Randomized, double-blind, comparative study of dexrabeprazole 10 mg versus rabeprazole 20 mg in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of dexrabeprazole 10 mg versus rabeprazole 20 mg in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind clinical study. Fifty patients with GERD were randomly assigned to receive dexrabeprazole 10 mg or rabeprazole 20 mg once daily.

Comparative uptake of fluoride ion into enamel from various topical fluorides in vitro.

Background: There are many forms of topical fluoride available today, making the decision as to which is most effective to manage the immediate caries risk problem at hand, very difficult. The objective of this project was to determine the concentration and pattern of fluoride ion uptake into enamel from a variety of categories of topical fluoride recently available in Australia.

Methods: Extracted, intact molar teeth were sectioned to provide six plates of smooth surface enamel.

Rapid point-of-care HIV testing in pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Rapid, point-of-care human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing has the potential to enhance strategies to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV infection. Rapid tests need minimal laboratory infrastructure and can be performed by health workers with minimal training. In our systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to summarize the overall diagnostic accuracy of rapid HIV tests in pregnancy, and outcomes such as acceptability, patient preference, feasibility and impact of rapid testing.

Comparative clinical trial of S-pantoprazole versus racemic pantoprazole in the treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of S-pantoprazole (20 mg once a day) versus racemic pantoprazole (40 mg once a day) in the treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods: This multi-centre, randomized, double-blind clinical trial consisted of 369 patients of either sex suffering from GERD. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either one tablet (20 mg) of S-pantoprazole once a day (test group) or 40 mg racemic pantoprazole once a day (reference group) for 28 d.

Structured treatment interruptions (STI) in chronic unsuppressed HIV infection in adults.

Background: Structured treatment interruptions (STI) of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have been investigated as part of novel treatment strategies, with different aims and objectives depending on the populations involved. These populations include: 1) patients who initiate ART during acute HIV infection; 2) patients with chronic HIV infection, on ART, with successfully suppressed viremia; and 3) patients with chronic HIV infection and treatment failure, with persistent viremia due to multi-drug resistant HIV (Hirschel 2001; Deeks 2002; Miller 2003). In an earlier Cochrane review (Pai 2005), we had summarized the evidence about the effects of STI in chronic suppressed HIV infection.

Nitric oxide production is paradoxically decreased after weight reduction surgery in morbid obesity patients.

Obesity is associated with vascular endothelial cell dysfunction (ECD). Studies on nitric oxide (NO) production of vascular system in these subjects may help delineate the pathogenesis of obesity-associated ECD. In this study, we recruited 69 severely obese patients who were treated with gastric partition surgery for weight reduction and 69 matched healthy controls for comparison.

Structured treatment interruptions (STI) in chronic suppressed HIV infection in adults.

Background: Although antiretroviral treatment (ART) has led to a decline in morbidity and mortality of HIV-infected patients in developed countries, it has also presented challenges. These challenges include increases in pill burden; adherence to treatment; development of resistance and treatment failure; development of drug toxicities; and increase in cost of HIV treatment and care. These issues stimulated interest in investigating the short-term and long-term consequences of discontinuing ART, thus providing support for research in structured treatment interruptions (STI).

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses: an illustrated, step-by-step guide.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesize data from existing primary research, and well-conducted reviews offer clinicians a practical solution to the problem of staying current in their fields of interest. A whole generation of secondary journals, pre-appraised evidence libraries and periodically updated electronic texts are now available to clinicians. However, not all systematic reviews are of high quality, and it is important to be able to critically assess their validity and applicability.

Diagnostic accuracy of nucleic acid amplification tests for tuberculous meningitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Conventional tests are not always helpful in making a diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to establish the summary accuracy of nucleic acid amplification (NAA) tests for tuberculous meningitis. We searched six electronic databases and contacted authors, experts, and manufacturers.

Do U.S. Environmental Protection Agency water quality guidelines for recreational waters prevent gastrointestinal illness? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Despite numerous studies, uncertainty remains about how water quality indicators can best be used in the regulation of recreational water. We conducted a systematic review of this topic with the goal of quantifying the association between microbial indicators of recreational water quality and gastrointestinal (GI) illness. A secondary goal was to evaluate the potential for GI illness below current guidelines.

Painless pancreatitis: a rare manifestation of leptospirosis.

A rare case of painless pancreatitis caused by Leptospira is reported. The patient presented clinically with features of paralytic ileus and renal failure. Hyperamylasemia was persistent inspite of recovery of renal function.

