Clinical Efficacy of Cefixime for the Treatment of Early Syphilis.

Safe and efficacious alternative treatment options for syphilis are necessary. This randomized, 2-arm, noncomparative pilot study evaluated the efficacy of oral cefixime 400 mg in achieving a ≥4-fold rapid plasma reagin titer decrease by 3 or 6 months after treatment. The proportion of cefixime arm participants treated successfully was 87% (95% confidence interval, 69%-100%; 13/15).

Clinical trial protocol to evaluate the efficacy of cefixime in the treatment of early syphilis.

Background: Syphilis rates have been increasing both in the USA and internationally with incidence higher among men-who-have-sex-with-men and people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Currently, benzathine penicillin is the recommended treatment for syphilis in all patients. Global shortages and cost increases in benzathine penicillin call for alternative treatment options.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV infection: results of a survey of HIV healthcare providers evaluating their knowledge, attitudes, and prescribing practices.

Antiretroviral medications can be taken by HIV-negative persons to prevent HIV infection, also known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP was first shown to be effective during the iPrEX study. We conducted a survey involving HIV healthcare providers to document their attitudes and prescribing practices about PrEP in response to this study.

Effect of obesity on coronary artery plaque using 64 slice multidetector cardiac computed tomography angiography.

Patients with a coronary artery calcification score (CACS) of zero and an intermediate risk of coronary artery disease have been shown to have a low prevalence of non-calcified coronary artery plaque (NCP). 181 consecutive patients with CAC 'zero', undergoing cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) angiography at our center were evaluated. Presence of detectable NCP on CCTA in these patients was 13.

AMPK activation with AICAR provokes an acute fall in plasma [K+].

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), activated by an increase in intracellular AMP-to-ATP ratio, stimulates pathways that can restore ATP levels. We tested the hypothesis that AMPK activation influences extracellular fluid (ECF) K(+) homeostasis. In conscious rats, AMPK was activated with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR) infusion: 38.