The purification fold was 149 and the activity recovery 5.5%. CysPrx was stable from 5 to 45 C with a pH optimum around 5.5; the pl was 8.3 and the MW of 37.7 +/- 1.5 kDa. MALDI-TOF MS analysis provided partial peptide sequences and resolved CysPrx isoenzyme into two putative isoforms. The presence of these isoforms was confirmed by the isolation of full-length cDNA encoding CysPrx that generate

two slightly different sequences Epigenetics inhibitor coding for two putative CysPrx: CysPrx1 and CysPrx2. The obtained MS peptides showed a 35% coverage with 100% identity with the two CysPrx deduced protein sequences. A molecular modeling analysis was carried out to predict in silico the protein structure and compare it with other plant Prx structures. Considering that CysPrx is quite stable, the study carried out in this paper will offer new insights for the production of the recombinant protein for utilization of CysPrx as an alternative Prx for food technology, biomedical analysis and bioremediation. (C) 2011 Elsevier PKC412 mw Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“Study Design. Genetic association study investigating

the association of genetic markers of melatonin signaling and biosynthesis with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Objective. To determine whether gene polymorphisms related to the melatonin signaling or biosynthesis pathways are associated with AIS.

Summary of Background Data. Data have been published on the potential AR-13324 cell line role of gene polymorphisms for melatonin receptor (MTNR) 1B in predicting AIS. Other genes in the melatonin pathways have been tested for association with AIS.

Methods. The following genes involved in melatonin synthesis were evaluated herein: tryptophan 5-hyroxylase 1 (TPH1), serotonin N-acetyltransferase (SNAT), and hydroxyindoleo-methyltransferase (HIOMT). In addition, proteins involved in melatonin signaling were also included in this study: MTNR1A, MTNR1B, and protein kinase C delta (PKC delta). High throughput microarray-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping

was performed for these seven genes using DNA samples from 589 AIS subjects and 1533 ethnically matched controls. Chi-square analyses of allele frequency between AIS cases and controls were performed and odds ratios were calculated for all SNP markers.

Results. Three SNPs were tested for both MTNR1A and HIOMT, 4 for TPH1 and SNAT, 12 for PKC delta, and 7 for MTNR1B. The minor allele frequencies were not significantly different between AIS cases and controls. No association was thus found between AIS and the investigated SNPs.

Conclusions. Genetic polymorphisms associated with either melatonin synthesis or its signaling pathway are unlikely to be commonly associated with AIS.”
“Belatacept, a costimulation blocker, may preserve renal function and improve long-term outcomes versus calcineurin inhibitors in kidney transplantation.

(C) 2010 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Essential

oil properties of different geographical populations of Mentha haplocalyx and M. spicata were analyzed. The yield of essential oils varied in the range of 0.5-3.0% within forty-five populations. Based on essential oil composition. all M. haplocalyx accessions could be classified into six chemotypes, including linalool, pulegone, menthone, carvone, menthol, and piperitenone oxide. In particular, all chemotypes were observed in Sichuan Basin. M. spicata accessions were relatively stable in essential oil content and composition, and were grouped together into chemotype carvone. see more M. haplocalyx was polymorphic in essential oil properties which could be associated with its genetic diversity. Sichuan Basin in China could be a primary diversity region for M. haplocalyx rather than for M. spicata. The characterization of essential oil variation is of commercial importance as well

as helpful in the improvement of Mentha resources for fragrance and pharmaceutical industries. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: To show 7 cases of Wegener granulomatosis (WG) with early aural symptoms and to discuss the problems of otologic manifestation in WG.

Study Design: Retrospective case review.

Setting: Tertiary care university hospital.

Patients: All patients were administered to the ENT University

Department in Poznan in years 2002-2008 because of otitis media with effusion, facial palsy, sensorineural DMXAA chemical structure profound hypoacusis, hypoacusis combined with purulent discharge, and facial nerve palsy or progression of mixed type hypoacusis.

Interventions: Diagnostics and treatment.

Main Outcome Measures: Otologic symptoms as initial manifestation of WG diagnostic dilemma.

