736 research outputs found
Role of HCV infection in the development of carotid atherosclerosis in a cohort of HIV-infected patients
Symptomatic Acute Hepatitis C in Egypt: Diagnosis, Spontaneous Viral Clearance, and Delayed Treatment with 12 Weeks of Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a
The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of spontaneous viral clearance (SVC) after symptomatic acute hepatitis C and to evaluate the efficacy of 12 weeks of pegylated interferon alfa-2a in patients who did not clear the virus spontaneously.Patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis C were recruited from two "fever hospitals" in Cairo, Egypt. Patients still viremic three months after the onset of symptoms were considered for treatment with 12 weeks of pegylated interferon alfa-2a (180 microg/week).Between May 2002 and February 2006, 2243 adult patients with acute hepatitis were enrolled in the study. The SVC rate among 117 patients with acute hepatitis C was 33.8% (95%CI [25.9%-43.2%]) at three months and 41.5% (95%CI [33.0%-51.2%]) at six months. The sustained virological response (SVR) rate among the 17 patients who started treatment 4-6 months after onset of symptoms was 15/17 = 88.2% (95%CI [63.6%-98.5%]).Spontaneous viral clearance was high (41.5% six months after the onset of symptoms) in this population with symptomatic acute hepatitis C. Allowing time for spontaneous clearance should be considered before treatment is initiated for symptomatic acute hepatitis C
SARS-CoV-2 serological profile in healthcare professionals of a Southern Italy hospital
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the first coronavirus that has caused a pandemic. Assessing the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare worker groups offers a unique opportunity to study the correlation between seroconversion and immunization because of their occupational exposure and a higher risk of contagion. The study enrolled 3242 asymptomatic employees of âPoliclinico Riunitiâ, Foggia. After the first screening, we collected sequential serum samples for up to 23 weeks from the same subjects. In order to perform a longitudinal follow-up study and get information about the titration of IgG levels, we analyzed data from subjects (33) with at least two consecutive serological IgGâpositive tests; 62 (1.9%; 95% CI: 1.4â2.3) tested positive for at least one anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody. The seroprevalence was lower in the high-risk group 1.4% (6/428; 95% CI: 0.5â2.6) vs. the intermediate-risk group 2.0% (55/2736; 95% CI: 1.5â2.5). Overall, within eight weeks, we detected a mean reduction of â17% in IgG levels. Our data suggest a reduction of about 9.27 AU/mL every week (R2 = 0.35, p = 0.0003). This study revealed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among Foggiaâs hospital healthcare staff (1.9%). Moreover, the IgG level reduction suggests that the serological response fades fast in asymptomatic infections
Identification of na\uefve HCV-1 patients with chronic hepatitis who may benefit from dual therapy with peg-interferon and ribavirin
Background & Aims The pool of HCV genotype 1 patients likely to be cured by peg-interferon and ribavirin remains to be quantified. Methods In 1045 patients treated with peg-interferon and ribavirin, two therapeutic strategies were confronted: the first one evaluated only baseline variables associated with sustained virological response (SVR), and the second one included the rapid virologic response (RVR) in addition to baseline predictors. An 80% SVR rate was the threshold to retain a strategy as clinically relevant. Results Overall, 414 patients (39.6%) attained SVR. In the first strategy, the hierarchy of features independently associated with SVR was IL28B CC genotype (OR 5.082; CI 3.637-7.101), low (80% SVR threshold. Only 26.6% of no-RVR patients attained SVR. Among the 255 RVR patients, the likelihood of SVR was 61.8% in those with unfavorable predictors, 80% in the presence of a single predictor, and 100% when both predictors were present. By using this model, 200 patients (19.1%) were predicted to have an 80% chance of being cured with dual therapy. Conclusions A consistent subset of na\uefve HCV-1 patients, identified by some baseline characteristics and RVR, may benefit from dual treatment with peg-interferon and ribavirin. \ua9 2013 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Complete hepatitis B virus genome analysis in HBsAg positive mothers and their infants with fulminant hepatitis B
BACKGROUND: After perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus, infants of anti-HBe positive HBsAg carrier mothers may develop fulminant hepatitis B. Previously it has been suggested, that fulminant hepatitis B in adults was associated with specific mutations in the HBV-genome. The aim of this study was to investigate, whether specific viral variants are associated with fulminant hepatitis B in young infants. METHODS: The complete HBV-genomes of five mothers and their infants with fulminant hepatitis were isolated from the sera, amplified and directly sequenced. RESULTS: Between 6 and 43 base pair exchanges between the HBV genomes of the infants and their mothers were identified. The mutations spread over the entire virus genome. Nucleotide exchanges in the basic core promotor and precore region were identified in all cases. A heterogeneous virus population was detected in four mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Many new mutations were proved to emerge during fulminant hepatitis B in infants, who had been perinatally infected. HBeAg negative variants were the predominant population in all children, whereas these mutants could only be detected as subpopulations in four mothers. The data suggest that the selection of a specific HBeAg negative viral strain may be associated with the development of fulminant hepatitis B in children
EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF BOCEPREVIR-BASED THERAPY IN HCVG1 TREATMENT-EXPERIENCED PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED FIBROSIS/CIRRHOSIS: THE ITALIAN AND SPANISH NPP EARLY ACCESS PROGRAM
Background and Aims: To maximize cost/efficay of boceprevirbased
triple therapy (BOC) in patients with HCV-related advanced
fibrosis/cirrhosis.
Methods: ITT SVR12, safety and futility rules value were evaluated
in the multicenter national Italian and Spanish early access Name-
Patient-Program which includes treatment-experienced patients
with HCVG1-related advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis (Metavir F3/4)
treated with BOC in both countries.
Results: 402 patients (mean age 55 years; range 22â75),
316 (78.6%) G1b, 255 (63.4%) F4, 60 (30.9%) with oesophageal
varices, 137 (34.1%) relapsers, 95 (23.6%) partial and 168 (41.8%) null
responders were enrolled. Platelets count <100,000 and albumin
levels <3.5 g/dl were present in 49 (12.2%) and 22 (6.3%) patients,
respectively. 369 (91.8%) received at least 1 dose of BOC. Overall ITT
SVR12 rates and according to prior response to P/R, fibrosis stage
and TW8 HCV-RNA value to P/R/BOC are reported in the table.
At multivariate analysis, the strongest predictors of SVR12 were
TW8 HCV-RNA undetectability (RR, 30.8; 95% CI, 8.7â108.7) and
HCV-RNA detectable but <1000 IU/mL (RR, 9.1; 95% CI, 2.6â31.8)
compared to those with HCV-RNA â„1000 IU/mL.
Two patients (0.5%) died from multi-organ failure, 13 (3.2%)
developed hepatic decompensation, 41 (10.2%) had severe anemia
(<8.5 g/dl) and 31 (7.7%) required at least one blood transfusion.
