Unraveling the Impact of Direct-Acting Antivirals on Hepatitis-Linked Cirrhosis: A Comprehensive Analysis of Fibrosis, Child Score, and Disease Progression

The treatment of hepatitis C has undergone a significant boom since the advent of direct acting antivirals (DAA). Indeed, the interferon-ribavirin combination that has been used to treat hepatitis C has a virological response in only 45% of cases with significant side effects. The advent of direct-acting antivirals has changed the prognosis of cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C. DAAs have ensured a sustained viral response in the majority of patients. Our work aims to see the evolution of hepatitis C patients at the cirrhosis stage under DAA. We conducted a retrospective study over 15 years (January 2009, January 2024) including all patients with post-viral cirrhosis C, whom we divided into two groups: group A, cirrhotic patients who received ribavirin and interferon, and group B, patients on DAA. From January 2009 to January 2024, we conducted a study of 182 patients with viral hepatitis C, including 102 cirrhotic patients. The mean age was 55 years. 66% of patients were initially treated with the ribavirin interferon combination, while 34% received direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Since the introduction of DAAs, the most commonly used regimens have been sofosbuvir/daclatasvir with or without ribavirin and sofosbuvir/ledipasvir with or without ribavirin. Group A achieved sustained virological response (SVR) in 60% of cases, with notable side effects. In Group B, SVR was 98.18%, with improved tolerability and fewer side effects than previous treatments. Fifteen patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with a significantly lower mortality rate in those treated with DAAs compared with pegylated dual therapy (p: 0.001).

Using Double-acting Hydraulic Actuators for Weight Reduction in the Offshore Industry

An actuator is a machine or component installed on the top of an industrial valve for automatically moving and controlling the valve.The performance of a valve is largely dependent on its actuator.An actuator can be hydraulic,pneumatic,or electrical.This paper focuses on hydraulic actuators,which are common for large size and high-pressure class ball valves.Hydraulic actuators can be either single-acting(spring return)or double-acting.Single-acting actuators return to safe mode in case of failure.However,double-acting actuators have a fail-as-is function and cannot keep the valves open or closed in case of failure.This research used a combination of theoretical and experimental approaches.The paper discusses two case studies in offshore industry projects in which double-acting hydraulic actuators were selected instead of single-acting,and possible design impacts are discussed.A theoretical review is given in three papers about operating torque for ball valves,optimization of shutdown valve actuator weight,and design and analysis of hydraulic actuators.These three papers were selected for review to connect the valve required torque with actuator sizing and selection,finding practical approaches to optimize the actuator weight as well as develop a theoretical model to calculate the actuator thickness and dimensions for the 38”CL1500 ball valve in the Johan Sverdrup project.The proposed formulas and calculations used for sizing the 38”CL1500 ball valves were validated through a finite element analysis model.

The influence of Fe extracting as a filler of fiber concrete performance

This research is showing the effect of increasing an Fe extracting from the compression strength, tension and bending moment. The variations in this experiment are the increasing of Fe extracting 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% of concrete volume. Water Cement Ratio （WCR） variation of 0.48, 0.56 and 0.60. The result of increasing 1.5% Fe extracting causes the increasing of tension strength 44.028 kN/cm2, the increasing of slit tension strength 2.226 kN/cm2, the increasing of bending moment 14.81 kN/cm2 from normal concrete. 0.48 WCR produces tension strength, slit tension strength and bending moment more than 0.56 and 0.60 WCR. The increasing of Fe extracting with the distribution variation area and the spread concrete in the tension concrete area produce 3.705 kN/cm2 bending moment higher than the spread fiber in all of concrete area. The 4 cm fiber length produces the higher bending moment than the 2 cm fiber length. The difference is equally 5.185 kN/cm2. The combination result of the examined acting varieties by continuation statistic test gives the result to get the maximum tension and split tensile. It is a concrete combination of increasing 1.5% fiber percentage, 0.48 WCR, full spreading area and the 4 cm fiber length. The maximum bending moment is the increasing of 0.5% fiber percentage, 0.48 WCR, full spreading area and the 4 cm fiber length.

