[New strategy in type 2 diabetes tested in clinical trials. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) affects basic caused of the disease].

A novel therapy for type 2 diabetes is based on the gut hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 is released from the gut during a meal intake and stimulates insulin secretion. The hormone also inhibits glucagon secretion, delays gastric emptying and induces satiety.

[More efficient investigation in suspected acute coronary syndrome possible. New diagnostic methods can improve the quality of care and save resources].

The immediate evaluation of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the emergency department (ED) has remained almost unchanged for decades. At the same time, therapy for established ACS has undergone a remarkable and successful change towards early active intervention. Studies show that 7 out of 10 patients admitted with a suspicion of ACS do not have it, and that 2-5% of the patients with ACS are incorrectly sent home from the ED.

[3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Better morphological and functional images with higher magnetic field strength].

3T MRI offers improved morphological and functional studies of the brain compared with the more commonly used field strength 1.5T. Clinical 3T MRI of the brain is beneficial for high resolution morphological imaging, MR angiography, diffusion-MRI including diffusion tensor imaging, perfusion-MRI, functional MRI (fMRI), and MR spectroscopy.

[Several alternatives for stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation].

The anti-thromboembolic treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation is increasingly better recognized, partly because treatment is often suboptimal. Prophylactic anti-vitamin-K medication with warfarin is the most important principle in patients who have additional stroke risk indicators. At least one of the new drugs, which are currently compared with traditional treatment, seems to offer as effective stroke prophylaxis as high quality warfarin treatment, without the need of coagulation monitoring.

[New aspects of Wallenberg syndrome and other brain stem infarctions].

Studies with MRI and non-invasive vascular imaging have modified previous conceptions on clinical spectrum and causes of different types of brain stem infarcts. Wallenberg's syndrome caused by lateral medullary infarction (LMI) often presents with patterns of sensory loss different from the "classical" crossed type. LMI carries a risk for respiratory and cardiovascular complications in the acute phase, warranting close patient monitoring.

[Eating disorder and the family--a review].

The importance of the family in eating disorders has been the subject of a great deal of speculation ever since anorexia nervosa was first described some 130 years ago. Given the importance of the family in child and adolescent development, it also has great bearing on how young people learn to deal with food. But the research is inconclusive as to the family's precise role in the development of an eating disorder.

[Low frequency of missed or invisible hip fracture in X-ray examination. The rule-of-2--a simple method for quality assessment].

A new method for quality check of roentgen diagnosis of femoral neck fracture is presented. Use of the rule-of-2 means that only cases with two X-ray examinations of the hip before surgery need to be reviewed. This rule identifies a small subset which contains the false negative cases.

[Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest--a new link in the chain can save life].

Sudden, unexpected cardiac arrest is a common cause of death. Among patients who are successfully resuscitated, a majority dies without regaining consciousness. Therapeutic hypothermia has recently been shown to improve neurological outcome in two randomized studies and to improve survival in one of them.

[Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest. A cold intravenous fluid, a cooling helmet and a cooling blanket efficiently reduce body temperature].

Two controlled randomized trials have shown that mild systemic hypothermia after cardiac arrest is beneficial for neurological outcome and one of the studies shows an improved survival rate. A pilot study was performed to evaluate a model of induced hypothermia after cardiac arrest, using cold intravenous fluids and surface cooling with a cold helmet and a coldwater blanket (Thermowrap). The main purpose was to evaluate our cooling method regarding efficacy, safety and usability.

[A national curriculum in neurology for medical education].

The knowledge within medicine is growing rapidly. It has become more and more difficult to decide what knowledge that has to be taught to medical students during their University Medical Degree (MD) education and what has to be omitted from their study plans. As help for teachers and students, a core curriculum of the education defines what is of importance for all students.

[Physical activity as medication against arthrosis--training has a positive effect on the cartilage].

It is well known that exercise, alone or combined with weight reduction, reduces pain and improves function in patients with osteoarthritis. The knowledge of the effects of exercise on cartilage is limited and needs to be improved however. It seems as cartilage adapts to loading as other biological tissues like bone and muscle, and moderate loading seems to be beneficial both for prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis.

[Adverse effects of lithium treatment and safety routines].

Successful lithium treatment of manic disorders was reported in 1949 by John Cade. This marked the beginning of the pharmacological era in psychiatry. In spite of the emergence of alternative drugs with antimanic and moodstabilising properties, lithium remains the primary long-term treatment for preventing relapse of bipolar disorders.

[Clinical psychoacoustics can support an objective diagnosis of schizophrenia].

This article deals with a new branch of research in psychiatry focusing upon schizophrenia in the first hand. Methods of investigating psychoacoustic aberrations in this disease have been developed during the last twenty years at our laboratory; Unit of Clinical psychoacoustics, Division of Psychiatry, Dept of Clinical Neuroscience, Lund University (www.psykiatr.

[Increased risk of stroke after TIA. New data support the need of urgent management].

The prognosis after TIA may be more serious than previously thought. Recent studies suggest that the risk of subsequent stroke after a TIA may be 5% within the first two days after a TIA, which emphasizes the need for urgent management and institution of therapy. A correct diagnosis is essential, but sometimes difficult because many conditions mimic TIA symptoms.