Detection of hepatitis c virus 5' noncoding RNA in serum samples

To evaluate the level of 5' noncoding region [copies/ml] of Hepatitis C Virus and correlate that with the clinical and laboratory parameters. Experimental controlled trial. National Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sixty-four patients were included in this study, 47 patients were sero-positive for anti-HCV antibodies by third generation enzyme immunometric assay [EIA]. Quantitative and qualitative HCV 5' noncoding RNA from serum samples was detected by nested PCR. Another four serum patients' samples were investigated for hepatitis C virus genotyping. In addition to 13 normal control subjects were included in this study. Alanine transaminase [ALT] levels were raised during the acute infection [mean 83.51]. The clinical features were varied from 23 [45%] asymptomatic patients to 17 [33%] who had jaundice, 46 [90%] complained from fatigue and 34 [66.6%] had nausea and vomiting. Among the 51 HCV-RNA positive samples obtained from patients, 12 samples had below 2,000 copies of HCV-RNA/ml, 4 had between 2,001 and 15,000 copies, 3 had between 15,001 and 50,000 copies, 4 had between 50,001 and 100,000 copies, 9 had between 100,001 and 300,000 copies, and 19 had over 300,000 copies of HCV-RNA/mL. 5' noncoding region of HCV could completely distinguish between genotype and subtype of HCV and these could be important for the initiation of treatment

Vitamin D deficiency among pre-menopausal women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh is a region of year-round sunny weather where milk is fortified with vitamin D and where women wear dress styles that cover the whole body or most of it and their outdoor activity is limited. This may produce variable effects on vitamin D synthesis and parathyroid hormone levels which in turn affect bone mineralization, increasing the fracture risk. To determine prevalence and degree of vitamin D deficiency in premenopausal females [19-49 years] presenting to a dermatology clinic. Cross-sectional clinic-based Quota sample. The Dermatology Clinic in Riyadh National Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Three hundred eighty six married adult females [19-49 yrs old] attending the Dermatology Clinic during April and May 2005, and who agreed to be screened. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-OHD], parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorus. This study included 386 premenopausal women, most of them [293/75.9%] were veiled [using dress style that is black and covers the whole body], while 93 [24.1%] were not veiled [wearing black dress exposing hands and face], of whom 46 [49%] reported using sunscreen on exposure to sun. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 38.4% of veiled women, with a low serum 25-OHD: 35.2+15.7 nmol/L, compared with 60.8+20.4 amongst the non-veiled women/no sunscreen. Serum 25-OHD amongst the non-veiled women/sunscreen was also low [37.9+17.6] but higher than that in the veiled group. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent amongst sunlight-deprived female adults [veiled and sunscreen users] in Riyadh. Greater awareness of physicians and population about vitamin D and its importance for optimal health is needed. Increased dietary and supplemental vitamin D intakes are reasonable approaches to guarantee vitamin D sufficiency