Dtsch Arztebl Int
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The diagnosis and treatment of cancer are highly stressful. Exercise therapy is often used to mitigate the adverse effects of treatment. But how good is the evidence base, and what has changed in recent years? In this narrative review, we present the current data and what it implies for the care of adults with cancer. ⋯ The data situation shows that exercise therapy for cancer patients is safe and has manifold effects on selected clinically relevant parameters. Further studies should be performed regarding the possible utility of exercise therapy against treatment-related side effects for which the evidence is currently insufficient. On the basis of the currently available and already existing recommendations, quality-assured exercise therapy can be recommended to cancer patients suffering from a wide range of neoplastic conditions.
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According to self-reported frequencies, every fifth or sixth dwelling in Germany is affected by dampness and/or mold. This carries a potential risk to health. ⋯ Mold in indoor environments should be dealt with by rapid exposure elimination for patients at risk, the rational diagnostic evaluation of any symptoms and signs of disease, and patient education about the possibilities and limitations of diagnostic testing and the generally limited utility of measurements in the affected interior spaces.
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Postoperative surgical site infections (SSI) account for almost 25% of all nosocomial infections in Germany and are a source of increased morbidity and mortality. ⋯ The evidence shows that perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis is a component of a bundle of measures that can help prevent SSI. Strict indications and adherence to the basic principles of PAP are essential for therapeutic success.
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Phenibut (β-phenyl-γ-aminobutyric acid) is an analog of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Like gabapentin and pregabalin, it inhibits α2-δ-subunits of voltage-dependent presynaptic calcium channels. The potential harm resulting from the use of these gabapentinoids is currently a matter of debate. ⋯ Phenibut causes symptoms resembling those of gabapentinoid and benzodiazepine use. There have been reports of phenibut use in combination with other psychotropic drugs; in particular, its use together with opiates could increase the risk of coma and respiratory depression. No deaths due to phenibut intoxication have been published in Germany or elsewhere in Western Europe, although such cases may have been overlooked, as this drug is still largely unknown to Western medicine.
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Review Meta Analysis
Compression Therapy in the Treatment of Acute Deep Venous Thrombosis of the Lower Limb and for the Prevention of Post-Thrombotic Syndrome—a Review Based on a Structured Literature Search.
After an acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limb, 20% to 63% of patients develop post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). In this review, we address the efficacy of compression therapy in the treatment of acute DVT of the lower limb, and for the prevention of PTS. ⋯ Compression therapy relieves symptoms in acute DVT and lessens the frequency and severity of PTS. It is therefore recommended as standard treatment.