Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was first identified in 1989 as the etiologic agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis [1] and is currently recognized as the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. In contrast to hepatitis B virus infection, in which only about 5% of adult infections become chronic, more than 80% of HCV-infected patients develop chronic hepatitis. Moreover, 20-50% of those persistently infected with HCV will develop liver cirrhosis and hepatocellu lar carcinoma (HCC) [2]. It is estimated that there are 10,000 deaths in the USA per year due to chronic liver failure or HCC [3]. In addition, HCV dis 25-50% of all liver transplants in US centers, and the ease is responsible for recurrence of HCV infection following liver transplantation is universal [4]. Typically, HCV disease emerges after a 10-20 year period during which symp toms, if they exist at all, are mild and non-specific. Although the prevalence varies greatly among different countries, it has been estimated that up to 170 million people (3% of the world's population), are infected with HCV [5]. A recent study in the USA found that 65% of all HCV-infected persons are 30 to 49 years old [6].

WELL-ESTABLISHED BOOK SERIES CONTAINING REVIEWS ON A WIDE SPECTRUM OF HIGHLY TOPICAL AREAS IN CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH

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Recent advances in prevention and treatment of hepatitis C virus infections.- The effects of morphine on cell proliferation.- Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates in the treatment of osteoarthritis: a survey.- Multi-dimensional QSAR in drug research.- NMR spectroscopy in drug discovery: Tools for combinatorial chemistry, natural products, and metabolism research.- Prostate cancer and the androgen receptor: Strategies for the development of novel therapeutics.- Quantitative structure-activity relationships of cardiotonic agents.- Index Vol. 55.- Index of titles, Vol. 1-55.- Author and paper index, Vol. 1-55.