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CD81, the scavenger receptor-BI (SR-BI) and the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) are involved in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry. To investigate if these molecules are altered by HCV, 20 controls and 66 patients: 37 untreated and 29 sustained virological responders, were studied. CD81 and LDLR expression, measured the percentage of cells expressing the HCV-receptors and their mean fluorescence intensity (MFI), was analyzed on lymphocytes and monocytes, as well as SR-BI on monocytes by flow cytometry. RNA was extracted from PBMCs and detection of the HCV-RNA positive and negative strands was performed by strand-specific RT-PCR. A statistically significant increase of CD81 expression was observed on lymphocytes, a higher percentage of LDLR on lymphocytes and monocytes, as well as SR-BI on monocytes was found in the patients as compared to the controls (P < 0.05 in all cases). Untreated patients showed a higher percentage of LDLR(+) lymphocytes than sustained virological responders (P = 0.025). Nineteen sustained virological responders bore the HCV-RNA positive strand in PBMCs; nine of them the negative strand too. Sustained virological responders with occult infection and viral replication, showed a higher expression of LDLR on lymphocytes (P < 0.05) and a higher LDLR MFI on monocytes (P = 0.011) than those without viral replication. In conclusion, HCV exposure modifies expression levels of the receptors studied, being LDLR related with HCV replication, not only in the classic but also in the occult infection.

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OBJECTIVES: to assess the efficacy of thalidomide in the treatment of relapsed or refractory bleeding secondary to gastrointestinal angiodysplasia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: we carried out a prospective study of 12 patients with bleeding due to gastrointestinal angiodysplasia refractory to conventional therapy who were treated with thalidomide. For each patient, we considered: age, sex, underlying disease, previous therapies, dose and duration of thalidomide treatment, evolution of haemoglobin levels and adverse effects of treatment. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics with SPSS v. 16. RESULTS: seven men and 5 women with a mean age of 77 years were included in the present study. Five had some underlying pathology and all of them had received prior endoscopic/octreotide treatment. The dose of thalidomide administered was 200 mg/24 h and the duration of the treatment four months, with the exception of two patients in whom treatment was discontinued because of adverse side effects. Mean haemoglobin concentration before onset of treatment was 6.5 g/dL, at two months it was 11.3 g/dL and at the end of treatment 12.1 g/dL. CONCLUSIONS: thalidomide is an effective treatment in gastrointestinal bleeding due to angiodysplasia, but it was withdrawn due to side effects in 16% of the patients included in our study.

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Objetivos: valorar la eficacia de talidomida en la hemorragia recidivante y refractaria por angiodisplasias gastrointestinales. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio prospectivo de 12 pacientes con hemorragia por angiodisplasias refractarios a la terapia convencional, que recibieron tratamiento con talidomida. Se determinó en cada caso: edad, sexo, patología de base, tratamientos previos, dosis y duración del tratamiento con talidomida, evolución de los valores de hemoglobina y efectos secundarios del tratamiento. Los datos fueron procesados mediante estadística descriptiva con SPSS versión 16. Resultados: se incluyeron 7 hombres y 5 mujeres con una edad media de 77 años; 5/12 presentaban patología de base y todos habían recibido tratamiento previo endoscópico/octreótide. La dosis de talidomida fue de 200 mg/24 horas y la duración del tratamiento cuatro meses, excepto en dos casos que se suspendió precozmente por efectos secundarios. La concentración de hemoglobina media antes de iniciar el tratamiento fue 6,5 g/dl, a los dos meses era 11,3 g/dl y al finalizar fue 12,1 g/dl. Conclusiones: talidomida es una alternativa eficaz en el tratamiento de la hemorragia digestiva por angiodisplasias, aunque se tuvo que retirar por efectos secundarios en un 16% de los pacientes(AU)

Objectives: to assess the efficacy of thalidomide in the treatment of relapsed or refractory bleeding secondary to gastrointestinal angiodysplasia. Material and methods: we carried out a prospective study of 12 patients with bleeding due to gastrointestinal angiodysplasia refractory to conventional therapy who were treated with thalidomide. For each patient, we considered: age, sex, underlying disease, previous therapies, dose and duration of thalidomide treatment, evolution of haemoglobin levels and adverse effects of treatment. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics with SPSS v. 16. Results: seven men and 5 women with a mean age of 77 years were included in the present study. Five had some underlying pa - thology and all of them had received prior endoscopic/octreotide treatment. The dose of thalidomide administered was 200 mg/24 h and the duration of the treatment four months, with the exception of two patients in whom treatment was discontinued because of adverse side effects. Mean haemoglobin concentration before onset of treatment was 6.5 g/dL, at two months it was 11.3 g/dL and at the end of treatment 12.1 g/dL. Conclusions: thalidomide is an effective treatment in gastrointestinal bleeding due to angiodysplasia, but it was withdrawn due to side effects in 16% of the patients included in our study(AU)

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