Long acting octreotide in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular cancer and overexpression of somatostatin receptors: Randomized placebo-controlled trial

AIM: To estimate if and to what extent long acting octreotide (LAR) improves survival and quality of life in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A total of 127 cirrhotics, stages A-B, due to chronic viral infections and with advanced HCC, were enrolled in the study. Scintigraphy with 111Indium labeled octreotide was performed in all cases. The patients with increased accumulation of radionuclear compound were randomized to receive either oral placebo only or octreotide/octreotide LAR only as follows: octreotide 0.5mg s.c. every 8 h for 6 wk, at the end of wk 4-8 octreotide LAR 20 mg i.m. and at the end of wk 12 and every 4 wk octreotide LAR 30mg i.m.. Follow-up was worked out monthly as well as the estimation of quality of life (QLQ-C30 questionnaire). Patients with negative somatostatin receptors (SSTR) detection were followed up in the same manner. RESULTS: Scintigraphy demonstrated SSTR in 61 patients. Thirty were randomized to receive only placebo and 31 only octreotide. A significantly higher survival time was observed for the octreotide group (49 ± 6 wk) as compared to the control group (28 ± 1 wk) and to the SSTR negative group (28 ± 2 wk), LR = 20.39, df = 2, P < 0.01. The octreotide group presented 68.5% lower hazard ratio [95% CI (47.4%-81.2%)]. During the f irst year, a 22%, 39% and 43% decrease in the QLQ-C30 score was observed in each group respectively.CONCLUSION: The proposed therapeutic approach has shown to improve the survival and quality of life in SSTR positive patients with advanced HCC.

Efficacy and safety of combined directly acting antivirals for treatment of Chinese chronic hepatitis C patients in a real-world setting

AIM To assess the efficacy and safety of combined directly acting antivirals(DAAs) for the treatment of Chinese chronic hepatitis C(CHC) patients in a real-world setting.METHODS Hospitalized CHC patients who were treated with DAAs at Peking University First Hospital between January 2015 and December 2016 were enrolled. Samples and clinical data were collected at 0 wk, 2 wk, 4 wk, 8 wk, 12 wk, or 24 wk during DAAs treatment and at 4 wk, 12 wk, and 24 wk after the end of treatment. RESULTS Fifty-four patients who underwent DAAs treatment were included in our study, of whom 83.3%(45/54) achieved rapid virological response at 2 wk after treatment initiation(RVR 2) and 94.4%(51/54)achieved sustained virological response at 24 wk after the end of treatment(SVR 24). Serum creatinine and uric acid levels at the end of treatment were significantly increased compared with baseline levels(83.6 ± 17.9 vs 88.8 ± 19.4, P 01 < 0.001; 320.8 ± 76.3 vs 354.5 ± 87.6, P 01 < 0.001), and no significant improvements were observed at 24 w after the end of treatment(83.6 ± 17.9 vs 86.8 ± 19.1, P 02 = 0.039; 320.8 ± 76.3 vs 345.9 ± 89.4, P 02 = 0.001). The total frequency of adverse events(AEs) during treatment was 33.3%(18/54), with major AEs being fatigue(16.7%), headache(7.4%), anorexia(7.4%), and insomnia(5.6%). CONCLUSION Though based in a small cohort of patients, the abnormal changes in renal function indices and relative high frequency of AEs during combined DAAs treatment should be taken as a note of caution.

Impact of direct acting antivirals on occurrence and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma: Biologically plausible or an epiphenomenon?

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Chronic hepatitis C virus infection(HCV) is the most common cause of HCC in many European countries, Japan and Pakistan. Introduction of the new direct acting antivirals(DAAs) has revolutionized the management of HCV worldwide, with high rates of sustained virologic response in patients who could not have tolerated the previous interferon based treatments. However, recently there have been reports raising caution about the long term effects of DAAs, particularly a possible increased risk of HCC. Therefore this review explores the current molecular studies as well as clinical data that investigate the impact of DAAs on occurrence and recurrence of HCC.

Future of liver disease in the era of direct acting antivirals for the treatment of hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection has been a global health problem for decades, due to the high number of infected people and to the lack of effective and welltolerated therapies. In the last 3 years, the approval of new direct acting antivirals characterized by high rates of virological clearance and excellent tolerability has dramatically improved HCV infection curability, especially for patients with advanced liver disease and for liver transplant recipients. Long-term data about the impact of the new direct acting antivirals on liver fibrosis and liver disease-related outcomes are not yet available, due to their recent introduction. However, previously published data deriving from the use of pegylatedinterferon and ribavirin lead to hypothesizing that we are going to observe, in the future, a reduction in mortality and in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as a regression of fibrosis for people previously affected by hepatitis C. In the liver transplant setting, clinical improvement has already been described after treatment with the new direct acting antivirals, which has often led to patients delisting. In the future, this may hopefully reduce the gap between liver organ request and availability, probably expanding liver transplant indications to other clinical conditions. Therefore, these new drugs are going to change the natural history of HCV-related liver disease and the epidemiology of HCV infection worldwide. However, the global consequences will depend on treatment accessibility and on the number of countries that could afford the use of the new direct acting antivirals.

