The impact of rifaximin on the hospital burden and infections in patients with hepatic encephalopathy: a retrospective observational study.

Background And Study Aims: Advanced liver disease frequently culminates in hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which can be classified as covert or overt HE, with subtle or clinically obvious changes respectively. 30-40% of patients with cirrhosis develop overt HE, which negatively affects the patients' quality of life. Next to lactulose, rifaximin-α has been prescribed as a second line therapy to treat and reduce the risk of recurrence of overt HE.

Degradation of root exudates in closed hydroponic systems using UV/HO: Kinetic investigation, reaction pathways and cost analysis.

Qualitative screening of reused nutrient solution (RNS) displays the presence of several organic acids. In this study, the degradation by UV/HO of three of those organic acids (benzoic (BA), phthalic acid (PhA) and succinic acid (SA)) present in RNS was investigated. The results indicated that (i) the degradation rate of BA was faster than that of PhA and SA and (ii) by increasing the contact time the degradation of all acids was improved.

Validation of a reference method for total cholesterol measurement in human serum and assignation of reference values to proficiency testing samples.

Objectives: Our objective was to develop a reference method to measure total cholesterol in human serum, in order to assign values and assess the accuracy of field methods in French clinical laboratories.

Design And Methods: A reference method based on gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and isotope dilution (GC-IDMS) was developed and validated. It was then used to assign reference values to five frozen serum samples from voluntary proficiency testing schemes gathering 170 French clinical laboratories.

Continuous improvement of medical test reliability using reference methods and matrix-corrected target values in proficiency testing schemes: application to glucose assay.

The reliability of biological tests is a major issue for patient care in terms of public health that involves high economic stakes. Reference methods, as well as regular external quality assessment schemes (EQAS), are needed to monitor the analytical performance of field methods. However, control material commutability is a major concern to assess method accuracy.

Scapular positioning in overhead athletes with and without shoulder pain: a case-control study.

Abnormalities of scapular positioning are considered important risk factors for developing shoulder disorders. This study analyses the scapular positioning pattern in a group of overhead athletes with and without shoulder pain. In a multi-center blinded case-control study, 36 shoulder pain athletes (19 men, 17 women), were compared with 36 unimpaired athletes free of shoulder pain, matched for gender, age, hand dominance and body mass index.