Advances in preoperative diagnostic as well as surgical techniques for the treatment of endometriosis, especially deep endometriosis call for a classification system that includes all aspects of the disease such as peritoneal, ovarian endometriosis and deep endometriosis and secondary adhesions. The widely accepted r-ASRM classification has certain limitations due to its incomplete description of deep endometriosis. In contrast, the Enzian classification, which has been implemented in the last decade, has proved to be the most suitable tool for staging deep endometriosis but does not include peritoneal or ovarian disease as well as adhesions. To overcome these limitations, a comprehensive classification system for complete mapping of endometriosis, including anatomical location, size of the lesions, adhesions and degree of involvement of the adjacent organs that can be used with both, diagnostic and surgical methods, has been created via a consensus process and will be described in detail-the #Enzian classification.

Aims This is an official guideline of the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG), the Austrian Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (ÖGGG) and the Swiss Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (SGGG). The aim of this guideline is to improve the prediction, prevention and management of preterm birth based on evidence obtained from recently published scientific literature, the experience of the members of the guideline commission and the views of self-help groups. Methods The members of the participating medical societies and organizations developed Recommendations and Statements based on the international literature. The Recommendations and Statements were adopted following a formal consensus process (structured consensus conference with neutral moderation, voting done in writing using the Delphi method to achieve consensus). Recommendations Part 2 of this short version of the guideline presents Statements and Recommendations on the tertiary prevention of preterm birth and the management of preterm premature rupture of membranes.

There is increasing evidence for a role of pulmonary surfactant in asthma and allergic inflammation. In murine asthma models, recent studies have demonstrated that surfactant components downregulate the allergic inflammation. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that in individuals with mild asthma, a natural porcine surfactant preparation (Curosurf) given before segmental allergen challenge can reduce the allergic airway inflammation. Ten patients with asthma and five healthy control subjects were treated in two segments with either Curosurf or vehicle followed by local allergen challenge. Six additional patients with asthma received Curosurf before allergen challenge in one segment as above, but the second segment was instilled with Curosurf without allergen challenge. Unexpectedly, surfactant treatment augmented the eosinophilic inflammation 24 hours after allergen challenge. A direct chemotactic effect of Curosurf was excluded. However, levels of eotaxin and interleukin-5 were increased in bronchoalveolar lavage after Curosurf treatment, whereas IFN-gamma-levels and numbers of IFN-gamma(+) T cells were decreased. Curosurf had no influence on spreading and retention of allergen determined by allergen uptake in mice. These findings demonstrate that treatment with a natural porcine surfactant results in an augmentation of the eosinophilic inflammation after allergen challenge that is more likely due to immunomodulatory effects than to biophysical properties of the surfactant.

Aims The aim of this official guideline published and coordinated by the German Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (DGGG) in cooperation with the Austrian Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics (OEGGG) and the Swiss Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics (SGGG) was to provide consensus-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis based on an evaluation of the relevant literature. Methods This S2k guideline represents the structured consensus of a representative panel of experts with different professional backgrounds commissioned by the Guideline Committee of the DGGG, OEGGG and SGGG. Recommendations Recommendations on the epidemiology, aetiology, classification, symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis are given and special situations are discussed.

Aims This is an official guideline of the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG), the Austrian Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (ÖGGG) and the Swiss Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (SGGG). The aim of this guideline is to improve the prediction, prevention and management of preterm birth based on evidence obtained from recent scientific literature, the experience of the members of the guideline commission and the views of self-help groups. Methods Based on the international literature, the members of the participating medical societies and organizations developed Recommendations and Statements. These were adopted following a formal process (structured consensus conference with neutral moderation, voting was done in writing using the Delphi method to achieve consensus). Recommendations Part I of this short version of the guideline lists Statements and Recommendations on the epidemiology, etiology, prediction and primary and secondary prevention of preterm birth.