Something

<?
		$thisrecord =
          	"
          		<h3 id=\"%%recordid%%\">%%headline%%</h3>
          		<ifpicture>
				<img src=\"/images/upload/%%recordid%%.jpg\" alt=\"%%picturecaption%%\" />
				<span class=\"caption\">%%picturecaption%%</span>
				</ifpicture>
				<p>%%textbody%%</p>
          	";
			
			echo htmlspecialchars($thisrecord);
			
			$resultcount = preg_match_all("(<ifpicture>.*?</ifpicture>)",$thisrecord,$results);

			echo "<p>Found $resultcount match(es).</p>";

?>