No evidence of an association between transient HIV viremia ("Blips") and lower adherence to the antiretroviral medication regimen.

Background: Transient human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viremia, a common phenomenon among patients taking antiretroviral therapy, is often attributed to lapses in adherence to the medication regimen. We investigated this relationship in a prospective observational cohort of 128 patients initiating a new regimen.

Methods: A case of transient viremia was defined as an HIV RNA level of 40-1000 copies/mL ("blip") sandwiched between 2 months of HIV RNA levels <40 copies/mL ("pre" and "post").

Functional breast imaging using the single photon technique.

Early diagnosis of carcinoma of the breast is currently attempted by mammography and physical examination which together have a sensitivity of 85%. Mammography has a positive predictive value of only 15 to 40 percent. The usefulness of scintimammography for the detection of carcinoma of the breast has been studied which demonstrated improved specificity compared to conventional mammography.

Long-term effects of triptolide on spermatogenesis, epididymal sperm function, and fertility in male rats.

Prior studies had suggested that triptolide, a diterpene triepoxide isolated from a Chinese medicinal plant, might be an attractive candidate as a post-testicular male contraceptive agent. Despite the promise that triptolide would not affect testis function, nagging concerns remained that a delayed onset of testicular effect might exist. The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of relatively longer treatment duration of triptolide on fertility, spermatogenesis, and epididymal sperm pathophysiology; and to evaluate the reversibility of these effects after the cessation of treatment.

Posttesticular antifertility action of triptolide in the male rat: evidence for severe impairment of cauda epididymal sperm ultrastructure.

A variety of active diterpene epoxides, including the triptolide (isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii) have been reported to cause infertility in male rats. Previously, we showed that oral administration of triptolide at a dosage of 100 microg/kg per body weight for 70 days completely inhibited fertility in male rats, with little or no demonstrable detrimental effect on spermatogenesis and Leydig cell function as determined by testicular light microscopic appearance and serum and intratesticular testosterone levels. Despite the apparent absence of effects on the testes, cauda epididymal sperm were abnormal, with complete cessation of sperm motility and some reduction in sperm numbers.

Effect of out-of-hospital pediatric endotracheal intubation on survival and neurological outcome: a controlled clinical trial.

Context: Endotracheal intubation (ETI) is widely used for airway management of children in the out-of-hospital setting, despite a lack of controlled trials demonstrating a positive effect on survival or neurological outcome.

Objective: To compare the survival and neurological outcomes of pediatric patients treated with bag-valve-mask ventilation (BVM) with those of patients treated with BVM followed by ETI.

Design: Controlled clinical trial, in which patients were assigned to interventions by calendar day from March 15, 1994, through January 1, 1997.