Safety, tolerability and efficacy of peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C in clinical practice: The German Open Safety Trial

The combination treatment of peginterferon alpha-2a (PEG-IFN alpha-2a; Pegasys®) plus ribavirin (RBV) is recommended as a standard care for HCV infections. Side effects and aspects of efficacy and safety have to be balanced. This study evaluates clinical practice data on safety and efficacy of HCV treatment with PEG-IFN in combination with RBV over 24 and 48 weeks. This study was a phase III, multi-centre, open-label study with two treatment groups: PEG-IFN in combination with RBV for 24 or 48 weeks. The allocation to the treatment groups was at the discretion of the investigator; 309 patients entered active treatment: 90 patients received PEG-IFN plus RBV for 24 weeks and 219 patients PEG-IFN plus RBV for 48 weeks. A sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved in 48.9% of all patients. Genotype 1 patients with a 48-week combination treatment achieved an SVR of 39.9%. In the 48-week group a low baseline viral load was associated with a higher SVR rate (47.0% vs. 32.4%). For genotype 2 or 3 patients, the SVR was 67.9%. For these patients there was no relevant difference between patients with low and high viral loads; 97.7% of the patients experienced at least one adverse event. The incidence of serious adverse events was distinctly lower in the 24-week group (4.4% vs. 10.5%). This investigation confirms the well-known risk–benefit ratio found in controlled studies in a clinical practice setting. The safety profile is similar and shows the highest incidence of adverse events in the first 12 weeks of treatment

Affekt-modulierte Aufmerksamkeitsprozesse unter Arbeitsgedächtnisbelastung bei Krankheitsangst

Kornadt A, Witthöft M, Rist F, Bailer J. Affekt-modulierte Aufmerksamkeitsprozesse unter Arbeitsgedächtnisbelastung bei Krankheitsangst. Zeitschrift für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie. 2009;38(3):194-202

Combined influence of river discharge and wind on littoral nematode communities of a river mouth area of Lake Constance

Witthoeft-Muehlmann A, Traunspurger W, Rothhaupt KO. Combined influence of river discharge and wind on littoral nematode communities of a river mouth area of Lake Constance. AQUATIC ECOLOGY. 2007;41(2):231-242.The littoral nematode community adjacent to a river mouth (River Schussen) on Lake Constance (Germany) was studied from February 1999 to January 2000 in order to determine the influence of stress resulting from fluctuations in river discharge on local nematode assemblages. Additionally, the influence of wind as a second important stress factor was considered. Six sample sites were chosen, reflecting a gradient of river influence within the broader river mouth area. Nematode communities, varying in a mean range from 121 to 165 ind/10 cm(2), were found to differ significantly in terms of abundance, feeding type composition and species diversity. Deposit feeders were most abundant at all sites followed by chewers. Deposit feeders were affected mainly by wind events, while species diversity and the occurrence of chewers were influenced mainly by river discharge. The impact of both these stress factors was modified by a third variable, water level. Moderate and high levels of combined habitat stress led to significant changes in community structure. Under conditions of calm weather and low discharge, reduced species diversity and an increased predominance of deposit feeders were observed. In most cases, species diversity was found to be higher under moderate stress conditions, an observation that offers support for Connel's Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis