Effects of IL28B rs12979860 CC genotype on metabolic profile and sustained virologic response in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C.

Background & Aims: Patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C (G1 CHC) frequently develop steatosis and insulin resistance (IR), caused by metabolic and viral factors. These accelerate the progression of liver disease and reduce the response to therapy. A sustained virologic response (SVR) to therapy in patients with G1 CHC is associated strongly with polymorphisms near the interleukin-28B (IL28B) gene, but the interaction between IL28B genotype and IR, and their combined effects on SVR, have not been defined.

Resistive index and antihypertensive therapy in kidney transplantation.

Objectives: To investigate in kidney transplanted patients any possible correlation between intrarenal Doppler Resistive Index (RI) and arterial hypertension (AH); to detect any possible angiotensin converting enzime inhibitors (ACE-I)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) influence on RI.

Material And Methods: Our retrospective study took into consideration 80 consecutive renal allograft sonography scans of 54 patients (37 males) under observation in our centre over a one-year period (2003). Patients were evaluated about their renal function by means of serum creatinine dosage (mg/dL).

[Two-chamber hemodiafiltration: comparison between exogenous reinfusion (PFD) and endogenous reinfusion (HFR)].

Purpose: This research aimed to compare two highly efficient dialysis techniques, paired filtration dialysis (PFD) and on-line hemodiafiltration with endogenous reinfusion (HFR) to evaluate the possible differences from a clinical, rehabilitative and managerial point of view.

Methods: The study was carried out on 14 patients (aged 40-65 yrs) six patients underwent PFD and eight patients underwent HFR. Patients on PFD came from low-flux hemodialysis (HD), while patients on HFR came either from PFD (n=5) or from low-flux HD (n=3).

Photo-Fenton oxidation of oil mill waste water: chemical degradation and biodegradability increase.

The mill waste water holds a large amount of polyphenols, preventing the biodegradation processes because of their inhibitory action on microbial growth. Thus, its disposal represents an environmental problem for the great olive oil producing countries in the Mediterranean area. In this work, we present the preliminary results from the application of a photo-oxidative process on mill waste water to evaluate the organic matter degradation potential and the biodegradability of the treated residue.

Peritoneal dialysis solution pH and Ca2+ concentration regulate peritoneal macrophage and mesothelial cell activation.

We evaluated the in vitro effects of pH and Ca2+ concentration of peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS) on (1) the release of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) from peritoneal macrophages (PM0) and peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMC); (2) the release of IL-6 and IL-8 by PMC; and (3) the PM0 and PMC intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Aliquots of 5 x 10(6) PM0 and PMC were incubated (2 hr, 37 degrees C) in 1 ml of physiologic growth medium (RPMI 1640) and in 1 ml of four different PDS (1.36 g/dl glucose): (1) type A PDS (pH 5.