Hepatitis B and C coinfection in a real-life setting: viral interactions and treatment issues.

Background: Only limited data concerning hepatitis B (HBV) and C viruses (HCV) coinfection are available. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) may be more effective for HCV clearance than interferon (IFN)-based regimens with a risk of HBV reactivation.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 40 HBV/HCV-coinfected patients to evaluate their clinical profile and treatment outcomes.

Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of Sciatic Nerve in Rats: Protective Role of Combination of Vitamin C with E and Tissue Plasminogen Activator.

An ischemia/reperfusion injury of rat's sciatic nerve was experimentally developed. In this model, we measured the in vivo production of superoxide radical, as a marker of oxidative stress and the occludin expression as an indicator of blood-nerve barrier function and we examined potential protective innervations against these abnormalities. Right sciatic nerves of the animals underwent 3 h of ischemia followed by 7 days of reperfusion and were divided into three groups: ischemic, pretreated with vitamin C in conjunction with vitamin E and treated with tissue plasminogen activator.

Parenteral MCT/ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Enriched Intravenous Fat Emulsion Is Associated With Cytokine and Fatty Acid Profiles Consistent With Attenuated Inflammatory Response in Preterm Neonates: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

Background: Soybean oil-based intravenous fat emulsion (IVFE) administered to preterm neonates can induce oxidative stress and inflammatory response, which are associated with severe complications of prematurity. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that administration of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)/ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-enriched IVFE in preterm neonates is associated with a cytokine and fatty acid (FA) profile consistent with attenuated inflammatory response.

Patients/methods: In a double-blind randomized study, 60 preterm neonates (gestational age 26-32 weeks) were randomized to receive either MCT/ω-3 PUFA-enriched IVFE (intervention group) or soybean oil-based IVFE (control group).

The spectrum of HBV/HCV coinfection: epidemiology, clinical characteristics, viralinteractions and management.

Monoinfection with either hepatitis B (HBV) or C virus (HCV) represents one of the major causes of chronic liver disease globally. However, in endemic areas a substantial number of patients are infected with both viruses mainly as a result of the common routes of transmission. Numerous studies have demonstrated that dually infected patients carry a greater risk of advanced liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma compared with monoinfected patients.

Oxygen-plasma-modified biomimetic nanofibrous scaffolds for enhanced compatibility of cardiovascular implants.

Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds have been extensively used in several biomedical applications for tissue engineering due to their morphological resemblance to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Especially, there is a need for the cardiovascular implants to exhibit a nanostructured surface that mimics the native endothelium in order to promote endothelialization and to reduce the complications of thrombosis and implant failure. Thus, we herein fabricated poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds, to serve as coatings for cardiovascular implants and guide tissue regeneration.

Occludin dislocation in brain capillary endothelium of rats with bile duct ligation induced cholestasis.

The present study used a rat model with bile duct ligation to examine the effect of cholestasis, to the localization of occludin in brain capillary endothelium by means of electronic microscopy. The results demonstrated a dislocation of occludin away from the tight junction sites of brain endothelial cells. A significant increase of the occludin-interendothelial cleft distance was demonstrated in the midbrain and the cerebellum samples but not in the frontal cortex, compared to the control group samples.

Cholestasis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and lipid profile in preterm infants receiving MCT/ω-3-PUFA-containing or soybean-based lipid emulsions.

Background: This study aimed to compare the effect of 2 lipid emulsions (LEs), a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)/ω-3-polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-containing LE and a soybean-based LE, on the incidence of neonatal cholestasis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and lipid profile of preterm infants. Patients and

Methods: In this prospective, observational study, 2 groups of preterm neonates, the very low birth weight (VLBW) (n = 129) and the low birth weight (LBW) groups (n = 153), which received parenteral LEs for at least 7 days, were included. Infants received either MCT/ω-3-PUFA-containing LE (SMOFlipid, subgroup I) or soybean-based LE (Intralipid, subgroup II) according to the attending neonatologist's preference and availability.

Mutational analysis for biotinidase deficiency of a Greek patients' cohort ascertained through expanded newborn screening.

Late-onset multiple carboxylase deficiency, also known as biotinidase (BTD) deficiency, is an autosomal recessively inherited disorder of biotin metabolism. Its early diagnosis and treatment seems that it can even fully prevent its various clinical manifestations. Mutations in the BTD gene scattered throughout its coding region have been detected in patients ascertained either through newborn screening or clinically.

Association of reduced zinc status with angiographically severe coronary atherosclerosis: a pilot study.

In vitro studies attribute antiatherogenic and insulin-like properties to zinc (Zn). However, only a few conflicting clinical data exist concerning the relationship between Zn and coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as glycemic indices. We studied 72 patients without prior history of myocardial infarction or revascularization procedures, who underwent coronary angiography for evaluation of chest pain.

Altered occludin expression in brain capillaries induced by obstructive jaundice in rats.

