Assessing the plight of young unaccompanied refugees

We have the responsibility, just as for other vulnerable populations, to adapt our social and healthcare system to provide equity of treatment and to offer unaccompanied refugee minors a positive environment in which they can develop.

HPV-negative CIN3 and cervical cancer in Switzerland: any evidence of impact on screening policies?

The authors summarise the rationale for hrHPV testing as the primary test for screening, explain potential reasons for false-negative hrHPV test results, describe true HPV-negative precancer and cancer, and comment on the relevance of the debate about co-testing versus hrHPV-only screening approaches in Switzerland.

Monobodies as possible next-generation protein therapeutics – a perspective

Monobodies might be a valuable addition to the armamentarium of targeted ­cancer drugs, given their unique properties and superior selectivity, and could usefully be combined with other targeted cancer therapeutics.

Multidrug resistant (or antimicrobial-resistant) pathogens - alternatives to new antibiotics?

We are now facing infections with a limited number of therapeutic options, and alternative treatments must be developed, based on specific targets on the bacteria, or designed to improve the host response to the infectious injury.

Costs and benefits of diagnostic testing: four ways to improve patient care by purposive use of in vitro diagnostics

Implementing changes to the current utilisation of in-vitro diagnostic will be necessary to provide broad, cost-efficient, state-of-the-art healthcare in the future.

Quality indicators of colorectal cancer care in southern Switzerland: results from a population-based study

Assessing the quality of cancer care has become increasingly relevant to providers, regulators and purchasers of healthcare worldwide.

Risk of adverse outcome in patients referred by emergency medical services in Switzerland

Knowledge about the inherent risks of patients referred to the emergency department by emergency medical services is important. Targeted interventions may benefit these patients by optimising resource allocation.

Management of hepatitis C in decentralised versus centralised drug substitution programmes and minimally invasive point-of-care tests to close gaps in the HCV cascade

In Switzerland, IV drug use accounts for most hepatitis C virus infections. Early treatment prevents further transmission and reduces morbidity and mortality.

Is there a role for procalcitonin in differentiating uncomplicated and complicated diverticulitis in order to reduce antibiotic therapy? A prospective diagnostic cohort study

Antibiotic treatment for uncomplicated diverticulitis seems to have no benefit. However, even for uncomplicated diverticulitis, most clinicians are very reluctant to withhold antibiotics.

Technical comment on: Biskup E, et al. Oncological patients in the intensive care unit: prognosis, decision-making, therapies and end-of-life care

Survival rates for critically ill cancer patients who are admitted to the ICU have shown improvements, so admission should not be denied only because they have cancer.

Technical comment on: Gawinecka et al. Acute aortic dissection: pathogenesis, risk factors and diagnosis

Aortic dissections: time for revising classifications?

Reply to technical comment on: Biskup E, et al. Oncological patients in the intensive care unit: prognosis, decision-making, therapies and end-of-life care

The comment very positively emphasises that the trends described in the review article are indeed global and apply to various hospital environments – not only American, European, Asian, but also Mexican.

Reply to technical comment on: Gawinecka et al. Acute aortic dissection: pathogenesis, risk factors, diagnosis