Telaprevir for Previously Treated Chronic HCV Infection

Cellular mechanisms in basic and clinical gastroenterology and hepatolog

Proposing a new model for quality of service acceptance

Quality of service (QoS) has been proofed to be a great significance effect in the utilization of cloud service in higher education institutions (HEI’s), due to having many aspects determine the acceptance level of QoS while providing cloud service, QoS acceptance not given sufficient attention from HEIs and decision-makers. In this research, previous QoS studies are review in this field to identify QoS acceptance variables by review studies for the last 5 years. Thus, with the aim to discover QoS aspects this research intends to develop an integrated model to understand these variables and relationship between QoS acceptance variables, which must be efficiently studied. Hence, the integrated model between TOE (Technological, Organizational, and environmental) and HOT (Human, Organizational, and Technological) theory is presented in this research to be the core contribution. The integrated model helps HEIs to evaluate and explore QoS aspects to increase utilizing of cloud service, improving HEIs efficiency, and help decision-makers to facilitate the acceptance of QoS in HEIs

Quality of service acceptance in cloud service utilization: an empirical study in Palestinian higher education institutions

Cloud service is an emerging technology in Higher education institutions (HEIs). However, while providing this technology, quality of service (QoS) not given sufficiently important attention especially from the HEIs and decision makers. In this research, previous QoS models and frameworks are reviewed of researches done in this field are presented. It necessary to monitor, and evaluate QoS acceptance variables of cloud service to provide accurate information for HEIs. Thus, with the aim of representing and highlighting the factors influencing QoS acceptance, the need to develop a new model to enhance QoS acceptance, a new model is introduced to ensure understanding of the relation among QoS acceptance variables and utilizing cloud service. This study was conducted by a survey questionnaire for collecting data from top management in Palestinian HEIs. Results founded a positive significant relationship of technological and environmental variables with QoS acceptance while organizational shows insignificant relationship with QoS. Additionally, the developed model assist decision makers to develop their strategic plans of utilization cloud service by exploring, and evaluation QoS acceptance variables of current cloud service

Effect of progesterone on cervical shortening in women at risk for preterm birth: Secondary analysis from a multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Objectives: To determine whether progesterone supplementation alters cervical shortening in women at increased risk for preterm birth. Methods: We performed a planned secondary analysis from a large, multinational preterm birth prevention trial of daily intravaginal progesterone gel, 90 mg, compared with placebo in women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth or premature cervical shortening. Transvaginal cervical length measurements were obtained in all randomized patients at baseline (18 + 0 to 22 + 6 weeks' gestation) and at 28 weeks' gestation. For this secondary analysis, the difference in cervical length between these time points was compared for the study population with a history of spontaneous preterm birth and for a population with premature cervical shortening (≤ 30 mm) at randomization. Differences between groups in cervical length for the 28-week examination were analyzed using ANCOVA, including adjustment for relevant clinical parameters and maternal characteristics. Results: Data were analyzed from 547 randomized patients with a history of preterm birth. The progesterone-treated patients had significantly less cervical shortening than the placebo group (difference 1.6 (95% CI, 0.3-3.0) mm; P = 0.02, ANCOVA). In the population of 104 subjects with premature cervical shortening at randomization, the cervical length also differed significantly on multivariable analysis, with the treatment group preserving more cervical length than the placebo group (difference 3.3 (95% CI, 0.3-6.2) mm; P = 0.03, ANCOVA), with adjustment for differences in cervical length at screening. A significant difference was also observed between groups for categorical outcomes including the frequency of cervical length progression to ≤ 25 mm and a ≥ 50% reduction in cervical length from baseline in this subpopulation. Conclusions: Intravaginal progesterone enhances preservation of cervical length in women at high risk for preterm birth. Copyright © 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Articl

Enhancement of electromagnetically deposited pristine CdTe film electrode photoelectrochemical characteristics by annealing temperature and cooling rate

