The role of ciprofloxacin in prolonging polyethylene biliary stent patency: a multicenter, double-blinded effectiveness study.

Plastic stents are the mainstay of the palliation of malignant jaundice but are complicated by recurrent obstruction. Previous trials have failed to demonstrate any improvement in patency with the use of antibiotics. Patients with malignant jaundice were randomized in a double-blind fashion, after polyethylene stent insertion, to receive ciprofloxacin or placebo.

Predicting which patients can undergo upper endoscopy comfortably without conscious sedation.

Background: Eliminating conscious sedation for diagnostic endoscopy may be advantageous for patient safety and cost containment. The aim of this study was to identify and validate independent predictors of a comfortable, technically adequate, unsedated diagnostic upper endoscopy in Canadian patients.

Methods: Patients were consecutively enrolled in a prospective fashion.

Use of interferon for prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection.

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in North America is increasing. Current debate focuses on whether interferon administered to cirrhotic patients-with or without biochemical or virologic response-delays or prevents cancer of the liver. Review of the literature revealed several studies that showed improvement in or delay in progression of histologic fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Interleukin-15 signals T84 colonic epithelial cells in the absence of the interleukin-2 receptor beta-chain.

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) shares many biological functions with interleukin-2 (IL-2) due to common receptor components. IL-15 binds to the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) beta-chain and the common gamma-chain receptor in addition to one other IL-15 binding receptor protein (IL-15R alpha). Both IL-2R beta- and gamma-chains are required to promote cell growth in hematopoietic cells.