Genotype distribution in relation to viral load in a large cohort of Indian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: A retrospective analysis.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) displays high genetic diversity, characterized by regional variations in the prevalence of genotype posing challenges to the development of vaccines and definitive treatment. Very few reports exist on the distribution and frequency change of HCV genotypes in India. In the present retrospective study, we aimed to understand the distribution pattern of HCV genotypes and viral load among HCV-infected patients attending the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad, India, a tertiary care hospital.

Association of Systemic Inflammatory and Anti-inflammatory Responses with Adverse Outcomes in Acute Pancreatitis: Preliminary Results of an Ongoing Study.

Introduction: This paper reports preliminary data of an ongoing study that evaluates the association of systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) with early severe acute pancreatitis (ESAP) and compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome (characterized by HLA-DR down-regulation) with infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN).

Methods: Consecutive patients presenting within 72 h of symptom onset with organ dysfunction and/or local complications were included. Following parameters were recorded: demographics, etiology, SIRS, APACHE II, creatinine, BUN.

Reduced Expression of DNA Damage Repair Genes High Mobility Group Box1 and Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase1 in Inactive Carriers of Hepatitis B Virus Infection-A Possible Stage of Viral Integration.

Background: High mobility group box1 (HMGB1) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase1 (PARP1) proteins repair cellular DNA damage. Reduced expression of the corresponding genes can lead to an impaired DNA damage repair mechanism. Intracellular replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in such conditions can favor the integration of viral DNA into host genome leading to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Human Interferon Regulatory Factor 2 Gene Expression is Induced in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection-A Possible Mode of Viral Persistence.

Background: The interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) are a family of transcription factors known to be involved in the modulation of cellular responses to interferons (IFNs) and viral infection. While IRF-1 acts as a positive regulator, IRF-2 is known to repress IFN-mediated gene expression. The increase in the IRF-1/IRF-2 ratio is considered as an important event in the transcriptional activation of IFN-α gene toward development of the cellular antiviral response.