The secosteroid hormone vitamin D has, in addition to its effects in bone metabolism also functions in the modulation of immune responses against infectious agents and in inhibiting tumorigenesis. Thus, deficiency of ...The secosteroid hormone vitamin D has, in addition to its effects in bone metabolism also functions in the modulation of immune responses against infectious agents and in inhibiting tumorigenesis. Thus, deficiency of vitamin D is associated with several malignancies, but also with a plethora of infectious diseases. Among other communicable diseases, vitamin D deficiency is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases caused by hepatitis B and C viruses(HBV, HCV) and high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency with serum levels below 20 mg/mL in patients with HBV and HCV infection are found worldwide. Several studies have assessed the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the sustained virological response(SVR) to interferon(IFN) plus ribavirin(RBV) therapy in HBV and HCV infection. In these studies, inconsistent results were reported. This review addresses general aspects of vitamin D deficiency and, in particular, the significance of vitamin D hypovitaminosis in the outcome of HBVand HCV-related chronic liver diseases. Furthermore,current literature was reviewed in order to understand the effects of vitamin D supplementation in combination with IFN-based therapy on the virological response in HBV and HCV infected patients.展开更多
AIM To determine how sustained virological response at 12 wk(SVR12) with direct acting antivirals(DAAs) for the treatment of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection affects chronic kidney disease(CKD) progression. METHODS A ...AIM To determine how sustained virological response at 12 wk(SVR12) with direct acting antivirals(DAAs) for the treatment of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection affects chronic kidney disease(CKD) progression. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed in patients aged ≥ 18 years treated for HCV with DAAs at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System from 2014-2016. The treatment group was compared to patients with HCV from 2011-2013 who did not undergo HCV treatment, prior to the introduction of DAAs; the control group was matched to the study group in terms of age, gender, and ethnicity. Analysis of variance and co-variance was performed to compare means between SVR12 subgroups adjusting for co-variates.RESULTS Five hundred and twenty-three patients were evaluated. When comparing the rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate(e GFR) one-year after HCV treatment to one-year before treatment, patients who achieved SVR12 had a decline in GFR of 3.1 m L/min ± 0.75 m L/min per 1.73 m^2 compared to a decline in e GFR of 11.0 m L/min ± 2.81 m L/min per 1.73 m^2 in patients who did not achieve SVR12(P = 0.002). There were no significant clinical differences between patients who achieved SVR12 compared to those who did not in terms of cirrhosis, treatment course, treatment experience, CKD stage prior to treatment, diuretic use or other co-morbidities. The decline in e GFR in those with untreated HCV over 2 years was 2.8 m L/min ± 1.0 m L/min per 1.73 m^2, which was not significantly different from the e GFR decline noted in HCV-treated patients who achieved SVR12(P = 0.43).CONCLUSION Patients who achieve SVR12 have a lesser decline in renal function, but viral eradication in itself may not be associated improvement in renal disease progression.展开更多
AIM To determine steatosis and fibrosis prevalence in hepatitis C patients after a sustained virological response achieved with direct-acting antivirals.METHODS Transient elastography with controlled attenuation param...AIM To determine steatosis and fibrosis prevalence in hepatitis C patients after a sustained virological response achieved with direct-acting antivirals.METHODS Transient elastography with controlled attenuation parameter(CAP) was used to assess hepatic steatosis post-sustained virological response(SVR);the CAP technology was not available in the United States at study initiation.Liver stiffness/fibrosis was measured before and 47 wk after treatment completion.Patients with genotype 3 and patients with cirrhosis were excluded.RESULTS One hundred and one patients were included in the study.Post-SVR there were decreases from baseline in alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(63.1 to 17.8 U/L),aspartate aminotransferase(51.8 to 21.5 U/L) and fibrosis score(7.4 to 6.1 k Pa)(P < 0.05).Post-SVR,48 patients(47.5%) had steatosis on CAP;of these,6.25% had advanced fibrosis.Patients with steatosis had higher body mass index(29.0 vs 26.1 kg/m2),glucose(107.8 vs 96.6 mg/d L),ALT(20.4 vs 15.3 mg/d L),CAP score(296.3 vs 212.4 d B/m) and fibrosis score(7.0 vs 5.3 k Pa);P < 0.05.Interestingly,compared to baseline,both patients with and without steatosis had change in fibrosis score post-SVR(7.7 k Pa vs 7.0 k Pa and 7.0 k Pa vs 5.3 k Pa);alternatively,(P < 0.05) and therefore patients with steatosis continued to have clinically significant stiffness(≥ 7 k Pa).CONCLUSION Fatty liver is very common in hepatitis C virus(HCV) patients post-SVR.These patients continue to have elevated mean fibrosis score(≥ 7 k Pa) compared to those without fatty liver;some have advanced fibrosis.Long term follow up is needed to assess steatosis and fibrosis in HCV patients post-SVR.展开更多
Vitamin D is an important secosteroid hormone with known effect on calcium homeostasis,but recently there is increasing recognition that vitamin D also is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation,has immunom...Vitamin D is an important secosteroid hormone with known effect on calcium homeostasis,but recently there is increasing recognition that vitamin D also is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation,has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.Vitamin D deficiency has been frequently reported in many causes of chronic liver disease and has been associated with the development and evolution of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and chronic hepatitis C(CHC)virus infection.The role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and CHC is not completely known,but it seems that the involvement of vitamin D in the activation and regulation of both innate and adaptive immune systems and its antiproliferative effect may explain its importance in these liver diseases.Published studies provide evidence for routine screening for hypovitaminosis D in patients with liver disease.Further prospectives studies demonstrating the impact of vitamin D replacement in NAFLD and CHC are required.展开更多
