The triad of erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism and the metabolic syndrome.

Aim: To identify the relationship of erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism and the metabolic syndrome in the context of men's health.

Methods: An Expert Panel Meeting was held in December 2006 in Vienna, Austria. In addition a comprehensive literature search was conducted.

Changes in professional development. Educating the gastroenterologist for the year 2000.

Recent changes in society, the practice in medicine, the health care delivery and new technologies will have a direct impact on the development of the medical profession. Thus, there is a need for more efficient, evidence-based and evaluated continuing medical education (CME) programs. But CME in one's own speciality interest is not enough.

[7 advances in internal and general medicine--practical perspectives].

A popular new feature of the Van Swieten Congress' Annual Session is the update in General Internal Medicine. The following paper serves as a straight forward, if admittedly biased, guide for the practicing GP and general internist to seven of the presented clinically important advances in the last few years. The areas chosen are cholesterol, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, helicobacter pylori, osteoporosis, pneumonia, prevention, and finally thromboembolic disease.

Wilson's disease in patients presenting with liver disease: a diagnostic challenge.

Background & Aims: In patients with Wilson's disease presenting with liver involvement, the correct diagnosis is often missed or delayed. The aim of this study was to find an algorithm for diagnosis of this difficult patient group.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory findings of 55 patients with Wilson's disease were evaluated at diagnosis before treatment.

Octreotide combined with goserelin in the therapy of advanced pancreatic cancer--results of a pilot study and review of the literature.

The two hormone analogues octreotide and goserelin have been shown to decelerate growth of human pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. The objective of this pilot study was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of these two agents in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Octreotide was injected subcutaneously in dosages increasing weekly, starting with 50 micrograms twice daily, until the level of maintenance therapy of 500 micrograms three times a day was reached.

Vinorelbine-induced neurotoxicity in patients with advanced breast cancer pretreated with paclitaxel--a phase II study.

Vinorelbine (VNB) shows high antitumoral activity in advanced breast cancer due to its high affinity for mitotic tubulin and differs from the other vinca alkaloids with regard to its low degree of neurotoxicity because of its low affinity for axonal tubulin. Preclinical data show the existence of different binding sites on tubulin for vinca alkaloids and paclitaxel (P), suggesting a lack of cross-resistance. Thus, VNB was chosen eligible for a phase II study to evaluate both the therapeutic efficacy and the toxicity of VNB in patients (pts) with advanced breast cancer failing first- or second-line chemotherapy with P.

[Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection].

A number of direct (histology, specific culture) and indirect (serology, urease test, breath test) diagnostic tests for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are available. The gold standard for H.

[Helicobacter pylori and the mouth cavity--overview and perspectives].

In view of the possibility of reinfection after successful treatment and the pitfalls in eradicating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) from gastric mucosa, it is of great interest to identify natural reservoirs for this organism, other than the stomach. This review discusses the results of investigations as to whether H.

[Pancreatic carcinoma--epidemiology and risk factors].

The incidence of pancreatic cancer has increased steadily over the past decades throughout the world. Pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of death from cancer in the western world. In 1991 1074 Austrians died of pancreatic cancer.

[Supportive therapy of pancreatic carcinoma].

Due to the progressive clinical course and unchanged poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer supportive therapy has to focus on improvement of the quality of life. Pain control is best achieved with slow release opiates and by chemoablation of the coeliac plexus. Furthermore, management of anorexia with megestrol acetate and tumor-adapted enteral and parenteral nutritional therapy are discussed.

[Helicobacter pylori: clinical pictures of an infectious disease with pathogen persistence].

It is the aim of this paper to provide survey of the very fast developing field of medical research on Helicobacter pylori which includes as different branches as gastroenterology, pharmacology or microbiology. After examination of the several diseases, pathological mechanisms, the diagnostical techniques and the therapeutical regimens, the authors of this study favorize an early indication for eradication of helicobater pylori. Since research on Helicobacter pylori is divided into many fields, there is the attempt to come to a clear and more rational point of view concerning therapeutical strategies and management of the infection.

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy findings in patients with long-standing bulimia nervosa.

Bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder now recognized with increasing frequency, is receiving growing attention because of purported complications. Recent claims of a high frequency of erosions, ulceration, and bleeding in the esophagus, ascribed to repeated, self-induced vomiting, prompted us to investigate by endoscopy the upper gastrointestinal mucosa in 37 consecutive patients with long-standing bulimia nervosa. The endoscopic appearance of esophageal and gastric mucosa was normal in 23 patients.

Randomized controlled trial of silymarin treatment in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

Silymarin, the active principle of the milk thistle Silybum marianum, protects experimental animals against various hepatotoxic substances. To determine the effect of silymarin on the outcome of patients with cirrhosis, a double blind, prospective, randomized study was performed in 170 patients with cirrhosis. 87 patients (alcoholic 46, non-alcoholic 41; 61 male, 26 female; Child A, 47; B, 37; C, 3; mean age 57) received 140 mg silymarin three times daily.