ABSTRACT
Objective: To detect hepatic insulin receptor substrate 2 in chronic hepatitis C patients. Study Design: Comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Center for research in experimental and applied medicine [CREAM], Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Army Medical College and Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi, from Dec 2011 to Nov 2012. Diagnosed patients of chronic hepatitis C were included in the study. Known cases of diabetes mellitus, patients with pancreatic disease and liver pathology other than hepatitis C were excluded from the study
Material and Methods: Twenty seropositive non diabetic HCV infected patients and 10 control subjects were recruited. Liver biopsy specimen was obtained from seropositive HCV patients while blood samples were obtained from controls as biopsy sample was not possible from normal controls. Both types of specimens were studied for detection of insulin receptor substrate 2 [IRS-2]
Results: No alteration in the content of insulin receptor substrate 2 in both seropositive patients and control samples were detected
Conclusion: Hepatitis C virus has no effect on insulin receptor substrate 2 content thus indicating absence of hepatic insulin resistance in patients with HCV infection
ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the expression of STAT-1 [Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription-1] in HCV patients non responder to interferon treatment
Study Design: Case control study
Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out at Army Medical College Rawalpindi from January to July, 2012
Patients and Methods: The study after approved by institute's ethics committee was conducted on 15 HCV infected patients who were non responder to interferon therapy and 5 controls responder to interferon therapy. Their age, sex, body mass index [BMI] and marital status was noted. PCR based detection of STAT-1 mRNA was carried out in blood of HCV infected patients resistant to interferon therapy as well as controls. Data was presented in the form of frequencies and percentages and p values were calculated using Fisher exact test and student t-test
Results: Results showed that more males were resistant to interferon therapy as compared to females. The mean age was less in responders as compared to non responders. Forty percent of the HCV infected patients non responder to interferon therapy were positive for STAT-1 expression
Conclusion: STAT-1 blood expression can predict treatment response in HCV patients undergoing interferon treatment
ABSTRACT
To assess HCV awareness level among medical students. Cross sectional descriptive study. The study was conducted at Army Medical College Rawalpindi from March to October 2012. A structured questionnaire based cross sectional study was conducted including male and female medical students from 3rd and 4th year of both MBBS and BDS classes. The data was reported in the form of frequencies and percentages of correct answers and p value was calculated for the difference in level of correct answers regarding HCV routes of transmission, between male and female students using chi-square test. Survey showed that male students were more knowledgeable about HCV than females. Regarding possible transmission routes for HCV, it is evident that most of the students knew that main spreading cause is blood products, injection drug users and reuse of syringes as compared to other risks. Misconceptions observed are of significance especially at the level of health care providers as this can hinder their professional duties, interaction with the patient and treatment. Knowledge regarding HCV among medical students is inadequate and it can influence HCV prevalence, treatment and management in society