26 Adverse reactions include mild to severe pain and discomfort c

26 Adverse reactions include mild to severe pain and discomfort caused by the heat generated by QuikClot’s exothermic

reaction; three cases of burns were reported, with one case requiring skin grafting. One case of ureteral obstruction from scar formation also was reported.26 A new formulation of QuikClot, called QuikClot ACS, does not become as hot and is more easily removed because the zeolite material is contained in a bag that can be HSP signaling pathway easily applied and rapidly removed.27 This new formulation was studied in 2007 by Arnaud et al27—data in a swine model showed that overall survival compared with standard dressing was the same for both QuikClot and QuikClot ACS. Combat gauze is a simple, thin gauze dressing impregnated with

kaolin, a clay that intensely activates the clotting cascade. This dressing is easily portable and can be packed into wounds quite effectively to achieve a good pressure effect and stop uncontrolled bleeding. Currently, combat gauze is included in the first aid packets issued to all military personnel. When studied in an animal model, combat gauze secured hemostasis for 134.6 ± 22 minutes and resulted in an average survival time of 167.3 ± 5.9 minutes, outperforming all other hemostatic agents used in the study.28 WoundStat® includes a granular clay made out of smectite; the substance can be poured into wounds and is highly procoagulant. WoundStat swells and thus can conform to any wound; however, removing WoundStat can be difficult find more and requires debridement. In a study conducted at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research in San Antonio, Texas, researchers examined the efficacy and safety of various granular hemostatic agents in anesthetized pigs and found that WoundStat was the most efficacious at achieving hemostasis and

was associated with the least amount of blood loss.29 In this arterial punch wound model, bleeding was allowed for 45 seconds before dressings were applied to the wounds and compressed with a large gauze for two minutes. Although only 10% of the wounded animals treated with HemCon dressings achieved hemostasis after 180 minutes, ADP ribosylation factor 100% of animals treated with WoundStat achieved stable hemostasis in the same time frame (P < .05). 29 In addition, blood loss was significantly reduced in animals treated with WoundStat compared with HemCon (P < .05). 29 Although WoundStat was more efficient in achieving hemostasis, histological evidence indicates that animals treated with WoundStat had more tissue damage compared with animals treated with HemCon. 29 Later studies further revealed that WoundStat can embolize to the brain and lungs. Together, this suggests that although WoundStat is an effective hemostatic agent, future research needs to be done to investigate ways to eliminate its potentially severe adverse effects.

CGRP is a neuropeptide abundant in sensory neurons innervating th

CGRP is a neuropeptide abundant in sensory neurons innervating the skeleton and regulates bone integrity. CGRP has been demonstrated to inhibit the bone-resorbing activity of isolated osteoclasts [66] and [67], and calcium release in bone tissue cultures

[68] and [69]. It also significantly inhibited 1α,25(OH)2D3-induced osteoclastogenesis in macrophages [70]. In bone marrow cell cultures, CGRP inhibited the formation of osteoclasts caused by isoprenaline or soluble RANKL but had no influence on RANKL or OPG production by the bone marrow cells treated with isoprenaline, suggesting that CGRP inhibited the osteoclastogenesis by interfering with the action of RANKL produced by the isoprenaline-treated bone marrow cells without affecting RANKL or OPG production [15]. Thus, the β-AR agonist generated osteoclasts from mouse bone marrow cells via the RANKL-RANK system. selleck inhibitor Also, CGRP significantly inhibited this RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis

by interfering with the action of RANKL in bone marrow macrophages [71]. Although these in vitro data suggest the physiological interaction of sympathetic and sensory nerves in osteoclastogenesis in vivo, the physiological significance remains to be established. Substantial evidence has accumulated that sympathetic MK-2206 supplier nervous activity causes bone loss via an increase in bone resorption and a decrease in bone formation. Sympathetic denervation is known to be associated with a significant increase in the number of CGRP-immunoreactive sensory nerve

fibers Selleckchem Baf-A1 [72]. β-AR blockers not only improve bone loss in SHR with hyperactivity of the peripheral sympathetic tone [53] but also increase the release of CGRP from sensory nerve fibers in SHR [73]. Furthermore, like β-blocker, CGRP partially inhibits bone loss in OVX rats [74]. These studies may suggest physiological interaction between sympathetic and sensory nerves in bone metabolism. The effects of sensory denervation on bone metabolism are usually examined in animals treated with capsaicin, which destroys unmyelinated and small-diameter myelinated sensory neurons via the activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 expressed by sensory neurons. There are less SP-containing nerve fibers than CGRP-containing nerve fibers [75], so the sensory nerve fibers ablated by capsaicin are mainly CGRP-containing nerve fibers. Capsaicin treatment caused the destruction of the skeletal structure in adult rats [76] and [77]. In our experiment [77], it reduced trabecular bone volume due to increased trabecular separation in the proximal tibia and the modification of mechanical properties such as strength, ductility, and toughness toward increasing bone fragility in the trunk of the sixth lumber vertebrae. Bone histomorphometry showed an increase in osteoclast numbers and surface area.

