INTRODUCTION Less than half of patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 (G3) and high viral load (HVL) without a rapid virological response (RVR) achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) when treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin (RBV). OBJECTIVES To assess the impact of high doses of RBV on SVR in patients with G3 and HVL. METHODS Ninety-seven patients were randomized to rece...

Our study aimed to assess a possible functional role of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger in the regulation of renal vascular resistance (RVR). Therefore, we investigated the effects of an inhibition of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger either by lowering the extracellular sodium concentration ([Na(+)](e)) or, pharmacologically on RVR, by using isolated perfused rat kidneys. Graded decreases in [Na(+)](e) le...

In terms of assessing economic impact, one the most important elements in wood supply chain is measurement round wood. Besides one-by-one logs, logs are often measured when stacked at forest road. The gross volume includes wood, bark and airspace widely used for industrial assortments. increasing international attention given to photo-optical systems portable devices due their simplicity ...

Rapid virologic response (RVR) and complete early virologic response (cEVR) are associated with sustained virologic response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy. We retrospectively examined baseline and on-treatment factors associated with RVR (HCV RNA undetectable at week 4) and cEVR (HCV RNA undetectable at week 12, regardless of week 4 response). The analysis comprised 1550 HCV genotype-1 pat...

BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients achieving rapid virological response (RVR) on PEG-IFN/ribavirin (P/R) therapy have high chance of sustained virological response (SVR). To analyze host immunological factors associated with RVR, viral kinetics, phenotype distribution and Th1/Th2 cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were studied prior to and during P/R the...

We investigated the hypothesis that thromboxane A2 (TxA2)-prostaglandin H2 receptors (TP-Rs) mediate the hemodynamic responses and increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) to ANG II (400 ng x kg(-1) x min(-1) sc for 14 days) using TP-R knockout (TP -/-) and wild-type (+/+) mice. TP -/- had normal basal mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and glomerular filtration rate but reduced renal blood fl...

OBJECTIVE To establish the role of liver fibrosis as a predictive tool of response to pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) treatment in human immunodeficiency (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected patients, in addition to recognized predictive factors (HCV load, HCV genotype, IL-28B polymorphism). PATIENTS AND METHODS A sample of 267 HIV/HCV coinfected patients was trea...

The contralateral kidney of 2-kidney, 1-clip hypertensive (2K1C) rats is unable to escape the renal vasoconstrictive and sodium-retaining effects of increased circulating angiotensin II levels. Evidence is accumulating that renal function is relatively preserved by enhanced influence of NO in the contralateral kidney. In this study, we investigated (1) whether the high NO dependency of renal he...

概 要 本態 性高血圧症 患者の眼底所見を よ り精 細に,か つ よ り数量的 に把握す る 目的で本研究を行な つ た.一 般 に高濃度 の酸素ガス吸入では正常網膜血管 は収縮 し,低 濃度 の場合には拡張す る.ボ ンべ 内酸素吸入前お よび吸入開始後径時的 に眼底 カラー写 真を撮 影 し,精 密計測 装置 を用いて網膜血管径 を計測,そ の収縮が最高 に達 した時 の収縮率 を算定 しRetinal Vascular Reactivity (RVR)と し た.な お年令,眼 底所見,臨 床検査所見 な どとRVRと の関連 をも検討 した.細 膜動脈 のRVRに つ いては,年 令 との 関係 で は 正常血圧者群,本 態性高血圧症患者群 ともに加令 とともにRVRは 低下 し,と くに両群 の間 では壮年者群(40~59才)で 後者が統計学的に有意の差を もつて低値 を...

TO THE EDITOR: Cannesson et al. (1) hypothesize that the effect of phenylephrine (PE) on cardiac output (CO) is dependent on the volume state of the cardiovascular system. This system may be dependent or independent of volume assessed from increase in CO by fluid bolus. In the independent state, PE decreases CO explained by increased afterload. In the dependent state, PE increases CO explained ...