Identifying differential predictors for treatment response to amisulpride and olanzapine combination treatment versus each monotherapy in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia: Results of the COMBINE-study.

Background: Extensive research has been undertaken to predict treatment response (TR) to antipsychotics. Most studies address TR to antipsychotics in general and as monotherapy, however, it is unknown whether patients might respond favourably to a combination of antipsychotics.

Aims: This study aimed to identify differential predictors for TR to monotherapy with amisulpride or olanzapine compared to a combination of antipsychotics.

Effects of Early Clozapine Treatment on Remission Rates in Acute Schizophrenia (The EARLY Trial): Protocol of a Randomized-Controlled Multicentric Trial.

Background: Quick symptomatic remission after the onset of psychotic symptoms is critical in schizophrenia treatment, determining the subsequent disease course and recovery. In this context, only every second patient with acute schizophrenia achieves symptomatic remission within three months of initiating antipsychotic treatment. The potential indication extension of clozapine-the most effective antipsychotic-to be introduced at an earlier stage (before treatment-resistance) is supported by several lines of evidence, but respective clinical trials are lacking.

Amisulpride and olanzapine combination treatment versus each monotherapy in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia in Germany (COMBINE): a double-blind randomised controlled trial.

Background: Combining antipsychotics is common in schizophrenia treatment, despite evidence-based guidelines generally not recommending such practice. Otherwise, evidence remains inconclusive, especially regarding specific combinations. The trial aimed to test whether a combination of amisulpride plus olanzapine is more effective than either intervention as a monotherapy.

A randomized double-blind controlled trial to assess the benefits of amisulpride and olanzapine combination treatment versus each monotherapy in acutely ill schizophrenia patients (COMBINE): methods and design.

This report presents the rationale and design of a multi-center clinical trial that examines the efficacy and safety of antipsychotic combination treatment in acutely ill schizophrenia patients compared to antipsychotic monotherapy. Antipsychotic combination treatment is common in clinical practice worldwide, despite clinical guidelines generally not recommending such practice due to lacking evidence for its efficacy and safety. Olanzapine has a related chemical structure and comparable receptor-binding profile as clozapine, which demonstrated superior efficacy in combination studies, but has a more unfavorable side-effect profile compared to olanzapine.

Prospective study of acute complication rates and associated risk factors in endoscopic therapy for duodenal adenomas.

Background: Endoscopic therapy for duodenal adenomas is becoming increasingly important. However, only a few studies have been published on the topic, mainly with retrospective data.

Methods: This prospective study was carried out to determine complication rates and associated risk factors during and after endoscopic therapy for duodenal adenomas.

Endoscopic management for patients with serrated polyposis syndrome is feasible and effective: a prospective observational study at a tertiary centre.

Background And Study Aims: Serrated polyposis syndrome is a rare condition in which multiple serrated lesions develop all over the colon, which is thought to be associated with an increased risk for the development of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of endoscopic treatment and standardised surveillance in patients with this increasingly recognised syndrome.

Methods: From September 2010 to November 2013, consecutive patients were included in a prospective study.

Diagnosing early Barrett's neoplasia and oesophageal squamous cell neoplasia by bioimpedance spectroscopy in human tissue.

Background: Detection of early oesophageal cancer in surrounding normal tissue can be challenging, but detection is essential to determine the subsequent treatment. Dysplastic tissue can be detected by using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and value of EIS in the diagnosis of oesophageal neoplasia.

Standardized long-term follow-up after endoscopic resection of large, nonpedunculated colorectal lesions: a prospective two-center study.

Objectives: Endoscopic removal of large, nonpedunculated colorectal lesions is challenging. Long-term outcome data based on standardized protocols, including detailed inspection of the resection site, are scarce. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic resection (ER) of large, nonpedunculated lesions (LNLs; >20 mm) and to assess the long-term recurrence rate afterward.

Prospective, randomized, single-center trial comparing double-balloon enteroscopy and spiral enteroscopy in patients with suspected small-bowel disorders.

Background: Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is an established method in diagnostic and therapeutic small-bowel enteroscopy.

Objective: Spiral enteroscopy (SE) appears to be a promising new technique. A randomized, prospective study was conducted to compare both methods.

Long-term outcome after argon plasma coagulation of small-bowel lesions using double-balloon enteroscopy in patients with mid-gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background And Study Aims: Vascular malformations are the most common sources of bleeding in the small bowel. They can be treated with argon plasma coagulation (APC) during double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE). This study aimed to evaluate the long-term follow-up of the effectiveness of APC for small-bowel bleeding by means of a single-center retrospective study.

Prospective, cross-over, single-center trial comparing oral double-balloon enteroscopy and oral spiral enteroscopy in patients with suspected small-bowel vascular malformations.

Background And Study Aims: Spiral enteroscopy is a new, promising rapid enteroscopy technique. A prospective cross-over study was carried out to compare this new method with the established technique of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE).

Patients And Methods: From an initial group of 18 patients with suspected mid-gastrointestinal bleeding due to vascular malformations but no previous history of small-bowel or colonic surgery, 10 patients (mean age 69 years) completed the study.

Impact of fluoroscopy on oral double-balloon enteroscopy: results of a randomized trial in 156 patients.

Background And Study Aims: The routine utility of fluoroscopy during double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) via the oral route has been not prospectively evaluated. Up to now, there have been no prospective randomized trials to assess whether fluoroscopy improves outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the value of fluoroscopy during oral DBE.

