Search results for "ethylene"

Analysis of ecstasy in oral fluid by ion mobility spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy after liquid-liquid extraction.

2014

We developed and evaluated two different strategies for determining abuse drugs based on (i) the analysis of saliva by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) after thermal desorption and (ii) the joint use of IMS and infrared (IR) spectroscopy after liquid-liquid microextraction (LLME) to enable the sensitivity-enhanced detection and double confirmation of ecstasy (MDMA) abuse. Both strategies proved effective for the intended purpose. Analysing saliva by IMS after thermal desorption, which provides a limit of detection (LOD) of 160μgL(-1), requires adding 0.2M acetic acid to the sample and using the truncated negative second derivative of the ion mobility spectrum. The joint use of IMS and IR spe…

Vitamin D levels and IL28B polymorphisms are related to rapid virological response to standard of care in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C.

2011

Background Genotype 1 (G1) chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients achieving a rapid virological response (RVR) on pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin have a high chance of sustained virological response (SVR), influenced by IL28B status, viral load, fibrosis and insulin resistance. We assessed whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) serum levels are linked to RVR and can be used together with IL28B to construct a pretreatment model to predict RVR. Methods A total of 117 consecutive patients with G1 CHC were evaluated by biopsy and anthropometric and metabolic measurements. 25(OH)D serum levels were measured by HPLC. IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphisms were also evaluated. All p…

Peginterferon alfa-2b plus weight-based ribavirin for 24 weeks in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 with low viral load who achieve …

2012

. In chronic hepatitis C (CHC), treatment duration may be individualized according to time to first undetectable hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, with patients who attain undetectable HCV RNA early in treatment being candidates for shorter regimens. The aim of this study was to determine the relapse rate in patients with CHC genotype (G) 1 infection and low baseline viral load who achieved undetectable HCV RNA by week 4 [rapid virologic response (RVR)] when treated for 24 weeks. This was an open-label, multicentre, noninterventional study. Adult patients with G1 CHC infection and baseline viral load <600,000 IU/mL who attained RVR were treated with peginterferon alfa-2b (1.5 mu g/kg/week) plus …

Cutaneous Recording and Stimulation of Muscles Using Organic Electronic Textiles

2016

International audience; Electronic textiles are an emerging field providing novel and non-intrusive solutions for healthcare. Conducting polymer-coated textiles enable a new generation of fully organic surface electrodes for electrophysiological evaluations. Textile electrodes are able to assess high quality muscular monitoring and to perform transcutaneous electrical stimulation.

Superficial venous thrombosis: Prevalence of common genetic risk factors and their role on spreading to deep veins

2008

Introduction. Superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) has been considered for a long time a limited clinical condition with a low importance, but this approach has changed in recent years, when several studies demonstrated spreading to deep veins occurring from 7.3 to 44%, with high prevalence of pulmonary embolism . Materials and Methods. To evaluate the prevalence of genetic risk factors for VTE in patients suffering from SVT on both normal and varicose vein, and to evaluate their role on spreading to deep veins, we studied 107 consecutive outpatients with symptomatic SVT. Ultrasound examination was performed, and the presence of FV Leiden, Prothrombin G20210A mutation, MTHFR C677T mutation w…

Quality of life in melanoma patients during adjuvant treatment with pegylated interferon-α2b: patients’ and doctors’ views

2011

Treatment of malignant melanoma with IFN-α has been associated with significant side-effects. The aim of this retrospective monocentric non-randomized study was first to evaluate the impact on quality of life (QOL) in 30 melanoma patients treated with once weekly 2 μg/kg PEG-IFN-α2b for 18 months, and second to examine whether there is a difference in patients' and physicians' perception of QOL. Data on QOL were collected by means of the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire completed by the patient before consultation at baseline and every three months during treatment. A second questionnaire was filled out independently by the physician, based on the consultation and patient file. All data were rou…

Individualized treatment with combination of Peg-interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin in patients infected with HCV genotype 3.

2010

The benefit of individualizing treatment for patients with genotype 3 HCV infection on the basis of viral clearance at week 4 (wk4-R) has not been firmly established.Four hundred and fourteen patients received Peg-interferon alpha-2b plus 1000-1200 mg of ribavirin daily according with body weightor75 kg. Patients were randomized to standard 24 weeks (Std24) or to a 12 or 36 weeks variable treatment duration (Var12/36). In the variable treatment arm, patients with or without wk4-R were allocated to either 12 or 36 weeks duration.At treatment week 4, HCV RNA was undetectable in 262 patients (63.3%), 136 in the Std24, and 126 in the Var12/36 group (p=0.41). In patients with wk4-R, end-of-treat…

Unchanged plasma levels of dimethylarginines and nitric oxide in chronic hepatitis C.

2008

Previous studies have shown that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and nitric oxide (NO) play a prominent role in liver dysfunction. The objective of this study was to determine whether plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO are altered in patients with chronic hepatitis C.Plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO (nitrite plus nitrate) were measured in 22 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 24 patients with sustained virologic response after treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin. Seven healthy volunteers served as controls.Plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO were not significantly different between groups: chronic hepatitis C, ADMA 0.55+/-0.06, SDMA 0.22+/-0…

Coexistence of thrombophilic gene polymorphisms among 559 unrelated consecutive patients with a history of thrombosis.

2001

Comparison of methylene blue-directed biopsies and four-quadrant biopsies in the detection of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and early cancer i…

2006

Background. Barrett’s oesophagus embodies the risk of malignant transformation. High-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and early cancer in Barrett’s oesophagus are often discrete or macroscopically occult lesions and show a patchy distribution and therefore, directed biopsies in combination with four-quadrant random biopsies are the gold standard for surveillance. Aims. The aim of this prospective study was to compare methylene blue staining and random biopsies in patients with early Barrett’s neoplasia. Patients and methods. Eighty-six patients (mean age 65 ± 8 years) with histologically proven but macroscopically in evident high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (n = 17) or early cancer in Ba…