A meta-analysis to determine the effect of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments on fibromyalgia symptoms comprising OMERACT-10 response criteria.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain, sleep problems, fatigue, functional impairment, psychological distress, and cognitive dysfunction. The objective of this meta-analysis is to synthesize the available data on the effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions across all domains included in the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT-10) fibromyalgia response definitions, and to examine response based on these definitions. We searched Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus, and the reference lists of articles for randomized controlled trials of any drug formulation or non-pharmacological intervention used for fibromyalgia treatment.

Role of vaccinations and prophylaxis in rheumatic diseases.

Targeted strategies for reducing the increased risk of infection in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases include vaccinations as well as antibiotic prophylaxis in selected patients. However, there are still issues under debate: Is vaccination in patients with rheumatic diseases immunogenic? Is it safe? What is the impact of immunosuppressive drugs on vaccine immunogenicity and safety? Does vaccination cause disease flares? In which cases is prophylaxis against Pneumocystis jirovecii required? This review addresses these important questions to which clinicians and researchers still do not have definite answers. The first part includes immunization recommendations and reviews current data on vaccine efficacy and safety in patients with rheumatic diseases.

A world wide web guide to pediatric infectious diseases.

Pediatric infectious disease is a subspecialty constantly evolving in terms of scientific information. A novel means of attaining medical information that has emerged in recent years is the World Wide Web (WWW). The authors sought to assess availability and content of sites offering information on pediatric infectious diseases in the WWW.

Reclassifying bioterrorism risk: are we preparing for the proper pathogens?

Existing classifications of potential biological weapons, acknowledge only limited important parameters of biological weapon potential. Certain pathogen factors would further influence the outcome of a potential attack in context with social and political aspects of the time and space of the attack. The importance of these factors was investigated through various attack scenarios that have been developed by the authors, and an individual score for each of these factors was calculated, based on the overall effect their variation had in the scenario outcome.

World Wide Web resources on zoonotic infections: a subjective overview.

Zoonoses are a diverse group of infections whose significance is underestimated and understudied. The prevalence of zoonoses is higher in the developing world, where health professionals are often deprived of the rapid and free availability of related scientific information; however, continuous evolution of the World Wide Web (WWW) may offer such an option. This review sought to evaluate the content of available WWW resources on zoonoses.

Insights into infectious disease in the era of Hippocrates.

Hippocrates is traditionally considered the father of modern medicine, still influencing, 25 centuries after his time, various aspects of medical practice and ethics. His collected works include various references to infectious diseases that range from general observations on the nature of infection, hygiene, epidemiology, and the immune response, to detailed descriptions of syndromes such as tuberculous spondylitis, malaria, and tetanus. We sought to evaluate the extent to which this historical information has influenced the modern relevant literature.

Brucellosis in the middle East: a persistent medical, socioeconomic and political issue.

Human brucellosis remains endemic in the majority of Middle Eastern countries, accounting for tens of thousands of new annual cases, despite partly successful efforts at disease control. In the Middle East, more pronouncedly than elsewhere, brucellosis exhibits significant socioeconomic and political correlations, including population literacy and distribution, and development of health networks. Currently, Middle Eastern countries, having a vast pool of human cases, generate important information regarding the disease's clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment.

Free internal medicine case-based education through the World Wide Web: how, where, and with what?

Objective: To identify and evaluate electronic internal medicine educational sources and develop a list of major Web sites for interested practitioners.

Material And Methods: From July 1 to August 20, 2006, we searched Web sites derived from academic and nonacademic institutions, medical journal Web sites, and medical Web sites based on selection criteria, including extent of information, update periods, and validity of the source.

Results: We present a list of related Web sites that have been selected as practical, valid, and freely accessed.

World Wide Web hepatitis B virus resources.

Background: Hepatitis B virus infection is a global public health issue, often under-discussed due to social prejudices related to its mode of transmission. The World Wide Web, an increasingly popular means of dissemination of health-related information, can serve continuing medical practitioner awareness and enhance public health literacy.

Objective: The authors sought to investigate the existence of, and evaluate the content of websites offering information on hepatitis B.

Doxycycline-rifampicin: physicians' inferior choice in brucellosis or how convenience reigns over science.

Objectives: Brucellosis treatment is based on sub-optimal, not universally implemented regimens (doxycycline-rifampicin and doxycycline-streptomycin). The authors sought to evaluate specialists' and physicians' attitude towards regimens used, non-medical aspects, and future trends in human brucellosis treatment.

Methods: A questionnaire-based survey of multi-national specialists, physicians, and trainees, was conducted, questionnaire answered following lectures outlining major scientific facts about existing regimens.

Brucella as a biological weapon.

Brucella has traditionally been considered a biological weapon. It was the subject of extensive offensive research in the past, and still belongs to category B pathogens on most lists. Its propensity for airborne transmission and induction of chronic debilitating disease requiring combined antibiotic regimens for treatment, its abundance around the world and its vague clinical characteristics defying rapid clinical diagnosis are some of the characteristics that apply to the pathogen's weapons potential.