Rethinking hospitalisations for substance use disorders

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy in Europe: are Swiss CRT recipients different?

The study of Zeljkovic et al. showed that Swiss CRT recipients are older, less symptomatic and suffer more often from co-morbidities. What features of the Swiss healthcare system would explain the differences?

Effects of maternal caffeine consumption on the breastfed child: a systematic review

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant occurring naturally in some foods and used to treat primary apnoea in premature babies. However, high caffeine intake can be harmful, and caffeine is transmitted into breastmilk.

Impact of alternative healthcare plans on out-of-hours help-seeking intentions in Switzerland

Although in Switzerland standard health insurance plans offer free access to secondary and emergency care, in return for a lower premium individuals can choose plans with either a GP or a medical call centre (Telmed) acting as gatekeeper.

Tongue lacerations in children: to suture or not?

Tongue lacerations are common in children, occurring mostly from falls or sports injuries. It remains unclear which tongue lacerations should be sutured and which would benefit from spontaneous healing.

General practitioners’ perspectives on the use of nonpharmacological home remedies in two regions in Switzerland and France

Nonpharmacological home remedies offer the potential for easily accessible and well-accepted management of common disorders in general practice.

Bosentan for patients with steroid-resistant pulmonary sarcoidosis: a randomised controlled trial

Sarcoidosis is a disorder of unknown aetiology. It usually responds to steroids, but side-effects and steroid-resistance may require other treatments. Endothelin has in-vitro fibrogenic activity and the endothelin system is activated in sarcoidosis.

The immune influence of a parabiosis model on tumour-bearing mice

The occurrence and development of cancer cells in the body is a dynamic process of interaction between the immune system and the tumour cells. Whether tumour growth is promoted or suppressed in the parabiosis model is still unclear.

Correction to: Jeger V, et al. Is there a role for procalcitonin in differentiating uncomplicated and complicated diverticulitis in order to reduce antibiotic therapy?

Medical-ethical guidelines: Care and treatment of people with dementia

The aim of these guidelines is to offer practical guidance for dealing with ethical conflict situations relating to the care and treatment of people with dementia. Specific issues are addressed which may ultimately arise for all those involved in dementia care, irrespective of the setting (domestic, hospital, residential) and professional group.