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PubMed1977

New acceptors reach 72% of target according to IMCH mid-year report.

Cumulative number of new acceptors since January-June was 49,958, 72% of the target of average number of 331 reporting clinics. Average number of new acceptors recruited per clinic per month was 24. Method profile showed the same trend as previous year but with increasing number of acceptors for fertility termination and IUD. Total caseload was 467,112 with an average caseload of 235/clinic/month. Total number of old acceptors serviced was 382,036 with an average of 211/clinic/month. On the trend and level of return visits, there were 434,477 return visits of which 58.9% was for the purpose of getting supplies, 32.0% for routine checkup, and 8.9% for medical consultation or checkup. Total number of shifters was 12,609 of which 33% shifted to condom, 28% to pills, 13.9% to sterilization, 10.9% to IUD, and 10% to rhythm. It is interesting to note that 909 pill users shifted to IUD and 371 condom users to IUD. Continuing users reported was 94,987, about 25% of total number of old acceptors serviced during the 6 months. Dropouts - 2438 of which about 48% were pill dropouts, 27% condom, 12% rhythm, and 9.2% IUD. Failures - 4696, 45% of which were pills, 37% condom, 12.5% rhythm, and 2.7 IUD. Sterilization services - a total of 3486 sterilizations of which 569 were vasectomies and 2947 were tubal occlusions. 7% of total new acceptors registered during the 6-month period were for sterilization and about 14% of shifters shifted to sterilization. Expansion of family planning services through utilization of nurses and midwives in IUD insertion and pill dispensing: Average number of nurses and midwives reporting performance was 266/month. The total number of pill acceptors serviced was 10,767 about 41% of the 26,431 number of pill acceptors recruited. There were 739 who complained of side effects and were managed by the midwives. For comprehensive service - out of the 694 nurses and midwives, only 22 were trained in comprehensive service. Average number of midwives reporting performance was 15 and had serviced 652 IUD acceptors (18%) and 618 pill acceptors (12%). The impact of the service could hardly be felt because of the limited number of staff trained in comprehensive service. However, there is an increasing trend for IUD method.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMed2003

[Screening of the genes of hepatitis B virus PreS2 interacting proteins].

OBJECTIVE: To screen and clone the genes of proteins in hepatocytes interacting with hepatitis B virus (HBV) PreS2 by yeast-two hybridization technique. METHODS: The HBV PreS2 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and HBV PreS2 bait plasmid was constructed by using yeast-two hybridization system 3, then transformed into yeast AH109, followed by mating with yeast Y187 containing liver cDNA library plasmid in 2 YPDA medium. Diploid yeast was plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-Ade-His) and synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-Ade-His) containing X-alpha-gal for selecting positive blue clones, then amplified by PCR, sequenced, and performed bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS: HBV PreS2 gene was cloned successfully and expressed in yeast AH109.Twenty-six positive colonies were selected, among them, twelve containing metallothionein 2A, one cytochrome C oxidase II, two cytochrome P450 subfamily IV4F, two cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 isoform 1, three albumin (ALB), one Na(+)K(+) transporting ATPase beta-1 polypeptide, two prealbumin, one lectin galactoside-binding subunit, and Two new genes with unknown function. CONCLUSION: Genes of HBV PreS2 interacting proteins have been successfully cloned, which brings some new clues for studying the biological functions of HBV PreS2 and related proteins.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed2003

Acceptability of a urinary continence promotion programme to women in postpartum.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the acceptability to postpartum women of a physiotherapist-delivered urinary continence promotion programme. DESIGN: A survey of women participating in a randomised controlled trial where women received the intervention (which involved training in pelvic floor exercises and incorporated adherence-enhancing strategies) or usual postpartum care. SETTING: Postpartum wards of three tertiary teaching hospitals in the Hunter Region, NSW, Australia. SAMPLE: Women were eligible to participate in the trial if they had a forceps/ventouse assisted delivery and/or delivered a higher birthweight baby (> or =4000 g). This study is based primarily on data obtained for 348 women in the intervention group. METHODS: Baseline hospital-based interview; eight-week follow up appointment with physiotherapist; three-month follow up telephone interview. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparative dropout rates for intervention and control groups; reasons for non-participation; attendance at hospital follow up; self-reported acceptability of and embarrassment about per vaginum examination; utilisation and perceived usefulness of intervention components; self-reported adherence with recommended pelvic floor exercise regime. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in dropouts between intervention (5.9%) and control groups (6.3%). Only 14% of women gave not wanting the per vaginum assessments as their main reason for not participating in the study. Eighty-eight percent of women participated in the eight-week postpartum follow up visit with the physiotherapist, with two-thirds of these women attending the hospital for this; 72.2% of women reported no embarrassment, and 22.5% just a little embarrassment about per vaginum assessment. The information components of the intervention were well received. At the eight-week follow up visit, 83.9% reported performing pelvic floor exercises at adequate frequency. CONCLUSIONS: The postpartum period provides an ideal opportunity for pelvic floor muscle testing and the delivery of continence promotion advice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Clonidine versus propranolol in the treatment of essential tremor. A double-blind trial with a one-year follow-up].

