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

COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF MISOPROSTOL AND OXYTOCIN AS LABOR PREINDUCTION AGENTS: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED TRIAL

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of misoprostol and oxytocin for induction of labor. In this prospective and randomized controlled trial one hundred twenty women with an unfavorable cervix who underwent labor induction were assigned to receive either intravenous high dose oxytocin(6mIu/min) or intravaginal misoprostol 50µg every 6 hours for two doses. Twelve hours later if labor was not stablished oxytocin induction was initiated per standardized protocol (3mIu/min). Mean Bishop Score change (± SD) over the initial 12 hours interval was significantly greater in the misoprostol group (11.98± 1.55) compared with the oxytocin group (8.83 ± 2.61). There were no statistically significant differences in the median duration of labor ( 449±261.1 min, 514.5±288.5 min, respectively;p=0.22) , the mode of delivery or the adverse maternal /neonatal out come among the two groups.Use of misoprostol as a labor preinduction / labor induction agent results in greater Bishop score changes compared with high dose oxytocin and both of them are comparable