Conclusions: In treatment-experienced patients with advanced
fibrosis/cirrhosis, SVR12 attained by BOC was satisfactory. Mortality,
life-threatening adverse events and severe anemia rates were
similar to those reported in other real-practice studies. A TW8
futility rule enables a safely discontinuation of BOC in patients
who are extremely unlikely to achieve SVR, thus optimizing the
effectiveness of treatment in this difficult-to-cure population
The JurassicâCretaceous depositional and tectonic evolution of the southernwestern margin of the Neotethys Ocean, Northern Oman and United Arab Emirates
The concept that the autochthonous, parautochthonous and allochthonous PermianâCretaceous sequences in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman record the transition from platform, slope to basin sedimentation within the southern part of Neotethys has been fundamental to the interpretation of the geological history of the region. The results of a major geological mapping programme of the UAE, carried out by the British Geological Survey for the Federal Government of the UAE, coupled with the detailed examination of key sections within northern Oman has led to a re-evaluation of the geological evolution of this region. This detailed study has led to a greater appreciation of the sedimentology and depositional setting of the sediments laid down along the northeastern Arabian continental margin during the Jurassic to Cretaceous, allowing a more refined model of Neotethys Ocean basin evolution to be established. The model charts the progressive breakup of the Arabian continental margin and closure of Neotethys during the mid to late Cretaceous and is divided into three main stages: Stage 1âInitial rifting and formation of the Neotethys Ocean, followed by a prolonged period of stable, passive margin sedimentation which extended from the Permian to Late Jurassic times; Stage 2âUplift and erosion of the shelf margin during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, coincident with increased carbonate-clastic sedimentation in the outer ramp, distal slope and basinal areas; Stage 3âIncreased instability during the Late Cretaceous leading to the breakup of the platform margin and foreland basin sedimentation accompanying the obduction of the Oman-UAE ophiolite. Data obtained for the upper part of the platform and platform margin to slope successions has revealed that the topography of the âshelfâ-slope-basinal margin was more subdued than previously thought, with this more gentle ramp margin morphology persisting until early to mid-Cretaceous times when the platform margin started to become unstable during ophiolite obduction. The thrust-repeated allochthonous sedimentary rocks of the Hamrat Duru Group were deposited on the outer platform margin/lower slope rise to basinal plain of this basin margin and includes the dismembered remains of two turbidite fan systems which fed carbonate-rich detritus into deeper parts of the ocean. A re-evaluation of the chert-rich sequences, previously equated with deposition on the abyssal plain of Neotethys, has led to the conclusion that they may record sedimentation at a much shallower level within a starved ocean basin, possibly in a mid-ramp (above storm wave base) to outer ramp setting. A marked change in basin dynamics occurred during the mid-Cretaceous leading to the development of a shallow ramp basin margin in Oman with terrestrial to shallow marine sedimentary rocks interdigitating with red siliceous mudstones. By contrast, the contemporaneous succession in the Dibba Zone of the UAE indicates considerable instability on a steep shelf break. This instability is recorded by the presence of several major olistostrome deposits within the Aruma Group of the UAE which are thought to have been generated in advance of the rapidly obducting Oman-UAE ophiolite
Recommended from our members
Fine-root turnover rates of European forests revisited: an analysis of data from sequential coring and ingrowth cores
Background and Aims
Forest trees directly contribute to carbon cycling in forest soils through the turnover of their fine roots. In this study we aimed to calculate root turnover rates of common European forest tree species and to compare them with most frequently published values.
Methods
We compiled available European data and applied various turnover rate calculation methods to the resulting database. We used Decision Matrix and Maximum-Minimum formula as suggested in the literature.
Results
Mean turnover rates obtained by the combination of sequential coring and Decision Matrix were 0.86 yrâ1 for Fagus sylvatica and 0.88 yrâ1 for Picea abies when maximum biomass data were used for the calculation, and 1.11 yrâ1 for both species when mean biomass data were used. Using mean biomass rather than maximum resulted in about 30 % higher values of root turnover. Using the Decision Matrix to calculate turnover rate doubled the rates when compared to the Maximum-Minimum formula. The Decision Matrix, however, makes use of more input information than the Maximum-Minimum formula.
Conclusions
We propose that calculations using the Decision Matrix with mean biomass give the most reliable estimates of root turnover rates in European forests and should preferentially be used in models and C reporting
Hepatitis B Therapy in Pregnancy
All decisions about initiating, continuing, or stopping therapy of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) during pregnancy must include an analysis of the risks and benefits for mother and fetus. The trimester of the pregnancy and the stage of the motherâs liver disease are important factors. Treatment in the third trimester may be initiated to aid in preventing perinatal transmission, which appears to be most pronounced in mothers with high viral loads. Consideration of initiating treatment in the third trimester should occur after a high viral load is documented in the latter part of the second trimester, to allow adequate time for initiation of antiviral therapy with significant viral suppression before delivery. This discussion should include the topic of breastfeeding, because it is generally not recommended while receiving antiviral therapy. Currently, lamivudine and tenofovir appear to be the therapeutic options with the most reasonable safety data in pregnancy
- âŠ