Les Modeling of a Diurnal Cycle

LES modeling of a diurnal cycl

Efficacy and safety profile of boceprevir- or telaprevir-based triple therapy or dual peginterferon alfa-2a or alfa-2b plus ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C: the real-world PegBase observational study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy and safety of triple therapy with a first-generation protease inhibitor (PI; boceprevir, telaprevir) plus peginterferon alfa-2a or -2b plus ribavirin, and dual therapy (peginterferon alfa-2a or -2b plus ribavirin) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in routine clinical practice. METHODS: PegBase was an international, prospective, observational study in which 4441 patients with CHC were enrolled in 27 countries. This analysis focuses on results in 4100 treatment-naïve and previously treated patients treated with PI-based triple therapy or dual therapy, according to the discretion of the investigator and local standards of practice. The primary efficacy outcome was sustained virological response after 12-week follow up (SVR12). RESULTS: SVR12 rates in treatment-naïve genotype (G) 1 patients were 56.6% and 62.9% for recipients of boceprevir plus peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin and boceprevir plus peginterferon alfa-2b/ribavirin, respectively, and 65.3% and 58.6% for recipients of telaprevir plus peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin and telaprevir plus peginterferon alfa-2b/ribavirin, respectively. In previously treated patients assigned to these four regimens, SVR12 rates were 43.6%, 48.3%, 60.3% and 56.1%, respectively. Among treatment-naïve patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin and peginterferon alfa-2b/ribavirin, respectively, SVR12 rates were 49.2% and 41.9% in G1 patients, 75.7% and 83.3% in G2 patients, 65.9% and 65.9% in G3 patients, and 49.7%, and 51.1% in G4 patients. The safety and tolerability of dual and triple therapy were consistent with previous reports. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of first-generation PI-based triple-therapy and dual-therapy regimens in this real-world cohort were broadly comparable to those of previous studies.F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerlan

The right to food and food diversity in the Italian Constitution

Il contributo analizza la tutela apprestata dalla Costituzione italiana al diritto al cibo che, pur non essendo espressamente menzionato, viene ricavato attraverso l'analisi di principi ed azioni sottese alla nostra Carta che ne riconoscono il valore: il principio lavorista, la lotta alla povertà, la retribuzione del lavoratore...

Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir for HCV Genotype 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 Infection

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IL28B genotype is associated with cirrhosis or transition to cirrhosis in treatment-naive patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection: the international observational Gen-C study

Background and purpose: Contradictory data exist on the association between host interleukin-28B (IL28B) rs12979860 genotype and liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). This large, international, observational study (NCT01675427/MV25600) investigated relationships between IL28B rs12979860 genotype and liver fibrosis stage in CHC patients. Methods: A total of 3003 adult, treatment-naive CHC patients were enrolled into the study. Patients made one study visit to provide a blood sample for genotyping; other data were obtained from medical records. Results: 2916 patients comprised the analysis population; the majority were enrolled in Europe (n = 2119), were Caucasian (n = 2582) and had hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (G) 1 infection (n = 1702) (G2 = 323, G3 = 574, G4 = 260). Distribution of IL28B genotypes varied according to region of enrolment, patient ethnicity and HCV genotype. A significant association was observed between increasing number of IL28B T alleles and the prevalence of cirrhosis/transition to cirrhosis (based on biopsy or non-invasive assessments) in G1-infected patients (CC = 22.2% [111/499], CT = 27.5% [255/928], TT = 32.3% [87/269]; p = 0.0018). The association was significant in the large subgroup of European Caucasian G1 patients (n = 1245) but not in the smaller Asian (n = 25), Latin American (n = 137) or Middle Eastern (n = 289) G1 subgroups. IL28B genotype was not associated with liver fibrosis stage in patients with HCV G2, G3 or G4 infection. Conclusion: This large, international study found that IL28B rs12979860 genotype is significantly associated with liver fibrosis stage in CHC patients with HCV G1 infection. This association was evident in European Caucasians but not in G1-infected patients from Asia, Latin America or the Middle EastF. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerlan

Cervical cancer screening in women vaccinated against human papillomavirus infection: Recommendations from a consensus conference

In Italy, the cohorts of women who were offered Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in 2007/08 will reach the age (25 years) for cervical cancer (CC) screening from 2017. The simultaneous shift from cytology-based screening to HPV test-based screening gives the opportunity for unprecedented reorganisation of CC prevention. The ONS (National Screening Monitoring Centre) Directive and the GISCi (Italian Group for Cervical Screening) identified the consensus conference as the most suitable method for addressing this topic. A summary of consensus recommendations is reported here. The main objective was to define the best screening methods in girls vaccinated against HPV and the knowledge required for defining evidence-based screening strategies. A Jury made recommendations about questions and proposals formulated by a panel of experts representative of Italian scientific societies involved in CC prevention and based on systematic reviews of literature and evidence. The Jury considered changing the screening protocols for girls vaccinated in their twelfth year as appropriate. Tailored screening protocols based on vaccination status could be replaced by \u201cone size fits all\u201d protocols only when a herd immunity effect has been reached. Vaccinated women should start screening at age 30, instead of 25, with HPV test. Furthermore, there is a strong rationale for applying longer intervals for re-screening HPV negative women than the currently recommended 5 years, but research is needed to determine the optimal screening time points. For non-vaccinated women and for women vaccinated in their fifteenth year or later, the current protocol should be kept

Covid-19 and the role of smoking: The protocol of the multicentric prospective study COSMO-IT (covid19 and smoking in italy)

The emergency caused by Covid-19 pandemic raised interest in studying lifestyles and comorbidities as important determinants of poor Covid-19 prognosis. Data on tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity are still limited, while no data are available on the role of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTP). To clarify the role of tobacco smoking and other lifestyle habits on COVID-19 severity and progression, we designed a longitudinal observational study titled COvid19 and SMOking in ITaly (COSMO-IT). About 30 Italian hospitals in North, Centre and South of Italy joined the study. Its main aims are: 1) to quantify the role of tobacco smoking and smoking cessation on the severity and progression of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients; 2) to compare smoking prevalence and severity of the disease in relation to smoking in hospitalized COVID-19 patients versus patients treated at home; 3) to quantify the association between other lifestyle factors, such as e-cigarette and HTP use, alcohol and obesity and the risk of unfavourable COVID-19 outcomes. Socio-demographic, lifestyle and medical history information will be gathered for around 3000 hospitalized and 700-1000 home-isolated, laboratory-confirmed, COVID-19 patients. Given the current absence of a vaccine against SARS-COV-2 and the lack of a specific treatment for COVID-19, prevention strategies are of extreme importance. This project, designed to highly contribute to the international scientific debate on the role of avoidable lifestyle habits on COVID-19 severity, will provide valuable epidemiological data in order to support important recommendations to prevent COVID-19 incidence, progression and mortality