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Post-treatment Relapse (post-treatment + relapse)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Association Between Val66Met Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Gene Polymorphism and Post-Treatment Relapse in Alcohol Dependence

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 4 2009
Marcin Wojnar
Background:, The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between genetic markers of central serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine function, and risk for post-treatment relapse, in a sample of alcohol-dependent patients. Methods:, The study included 154 patients from addiction treatment programs in Poland, who met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence. After assessing demographics, severity of alcohol use, suicidality, impulsivity, depression, hopelessness, and severity of alcohol use at baseline, patients were followed for approximately 1 year to evaluate treatment outcomes. Genetic polymorphisms in several genes (TPH2, SLC6A4, HTR1A, HTR2A, COMT, and BDNF) were tested as predictors of relapse (defined as any drinking during follow-up) while controlling for baseline measures. Results:, Of 154 eligible patients, 123 (80%) completed follow-up and 48% (n = 59) of these individuals relapsed. Patients with the Val allele in the Val66Met BDNF polymorphism and the Met allele in the Val158Met COMT polymorphism were more likely to relapse. Only the BDNF Val/Val genotype predicted post-treatment relapse [odds ratio (OR) = 2.62; p = 0.019], and time to relapse (OR = 2.57; p = 0.002), after adjusting for baseline measures and other significant genetic markers. When the analysis was restricted to patients with a family history of alcohol dependence (n = 73), the associations between the BDNF Val/Val genotype and relapse (OR = 5.76, p = 0.0045) and time to relapse (hazard ratio = 4.93, p = 0.001) were even stronger. Conclusions:, The Val66Met BDNF gene polymorphism was associated with a higher risk and earlier occurrence of relapse among patients treated for alcohol dependence. The study suggests a relationship between genetic markers and treatment outcomes in alcohol dependence. Because a large number of statistical tests were conducted for this study and the literature on genetics and relapse is so novel, the results should be considered as hypothesis generating and need to be replicated in independent studies. [source]

Immunomodulatory therapy for chronic hepatitis B virus infection

FUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 1 2005
D. Sprengers
Abstract Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most prevalent viral pathogens of man with around 350 million chronically infected patients. It has been postulated that in persistently infected individuals the HBV-specific immune response is too weak to eliminate HBV from all infected hepatocytes, but sufficiently strong to continuously destroy HBV-infected hepatocytes and to induce chronic inflammatory liver disease. The primary aim in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B is to induce sustained disease remission and prevent serious complications like liver failure and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. The recent emergence of drug-resistant HBV mutants and post-treatment relapse as a consequence of nucleoside analogue monotherapy emphasizes that the principal goal should be to stimulate a successful immune response. In this paper we will focus on the immune response to HBV and we will review reported data on immunotherapeutic strategies like immunomodulatory drugs (cytokines and Thymic derivates) and vaccine therapies using currently available recombinant anti-HBV vaccines, lipopeptide-based T cell vaccine and newly developed genetic vaccines. [source]

Association Between Val66Met Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Gene Polymorphism and Post-Treatment Relapse in Alcohol Dependence

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 4 2009
Marcin Wojnar
Background:, The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between genetic markers of central serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine function, and risk for post-treatment relapse, in a sample of alcohol-dependent patients. Methods:, The study included 154 patients from addiction treatment programs in Poland, who met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence. After assessing demographics, severity of alcohol use, suicidality, impulsivity, depression, hopelessness, and severity of alcohol use at baseline, patients were followed for approximately 1 year to evaluate treatment outcomes. Genetic polymorphisms in several genes (TPH2, SLC6A4, HTR1A, HTR2A, COMT, and BDNF) were tested as predictors of relapse (defined as any drinking during follow-up) while controlling for baseline measures. Results:, Of 154 eligible patients, 123 (80%) completed follow-up and 48% (n = 59) of these individuals relapsed. Patients with the Val allele in the Val66Met BDNF polymorphism and the Met allele in the Val158Met COMT polymorphism were more likely to relapse. Only the BDNF Val/Val genotype predicted post-treatment relapse [odds ratio (OR) = 2.62; p = 0.019], and time to relapse (OR = 2.57; p = 0.002), after adjusting for baseline measures and other significant genetic markers. When the analysis was restricted to patients with a family history of alcohol dependence (n = 73), the associations between the BDNF Val/Val genotype and relapse (OR = 5.76, p = 0.0045) and time to relapse (hazard ratio = 4.93, p = 0.001) were even stronger. Conclusions:, The Val66Met BDNF gene polymorphism was associated with a higher risk and earlier occurrence of relapse among patients treated for alcohol dependence. The study suggests a relationship between genetic markers and treatment outcomes in alcohol dependence. Because a large number of statistical tests were conducted for this study and the literature on genetics and relapse is so novel, the results should be considered as hypothesis generating and need to be replicated in independent studies. [source]

Skeletal effects of bite jumping therapy on the mandible , removable vs. fixed functional appliances

ORTHODONTICS & CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2005
G Shen
Structured Abstract Authors , Shen G, Hägg U, Darendeliler MA Objective , Based on an extensive review of the literature, the aim of this study was to explore the mainstream consensus on the controversial topic of whether the bite jumping treatment could enhance mandibular growth. Design , The data for removable and fixed functional appliances were respectively comprehended and analyzed with regard to their attributes in mandibular growth modification. Furthermore, numerous reported findings were assessed by relating them to some important factors influencing the effects of bite jumping, such as treatment timing, treatment duration and post-treatment follow-up, to allow for a more objective and accurate evaluation. Results , The key differences between removable and fixed appliances are working hours (intermittent vs. continuous), length of treatment time (long vs. short), optimal treatment timing (before puberty growth vs. at or after puberty spurt), and mode of bite-jumping (considerable vertical opening vs. limited vertical opening). These different features lead to different treatment effects on mandibular and TMJ growth, such as the intensity of possibly increased growth (clinically less significant vs. significant), the direction of enhanced growth (vertical vs. horizontal), and the stability of treatment changes (unstable vs. stable). The short-term or long-term post-treatment relapse mainly relates to the rebound of dental position. Conclusion , The immediate effects of bite jumping functional appliances on the mandibular growth enhancement are convincing during actual treatment. This extra gain of growth might be sustainable during the short-term and long-term post-treatment period. [source]