INTRODUCTION: To compare the efficacy of clonidine vs propranolol in the control of essential tremor, a double-blind randomized controlled trial with a one year follow-up was designed to obtain 80 % power and 95 % confidence level. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The participants (186 patients with the essential tremor diagnosis) were recruited from the community, 122 (65.6 %) of these patients completed the trial. They were assessed using a Clinical-Evaluation Scale for Tremor and were examined 5 times, once at baseline and 4 times during the treatment phase. We used ANOVA with Bonferroni corrections, a p> value of 0.01 was considered significant. Dropouts due to side effects were compared using the Fisher's exact X (2) test for two tails, a p>value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Propranolol as well as clonidine (p> = 0.005) proved to be statistically efficacious (p> = 0.0005). Propranolol was not more efficacious than clonidine (p> = 0.4). Dropouts were significantly higher in the clonidine group, 22 patients (p> = 0.006) and the most common undesirable side effect in this group was mouth dryness (in 8 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Clonidine was useful; when both drugs were compared propranolol was not shown to be superior to clonidine. Based on the results of this study, clonidine appears to be a good option for the treatment of mild to moderate essential tremor.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed2003

Efficacy and safety of cholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are the only drugs marketed for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Despite numerous randomized controlled trials, the efficacy and safety of this group of medications has not been quantified. Our objective was to quantitatively summarize data on the efficacy and safety of ChEIs in Alzheimer's disease in a format useful to clinicians. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trials of currently marketed ChEIs (donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine), used in therapeutic doses for at least 12 weeks, from which a cognitive outcome was reported. Studies were identified through 3 electronic databases searched to May 2002, pharmaceutical companies and journals. We extracted the proportions of subjects who responded, experienced adverse events, discontinued treatment for any reason or discontinued treatment because of adverse events. RESULTS: In the 16 identified trials that met the inclusion criteria, 5159 patients were treated with a ChEI and 2795 received a placebo. The pooled mean proportion of global responders to ChEI treatment in excess of that for placebo treatment was 9% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 6%-12%). The rates of adverse events, dropout for any reason and dropout because of adverse events were also higher among the patients receiving ChEI treatment than among those receiving placebo, the excess proportions being 8% (95% CI 5%-11%), 8% (95% CI 5%-11%) and 7% (95% CI 3%-10%), respectively. The numbers needed to treat for 1 additional patient to benefit were 7 (95% CI 6-9) for stabilization or better, 12 (95% CI 9-16) for minimal improvement or better and 42 (95% CI 26-114) for marked improvement; the number needed to treat for 1 additional patient to experience an adverse event was 12 (95% CI 10-18). INTERPRETATION: Treatment with ChEIs results in a modest but significant therapeutic effect and modestly but significantly higher rates of adverse events and discontinuation of treatment. The numbers needed to treat to benefit 1 additional patient are small.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Personality changes in opioid-dependent subjects in a methadone maintenance treatment program].

Personality disorders and particularly antisocial personality disorders (APD) are quite frequent in opioid-dependent subjects. They show various personality traits: high neuroticism, high impulsivity, higher extraversion than the general population. Previous studies have reported that some but not all personality traits improved with treatment. In a previous study, we found a low rate of APD in a French population of opioid-dependent subjects. For this reason, we evaluated personality traits at intake and during maintenance treatment with methadone. Methods - The form A of the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) was given to opioid addicts at intake and after 6 and 12 months of methadone treatment. Results - 134 subjects (96 males and 38 females) took the test at intake, 60 completed 12 months of treatment. After 12 months, the EPI Neuroticism (N) and the Extraversion-introversion (E) scale scores decreased significantly. The N score improved in the first 6 months, while the E score improved only during the second 6 months of treatment. Compared to a reference group of French normal controls, male and female opioid addicts showed high N and E scores. Demographic data and EPI scores of patients who stayed in treatment for 12 months did not differ significantly from those of dropouts (n=23). Patients with a history of suicide attempts (SA) started to use heroin at an earlier age and they showed a higher E score and a tendency for a higher N score at intake. Discussion - The two personality dimensions of the EPI changed during MMT, and the N score converged towards the score of normal controls. Opioid addicts differ from normal controls mostly in their N score. The EPI did not help to differentiate 12-month completers from dropouts. Higher E scores in patients with an SA history might reflect a higher impulsivity, which has been linked to suicidality in other patient groups.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The effect of control and self-medication of chronic gout in a developing country. Outcome after 10 years.