Results: The authors want to underline the young age of the patients, ranging from 32 to 46 years. The outcome of initially otologic cases, which developed generalized form of WG, was poor (the first patient died after 2 months, the second patient died after 7 days, the third had the pulmonary insufficiency in 2 months of observation, and the fourth had severe renal failure in 1 month), whereas the patients buy Screening Library with localized disease have been successfully under control for 1 to 5 years.

Conclusion: As WG often presents otologic symptoms, as an initial sign in some cases, it is important to take WG into consideration in atypical inflammatory states of the ear. The otologic onset of WG is very insidious, and prompt diagnosis in early stage of disease is a challenge. Focal and localized disease in the aural region might possibly require less aggressive therapy than acute-onset multi-organ disease and is connected with better prognosis.

011). B symptoms (p = 0.007) and the histologic subtype of mixed

cellularity classical HL (p = 0.001) were more common in the EBV-positive patients than in their EBV-negative counterparts. Two patients from group 3 had associated chronic EBV infection syndrome. The five-year survival rate was 97.56% in group 1, 75.76% in group 2 and 100% in group 3 (p = 0.0178). Conclusions : HL with EBV located in both the HRS cells and the non-neoplastic Pitavastatin nmr lymphocytes is a distinct prognostic subgroup that has better survival than the HL with EBV located in only the HRS cells.”
“The field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) has exploded in the last decade. In this Year (or so) in Review, we highlight some of the high impact advances within the field over the past several years. Using the past as our guide and starting with an objective premise, we attempt so to identify recent “”hot topics”" and transformative publications within the field. Through this process, several key themes emerged: (1) tissue engineering: grafts and materials, (2) regenerative

medicine: scaffolds and factors that control endogenous tissue formation, (3) clinical trials, and (4) novel cell sources: induced pluripotent stem cells. Within these focus areas, we summarize the highly impactful articles that emerged from our objective analysis and review additional recent publications to augment and expand upon these key themes. Finally, we discuss where CUDC-907 order the TERM field may be headed and how to monitor such a broad-based and ever-expanding community.”
“Introduction and hypothesis To confirm the efficacy and tolerability of extended release Savolitinib nmr (ER) trospium chloride in women with overactive bladder syndrome (OAB), data from two identical phase III studies were analyzed.

Methods Adults (aged >= 18 years) who had

OAB with urinary urgency, frequency, and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) were randomized to trospium ER 60 mg or placebo once daily for 12 weeks. The analysis included 989 women (trospium ER, n=484; placebo, n=505). Endpoints examined included changes from baseline in number of toilet voids and UUI episodes/day at week 12. Continuous data were analyzed using rank analysis of variance.

Results At week 12, significantly greater mean reductions in numbers of toilet voids and UUI episodes/day occurred with trospium ER versus placebo (P<0.0001). Adverse events considered at least possibly related to treatment with trospium ER included dry mouth (11.4%) and constipation (8.9%).

Conclusions Trospium ER was effective and well tolerated in women with OAB.”
“Background : The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is amplified in 20-25% of breast cancers. HER2 overexpression or amplification is associated with a worse clinical outcome and it can predict the benefit from anthracycline and anti-HER2 therapies. The HER2 status has usually been assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in clinical samples.

EA. Among the solvent fractions, Fr.E showed the most potent cytotoxic effects on HCT 116 and HT-29 colon FLT3 inhibitor cancer cells, and was significantly less toxic to INT-407 normal immortalized intestinal cells. The selective toxicity between normal and cancer cells was not observed in cells treated with Fr.H or Fr.EA.

Fr.W rather stimulated cell growth by 10-20% in the range of 100-400 mu g/mL. The results indicate that the fractions from seeds of glasswort have potent antioxidant and cytotoxic effects, and can be used as a dietary source for medicinal application.”
“Study Design. Prospective cohort study.

Objective. To evaluate whether the DASH is not only a valid and responsive instrument to measure patients with shoulder, arm, and hand Silmitasertib in vivo complaints, but also to evaluate patients with neck complaints.

Summary of Background Data. The DASH has shown to be a valid and responsive questionnaire to evaluate disability in patients with shoulder, arm, and hand complaints.

