Retreatment with interferon-alpha and ribavirin in primary interferon-alpha non-responders with chronic hepatitis C

Background/Aims: Combination therapy with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) plus ribavirin is more efficacious than IFN-alpha monotherapy in previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C and patients with IFN-alpha relapse. Only limited data are available in IFN-alpha non-responders. In a multicenter trial we therefore evaluated the efficacy of combination therapy in IFN-alpha-resistant chronic hepatitis C. Methods: Eighty-two patients (mean age 46.8 years, 54 males, 28 females) with chronic hepatitis C were treated with IFN-alpha-2a (3 x 6 MIU/week) and ribavirin (14 mg/kg daily) for 12 weeks. Thereafter, treatment was continued only in virological responders (undetectable serum HCV RNA at week 12) with an IFN-alpha dose of 3 x 3 MIU/week and without ribavirin for a further 9 months. The primary study endpoint was an undetectable HCV RNA by RT-PCR at the end of the 24-week follow-up period. Results: After 12 weeks of combination therapy, an initial virological response was observed in 29 of 82 (35.4%) patients. Due to a high breakthrough rate after IFN-a dose reduction and ribavirin discontinuation, an end-of-treatment response was only achieved in 12 of 82 (14.6%) patients. After the follow-up period, a sustained virological response was observed in 8 of 82 (9.8%) patients. Infection with HCV genotype 3 was the only pretreatment parameter, which could predict a sustained response (HCV-1, 5%; HCV-3, 57.1%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Despite a high initial response rate of 35.4%, sustained viral clearance was achieved only in 9.8% of the retreated primary IFN-alpha non-responders. Higher IFN-alpha induction and maintenance dose, as well as prolonged ribavirin treatment may possibly increase the virological response rates in non-responders, particularly in those infected by HCV-1

Desktop Publishing: Dokumentieren und Publizieren mit dem Personal Computer

Beschreibung des Publikationsverfahrens 'Desktop Publishing (DTP)' und Bericht über einen im November 1987 zu diesem Thema veranstalteten Workshop. DTP bedeutet soviel wie 'Publizieren vom Schreibtisch aus' und gestattet es, einfach und wirtschaftlich Druckvorlagen zu gestalten sowie diese auszudrucken. Bücher, Formulare, Magazine, Hauszeitschriften, Prospekte, Kataloge oder Geschäftsberichte lassen sich mit entsprechender Software (Grundvoraussetzung: Software für Textverarbeitung und Grafik) in einem Personal Computer erfassen und gestalten. Die Voraussetzungen technischer, organisatorischer und software-seitiger Art werden beschrieben. (psz

Absence of a liver-specific membrane protein in a strain of Chang cells

A strain of Chang cells, derived from a human liver line, was examined for the presence of a liver-specific membrane protein (LSP), as described by Meyer zum Buschenfelde. Indirect immunofluorescence and antisera to human, rat, and rabbit LSP were used to demonstrate that LSP was present on isolated human, rat, and rabbit hepatocytes but not on the Chang cells. The results indicate that these Chang cells do not possess the LSP. The use of Chang cells in the studies of liver immunopathology may not reflect a valid correlation with organ-specific events relevant to the LSP.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/22558/1/0000103.pd

A new synthesis of didehydro dipeptides and didehydro tripeptides (Amino acids ; 17)

Esters of N-phthaloyl-protected (R)- or (S)-didehydro dipeptides 5-7 were obtained in good yields by the perrhenate-catalyzed decomposition of 2-azidocarboxylates 1 with N-phthaloyl-protected (R)- or (S)-amino acid chlorides 2 in presence of at least equimolar amounts of N-methyl-2-pyridone (4) as acylation catalyst. Esters of didehydro tripeptides 16 were obtained in a comparable procedure from the optically active amino acid chlorides 2 and 2-(2-azidoacyl)amino acid esters 15, which were prepared from 2-azidocarboxylic acids 12 or the corresponding chlorides 13 with 2-amino acid ester hydrochlorides (S)-14. - As an example, the unprotected (S)-alanly-didehydrovalin 20 was prepared from the didehydro dipeptide 18a without any racemization by hydrolysis of the benzyl ester and subsequent hydrogenolytic removal of the N-phthaloyl group

THE RADIO SPECTRA OF 1,2,3- and 1,2,4-TRICYANOBENZENE

Author Institution: Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz-Universitat Hannover, Institut fur Physikalische Chemie,; Callinstra{\ss}e 3A, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Universidad de Valladolid, Departamento Qu\imica F\isica y Qu\imica Inorganica,; Facultad de Ciencias, Prado de la Magdalena, s/n, 47005 Valladolid, Spain; Technische Universitat Braunschweig, Institut fur Organische Chemie,; Hagenring 30, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; University of Wisconsin, Department of Chemistry, 1101 University Avenue,; Madison, WI 53706, USAAromatic hydrocarbons and their polycyclic representatives (PAH) are often stated to be the most abundant free organic molecules in space. However, with the now more than 140 astronomically known species no aromatic compound besides the IR-spectroscopically detected benzene itself is confirmed so far. Possibly because PAHs typically have only a small dipole moment - the prerequisite for a radioastronomical detection. Tricyanobenzenes offer a new approach for the detection of aromatic species: Easily formed by condensation of - in the interstellar medium abundant - cyanoacetylene, they exhibit a considerable dipole moment. With the analysis of the previously unkown microwave spectra - complicated by the quadrupole coupling of the three nitrogen nuclei - the spectroscopic data for an astronomical search are now available. In addition, the analysis of the nuclear quadrupol hyperfine structure allows for some insight into the chemical bonding of the substituted aromatic systems