A method of elevated temperatures coupled with magnetic stirring to predict real time release from long acting progesterone PLGA microspheres

The object of the study was to develop a quick and reproducible accelerated in vitro release method to predict and deduce the function of the real time(37 °C) release for long acting PLGA microspheres. The method could be described in several steps. First, the release of the microspheres were studied using the sample and separate method at 37 °C with normal orbital shaking and elevated temperatures with magnetic stirring to further accelerate the release. Second, the most similar profile at elevated temperatures with the real time release was chosen with the help of the n value in the fitted Korsmeyer-Peppas Function. Third,the Weibull function and conversion ratio were used to deduce the function of real time release according to the chosen profile at elevated temperatures. The key point in this study was to provide a quick and precise method to predict the real time release for long acting progesterone PLGA microspheres. So the elevated temperatures coupled with magnetic stirring were used to accelerate the release further, and when there have many similar release profiles with the real time release at elevated temperatures, releasing time at elevated temperatures and the R2 of the final deduced function will be used to help choosing the most similar release profile with the real time release. Four different types of progesterone PLGA microspheres were used to verify the method, and all the deduced function correlated well with the real time releases, for R2 = 0.9912, 0.9781, 0.9918 and 0.9972, respectively.

Hepatitis C virus eradication with directly acting antivirals improves health-related quality of life and psychological symptoms

BACKGROUND Alterations in health-related quality of life(HRQoL)and neuropsychological disorders were described in the hepatitis C virus(HCV)patients.Although several studies investigated the modifications of HRQoL after HCV eradication,no data exists on the modifications of neuropsychological symptoms.AIM To investigate the effect of directly acting antivirals(DAAs)treatment on HRQoL and neuropsychological symptoms.METHODS Thirty nine patients with HCV infection underwent a neuropsychological assessment,including Zung-Self Depression-Rating-Scale,Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y1-Y2 and the Toronto-Alexithymia Scale-20 items before and after DAAs treatment.HRQoL was detected by Short-Form-36(SF-36).RESULTS All HRQoL domains,but role limitation physical and bodily pain,significantly improved after treatment.Interestingly,after DAAs treatment,all domains of HRQoL returned similar to those of controls.Each neuropsychological test significantly improved after HCV eradication.A significant correlation was observed among each psychological test and the summary components of SF-36.At multiple linear regression analysis including each psychological test as possible covariates,Zung-Self Depression Rating Scale(Zung-SDS)score was independently and significantly related to summary components of the SF-36 in the basal state and the difference between Zung-SDS score before and after treatment was the only variable significantly and independently related to the modification of HRQoL induced by the treatment.CONCLUSION Neuropsychological symptoms strongly influenced HRQoL in HCV patients and there was a significant improvement of neuropsychological tests and HRQoL after DAAs treatment.

Direct acting antiviral therapy is curative for chronic hepatitis C/autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome

Autoimmune phenomena are common in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Management of chronic hepatitis C/autoimmune hepatitis syndrome has until recently been problematic due to the adverse effects of interferon on autoimmune processes and immunosuppression on viral replication. In this report we describe 3 patients with chronic hepatitis C/autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome who responded rapidly to direct acting antiviral therapy. The resolution of the autoimmune process supports a direct viral role in its pathophysiology.

Enhanced high temperature cycling performance of LiMn_2O_4/graphite cells with methylene methanedisulfonate(MMDS) as electrolyte additive and its acting mechanism

The effects of methylene methanedisulfonate（MMDS） on the high-temperature（0℃） cycle performance of LiMnO/graphite cells are investigated.By addition of 2 wt%MMDS into a routine electrolyte,the high-temperature cycling performance of LiMn204/graphite cells can be significantly improved.The analysis of differential capacity curves and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry（EDX） indicates that MMDS decomposed on both cathode and anode.The three-electrode system of pouch cell is used to reveal the capacity loss mechanism in the cells.It is shown that the capacity fading of cells without MMDS in the electrolytes is due to irreversible lithium consumption during cycling and irreversible damage of LiMnOmaterial,while the capacity fading of cell with 2 wt%MMDS in electrolytes mainly originated from irreversible lithium consumption during cycling.