However, patients with shoulder, arm, or hand complaints frequently report neck complaints as well. Therefore, a valid and responsive questionnaire designed for the whole upper extremity, including the neck, would be very useful and practical in upper-extremity research.

Methods. Six hundred seventy-nine patients visiting their general practitioner with a new episode of nontraumatic complaints of the neck and upper extremity were evaluated by use of questionnaires at baseline and at 6-months follow-up. Six (sub) groups were formulated according to the location of complaints, including a subgroup with complaints in the shoulder-arm-hand region only and a group with complaints of the neck only. Disability (DASH), general health [SF-12 (physical and mental component)], severity, and persistence of complaints were assessed. Construct validity, floor and ceiling effects, and responsiveness

were studied.

Results. Correlations between the DASH and the other measures within Natural Product Library concentration the 6 (sub) groups at baseline (construct validity), for the change scores at 6-months follow-up (responsiveness), and the responsiveness ratios were classified as acceptable. No floor and ceiling effects were found.

Conclusion. The DASH performed well with regard to the a priori hypotheses. This study has shown acceptable validity and responsiveness of the DASH for use in patients with nontraumatic neck complaints in addition to shoulder, arm, and hand complaints. We would caution against using the DASH in patients with neck complaints only, since fewer of the hypotheses could be confirmed in this subgroup.”
“Background and aims: Current treatments for Japanese patients with active Crohn’s disease have not proved optimal, and new treatment options are required.

Men without MS had significantly lower leptin/adiponectin ratio than men with MS. Women without MS had lower leptin Sapanisertib order and leptin/adiponectin ratio than women with MS but had significantly higher adiponectin, estrone, and dehydroepiandrosterone levels. In men, the leptin/adiponectin ratio is the main

factor associated to MS diagnosis (OR: 3.36, 95% CI 1.40-8.08), while in women adiponectin alone appears to be a protective factor (OR: 0.87, 95% CI 0.79-0.95). In conclusion, in a sample of pharmacologically untreated subjects, leptin/adiponectin ratio seems to be the factor more strongly associated to MS and its components.”
“Two new friedelane type triterpenoids, ovalifolone JNK assay A (1) and ovalifolone

B (2), together with eight known compounds were isolated from the stem bark of Garcinia ovalifolia. Their structures were established on the basis of mass spectrometric, NMR data and by the comparison with literature data. Some of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and antibacterial activities and garcinane showed interesting activity against Artemia salina with LD50 value of 2.69 mu g/mL. (C) 2013 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.”
“Background. There are limited data on sleep duration and diabetes from developing countries. We therefore examined the relationship between reported hours of sleep, diabetes prevalence and glucose control in Jamaican adults. Methods. Data on reported hours of sleep

and diabetes (based on glucose measurement and medication use) from a national survey of 15-74-year-old Jamaicans were analyzed. Results. The 2,432 participants (31% M, Age 42 +/- 16 years, BMI 27.6 +/- 6.6 kg/m(2), diabetes prevalence 12%) reported sleeping 8.2 +/- 1.8 hours. In men, sleeping less than 6 hours (OR (95% CI) = 2.65 (1.09-6.48)) or more than 10 hours (OR (95% CI) = 4.36 (1.56-12.19)) was associated with diabetes when adjusted for age, BMI, and family history of diabetes. In women sleeping less than 6 hours was associated with a reduced likelihood of Selleckchem Proteasome inhibitor diabetes after adjusting for the same confounders ((OR (95% CI) = 0.43 (0.23-0.78)). There was no significant association between sleep and glucose control. Conclusion. Insufficient and excessive sleep was associated with increased diabetes prevalence in Jamaican men but not women.”
“Cordylactam (1), a new lactam-fused 4-pyrone was isolated from the spider pathogenic fungus Cordyceps sp. BCC 12671. The structure was elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data, which was further confirmed by the spectroscopic analyses of a semisynthetic derivative. This is the first report of a new compound from spider pathogenic Cordyceps species. (C) 2013 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

52) and highly with their overall QOL scores (r = 0.81 and 0.88).

