Der Internist
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Increasing interest in diverticular disease by the scientific community in the last 10-15 years has resulted in an increased number of publications. Among other things, nonevidence-based therapeutic paradigms were tested in randomized, controlled therapy studies. The importance of surgery in the therapy of diverticulitis has diminished in recent years; in particular, it has no role in the treatment of diverticulitis types 1a, 1b, and 2a according to the Classification of Diverticular Disease (CDD) treated successfully by conservative means. ⋯ Over 90% of patients with type 1a/1b diverticulitis can be safely treated according to current data without the use of antibiotics. It is possible that type 2a diverticulitis will also be successfully treated without antibiotics in the future. Substances such as rifaximin, mesalazine, or probiotics, which were tested above all in patients with chronic recurrent forms (CDD type 3a/3b), have not yet been established.
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Indications for anticoagulation are thromboembolic events, prosthetic heart valves, and atrial fibrillation with a corresponding risk score. Clinical trials have excluded patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and these data cannot be always generalized to patients with chronic kidney disease. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are mostly not recommended or are contraindicated in advanced stages of chronic kidney disease. Observational studies have shown that dialysis patients with atrial fibrillation do not profit from coumarin anticoagulants; prospective studies are lacking.
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The human intestinal microbiome has important metabolic and immunological functions for the host and is part of the defense against pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract. Antibiotics, probiotics, dietary measures, such as prebiotics, and the relatively newly established method of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT, also known as fecal microbiome transfer) all influence the intestinal microbiome. The FMT procedure comprises the transmission of fecal microorganisms from a healthy donor into the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. ⋯ A careful donor selection is necessary. The implementation of FMT in Germany is subject to the Medicines Act (Arzneimittelgesetz, AMG) with a duty of disclosure and personal implementation by the attending physician. By documentation in a central register long-term effects and side effects of FMT have to be evaluated.
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Hypercholesterolemias are known risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Although statins have reduced the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and further therapeutic measures are available, treatment goals are often not achieved. In cases of very high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or of intolerability, the established therapies are often not sufficiently effective or cannot be used in adequate doses. For these high-risk patients further treatment options are required. ⋯ The body of evidence is rapidly increasing thereby facilitating the decision making when PCSK9 inhibitors could be used. The PCSK9 inhibitors will considerably improve the options for optimal treatment of high-risk patients.
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Atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolisms are frequent cardiovascular diseases. Until a few years ago only vitamin K antagonists (VKA) were available for oral anticoagulation as primary and secondary prevention of thrombembolic events. Currently, the non-vitamin K dependent new oral anticoagulants (NOAC) dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban are approved for use. ⋯ In patients with mechanical heart valve replacement and severe renal dysfunction VKA are still clearly indicated. This also holds true for prophylaxis of secondary thromboembolic events in tumor patients. Thus, even today therapy with VKA must not be regarded as medical malpractice, especially when a good adjustment of the international normalized ratio can be achieved; however, for many patients NOAC represent a very good alternative and lead to at least equal results with less effort for the prescribing physician and the patient.