Triple antiviral therapy in HCV positive patients who failed prior combination therapy

AIM: To assess the efficacy of triple therapy (peginte-rferon or high dose standard interferon, plus ribavirin and amantadine) in nonresponders to prior combination therapy. METHODS: A total of 196 patients were enrolled in a multicenter, open, randomized study. Patients were given 180 mug/wk of peginterferon-alpha-2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin (800-1000 mg/d) and amantadine (200 mg/d) for 48 wk (group A) or interferon-alpha-2a (6 MU/d for 4 wk, 3 MU/d for 20 wk, and 3 MU tiw for 24 wk) plus ribavirin (800-1000 mg/d) and amantadine (200 mg/d) for 48 wk (group B). RESULTS: Overall sustained virologic response (SVR) was 26.6% (32.1% and 19.5% in group A and B, P = 0.057). Baseline ALT > 120 UI/L (OR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.11 to 5.20; P = 0.026) and HCV RNA negativity after 12 wk (OR 8.7; 95% CI: 3.87 to 19.74; P < 0.0001) were independently associated with SVR. Therapy discontinuation occurred less frequently in patients treated with peginterferon than standard interferon (P = 0.036). CONCLUSION: More than 25% of nonresponders to combination therapy can eradicate HCV infection when retreated with triple therapy, especially if they have a high baseline ALT and are treated with pegylated interferon

Evapotranspiración y balance energético de un cultivo de soja en la región semiárida de Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Cargnel, M. D. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Buenos Aires, Argentina.Orchansky, A. L. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Brevedan, R. E. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Baioni, S. S. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires´, Argentina.Fioretti, M. N. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.181-189Two field experiments were carried out in a semiarid region of Argentina over a soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) field. The sites of study were San Adolfo (39˚ 23’ S, 62˚ 22’ W, 22 m.a.s.l.) and Nueva Roma (38˚ 29’ S, 62˚ 39’ W, 70 m.a.s.l.). Soybeans were planted on Jan 4 (San Adolfo) and Nov 27 (Nueva Roma) in 0.75 m wide rows and at 400000 pl/ha during two consecutive growing seasons. Energy balance and evapotranspiration (ET) were estimated during the reproductive stages from full bloom (R2) to full maturity (R8). In Nueva Roma ET or latent heat flux (LE) was estimated using the Bowen ratio-energy balance (BREB) (LEb) and the Priestley -Taylor equation (LEPT) with αPT=1.26, 48 h after irrigation or rain. Both methods could be used to predict ET since the ratio LEb/LEPT ranged between 0.83 and 0.95. The observed Bowen ratio values were almost 0 during and after rain and increased to approximately 0.45 several days after rain. In San Adolfo LE was estimating using the Priestley -Taylor equation. For both sites the regression analysis for comparison available energy (Rn-G) and LE using BREB or LEPT indicated that, approximately 90% of the available energy was consumed by LE without detecting significative advective conditions

Evapotranspiración y balance energético de un cultivo de soja en la región semiárida de Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Cargnel, M. D. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Buenos Aires, Argentina.Orchansky, A. L. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Brevedan, R. E. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Baioni, S. S. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires´, Argentina.Fioretti, M. N. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía. Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.181-189Two field experiments were carried out in a semiarid region of Argentina over a soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) field. The sites of study were San Adolfo (39˚ 23’ S, 62˚ 22’ W, 22 m.a.s.l.) and Nueva Roma (38˚ 29’ S, 62˚ 39’ W, 70 m.a.s.l.). Soybeans were planted on Jan 4 (San Adolfo) and Nov 27 (Nueva Roma) in 0.75 m wide rows and at 400000 pl/ha during two consecutive growing seasons. Energy balance and evapotranspiration (ET) were estimated during the reproductive stages from full bloom (R2) to full maturity (R8). In Nueva Roma ET or latent heat flux (LE) was estimated using the Bowen ratio-energy balance (BREB) (LEb) and the Priestley -Taylor equation (LEPT) with αPT=1.26, 48 h after irrigation or rain. Both methods could be used to predict ET since the ratio LEb/LEPT ranged between 0.83 and 0.95. The observed Bowen ratio values were almost 0 during and after rain and increased to approximately 0.45 several days after rain. In San Adolfo LE was estimating using the Priestley -Taylor equation. For both sites the regression analysis for comparison available energy (Rn-G) and LE using BREB or LEPT indicated that, approximately 90% of the available energy was consumed by LE without detecting significative advective conditions

Self-reported oral hygiene habits and periodontal symptoms among postpartum women