Caring for stroke survivors in Nigeria seems to have adverse effects on the QOL of closer relatives who are either women or older. There

is a need for clinicians to help those caregivers at risk find ways of improving and optimizing their QOL.”
“ObjectiveThis article reviews topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) formulations available in the United States, including advantages and disadvantages, therapeutic usefulness, adverse effects, and formulation considerations.

ResultsIn the United States, several topical NSAID products are approved to treat painful conditions including diclofenac sodium 1% gel (Voltaren AZD6244 Gel((R)); Endo Pharmaceuticals), diclofenac sodium topical solution 1.5%w/w in 45.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (PENNSAID((R)); Mallinckrodt, Inc.), and diclofenac epolamine 1.3% (Flector Patch((R)); Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, a subsidiary of Pfizer, Inc.). Recent studies suggest topical diclofenac preparations are effective for osteoarthritis pain and suggest the efficacy of topical formulations is similar to that achieved with oral NSAID formulations. All NSAID formulations contain the same boxed warnings

regarding cardiovascular and renal toxicity; however, topical NSAIDs are proposed to have a more favorable safety profile than oral NSAIDs due to the low serum concentrations achieved with topical NSAID formulations.

ConclusionsTopical NSAIDs have been shown to be beneficial from both a therapeutics and adverse effect perspective, and are selleck kinase inhibitor increasingly recommended in treatment guidelines.”
“Thermal conductivity of copper and tungsten nanowires, copper damascene structures

are modeled theoretically on the basis of Boltzmann transport equation. The size-dependent thermal conductivities of the nanowires are obtained by taking into account interface scattering, grain boundary scattering, and interface Nutlin-3a cost roughness effect. Expressions for the thermal conductivity of thin films including the above mechanisms are extended to the case of rectangular cross-sectional nanowires. The fractal model is also used to predict the contribution of interface roughness to the thermal conductivity of nanowires. It is shown that the interface roughness is important for the nanowires with lateral dimensions down to the sub-30 nm region. Calculated thermal conductivities are in good agreement with the experimental data for copper and tungsten nanowires. Furthermore, it is found that the titanium nitride barrier layer obviously leads to further thermal conductivity reduction in the copper damascene structures. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3120786]“
“Although eating disorder (ED) symptoms result in reduced quality of life (QOL), research is needed to examine variables that influence this relationship. The purpose of our study was to conceptually examine the relationship among ED-specific QOL, ED symptoms, and exercise behavior.

This review addresses recent investigations and discussions of the following hypotheses behind diabetic hyperfiltration: Increased proximal tubular volume reabsorption results in a pressure drop in Bowman’s capsule which increases glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Proximal tubular hyperreabsorption induces an increase in GFR mediated by tubuloglomerular feedback. Dietary NaCl restriction results in a paradoxically increased GFR and increased urine volume in diabetic animals.”
“Background: Heart failure (HF) patients are at risk for influenza despite

widespread vaccination. Both humoral (antibody) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses are important for protection. We explored antibody- and CTL-mediated responses to the influenza vaccine in HF patients compared with healthy controls.

Methods and Results: We studied 29 AZD6738 HF patients (9 ischemic, 20 nonischemic) stable on HF therapies and 17 healthy Autophagy inhibitor controls. Participants had phlebotomy before and after influenza vaccination. Antibody production was measured in serum by hemagglutination inhibition assay and CTL responses (via interferon [IFN]-gamma and interleukin [IL]-10 production) were measured in isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CTL responses demonstrated increased IL-10 production in HF patients after vaccination (P = .002), but similar IFN-gamma

responses to healthy controls. AZD1152 concentration All participants demonstrated antibody seroprotection; groups had similar rates of seroconversion (P = NS). Antibody-mediated response to the newest vaccine antigen, H3N2, was reduced in HF (P = .009).

Conclusions: Patients with HF had higher vaccine induced IL-10 concentrations, suggesting a different CTL phenotype for vaccine responses. HF patients did not mount as vigorous of an antibody immune response to the newest vaccine viral strain compared with healthy individuals. These data suggest

that immunologic memory may be important for vaccine protection in HF patients. (J Cardiac Fail 2009;15:368-373)”
“Oxidative stress is well known to play a pivotal role in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. On the basis of this fact, antioxidative agents have been demonstrated to be neuroprotective. Neohesperidin (NH) is abundant in citrus flavonoids and possesses reactive oxygen species scavenging activity and neuroprotective effects in vitro. However, little is known about its effects on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we use a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to investigate the neuroprotective effects of NH. NH significantly improved neurological functions and attenuated MCAO-induced infarct volume, pathological changes, and neuronal loss. Moreover, it enhanced antioxidant capacity and suppressed oxidative stress in the brain.

