Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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The suspicion of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a haematological emergency that requires a rapid diagnostic workup. Symptoms are usually caused by cytopenias of all blood cell lines. The differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is important because of the early death rate caused by thrombembolic and bleeding events. Rapid immunophenotypic and genetic characterization is necessary for risk stratification and therapy selection. ⋯ In addition, oral azacitidine is available for non-allogeneic transplant eligible patients in first complete remission. These new drugs have improved prognosis and resulted in a more individualized therapy mostly driven by genetic aberrations. This development will continue in the next years and will significantly improve treatment options, especially for older patients.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Sep 2022
[Triglycerides - assessment as risk factor and therapeutic goals].
Elevated triglycerides and their lipidological consequences (small, dense LDL, residual particles (remnants), reduced HDL cholesterol) are an important and independent cardiovascular risk factor. Particularly in diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia is regarded as the main cause of high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; very high triglyceride levels can cause acute pancreatitis. This article provides an overview of the current scientific status of the pathogenesis and clinical significance of hypertriglyceridemia.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Sep 2022
[Peptic ulcer disease and H. pylori gastritis: key advances in clinical management].
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) gastritis and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) intake are the most important risk factors for peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and ulcer bleeding. H. pylori infection was shown to increase the risk of ulcer bleeding in patients with PUD who are taking NSAID, aspirin, or another antiplatelet drug. H. pylori-positive patients on combined platelet aggregation inhibition are at the highest risk of bleeding. ⋯ In patients with successful endoscopic treatment of early GC, H. pylori testing with subsequent eradication also halves the rate of metachronous GC. Clarithromycin-based triple therapy for H. pylori eradication shows a decreasing effectiveness due to increasing antibiotic resistance, especially against macrolides. Accordingly, bismuth-containing quadruple therapy is widely recommended as the standard empiric first-line therapy.
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Serial murder in clinics and care homes have gained attention more than once in recent years. The strong yet quickly fading public outrage has not yet led to well-founded professional and health-political engagement with the topic. With few systematic studies conducted, knowledge about perpetrator-related and environment-related risk factors in the day-to-day context of healthcare is sparse. ⋯ More information about serial murder in clinics and care homes is necessary. Research efforts are needed to better assess the prevalence of such crimes and to develop appropriate preventive measures. Circumstances that enable such acts, risk factors, perpetrator profiles, and early-stage countermeasures must be comprehensively addressed in the context of education, training and further education.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Sep 2022
[Congenital hemolytic anemias due to erythrocyte membrane and enzyme defects].
Erythrocyte membrane and enzyme defects are the most common cause of congenital hemolytic anemias in the Central European population. Diagnostics include erythrocyte morphology, special biochemical tests such as osmotic fragility (AGLT) and EMA. For enzymopenic hemolytic anemias, cost-effective biochemical analysis remains the gold standard, supplemented by molecular genetic diagnostics when appropriate. ⋯ Aplastic crises in the setting of parvovirus B19 infection occur in all congenital hemolytic anemias. Transfusion is not preventable in most cases. Iron-excreting treatment is required in the rare patients in need of chronic transfusion.