Is Combined Bulevirtide and Pegylated Interferon Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis D Superior over Bulevirtide Monotherapy?

Bulevirtide is a novel antiviral agent approved for suppression of chronic hepatitis D but requiring further research into optimising the treatment scheme.Aim. Comparative assessment of bulevirtide monotherapy versus combined treatment with bulevirtide and pegylat-ed interferon (PEG-IFN) using published trial data.Key points. MYR201 and MYR203 trials expose a higher frequency of HBsAg and HDV RNA extinction, as well as more effective HDV suppression for combined bulevirtide/PEG-IFN therapy compared to bulevirtide monotherapy.Conclusion. Combined bulevirtide/PEG-IFN therapy has particular advantages over bulevirtide monotherapy in patients with chronic hepatitis D. Further research is required to optimise bulevirtide dosage and duration of therapy

Cause-and-effect relationship between thyroid and liver diseases

Thyroid gland (TG) and the liver are in a complex relationship in both physiological and pathological conditions. Thyroid hormones accelerate metabolic processes, intensify the synthesis of proteins and vitamins, play an important role in the development and differentiation of all cells, including hepatocytes. In addition to the central role in the deiodination of thyroid hormones with the formation of their more active and inactivated forms, the liver also carries out their transport. Dysfunction of TG can lead to changes in liver function, and in liver diseases, abnormalities in the metabolism of thyroid hormones can occur. Most often, liver pathology in diseases of TG is manifested by an increase in the serum activity of enzymes of cytolysis and/or cholestasis. Changes in liver function tests are often observed in patients with thyrotoxicosis. They are based on oxidative stress or cholestasis. The increased activity of osteoblasts in hyperthyroidism leads to an increase in the bone fraction of alkaline phosphatase, which must be taken into account in the differential diagnosis. Hepatotoxicity of thyreostatic drugs is relatively common, ranging from minimal hepatocellular damage to fulminant liver failure. In the case of hypothyroidism, the pathophysiological mechanisms are mainly represented by lipid metabolism disorders leading to fatty degeneration. It should be remembered that severe hypothyroidism can be manifested by hyperammonemia and edematous-ascitic syndrome, requiring differential diagnosis with liver failure. Treatment of liver pathology in TG diseases includes normalization of thyroid status, and in cases of drug hepatitis – temporary withdrawal of a potentially hepatotoxic drug. The data on the association of hypothyroidism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the aspect of developing new therapies are very interesting

Metallic Xenon, Molecular Condensates, and Superconductivity

A possibility of explaining the light absorption observed to occur under pressure-induced xenon metallization as due to the transition to the superconducting state is analyzed. The mechanism of the van der Waals bonding is discussed.Comment: LaTeX 2.09 (RevTeX), 4 pages, 4 PostScript figures included in tex

Relief and geology of the north polar region of the planet Venus

Description of topographic features is given for the North polar region of the planet Venus. Principal geomorphic types of terrain are characterized as well as their geologic relations. Relative ages of geologic units in Venus North polar region are discussed

Antimatter research in Space

Two of the most compelling issues facing astrophysics and cosmology today are to understand the nature of the dark matter that pervades the universe and to understand the apparent absence of cosmological antimatter. For both issues, sensitive measurements of cosmic-ray antiprotons and positrons, in a wide energy range, are crucial. Many different mechanisms can contribute to antiprotons and positrons production, ranging from conventional reactions up to exotic processes like neutralino annihilation. The open problems are so fundamental (i.e.: is the universe symmetric in matter and antimatter ?) that experiments in this field will probably be of the greatest interest in the next years. Here we will summarize the present situation, showing the different hypothesis and models and the experimental measurements needed to lead to a more established scenario.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, Invited talk at the 18th European Cosmic Ray Symposium, Moscow, July 2002, submitted to Journal of Physics

Long-Term Results of the Etiotropic Therapy of Subcompensed Liver Cirrhosis in the Outcome of Chronic Hepatitis C

Aim. The evaluation of long-term results of antiviral therapy (AVT) with ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir in patients with noncompensated liver cirrhosis (LC) in the outcome of chronic hepatitis C.Material and methods. A retrospective analysis included the data from patients with subcompensated liver cirrhosis (LC) of HCV etiology (genotype 1b) (7–9 points of the Child-Pugh score) having received interferon-free antiviral therapy (AVT) with ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir during 12 weeks from September to December 2015. In total, 66 patients (27 men and 39 women) received such a therapy, the median age was 56.4 years.Results. 147 weeks (IQR 56–156) following AVT completion, the long-term results were evaluated. At that time, 27 patients were available for observation. The assessment of liver function compensation using the Child-Pugh score showed improvement in 25 (93 %) patients. The assessment of laboratory data revealed a decrease in the median of total bilirubin by 13.6 μmol/l, as well as an increase in the median of serum albumin by 9.7 g/L and the median of platelets by 41,700/μl. Two deaths were reported due to hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and bleeding from esophageal varices. HCC was detected in 8 patients. Two patients underwent liver transplantation.Conclusion. AVT in patients with LC of HCV etiology is associated with a high frequency of virologic response. Longterm follow-up results indicate a significant improvement of liver function, but also a continuing high risk of developing complications of underlying disease, primarily HCC

ANTIVIRAL THERAPY IN LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Management of patients with liver cirrhosis due to viral hepatitis is complicated; nevertheless, effective treatment is possible in the majority of diagnosed cases. Etiotropic treatment should be initiated as soon as liver cirrhosis is diagnosed. Antiviral therapy is the only evidence-based and justified treatment approach in such patients. Use of hepatoprotectors with doubtful efficacy significantly reduces chances of recovery and increases likelihood of poor outcomes. During the choice of antiviral regimen, considerations must be given to disease etiology and stage as well as liver functional status. Generally accepted scales for staging of liver cirrhosis (e.g. Child-Turcotte-Pugh and MELD) are helpful in the choice of up-to-date therapy regimen, assessment of the disease prognosis and planning of radical interventions

Melting Point and Lattice Parameter Shifts in Supported Metal Nanoclusters

The dependencies of the melting point and the lattice parameter of supported metal nanoclusters as functions of clusters height are theoretically investigated in the framework of the uniform approach. The vacancy mechanism describing the melting point and the lattice parameter shifts in nanoclusters with decrease of their size is proposed. It is shown that under the high vacuum conditions (p<10^-7 torr) the essential role in clusters melting point and lattice parameter shifts is played by the van der Waals forces of cluster-substrate interation. The proposed model satisfactorily accounts for the experimental data.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Two years of flight of the Pamela experiment: results and perspectives

PAMELA is a satellite borne experiment designed to study with great accuracy cosmic rays of galactic, solar, and trapped nature in a wide energy range (protons: 80 MeV-700 GeV, electrons 50 MeV-400 GeV). Main objective is the study of the antimatter component: antiprotons (80 MeV-190 GeV), positrons (50 MeV-270 GeV) and search for antinuclei with a precision of the order of $10^{-8}$). The experiment, housed on board the Russian Resurs-DK1 satellite, was launched on June, $15^{th}$ 2006 in a $350\times 600 km$ orbit with an inclination of 70 degrees. In this work we describe the scientific objectives and the performance of PAMELA in its first two years of operation. Data on protons of trapped, secondary and galactic nature - as well as measurements of the December $13^{th}$ 2006 Solar Particle Event - are also provided.Comment: To appear on J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. as part of the proceedings of the International Workshop on Advances in Cosmic Ray Science March, 17-19, 2008 Waseda University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japa