13) and Activin receptor-like kinase I (ACVRLI) (+2 22), and cell survival, growth. and differentiation find more genes including CDC25A (+2 18), p21 (-3 64), p15 (+2 15), BMP5 (+4 58), BMP3 (+2 16), GDF3 (+8 59), NODAL (+2 32), and BMP binding endothelial regulator (BMPER) (+4 58) The most significant changes common to HLHS-RV versus control-RV and

control-LV sample groups is observed for Anti mullerian hormone receptor 2 (AMHR2) (+18.79 control-RV. +3 38 control-LV). and the BMP antagonist Inhibin alpha (INHA)(+11 47 control-RV, +5.73 control-LV)

Conclusions: Although this descriptive study does not allow cause-effect inferences, our results suggest changes in cardiac development pathways and upregulation of genes associated with cell growth and differentiation in the neonatal RV of children with HLHS These molecular profiles arc more closely related to those observed in the normal LV rather than normal RV at similar maturational check details age This work provides the

basis for future mechanistic studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms regulating RV remodeling in HLHS (J Cardiac Fail 2010, 16 628-634)”
“Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important worldwide public health problem. In Brazil, the Ministry of Health estimates that 15% of the population has had contact with HBV, and that the mean rate of chronic carriers in Northeastern Brazil is around 0.5%. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of HBV markers in pregnant women receiving prenatal care at the public maternity hospitals of Sao Luis.

Methods: Demographical and epidemiological data were collected from 541 pregnant women according to the research protocol. Blood samples were collected, and the anti-HBc test was PF-00299804 price performed first. If positive,

the sample was subsequently tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs. All HBsAg and/or anti-HBc positive samples were additionally tested for HBV-DNA.

Results: 40 (7.4%) pregnant women turned out positive for anti-HBc. Of those, five (0.9%) were HBsAg positive, four (0.7%) were anti-HBc positive with negative HBsAg and anti-HBs, and 31 (5.7%) were positive for anti-HBc and anti-HBs. Anti-HBc positivity was associated with family history of hepatitis and education level below 11 years of schooling. HBV-DNA was positive in only one HBsAg-positive sample. There was no HBV-DNA positivity among HBsAg negative samples.

Conclusions: The prevalence of HBsAg in pregnant women in this study confirmed that Sao Luis is a low endemicity area. Occult hepatitis B was not detected in these samples. (C) 2012 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.