Der Internist
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The management of acute ischemic stroke aims to verify the clinical diagnosis, to start general supportive care and to enable decision-making about specific forms of therapy. The risk-benefit ratio is time-dependent for many therapeutic options; therefore time delays are a disadvantage within the rescue chain. ⋯ The following four therapies are evidence-based: treatment on a stroke unit, thrombolysis, early administration of acetylsalicylic acid (ASS) and hemicraniectomy in patients younger than 60 years with a so-called malignant infarction. This article describes the necessary diagnostic steps and the general and specific therapeutic options that comprise acute management within the first 48 h.
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Biography Historical Article
[Best article of continuing education: Springer CME award Der Internist granted for the eighth time].
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The cardiorenal syndrome describes the frequent clinical situation in which therapy of a patient with acute cardiac decompensation is limited by a decline of renal function. This is frequently associated with preexisting chronic renal insufficiency. ⋯ Ultrafiltration is an alternative to diuretic therapy which may permit greater fluid loss when beginning therapy and better control of volume reduction once heart failure symptoms improve. The individual treatment of patients with cardiorenal syndrome requires a close cooperation between cardiologists and nephrologists.
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Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the gastroenteropancreatic system are classified according to the WHO classification system 2010 into neuroendocrine tumors (NET) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC). The proliferation index Ki-67 and the grading of NETs is essential for the prognosis and therapy plan. Also NET tumor biology and therapeutic options may differ depending on the primary NET tumor location. ⋯ This manuscript reviews the current role of biotherapy with somatostatin analogues and interferon-alpha for symptom and tumor control. In addition conventional chemotherapy regimens and novel molecular targeted therapeutic options, such as sunitinib or everolimus in NET of the pancreas are reviewed. Possible therapeutic algorithms are discussed.