The GVL launch process for starting self-launched instances of the GVL workbench.

<p><b>(a)</b> A user initiates the launch process via the launch service (<i>launch</i>.<i>genome</i>.<i>edu</i>.<i>au</i>) by providing their cloud credentials to the launcher application and <b>(b)</b> within a few minutes is able to access the management interface (CloudMan) on the deployed instance of the workbench. <b>(c)</b> After workbench services have started, the researcher can use the applications as desired (e.g., Galaxy).</p

A summary of the criteria that would define a general genomics workbench environment, and suggested implications on technical requirements.

<p>A summary of the criteria that would define a general genomics workbench environment, and suggested implications on technical requirements.</p

A screenshot of the GVL Dashboard.

<p>The GVL Dashboard is a portal running on every GVL instance. It lists all of the available services, their status, and offers a direct link to access those.</p

Summary of specific technical solutions used to meet the design requirements of the GVL.

<p>Summary of specific technical solutions used to meet the design requirements of the GVL.</p

Vitamin D Status and Virologic Response to HCV Therapy in the HALT-C and VIRAHEP-C Trials

<div><p>More than 150 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and face higher risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Highly effective HCV treatments have recently been developed; however, they are costly and therefore poorly suited for application in resource-limited settings where HCV burden is high. Pegylated-interferon alpha (PEG-IFNα) and ribavirin (RBV) therapy is far less costly, but also less effective. Vitamin D supplementation has been proposed as an inexpensive adjuvant to treatment, however, prior epidemiological evidence on its effectiveness is inconsistent, with little data available among African Americans who naturally have lower vitamin D concentrations. We thus evaluated associations between baseline vitamin D status, measured by circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), which is considered to be the best marker of vitamin D status in humans, and subsequent response to PEG-IFNα/RBV therapy in two large clinical trials that together included 1292 patients infected with HCV genotype 1. We used race-stratified logistic regression models to evaluate multivariable-adjusted associations of 25(OH)D with early virologic response (EVR; 2-log₁₀ HCV RNA decline at week 12) and sustained virologic response (SVR). Among African Americans, we saw no associations. Among European Americans, we saw no association with low vitamin D (≤20 ng/mL) versus sufficient concentrations (20-<30 ng/mL). However, patients with 25(OH)D ≥30 ng/mL were actually less likely to attain EVR (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.43–0.94) than those with sufficient concentrations, with a similar but non-significant association observed for SVR (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.20–1.17).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Higher vitamin D status was not beneficially associated with responses to therapy; if anything, patients with higher vitamin D concentrations were less likely to attain SVR. Our data do not support a role for vitamin D supplementation as an adjuvant therapy for HCV.</p></div

Baseline characteristics by study.

<p>Baseline characteristics by study.</p

Associations of baseline serum 25(OH)D status with response to HCV-treatment in the HALT-C and VIRAHEP-C studies stratified by Ishak stage and season among European Americans.

<p>Associations of baseline serum 25(OH)D status with response to HCV-treatment in the HALT-C and VIRAHEP-C studies stratified by Ishak stage and season among European Americans.</p

Associations of baseline serum 25(OH)D status with response to PEG-IFNα/RBV treatment for HCV among European Americans.

<p>Associations of baseline serum 25(OH)D status with response to PEG-IFNα/RBV treatment for HCV among European Americans.</p

Associations of baseline serum 25(OH)D status with response to PEG-IFNα/RBV treatment for HCV among African Americans.

<p>Associations of baseline serum 25(OH)D status with response to PEG-IFNα/RBV treatment for HCV among African Americans.</p

Adjusted mean ΔHCV RNA level (SE) from baseline to day 28 of PEG-IFNα/RBV treatment by baseline serum 25(OH)D status among European and African Americans in the VIRAHEP-C study (n = 191).

<p>Mean ΔHCV RNA level was calculated as the change in log₁₀ transformed viral load from baseline to day 28 of treatment [i.e. log₁₀ (HCV RNA) _{day 28}– log₁₀ (HCV RNA) _baseline] and adjusted for age (years), sex, IFNL4 genotype (ΔG/ΔG, ΔG/TT, TT/TT), BMI (kg/m²), baseline HCV RNA level (log₁₀ transformed IU/mL), HOMA score, treatment site, and AST/ALT. Figure abbreviations: 25(OH)D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D; AA, African American; AST/ALT, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase ratio; BMI, body mass index; EA, European American; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HOMA, homeostasis model assessment; IOM, Institute of Medicine; LS, least squares; PEG-IFNα/RBV, pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin; SE, standard error.</p