An aliquot of 50 μL from this suspension was spread plated on Chr

An aliquot of 50 μL from this suspension was spread plated on Chromagar Candida (Probac do Brasil Produtos Bacteriológicos, São Paulo, Brazil) and incubated at 30°C for 5 days. Serial 10-fold dilutions from 100 to 10−3 were plated onto Sabouraud Dextrose Agar www.selleckchem.com/products/OSI-906.html (SDA; Acumedia Manufactures, Baltimore, MD) with 5 μg/mL chloramphenicol. SDA plates were incubated at 37°C for 48 hours. Colonies on SDA were quantified using a digital colony counter (CP 600 Plus; Phoenix Ind.

Com. Equipamentos Científicos, Araraquara, Brazil) and the number of colony-forming units per milliliter (cfu/mL) determined. Swabs were collected before treatment (day 0), at the end of the treatment (day 15), and at the follow-up time intervals of days 30 and 60). Colonies on Chromagar Candida were presumptively identified by colony color and submitted to biochemical tests to confirm all identifications. For this, 1 colony of each http://www.selleckchem.com/EGFR(HER).html color type on Chromagar Candida was transfered onto fresh SDA for purity. After 48 hours at 37°C, yeast isolates were identified using the following biochemical

tests: carbohydrate assimilation pattern using the ID32C system (Biomérieux, Marcy-L’etoile, France) and morphologic characteristics produced on corn meal agar with Tween-80. Only colonies identified as Candida spp. were considered. The photosensitizer (PS) used in this study was a hematoporphyrin derivative produced in Moscow (Photogem; Photogem, Moscow, Russia). Solutions of 500 mg/L Photogem were prepared by dissolving the powder in sterile saline solution and were immediately kept in the dark until the moment before use (pH 6.6). Two LED devices (LXHL-PR09 and Luxeon III Emitter; Lumileds Lighting, San Jose, CA) BCKDHA were designed by the Instituto de Física de São Carlos (Physics Institute, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil). They covered the wavelength range from 440 to 460 nm, with maximum emission at 455 nm (royal blue). One device, used to illuminate the dentures, was composed of 24 LEDs uniformly distributed throughout the device, resulting

in a light intensity of 24 mW/cm2, and 3 air coolers to prevent the denture from heating (Fig. 1). The other device, designed to irradiate the patients’ palates, was composed of 10 LEDs uniformly distributed on a circular platform with a power output of 260 mW (Fig. 2). The intensity of light delivered was 102 mW/cm2, with a distance of 2 cm from the platform inside the mouth to the deepest area of the palate. Joined to this platform, a semiconducting chip known as Peltier was used to dissipate the heat generated by the LED light. This chip and an air cooler were used to prevent the device from heating (Fig. 2). For illumination, the platform remained in the patient’s mouth with the LED facing toward the palate. Each subject was instructed to brush their dentures with coconut soap followed by toothpaste after every meal and before going to sleep.

, 2005, Stintzing et al , 2006, Stintzing et al , 2004 and Strack

, 2005, Stintzing et al., 2006, Stintzing et al., 2004 and Strack et al., 1987). The analysis of the raw samples A, B and C was carried out by RP-HPLC-DAD-ESI(+)-MS/MS and the chromatographic peak assignment is given in Table S2 and Figs. S4, S5 and S6. As reported previously (Herbach et al., 2004, Liu et al., 2008 and Nemzer et al., 2011), processing of fresh beetroot juice (sample A) results in the decarboxylation of Bns, decreases the amount of vulgaxanthin I (Gln-betaxanthin) as well as other GSK1120212 in vivo betaxanthins and increases the amount of neobetalains. The spectrophotometric quantification of betalain content according to the method proposed by Nilsson was shown to be inappropriate

in the study of cactus fruit juices, due to the large amount of betaxanthins compared to beetroot extracts (Nilsson, 1970 and Stintzing et al., 2003). However, this method is still recommended for red beet samples today (Stintzing & Carle, 2008a). Our results indicate that the betanin/isobetanin mixture can only be unequivocally quantified by spectrophotometric methods when the amount of other substances absorbing at 400–480 nm and at 536 nm

is reduced. Betanin purification was carried out by seven different methods, which have been previously described in the purification Neratinib in vitro of betalains, namely normal and reversed (C18) phase adsorption column chromatography (NPC and RPC, respectively) (Delgado-Vargas et al., 2000, Herbach, Stintzing, Elss, et al., 2006, Kobayashi et al., 2001, Kugler et al., 2004 and Rudrappa et al., 2004), reversed-phase Venetoclax datasheet high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) (Alcalde-Eon et al., 2004, Gandia-Herrero et al., 2005b and Wybraniec et al., 2009), gel permeation chromatography with Sephadex G-25 and Sephadex LH-20 (GPC-G25 and GPC-LH20, respectively) (Adams and Elbe, 1977 and Schliemann et

al., 1996), ion-exchange chromatography with Q-Sepharose (IEX) (Stintzing, Schieber, & Carle, 2002) and two-phase aqueous extraction with PEG/(NH4)2SO4 (ATPE) (Chethana et al., 2007 and Neelwarne and Thimmaraju, 2009). To allow direct comparison of results after purification, the following points were considered: (i) all column chromatographic experiments were carried out on identical columns and fractions (1 mL) of the magenta portion were collected and combined after preliminary HPLC analysis; (ii) samples were manipulated in a very similar manner and no additive for betalain preservation was used. The addition of chain-breaking antioxidants (e.g., ascorbic acid) and chelants (e.g., EDTA, citric acid) to avoid the decomposition of betanin can compromise subsequent studies of antioxidant capacity (Bilyk and Howard, 1982, Kugler et al., 2004 and Schliemann et al., 1999); (iii) analytical HPLC analysis of the purified samples was carried out using solutions of betanins with an absorption at 536 nm between 0.4 and 0.5.

, 2004 and Zhang et al , 2014) The soymilk sensory attributes

, 2004 and Zhang et al., 2014). The soymilk sensory attributes Dorsomorphin were analysed by the sensory evaluation method, as described in Fig. S2. The coefficient

of variance for soymilk sensory attributes ranged from 4.68% to 11.94% (Table 2). Large variances were observed in soymilk colour and appearance, sweetness and overall acceptability. Their coefficients of variance were 11.94%, 7.42% and 8.72%, respectively (Table 2). Soybean genotypes and environments had significant effects on soymilk sensory attributes. Highly significant differences were observed among various soybean genotypes for soymilk colour and appearance, smoothness in the mouth, sweetness, and overall acceptability parameters (Table S3), suggesting that the sensory property was mainly determined by genotypic factor. BGB324 Conversely, the soymilk aroma parameter had significant variances among replicates in the field, replicates in the lab and years (Table S3), indicating that it was mainly affected by environmental conditions. Other parameters of sensory attributes were affected

by both genotypic and environmental factors (Table S3), implying that the soymilk sensory was a complex quality trait. Noticeably, the overall acceptability was merely affected by genotypes and independent of two environments in this study, which implied that it could be a stable parameter in soymilk sensory evaluation among soybean genotypes. Owing to the significant genotypic effects for most soymilk sensory attributes, we confirmed that genetic factor plays an

important role in soymilk sensory attributes, as was reported by previous studies (Min et al., 2005 and Poysa and Woodrow, 2002). The correlation coefficient (r) from the averaged data of triplicates showed that the overall acceptability was significantly positively associated with other soymilk sensory parameters ( Table 3). This suggested once more that as an important Fenbendazole sensory attribute, the overall acceptability may be an ideal indicator for soymilk sensory evaluation. Soluble proteins are the main components of soymilk, which consist of glycinin (11S) and β-conglycinin (7S) subunits. The two types of protein components represent more than 70% of the total soy proteins (Liu, 1997). Glycinin is in hexameric form, and each monomer unit consists of an acidic and a basic polypeptide linked together by a disulphide bond (Nielsen et al., 1986). Generally, glycinin subunits could be divided to three groups: group I (A1aB1b, A1bB2, and A2B1a), group IIa (A5A4B3), and group IIb (A3B4). Another main component of soluble proteins, β-conglycinin, which belongs to the trimeric glycoprotein, includes three subunits—α’, α, and β—linked by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bridging (Liu, 1997). It has been previously demonstrated that the soymilk flavour attributes are affected not only by processing and environmental conditions but also by protein composition (Nik et al., 2009 and Poysa and Woodrow, 2002).

