Fractures; causes of low vitamin D and effects of 25 [oh] supplementation in patients above 50 years

To find out the effect in increase in serum 25 [OH] vitamin D levels after supplementation with 1000 lU/day of vitamin D in patients with low vitamin D levels and other factors which may affect the increase in vitamin D levels. Retrospective study. January 2013 and June 2014. Ch. Rehmat Ali Trust Teaching Hospital in the Lahore. The study included patients > 50 years with a low-energy fracture and a vitamin D level < 25 nmol/l. 85 patients were included, mean basal 25 [OH] vitamin D level was 22 nmol/l. After a mean of 10 weeks, the mean increase in vitamin D was 49.5 nmol/l. Only 45.1% reached the target level of > 50 nmol/l. The increase was correlated with the basal level of vitamin D [p < 0.05], and the time interval between the two vitamin D measurements [p < 0.05] and was inversely related to body weight [p < 0.05], but was not related to age, gender or renal function. We found that the generally recommended dosage of 1000 IU of vitamin D per day resulted in suboptimal serum levels after ten weeks of treatment in more than half of the patients. The increase in vitamin D levels was higher in patients with low body weight and in patients with very low basal vitamin D levels. These data suggest that these patients should initially be treated with higher dosages of vitamin D. If not possible, vitamin D measurements should be performed after at least six months of supplementation with dosage adjustment

functional E1-E2 heterodimer HCV glycoproteins

The two HCV envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2 are released from HCV polyprotein by signal peptidase cleavages. These glycoproteins are type I transmembrane proteins with a highly glycosylated N-terminal ectodomain and a C-terminal hydrophobic anchor. Methods and pathways: After their synthesis, HCV glycoproteins E1 and E2 associate as a non covalent heterodimer. The transmembrane domains of HCV envelope glycoproteins play a major role in E1-E2 heterodimer assembly and subcellular localization. The envelope glycoprotein complex E1-E2 has been proposed to be essential for HCV entry. Results and However, for a long time, HCV entry studies have been limited by the lack of a robust cell culture system for HCV replication and viral particle production. Recently, a model mimicking the entry process of HCV lifecycle has been developed by pseudo typing retroviral particles with native HCV envelope glycoproteins, allowing the characterization of functional E1-E2 envelope glycoproteins., we review our understanding to date on the assembly of the functional HCV glycoprotein heterodimer

Reasons for discontinuation of contraceptive methods among couples with different family size and educational status

High rates of contraceptive discontinuation for reasons other than the desire for pregnancy are a public health concern because of their association with negative reproductive health outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine reasons for discontinuation of contraceptive methods among couples with different family size and educational status. This crosssectional study was carried out at the Obstetrics/Gynaecology Out-Patient Department of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad from April-September 2012. Patients [241] were selected by consecutive sampling after informed written consent and acquiring approval of Ethical Committee. The survey interview tool was a semi-structured questionnaire. Majority [68%] of women belonged to urban, and the rest were from rural areas. Mean age of these women was 29.43 +/- 5.384 year. Reasons for discontinuation of contraceptives included fear of injectable contraceptives [2.9%], contraceptive failure/pregnancy [7.46%], desire to become pregnant [63.48%], husband away at job [2.49%], health concerns/side effects [16.18%], affordability [0.83%], inconvenient to use [1.24%], acceptability [0.83%] and accessibility/lack of information [4.56%]. Association of different reasons of discontinuation [chi square test] with the family size [actual number of children] was significant [p=0.019] but was not significant with husband's or wife's educational status [p=0.33 and 0.285 respectively]. Keeping in mind the complex socioeconomic conditions in our country, Family planning programmers and stake holders need to identify women who strongly want to avoid a pregnancy and finding ways to help the couples successfully initiate and maintain appropriate contraceptive use.