ABSTRACT
Using RIBA NS5 antibody was measured in 31 HCV RNA positive serotype 1 patients, and the serum levels of ALT were monitored for an average of three years. As a result, 22 asymptomatic HCV carriers (group A) were found to be NS5 antibody negative (-) and nine to be NS5 antibody positive (4+). By contrast, in 25 patients with chronic inactive hepatitis C (group B), three patients were NS5 antibody negative (-), and 22 patients were NS5 antibody positive (4+), indicating a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.01 chi square test).Furthermore, in group A, 22 NS5 antibody (-) patients (group I) maintained normal serum levels of ALT significantly longer than the 9 NS5 antibody (4+) patients (group II) (p<0.01, Kaplan-Meier Method). Therefore, the measurement of NS5 antibody of RIBA was clinically useful in identifing asymptomatic (HCVRNA positive, serotype 1) HCV carriers.
Subject(s)
Antibodies , HepacivirusABSTRACT
With a view to weighing the clinical significance of asymptomatic cerebral infarction, we analyzed the usefulness of the fluid attenuated inversion recovery method in magnetic resonance imaging. The subjects wee composed of 94 outpatients who participated in our screening program for brain troubles. Indications of asymptomatic cerebral infarction were registered on T2-weighted images of 21 subjects (22%) and on FLAIR images of 31 subjects (33%). The FLAIR method, in which the signals from the cerebrospinal fluid are checked, excelled at detecting lesions, especially those under the cerebral cortex which are almost indistinguishable from gray matter and sulci. The subjects with asymptomatic cerebral infarction had significantly many risk factors for stroke including hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Thus, we concluded that the FLAIR method is very useful in diagnosing asymptomatic cerebral infarction.