BACKGROUND This study determine oxidative stress and survival prospectively in advanced stage non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients following cisplatin based combination chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS The oxidative stress levels (LPO, NO, GSH and SOD) of 144 control subjects and 203 advanced stage (IIIA/IIIB/IV) newly diagnosed NSCLC patients were assessed at pre-treatment (day '0'...

Sisal leaf decortications residue (SLDR) is amongst the most abundant agro-industrial residues in Tanzania and is a good feedstock for biogas production. Pre-treatment of the residue prior to its anaerobic digestion (AD) was investigated using a two-stage pre-treatment approach with two fungal strains, CCHT-1 and Trichoderma reesei in succession in anaerobic batch bioreactors. AD of the pre-tre...

OBJECTIVE The objective of this trial was to determine the levels of inflammatory markers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A pre- and post-levothyroxine treatment in cases of subclinical hypothyroidism. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 32 patients with a diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism and a control group of 30 healthy individuals were tested for high-sensitivity C-reac...

BACKGROUND High early mortality rate among HIV infected patients following initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource limited settings may indicate high pre-treatment mortality among ART-eligible patients. There is dearth of data on pre-treatment mortality in ART programmes in sub-Sahara Africa. This study aims to determine pre-treatment mortality rate and predictors of pre-treatmen...

INTRODUCTION Cirrhosis secondary to HCV infection is expected to peak in the next decade, particularly in the HIV co-infected subgroup and has become a leading cause of morbidity among these individuals. Efforts must be done to estimate the risk of liver decompensation (LD) in the short term, in order to define the appropriate time for HCV treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective observ...

BACKGROUND Improving the outcomes of HIV/AIDS treatment programs in resource-limited settings requires successful linkage of patients testing positive for HIV to pre-antiretroviral therapy (ART) care and retention in pre-ART care until ART initiation. We conducted a systematic review of pre-ART retention in care in Africa. METHODS AND FINDINGS We searched PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, confere...

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a high-grade, rare variant of soft tissue sarcoma (STS). The biphasic subtype is less common than the monophasic subtype. SS is very common around joint cavities in the extremities, but can be present elsewhere in the body. Tumor staging and therapeutic management are usually clear for a localized disease, but the proper management at the metastatic stage can be unclear...

BACKGROUND There is little information on factors influencing patient choice of renal replacement modality (RRM) in the UK. Pre-dialysis education programmes have been associated with increased uptake of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in other countries but their relevance in informing patient choice within UK centres has not been extensively studied. In this study, we examined how patient choice of ...

The standard treatment of chronic hepatitis C, pegylated interferon and ribavirin (pegI/R), has many limitations in both effectiveness and secondary effects, which makes it unsuitable or even contraindicated for some patients. In hepatitis C virus-infected cystic fibrosis patients this treatment could increase respiratory infections with subsequent pulmonary function deterioration. On the contr...

BACKGROUND Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and the prevalence of hypertension tends to increase with age. Current treatments for hypertension have adverse side effects and poor adherence. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of moxibustion on blood pressure in individuals with pre- or stage I hypertension. METHODS/DESIGN Forty-five subjects with pre- ...