Phase 2b trial of interferon-free therapy for hepatitis C virus genotype 1.

Background: An interferon-free combination of the protease inhibitor ABT-450 with ritonavir (ABT-450/r), the nonnucleoside polymerase inhibitor ABT-333, and ribavirin showed efficacy against the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a pilot study involving patients with HCV genotype 1 infection. The addition of another potent agent, the NS5A inhibitor ABT-267, may improve efficacy, especially in difficult-to-treat patients. This study was designed to evaluate multiple regimens of direct-acting antiviral agents and ribavirin in patients with HCV genotype 1 infection who had not received therapy previously or who had no response to prior therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

Comparison of risks from percutaneous central venous catheters and peripheral lines in infants of extremely low birth weight: a cohort controlled study of infants < 1000 g.

Objective: To evaluate in infants of < 1000 g (extremely low birth weight; ELBW) the success rate of insertion of percutaneous central venous catheters (PCVC) and their duration; and the short- and long-term complications, i.e. mechanical and infectious, when compared to a control group of infants of the same age treated only with peripheral venous access.

Effect of fresh frozen plasma and gammaglobulin on humoral immunity in neonatal sepsis.

Fresh frozen plasma and intravenous immunoglobulin are used as prophylaxis against, and for the treatment of, neonatal infection. It is assumed that any beneficial effect is mediated through the humoral immune factors contained in each preparation. The effect of fresh frozen plasma and intravenous immunoglobulin on humoral immune markers (immunoglobulins and IgG subclasses, complement components and activation products, and C reactive protein) was investigated over a 24 hour period after their randomised administration to 67 infants with suspected infection.

Complement activation in neonatal infection.

To investigate the usefulness of indices of complement activation in the diagnosis of infections in the neonatal period, activation products C4d, Ba, and C3d were measured in 42 babies with a putative diagnosis of infection based on clinical/laboratory criteria, and compared with conventional clinical and haematological criteria of infection and with C reactive protein. The diagnosis of sepsis was confirmed by culture and identification of organisms in 17. Fourteen babies in whom infection was not suspected formed the control group.