Opioid-induced constipation, use of laxatives, and health-related quality of life.

Background And Aims: Real-life data on laxative use in patients suffering from opioid-induced constipation (OIC) are very limited, and many OIC patients are only using over the counter laxatives to resolve their constipation. Our aim was to describe laxative utilization and quality of life in participants in Norway who ever experienced OIC.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional online survey conducted between 27th of June and 3rd of July 2014 among participants above 18 years with self-reported OIC and who had agreed to receive information from the pharmacy chain (Boots A/S, Norway).

Biopsy testing in an inoperable, non-small cell lung cancer population-a retrospective, real-life study in Sweden.

Background: Correct diagnosis and staging are required for optimal treatment choice in lung cancer patients. This retrospective, patient medical records study investigated the clinical practice of lung cancer biopsy procedures and testing in Sweden.

Methods: Consecutive patients with a recorded inoperable, malignant tumour of bronchus and lung were retrospectively identified at geographically widespread pulmonology clinics (NCT01139619).

[The discovery of the nerve impulse. A chapter in the history of physiology].

The subject of this essay is the discovery of the nerve impulse and its historical background. The main focus is on two important physician- scientists: Emil du Bois-Reymond (1818-1896) and Julius Bernstein (1838-1917). Du Bois-Reymond is considered the first scientist in his- tory who noticed what he called the "negative variation" during the stimulation of a nerve - the action potential in the language of today.

[Carl Ludwig and his place in the history of kidney physiology].

Only very little was known about the physiology of the kidneys until the middle of the 19th century. The turning point came in 1842 when the famous German physiologist and physician Carl Ludwig (1816-1895) presented a theory about a two-step process (filtration and reabsorption) leading to the excretion of urine. This paper turns the highlights on Ludwig and the period in which he lived.

Patient-reported adherence to coprescribed proton pump inhibitor gastroprotection in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis patients using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Background: Patients with osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are commonly treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), sometimes with a concomitant gastroprotective proton pump inhibitor (PPI). The present study examines real-life patient adherence to PPIs when coprescribed with NSAIDs.

Methods: This retrospective medical record survey identified patients diagnosed with OA, RA, or AS who had PPIs coprescribed with NSAIDs for prevention of NSAID-associated gastrointestinal ulcers.