Swiss medical weekly
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Cancer pain can be effectively controlled in most patients by classical pharmacological treatment. We retrospectively studied the characteristics and factors associated with non responsive pain. Between 1989 and 1996, 1767 patients were referred to our pain center; 831 (47%) had cancer pain and from 787 evaluable cases 118 (15%) experienced non-controlled pain whereas good pain control was achieved within a few days in 669 (85%) patients. ⋯ On the other hand, diffuse pain, abdominal pain, terminal care, near death and doses of strong opioids were significantly different. Factors associated with therapeutic failure were conflicts, life and complications and breakthrough pain. In the presence of refractory cancer pain the factors predictive of therapeutic failure should be identified in order to optimize individual pain treatment.
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Swiss medical weekly · Jan 1998
[Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA)].
Long-term health effects of moderate ambient air pollution are rarely investigated. In Switzerland, no large-scale study has addressed this issue so far. Important results of the Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Disease in Adults (SAPALDIA) are presented. ⋯ Health effects of moderate air pollution were confirmed in Switzerland. Although for the individual the relative risks are small, the public health impact may be considerable. An ongoing follow-up will investigate the mortality profile of the SAPALDIA cohort.
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Swiss medical weekly · Jan 1998
Review[Positron-emission tomography in the diagnosis of abdominal tumors].
PET is recognized as a powerful imaging research tool. Its clinical application has been increasing significantly in recent years. Based on pathophysiological and biochemical principles, functional PET imaging makes it possible to assess parameters of tumor biology not easily accessible to conventional imaging, such as metabolic activity, proliferation, adrenergic transmitter uptake or accumulation of cytostatics in individual tumor manifestations. ⋯ Several appropriately labeled adrenergic transmitters are currently being developed for specific imaging of neuroendocrine tumors. Radiolabeled cytostatics such as F-18 5-FU will shortly be available for clinical use as probes for primary or secondary cytostatic resistance. Encouraging clinical results and attractive new imaging concepts promise increasing use and importance for PET for imaging of abdominal malignancies.
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Swiss medical weekly · Nov 1997
Comparative Study[Worldwide HIV incidence--aspects and dynamics of a tardive epidemic].
The present situation of the HIV pandemic is described on the basis of current data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), and selected papers on the subject. The worldwide situation is unstable and alarming. New regional HIV subepidemics are spreading rapidly on several continents. ⋯ The findings of molecular epidemiology reflect migration trends and special conditions for spread of the disease. As a consequence of the HIV epidemic, classical epidemic diseases, such as tuberculosis, are on the increase again. The worldwide HIV epidemic is more serious than ever and requires more effective preventive strategies.