OBJECTIVE: We describe a 10 year observation of the effect of control of hyperuricemia compared with self-medication alone in patients with chronic gout. METHODS: We studied 299 consecutively self-referred Malayo-Polynesian men with chronic gout, mean age 35 +/- 14.3 SD years. Subjects comprised 228 cases with chronic gout without tophi or urolithiasis (Group 1) and 71 with those complications (Group 2). Attacks of acute gouty arthritis were treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) and/or corticosteroids. After acute arthritis had settled, urate-lowering drugs were instituted in both groups combined with low dose colchicine and/or low dose NSAID for at least 0.5-2 years. Urate levels were maintained longterm at a mean of < 5 mg/dl. After 10 years, the dropouts were traced and evaluated for comparison with baseline and those who remained in the study. In Group 2 the urate-lowering drugs were continued. RESULTS: Control of gout and hyperuricemia was achieved in all patients who remained under control: 91.6% of the 299 patients for at least 2 years (short-term), up to 5 years in 87.5% (medium term), and up to 10 years in 79.6% (longterm). In Group 1 (chronic gout without complication) only 36.8% had no attacks during 8 years, after they had tapered urate-lowering drug after the first 2 years of the study. In the 61 dropouts the intermittent symptomatic treatment and/or self-medication without longterm control of hyperuricemia resulted after 1 decade in chronic gout with more complications and associated conditions leading to increased morbidity, disability, and comorbidity, and 3 early mortalities. CONCLUSION: By controlling hyperuricemia, improvement of the prognosis of chronic gout, comorbidity, and early death was achieved compared with self-medication alone. Self-medication in a developing country if continued unchecked may become a public health problem in a population with a high prevalence rate of gout.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Compliance of osteoporotic patients with different treatment regimens.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of osteoporosis among postmenopausal women represents a major public health challenge since long-term therapy is needed to prevent fractures and chronic disability. OBJECTIVES: To assess compliance with osteoporosis drug therapy among Israeli postmenopausal women treated with either a bisphosphonate (alendronate) or a selective estrogen receptor modulator (raloxifene); to identify factors affecting compliance among these patients; and to compare adherence to the treatment in these two groups. METHODS: Our study included 178 consecutive patients aged 67.41 +/- 8.52 years who were treated for osteoporosis with alendronate or raloxifene in the Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit. All the patients received supplementation with calcium carbonate 1,500 mg and 600 IU vitamin D daily. Compliance was assessed at a clinic visit 6 months after starting therapy. RESULTS: The dropout rate was 23% (41 patients): 20 patients (31%) in the raloxifene group and 21 (18%) in the alendronate group (P = 0.0041). The main reasons for dropout were side effects and/or noncompliance, 16 and 24 patients (39% and 58.53%) respectively. The most frequent side effect was abdominal pain in 9 patients (42.8%) who discontinued alendronate use. The reasons for non-compliance were a fear of side effects and high drug price in 6 (30%) and 4 (20%) patients respectively in the raloxifene group, and inconvenience caused by medication use in 3 patients (14.3%) in the alendronate group. Logistic regression analysis of factors that may influence compliance included age, previous fractures, family history of osteoporosis, bone density T-score less than -2.5, and presence and number of concomitant diseases. Age was the only statistically significant parameter in this model: 67.8 +/- 8.8 in non-compliant versus 64.11 +/- 7.4 in compliant patients (P = 0.029). CONCLUSION: At least 20% of the patients discontinued chronic treatment for osteoporosis during the initial 6 months of therapy. The main reasons were gastrointestinal side effects in the alendronate group and fear of side effects and high drug price in the raloxifene group. Older age was the only statistically significant factor influencing compliance.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Ten-year radiographic outcome in patients with rheumatoid factor positive rheumatoid arthritis treated with aggressive immunosuppressive combination therapy.