The outbreak of Ebola virus disease(EVD) continues to spread through West Africa. Since the first reported EVD in March 2014, the number of cases has increased rapidly, with the fatality rate of >50%. The most prev...The outbreak of Ebola virus disease(EVD) continues to spread through West Africa. Since the first reported EVD in March 2014, the number of cases has increased rapidly, with the fatality rate of >50%. The most prevalent Ebola virus belongs to the species of Zaire ebolavirus, with a mortality rate as high as 90%. Although there were introduced cases in other continents, Africa is the endemic area where fruit bats and apes are suspected to be Ebola virus carriers. The virus might be transmitted from the host animals to humans if humans consume relative raw and contaminated meats; however, human-to-human transmission via close contact is the major route of current outbreaks. EVD happens at any seasons and affected people of any race in any age groups. Direct contact with body fluids of EVD patients and living in the contaminated environment greatly increase the risk of being infected. Transmission viaaerosol is less possible but the transmission via droplet is possible in humans. Thus, health care providers are facing danger of getting Ebola virus infection. So far, there are limited vaccines, drugs and/or therapies to prevent Ebola virus infection or treat EVD. Medical workers should follow the current standard prophylactic procedures. Military forces can orchestrate efficient care to mass EVD casualties. Although it is necessary to speed up the pace of developing effective vaccine and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of EVD, public health prophylaxis is the most important issue at present to control the spread of this disease cost-effectively.展开更多
The association between chronic hepatitis C(CHC)infection and extrahepatic manifestations(EHMs),particularly cardiometabolic diseases,has been extensively examined.However,there has still been insufficient evaluation ...The association between chronic hepatitis C(CHC)infection and extrahepatic manifestations(EHMs),particularly cardiometabolic diseases,has been extensively examined.However,there has still been insufficient evaluation for these EHMs after virological cure.Several multidirectional mechanisms have been proposed explaining the ability of hepatitis C virus(HCV)developing EHMs,cardiometabolic ones,as well as the effect of antiviral therapy to resolve these EHMs.Data on these manifestations after achieving sustained virologic response(SVR)are still conflicting.However,current evidence suggests that reversal of hepatic steatosis and its coexistent hypocholesterolemia after successful viral eradication led to unfavorable lipid profile,which increases cardiovascular disease(CVD)risk.Additionally,most observations showed that metabolic alterations,such as insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus(DM),undergo some degree of reduction after viral clearance.These changes seem HCV-genotype dependent.Interferon-based antiviral therapy and direct acting antiviral drugs were shown to minimize incidence of DM.Large epidemiological studies that investigated the effect of SVR on CVD showed great discrepancies in terms of results,with predominant findings indicating that CVD events decreased in patients with SVR compared to non-responders or untreated ones.In this review,we present a summary of the current knowledge regarding extrahepatic sequelae of CHC following SVR,which may have an impact on healthcare providers’clinical practice.展开更多
This letter to the editor relates to the study entitled“Tenofovir amibufenamide vs tenofovir alafenamide for treating chronic hepatitis B:A real-world study”,which was recently published by Peng et al.Hepatitis B vi...This letter to the editor relates to the study entitled“Tenofovir amibufenamide vs tenofovir alafenamide for treating chronic hepatitis B:A real-world study”,which was recently published by Peng et al.Hepatitis B virus infection represents a significant health burden worldwide and can lead to cirrhosis and even liver cancer.The antiviral drugs currently used to treat patients with chronic hepatitis B infection still have many side effects,so it is crucial to identify safe and effective drugs to inhibit viral replication.展开更多
基金financial support from Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development(NAFOSTED)under grant number 108.02-2017.15Thirumalaisamy P Velavan acknowledges the support from Federal Ministry of Edu-cation and Research,Germany(BMBF01DP17047)
文摘The secosteroid hormone vitamin D has, in addition to its effects in bone metabolism also functions in the modulation of immune responses against infectious agents and in inhibiting tumorigenesis. Thus, deficiency of vitamin D is associated with several malignancies, but also with a plethora of infectious diseases. Among other communicable diseases, vitamin D deficiency is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases caused by hepatitis B and C viruses(HBV, HCV) and high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency with serum levels below 20 mg/mL in patients with HBV and HCV infection are found worldwide. Several studies have assessed the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the sustained virological response(SVR) to interferon(IFN) plus ribavirin(RBV) therapy in HBV and HCV infection. In these studies, inconsistent results were reported. This review addresses general aspects of vitamin D deficiency and, in particular, the significance of vitamin D hypovitaminosis in the outcome of HBVand HCV-related chronic liver diseases. Furthermore,current literature was reviewed in order to understand the effects of vitamin D supplementation in combination with IFN-based therapy on the virological response in HBV and HCV infected patients.
