Epoetin alfa improves quality of life in anemic HCV‐infected patients receiving combination therapy

Paul J. Pockros, Mitchell L. Shiffman, Eugene R. Schiff, Mark S. Sulkowski, Zobair Younossi, Douglas T. Dieterich, Teresa L. Wright, Samir H. Mody, K. Linda Tang, Betty L. Goon, Peter J. Bowers, Gerhard Leitz, Nezam H. Afdhal, PROACTIVE Study Group – 24 November 2004 – Anemia and decreased health‐related quality of life (HRQL) are common in patients receiving combination therapy of interferon alfa (IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

PGE1‐induced NO reduces apoptosis by D‐galactosamine through attenuation of NF‐κB and NOS‐2 expression in rat hepatocytes

Emilio Siendones, Dalia Fouad, María José M. Díaz‐Guerra, Manuel de la Mata, Lisardo Boscá, Jordi Muntané – 24 November 2004 – Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) reduces cell death in experimental and clinical liver dysfunction. We have previously shown that PGE1 preadministration protects against NO‐dependent cell death induced by D‐galactosamine (D‐GalN) through a rapid increase of nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) activity, inducible NO synthase (NOS‐2) expression, and NO production.

Treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavarin in HCV infection with genotype 2 or 3 for 14 weeks: A pilot study

Olav Dalgard, Kristian Bjøro, Kjell Block Hellum, Bjørn Myrvang, Ståle Ritland, Kjell Skaug, Nils Raknerud, Helge Bell – 24 November 2004 – The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of 14 weeks of treatment in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3 who achieve early virological response (EVR). In a noncontrolled multicenter trial, 122 treatment‐naive patients received 1.5 μg/kg pegylated interferon alfa‐2b subcutaneously once weekly and 800 to 1,400 mg/d ribavirin based on body weight.

Initial response to percutaneous ablation predicts survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Margarita Sala, Josep M. Llovet, Ramon Vilana, Lluís Bianchi, Manel Solé, Carmen Ayuso, Concepció Brú, Jordi Bruix, for the Barcelona Cly'nic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Group – 24 November 2004 – Outcome predictors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are treated with percutaneous ablation are ill defined, and it is unknown if successful therapy is associated with improved survival. In our study, 282 cirrhotic patients with early nonsurgical HCC were treated with percutaneous ablation during a 15‐year period.

Metronidazole and ursodeoxycholic acid for primary sclerosing cholangitis: A randomized placebo‐controlled trial

Martti Färkkilä, Anna‐Liisa Karvonen, Heimo Nurmi, Hannu Nuutinen, Matti Taavitsainen, Pekka Pikkarainen, Päivi Kärkkäinen – 24 November 2004 – No effective medical therapy is currently available for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) improves liver enzymes, but its effect on liver histology is controversial. Metronidazole (MTZ) prevents PSC‐like liver damage in animal models and reduces intestinal permeability.

Progression of liver fibrosis in women infected with hepatitis C: Long‐term benefit of estrogen exposure

Vincent Di Martino, Pascal Lebray, Robert P. Myers, Emmanuelle Pannier, Valérie Paradis, Frédéric Charlotte, Joseph Moussalli, Dominique Thabut, Catherine Buffet, Thierry Poynard – 24 November 2004 – Female sex is a protective factor for the progression of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Experimental data suggest that estrogens may have an antifibrotic effect.

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