HCV non-1b genotypes in injecting drug users from Romania.

Introduction: Chronic hepatitis C cases diagnosed in Romania were mostly related to unsafe parenteral treatments and blood transfusions; HCV genotype 1b was prevalent. During the last decade, an increasing number of HCV infections was reported among people who inject drugs (PWID). The aim of the current study was to test if this epidemiological shift triggered a diversification of the circulating viral strains.

Serum iron markers in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Background: Patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) often have elevated serum iron markers, which may worsen liver injury.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlations between iron metabolism serum markers, HCV viral load, and liver disease severity in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Patients And Methods: Eighty five patients with untreated hepatitis C chronic infection were investigated.

Understanding the molecular targets for new therapeutical agents in hepatitis c infection.

Improved understanding of the HCV viral life cycle has led to the identification of numerous potential molecular targets for the development of new drugs. Direct acting antivirals -DAAs specifically target a viral encoded protein: the NS3-4A protease, involved in the posttranslational viral protein processing; the NS5B encoded viral polymerase, that conducts the nucleic acid replication and the NS5A encoded phosphoprotein, that participates in both replication and virus assembly. Host-targeted agents, both directed to the early steps of viral replication (receptors and coreceptors antagonists) or to the development of a functional viral replication complex (host cyclophilins) are also developed, to strengthen the antiviral efficacy of these drugs.

The His1069Gln mutation in the ATP7B gene in Romanian patients with Wilson's disease referred to a tertiary gastroenterology center.

Background And Aim: Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare autosomal recessive disease. More than 500 mutations have been described so far, out of which 29 in exon 14. H1069Q mutation in the exon 14 of ATP7B gene is the most frequently encountered in Europe.

HEPATITIS C VIRUS GENOTYPES IN INJECTING DRUG USERS FROM ROMANIA.

Due to the increasing number of infections related to injecting drug use, both the pattern of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission, and the circulating genotypes in Europe have changed. As there are little available data in this respect for Romania, the aim of our study was a preliminary analysis of the distribution of HCV genotypes circulating among injecting drug users (IDUs). Of the 45 IDUs evaluated (86.