Anxiety and depression propensities in patients with acute toxic liver injury

AIM:To investigate anxiety and depression propensities in patients with toxic liver injury.METHODS:The subjects were divided into three groups:a healthy control group(Group 1,n=125),an acute non-toxic liver injury group(Group 2,n=124),and a group with acute toxic liver injury group caused by noncommercial herbal preparations(Group 3,n=126).These three groups were compared and evaluated through questionnaire surveys and using the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale(HADS),Beck Anxiety Inventory(BAI),Beck Depression Inventory(BDI),and the hypochondriasis scale.RESULTS:The HADS anxiety subscale was 4.9±2.7,5.0±3.0 and 5.6±3.4,in Groups 1,2,and 3,respectively.The HADS depression subscale in Group 3 showed the most significant score(5.2±3.2,6.4±3.4 and 7.2±3.4in Groups 1,2,and 3,respectively)(P<0.01 vs Group 1,P<0.05 vs Group 2).The BAI and BDI in Group 3showed the most significant score(7.0±6.3 and 6.9±6.9,9.5±8.6 and 8.8±7.3,10.7±7.2 and 11.6±8.5in Groups 1,2,and 3,respectively)(BAI:P<0.01 vs Group 1,P<0.05 vs Group 2)(BDI:P<0.01 vs Group1 and 2).Group 3 showed a significantly higher hypochondriasis score(8.2±6.0,11.6±7.5 and 13.1±6.5in Groups 1,2,and 3,respectively)(P<0.01 vs Group 1,P<0.05 vs Group 2).CONCLUSION:Psychological factors that present vulnerability to the temptation to use alternative medicines,such as herbs and plant preparations,are important for understanding toxic liver injury.

Assessment of scoring systems for acute-on-chronic liver failure at predicting short-term mortality in patients with alcoholic hepatitis

AIM To assess the performance of proposed scores specific for acute-on-chronic liver failure in predicting shortterm mortality among patients with alcoholic hepatitis.METHODS We retrospectively collected data from 264 patients with clinically diagnosed alcoholic hepatitis from January to December 2013 at 21 academic hospitals in Korea. The performance for predicting short-term mortality was calculated for Chronic Liver FailureSequential Organ Failure Assessment(CLIF-SOFA), CLIF Consortium Organ Failure score(CLIF-C OFs), Maddrey'sdiscriminant function(DF), age, bilirubin, international normalized ratio and creatinine score(ABIC), Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis Score(GAHS), model for end-stage liver disease(MELD), and MELD-Na.RESULTS Of 264 patients, 32(12%) patients died within 28 d. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of CLIF-SOFA, CLIF-C OFs, DF, ABIC, GAHS, MELD, and MELD-Na was 0.86(0.81-0.90), 0.89(0.84-0.92), 0.79(0.74-0.84), 0.78(0.72-0.83), 0.81(0.76-0.86), 0.83(0.78-0.88), and 0.83(0.78-0.88), respectively, for 28-d mortality. The performance of CLIF-SOFA had no statistically significant differences for 28-d mortality. The performance of CLIF-C OFs was superior to that of DF, ABIC, and GAHS, while comparable to that of MELD and MELD-Na in predicting 28-d mortality. A CLIF-SOFA score of 8 had 78.1% sensitivity and 79.7% specificity, and CLIF-C OFs of 10 had 68.8% sensitivity and 91.4% specificity for predicting 28-d mortality.CONCLUSION CLIF-SOFA and CLIF-C OF scores performed well, with comparable predictive ability for short-term mortality compared to the commonly used scoring systems in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

Exhaust Cleaning with Dielectric Barrier Discharge

To clean the exhaust emissions as one of the most important tasks in pollution control, a study on the treatment of engine emissions with discharge assistance was reported. A DBD plasma source shaped in grid and cylinder was examined in different engine operational modes to reduce the NOx content of diesel engine exhaust. The composition of the exhaust gases and chemical reactions initiated by the discharge were analyzed. The discharge frequency had a crucial impact on the device＇s performance and gas treatment. The voltages applied to the discharge gap could alter the chemical reactions occurring in the treated gases, which were indicated by the NO to NO2 ratio. The operation of the system was studied at frequencies ranging from 400 Hz to 16 kHz.

Efficacy of Pegylated Interferon Monotherapy versus Sequential Therapy of Entecavir and Pegylated Interferon in Hepatitis B e Antigen-Positive Hepatitis B Patients： A Randomized, Multicenter, Phase IIIb Open-Label Study （POTENT Study）

Background： Until now, various types of combined therapy with nucleotide analogs and pegylated interferon （Peg-INF） in patients with hepatitis B patients have been tried. Howe6ver, studies regarding the benefits of de novo combination, late-add on, and sequential treatmentare very limited. The objective of the current study was to identify the efficacy of sequential treatment of Peg-INF after short-term antiviral treatment. Methods： Between June 2010 and June 2015, hepatitis 13 e antigen （HBeAg）-positive patients （n = 162） received Peg-IFN for 48 weeks （mono-treatment group, n = 81） and entecavir （ETV） for 12 weeks with a 48-week course of Peg-IFN starting at week 5 of ETV therapy （sequential treatment group, n = 81）. The primary endpoint was HBeAg seroconversion at the end of follow-up period after the 24-week treatment. The primary endpoint was analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher＇s exact test, and regression analysis.Results： HBeAg seroconversion rate （18.2% vs. 18.2%, t = 0.03, P = 1.000） and seroclearance rate （19.7% vs. 19.7%, t = 0.03, P = 1.000） were same in both mono-treatment and sequential treatment groups. The rate of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） normalization （45.5% vs. 54.5%, t = 1.12, P = 0.296） and serum hepatitis B virus （HBV）-DNA 〈2000 U/L （28.8% vs. 28.8%, t = 0.10, P = 1.000） was not different in sequential and mono-treatment groups at 24 weeks of Peg-INF. Viral response rate （HBeAg seroconversion and serum HBV-DNA 〈2000 U/L） was not different in the two groups （12.1% vs. 16.7%, t = 1.83, P = 0.457）. Baseline HBV-DNA level （7 log10 U/ml vs. 7.5 log10 U/ml, t = 1.70, P = 0.019） and hepatitis B surface antigen titer （3.6 log10 U/ml vs. 4.0 log10 U/ml, t = 2.19, P = 0.020） were lower and predictors of responder in mono-treatment and sequential treatment groups, respectively. Conclusions： The current study shows no differences in HBeAg seroconversion rate, ALT normalization, and HBV-DNA levels between mono-therapy and sequential therapy regimens.