基金Supported by Department of Veterans Affairs RR and D Merit Review,No.I01 RX000194(to Pisegna JR)Human Studies CORE through CURE:Digestive Diseases Research Center supported by NIH grant+1 种基金Nos.P30DK41301(to Pisegna JR)NIH T32 DK07180-43(to Benhammou JN)
文摘AIM To determine how sustained virological response at 12 wk(SVR12) with direct acting antivirals(DAAs) for the treatment of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection affects chronic kidney disease(CKD) progression. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed in patients aged ≥ 18 years treated for HCV with DAAs at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System from 2014-2016. The treatment group was compared to patients with HCV from 2011-2013 who did not undergo HCV treatment, prior to the introduction of DAAs; the control group was matched to the study group in terms of age, gender, and ethnicity. Analysis of variance and co-variance was performed to compare means between SVR12 subgroups adjusting for co-variates.RESULTS Five hundred and twenty-three patients were evaluated. When comparing the rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate(e GFR) one-year after HCV treatment to one-year before treatment, patients who achieved SVR12 had a decline in GFR of 3.1 m L/min ± 0.75 m L/min per 1.73 m^2 compared to a decline in e GFR of 11.0 m L/min ± 2.81 m L/min per 1.73 m^2 in patients who did not achieve SVR12(P = 0.002). There were no significant clinical differences between patients who achieved SVR12 compared to those who did not in terms of cirrhosis, treatment course, treatment experience, CKD stage prior to treatment, diuretic use or other co-morbidities. The decline in e GFR in those with untreated HCV over 2 years was 2.8 m L/min ± 1.0 m L/min per 1.73 m^2, which was not significantly different from the e GFR decline noted in HCV-treated patients who achieved SVR12(P = 0.43).CONCLUSION Patients who achieve SVR12 have a lesser decline in renal function, but viral eradication in itself may not be associated improvement in renal disease progression.
文摘AIM To determine steatosis and fibrosis prevalence in hepatitis C patients after a sustained virological response achieved with direct-acting antivirals.METHODS Transient elastography with controlled attenuation parameter(CAP) was used to assess hepatic steatosis post-sustained virological response(SVR);the CAP technology was not available in the United States at study initiation.Liver stiffness/fibrosis was measured before and 47 wk after treatment completion.Patients with genotype 3 and patients with cirrhosis were excluded.RESULTS One hundred and one patients were included in the study.Post-SVR there were decreases from baseline in alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(63.1 to 17.8 U/L),aspartate aminotransferase(51.8 to 21.5 U/L) and fibrosis score(7.4 to 6.1 k Pa)(P < 0.05).Post-SVR,48 patients(47.5%) had steatosis on CAP;of these,6.25% had advanced fibrosis.Patients with steatosis had higher body mass index(29.0 vs 26.1 kg/m2),glucose(107.8 vs 96.6 mg/d L),ALT(20.4 vs 15.3 mg/d L),CAP score(296.3 vs 212.4 d B/m) and fibrosis score(7.0 vs 5.3 k Pa);P < 0.05.Interestingly,compared to baseline,both patients with and without steatosis had change in fibrosis score post-SVR(7.7 k Pa vs 7.0 k Pa and 7.0 k Pa vs 5.3 k Pa);alternatively,(P < 0.05) and therefore patients with steatosis continued to have clinically significant stiffness(≥ 7 k Pa).CONCLUSION Fatty liver is very common in hepatitis C virus(HCV) patients post-SVR.These patients continue to have elevated mean fibrosis score(≥ 7 k Pa) compared to those without fatty liver;some have advanced fibrosis.Long term follow up is needed to assess steatosis and fibrosis in HCV patients post-SVR.