Prospective multicenter trial comparing push-and-pull enteroscopy with the single- and double-balloon techniques in patients with small-bowel disorders.

Objectives: Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is now an established method for diagnostic and therapeutic small-bowel endoscopy. Single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) has been introduced to simplify the technique. A prospective randomized study was carried out to compare the two methods.

Fragmentation of bile duct stones: a prospective systematic in vitro evaluation of argon plasma coagulation, cryotechnology, and water-jet technology.

Background And Study Aim: Choledocholithiasis is a common disease in the West. Lithotripsy by mechanical methods using baskets and by laser or electrohydraulic methods varies in effectiveness. With argon plasma coagulation (APC), high temperatures are used for devitalization and fragmentation; cryogenic techniques use the selective controlled application of freeze-thaw cycles to devitalize pathological tissue; and the dissecting water jet exploits the high pressure action of a thin laminar jet.

Analysis of fifty-six cochlear implant device failures.

Objective: Our aim was to present a failure analysis after cochlear implant revision surgery in a large series of children and adults and to assess the outcome and audiologic performance.

Methods: Fifty-six cochlear implant failures that occurred in 422 devices implanted between 1990 and 2007 at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Mainz, Germany, were retrospectively analyzed. The causes of failure were reviewed evaluating the individual history, telemetric and intraoperative findings and manufacturer's investigation reports.

Small-bowel diagnosis in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis: comparison of push enteroscopy, capsule endoscopy, ileoscopy, and enteroclysis.

Background: Conventional upper endoscopy (EGD), EGD with side-view endoscope and ileoscopy are established procedures for endoscopic evaluation of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). However, we still have little data on the frequency and relevance of adenomas in those parts of the small bowel which are not accessible to EGD and ileoscopy. Adenomas distal to the duodenum are found more often in FAP patients with known duodenal adenomas.

Prevention of feeding tube dislodgement with the Wiesbaden rein: a case series.

We describe initial experience with the use of a new fixation method (Wiesbaden rein), which has been developed to prevent dislodgement of feeding tubes in the gastrointestinal tract. The Wiesbaden rein has been used in three patients without complication. In none of the patients was dislodgement or malfunction of the feeding tube observed.

Long-term results of endoscopic resection in early gastric cancer: the Western experience.

Objectives: In the West, neither acute nor long-term results of endoscopic resection (ER) for early gastric cancer (EGC) have been reported in large studies. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of ER in patients with EGC in a long-term follow-up (FU).

Methods: From May 1995 to October 2004, 179 patients were referred to our department for endoscopic therapy (ET) of gastric cancer (GC).

Beta-carotene in dermatology: Does it help?

UV irradiation of the skin leads to the induction of free radicals, carcinogenesis, and skin aging, and thus the use of beta-carotene in humans as a chaperoning agent is discussed. In the photohemolysis model, beta-carotene protects against the phototoxic effects of porphyrins. Beta-carotene should be used in erythropoietic protoporphyria, photosensitive diseases, and to reduce the effects of phototoxic drugs.

Invisible gastric carcinoma detected by random biopsy: long-term results after photodynamic therapy.

Background And Study Aims: Gastric cancer diagnosed from routine gastric biopsies without any evidence of a visible lesion and negative repeated biopsies is an infrequent but serious clinical problem for which gastrectomy has usually been recommended, even if operative specimens do not show cancer either. We report on a series of 22 such patients undergoing long-term follow-up after attempted treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Patients And Methods: 22 patients with invisible gastric cancer (IGC) who presented during a 10-year period (10 men, mean age 56 +/- 15 years) were prospectively included.

One-step chromoendoscopy and structure enhancement using balsamic vinegar for screening of Barrett's esophagus.

Background And Study Aims: Screening for specialized columnar epithelium (SCE) within columnar lined esophagus (CLE) with standard video endoscopes is not reliable enough. Several methods to improve accuracy of predicting presence of SCE like chromoendoscopy with vital stains or structure enhancement with acetic acid have been introduced but data up to now remains controversial. The present prospective study was conducted to evaluate a combination of chromoendoscopy and acetic acid structure enhancement using the naturally brownish coloured balsamic vinegar during routine upper endoscopy.

Successful treatment of catastrophic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (CAPS) associated with splenic marginal-zone lymphoma with low-molecular weight heparin, rituximab and bendamustine.

Case Report: A 69-year-old woman with splenic marginal-zone lymphoma was admitted with progressive abdominal pain and splenomegaly as the suspected cause of pain. Rituximab treatment (375 mg/m) had been initiated on the day of admission. Abdominal computerized tomography revealed splenic infarction.

Comparison of the performance of different HPV genotyping methods for detecting genital HPV types.

Classification of high-risk HPV types for cervical cancer screening depends on epidemiological studies defining HPV type-specific risk. The genotyping tests that are used, are however, not uniform with regard to type-specific detection rates making comparisons between different studies difficult. To overcome the lack of a "gold standard" four tests were evaluated crosswise using 824 cervical smears pretested by HC2.

Ultrasonography in the assessment of peripheral joint involvement in psoriatic arthritis : a comparison with radiography, MRI and scintigraphy.

The objective of our study was to investigate the role of musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) in the assessment of hand and foot small joints in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Thirteen consecutive patients with PsA of hands or feet underwent B-mode US using a 9- to 13-MHz transducer and simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), bone scintigraphy and radiography. US findings were compared with radiography, MRI and scintigraphy in 190, 182 and 109 joints, respectively.