Era of direct acting anti-viral agents for the treatment of hepatitis C

Hepatitis C infection is universal and the most common indication of liver transplantation in the United States. The period of less effective interferon therapy with intolerable side effects has gone. Now we have stepped into the era of direct acting anti-viral agents(DAAs) against hepatitis C virus. Treatment of hepatitis C is now extremely effective, tolerable and requires a short duration of intake of oral agents. Less monitoring is required with the current therapy and drug-drug interactions are less than the previous regimen. The current treatment options of chronic hepatitis C with various DAAs are discussed in this article.

Hepatocellular carcinoma after direct-acting antiviral hepatitis C virus therapy:A debate near the end

Direct acting antivirals(DAAs)have revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection,achieving high rates(≥95%)of sustained virological response,with a good safety profile and high compliance rates.Consequently,it had been expected that viral clearance will reduce morbidity and mortality rates,as well as the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,since 2016,concerns have been raised over an unexpected high rate of HCC occurrence and recurrence after DAA therapy,which led to an avalanche of studies with contradictory results.We aimed to review the most recent and relevant articles regarding the risk of HCC after DAA treatment and identify the associated risk factors.

Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acidenhanced magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating fibrosis regression in chronic hepatitis C patients after direct-acting antiviral

BACKGROUND Direct acting antiviral(DAA)therapy has enabled hepatitis C virus infection to become curable,while histological changes remain uncontained.Few valid noninvasive methods can be confirmed for use in surveillance.Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid(Gd-EOB-DTPA)is a liver-specific magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)contrast,related to liver function in the hepatobiliary phase(HBP).Whether Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI can be used in the diagnosis and follow up of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C(CHC)has not been investigated.AIM To investigate the diagnostic and follow-up values of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI for hepatic histology in patients with CHC.METHODS Patients with CHC were invited to undergo Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and liver biopsy before treatment,and those with paired qualified MRI and liver biopsy specimens were included.Transient elastography(TE)and blood tests were also arranged.Patients treated with DAAs who achieved 24-wk sustained virological response(SVR)underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and liver biopsy again.The signal intensity(SI)of the liver and muscle were measured in the unenhanced phase(UEP)(SI_(UEP-liver),SI_(UEP-muscle))and HBP(SI_(HBP-liver),SI_(HBP-muscle))via MRI.The contrast enhancement index(CEI)was calculated as[(SI_(HBP-liver)/SI_(HBP-muscle))]/[(SI_(UEP-liver)/SI_(UEP-muscle))].Liver stiffness measurement(LSM)was confirmed with TE.Serologic markers,aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI)and Fibrosis-4(FIB-4),were also calculated according to blood tests.The grade of inflammation and stage of fibrosis were evaluated with the modified histology activity index(mHAI)and Ishak fibrosis score,respectively.Fibrosis regression was defined as a≥1-point decrease in the Ishak fibrosis score.The correlation between the CEI and liver pathology was evaluated.The diagnostic and follow-up values of the CEI,LSM,and serologic markers were compared.RESULTS Thirty-nine patients with CHC were enrolled[average age,42.3±14.4 years;20/39(51.3%)male].Twenty-one enrolled patients had eligible paired Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and liver tissues after achieving SVR.The mHAI median significantly decreased after SVR[baseline 6.0(4.5-13.5)vs SVR 2.0(1.5-5.5),Z=3.322,P=0.017],but the median stage of fibrosis did not notably change(P>0.05).Sixty pairs of qualified MRI and liver tissue samples were available for use to analyze the relationship between the CEI and hepatic pathology.The CEI was negatively correlated with the mHAI(r=-0.56,P<0.001)and Ishak score(r=-0.69,P<0.001).Further stratified analysis showed that the value of the CEI decreased with the progression of the stage of fibrosis rather than with the grade of necroinflammation.For patients with Ishak score≥5,the areas under receiver operating characteristics curve of the CEI,LSM,APRI,and FIB-4 were approximately at baseline,0.87–0.93,and after achieving SVR,0.83–0.91.The CEI cut-off value was stable(baseline 1.58 and SVR 1.59),but those of the APRI(from 1.05 to 0.24),FIB-4(from 1.78 to 1.28),and LSM(from 10.8 kpa to 7.1 kpa)decreased dramatically.The APRI and FIB-4 cannot be used as diagnostic means for SVR in patients with Ishak score≥3(P>0.05).Seven patients achieved fibrosis regression after achieving SVR.In these patients,the CEI median increased(from 1.71 to 1.83,Z=-1.981,P=0.048)and those of the APRI(from 1.71 to 1.83,Z=-2.878,P=0.004)and LSM(from 6.6 to 4.8,Z=-2.366,P=0.018)decreased.However,in patients without fibrosis regression,the medians of the APRI,FIB-4,and LSM also changed significantly(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI has good diagnostic value for staging fibrosis in patients with CHC.It can be used for fibrotic-change monitoring post SVR in patients with CHC treated with DAAs.