γLW increased slightly (significant, p < 0 01, after 1 h and 168 

γLW increased slightly (significant, p < 0.01, after 1 h and 168 h of exposure)

when immersed in NaCl + BSA, Table 4, compared with freshly polished and aged coupons. There was no significant difference for γ+. Similar trends were observed for stainless steel exposed to citric acid (pH 2.4), Fig. 4, with increased amounts of released iron and calculated γ− values ( Table 4), and reduced water contact angles with time, Figs. 4a and b. There was also a clear correlation between released amounts of iron and both γ− values and water contact angles, Fig. 4c. The difference of the polar component γ− was significant (p < 0.05) after 24 and 168 h of exposure to citric acid, compared to freshly polished and aged coupons. Corresponding differences for the γLW and the γ+ components were significant (p < 0.05) after 1 and 168 h (γLW), and 168 h (γ+) of exposure in citric Dolutegravir acid, Table 4. The results imply that all surface energy components increase with time, indicating a surface with increasingly Selleckchem GDC 973 amphoteric properties. The results indicate a layer of citrate that becomes more compact and ordered after approximately 24 h of exposure, when low contact angles were observed, approaching conditions for a totally wetted carboxylated surface (<10°) [65]. In all, observed findings indicate that the surface energy increases with time and correlates with released amounts of iron. The objective of this study was

to elucidate the importance and connection between surface physicochemical characteristics including surface energy and wettability and surface oxide composition with the release of iron from stainless steel surfaces in complexing biological media. No correlation was observed between the surface

oxide composition of stainless steel (grade AISI 304) and calculated surface energies or the wettability for polished, aged surfaces in non-complexing solutions. Instead, the surface contamination (adventitious atmospheric carbon or from cleaning Cediranib (AZD2171) solvents) probably strongly influenced the surface energy of stainless steel. The amount of released iron from stainless steel in solutions containing BSA or citrate (10 mM NaCl + 10 g/L BSA, 5 g/L citric acid) strongly correlated with the measured wettability and calculated surface energy. The surface energy components (γLW, γ+, γ−) increased and the static water contact angles decreased with increased amount of released iron. These observations and the delay in released amounts of iron with time strongly suggest an adsorption-controlled ligand-induced metal release process in the presence of BSA and citrate. The Swedish Research Council (VR), grant number 2013-5621, and Göran Gustafsson’s prize for young researchers (J. Hedberg) are gratefully acknowledged for financial support. “
“Les auteurs demandent de remplacer le mot « résection » par le mot « ovariectomie », à trois reprises, dans le texte de leur article : 1.

The relative annual decrease over the 40 year period for 2,3,7,8-

9–19%

change per year during a decade. Temporal trends, 1972–2011, of 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 2,3,4,7,8-PCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PCDF and 2,3,4,6,7,8-HCDF, based on concentrations in pg/g fat, are presented in Fig. 3a–d). The relative annual decrease over the 40 year period for 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 2,3,4,7,8-PCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PCDF and 2,3,4,6,7,8-HCDF are 6.5%, 6.1%, 5.7% and 6.7%, respectively, with p < 0.001 in each case. The annual relative decrease over the last ten years for 2,3,7,8-TCDF and 2,3,4,7,8-PCDF and 2,3,4,6,7,8-HCDF are 11% (p < 0.002) 7.9% (p < 0.001) and 5.3% (p < 0.001) respectively. No temporal concentration OTX015 research buy trend could be discerned for 1,2,3,7,8-PCDF, during the last ten years. The number of years required to detect an annual change of 10% varied between 7–9 years for the PCDF congeners and the power to detect a 10% annual change was 100% for all of the full time series. The smallest possible trend to detect varied between 3.4–7.9% change per year during a decade. Temporal trends, 1972–2011, of the DL-PCB congeners, CB-118, CB-126 and CB-156 based on concentrations in pg/g ATM Kinase Inhibitor datasheet fat are presented in Fig. 4a–c). The relative annual decrease over the 40 year period for CB-118, CB-126 and CB-156 are 7.6%, 7.0% and 5.8%, respectively, with p < 0.001 in each case. The annual relative decrease over the last ten years for CB-118, CB-126 and CB-156 are 9.7% (p < 0.001), 12% (p < 0.015)

and 8.1% (p < 0.003), respectively. The number of years required to detect an annual change of 10% was 7–10 years, and the power to detect a 10% annual change was 100% for the full time series. The smallest possible trend to detect varied between 5.2%-9.0% change per year during a decade. The present study confirms decreasing temporal trends of the ∑TEQ of ∑PCDDs, ∑PCDFs and ∑DL-PCBs assessed herein (Table 2, Fig. 1). Likewise, it confirms significant concentration declines of the individual Thalidomide PCDD,