Results-The ketamine-propofol group had a significantly higher mean heart rate at several time points during drug infusion, a significantly shorter time from the end of infusion to extubation (7 vs 29 Selleckchem Fer-1 minutes), and significantly lower sedation scores for the first hour after surgery than did the ketamine-propofol-dexmedetomidine group.

Other variables were similar between groups; recovery was smooth, and anesthesia and postoperative analgesia were deemed adequate for all cats. The number of RBCs with Heinz bodies was not increased after surgery, compared with values immediately after anesthetic induction.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Total IV anesthesia with a ketamine-propofol combination, with or without dexmedetomidine, appeared to be effective in healthy cats. These short-term infusions produced smooth recovery and adequate analgesia during the postoperative period. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2012;241:1307-1313)”
“The angular dependence

of the remanence and coercivity of Ni nanowire arrays produced inside the pores of anodic alumina membranes has been studied. By comparing our analytical calculations with our measurements, we conclude that the magnetization reversal in this array is driven by means of the nucleation and propagation of a transverse wall. A simple model based on an adapted Stoner-Wohlfarth model is used to explain the angular dependence of the coercivity. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3257242]“
“Background: NSC23766 Evidence suggests anti-inflammatory effects of glucosamine (GS) on inflammatory diseases. COX-2 is an enzyme to produce prostaglandins. MMPs are the family of matrix metalloproteinases degradable of ECM. Excess expression of COX-2 or MMPs involves in skin inflammation.

Objective: We evaluated whether GS-HCl modulates expression of COX-2 and/or MMPs by IL-1 beta or PMA in human skin fibroblasts (HSF) or keratinocytes (HaCaT).

Methods: HSF or HaCaT cells were exposed to IL-1 beta

or PMA without or with GS-HCl. COX-2 or MMPs protein and mRNA expression, respectively, were analyzed by Western blot and RT-PCR. MTS assay was utilized to assess the cytotoxicity of GS-HCl on HSF cells.

Results: In HSF cells, IL-1 beta treatment induced COX-2 and MMP-13 expressions SCH727965 cell line in association with activation of ERKs, p38 MAPK, JNKs, and NF-kappa B. PMA treatment also induced COX-2 and MMP-13 expressions in association with p38 MAN activation. Of interest, treatment with GS-HCl (10 mM) led to blockage of p38 MAPK activation, accumulation of 66 kDa COX-2 protein variant (without affecting COX-2 mRNA expression), and transcriptional down-regulation of MMP-13 in the IL-1 beta- or PMA-treated HSF cells. Distinctly, pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK with SB203580 was associated with transcriptional down-regulation of COX-2 and MMP-13 in the IL-1 beta- or PMA-treated HSF cells.

Cultures were collected both, at 10–24 h after birth (admission) and at discharge.

Results. aEuro integral Among 137 infants born to mothers who ALK tumor received inadequate prophylaxis, 5 (3.6%%, C.I. == 0.5–6.8) were colonized (>= a parts per thousand yen1 sites) at

admission, at discharge, or both, at admission and discharge. Eighty-two women received prophylaxis < 2 h before delivery and two infants (2.4%%) were colonized at discharge.

Eighteen (60.0%%, C.I. == 42.5–77.5) of 30 infants who were not exposed to prophylaxis were colonized at admission or both, at admission and discharge.

Colonization was significantly more frequent among infants born to untreated mothers with respect to infants born to women who received inadequate prophylaxis (either < 2 or < Cilengitide purchase 4 h).

