AIMS To determine the gastric distribution of Helicobacter pylori in patients with duodenal and gastric ulcers; and to examine the mucosal inflammatory response. METHODS Patients with newly diagnosed, uncomplicated duodenal and gastric ulcers were endoscoped and two biopsy specimens each taken from the antrum and the body. Specimens were evaluated blind by one pathologist to determine H pylor...

BACKGROUND Bacterial translocation occurs in surgical patients and may predispose to postoperative septic morbidity. Many factors are thought to influence the prevalence of bacterial translocation, one of which is the composition of the gut microflora. The aim of this prospective and randomised study was to assess the effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 299v on the incidence of bact...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the performance (efficacy and safety) of an absorbent dressing impregnated with silver salts (UrgoCell Silver) in the management of leg ulcers with clinical signs of critical colonisation. METHOD This was a prospective multicentre non-comparative phase III clinical trial. Patients were assessed weekly for up to four weeks. Assessment included clinical assessment of criti...

This article explains the level of economic freedom in Muslim countries through the theory of institutional path dependency. Islamic countries are generally not free and they have a poor record regarding property rights. To explain these realities we use the institutional history of Muslim countries. We define three steps: the Arab and Ottoman Empires when Islamic law was of great importance, E...

This article explains the level of economic freedom in Muslim countries through the theory of institutional path dependency. Islamic countries are generally not free and they have a poor record regarding property rights. To explain these realities we use the institutional history of Muslim countries. We define three steps: the Arab and Ottoman Empires when Islamic law was of great importance, E...

1. The aim of this paper was to investigate the arthropod colonisation of a recently erupted volcano in the framework of a general model of colonisation kinetics. 2. We analysed the diversity of arthropod communities at three locations on Faial Island (Azores) using a well-defined disturbance gradient: (i) a site that is new land added by the eruption of Capelinhos Volcano of 1957; (ii) a site ...

BACKGROUND Invasive fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. The authors conducted the first prospective, randomised controlled trial of nystatin compared with fluconazole for the prevention of fungal colonisation and invasive fungal infection in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates. METHODS During a 12-month period, all VLBW neonates were assigned r...

BACKGROUND Fusobacterium necrophorum is a well-known cause of Lemirre's disease and accumulating evidence support its pathogenic role in peritonsillar abscess while its role in recurrent and chronic tonsillitis is uncertain. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of oropharyngeal colonisation with F. necrophorum and Beta-haemolytic streptococci in a cohort of patients schedule...

INTRODUCTION Colonisation of the lower respiratory tract with Candida species occurs in 25% of mechanically ventilated critically ill patients, and is associated with increased morbidity. Nebulised amphotericin B has been used to eradicate Candida as part of selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) protocols, but its effectiveness is unknown. We aimed to determine the effectivenes...

Clostridium difficile is a major cause of healthcare-associated infection and inflicts a considerable financial burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Disease symptoms range from self-limiting diarrhoea to fatal pseudomembranous colitis. Whilst C. difficile has two major virulence factors, toxin A and B, it is generally accepted that other virulence components of the bacterium contribute to di...