Early HCV treatment has the potential to interrupt the transmission chain and reduce morbidity/mortality due to decompensated liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Nevertheless, patients in drug substitution programs are often insufficiently screened and treated.

OBJECTIVE/METHODS: With the aim to improve HCV management in IDUs, we conducted a cross

sectional chart review in three opioid substitution programs in St. Gallen (125 methadone and 71 heroin recipients). Results were compared with another heroin substitution program in Bern (202 patients) and SCCS/SHCS data.

RESULTS: Among the methadone/heroin recipients in St. Gallen, diagnostic workup of HCV was better than expected: HCV/HIV-status was unknown in only 1% (2/196), HCV RNA was not performed in 9% (13/146) of anti-HCV-positives and the genotype missing in 15% (12/78) of HCV RNA-positives. In those without spontaneous clearance (two thirds), Barasertib HCV treatment uptake was 23% (21/91) (HIV-: 29% (20/68), HIV+: 4% (1/23)), which was lower than

in methadone/heroin recipients and particularly non-IDUs within the SCCS/SHCS, but higher than in the, mainly psychiatrically focussed, heroin substitution program in Bern (8%). Sustained virological response (SVR) rates were comparable in all settings (overall: 50%, genotype 1: 35-40%, genotype 3: two thirds). In St. Gallen, the median delay from the estimated date of infection (IDU start) to first diagnosis was Tariquidar order 10 years and to treatment was another 7.5 years.

CONCLUSIONS: Future efforts need to focus on earlier HCV diagnosis and improvement of treatment uptake among patients in drug substitution programs, particularly if patients are HIV-co-infected. New potent drugs might facilitate the decision to initiate treatment.”
“Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cultivation system in which the proper atmospheric conditions for growing Plasmodium HDAC inhibitor falciparum parasites were maintained in a sealed bag. The Genbag (R) system associated with the atmospheric generators

for capnophilic bacteria Genbag CO2 (R) was used for in vitro susceptibility test of nine standard anti-malarial drugs and compared to standard incubator conditions.

Methods: The susceptibility of 36 pre-identified parasite strains from a wide panel of countries was assessed for nine standard anti-malarial drugs (chloroquine, quinine, mefloquine, monodesethylamodiaquine, lumefantrine, dihydroartemisinin, atovaquone and pyrimethamine) by the standard 42-hour H-3-hypoxanthine uptake inhibition method using the Genbag CO2 (R) system and compared to controlled incubator conditions (5% CO2 and 10% O-2).

Results: The counts per minute values in the control wells in incubator atmospheric conditions (5% CO2 and 10% O-2) were significantly higher than those of Genbag (R) conditions (2738 cpm vs 2282 cpm, p < 0.0001).