Conclusions. aEuro integral In this selected group, inadequate prophylaxis significantly interrupted vertical colonization. This effect was evident even if prophylaxis started < 2 h before delivery.”
“Mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers (MEF) have conventionally been used to culture and maintain the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESC). This study explores the potential of using a novel human endometrial cell line to develop a non-xeno, non-contact co-culture system for ESC propagation and derivation. Such xeno-free systems may prove essential for the establishment

of clinical grade human ESC lines suitable selleckchem for therapeutic application.

A novel line of human endometrial cells were seeded in a 6-well dish. Filter inserts containing mouse ESCs were placed on these wells and passaged

2-3 times per week. Inner cell masses derived from mouse blastocysts were also cultured on transwells in the presence of the feeder layer. In both cases, staining for SSEA-1, SOX-2, OCT-4 and alkaline phosphatase were used to monitor the retention of stem cells.

ESC colonies retained their stem cell morphology and attributes for over 120 days in culture and 44 passages to date. Inner cell mass derived ESC cultures were maintained in a pluripotent state for 45 days, through 6 passages with retention of all stem cell characteristics. The stem cell colonies expressed stem cell specific markers SSEA-1, Sox 2, Oct-4 and alkaline phosphatase. Upon removal of the human feeder layer, there was a distinct change in cell morphology within the colonies and evidence of ESC differentiation.

Human feeder layers offer a simple path away from the use of MEF feeder cells or MEF conditioned medium for ESC culture. Furthermore, indirect co-culture using porous membranes to separate the two cell types can prevent contamination of stem cell preparations with feeder cells during passaging.”
“Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a frequent complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.

7 (42.4) and 79.2 (44.6) h, respectively. Corresponding values for MHB were 20.5 (58.0), 40.5 (51.8) and 51.2 (24.30) h, respectively. When allowance was made for binding of marbofloxacin to serum protein, the AUC(24h)/MIC values for serum were similar to those for MHB. Numerical AUC(24h)/MIC values for P. multocida were slightly lower than those obtained for M. haemolytica. These data establish for the first time inter-isolate variability in AUC(24h)/MIC values required Selleckchem RG-7112 for three levels of bacterial kill for two pathogenic species and thereby provide an indication of variability in serum concentration that might be required to achieve efficacy in clinical subjects. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Polycrystalline

anatase Ti1-xCoxO2 (x=0-0.06) films have been fabricated by sol-gel spin coating. The effects of Co doping on the structural, optical, and magnetic properties are investigated. It is shown that oxygen vacancies and/or defects in the films are generated during thermal treatment in vacuum. Co doping reduces crystal quality and inhibits crystalline grain growth. Due to the introduction of Co, photoluminescence (PL) spectra become weak and the band gap emission has a blueshift. PL spectra reveal that the solubility of Co is lower than 0.02. At 300 K, the saturated magnetization is around

1.8 mu(B)/Co, which is independent of the concentration of Co. This value is approximately equivalent to the average magnetic moment of bulk metallic cobalt (1.75 mu(B)/Co). Zero-field-cooling/field-cooling 4EGI-1 solubility dmso measurements indicate that room temperature ferromagnetism in Co-doped TiO2 films is not an intrinsic Torin 2 purchase property of the material. The presence

of Co metal is identified by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3319556]“
“Rapid virologic response (RVR) and complete early virologic response (cEVR) are associated with sustained virologic response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy. We retrospectively examined baseline and on-treatment factors associated with RVR (HCV RNA undetectable at week 4) and cEVR (HCV RNA undetectable at week 12, regardless of week 4 response). The analysis comprised 1550 HCV genotype-1 patients from five clinical trials, including three enriched with difficult-to-treat populations, randomized to peginterferon alfa-2a 180 mu g/week plus ribavirin 1000-1200 mg/day. Overall, 15.6% achieved RVR and 54.0% achieved cEVR. Baseline factors predictive of RVR were serum HCV RNA <= 400 000 IU/mL (OR: 7.34; P < 0.0001), alanine aminotransferase >3 x ULN (OR: 2.01; P < 0.0001), non-cirrhotic status (OR: 1.92; P = 0.0087), age <= 40 years (OR: 1.56; P = 0.0085), white non-Latino ethnicity (OR: 1.41; P = 0.0666) and individual study (P < 0.0001). These factors plus body mass index <= 27 kg/m(2) were predictive of cEVR.