Endoscopic dilation of complete oesophageal obstructions with a combined antegrade-retrograde rendezvous technique.

Aim: To investigate the combined antegrade-retrograde endoscopic rendezvous technique for complete oesophageal obstruction and the swallowing outcome.

Methods: This single-centre case series includes consecutive patients who were unable to swallow due to complete oesophageal obstruction and underwent combined antegrade-retrograde endoscopic dilation (CARD) within the last 10 years. The patients' demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, endoscopic therapy, adverse events, and outcomes were obtained retrospectively.

Detection and functional portrayal of a novel class of dihydrotestosterone derived selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRM).

In early pregnancy, abortion can be induced by blocking the actions of progesterone receptors (PR). However, the PR antagonist, mifepristone (RU38486), is rather unselective in clinical use because it also cross-reacts with other nuclear receptors. Since the ligand-binding domain of human progesterone receptor (hPR) and androgen receptor (hAR) share 54% identity, we hypothesized that derivatives of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the cognate ligand for hAR, might also regulate the hPR.

Multipurpose use of the over-the-scope-clip system ("Bear claw") in the gastrointestinal tract: Swiss experience in a tertiary center.

Aim: To evaluate the outcome of over-the-scope-clip system (OTSC) for endoscopic treatment of various indications in daily clinical practice in Switzerland.

Methods: This prospective, consecutive case series was conducted at a tertiary care hospital from September 2010 to January 2014. Indications for OTSC application were fistulae, anastomotic leakage, perforation, unroofed submucosal lesion for biopsy, refractory bleeding, and stent fixation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

18F-RB390: innovative ligand for imaging the T877A androgen receptor mutant in prostate cancer via positron emission tomography (PET).

Background: Detecting prostate cancer before spreading or predicting a favorable therapy are challenging issues for impacting patient's survival. Presently, 2-[(18) F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ((18) F-FDG) and/or (18) F-fluorocholine ((18) F-FCH) are the generally used PET-tracers in oncology yet do not emphasize the T877A androgen receptor (AR) mutation being exclusively present in cancerous tissue and escaping androgen deprivation treatment.

Methods: We designed and synthesized fluorinated 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) derivatives to target T877A-AR.

First report of colonoscopic closure of a gastrocolocutaneous PEG migration with over-the-scope-clip-system.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a common practice for long-term nutrition of patients who are unable to take oral food. We report of an 85-year old man with a history of recurrent larynx carcinoma and hemicolectomy many years ago due to unknown reason. Laryngectomy was indicated.

A novel steroidal antiandrogen targeting wild type and mutant androgen receptors.

Prostate cancer (PCa) progression is enhanced by androgen and treatment with antiandrogens represents an alternative to castration. While patients initially respond favorably to androgen ablation therapy, most experience a relapse of the disease within 1-2 years by expressing androgen receptor (AR) mutants. Such mutations, indeed, promote unfavorable agonistic behavior from classical antagonists.