Molecular characterization of occult hepatitis B virus infection in patients with end-stage liver disease in Colombia.

ABSTARCT: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) occult infection (OBI) is a risk factor to be taken into account in transfusion, hemodialysis and organ transplantation. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize at the molecular level OBI cases in patients with end-stage liver disease. METHODS: Sixty-six liver samples were obtained from patients with diagnosis of end-stage liver disease submitted to liver transplantation in Medellin (North West, Colombia). Samples obtained from patients who were negative for the surface antigen of HBV (n = 50) were tested for viral DNA detection by nested PCR for ORFs S, C, and X and confirmed by Southern-Blot. OBI cases were analyzed by sequencing the viral genome to determine the genotype and mutations; additionally, viral genome integration events were examined by the Alu-PCR technique. RESULTS: In five cases out of 50 patients (10%) the criteria for OBI was confirmed. HBV genotype F (subgenotypes F1 and F3), genotype A and genotype D were characterized in liver samples. Three integration events in chromosomes 5q14.1, 16p13 and 20q12 affecting Receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase T, Ras Protein Specific Guanine Nucleotide Releasing Factor 2, and the zinc finger 263 genes were identified in two OBI cases. Sequence analysis of the viral genome of the 5 OBI cases showed several punctual missense and nonsense mutations affecting ORFs S, P, Core and X. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first characterization of OBI in patients with end-stage liver disease in Colombia. The OBI cases were identified in patients with HCV infection or cryptogenic cirrhosis. The integration events (5q14.1, 16p13 and 20q12) described in this study have not been previously reported. Further studies are required to validate the role of mutations and integration events in OBI pathogenesis

Effectiveness of mobile phone applications in improving oral hygiene care and outcomes in orthodontic patients

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of mobile phone applications in improving oral hygiene care and oral health outcomes in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.Materials and methods: PUBMED/MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, COCHRANE, PROQUEST, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were systematically searched for original studies published between January 2000 and March 2020. The eligibility criteria being: (i) observational study [cross-sectional, case-control, cohort study, or RCTs] that reported mobile phone application as an intervention or exposure for oral hygiene care. Standard Protocol Items Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) statement was used for quality assessment of interventional studies. The comprehensive search strategy yielded 154 studies after the removal of duplicates. Based on eligibility criteria only 5 studies were included in the data extraction phase.Results: This review finds that smartphone applications have a significant short term effect in the improvement of oral hygiene when measured using plaque index and gingival index scores. The mean plaque index and gingival index reduced significantly in three out of five studies. The intervention groups [62%] had a lower level of plaque at a 12-week interval as compared to the control group [72%]. Short term follow-ups showed greater improvement in oral hygiene following smartphone application administration.Conclusion: Within the available evidence, a recommendation can be made for the use of mobile applications in the orthodontic process [oral hygiene] care.Clinical relevance: Further research for the development of patient-centered applications for patient safety, clinical decision making, and increasing their effectiveness in the treatment of orthodontic patients are required

Solid phase extraction of Am(III) and Cm(III) from acidic feeds using tetraethyl diglycolamide (TEDGA) in ionic liquid

Solvent extraction of Am(III) and Cm(III) with several diglycolamide ligands in an ionic liquid, [C4mim][Tf2N] was investigated from nitric acid medium. Based on the encouraging extraction behaviour with N,N,N′,N′-tetraethyldiglycolamide (TEDGA), extraction chromatographic studies were carried out using a resin material made from Chromosorb-W impregnated with a solution of TEDGA in [C4mim][Tf2N]. The kinetics of metal ion uptake and sorption isotherms were also investigated. The maximum sorption capacity of the resin was estimated to be 20.05 ± 0.73 mg/g