BACKGROUND Available treatments for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B are associated with poor sustained responses. As a result, nucleoside and nucleotide analogues are typically continued indefinitely, a strategy associated with the risk of resistance and unknown long-term safety implications. METHODS We compared the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2a (180 ...

BACKGROUND To estimate, from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system, the economic outcomes of five different first-line strategies among patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). METHODS AND FINDINGS A decision-analytic model was developed to simulate the lifetime disease course associated with renal cell carcinoma. The health and economic outcomes of five first-line str...

High molecular weight alginate beads with 59% mannuronic acid content or 68% guluronic acid were prepared using a droplet generator and crosslinked in calcium chloride. The alginate beads were compared to current embolisation microspheres for compressibility and monitored over 12 weeks for size and weight change at 37 degrees C in low volumes of ringers solutions. A sheep uterine model was used...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Darbepoetin alfa is a novel erythropoiesis-stimulating protein developed for treating anemia. In animal models, exogenous recombinant human erythropoietin has been reported to be beneficial in treating experimental cerebral ischemia. In this study, we determined whether darbepoetin alfa would protect in a rat model of transient focal cerebral ischemia. METHODS Rats rece...

background & aim: purslane (portulaca oleracea l.), belongs to the portulacaceace family, grows in many parts of iran. results of previous studies were indicated purslane is a rich source of essential fatty acids of omega-3 and omega-6.  portulaca oleracea is a widespread weed, being the eighth common plants of the world. the aim of current study was to compare the essential fatty acids com...

BACKGROUND Peginterferon alfa-2a (40 kDa) is currently administered using a prefilled syringe. The peginterferon alfa-2a disposable autoinjector is a new safety-engineered device designed to facilitate injection and reduce the risk of needlestick injuries. The analysis of two open-label Phase I trials evaluated the pharmacokinetics, successful administration, and tolerability of peginterferon a...

INTRODUCTION Current concepts of the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis suggest that disease progression from acinar injury to systemic illness involves a complex interplay between cellular and soluble inflammatory mediators and endothelial beds. To date, there is no specific pharmacologic intervention for acute pancreatitis. Death from acute pancreatitis remains a major issue, and late deat...

PURPOSE To determine the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of alfa lipoic acid (ALA) on the liver injury induced by methotrexate (MTX) in rats. METHODS Thirty two rats were randomly assigned into four equal groups; control, ALA, MTX and MTX with ALA groups. Liver injury was performed with a single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) to groups 3 and 4. The ALA was administered intraperitonealy for ...

BACKGROUND In metastatic renal cell carcinoma combinations of interferon alfa-2a, interleukin-2, and fluorouracil produce higher response rates and longer progression-free survival than do single agents. We aimed to compare overall survival in patients receiving combination treatment or interferon alfa-2a. METHODS RE04/30012 was an open-label randomised trial undertaken in 50 centres across e...

Purpose: Somatostatin analogs and interferon alfa control hormone-active/functional neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumors. In addition to hormonal control, variable degrees of antiproliferative effects for both agents have been reported. Until now, however, no prospective, randomized studies in therapy-naive patients have compared somatostatin analogs or interferon alfa alone with a comb...