[Experimental study of monopolar electrical and ultrasonic dissection].

The aim of this experimental study was to compare the disadvantages of a monopolar electric scalpel and an ultrasonically-activated scalpel in a porcine model. Using thermal gradients, the ultrasonically-activated scalpel significantly decreased thermal energy dispersion to surrounding structures and thus decreased the risk of injuries to adjacent tissues and nerves, as opposed to the monopolar electric scalpel. Histological examination of nerves showed that necrosis was significantly less important with the use of the ultrasonically-activated scalpel.

Longitudinal analysis of hepatitis C virus replication and liver fibrosis progression in renal transplant recipients.

The pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was investigated by analysis of changes in viral and histologic parameters in 36 renal transplant recipients who were infected with HCV before transplantation. Each patient was classified according to development of liver fibrosis as assessed by 2 liver biopsies done 45 and 81 months after transplantation: 13 had progressing liver fibrosis (fibrosers) and 23 did not (nonfibrosers). All developed high-titer posttransplant viremia with a significant increase of 1.

[Long-term consequences of co-infection by hepatitis G virus in hepatitis c virus infected kidney transplant patients].

The objectives of this retrospective study were to determine the prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in hepatitis C virus positive (HCV+ve) renal transplant (RT) patients and to evaluate the impact of HGV both on liver function tests, liver histology tests and renal parameters such as the prevalence of acute rejection and renal function. Seventy-one HCV+ve renal transplant patients with a functioning graft for whom a post renal transplant liver biopsy was available, were included. Serum HGV RNA was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction before, at the time of, and after renal transplantation.

Long-term impact of superinfection by hepatitis G virus in hepatitis C virus-positive renal transplant patients.

Background: The hepatitis G virus (HGV) has been recently cloned. Studies in immunocompetent patients have shown that HGV superinfection in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive patients does not affect (i) clinical presentation, HCV RNA level, or response to interferon-alpha therapy; or (ii) the histopathologic severity and characteristics of chronic hepatitis. No data are currently available on the impact of HGV infection on liver histology of renal transplant (RT) patients although the reported prevalence of serum HGV RNA in this population is high, ranging from 14% to 55%.