Hierarchical SAPO-11 Molecular Sieve for n-Alkane Hydroisomerization Synthesized by Directing Agent Method

Silicoaluminophosphates SAPO-11 molecular sieves with small particle size and hierarchical pores were synthesized using the directing agent method.The effect of crystallization time on the particle structure,morphology,pore structure properties,and acid properties of SAPO-11 molecular sieves were investigated.Unlike the SAPO-11 molecular sieves synthesized with the conventional method,the results of XRD,SEM,BET and NH3-TPD analyses showed that the SAPO-11 molecular sieves synthesized by the directing agent method in a shorter crystallization time exhibited fine and uniform morphology.By increasing the crystallization time,the particle size of SAPO-11 molecular sieve was significantly reduced,and the mesoporous structure(intercrystalline pores)was formed.Furthermore,the external specific surface area and the total specific surface area reached 81.7 m^2/g and 192.0 m^2/g,respectively,which effectively reduced the pore mass transfer resistance and significantly increased the number of acid sites.The results of n-dodecane hydroisomerization revealed that the Pt/SAPO-11 prepared with the novel method exhibited higher catalytic activity and better hydroisomerization selectivity than that synthesized by the conventional hydrothermal method.Thus,the small particle molecular sieve showed a promising industrial application prospect to be used as catalyst support.

Synthesis of Silica Hollow Spheres with Diameter Around 50 nm by Anionic Surfactant

Silica hollow spheres（SHSs） have attracted great attention because of their low toxicity, low density, large surface area, high chemical and thermal stability, and surface permeability. They can be widely applied in storage^[l], catalysis^[2], drug deli- very^[3,4], low-dielectric-constant materials^[5], low-refractive materials^[6-8], and so on. Up to now, there have been various methods to produce SHSs. Inorganic^[9] or organic particles^[10], such as polystyrene or calcium carbonate, were used as hard templates to create hollow cavities, However, the multistep synthetic process and the lack of structural robustness of the shells upon template removal process weaken their applica- tion. Soft templates, including oil-in-water emulsions^[11,12], vesicles^[13], micelle^[14,15] and gas bubbles^[16], are applied widely.

Progress and challenges in the comprehensive management of chronic viral hepatitis: Key ways to achieve the elimination

Chronic viral hepatitis is a significant health problem throughout the world,which already represents high annual mortality.By 2040,chronic viral hepatitis due to virus B and virus C and their complications cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma will be more deadly than malaria,vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone,and tuberculosis altogether.In this review,we analyze the global impact of chronic viral hepatitis with a focus on the most vulnerable groups,the goals set by the World Health Organization for the year 2030,and the key points to achieve them,such as timely access to antiviral treatment of direct-acting antiviral,which represents the key to achieving hepatitis C virus elimination.Likewise,we review the strategies to prevent transmission and achieve control of hepatitis B virus.Finally,we address the impact that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has had on implementing elimination strategies and the advantages of implementing telemedicine programs.

Pre-treatment prediction of response to peginterferon plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C genotype 3

AIM: To evaluate pre-treatment factors associated with sustained virological response(SVR) in patients with hepatitis C virus(HCV) genotype 3 treated with peginterferon and ribavirin(RBV). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed treatment naive, mono-infected HCV genotype 3 patients treated with peginterferon and RBV. Exclusion criteria included presence of other liver disease, alcohol consumption and African American or Asian ethnicity. The variables collected and compared between patients who achieved an SVR and patients who did not were as follows: gender, age, fibrosis stage, diabetes, body mass index,steatosis, INFL3 polymorphism, pre-treatment HCVRNA, type of peginterferon, RBV dose and adherence. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients treated between June, 2004 and March, 2013 were included. Mean treatment duration was 25.1(± 1.8) wk. Overall, 58%(62/107) of the patients achieved an SVR and 42%(45/107) did not. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, pre-treatment HCV-RNA ≥ 600000 UI/m L(OR = 0.375, 95%CI: 0.153-0.919, P = 0.032) and advanced fibrosis(OR = 0.278, 95%CI: 0.113-0.684,P = 0.005) were significantly associated with low SVR rates. In patients with pre-treatment HCV-RNA ≥600000 UI/m L and advanced fibrosis, the probability of achieving an SVR was 29%(95%CI: 13.1-45.2).In patients with pre-treatment HCV-RNA < 600000UI/m L and mild to moderate fibrosis, the probability of achieving an SVR was 81%(95%CI: 68.8-93.4).CONCLUSION: In patients with HCV genotype 3infections the presence of advance fibrosis and high pre-treatment viral load might be associated with poor response to peginterferon plus RBV. These patients could benefit the most from new direct antiviral agentsbased regimes.

