Sensitivity and specificity of CT scanning for determining the number of internally concealed packages in 'body-packers'.

Introduction: If package counts on abdominal CTs of body-packers were known to be accurate, follow-up CTs could be avoided. The objective was to determine the accuracy of CT for the number of concealed packages in body-packers, and the reliability of package counts reported by body-packers who admit to concealing drugs.

Methods: Suspected body-packers were identified from the emergency departments (ED) database.

Pilot study of losartan for pulmonary hypertension in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Morbidity in COPD results from a combination of factors including hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension, in part due to pulmonary vascular remodelling. Animal studies suggest a role of angiotensin II and acute studies in man concur. Whether chronic angiotensin-II blockade is beneficial is unknown.