\n\nPatients and methods. – The studied population included 125 HIV positives patients from the infectious diseases unit. The detection of the hepatitis B and C was carried out using serologic test (Elisa-Biorad). The molecular detection of the HGV was realized by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR).\n\nResults. – The prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B (antibodies and/or antigens) and C (antibodies) was respectively 32.25% and 26.4%. HGV RNA was detected in 36.8% of the studied population.
The unprotected intercourse was the predominant risk factor of the HGV contamination. Among the HGV (+) patients, 28.2% were carriers of the hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV).\n\nConclusion. – This work A-1155463 concentration was the first study enabling to assess the coinfection rate of viral hepatitis B, C and G with HIV patients (+) in Rabta Hospital. The regular screening of HGV is recommended regarding its high frequency and the possibility of its pathogenic role. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“Previous research has shown that heavy cannabis
users develop tolerance to the impairing effects of Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on neurocognitive IPI145 functions. Animal studies suggest that chronic cannabis consumption may also produce cross-tolerance for the impairing effects of alcohol, but supportive data in humans is scarce.\n\nThe present study was designed to assess tolerance and cross-tolerance to the neurocognitive effects of THC and alcohol in heavy cannabis users.\n\nTwenty-one heavy cannabis users participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way study. Subjects underwent three alcohol-dosing conditions that were designed to achieve a steady blood alcohol Selleck ALK inhibitor concentration of about 0, 0.5, and 0.7 mg/ml during a 5-h time window. In addition, subjects smoked a THC cigarette (400 mu g/kg) at 3 h post-onset of alcohol dosing during every alcohol
condition. Performance tests were conducted repeatedly between 0 and 7 h after onset of drinking and included measures of perceptual motor control (critical tracking task), dual task processing (divided-attention task), motor inhibition (stop-signal task), and cognition (Tower of London).\n\nAlcohol significantly impaired critical tracking, divided attention, and stop-signal performance. THC generally did not affect task performance. However, combined effects of THC and alcohol on divided attention were bigger than those by alcohol alone.\n\nIn conclusion, the present study generally confirms that heavy cannabis users develop tolerance to the impairing effects of THC on neurocognitive task performance. Yet, heavy cannabis users did not develop cross-tolerance to the impairing effects of alcohol, and the presence of the latter even selectively potentiated THC effects on measures of divided attention.