No abstract

No abstract

Achieving an antiviral response at a reasonable cost is a challenge in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C. A previous study indicated that consensus interferon with ribavirin had promising activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1. The objective of this study was to determine the virologic response with consensus interferon or pegylated interferon alpha-2b plus weight-ribavirin in patients chronically infected with HCV genotype 1. Intention-to-treat analysis showed response in 37% and 41% of subjects treated with consensus interferon/ribavirin or pegylated interferon/ribavirin, respectively, with response rates of 42% and 44% observed in analysis of the per-protocol population, not a significant difference. Tolerability of the two treatment regimens was similar. In conclusion, both treatment regimens were safe and gave a similar antiviral response. It is possible that if consensus interferon is administered daily rather than three times weekly, eradication of HCV could be achieved in a larger proportion of patients infected with HCV genotype 1.

No abstract

In this study we examine how party controlled redistricting in 1991-92 affected the fortunes of U.S. House incumbents in the 1992 election. We explore the strategic differences between the partisan redistricting plans implemented unilaterally by one party, and the bipartisan plans im plemented as the result of party compromise, arguing that effective analysis of incumbency advantage requires distinction between these two types of plans as well as distinction between the plans of states that gain seats, states that lose seats, and states that remain unchanged in reapportion ment. We then assess incumbency advantage under the partisan and bipartisan plans by comparing incumbent displacement rates under these plans with the displacement rates under politically neutral nonpartisan dis tricting plans. Our findings indicate that incumbents do indeed benefit from party controlled redistricting and more so under bipartisan than un der partisan redistricting. They also indicate that the gain or loss of seats from reapportionment influences substantially the consequences of redis tricting for incumbents.