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Introduction: This multicenter multinational RCT designed to compare efficacy of suppository indomethacin and NAC for prevention of PEP. Methods: During a 6 month period, all of the patients indicated for ERCP in 7 referral centers of 4 countries randomly assigned to receive either 1200 mg oral NAC (group A), indomethacin suppository 100mg (group B), 1200 mg oral NAC plus indomethacin suppository 100mg (group C) or placebo (group D) two hour before ERCP. The primary outcomes were the rate and severity of any PEP. Results: a total of 432 patients included (average age 57. 3 y, 41. 4% male). The participants were originally citizens of 6 countries (60. 87% Caucasian). The patients were randomly allocated to receive either NAC (group A, 84 cases), rectal indomethacin (group B, 138 cases), NAC + rectal indomethacin (group C, 115 cases) or placebo (group D, 95 cases). The rate of bleeding and perforation after procedures was 3. 94% and 2. 54% respectively. The rate of PEP in groups A, B and C in comparison with D (placebo) were 10. 7%, 17. 4%, 7. 8% vs. 20% (P =0. 08, 0. 614 & 0. 01 respectively). The NNT for NAC, indomethacin and NAC + indomethacin were 11, 38 and 8 respectively. 49. 18% of the PEP cases were mild with average duration of hospital stay 4. 5 days. Conclusion: Oral NAC is more effective than rectal indomethacin when compared to placebo for prevention of PEP and the combination of NAC and Indomethacin had the lowest incidence of PEP and may have synergistic effect in preventing of PEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This multinational multi center randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate efficacy of Tetracycline + Levofloxacin for HP eradication. Methods: During a six month period, all of the cases with HP infection in eight referral tertiary centers of three countries included and randomly allocate to receive either Tetracycline + Levofloxacin or clarithromycin base quadruple regimen for two weeks. Then pantoprazole continued for 4 more weeks and after one to two weeks of off therapy, they underwent UBT to prove eradication. Results: Overall 788 patients included (358 male (45.4%), average age 44.2y). They diagnosed as non-ulcer dyspepsia (516 cases, 65.5%), PUD (234 cases, 29.69%) and intestinal metaplasia (38 cases, 4.8%). The participants randomly allocated to groups A & B to receive either Tetracycline + Levofloxacin or clarithromycin. Among groups A and B in ITT and PP analysis, 75.2% & 82.1% (285 cases) and 67.5% & 70.1% (276 cases) of participants achieved eradication respectively (P = 0.0001). The complete compliance rate in group A & B were 84.4% and 83.6% respectively. During study, 33.5% of participants in group A (127 cases) reported side effects compare with 27.9% in group B (114 cases, P = 0.041). The most common complains among groups A and B were nausea and vomiting (12.6% & 9.3%) respectively. In sub group analysis, the eradication rate of Tetracycline + Levofloxacin among patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia, PUD and intestinal metaplasia were 79.4%%, 88.1% & 73.9% respectively. These figures in group B (clarithromycin base) were 71.3%, 67.6% & 61.5% respectively (P= 0.0001, 0.0001 & 0.043). Conclusion: Overall, the combination of Tetracycline + Levofloxacin is more efficient for HP eradication in comparison with clarithromycin + Amoxicillin despite more complication rate and in areas with high rate of resistance to clarithromycin, this therapeutic regimen could be an ideal choice for HP eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) of graphene oxide (GO) reduced with hydrazine and heat has been measured to investigate the effect of reduction type on the bandgap of the reduced GO. Nitrogen functionalities formed in the hydrazine-treated GO were responsible for a strong localization of carriers that caused in a fluctuation in PL peak position with temperature. The intensity of C-OH peak was relatively low in the heat-treated GO, indicating that raising temperature facilitated the removal of hydroxyl groups, resulting in larger sp2 domain size and smaller bandgap energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solution-gated reduced graphene oxide field-effect transistors (R-GO FETs) were investigated for pH sensing and biochemical sensing applications. A channel of a networked R-GO film formed by self-assembly was incorporated as a sensing layer into a solution-gated FET structure for pH sensing and the detection of acetylcholine (Ach), which is a neurotransmitter in the nerve system, through enzymatic reactions. The fabricated R-GO FET was sensitive to protons (H(+)) with a pH sensitivity of 29 mV/pH in terms of the shift of the charge neutrality point (CNP), which is attributed to changes in the surface potential caused by the interaction of protons with OH surface functional groups present on the R-GO surface. The R-GO FET immobilized with acetylcholinesterase (AchE) was used to detect Ach in the concentration range of 0.1-10mM by sensing protons generated during the enzymatic reactions. The results indicate that R-GO FETs provide the capability to detect protons, demonstrating their applicability as a biosensing device for enzymatic reactions., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)