This report was commissioned by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in order to update its 2004 recommendation on screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in nonpregnant adolescents and adults. In 2004, the USPSTF recommended against screening asymptomatic persons in the general population for chronic HBV infection, based on a lack of evidence showing that screening improves morbidity or mortality associated with HBV infection; that the prevalence of HBV infection is low in the general population; and that the majority of infected individuals do not develop chronic...

In the United States, oral mechanical bowel preparation (OMBP), defined as the use of an oral preparation given prior to surgery to clear fecal material from the bowel lumen, is often prescribed preoperatively for patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. OMBP is sometimes used as a precaution in anticipation of possible iatrogenic bowel injury during abdominal and pelvic surgeries that do not entail resection of the colon or rectum (e.g., urologic or gynecologic procedures). OMBP is also routinely prescribed prior to colonoscopy to allow maximal visualization of the intraluminal bowel...

Disorders of the nervous system account for more long-term care, chronic suffering, and diminished quality of life than all other disorders combined. Age-related neurodegenerative disorders are chronic and progressive conditions that result from loss of the maintenance of neurons involved in cognitive, emotional, motor and sensory functions. The two most common age-related neurodegenerative disorders are Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's diseases (PD). This report investigates the possible relationships both of B vitamin status and supplementation and of berry consumption with age-related...