AIMS To ascertain the feasibility and outcomes of point-of-care testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in people with risk factors screened in community pharmacies. METHODS Ten pharmacies in the Waitematā District Health Board piloted point-of-care antibody HCV screening with consenting participants. Individuals with a positive HCV antibody result had a confirmatory HCV RNA test performed at a local laboratory, with pharmacist follow-up to discuss the result. RNA positive individuals were referred to their general practitioner for further follow-up including antiviral therapy. Number of tests, number of positives and number treated were collected. Pharmacists completed a survey about their experiences. RESULTS Of 192 participants, seven (3.6%) had positive tests on screening, four of whom had a positive RNA assay and received HCV medication, and one of whom had a positive RNA assay but has not yet received treatment. Two had negative RNA results. Pharmacist feedback was very positive with most wishing to continue the point-of-care testing service. Most wanted to be able to treat HCV in order to improve linkage to care. CONCLUSIONS Pharmacy point-of-care testing with immediate results and pharmacist follow-up of positive results can aid diagnosis of HCV in at-risk populations and help treatment uptake.

Point-of-Care Testing

Hepatitis C

Point of care

Source

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Citations (6)

Cyclic AMP as a negative regulator of hormonally induced lactogenesis in mouse mammary gland organ culture.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (1980)

John W. Perry Takami Oka

In organ cultures of mammary glands from mice in midpregnancy, addition of both insulin and prolactin induces a marked accumulation of alpha-lactalbumin, whereas the augmentation of casein synthesis requires the presence of insulin, prolactin, and cortisol. Addition of 0.5 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP resulted in complete inhibition of alpha-lactalbumin accumulation and partial inhibition of casein synthesis. Furthermore, either cholera toxin at 0.1-1.0 microgram/ml (a stimulator of adenylate cyclase) or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase) in combination with 2 mM cyclic AMP, produced a similar pattern of inhibition of alpha-lactalbumin and casein synthesis in cultured tissue. During culture of mammary explants in medium containing no hormone, or insulin alone, or insulin, prolactin, and cortisol, the tissue content of cyclic AMP decreased rapidly, reaching half the initial level in 24-48 hr. These results indicate that cyclic AMP plays "negative" regulatory function in hormonal induction of milk protein synthesis during the development of the mammary gland.

Organ culture

Cholera toxin

10.1073/pnas.77.4.2093

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Citations (45)

Rotenone induced blood respiratory changes in the green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Comparative Pharmacology (1977)

John W. Perry Michael L. Conway

Lepomis

Rotenone

Righting reflex

Venous blood

10.1016/0306-4492(77)90026-0

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Citations (14)