Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with interferon-alpha by monitoring the response according to viraemia.

In chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection, treatment with interferon is associated with a rather low rate of sustained response and many treated patients do not achieve significant benefit. Efforts have therefore been made to identify non-responders as early as possible to avoid unjustified costs and side-effects. We treated 106 cases of HCV with an algorithm based on the results of sequential alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HCV RNA determinations, using an initial dose of 6 MU thrice weekly for 4 months, and modified the subsequent treatment according to the biochemical and virological profile. Thirty-three out of 48 patients (68.7%) who were HCV RNA negative with normal ALT at 4 months after initiation of treatment were sustained responders when treated for an additional 4-month period with a reduced 3 MU dose, while sustained response was achieved in 12.5% of HCV RNA positive patients treated with a higher dosage and for a more prolonged period of time. Our findings indicate that HCV RNA monitoring during interferon therapy may be useful in modifying of the treatment schedule for the individual patient.

[Epidemiological statistical survey on caries prevalence in a school age population]. / Indagine statistico epidemiologica sulla prevalenza delle lesioni cariose in una populazione di età scolare.

The Authors study the caries phenomenon by using DMF index in a scholastic population that belong to Ussl of Gazzada (VA). The research shows the alignment of data with previous experiences on our and other territories.

[Prevalence of caries in first permanent molars]. / Studio della prevalenza della carie nei primi molari permanenti.

The Authors study the prevalence of the caries in the first permanent molar teeth by using DMF6 and consider the possibility of using such parameter instead of DMFT in order to reduce the time of observation in future researches.