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to describe oral hygiene practices and periodontal symptoms among postpartum women and to assess whether self-reported periodontal symptoms are correlated with a clinical diagnosis of periodontal disease. Methods A self-administered questionnaire was developed to assess socio-demographic information, oral hygiene habits and frequency of dental visits among a group of 409 postpartum women. Additional questions included information on self-reported periodontal symptoms. Pregnancy information was obtained from medical charts. Results 99.3% of the participants brushed their teeth every day; 46.2 and 53.8% reported teeth brushing once a day or more, respectively. Periodontal disease was present in 61.4% of women. Patients with gum swelling and tooth mobility were almost twice as likely to have a periodontal disease (OR 1.7, CI 95% 0.9\u20132.8 and OR 1.7, CI 95%: 0.8\u20133.5, respectively). No associations were found between periodontal disease, gum swelling PTB and/or LBW. Conclusions Maternal clinical periodontal disease at delivery was related with self-perceived gum swelling and tooth mobility. Dentists and prenatal medical care providers may have the opportunity to target pregnant women that might be at higher risk for periodontal disease by asking whether they have tooth mobility and/or swollen gum

Photoreceptors UVR8 and phytochrome B cooperate to optimize plant growth and defense in patchy canopies

Light is a critical source of information for plants. Plants use the phytochromes (particularly phyB) to detect light signals associated with the proximity of competitors. A low ratio of red (R) to far-red (FR) radiation (R:FR) indicates increased competition intensity, and triggers morphological responses that allow the plant to escape shading from its neighbors (the shade avoidance syndrome, SAS). Recent evidence from studies on light regulation of plant immunity has suggested that plants may also use ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 290-315 nm) radiation as an indicator of competition intensity and light availability. In addition, recent studies have shown that UV-B radiation can strongly repress SAS responses triggered by low R:FR ratios. Ambient UV-B radiation causes damaging effects on plants, such as DNA damage, and also induces adaptive photomorphogenic responses acting through a specific UV-B photoreceptor (UVR8). Therefore, the possibility exists that plants integrate information perceived by phyB and UVR8 to make decisions about growth and defense when faced with a complex light environment, such as the one that characterizes vegetation canopies. In this Letter, we address this possibility and discuss how the interplay between UV-B and R:FR signaling fine tunes plant growth and defense to optimize resource utilization in patchy canopy environments.Fil: Mazza, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Ballare, Carlos Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas - Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas (sede Chascomús); Argentin

Influence of IL28B Polymorphisms on Response to a Lower-Than-Standard Dose peg-IFN-α 2a for Genotype 3 Chronic Hepatitis C in HIV-Coinfected Patients

Background: Data on which to base definitive recommendations on the doses and duration of therapy for genotype 3 HCV/HIV-coinfected patients are scarce. We evaluated the efficacy of a lower peginterferon-α 2a dose and a shorter duration of therapy than the current standard of care in genotype 3 HCV/HIV-coinfected patients. Methods and Findings: Pilot, open-label, single arm clinical trial which involved 58 Caucasian HCV/HIV-coinfected patients who received weekly 135 μg peginterferon-α 2a plus ribavirin 400 mg twice daily during 20 weeks after attaining undetectable viremia. The relationships between baseline patient-related variables, including IL28B genotype, plasma HCV-RNA, ribavirin dose/kg, peginterferon-α 2a and ribavirin levels with virological responses were analyzed. Only 4 patients showed lack of response and 5 patients dropped out due to adverse events related to the study medication. Overall, sustained virologic response (SVR) rates were 58.3% by intention-to-treat and 71.4% by per protocol analysis, respectively. Among patients with rapid virologic response (RVR), SVR and relapses rates were 92.6% and 7.4%, respectively. No relationships were observed between viral responses and ribavirin dose/kg, peginterferon-α 2a concentrations, ribavirin levels or rs129679860 genotype. Conclusions: Weekly 135 μg pegIFN-α 2a could be as effective as the standard 180 μg dose, with a very low incidence of severe adverse events. A 24-week treatment duration appears to be appropriate in patients achieving RVR, but extending treatment up to just 20 weeks beyond negativization of viremia is associated with a high relapse rate in those patients not achieving RVR. There was no influence of IL28B genotype on the virological responses. © 2012 López-Cortés et al.Funding provided by Fundación Pública Andaluza para la gestión de la Investigación en Salud de Sevilla. Hospitales Universitarios Virgen del Rocío. Seville, Spain. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Hu-INF-α kits for determination of pegIFN-α-2a were financed by Roche Pharma, S.A. (Spain).Peer Reviewe

Gammaglutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT) levels before treatment are predictive of Tipranavir interruption in ART multiexperienced HIV-1-infected patients

