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Notes: Background.  Data on the efficacy of eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori gastritis in children are scarce.Aim.  To evaluate the efficacy of triple therapy with lansoprazole plus amoxicillin and tinidazole vs. dual therapy with amoxicillin and tinidazole in a double-blind randomized multicentre trial, and the usefulness of eradication in terms of long-term symptom resolution.Subjects.  We enrolled 43 consecutive children undergoing endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal dyspepsia with H. pylori gastritis. They underwent a 13C-urea breath test, completed a 2-week symptom diary card, and were randomized. Treatment was given in a Redidose box (Redidose Company Ltd., Brighton, UK) containing either lansoprazole-amoxicillin-tinidazole (triple therapy) or placebo plus amoxicillin-tinidazole (dual therapy) for 1 week. The completion of a 2-week symptom diary card and the performance of a breath test were repeated 6 weeks and 6 months after the end of therapy. One to two years later, a structured telephone interview was conducted with 36 of the children.Results.  According to the breath test, 6 weeks after the end of therapy H. pylori was eradicated in 15 of 22 children on triple therapy [68.2%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 45–88] and in 15 of 21 children on dual therapy (71%; 95% CI = 48–89; not significant), and 6 months after the end of therapy it was eradicated in 16 of 22 children on triple therapy (72.7%) and in 15 of 21 children on dual therapy. Six months after therapy, symptoms were analysed in 11 H. pylori-positive and 31 H. pylori-negative children, and it was found that dyspeptic symptoms had disappeared or improved in both groups, with no difference between them. One to two years later, 36 children were interviewed. Epigastric pain had recurred in three of 26 H. pylori-negative and in seven of 10 H. pylori-positive children (p = .001); in three of the latter, pain was severe and required additional treatment.Conclusion.  One-week triple or dual therapy with two antibiotics achieved similar eradication rates. Soon after treatment, symptoms disappeared or improved in most children irrespective of eradication, but epigastric pain recurred in the majority of the still-infected children within 2 years.

Notes: This article provides an analysis of factors affecting the level of product innovation in a small enterprise setting. The perspective chosen considers the interaction of management and environmental factors and its impact on product innovation and explores how these factors interrelate to influence small business success (growth). A causal multi-site model is developed which will assist in identifying product innovation determinants for high-growth and low-growth firms. Moreover, direct and secondary explanations of product innovations will be isolated. Twelve case studies will be examined. The conclusions are that, for high-growth firms, determinants of product innovation that influenced small-business success (growth) were technology, competitive edge, research and development, product life-cycle, market change, product/market mix and customer base. For low-growth firms, customer base was a major determinant of product innovation which influenced small-business success (growth).

Notes: Research concerning the impact of marketing in the development ofsmall enterprise research is extremely limited. Explores the role ofmarketing in the development of small enterprise research through theexamination of 42 marketing-related studies of small firm settings.Defines small enterprise research (SER) as all main articles publishedduring the 1986-1992 period in the Journal of Small BusinessManagement; International Small Business Journal; Entrepreneurship:Theory and Practice; Journal of Business Venturing; Small BusinessEconomics; and Asia Pacific International Management Forum.The three major research thrusts that are identified from thisliterature are: marketing as a culture; marketing as a strategy; andmarketing as tactics. Discusses key issues and findings associated witheach thrust.