years. We therefore aimed to investigate the net change of VP- and VLBW infants leaving the hospital without major complications.