[Lumbar spinal stenosis: diagnosis and conservative treatment].

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis is a typical disease of the elderly patient that mainly originates in degenerative multisegmental changes of the lumbar vertebral column. The classical symptom of pain irradiation into the legs whilst walking and relief with standing is similar to peripheral arterial disease presentation but differs in the sense that symptoms can be triggered through lumbar extension and relieved with lumbar flexion whereas arterial disease is correlated with pathological arteriovascular findings. Diagnosis is usually confirmed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and response to conservative treatment (analgetics, physiotherapy, epidural injections) is usually good in the majority of cases.

Topical diclofenac and its role in pain and inflammation: an evidence-based review.

Objective: Topical diclofenac is widely used in the treatment of pain and inflammation. This comprehensive review assesses the safety and efficacy of topical diclofenac in a range of painful and inflammatory disorders.

Methods: Double-blind, randomized, placebo- or active-controlled trials (RCT) evaluating topical diclofenac in soft-tissue injuries, soft-tissue rheumatic disorders and osteoarthritis were identified through detailed literature searches.

Clinical trial: the effects of adding ranitidine at night to twice daily omeprazole therapy on nocturnal acid breakthrough and acid reflux in patients with systemic sclerosis--a randomized controlled, cross-over trial.

Background: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an important problem in systemic sclerosis due to impaired salivation and oesophageal function.

Aim: To determine the efficacy of adding ranitidine at bedtime to control nocturnal acid breakthrough (NAB) and GERD in patients with systemic sclerosis already prescribed high-dose omeprazole.

Methods: Patients with systemic sclerosis and GERD symptoms (n = 14) were treated with omeprazole 20 mg b.

Outcome of patients with arthritis and parvovirus B19 DNA in synovial membranes.

To investigate the follow-up of the 17 patients during the period of 1995-2001 of the outpatient Clinic for Rheumatology at the University Hospital of Zurich with arthritis and the presence of parvovirus B19 DNA demonstrated by PCR in synovial biopsies. Seventeen patients of 163 with arthritis, which were routinely examined by needle arthroscopy during 1995-2001 with a positive parvovirus B19 DNA by PCR of synovial biopsy were reevaluated. Investigations included medical history, clinical examination and blood tests.