Simple rapid test with carbonate/nitroprusside for the semiquantitative determination of cysteine in the urine--possible use for control of ascorbic acid therapy in cystine urolithiasis

In this paper a method of semiquantitative cysteine determination is presented, which is based on the formation of a red cysteine-Na-nitroprusside salt. The method is a suitable rapid test for checking the process of ascorbic acid therapy in cystinuria and cystine urolithiasis patients. It guarantees acceptable reproducibility of values and can be easily carried out in every clinicochemical laboratory. With the K2CO3/nitroprusside test described and an additional cystine rapid test (Ni2+/S2O4(2-) tablet reagency) a separate semiquantitative differentiation of cysteine and cystine in fresh (!) urine is possible.     

Quality of life--as defined by schizophrenic patients and psychiatrists.

The aim of the study is to explore what schizophrenic patients understand by quality of life and what psychiatrists think quality of life may be like for schizophrenic patients. A survey was carried out among schizophrenic patients and psychiatrists from the whole of Germany. There are similarities and differences between the two: while both schizophrenic patients and psychiatrists recognised the importance of work, social relationships, family and independence for quality of life, patients thought about it more in terms of standard of living and lifestyle, whereas the psychiatrists' concept of quality of life was more illness-oriented encompassing the absence of handicaps and disabilities due to the illness and emphasising the importance of appropriate professional help and self-help. In order to facilitate the dialogue between psychiatrists and patients it is important to be aware of these differences.     

Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection

Acute and chronic hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection remains a serious health problem worldwide, however, there has been advancement in the treatment of HCV infection due to standard treatment using pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The literature indicates that therapy for HCV is becoming more individualized. In addition to considering genotype and viral RNA levels before treatment, achievement of an early virologic response （EVR） and a rapid virologic response （RVR） is now possible during therapy. Moreover, problem patients, such as non-responders, relapsers, HIV or HBV coinfected patients, patients with liver cirrhosis, and preor post-liver transplantation patients are an increasing fraction of the patients requiring treatment. This article reviews the literature regarding standard treatments and problem patients with acute and chronic HCV infection. It also includes discussion on contraindications and side effects of treatment with interferon and ribavirin, as well as new drug development.