We observed 10-year radiographic outcomes in patients with rheumatoid factor positive rheumatoid arthritis prospectively. Group I, II, and III comprised 87, 125, and 89 consecutive subjects with disease duration at presentation of less than 4, 4-24, and 25-255 months, respectively. Initial therapy was with combinations of pulse intravenous (i.v.) methylprednisolone (0-125 mg), cyclophosphamide (100-200 mg), methotrexate (MTX, 5-15 i.v. mg/week) and simultaneous oral cyclosporin A (CSA, 25 mg bid/tid). After disease was controlled i.v. therapy was tapered and switched to oral MTX + CSA. Outcomes from the Larsen Index and Erosive Joint Count were compared in cases and in dropouts with baseline and each other. Significant improvement in the Larsen Index and Erosive Joint Count was observed in Group I (p < 0.0001). In Group II and III the improvement or deterioration was not significant. The Larsen Index and Erosive Joint Count deteriorated significantly in the dropouts compared with baseline and cases (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, in early RA, in a Malayo-Polynesian patient sample, radiological progression could be halted with aggressive combination treatment.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

Superiority of clomipramine over imipramine in the treatment of panic disorder: a placebo-controlled trial.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken to compare the effects of imipramine and clomipramine in the treatment of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. The number of dropouts in the placebo-treated group was 7; in the imipramine-treated group, 4; and in the clomipramine treated group, 0. Ten subjects fulfilled the 12 weeks of treatment in the placebo group, 25 in the imipramine group, and 22 in the clomipramine group. To minimize dropouts because of side effects, a flexible dose regimen with a careful escalation of doses was applied. The maximal dose allowed was 250 mg/day. The mean (+/- SEM) daily doses reached were 124 +/- 9 mg (range, 50-250 mg) of imipramine and 109 +/- 8 mg (range, 25-200 mg) of clomipramine. At the end of the trial, the number of panic attacks as well as the anxiety between attacks (measured using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety) were markedly reduced in patients treated with either of the two antidepressant drugs, but only slightly decreased in patients on placebo. With respect to all major outcome parameters, i.e., full panic attacks, total number of anxiety attacks (full plus mild), and anxiety between attacks, the effect of clomipramine was clearly and significantly superior to that of imipramine (p less than 0.001, p less than 0.002, and p less than 0.002, respectively). Moderate intake of diazepam was allowed; in the clomipramine group (p less than 0.006), but neither in the imipramine group nor in the placebo group, a significant decrement in diazepam intake was observed during the course of the trial. The finding that clomipramine may have a higher potency and/or efficacy than imipramine in the treatment of panic disorder supports the concept that the antipanic effect of antidepressant drugs is due to the influence of these compounds on serotonergic rather than noradrenergic neurotransmission.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Mutual interaction between hepatitis B virus antigen and metallothionein].

OBJECTIVE: To screen and identify the protein interacting with HBV antigen in hepatocytes. Then investigate the biological functions of hepatitis B virus antigen in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B and seek effective methods to prevent and treat it. METHODS: The yeast two-hybrid system-3 technique was used to construct HBV PreS2, HBeAg, HBcAg, HBxAg bait plasmids. The bait plasmids transformed the yeast AH109 and expressed themselves in it. After being identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, the AH109 yeast was mated with yeast Y187 containing liver cDNA library plasmid in 2 x YPDA medium to form diploid yeast and was then plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) and synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing x-alpha-gal for screening. Plasmids of blue colonies were extracted and transformed into Escherichia coli, then analyzed by DNA sequencing and bioinformatics. To further prove the interaction between HBV antigen and metallothionein, translation was performed by using reticulocyte lysate and coimmunoprecipitation was displayed in vitro. RESULTS: Genes coding for HBV antigen binding protein were successfully cloned and metallothionein was found in that protein. The interaction between HBeAg, HBcAg and HBxAg and metallothionein were further proved by coimmunoprecipitation in vitro. CONCLUSION: The interaction between HBV antigen and metallothionein indicates that metallothionein may participate in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B

Hepatitis B↗
PubMed2005

Isoproterenol accelerates decompression sickness and death after saturation dives in swine.

