This study was performed to determine the distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes among asymptomatic carriers (ASC) and patients with chronic hepatitis without cirrhosis (NC-CH), liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the Osaka area, and to assess whether infection with HCV genotype 1b (II) is more likely to develop into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than is that...

It was recently shown that naturally occurring Mdr1a mutant fetuses of the CF-1 outbred mouse stock have no placental Mdr1a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and that this absence is associated with increased sensitivity to avermectin, a teratogenic pesticide. To further define the role of placental drug-transporting P-gp in toxicological protection of the fetus, we used mice with a targeted disruption of ...

The t(12;21) translocation is present in up to 30% of childhood B-cell acute lymphoblastic and fuses a potential dimerization motif from the ets-related factor TEL to the N terminus of AML1. The t(12;21) translocation encodes a 93-kDa fusion protein that localizes to a high-salt- and detergent-resistant nuclear compartment. This protein binds the enhancer core motif, TGTGGT, and interacts with ...

BACKGROUND Interferon beta 1b (Betaferon) and 1a (Avonex) were licensed in Italy for treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in February 1996 and August 1997, respectively. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness of these agents on the basis of clinical experience in northern Italian multiple sclerosis centres. DESIGN Clinical data on patients with relapsing-remitting multiple scle...

The antigenicity of the NS5 region of type 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) was investigated by epitope mapping of the region spanning amino acids 2530 to 2723 of the HCV polyprotein. Six antigenic regions were recognized by anti-HCV positive sera from individuals with chronic hepatitis C in a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with synthetic oligopeptides. Five of these regions demonstrated i...

BACKGROUND The spectrum of side effects related to interferon beta-1b (INF-1b) treatment may compromise long-term adherence. METHODS Five INF-1b-treated multiple sclerosis patients with poor skin tolerability and clinical stability were instructed to dissolve the established (250 μg) INF-1b dose in half (0.5 mL) the standard diluent (1.0 mL, 0.54% sodium chloride solution), and were followed ...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common autoimmune illness of the central nervous system. For many years the inflammatory manifestations of MS were treated using only corticosteroids. Since the 1990s the results of several clinical trials with immunomodulatory agents have changed the therapeutic approach to this disease. Interferon beta (IFNbeta)-1b represents the pioneer of those therapies....

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate therapeutic effects in a cohort of 32 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) that were continuously treated with interferon beta-1b during a three-year period and to compare the results obtained with literature data available. Additionally, dropouts and side effects were assessed. The annual relapse rate at three years of tr...

Selective serotonin (5-HT) re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in Humans. However, because only few animal models display overt anxious-like behavior, detailed preclinical studies of the anxiolytic properties of antidepressants are still lacking. Here, we studied the neurochemical and behavioral effects of a double 5-HT(1A/1B) receptor...