Bone mineral density and its determinants in men with opioid dependence.

Data on the influence of opioid substitution therapy (OST) on skeletal health in men is limited. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of low bone mass in male drug users and to evaluate the relationship between endogenous testosterone and bone mass. We recruited 144 men on long-term opioid maintenance therapy followed in the Center of Addiction Medicine in Basel, Switzerland.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.

The reported prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) in Switzerland for the years 2008-2010 has been low at <5%. At the University Hospital Zurich, 17 cases of VRE were detected between 28 December 2009 and 15 February 2010. Nine cases were diagnosed clinically; eight cases were detected by rectal screening.

Trends in imported malaria to Basel, Switzerland.

Background: Due to persistent international travel and immigration trends, imported malaria remains to be of clinical and public health importance in nonendemic countries. The aim of this study was to investigate trends in imported malaria over a period of more than three decades.

Methods: We assessed travel history, demographic characteristics, and clinical course with special regard to malaria diagnosis and intensive care unit (ICU) admission of patients diagnosed with malaria.

Management of pulmonary tuberculosis in Tajikistan: which factors determine hospitalization-.

Objective: To assess predictors for tuberculosis hospitalization and treatment outcome in Tajikistan.

Methods: Stratified, single stage cluster sample survey of 1495 adult patients with pulmonary TB during 2 calendar years (2005-2006) from the registries of 10 TB centres chosen by simple random sampling. The primary outcome was referral to hospital.

Female genital mutilation in the context of migration: experience of African women with the Swiss health care system.

Background: In contrast to other European countries, the Swiss health care system does not deal with the specific needs of women with female genital mutilation (FGM) in a consistent manner, though migrants from countries where FGM is commonly practised are living in Switzerland.

Methods: For this study, the interaction of women who had undergone FGM, with the Swiss health services was analysed both from the perspective of the women concerned and that of health care professionals (doctors and midwives). The methods used were mainly qualitative, including focus group discussions with 29 women from Somalia and Eritrea and telephone interviews with 37 health care professionals.