Background: Early onset lung cancer shows some familial aggregation, pointing to a genetic predisposition. This study was set up to investigate the role of candidate genes in the susceptibility to lung cancer patients younger than 51 years at diagnosis.

PURPOSE This review summarizes the evidence regarding the effi cacy of adjuvant steroids for pain reduction in acute pharyngitis. METHODSWe searched for randomized controlled trials, using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, published between 1966 and December 2008. Two reviewers assessed the quality of each retrieved article and summarized the data. RESULTSOur review found 8 relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 806 patients. There were 5 RCTs with adult patients and 3 with children. All RCTs found a statistically signifi cant faster reduction of pain or complete pain relief from steroid use compared with placebo. The trials used different steroids (dexamethasone, betamethasone, prednisone), and most participants had received antibiotics at least initially. Analgesic medication, such as acetaminophen, was allowed in all studies, but this factor was not always controlled. No serious adverse side effects were reported.CONCLUSIONS Steroids are effective in relieving pain in acute pharyngitis. Although no serious adverse effects were observed, the benefi ts have to be balanced with possible adverse drug effects. There are safe and effective over-thecounter medications to relieve throat pain. Most patients received concomitant antibiotics; however, reducing the prescription of antibiotics for generally benign upper respiratory tract infection is a public health goal. We therefore recommend further studies to establish both the safety of steroids without antibiotic coverage and the additional benefi ts of steroids when used with regular administration of over-the-counter analgesic medications.

For the identification of susceptibility loci in complex diseases the choice of the target phenotype is very important. We compared results of genome-wide searches for linkage or for association related to three phenotypes for alcohol use disorder. These are a behavioral score BQ, based on a 12-item questionnaire about drinking behavior and the subject's report of drinking-related health problems, and ERP pattern and ERP magnitude, both derived from the eyes closed resting ERP measures to quantify brain activity. Overall, we were able to identify 11 candidate regions for linkage. Only two regions were found to be related to both BQ and one of the ERP phenotypes. The genome-wide search for association using single-nucleotide polymorphisms did not yield interesting leads.

Only a few of those clinical signs and diagnostic procedures recommended by guidelines for diagnosing HF were recorded in general practice. The reasons for this finding remain unclear. Even under the assumption that not all observed clinical signs and diagnostic procedures were documented, these findings reflect the actual diagnostic strategy in daily practice. The observed discrepancy between guideline recommendation and reality in everyday practice deserve attention. On the one hand, there is a need for improving the diagnostic approach to HF; on the other, guidelines need to set priorities of the recommendations for diagnosing HF.

Special attention should be paid to psychosocial and interpersonal needs of patients. Volunteers may have an important role in the care of patients and relatives. The introduction of case managers might lead to an advancement of care. Sensitisation of physicians, nurses and other caregivers for deficits in transition of patients is needed and should be covered in palliative care education and training.