Data Visceralization: Enabling Deeper Understanding of Data Using Virtual Reality.

A fundamental part of data visualization is transforming data to map abstract information onto visual attributes. While this abstraction is a powerful basis for data visualization, the connection between the representation and the original underlying data (i.e.

Discovery of novel PDE4A inhibitors as potential agents against schistosomiasis.

Due to the urgent need for effective drugs to treat schistosomiasis that act through a known molecular mechanism of action, we focused on a target-based approach with the aim to discover inhibitors of a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from (SmPDE4A). To discover new inhibitors of SmPDE4A homology models of the enzyme structure were constructed based on known human and protozoan homologs. The best two models were selected for subsequent virtual screening of our in-house chemical library.

Occult hepatitis B virus infection does not affect liver histology or response to therapy with interferon alpha and ribavirin in intravenous drug users with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: the frequency and the impact of occult HBV infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection is still a matter of some controversy.

Objectives: our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of occult HBV infection and assess its impact on liver biochemistry, HCV viral titre, liver histology and on outcome of therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Study Design: paired liver biopsies and serum samples were collected from 51 patients (84% IVDUS) with HBsAg negative chronic hepatitis C, and tested for HBV-DNA with nested PCR.

Frequency and phenotype of circulating Valpha24/Vbeta11 double-positive natural killer T cells during hepatitis C virus infection.

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are thought to be involved in innate responses against infection. We investigated one specific type of NKT cell, Valpha24/Vbeta11 double positive, in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Lower frequencies of this population were detected in the blood of HCV PCR-positive patients than in controls.

The dynamics of T-lymphocyte responses during combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) readily sets up a persistent infection and is a major cause of liver disease worldwide. Interferon alfa and ribavirin therapy lead to sustained clearance of virus in 31% to 64% of patients with type 1 and non-type 1 genotypes, respectively. It is not clear to what extent these drugs act directly to reduce HCV replication, or indirectly via host immune responses, and what evoked immune responses are associated with clinical outcome.