Antibody to hepatitis C virus in risk groups in Canada

The prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) was studied in hemophiliacs, hemodialysis patients, intravenous drug abusers, female prisoners, homosexuals, individuals with no markers of recent hepatitis A or B virus infections and normal individuals (federal public servants), by an enzyme immunoassay (Ortho Diagnostic Systems Inc). Repeat positive samples were further tested by recombinant immunoblot assay (riba) HCV (Chiron Corp, California). The number of samples positive for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) was higher with enzyme immunoassay than by riba HCV in most cases. A high prevalence of anti-HCV was detected in hemophiliacs by both enzyme immunoassay (68.8%) and riba HCV (53.7%). Among intravenous drug abusers and female prisoners the prevalence rates for anti-HCV were 42.8% and 29.8%, respectively, by riba HCV; the results with enzyme immunoassay were only slightly higher. The prevalence rate was also high by both tests (54.2%) in hemodialysis patients' sera taken during 1980-82, when many cases of non-A,non-B hepatitis were suspected in this group. In contrast, only 14.1% of sera taken during 1990 were positive by riba HCV. In individuals with no markers of recent hepatitis A or B infections, 13.4% were positive by enzyme immunoassay, whereas only 4.5% were reactive by riba HCV. The lowest prevalence was seen in homosexuals (2.3%) and normal individuals (1.2%) by riba HCV. These results indicate a high prevalence of anti-HCV in high risk groups tested in Canada.     

Switch in Site of Inhibition: A Strategy for Structure-Based Discovery of Human Topoisomerase IIα Catalytic Inhibitors

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Role of single nucleotide polymorphisms in pharmacogenomics and their association with human diseases

Global statistical data shed light on an alarming trend that every year thousands of people die due to adverse drug reactions as each individual responds in a different way to the same drug. Pharmacogenomics has come up as a promising field in drug development and clinical medication in the past few decades. It has emerged as a ray of hope in preventing patients from developing potentially fatal complications due to adverse drug reactions. Pharmacogenomics also minimizes the exposure to drugs that are less/non-effective and sometimes even found toxic for patients. It is well reported that drugs elicit different responses in different individuals due to variations in the nucleotide sequences of genes encoding for biologically important molecules (drug-metabolizing enzymes, drug targets and drug transporters). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the most common type of polymorphism found in the human genome is believed to be the main reason behind 90% of all types of genetic variations among the individuals. Therefore, pharmacogenomics may be helpful in answering the question as to how inherited differences in a single gene have a profound effect on the mobilization and biological action of a drug. In the present review, we have discussed clinically relevant examples of SNP in associated diseases that can be utilized as markers for “better management of complex diseases” and attempted to correlate the drug response with genetic variations. Attention is also given towards the therapeutic consequences of inherited differences at the chromosomal level and how associated drug disposition and/or drug targets differ in various diseases as well as among the individuals.     

To assess the efficacy of socket plug technique using platelet rich fibrin with or without the use of bone substitute in alveolar ridge preservation: a prospective randomised controlled study

Aim

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) as a socket plug with or without use of Plaster of Paris (POP) as bone substitute to preserve the alveolar ridge post-extraction.

Material and methods

A prospective randomised single blind controlled study, was conducted for 18 months from November 2014 to May 2016 on 48 patients requiring extraction. All teeth were extracted atraumatically using periotomes and luxators without raising mucoperiosteal flap. Sockets were randomly allotted to groups A, B and C. Group A sockets were chosen as control, where figure of eight suture was placed. In group B sockets, PRF obtained by centrifugation was used as a socket plug and stabilised with figure of eight suture. Group C sockets were filled with POP and then covered with PRF. The socket was then closed with a figure of eight suture. Patients were informed of need for 6 months follow-up.

Results

Ninety sockets in 48 patients were subjected to our study. We found that results in the sockets where we have grafted POP showed better ridge preservation and post-operative comfort even though the difference in ridge resorption between the three groups was not statistically significant. Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from the Aries Systems Corporation.

Conclusion

Atraumatic extraction may minimise the post-operative pain and discomfort to patient as well as the post-extraction alveolar height and width changes. The use of PRF and/or bone substitute even though clinically contributes to better post-operative healing and minimal loss of alveolar width and height, the values were not statistically significant.

     

Imaging the interaction: Epileptic discharges,working memory,and behavior

Interictal generalized epileptiform discharges may impair cognition. We used simultaneous video‐electroencephalography and functional imaging to quantify changes, induced by epileptiform discharges, in the task‐related activations during a spatial working‐memory paradigm. The number of epileptiform discharges increased during the task with its level of complexity, but were not significantly associated with wrong responses during the task. We observed hemodynamic responses in working‐memory related frontal‐lobe‐network, motor‐cortex, precuneus, and parietal lobes in the absence of epileptiform discharges. In the presence of epileptiform discharges during the task, task‐related hemodynamic changes were seen only in motor‐cortex, precuneus, and parietal lobes. These findings suggest that generalized epileptiform discharges during a high demanding working memory task may change the working memory‐related hemodynamic responses in frontal‐lobe‐network. Hum Brain Mapp 34:2910–2917, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Hemostatic abnormalities in cirrhosis and tumor-related portal vein thrombosis

In order to investigate the relationship between hemostatic abnormalities and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), platelets, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), thrombin time, fibrinogen, d-dimer, fibrinogen degradation products (FDPs), protein C, protein S, antithrombin, plasminogen, antiplasmin, coagulation factors (CFs) V, VII, VIII, IX, XI, and XIII, von Willebrand factor (vWF), prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (PF 1 + 2), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) were studied in patients with HCC, cholangiocarcinoma, and metastatic liver tumors and in cirrhosis patients with or without PVT. Platelet, antithrombin, protein C, plasminogen, and CFs V, VII, IX, XI, and XIII levels of HCC group were found lower and PT, aPTT, thrombin time, vWF, FDPs, PF 1 + 2, tPA, and PAI-1 levels were higher than the control group. Our findings suggested that the abnormalities of coagulation and fibrinolysis systems have some role in provoking thrombosis of portal veins in HCC, in addition to the invasion of portal veins by hepatoma cells.