The development of increased oxidative stress in the context of obstructive cholestasis has been proven in various rats' organs including the brain. The present study aimed to detect alterations of tight junction-associated occludin in rat brain capillaries after bile duct ligation (BDL). In experiment 1, occludin expression was evaluated by Western blot analysis in 5 animals 10 days after BDL and compared with 5 sham-operated ones.

Metabolic syndrome and angiographic coronary artery disease prevalence in association with the Framingham risk score.

Background: The association of metabolic syndrome with coronary artery disease (CAD) has been studied extensively. However, little is known about the effect of Framingham risk score (FRS) and metabolic syndrome components on the association of metabolic syndrome with angiographically significant CAD. Our aim was to investigate whether that relationship is influenced by individual's 10-year CAD risk profile as assessed by FRS.

Time-related alterations of superoxide radical levels in diverse organs of bile duct-ligated rats.

The time-related alterations of superoxide radical measured in vivo by employing an ultrasensitive fluorescent assay in the liver, intestine, kidney and brain of rats with experimentally induced obstructive jaundice was investigated. Eighteen rats were randomly divided into Group A, rats subjected to sham operation, and Group B, rats subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL). Three rats from each group were subsequently killed at different time points post-operatively (1, 5 and 10 days).

Metabolism of polyamines and oxidative stress in the brain of cholestatic rats.

In a recently published article in "Amino Acids" it was shown that obstructive jaundice of 9 days' duration in rats induces significant alterations of polyamines' metabolism in the brain, which might play an important pathogenetic role in cholestatic brain injury. The authors proposed that alterations of polyamines in cholestatic brain might induce neuronal toxicity through a mechanism that implicates the production of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress, although this parameter was not evaluated in their study. This hypothesis is supported by our recent findings on brain oxidative status in rats with obstructive jaundice of 10 days' duration.

Superoxide radical formation in diverse organs of rats with experimentally induced obstructive jaundice.

Oxidative stress seems to be a cardinal feature of cholestasis, implicated in the pathophysiology of organ injury not only in the liver, but also in several extrahepatic tissues. The present study was designed to assess directly oxidative stress in vital organs of experimentally jaundiced rats by measuring the key oxidative stress marker superoxide radical (O2(*-)). Twelve male Wistar rats underwent laparotomy and were divided into two groups - group I (n = 6) sham operated, and group II (n = 6) bile-duct ligated.

Quantification of superoxide radical in the brain of rats with experimentally induced obstructive jaundice.

The study aimed to directly measure in vivo superoxide radical (O*2) a direct indicator of oxidative stress, in the brain of rats with experimentally induced obstructive jaundice by employing a new quantitative ultrasensitive fluorescent assay requiring minimum sample. O*2 anion is specific for dihydroethidine (DHE) and upon reaction gives a characteristic product, namely 2-OH-ethidium. Ten male rats underwent laparotomy and were divided into two groups: I, sham operated and II bile duct ligation.

Effect of N-acetylcysteine, allopurinol and vitamin E on jaundice-induced brain oxidative stress in rats.

We examined the possible protective effect of certain antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine, allopurinol and vitamin E) against the oxidative stress of brain tissue induced by experimental obstructive jaundice in rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups; group I control, group II sham operated, group III bile duct ligated and groups IV, V, and VI in which the rats, after bile duct ligation, were given every day an intraperitoneal injection with N-acetylcysteine, allopurinol and Vit-E respectively. All rats were sacrificed on the tenth day by exsanguination and the oxidative state in samples from cortex, midbrain and cerebellum was assessed by measuring the thiol redox state and lipid peroxidation quantified by MDA measurements.

Brain oxidative stress induced by obstructive jaundice in rats.

The effect of experimental obstructive jaundice on the oxidative status of brain tissues in rats was examined. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: Group I was the control, group II was the sham operated, and groups III and IV were bile duct ligated and killed on the 5th and the 10th day, respectively. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring the thiol redox state (protein and nonprotein components) and lipid peroxidation level variations in samples from the cerebral cortex, midbrain, and cerebellar tissue in all animals.

Computer assisted total parenteral nutrition for pre-term and sick term neonates.

Introduction: Over the past few years, the use of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has been established for pre-term and sick term neonates. At 'IASO' Hospital, a series of protocols implemented through the use of a computer programme has been developed to assist in the time consuming task of prescribing and preparing TPN in neonates. The algorithms used for neonates of a different gestational age are based on the protocols created through screening of literature and personal experience.

Klippel-Feil syndrome presenting with bilateral thoracic outlet syndrome.

Study Design: This report aims, in the light of the recent literature, to describe the clinical features of bilateral thoracic outlet syndrome in a case of Klippel-Feil syndrome, the results of electrophysiologic evaluation, and the outcome after surgical intervention.

Objectives: Cervical ribs in the context of Klippel-Feil syndrome as the cause of bilateral thoracic outlet syndrome is discussed.

Summary Of Background Data: In Klippel-Feil syndrome, congenital fusion of cervical vertebrae occurs and may also be associated with various anomalies, including musculoskeletal anomalies.