Explanatory Variables as Evidence for Precision in Intramuscular Long-Acting Injections of Patients with Schizophrenia

Intramuscular injections can cause damage to arteries, veins and nerves. Achieving maximum effects of medications through precise intramuscular (IM) injections must be assured and with certainty, particularly with long-acting injection drugs (LAI). The purpose of this study is to determine precision in IM LAIs of patients with schizophrenia. These evidences estimate “Distance from the Epidermis to the Under-Fascia” (DEUF) and “Distance from Epidermis to the Upper-Arm Bone” (DEB) of the deltoid muscle. Explanatory variables include body height, weight, body-mass index (BMI), deltoid-muscle circumference, fat percentage and muscle mass measured by body composition monitor. Sixty nine subjects are included based on the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV, 1994), and receive treatments of typical and atypical antipsychotic LAI. There are 46 males and 23 females with average age of 51.41 (Standard Deviation = 13.58) and ranging from 21 to 81 years who are all right-handed. Ultrasonographic data and those from explanatory variables are calculated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. Multiple regression analysis (step-wise method/forced input method) is performed assuming DEUF or DEB as dependent variables. Significant correlations are found with highest adjusted R-square. Paired t-tests show differences in average values of actual ultrasonographic measurements assigned to DEUF or DEB, and the regression equations for accuracy. Ultrasonographic values are assigned multiple-regression equations as true values, and the calculated values are compared with those obtained by regression equations. There are no significant differences observed for either the right or left arm. The multiple regression equations for BMI and fat percentages (upper extremity estimation) of DEUF, and for BMI and injection site circumference of estimated DEB, successfully value the DEUF and DEB. By using these multiple regression equations for IM injection to the deltoid-muscle, DEUF can better ensure accurate LAI into the muscle through body monitor, DEB, and measured values of the deltoid-muscle injection site circumference.

STUDY ON UNIFIED INTER-SPHERICAL ACTING OF CONTINENTAL COLLISION OF TIBET PLATEAU

At first, the paper reviews, analyses and discusses uplifting mechanism and history, current situation of Tibet plateau. Coal\|bearing strata and coal seam were discovered by surveying and many rocks samples and structural samples were collected, which established the foundation for further studying. From all above, the paper has studied strata system, time\|spatial evolution, magma activity and its regularity of continental collision of Tibet plateau and rock’s mechanical features under high temperature and pressure. The paper has also summerized tectonic features, studied geological process by time coordinate and proposed multidisciplinary geological model. The paper has proposed evolutinal model of modern structural stress field in early quaternary, modern structural stress field and crustal deformation and explored geophysical field features and deep structures from man\|mad earthquake, regional gravity field and electrical structures, thus established geophysical field model. In addition, the paper proposed overall dynamic model according to stress field, displacement orientation and velocity restriction condition, indoplate collision to Eurasia.Thoroughly, the paper has studied and stated mechanical system, non\|stability, multibody collision mechanics and mantle plume mechanical model and established mechanical model. Finally, the paper has studied numeral simulation about spheric inter\|acting during continental collision of Tibet plateau, from this, analysed and inferred its evolution history.