Haemorrhagic pneumonitis: A rare presentation of leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is an uncommon zoonosis. As a systemic disease, it presents itself by multisystem involvement. Pulmonary involvement with leptospirosis often is manifested by respiratory symptoms; but pneumonia commonly is not a prominent clinical manifestation of the illness.

Syncytial variant of nodular sclerosing Hodgkin lymphoma.

We report the case history of a 31-year old woman with a rare morphologic form of nodular sclerosing Hodgkin disease (NSHD) termed "syncytial variant." Its histologic features mimic metastatic carcinoma, thymoma, melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and germ-cell tumor. Antigens expressed on Reed-Sternberg cells, the hallmark of Hodgkin disease, and other neoplastic cells were screened to determine the correct diagnosis.

Kimura's disease: a case report and literature review.

Kimura's disease, which occurs endemically in the Far East and sporadically in the West, has so far eluded efforts to determine its exact pathogenesis. It presents as solitary or multiple benign swellings of the skin, has a predilection for the periauricular and scalp regions, and often is associated with regional lymphadenopathy. Morphologically, the lesions are characterized by proliferating blood vessels with rich eosinophilic infiltrate.

Sodium nitroprusside/nitric oxide causes apoptosis in spiral ganglion cells.

Objective: In the cochlea, excitatory amino acid receptor overstimulation induces toxicity in spiral ganglion neurons by an unknown mechanism. In the central nervous system, excitatory amino acid-induced toxicity is mediated by nitric oxide, which induces apoptosis in neurons. This study tested the hypothesis that cochlear nitric oxide-mediated toxicity is the result of induction of apoptosis in spiral ganglion neurons.

Synthesis and in vitro activity of long-chain 5'-O-[(alkoxycarbonyl)phosphinyl]-3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidines against wild-type and AZT- and foscarnet-resistant strains of HIV-1.

Lipophilic esters of 3'-azido-3'-deoxy-5'-O-(carboxyphosphinyl)thymidine (PFA-AZT) were synthesized and tested for antiretroviral activity in CD4+ HT4-6C cells infected with either wild-type HIV-1LAI, a PFA-resistant strain encoding a single-point mutation in reverse transcriptase (E89K), or an AZT-resistant clinical isolate (A018-post). Arbuzov condensation of 1-octadecyl, 1-eicosanyl, and 1-docosanyl chloroformate with trimethyl phosphite yielded the corresponding dimethyl long-chain alkyl triesters of PFA. Selective removal of one methyl group from the triesters with sodium iodide yielded monosodium salts, whereas treatment with bromotrimethylsilane cleaved both methyl groups while leaving the long-chain alkyl group intact.

Effectiveness of antenatal care on weight of infants attending underfive clinic.

Holistic approach for healthy growth of infants is considered in this study by measuring weight as an important variable. There were significant increase in the average gain monthly weight throughout infancy (P < 0.01) and preponement of age at which weaning started (P < 0.

Subxiphoid pericardial window for pericardial effusion in end-stage renal disease.

Fifty-seven patients with end-stage renal disease who were on maintenance dialysis underwent pericardial fluid drainage surgically between January 1980 and December 1991. All patients had echocardiographically proven pericardial effusion of more than 300 to 500 mL. Seven patients had pericardiectomy by left thoracotomy under general anesthesia in the first 2 years.

Prevalence of VDRL sero-positivity in women in reproductive age group in an urban slum community in Bombay.

A cross sectional survey was carried in an Urban Slum Community in Bombay having a population of 60,000. A total of 393 women in reproductive age group were screened for VDRL reactivity. The highest prevalence was in 15 to 29 years of age group.

Inhibition of phagocytes by cyclosporin in vitro.

Cyclosporin is an immunosuppressant that acts by selectively inhibiting the activation of T lymphocytes. Its effects on monocytes and neutrophils are not well explored. We investigated the in vitro effects of cyclosporin on these cells, harvested from venous blood from nine healthy, non-smoking volunteers.

Involvement of prostaglandins in chilli-induced early gastric vascular damage in adult Wistar rat.

Objective: To explore the role of prostaglandins in protecting against chilli-induced early gastric vascular damage.

Methods: Early gastric vascular damage was induced in rats by oral administration of 8 mg/Kg chilli extract. The damage was assessed by estimating spectrophotometrically the amount of Evan's blue leaking into gastric tissue and luminal contents 10 min after exposure to chilli.