Hepatitis G virus fnfection in gemodialysis patients from Urban Delhi

This study was designed to evaluate the seroprevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection, its impact, and its relationship with other hepatotropic viruses among chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis at the Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi. The study group consisted of 100 consecutive cases of patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis and equal healthy controls matched for age and sex. The patients were included on the basis of detailed history, clinical examination, and liver function profile. HGV RNA was detected in serum samples of all patients as well as of healthy controls using nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The primers used were derived from the NS3 helicase region of the viral genome. Serological assay was used for screening the viral markers for hepatitis B and C (HbsAg and Anti HCV). A history of blood transfusion was recorded in 65% of the cases. HGV RNA was detected in only six out of 100 (6%) cases of chronic renal failure. The seroprevalence of HCV infection was detected in 27 (27%), while HBV infection was seen in 10 (10%) out of 100 cases. The mixed infection of HGV and HCV was seen in 33.3% (two out of six) of the chronic renal failure cases, while the coinfection between HGV and HBV was not observed. In the 100 cases of healthy controls, HGV RNA was detected in only three (3%) subjects. Serological markers for Anti HCV antibody and HbsAg were positive in only one (1%) and two (2%) of the subjects, respectively. The seroprevalence of HGV infection in chronic renal failure was found to be statistically nonsignificant when compared to that of healthy controls. Also, there was no difference in clinical course and liver function profile of HGV-positive and HGV-negative cases. However, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significantly out of range in HCV-positive patients compared with HCV-negative patients. The presence of HGV infection reflected a postparental exposure to blood and blood-contaminated products in hemodialysis patients. It is suggested that HGV infection in cases of chronic renal failure is unlikely to influence the course of the disease and may be considered an innocent bystander

Evaluation of Chitosan/Alginate Beads Using Experimental Design: Formulation and In Vitro Characterization

Bovine serum albumin-loaded beads were prepared by ionotropic gelation of alginate with calcium chloride and chitosan. The effect of sodium alginate concentration and chitosan concentration on the particle size and loading efficacy was studied. The diameter of the beads formed is dependent on the size of the needle used. The optimum condition for preparation alginate–chitosan beads was alginate concentration of 3% and chitosan concentration of 0.25% at pH 5. The resulting bead formulation had a loading efficacy of 98.5% and average size of 1,501 μm, and scanning electron microscopy images showed spherical and smooth particles. Chitosan concentration significantly influenced particle size and encapsulation efficiency of chitosan–alginate beads (p < 0.05). Decreasing the alginate concentration resulted in an increased release of albumin in acidic media. The rapid dissolution of chitosan–alginate matrices in the higher pH resulted in burst release of protein drug