Targeted colonic release formulations of mesalazine - A clinical pharmaco-scintigraphic proof-of-concept study in healthy subjects and patients with mildly active ulcerative colitis.

Colonic targeting of orally applied therapeutic drugs remains a challenge. Tablet coatings relying on gastrointestinal pH and colonic bacterial enzymes as triggers in association with an inner alkaline layer are expected to improve targeting efficiency. Mesalazine release from three differently coated tablets labelled with 1 MBq Sm was characterised in a single centre, open-label, parallel group study in nineteen healthy subjects and seven patients with mildly active ulcerative colitis.

Randomised non-inferiority trial: 1600 mg versus 400 mg tablets of mesalazine for the treatment of mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis.

Background: High concentration mesalazine formulations are more convenient than conventional low concentration formulations for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC).

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of 1600 mg and 400 mg tablet mesalazine formulations.

Methods: Patients with mild-to-moderate active UC (Mayo Clinic Score >5; N=817) were randomised to 3.

The role of centralized reading of endoscopy in a randomized controlled trial of mesalamine for ulcerative colitis.

Background & Aims: Interobserver differences in endoscopic assessments contribute to variations in rates of response to placebo in ulcerative colitis (UC) trials. We investigated whether centralized review of images could reduce these variations.

Methods: We performed a 10-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 281 patients with mildly to moderately active UC, defined by an Ulcerative Colitis Disease Activity Index (UCDAI) sigmoidoscopy score ≥2, that evaluated the efficacy of delayed-release mesalamine (Asacol 800-mg tablet) 4.

Omega-3 free fatty acids for the maintenance of remission in Crohn disease: the EPIC Randomized Controlled Trials.

Context: Maintenance therapy for Crohn disease features the use of immunosuppressive drugs, which are associated with an increased risk of infection. Identification of safe and effective maintenance strategies is a priority.

Objective: To determine whether the oral administration of omega-3 free fatty acids is more effective than placebo for prevention of relapse of Crohn disease.

Impact of migration on illness experience and help-seeking strategies of patients from Turkey and Bosnia in primary health care in Basel.

Migration, particularly among refugees and asylum seekers, poses many challenges to the health system of host countries. This study examined the impact of migration history on illness experience, its meaning and help-seeking strategies of migrant patients from Bosnia and Turkey with a range of common health problems in general practice in Basel, Switzerland. The Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue, a data collection instrument for cross-cultural research which combines epidemiological and ethnographic research approaches, was used in semi-structured one-to-one patient interviews.

Impact of organized violence on illness experience of Turkish/Kurdish and Bosnian migrant patients in primary care.

Background: Migration, particularly when associated with exposure to organized violence, can seriously affect mental and physical health in ways that are not obvious. This study considers the clinical impact of organized violence on emotional and somatic problems encountered in the course of primary health care.

Methods: Migrant patients from Bosnia (n=36) and Turkey (n=62) in primary care were recruited into the study and divided into two groups: male and female migrants of both countries who reported experience of organized violence and those who did not.

Is social capital a useful conceptual tool for exploring community level influences on HIV infection? An exploratory case study from South Africa.

This paper reports on an exploratory study investigating links between sexual health and social capital in a South African mining community. In this study, social capital is defined in terms of people's membership of voluntary community organizations (e.g.

The effect of weekly iron supplementation on anaemia and on iron deficiency among female tea pluckers in Bangladesh.

Aim: To investigate the effect of weekly iron supplementation on anaemia and iron deficiency among adult, female tea pluckers.

Method: A randomized double-blind intervention trial was conducted in a tea estate in Bangladesh where a total of 280 women received either weekly iron supplementation (200 mg ferrous fumarate and 200 mg folic acid) for 24 weeks or a matching placebo. Capillary blood samples were drawn at baseline and post-trial to determine haemoglobin, haematocrit and ferritin concentration.

Intestinal helminth infections, anaemia and labour productivity of female tea pluckers in Bangladesh.

We conducted a randomized clinical intervention trial over 24 weeks on a tea estate in north-east Bangladesh to investigate the effect of iron supplementation and anthelmintic treatment on the labour productivity of adult female tea pluckers. A total of 553 full-time tea pluckers, not pregnant and not breastfeeding, were randomly assigned to one of the four intervention groups: group 1 received iron supplementation on a weekly basis, group 2 received anthelmintic treatment at the beginning and half-way through the trial (week 12), group 3 received both iron supplementation as group 1 and anthelmintic treatment as group 2, and group 4 was a control group and received placebos. No significant difference in labour productivity was found between the four intervention groups over the trial period.

The effect of anthelmintic treatment on helminth infection and anaemia.

A 24-week randomized double blind intervention trial was conducted on adult female tea pluckers from an estate in Bangladesh to investigate the impact of iron supplementation and anthelmintic treatment on changes in ferritin and haemoglobin levels as well as on prevalence and intensity of helminth infections. A total of 553 women were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 intervention groups: group 1 received iron supplementation on a weekly basis, group 2 received anthelmintic treatment at the beginning and half way through the trial, group 3 received both iron supplementation as group 1 and anthelmintic treatment as group 2, and group 4 was a control group and received placebos for both iron supplementation and anthelmintic treatment. Prevalence and intensity of helminth infections (egg counts/g stool) of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms significantly fell in the 2 groups receiving anthelmintic treatment and there were some reductions in the 2 groups not receiving anthelminthic treatment.

Polymerase chain reaction evidence for human immunodeficiency virus 1 neutralization by passive immunization in patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex.

We tried to assess the long-term safety and potential efficacy of passive immunization in AIDS-related-complex (ARC) and AIDS patients. We also wanted to establish whether hyperimmune plasma from healthy human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals clears the cell-free virus from circulation. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we were able to provide conclusive evidence that hyperimmune plasma is effective and maintains long-term neutralization of viremia.

Effects of passive immunization in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related complex and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is usually followed by a vigorous immune response that temporarily protects against disease progression. After a variable asymptomatic period, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related complex (ARC) and AIDS develop in most infected individuals. We have demonstrated that healthy HIV-1-infected individuals have neutralizing antibodies and a high titer of antiviral antibodies.

The Karpas AIDS Cell Test compared with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting antibody to the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-I and HIV-2).

We have compared the Karpas AIDS Cell Test for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Organon Teknika) by testing serum samples from 324 intravenous drug abusers in Turin. The cell test was found to be more sensitive and as specific as the ELISA with the serum samples from the drug abusers. In Lisbon, 30 samples were tested on slides containing cells infected with HIV-1 and/or HIV-2.