UNLABELLED Because an oral formulation of midazolam is not approved in certain countries, we evaluated oral alprazolam as an alternative. Forty-five outpatients scheduled for gynecological laparoscopic surgery participated in a double-blinded study to compare the effectiveness and side effects of oral alprazolam 0.5 mg with midazolam 7.5 mg, as a reference drug, and placebo. We evaluated psycho...

Background: Traumatic brain injury is one of the most important causes of death in trauma patients among the different types of trauma worldwide. In this study, the effect of curcumin on the outcome of severe traumatic brain injury,. Methods: This was a double-blind and paralleled randomized controlled study that was conducted on 128 patients aged 18 to 70 with severe brain trauma. Patients we...

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most prevalent and lethal form of nosocomial infections in the ICU and oral disinfection is a nursing measure to prevent this condition. Aim: this study aimed to evaluate the effect of oronasal versus oral disinfections with chlorhexidine on the clinical criteria for diagnosis of VAP. Method: This randomized clinical trial was conducted o...

As the rising cost of malpractice threatens to reduce the number of hospitals and physicians in various states across the nation, policy-makers must examine the factors contributing to these crises. Beyond studying the symptoms of malpractice crises, such as increasing claims frequency and severity manifested through increasing malpractice premia, policy-makers must consider flaws within the ma...

Effects of TA-2711 on gastric mucosal lesions induced by various necrotizing agents and several defensive factors of gastric mucosa were investigated in rats. Oral administration of TA-2711 at 12.5 to 200 mg/kg prevented the formation of gastric mucosal lesions induced by 99.5% ethanol, 0.6 N HCl, 0.2 N NaOH and boiling water with ED50 values of 24, 58, 16 and 101 mg/kg, respectively. Oral TA-2...

4 October 2000 Abstract This paper gives a formalization of defensive and enterprising strategies for firms. It then asks the question whether a rise in competition tends to make firms more enterprising or more defensive. Distinguishing three ways in which competition can be intensified, I find the following results. A rise in the number of opponents and a reduction in opponents’ costs make a f...