Shorter durations and lower doses of peginterferon alfa‐2a are associated with inferior hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion rates in hepatitis B virus genotypes B or C

Y.‐F. Liaw, J.‐D. Jia, H.L.Y. Chan, K.H. Han, T. Tanwandee, W.L. Chuang, D.M. Tan, X.Y. Chen, E. Gane, T. Piratvisuth, L. Chen, Q. Xie, J.J.Y. Sung, C. Wat, C. Bernaards, Y. Cui, P. Marcellin – 11 July 2011 – As there is currently a lack of consensus on the most appropriate dose and duration of peginterferon alfa‐2a (PEG‐IFNα‐2a) therapy in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive patients, the efficacy and safety of either 24 or 48 weeks' duration and 90 μg/week or 180 μg/week doses were compared.

Comparison of the 2‐step tuberculin skin test and the quantiFERON‐TB gold in‐tube test for the screening of tuberculosis infection before liver transplantation

Susana Casas, Laura Muñoz, Raquel Moure, Jose Castellote, Maria R. Guerra, Lucia Gonzalez, Ana Andreu, Antoni G. Rafecas, Fernando Alcaide, Miguel Santin – 11 July 2011 – The ability of interferon‐γ release assays (IGRAs) to detect latent tuberculosis (TB) infection before liver transplantation (LT) is not well established.

Impact of IL28B on treatment outcome in hepatitis C virus G1/4 patients receiving response‐guided therapy with peginterferon alpha‐2a (40KD)/ribavirin

Thomas‐Matthias Scherzer, Albert Friedrich Stättermayer, Michael Strasser, Hermann Laferl, Andreas Maieron, Rudolf Stauber, Christian Datz, Emina Dulic‐Lakovic, Petra Steindl‐Munda, Harald Hofer, Peter Ferenci – 11 July 2011 – The IL28B genotype is the most important pretreatment predictor of treatment outcome in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Predicting clinical outcomes using baseline and follow‐up laboratory data from the hepatitis C long‐term treatment against cirrhosis trial

Marc G. Ghany, Hae‐Young Kim, Anne Stoddard, Elizabeth C. Wright, Leonard B. Seeff, Anna S.F. Lok, the HALT‐C Trial Group – 11 July 2011 – Predicting clinical outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis C is challenging. We used the hepatitis C long‐term treatment against cirrhosis (HALT‐C) trial database to develop two models, using baseline values of routinely available laboratory tests together with changes in these values during follow‐up to predict clinical decompensation and liver‐related death/liver transplant in patients with advanced hepatitis C.

Rosiglitazone versus rosiglitazone and metformin versus rosiglitazone and losartan in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in humans: A 12‐month randomized, prospective, open‐ label trial

Dawn M. Torres, Frances J. Jones, Janet C. Shaw, Christopher D. Williams, John A. Ward, Stephen A. Harrison – 11 July 2011 – Medication combinations that improve the efficacy of thiazolidinediones or ameliorate weight‐gain side effects of therapy represent an attractive potential treatment for (NASH). The aim of this randomized, open‐label trial was to assess the efficacy of rosiglitazone and metformin in combination versus rosiglitazone and losartan, compared to rosiglitazone alone, after 48 weeks of therapy.

Excess liver‐related morbidity of chronic hepatitis C patients, who achieve a sustained viral response, and are discharged from care

Hamish A. Innes, Sharon J. Hutchinson, Samuel Allen, Diptendu Bhattacharyya, Peter Bramley, Toby E.S. Delahooke, John F. Dillon, Ewan Forrest, Andrew Fraser, Ruth Gillespie, David J. Goldberg, Nicholas Kennedy, Scott McDonald, Allan McLeod, Peter R. Mills, Judith Morris, Peter Hayes, on behalf of the Hepatitis C Clinical Database Monitoring Committee.

The antiviral protein viperin inhibits hepatitis C virus replication via interaction with nonstructural protein 5A

Karla J. Helbig, Nicholas S. Eyre, Evelyn Yip, Sumudu Narayana, Kui Li, Guillaume Fiches, Erin M. McCartney, Rohit K. Jangra, Stanley M. Lemon, Michael R. Beard – 11 July 2011 – The interferon‐stimulated gene, viperin, has been shown to have antiviral activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the context of the HCV replicon, although the molecular mechanisms responsible are not well understood.

Promotion of tumor cell metastasis and vasculogenic mimicry by way of transcription coactivation by Bcl‐2 and Twist1: A study of hepatocellular carcinoma

Tao Sun, Bao‐cun Sun, Xiu‐lan Zhao, Nan Zhao, Xue‐yi Dong, Na Che, Zhi Yao, Yue‐mei Ma, Qiang Gu, Wen‐kang Zong, Zhi‐yong Liu – 11 July 2011 – The antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐2 plays multiple roles in apoptosis, immunity, and autophagy. Its expression in tumors correlates with tumor grade and malignancy. The recapitulation of the normal developmental process of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to tumor cell plasticity. This process is also a characteristic of metastatic cells and vasculogenic mimicry.

Retreatment with telaprevir combination therapy in hepatitis C patients with well‐characterized prior treatment response

Andrew J. Muir, Fred F. Poordad, John G. McHutchison, Mitchell L. Shiffman, Thomas Berg, Peter Ferenci, E. Jenny Heathcote, Jean‐Michel Pawlotsky, Stefan Zeuzem, Henk W. Reesink, Geoffrey Dusheiko, Emily C. Martin, Shelley George, Robert S. Kauffman, Nathalie Adda – 11 July 2011 – Retreatment with peginterferon alpha and ribavirin (PR) offers a limited chance of sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients who did not achieve SVR with prior PR treatment.

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