Plasma hydroxy-metronidazole/metronidazole ratio in hepatitis C virus-induced liver disease.

It has been suggested that the measurement of metronidazole clearance is a sensitive method for evaluating liver function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of plasma hydroxy-metronidazole/metronidazole ratios as indicators of dynamic liver function to detect changes resulting from the various forms of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A total of 139 individuals were studied: 14 healthy volunteers, 22 healthy, asymptomatic, consecutive anti-HCV-positive HCV-RNA negative subjects, 81 patients with chronic hepatitis C (49 with moderate/severe chronic hepatitis and 34 with mild hepatitis), and 20 patients with cirrhosis of the liver. HCV status was determined by the polymerase chain reaction. Plasma concentrations of metronidazole and its hydroxy-metabolite were measured by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection in a blood sample collected 10 min after the end of a metronidazole infusion. Anti-HCV-positive HCV-RNA-negative individuals demonstrated a significantly reduced capacity to metabolize intravenously infused metronidazole compared to healthy individuals (0.0478 +/- 0.0044 vs 0.0742 +/- 0.0232). Liver cirrhosis patients also had a reduced plasma hydroxy-metronidazole/metronidazole ratio when compared to the other groups of anti-HCV-positive individuals (0.0300 +/- 0.0032 vs 0.0438 +/- 0.0027 (moderate/severe chronic hepatitis) vs 0.0455 +/- 0.0026 (mild chronic hepatitis) and vs 0.0478 +/- 0.0044 (anti-HCV-positive, HCV-RNA-negative individuals)). These results suggest an impairment of the metronidazole metabolizing system induced by HCV infection that lasts after viral clearance. In those patients with chronic hepatitis C, this impairment is paralleled by progression of the disease to liver cirrhosis.

Morphological and morphometric study of the mental foramen on the M-CP-18 Jiachenjiang point / Estudio morfológico y morfométrico del foramen mental en el punto M-CP-18 Jiachenjiang

The purpose of this work was to study the morphology and morphometry of the mental foramen (MF), as well as to evaluate its morphological configuration; in addition to taking measures of its localization using as a parameter the distances of the foramen to the inferior border of the mandible and at the alveolar ridge. 80 dry mandibles were analyzed using the test of Qui-square and T test, with 5 percent of significance. Its average distance, on the right side, at the inferior edge of the mandible (IEM) was of 12.96( +/-1 .57) mm and of the alveolar ridge (AR) was of 12.82(+/-3.4) mm. On the left side it was found distant of IEM 12.96(+/-1.32) mm and of the AR 12.82(+/- 3.22)mm. The largest horizontal diameter found was of 3.32 (+/- 0.91) mm to the right and 3.25 (+/- 0.86) mm to the left side while the largest vertical diameter was of 2.38 (+/- 0.63) mm on the right and of 2.39 (+/- 0.58) mm on the left side. It was predominantly found in the oval form, on the right side, of which 98.3 percent presented as a larger diameter the horizontal (type I). On the left side, all the oval foramens were classified as of type I. 76 (95 percent) appeared single on both sides. As to the localization related to the mandibular dentition, it was localized in similar statistic proportions between the 1st and 2nd premolars and above the 2nd premolar, in 45.17 percent of the mandibles, on the right side. On the left side it was predominantly found between the 1st and 2nd premolars 48.48 percent of the mandibles. The study of the MF is of vital importance to the acupuncture practice, as well as to modern surgical procedures, like anesthesia, requiring a detailed and precise study of the morphology and morphometry of the area.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la morfología y morfometría del foramen mentoniano (FM), así como evaluar su configuración morfológica; tomar las medidas de su localization usando como parámetro la distancia del foramen hacia el borde inferior de la mandíbula y el reborde alveolar. 80 mandíbulas secas se analizaron mediante la prueba de Chi-cuadrado y prueba t, con un 5 por ciento de significancia. Su distancia media, en el lado derecho, hasta el borde inferior de la mandíbula (BIM) fue de 12,96 (+/- 1,57) mm y del reborde alveolar (RA) fue de 12,82 (+/- 3,4) mm. En el lado izquierdo se encuentro una distancia del BIM de 12,96 (+/- 1,32) mm y del RA de 12,82 (+/- 3,22) mm. El mayor diámetro horizontal encontrado fue de 3,32 (+/- 0,91) mm a la derecha y 3,25 (+/- 0,86) mm a la izquierda, mientras que el mayor diámetro vertical fue de 2,38 (+/- 0,63) mm a la derecha y de 2,39 (+/- 0,58) mm en el lado izquierdo. Se encuentra principalmente en forma oval en el lado derecho, de los cuales 98,3 por ciento presenta un diámetro mayor horizontal (tipo I). En el lado izquierdo, todos los forámenes ovales fueron clasificados como de tipo I. 76 (95 por ciento) aparecieron solamente en ambos lados. En cuanto a la localization en relación con la dentición mandibular, fue localizado en la misma proporción estadística entre el 1er y 2d° premolar y por encima del 2ª premolar en el 45,17 por ciento de las mandíbulas en el lado derecho. En el lado izquierdo se encuentran principalmente entre los l ros y 2ros premolares en el 48,48 por ciento de las mandíbulas. El estudio del FM, es de vital importancia para la práctica de la acupuntura, así como para los modernos procedimientos quirúrgicos, como la anestesia, que requieren un estudio detallado y preciso de la morfología y morfometría de la zona.