PCDF and DL-PCB congeners analyzed. This was to be expected as the time series covers 40 years. The data are in accordance with previously obtained data for ∑PCDDs, ∑PCDFs and ∑DL-PCBs in mothers’ milk from Stockholm, 1972–1997 (Norén and Meironyte, 2000). However, it is striking to see a steeper rate of decline over the most recent years, 2002–2011 for the ∑PCDD and ∑DL-PCB TEQs, than for the full period. In contrast, the steepness of the ∑PCDF TEQ decreasing time trend has not changed much over time. Several of the PCDFs are below LOQ during the latter 10 years, allowing no trend analysis, while 2,3,7,8-TCDF and 2,3,4,7,8-PCDF (WHO-TEF2005 = 0.1 and 0.3) both show stronger and significant declines over the recent 10 years.

We used the longest-term data presented in a study, and except fo

We used the longest-term data presented in a study, and except for analyses to evaluate treatment intensity or burn severity, we averaged data across different intensities of a treatment type (e.g., different levels of thinning) in the infrequent cases where different intensities were presented. From extracted data for

both understory abundance and richness, we calculated a ratio of treatment:control or after:before treatment. For studies with both pre-treatment data and controls, we first calculated the after:before ratio then used that to calculate the treatment:control Selleckchem Pifithrin-�� ratio. Some papers presented data as relative differences (such as percent change from pre- to post-treatment), which could result in negative ratios. Additionally, some studies had zeros as denominators (e.g., if controls had zero plants), precluding calculation of ratios. In these cases, we simply calculated the raw difference between

after/before or treated/control values. We considered conducting a formal statistical meta-analysis, but the available data had several features that limited meta-analysis. Presentation of relative differences (resulting in negative values) or presence of zeros in some studies, together with many papers not reporting a measure of variability or being unreplicated, complicated calculation of meta-analytical statistics (Harrison, 2011). It is noteworthy, but not uncommon, that some of the most ecologically PF-02341066 clinical trial insightful studies in our data set did not meet requirements for calculation of standard meta-analysis statistics, such as Knapp et al.’s (2013) remeasurement of 79-year-old silvicultural treatments installed in 1929. Another significant issue was that, for several of our questions, approximately equal proportions of decreases and increases were reported across studies. Analyzing an average or median effect size in this situation represented an effect size (i.e., zero

or no change) rarely or never actually occurring in the literature. We adopted a hybrid approach to data analysis by using a combination of effect sizes (after:before or treatment:control ratios) as appropriate, ranking relative Anacetrapib responses to treatments, and categorizing understory responses to treatment as relative increase (ratios >1, or raw difference >0), no change (ratios = 1 or difference = 0), or decrease (ratios <1, difference <0). For Question 1 (relative influences of treatments on total understory plant abundance and species richness), we ranked relative responses of an understory measure among treatments within a study (e.g., +++ signified the greatest increase among treatments in a study where an understory measure increased in all three treatments) and as increase (+) or decrease (−) if only one treatment was evaluated in a study. For Question 2 (influence of time since treatment), we regressed time since treatment with treatment : control ratio of total plant abundance and species richness.

Finally, the therapist elicits examples of physiological reaction

Finally, the therapist elicits examples of physiological reactions, and Aaron describes having no appetite, difficulty concentrating, Selleckchem GDC-941 and no interested in sex. Upon obtaining these examples, the therapist formally draws connections between the three components of depression, describing how Aaron’s thoughts, behaviors, and physiological reactions interact with one another. The therapist begins to highlight patterns that may be maintaining