BACKGROUND: Disabled submarine (DISSUB) survivors are expected to achieve inert gas tissue saturation that would likely cause severe decompression sickness (DCS). Rescue procedures in a DISSUB scenario cannot accommodate a staged decompression and the availability of recompression treatment chambers is limited. Alternatives to the standard recompression procedures for treating DCS are needed. Experimentally, isoproterenol has successfully addressed many underlying physiological concerns expected to result in cardiopulmonary DCS in this group. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that isoproterenol would reduce the incidence of cardiopulmonary DCS in a saturation dropout model. METHODS: Yorkshire swine (21.8 +/- 1.68 kg) were fitted with an external jugular catheter and compressed to 4.33 ATA in a dry chamber for 22 h. They were infused with isoproterenol (0.002 mg x kg(-1)) while still at depth and returned to the surface without decompression stops. They received additional infusions every 10 min throughout a 2-h observation period. Signs of DCS were recorded to the nearest minute. RESULTS: Isoproterenol administration resulted in a significant increase in the incidence of severe cardiopulmonary DCS (13/34 control vs. 12/18 isoproterenol) and death from DCS (10/34 control vs. 11/18 isoproterenol). There was no difference in the incidence of severe neurological DCS. CONCLUSIONS: Administering isoproterenol as an intervention/treatment for DCS significantly increases the risk of cardiopulmonary DCS and death following saturation dropout in 20-kg swine. As an adjunctive therapy or alternative to staged decompression, isoproterenol in the dose regimen delivered here is not expected to improve outcome in a DISSUB mass casualty scenario.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed2005

[Screening of HBeAgTP interacting proteins in hepatocytes with yeast-two hybrid technique].

OBJECTIVE: To screen proteins in hepatocytes interacting with HBeAg transactivated protein (HBeAgTP) with yeast-two hybrid technique for investigating the biological functions of HBeAgTP. METHODS: Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and bioinformatics techniques were used for screening and cloning of the target genes transactivated by HBeAg. The HBeAgTP gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and HBeAgTP bait plasmid was constructed with yeast-two hybrid system 3, and then transformed into yeast AH109. The transformed yeast mated with yeast Y187 containing liver cDNA library plasmid in 2 x YPDA medium. Diploid yeast was plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) and synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing X-gal for selecting two times and screening. After extracting and sequencing of plasmid from blue colonies, the results were analyzed by bioinformatics. RESULTS: HBeAgTP gene was successfully cloned and expressed in yeast cells. Fifteen genes in twenty-four positive colonies were obtained using yeast-two hybrid technique. CONCLUSION: HBeAgTP conjugated protein genes were successfully cloned, along with the genes involved in transcription and translation of proteins, immunoloregulation, materials and energy metabolism in vivo.

Hepatitis B e Antigens↗
PubMed2005

Factors related to the process of seeking and completing treatment for drug abuse (qualitative methods in drug abuse research).

Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of drug abuse treatment. Yet many drug abusers do not enter treatment, many who do enter leave prematurely, and relapse following treatment is common. Understanding motivation for change and treatment readiness is key to understanding how to induct and engage drug users in treatment. To the extent that treatment programs focus initially on reducing drug use, rather than psychosocial problems that motivate individuals to seek treatment, treatment programs may fail to meet the primary needs of users and thus fail to attract or engage them. Outcomes of substance abuse treatment programs historically have been measured by successful program completion, reduced drug use and illegal activity, and improved social functioning (employment, education etc). There is minimal reference to client expectations of treatment and factors that influenced treatment-seeking behavior. Studies that have assessed client dropout from substance abuse treatment have generally focused upon quantitative measures that attempt to determine what types of clients drop out or stay, or what types of characteristics best predict client dropout. Qualitative methods are the most appropriate to fill these gaps in substance abuse treatment research.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Educational effects of interscholastic athletic participation on African-American and Hispanic youth.

This study examined the educational effects of interscholastic athletic participation on a national, stratified, probability sample of African-American and Hispanic boys and girls drawn from the High School and Beyond Study (U.S. Department of Education, 1987). This two-year longitudinal analysis was based on questionnaire data from 3,686 minority youth who were sophomores in 1980 and seniors in 1982. The independent variable was athletic participation, and the dependent variables included senior year popularity, extracurricular involvement, grades, achievement test performance, dropout rates, and educational expectations. The control variables were socioeconomic status, school location, and sophomore measures of the dependent variables. In general, athletic participation enhanced popularity and contributed to greater involvement in extracurricular activities. Sports participation was generally unrelated to grades and standardized test scores. Depending on school location (i.e., urban, suburban, rural), athletic participation was significantly related to lower dropout rates for some minority youth. High school athletic participation was unrelated to educational expectations in the senior year. These findings show that high school athletic participation was a social resource for many minority youth, but only a modest academic resource for others. Equally clear, however, is the fact that not all racial or ethnic groups reap the same benefits from sport. More importantly, these findings strongly suggest that high school sport should only be considered one of many institutional forces converging in the lives of American minority youth. To assign sport more significance than these findings call for is to run the risk of oversimplifying and trivializing the very complex psychosocial processes which attend high school athletic participation.

