[Staffing situation and basics requirement calculations in the inpatient and outpatient sector in Germany - a representative survey by the Working Group of Senior Gastroenterology Hospital Physicians (ALGK)].

In Germany, there are no uniform hospital standards for the transparent calculation of medical staffing requirements in hospitals. This is particularly true for outpatient services.The ALGK conducted a member survey via the link https://de.

Hepatitis E virus infection in immunosuppressed patients and its clinical manifestations.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a main cause of acute hepatitis globally. However, immunosuppressed patients regularly develop chronic courses. The aim of this study was to analyse the current status of HEV diagnostics, characterize clinical manifestations and identify risk factors for complicated HEV infections.

Intraductal ultrasound substantiates diagnostics of bile duct strictures of uncertain etiology.

Aim: To report the largest patient cohort study investigating the diagnostic yield of intraductal ultrasound (IDUS) in indeterminate strictures of the common bile duct.

Methods: A patient cohort with bile duct strictures of unknown etiology was examined by IDUS. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy rates of IDUS were calculated relating to the definite diagnoses proved by histopathology or long-term follow-up in those patients who did not undergo surgery.

Biliary tract candidiasis: diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in a case series.

Background: Biliary obstruction with its wide range of potential causes is a common disorder in gastroenterology. Infections of the biliary tract with Candida and other fungal species leading to obstructive jaundice have increasingly been recognized in the last few years. Besides a few case reports, there are few data in the literature giving us an idea how to diagnose and treat these patients.

Endoluminal gastroplasty (EndoCinch) versus endoscopic polymer implantation (Enteryx) for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: 6-month results of a prospective, randomized trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare and determine the efficiency and safety of two newly introduced endoscopic antireflux procedures in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods: In a prospective, randomized trial, endoluminal gastroplasty (EndoCinch) was compared with polymer injection (Enteryx) employing 51 consecutive patients dependent on proton pump inhibitor therapy. Follow-up evaluation included drug consumption, symptoms, quality-of-life scoring, endoscopy, pH monitoring, manometry, and documentation of adverse events.

High-dose interferon-alpha2b induction therapy in combination with ribavirin for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with non-response or relapse after interferon-alpha monotherapy.

Aim: To evaluate the daily high-dose induction therapy with interferon-alpha2b (IFN-alpha2b) in combination with ribavirin for the treatment of patients who failed with interferon monotherapy and had a relapse, based on the assumption that the viral burden would decline faster, thus increasing the likelihood of higher response rates in this difficult-to-treat patient group.

Methods: Seventy patients were enrolled in this study. Treatment was started with 10 MU IFN-alpha2b daily for 3 wk, followed by IFN-alpha2b 5 MU/TIW in combination with ribavirin (1 000-1 200 mg/d) for 21 wk.

Guideline based structured documentation: the final goal?

Structured documentation of medical procedures facilitates information retrieval for research and therapy and may help to improve patient care. Most medical documents until today however consist mainly of unstructured narrative text. Here we present an application for endoscopy which is not only fully integrated into a comprehensive clinical information system, but which also supports various degrees of structuring examination reports.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, intraductal ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in bile duct strictures: a prospective comparison of imaging diagnostics with histopathological correlation.

Objectives: A variety of imaging techniques are available to diagnose bile duct strictures; the most effective imaging technique, however, has not been established yet. In the present study, we compared the impact of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS), and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with regard to diagnosing bile duct strictures.

Methods: We prospectively examined 33 patients with jaundice due to bile duct strictures by ERCP plus IDUS and MRCP.

[Value of endosonography in diagnostic staging of primary gastric lymphoma (MALT type)].

Background And Aims: The incidence of gastric MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphomas has significantly increased during the past few years. Especially when MALT lymphomas are treated conventionally, e.g.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in the treatment of portal hypertension using memotherm stents: a prospective multicenter study.

Purpose: In a prospective multicenter study, efficacy and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) were evaluated in the treatment of the complications of portal hypertension using a new self-expanding mesh-wire stent (Memotherm).

Methods: One hundred and eighty-one patients suffering from variceal bleeding (either acute or recurrent) or refractory ascites were enrolled. Postinterventional follow-up lasted for 8.