A comparison of four fibrosis indexes in chronic HCV: Development of new fibrosis-cirrhosis index (FCI)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatitis C can lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. We compared readily available non-invasive fibrosis indexes for the fibrosis progression discrimination to find a better combination of existing non-invasive markers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied 157 HCV infected patients who underwent liver biopsy. In order to differentiate HCV fibrosis progression, readily available AAR, APRI, FI and FIB-4 serum indexes were tested in the patients. We derived a new fibrosis-cirrhosis index (FCI) comprised of ALP, bilirubin, serum albumin and platelet count. FCI = [(ALP × Bilirubin) / (Albumin × Platelet count)].</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Already established serum indexes AAR, APRI, FI and FIB-4 were able to stage liver fibrosis with correlation coefficient indexes 0.130, 0.444, 0.578 and 0.494, respectively. Our new fibrosis cirrhosis index FCI significantly correlated with the histological fibrosis stages F0-F1, F2-F3 and F4 (r = 0.818, p < 0.05) with AUROCs 0.932 and 0.996, respectively. The sensitivity and PPV of FCI at a cutoff value < 0.130 for predicting fibrosis stage F0-F1 was 81% and 82%, respectively with AUROC 0.932. Corresponding value of FCI at a cutoff value ≥1.25 for the prediction of cirrhosis was 86% and 100%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The fibrosis-cirrhosis index (FCI) accurately predicted fibrosis stages in HCV infected patients and seems more efficient than frequently used serum indexes.</p

A clinical investigation using quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) of the anticaries efficacy of a dentifrice containing 1.5% arginine and 1450 ppm fluoride as sodium monofluorophosphate

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of a new dentifrice containing 1.5% arginine, an insoluble calcium compound and 1450ppm fluoride to arrest and reverse naturally occurring buccal caries lesions in children relative to a positive control dentifrice containing 1450ppm fluoride alone.Study designParticipants from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China tested three dentifrices: a new dentifrice containing 1.5% arginine, an insoluble calcium compound, and 1450ppm fluoride, as sodium monofluorophosphate, a positive control dentifrice containing 1450ppm fluoride, as sodium fluoride, in a silica base, and a matched negative control dentifrice without arginine and fluoride. Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence (QLF) was used to assess buccal caries lesions at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of product use.Results438 participants (initial age 9–13 years (mean 11.1±0.78) and 48.6% female) completed the study. No adverse events attributable to the products were reported during the course of the study. The subject mean ΔQ (mm2%), representing lesion volume, was 27.26 at baseline. After 6 months of product use, the ΔQ values for the arginine-containing, positive and negative control dentifrices were 13.46, 17.99 and 23.70 representing improvements from baseline of 50.6%, 34.0% and 13.1%. After 6 months product use, the differences between the pair wise comparisons for all three groups were statistically significant (p<0.01). The arginine-containing dentifrice demonstrated an improvement after only 3 months that was almost identical to that achieved by the conventional 1450ppm fluoride dentifrice after 6 months.ConclusionThe new dentifrice containing 1.5% arginine, an insoluble calcium compound, and 1450ppm fluoride provides statistically significantly superior efficacy in arresting and reversing buccal caries lesions to a conventional dentifrice containing 1450ppm fluoride alone