Aaron’s depression, and the therapist begins to lightly challenge some of the patient’s thoughts and behavior patterns in order to demonstrate the potential benefits of treatment on depression and ART adherence. For example, the therapist points out that someone who has the thought “I’m a loser” is likely to avoid getting out of bed and leaving the apartment. Aaron then notes that staying in his apartment all day triggers additional thoughts (e.g., “I’m lazy”). Additionally, note that the therapist draws connections that are specifically relevant to HIV infection and ART adherence. He highlights that an individual with the thought “I’m a loser” is unlikely to want to take care of him/herself,

which may result in missing ART doses. After presenting a three-part model of depression and drawing connections between the components, the therapist moves on to a more formal discussion with Aaron about of the course Bortezomib supplier of treatment, which is illustrated in Video clip 4. In this part of the session, the therapist specifically describes the upcoming modules and corresponding skills that will be addressed in future sessions and specifically maps those skills onto the three components of depression. Additionally, the therapist addresses any concerns the patient has about treatment. In this clip, Aaron notes concerns about the difficulty of learning these skills, which is a common concern in CBT and CBT-AD. When complete, the patient should have a comprehensive idea of the course of treatment, how treatment may specifically impact him or her, and should begin to feel some hope that symptoms will alleviate. Of

Carteolol HCl note, this portion of the session does not differ substantially from traditional CBT. However, patients in CBT-AD often have questions about how adherences relates to the course of treatment, and it is important for therapists to point out that the skills learned to treat depression are also helpful for improving ART adherence. Finally, Video clip 5 demonstrates the “Pros and Cons of Change” exercise. “Steve” is a 43-year-old gay male who is unemployed, lives alone, has a history of crystal methamphetamine use, and was infected by a male sexual partner in the context of drug use. As is common of many patients with depression, Steve is ambivalent about changing the thoughts and behaviors that are maintaining his depression. Specifically, he notes that he struggles to remove himself from the cycle of drug use that fuels his depression.

Adrian S Ray, Gilead Sciences Inc , Foster City, CA, USA (Fig 7

Adrian S. Ray, Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, CA, USA (Fig. 7). Adrian started his lecture with photos of William (Bill) Prusoff and reminisced of his days with Bill, Raymond Schinazi and Yung-Chi (Tommy) Cheng. Adrian presented examples to illustrate two models of how a prodrug strategy

can transform a potential drug into a much improved clinical candidate. In the first, the prodrug alters the distribution of the pharmacologically active nucleotide analog to tissues where viral infection is taking place (on-target) and away from tissues resulting in adverse events (off-target). In the second, the prodrug enables one to select a drug candidate based more directly on the intrinsic properties NLG919 of the active nucleotide-triphosphate analog via by-passing an inefficient activation (phosphorylation) of the corresponding nucleoside analog. Sofosbuvir (Sovaldi®),

a prodrug of 2′-F-2′-C-MeUMP, was approved in the USA on 6th December, 2013 for treatment of patients with hepatitis C. This is a fine example of a prodrug enhancing the activity of the parent compound. The nucleoside analogue, 2′-F-2′-C-MeU, is poorly active due to restricted phosphorylation to the monophosphate. Sofosbuvir, a nucleotide analogue prodrug of 2′-F-2′-C-MeU, delivers the monophosphate into the cell and this is then further phosphorylated efficiently RGFP966 purchase to give high levels of the triphosphate which inhibits HCV RNA polymerase. Adrian recalled being much impressed by a result reported at the meeting in 2007 of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). In a Phase II monotherapy trial in patients with HCV, at day 3, the viral loads were reduced by log103.2 and log101.1 for VX-950 (1250 mg bid, n=10) and RG-7128 (1500 mg bid, n=8), respectively. However, from day 4 to 13, the polymerase inhibitor (RG-7128) had continued to reduce the viral load,

reaching a reduction of log102.7. On the other hand, the protease inhibitor (VX-950) did not give a sustained reduction, with the viral load starting to increase from day 6. At day 13, the viral load was only log102.2 less than baseline. Nucleotide analogues have two advantages over other classes of inhibitors. There is a high genetic barrier to resistance selection, due to the HCV RNA polymerase being Thiamine-diphosphate kinase highly specific for its natural substrates and template. This specificity can be altered but only under extreme evolutionary pressure (see Section 3). Also, nucleotide analogs often have pan-genotype activity because the active site of the HCV NS5B polymerase is so highly conserved. As an example of how prodrugs can impact a discovery program, allowing for more targeted delivery and for the optimization of the intrinsic properties of the triphosphate, Adrian presented the history of the GS-6620 program. The C-adenine analogue (2′-C-Me-4-aza-7,9-dideazaA, C-Nuc1) was compared to the corresponding N-nucleoside, MK608.