The Independence of Research—A Review of Disciplinary Perspectives and Outline of Interdisciplinary Prospects

The independence of research is a key strategic issue of modern societies. Dealing with it appropriately poses legal, economic, political, social and cultural problems for society, which have been studied by the corresponding disciplines and are increasingly the subject of reflexive discourses of scientific communities. Unfortunately, problems of independence are usually framed in disciplinary contexts without due consideration of other perspectives’ relevance or possible contributions. To overcome these limitations, we review disciplinary perspectives and findings on the independence of research and identify interdisciplinary prospects that could inform a research programme

Positive association between successful rehabilitation and patient hospital ratings: Experience reports of patients in rehabilitation on a hospital rating and review site

Hintergrund: Feedback von Patienten über erlebte Versorgungsaspekte erfolgt auch in der Rehabilitation inzwischen zunehmend online, beispielsweise auf Bewertungsportalen. Daher soll untersucht werden, welche von Rehabilitanden auf der für Reha-Kliniken führenden Bewertungsplattform Klinikbewertungen.de veröffentlichten Versorgungsaspekte mit der Weiterempfehlung einer Rehaklinik und welche negativen Aspekte mit der Nicht-Weiterempfehlung assoziiert sind. Methode: Eingeschlossen wurden Reha-Kliniken der Rentenversicherung Bund und federführend von ihr belegte Kliniken. Mit einem Mixed-Methods-Ansatz wurden aus acht Reha-Indikationsgruppen nach Zufriedenheitsstufen stratifizierte freitextliche Erfahrungsberichte von Rehabilitanden inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet. Der Zusammenhang zwischen positiven (negativen) Aussagen mit der (Nicht-)Weiterempfehlung wurde in der jeweiligen Reha-Indikationsgruppe untersucht. Ergebnisse: Die Inhaltsanalyse von 911 Erfahrungsberichten ergab 20 thematische Kategorien. Der von Rehabilitanden wahrgenommene "Reha-Erfolg" war am häufigsten mit der Weiterempfehlung bzw. Nicht-Weiterempfehlung signifikant assoziiert. In fünf QS-Vergleichsgruppen war das Thema "Verpflegung" assoziiert. In allen QS-Vergleichsgruppen war mindestens ein prozessorientiertes Rehabilitationsthema assoziiert: "Reha-Maßnahmen", "Reha-Plan und Reha-Ziele" und/oder "Diagnose bis Entlassung". Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung: Reha-Kliniken können auf Basis der vorgestellten Ergebnisse indikationsspezifisch die für die Klinik-Weiterempfehlung relevanten Versorgungsaspekte identifizieren. Die Einbeziehung von Online-Erfahrungsberichten schafft zusätzliche Erkenntnisse über die Gründe der (Un-)Zufriedenheit von Rehabilitanden. Potenziellen Rehabilitanden steht das Erfahrungswissen als niederschwellige Informationsquelle und Entscheidungshilfe zur VerfügungIntroduction: Feedback from patients about aspects of rehabilitation services is increasingly providedonline, for example, on specialized hospital comparison websites. Therefore, we examined which kind of online statements from rehabilitation patients published on the leading hospital comparison website "Klinikbewertungen.de" (KB) is associated with a positive recommendation of a rehabilitation clinic andwhich negative aspects are associated with a non-recommendation. Methods: For eight indication groups stratified online statements of rehabilitants at KB were evaluated qualitatively using content analysis. The relationship between positive (negative) statements and the (non-)recommendation was examined. Results: Content analysis of 911 experience reports revealed 20 categories. Most often, it was the "rehabilitation success" perceived by rehabilitation patients that was significantly associated with a recommendation or a non-recommendation of a hospital, and in five quality assurance (QA) comparison groups the category "catering" was associated with a positive or negative recommendation. In all QS comparison groups, there was an association with at least one of the following process-oriented rehabilitation categories: "rehabilitation measures", "rehabilitation plan and rehabilitation goals" and / or "diagnosis to discharge". Discussion and Conclusion: Patient experiences with the perceived "rehabilitation success" and with the central processes of rehabilitation are particularly important for the recommendation or non-recommendation of a hospital for patients in all eight indication groups. On the basis of these results, rehabilitation hospitals can specifically identify the aspects of care that are important when patients recommend a hospital for rehabilitation. Online narratives of patients provide additional insights into the reasons for patients’ satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their rehabilitation. These narratives are available to potential rehabilitation patients as a low-threshold source of information and decision-making aid