Immunization. Update: search for an AIDS vaccine

Identifying a successful HIV preventive vaccine is among the highest research priorities of the US NIH. While therapies for HIV have brought hope to those who are already HIV-infected, stopping the worldwide epidemic will require safe, effective HIV vaccines. Here, we describe scientific and other obstacles to attaining that goal and provide a brief synopsis of clinical trial results, recent preclinical results, and future priorities.

Intraoperative ultrasonography for common bile duct exploration during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

The "Endomedix Laparoscan Diagnostic Ultrasound" from the Medilas Ltd. and the "Leopard" and "Panther" type intraoperative ultrasound instruments from the Green Sound Ltd. have been used with success in sixty cases during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) by the authors. Of these patients in four cases common bile duct (CBD) stones and in one case only sludge have been found. Of those with CBD stones, in one case four little stones have been observed despite of negative intraoperative cholangiography (IC) and in one case calculus in the retropancreatic CBD part was detected. On the basis of preoperative findings the CBD stones have not been expected. According to the authors the intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) can be used with no exception in all cases eligible for LC, and also it can be used for the examination of neighboring organs (liver, pancreas, hepatoduodenal ligament). The method is extremely useful, performance quick, simple and informative as well as it can replace IC during LC.