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) characteristics of CdTe film electrodes, known to have low conversion efficiency when used in their pristine form, can be significantly enhanced by carefully controlling their annealing temperature and cooling rate. Pristine CdTe films were electrodeposited onto FTO/Glass substrates which were used as anodes. To reach films with optimal characteristics, different applied preparation potentials were intentionally examined, namely 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 V, vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode (or 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 V NHE, respectively) where the 1.1 V applied potential showed best PEC characteristics, and was thus followed unless otherwise stated. To study effect of annealing temperature, three temperatures (150, 200 and 250 ºC) were attempted to enhance PEC characteristics of the deposited films. Effect of cooling rate, on PEC performance of pre-annealed films, was also studied using quenching and slow cooling. Films quenched from annealing at all temperatures showed lower PEC performance compared to non-annealed electrode. Film electrodes slowly cooled from 150 or 200 ºC show enhanced PEC performance compared to quenched or non-annealed films. Film slowly cooled from 250 ºC exhibited lower PEC performance than the quenched counterpart. Annealing at 250 ºC lowered PEC for both quenching and slow cooling. As a low band gap semiconductor film electrode, it is recommended to slowly cool CdTe from low annealing temperatures, and to quickly cool them from relatively higher annealing temperature. The annealing temperature and cooling rate effects on CdTe film PEC performance are attributed to their effects on other physical characteristics, namely crystallinity, morphology and chemical composition. The optimal conversion efficiency (6.9%) was observed for film deposited at 1.1 V applied potential when annealed at 200 ºC and slowly cooled to room temperature

Telaprevir for previously treated chronic HCV infection

Patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) who do not have a sustained response to therapy with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin have a low likelihood of success with retreatment. We randomly assigned patients with HCV genotype 1 who had not had a sustained virologic response after peginterferon alfa-ribavirin therapy to one of four treatment groups: 115 patients to the T12PR24 group, receiving telaprevir (1125-mg loading dose, then 750 mg every 8 hours) for 12 weeks and peginterferon alfa-2a (180 microg per week) and ribavirin (1000 or 1200 mg per day, according to body weight) for 24 weeks; 113 patients to the T24PR48 group, receiving telaprevir for 24 weeks and peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin for 48 weeks (at the same doses as in the T12PR24 group); 111 patients to the T24P24 group, receiving telaprevir and peginterferon alfa-2a for 24 weeks (at the same doses as in the T12PR24 group); and 114 patients to the PR48 (or control) group, receiving peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin for 48 weeks (at the same doses as in the T12PR24 group). The primary end point was sustained virologic response (undetectable HCV RNA levels 24 weeks after the last dose of study drugs). The rates of sustained virologic response in the three telaprevir groups--51% in the T12PR24 group, 53% in the T24PR48 group, and 24% in the T24P24 group--were significantly higher than the rate in the control group (14%; P <0.001, P <0.001, and P=0.02, respectively). Response rates were higher among patients who had previously had relapses than among nonresponders. One of the most common adverse events in the telaprevir groups was rash (overall, occurring in 51% of patients, with severe rash in 5%). Discontinuation of study drugs because of adverse events was more frequent in the telaprevir groups than in the control group (15% vs. 4%). In HCV-infected patients in whom initial peginterferon alfa and ribavirin treatment failed, retreatment with telaprevir in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin was more effective than retreatment with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin alone. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00420784.

Progesterone vaginal gel for the reduction of recurrent preterm birth: Primary results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Objective: Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Treatment of preterm labor with tocolysis has not been successful in improving infant outcome. The administration of progesterone and related compounds has been proposed as a strategy to prevent preterm birth. The objective of this trial was to determine whether prophylactic administration of vaginal progesterone reduces the risk of preterm birth in women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multinational trial enrolled and randomized 659 pregnant women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth. Between 18 + 0 and 22 + 6 weeks of gestation, patients were assigned randomly to once-daily treatment with either progesterone vaginal gel or placebo until either delivery, 37 weeks' gestation or development of preterm rupture of membranes. The primary outcome was preterm birth at ≤ 32 weeks of gestation. The trial was analyzed using an intent-to-treat strategy. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in the two treatment groups. Progesterone did not decrease the frequency of preterm birth at ≤ 32 weeks. There was no difference between the groups with respect to the mean gestational age at delivery, infant morbidity or mortality or other maternal or neonatal outcome measures. Adverse events during the course of treatment were similar for the two groups. Conclusion: Prophylactic treatment with vaginal progesterone did not reduce the frequency of recurrent preterm birth (≤ 32 weeks) in women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth. The effect of progesterone administration in patients at high risk for preterm delivery as determined by methods other than history alone (e.g. sonographic cervical length) requires further investigation. Copyright © 2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Articl