The Italian Tipranavir EUP/EAP study was an observational study involving nine Italian centres that enrolled three class drug-experienced patients who consecutively entered the EUP/EAP TPV programs. The Cox model performed to assess the risk correlates of interrupting TPV included sex, age, HIV risk factors, HBV/HCV status, use of T20, CD4, HIV-RNA, ALT, γ-GT, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose levels determination before starting TPV. The study enrolled 175 patients followed up for a median time of 30 weeks (range 3-68). TPV was interrupted by 46 patients (16 for intolerance, 14 for immuno-virological failure, four for disease progression – including two deceased – 12 for patient decision). The factors independently associated with treatment interruption for any cause were previous ART duration (OR 1.18, 95%CI 1.03-1.35, p=0.016 per each additional year) and γ-GT BL (grade 2 vs 0: OR 6.31, 95%CI 2.49-16.4, p< 0.0001). The γ-GT BL median level in the 16 patients who interrupted TPV for intolerance was 122 IU/L (range: 11-352). Both γ-GT and ALT were significantly increased at interruption compared to BL (p=0.041 and p=0.016 respectively, Wilcoxon test). A transient protective effect against γ-GT and TG increase was observed in patients receiving T20 with TPV (p=0.034 and p=0.027 respectively at week 12 in a Cox model assessing the risk of increasing one toxicity grade). γ-GT level seems to be relevant and more sensitive than ALT/AST level or HBV/HCV status in predicting the risk of TPV interruption. Unreported alcohol abuse could be considered a potential cofactor limiting the effectiveness and safety of TPV/RTV treatment

Effetto sull'alitosi di un chewing-gum contenente estratto di the verde

Il controllo dell\u2019alitosi orale \ue8 possibile con interventi eziologici e/o sintomatici, tra i quali l\u2019utilizzo di strumenti correttivi del cattivo odore quali caramelle o chewing-gum. I chewing-gum agiscono riducendo la quantit\ue0 di microrganismi orali (i) meccanicamente, (ii) stimolando il flusso salivare, e (iii) per effetto di eventuali agenti attivi antisettici addizionati come fluoro, clorexidina, oli essenziali; agiscono inoltre mascherando l\u2019odore sgradevole con aromi a maggiore o minore persistenza. Recentemente \ue8 stato proposto e studiato l\u2019uso di estratti vegetali del cosidetto \u201cthe verde\u201d (Camelia sinensis) con effetto antibatterico naturale, efficaci contro l\u2019alitosi e privi dei possibili effetti collaterali degli antisettici tradizionali. OBIETTIVI: Scopo di questo lavoro \ue8 stato di indagare su soggetti volontari l\u2019effetto antialitogeno di un chewing-gum del commercio contenente estratto concentrato di Camelia sinensis nei confronti di un chewing-gum di controllo senza ingrediente attivo. MATERIALI E METODI: Lo studio \ue8 stato condotto su 20 soggetti volontari in buone condizioni di salute generale, non affetti da condizioni patologiche e malattie orali e/o sistemiche e che non erano stati sottoposti a terapia parodontale negli ultimi 3 mesi. E\u2019 stato valutato l\u2019effetto antialitosi di un chewing-gum del commercio contenente estratto di Camelia sinensis (0,1% in peso) nei confronti di un chewing-gum di controllo di identica composizione base e confezione, senza ingrediente attivo. Il disegno dello studio adottato era di tipo aperto, comparativo, in due periodi sequenziali con una settimana di intervallo tra ciascun test. Dopo 12 ore di astensione dalle manovre igieniche, ai soggetti veniva consegnato il chewing-gum che masticavano per un totale di 15 minuti. Prima dell\u2019inizio e dopo la masticazione controllata, a intervalli di 15, 30, 45 e 180 minuti veniva effettuato il prelievo di aria orale e la misurazione del contenuto di composti volatili solforati (VSC) con OralChroma\ua9 (Abilit Corporation, Osaka, Japan), gascromatografo portatile a colonna miniaturizzata, pretarato per la misurazione dei VSC orali. RISULTATI e CONCLUSIONI: Il test del prodotto contenente l'estratto di Camelia sinensis ha globalmente evidenziato la riduzione del contenuto orale di VSC rispetto al test pre-utilizzo, che risultava massima dopo 15 minuti dal termine dell\u2019uso del prodotto. L\u2019utilizzo del chewing-gum di controllo ha evidenziato una minore riduzione dei valori di VSC, che risalivano pi\uf9 velocemente verso i valori pre-test. La masticazione di un chewing-gum \ue8 in grado di ridurre significativamente il livello di composti volatili solforati dell\u2019atmosfera orale, con effetto persistente per oltre 45 minuti. Il chewing-gum contenente estratto di Camelia sinensis ha evidenziato una miglior efficacia nella riduzione del contenuto orale di VSC comparativamente al chewing-gum di controll