Predictors of response to antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C from Pakistani population / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hepatitis C virus (HCV) constitutes a major public health issue around the world, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. In this study, we assessed outcome of interferon (INF) treatment in chronic hepatitis C patients categorized by gender, age, and viral load.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this study, 750 HCV positive patients with genotype 3 were selected, out of which 616 completed the entire treatment. Their personal history, pre-treatment HCV RNA and serum alanine transaminase (ALT) was quantified. Patients were treated with combination therapy of INF-α 2b three million units (thrice a week) plus ribavirin (1000 - 1200 mg per day) for 24 weeks. After 24 weeks their HCV RNA and serum ALT level was quantified.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Out of the 616 patients, 391 (63.5%) responded to therapeutic regimen (INF-α 2b plus ribavirin). Among the responders, 27.1% were men and 36.4% were women. Best treatment response was observed in patients having low viral load < 8 × 10(5) IU/ml and age ≤ 40 years than patients having low viral load and age > 40 years (73.2% vs. 60.3%, P = 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Better response to IFN-α 2b plus ribavirin was observed in patients with lower viral RNA and younger age. It suggests that all patients considered for treatment should have quantification of serum HCV RNA level. The result can be used to counsel patients on the likelihood of response and may influence the patient's decision on treatment.</p>

PCR targeting of antibiotic resistant bacteria in public drinking water of Lahore metropolitan, Pakistan / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence of kanamycin (kan) and ampicillin (amp) resistant bacteria in public drinking water.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bacteria containing kan and amp resistant genes were amplified by PCR and further characterized by colony hybridization and transformation studies. The genus of kan and amp resistant bacteria was determined with standard methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 625 drinking water samples, 400 contained kan and amp resistant bacteria and the percentage was 42.5% and 57.5%, respectively, which was further confirmed by the amplification of a 810 bp kan resistant gene and a 850 bp amp resistant gene. Of the 170 kan resistant bacteria, 90 were Gram negative and 80 were Gram positive. Of the 230 amp resistant bacteria, 160 were Gram negative while 70 were Gram positive. Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and E.coli were detected as 13%, 11%, 17%, 30%, and 29%, respectively. Bacterial strain DH5alpha transformed with plasmids isolated from kan and amp resistant bacteria confirmed that the antibiotic resistant genes were mediated by plasmids.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Drinking water is contaminated with kan and amp resistant bacteria due to poor sanitary conditions.</p>

Expression of human vitamin D3 receptor in Ecoli

The ability to produce large quantities of receptor is important for understanding certain fundaments mechanisms of action of the vitamin D3 receptor [VDR]. Conventional receptor isolation techniques can provid only small quantities of purified receptor. The method presented in this study utilizes a ubiquitin fusion technology and a low temperature [< 30 §C] nalidixic acid induction of the lambda PL promoter. Using this nove method, we have overexpressed the biologically active form of human vitamin D3 receptor [hVDR] in E. coli