文摘Vitamin D is an important secosteroid hormone with known effect on calcium homeostasis,but recently there is increasing recognition that vitamin D also is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation,has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.Vitamin D deficiency has been frequently reported in many causes of chronic liver disease and has been associated with the development and evolution of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and chronic hepatitis C(CHC)virus infection.The role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and CHC is not completely known,but it seems that the involvement of vitamin D in the activation and regulation of both innate and adaptive immune systems and its antiproliferative effect may explain its importance in these liver diseases.Published studies provide evidence for routine screening for hypovitaminosis D in patients with liver disease.Further prospectives studies demonstrating the impact of vitamin D replacement in NAFLD and CHC are required.
基金supported by the General Logistics of PLA in China (Grant No. AWS11L009)
文摘The outbreak of Ebola virus disease(EVD) continues to spread through West Africa. Since the first reported EVD in March 2014, the number of cases has increased rapidly, with the fatality rate of >50%. The most prevalent Ebola virus belongs to the species of Zaire ebolavirus, with a mortality rate as high as 90%. Although there were introduced cases in other continents, Africa is the endemic area where fruit bats and apes are suspected to be Ebola virus carriers. The virus might be transmitted from the host animals to humans if humans consume relative raw and contaminated meats; however, human-to-human transmission via close contact is the major route of current outbreaks. EVD happens at any seasons and affected people of any race in any age groups. Direct contact with body fluids of EVD patients and living in the contaminated environment greatly increase the risk of being infected. Transmission viaaerosol is less possible but the transmission via droplet is possible in humans. Thus, health care providers are facing danger of getting Ebola virus infection. So far, there are limited vaccines, drugs and/or therapies to prevent Ebola virus infection or treat EVD. Medical workers should follow the current standard prophylactic procedures. Military forces can orchestrate efficient care to mass EVD casualties. Although it is necessary to speed up the pace of developing effective vaccine and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of EVD, public health prophylaxis is the most important issue at present to control the spread of this disease cost-effectively.
基金Junior 1 and 2 Salary Award from Fonds de la Recherche en Santédu Québec,No.27127Junior 1 and 2 Salary Award from Fonds de la Recherche en Santédu Québec,No.267806+1 种基金Research Salary from the Department of Medicine of McGill UniversityPfizer via Unrestricted Educational Grant.
文摘The association between chronic hepatitis C(CHC)infection and extrahepatic manifestations(EHMs),particularly cardiometabolic diseases,has been extensively examined.However,there has still been insufficient evaluation for these EHMs after virological cure.Several multidirectional mechanisms have been proposed explaining the ability of hepatitis C virus(HCV)developing EHMs,cardiometabolic ones,as well as the effect of antiviral therapy to resolve these EHMs.Data on these manifestations after achieving sustained virologic response(SVR)are still conflicting.However,current evidence suggests that reversal of hepatic steatosis and its coexistent hypocholesterolemia after successful viral eradication led to unfavorable lipid profile,which increases cardiovascular disease(CVD)risk.Additionally,most observations showed that metabolic alterations,such as insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus(DM),undergo some degree of reduction after viral clearance.These changes seem HCV-genotype dependent.Interferon-based antiviral therapy and direct acting antiviral drugs were shown to minimize incidence of DM.Large epidemiological studies that investigated the effect of SVR on CVD showed great discrepancies in terms of results,with predominant findings indicating that CVD events decreased in patients with SVR compared to non-responders or untreated ones.In this review,we present a summary of the current knowledge regarding extrahepatic sequelae of CHC following SVR,which may have an impact on healthcare providers’clinical practice.
基金Supported by Biomedical Enterprise Project of Hangzhou Science and Technology Bureau,No.2021WJCY061 and No.2022WJC230.
文摘This letter to the editor relates to the study entitled“Tenofovir amibufenamide vs tenofovir alafenamide for treating chronic hepatitis B:A real-world study”,which was recently published by Peng et al.Hepatitis B virus infection represents a significant health burden worldwide and can lead to cirrhosis and even liver cancer.The antiviral drugs currently used to treat patients with chronic hepatitis B infection still have many side effects,so it is crucial to identify safe and effective drugs to inhibit viral replication.