Safety and effectiveness of a traditional ginkgo fresh plant extract - results from a clinical trial.

Background: In Chinese medicine, Ginkgo biloba is used for a variety of indications. In the current study, the safety and efficacy of a traditional fresh plant extract was investigated in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Patients And Methods: 59 elderly patients were treated for 6 weeks with a twice daily tablet containing 90 mg of fresh plant Ginkgo biloba extract.

A randomised trial of a geriatric evaluation and management consultation services in frail hospitalised patients.

Background: the usefulness of geriatric evaluation and management (GEM) approaches in the care of frail elderly patients remains uncertain. We examined whether an inpatient geriatric consultation service might be beneficial in a country with a social welfare system.

Methods: we conducted a randomised trial with 345 patients from five centres.

[A pilot project with clowns in psychiatric clinics].

Background: This project examines whether visits of specially trained clinic clowns, as established in pediatrics, would also be useful in psychiatry.

Methods: We describe the effects of a 6-week phase with one clown visit per week in a ward for acutely ill geriatric patients. The patients and medical team were also questioned about their attitudes towards the clowns.

Occupancy of dopamine D(1), D (2) and serotonin (2A) receptors in schizophrenic patients treated with flupentixol in comparison with risperidone and haloperidol.

Rationale: Flupentixol (FLX) has been used as a neuroleptic for nearly 4 decades. In vitro data show comparable affinity to dopamine D(2), D(1) and 5-HT(2A) receptors and recently, FLX showed to be not inferior to risperidone in schizophrenic patients with predominant negative symptomatology, which was implicated with flupentixol's interaction with 5-HT(2A) and/or D(1) receptors.

Objectives: To assess in vivo receptor occupancy (RO) in patients clinically treated with FLX (n = 13, 5.