Short acting insulin analogues in intensive care unit patients

Blood glucose control in intensive care unit(ICU) patients, addressed to actively maintain blood glucose concentration within defined thresholds, is based on two major therapeutic interventions: to supply an adequate calories load and, when necessary, to continuously infuse insulin titrated to patients needs: intensive insulin therapy(IIT). Short acting insulin analogues(SAIA) have been synthesized to improve the chronic treatment of patients with diabetes but, because of the pharmacokinetic characteristics that include shorter onset and off-set, they can be effectively used also in ICU patients and have the potential to be associated with a more limited risk of inducing episodes of iatrogenic hypoglycemia. Medical therapies carry an intrinsic risk for collateral effects; this can be more harmful in patients with unstable clinical conditions like ICU patients. To minimize these risks, the use of short acting drugs in ICU patients have gained a progressively larger room in ICU and now pharmaceutical companies and researchers design drugs dedicated to this subset of medical practice. In this article we report the rationale of using short acting drugs in ICU patients(i.e., sedation and treatment of arterial hypertension) and we also describe SAIA and their therapeutic use in ICU with the potential to minimize iatrogenic hypoglycemia relatedto IIT. The pharmacodynamic and pharmachokinetic characteristics of SAIA will be also discussed.

Era of direct acting antivirals in chronic hepatitis C: Who will benefit?

In the era of highly effective direct acting antiviral(DAA) drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C(CHC) infection, where eradication is almost ensured with minimal side effects, all hepatitis C carriers should benefit theoretically. In the real world setting however, only a small proportion will benefit at this time point due to the multiple barriers to accessing therapy. Given that universal treatment is unlikely, treatment with DAAs will likely be restricted to those with the highest health benefits, and for those who can afford the high expense of a treatment course. Those with the highest unmet needs include those who have failed previous interferon-based therapy or who are interferon-ineligible with evidence of active disease, those with advance liver disease, and those with recurrence of hepatitis C after liver transplantation. In the future, the focus should be on increasing access to treatment for those infected with CHC.

Hepatitis C infected patients need vitamin D3 supplementation in the era of direct acting antivirals treatment

It has been reported that the serum level of vitamin D3(Vit D3) could affect the natural course of chronic hepatitis C(CH-C) and the response to treatment with pegylated interferon(Peg-IFN) and ribavirin. Although several mechanisms for the favorable effects of Vit D3 supplementation were reported, the total effect of Vit D3 supplementation remains unclear. Previously, we reported that supplementation with 1(OH)Vit D3 could enhance the Th1 response inducing not only a favorable immune response for viral eradication but also HCC control. Recently, the main treatment of CH-C should be direct acting antivirals(DAAs) without PegIFN. Peg-IFN is a strong immune-modulator. Therefore, an immunological analysis should be carried out to understand the effect of Vit D3 after treatment of DAAs without Peg-IFN. The induction of a favorable immune response by adding Vit D3 might be able to suppress the hepatocarcinogenesis after achieving SVR, especially in children and elderly patients with severe fibrosis lacking sufficient amounts of VitD 3.

Effectiveness and safety of generic and brand direct acting antivirals for treatment of chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND Direct acting antivirals(DAAs)are a very effective treatment for hepatitis C virus(HCV).However,brand DAAs are expensive.The licensing of cheaper generic DAAs may address this issue,but there is a lack of clinical studies comparing the efficacy of generic vs brand DAA formulations.AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of generic against brand DAAs for chronic hepatitis C treatment in Bahrain.METHODS This was a retrospective observational study involving 289 patients with chronic HCV infection during 2016 to 2018.There were 149 patients who were treated with brand DAAs,while 140 patients were treated with generic DAAs.Commonly used DAAs were Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir±Dasabuvir±Ribavirin,and Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir±Ribavirin.SVR at 12 wk post treatment was the main outcome variable.RESULTS Overall,87 patients(30.1%)had cirrhosis and 68.2%had genotype 1 HCV infection.At 12 wk post treatment,SVR was achieved by 271(93.8%)of the patients.In patients who were treated with generic medications,134(95.7%)achieved SVR at 12 wk post treatment,compared to 137(91.9%)among those treated with brand medications(P=0.19).Having cirrhosis[odds ratio(OR):9.41,95%confidence interval(CI):2.47–35.84]and having HCV genotype 3(OR:3.56,95%CI:1.03–12.38)were significant independent predictors of not achieving SVR.Alanine transaminase,gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase,and total bilirubin levels decreased significantly following therapy with both generic and brand DAAs.CONCLUSION Generic and brand DAAs demonstrate comparable effectiveness in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients.Both are safe and equally effective in improving biochemical markers of hepatic inflammation.