The value of indirect serum markers in predicting severity of fibrosis in treatment naive patients with non-cirrhotic hepatitis C virus infection

We conducted this study for determining the value of indirect serum markers such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), INR (International Normalized Ratio) and platelet counts and the roles of the scores such as AST-to-ALT ratio (AAR), AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), FIB-4 index, Kings score, Goteborg University Cirrhosis Index (GUCI) and FibroQ in predicting severity of fibrosis in treatment naive patients with non-cirrhotic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Treatment naive non-cirrhotic chronic HCV patients who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy between 01 January 2012 and 01 June 2015 were included in the study. For evaluating the difference in variables, patients were divided into 2 groups such as no or minimal fibrosis group (fibrosis score [Med-Science 2017; 6(2.000): 189-94

FLUORIDE-CONTAINING ANTI-CARIES pH-SENSITIVE RELEASE SYSTEM AND ITS EFFECT ON STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of a newly developed anti-caries pH-sensitive controlled release system against Streptococcus mutans. For this purpose 9, 30, and 45 mg of NaF were placed in multilayer polymeric structures consisting of three layers: poly-L-lactide (PLLA), 8% Eudragit E 100 + Eudragit RS 100, and Chitosan. The amount of fluoride ion (F) released was determined with an ionmeter. In order to assess the effect of this antimicrobial material releasing NaF in a controlled manner on S. mutans, the proliferation of this organism was recorded by preparing test discs with a standard surface area containing the active ingredient. In all the groups the F release began when the pH fell under 5.5, after 6 hr, and the number of S. mutans declined. In conclusion, the newly developed controlled release system can release intraorally the fluoride ion with its anti-caries properties when the pH falls below 5.5 and it may help significantly to improve caries prevention