Achievement↗
PubMed2005

[Screening and cloning of hepatitis C virus non-structural protein 4A interacting protein gene in hepatocytes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate biological functions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural protein 4A (NS4A). METHODS: Yeast-two hybrid technique was performed to seek proteins in hepatocytes interacting with HCV NS4A. HCV NS4A bait plasmid was constructed by ligating the NS4A gene with carrier plasmid pGBKT7, then it was transformed into yeast AH109 (alpha type). The transformed yeast cells were amplified and mated with yeast cells Y187 (alpha type) containing liver cDNA library plasmid pACT2 in 2 x YPDA medium. Diploid yeast cells were plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) and synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing X-alpha-gal for selection two times. After extracting plasmid from blue colonies, plasmid DNA was transformed into competent E.coli and analyzed by DNA sequencing and bioinformatics methods. RESULTS: Among twenty-two positive colonies there were eleven positive for metallothionein 2A, three for eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha 1, two for albumin, two for RNA binding motif protein 21, two for myomesin, one for cytochrome C oxidase II, and one for ATPase. CONCLUSIONS: Genes of HCV NS4A interacting proteins in hepatocytes were successfully cloned and the results pave the way for studying the biological functions of NS4A and associated proteins.

Carrier Proteins↗
PubMed2005

[Screening and cloning of hepatitis C virus non-structural protein 4B interacting protein gene in hepatocytes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate biological functions of non-structural protein 4B (NS4B) of hepatitis C virus (HCV), yeast-two hybrid technique was performed to seek proteins in hepatocytes interacting with HCV NS4B. METHODS: HCV NS4B bait plasmid was constructed by ligating the NS4B gene with carrier plasmid pGBKT7 and transformed into yeast cells AH109 (type alpha). The transformed yeast cells were amplified and mated with yeast cells Y187 (alpha type) containing liver cDNA library plasmid pACT2 in 2 x YPDA medium. Diploid yeast cells were plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) and synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing x-alpha-gal for selecting two times. After extracting plasmid from blue colonies, plasmid DNA was transformed into competent Escherichia coli and analysed by DNA sequencing and bioinformatics. RESULTS: Five genes in eight positive colonies were obtained. There were one NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3, one cytochrome c oxidase subunit III, one retinol binding protein 4, one reticulon 3-A (RTN3) and one fibrinogen gamma polypeptide (FGG). CONCLUSION: Genes of HCV NS4B interacting proteins in hepatocytes were successfully cloned and the results paved the way for studying the biological functions of NS4B and associated proteins.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed2005

[Admission to medical education at the School of Medical Sciences of the National University of La Plata: its effectiveness].

BACKGROUND: The present paper, based on studies carried out as from the year 1972 at the Department of Anatomy "C" of the Medical Sciences School of the National University of La Plata, analyzes the performance of students who entered the aforementioned School with and without entrance examination. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance achieved by the students, considering for the analysis a cross section of two groups, those who entered the School between the years 1985 and 1988 and those who did it between 1992 and 1999, without and with entrance examination respectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The following variables were evaluated: Dropout average percentage. Average percentage of students who passed in November, December and March. Average percentage of students who passed the mid-term tests. Mid-term tests average mark. The performance records of each student in the department were audited: personal information, assistance, mid-term tests marks, homework, familiarity with topic of the day, interest in the practical activity and student overall impression. The statistical analysis evaluated whether there were any particular differences between the groups compared. RESULTS: Dropout average percentage: without admissibility*: 27,15%, with admissibility: 7,91% Average percentage of students who passed in November, December and March: without admissibility: 50,75%, with admissibility: 90,43% Average percentage of students who passed the mid-term tests: without admissibility: 68,75%, with admissibility: 93,29% Mid-term tests average mark: without admissibility: 6,63%, with admissibility: 6,86% *Admissibility = entrance examination CONCLUSIONS: The overall performance of the students with entrance selection surpasses the one of those who entered directly.

Argentina↗