Opportunities for treatment of the hepatitis C virus-infected patient with chronic kidney disease

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection amongst patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD) and end-stage renal disease exceeds that of the general population. In addition to predisposing to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, infection with HCV has been associated with extra-hepatic complications including CKD, proteinuria, glomerulonephritis, cryoglobulinemia, increased cardiovascular risk, insulin resistance, and lymphoma. With these associated morbidities, infection with HCV is not unexpectedly accompanied by an increase in mortality in the general population as well as in patients with kidney disease. Advances in the understanding of the HCV genome have resulted in the development of direct-acting antiviral agents that can achieve much higher sustained virologic response rates than previous interferon-based protocols. The direct acting antivirals have either primarily hepatic or renal metabolism and excretion pathways. This information is particularly relevant when considering treatment in patients with reduced kidney function. In this context, some of these agents are not recommended for use in patients with a glomerular filtration rate < 30 m L/min per 1.73 m^2. There are now Food and Drug Administration approved direct acting antiviral agents for the treatment of patients with kidney disease and reduced function. These agents have been demonstrated to be effective with sustained viral response rates comparable to the general population with good safety profiles. A disease that was only recently considered to be very challenging to treat in patients with kidney dysfunction is now curable with these medications.

Revolution in the diagnosis and management of hepatitis C virus infection in current era

Chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection is a major global public health problem,particularly in developing part of the world.Significant advances have been made in the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.Its management has been particularly revolutionized during the past two decades.In this review,we summarize the major advances in the diagnostic and management armamentarium for chronic HCV infection.The focus of the present review is on the newer directly acting anti-viral agents,which have revolutionized the management of chronic HCV infection.Management of uncomplicated chronic HCV infection and of specific complications and special at-risk populations of patients will be covered in detail.Despite the advent and approval of highly effective and well tolerable oral agents,still many challenges remain,particularly the affordability,the equitable distribution and access to later drugs.The World Health Organization aims to eliminate viral hepatitis including HCV by 2030 since its poses a major public health threat.There is an urgent need to ensure uniform and early access to diagnostic and therapeutic facilities throughout the world if the later goal has to be realized.

Hepatitis C: Problems to extinction and residual hepatic and extrahepatic lesions after sustained virological response

Loss of follow-up or reinfections hinder the expectations of hepatitis C eradicationdespite the existence of highly effective treatments. Moreover, the elimination ofthe infection does not imply the reversion of those chronic alterations derivedfrom the previous infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV). This review analyzes therisk factors associated with loss to follow-up in diagnosis or treatment, and thepossibility of reinfection. Likewise, it assesses the residual alterations induced bychronic HCV infection considering the liver alterations (inflammation, fibrosis,risk of decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation) and, onthe other hand, the comorbidities and extrahepatic manifestations (cryoglobulinemia,non-Hodgkin lymphoma, peripheral insulin resistance, and lipid, boneand cognitive alterations). Peculiarities present in subjects coinfected with humanimmunodeficiency virus are analyzed in each section.

Direct-acting Antiviral Agents Resistance-associated Polymorphisms in Chinese Treatment-na（i）ve Patients Infected with Genotype 1b Hepatitis C Virus

Background：It has been reported that several baseline polymorphisms of direct-acting antivirals （DAAs） agents resistance-associated variants （RAVs） would affect the treatment outcomes of patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus （CHC）.The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of DAAs RAVs in treatment-na（i）ve GT1b CHC patients.Methods：Direct sequencing and ultra-deep sequencing of the HCV NS3,NS5A,and NS5B gene were performed in baseline serum samples of treatment-ha（i）ve patients infected with genotype lb hepatitis C virus （HCVs）.Results：One hundred and sixty CHC patients were studied.Complete sequence information was obtained for 145 patients （NS3）,148 patients （NS5A）,and 137 patients （NS5B）.Treatment-failure associated variants of DAAs were detected：56.6％ （82/145） of the patients presented S122G for simeprevir （NS3 protease inhibitor）;10.1％ （14/148） of the patients presented Y93H for daclatasvir and ledipasvir （NS5A protein inhibitors）;94.2％ （129/137） of the patients presented C316N for sofosbuvir （NS5B polymerase inhibitor）.Nearly,all of the DAAs RAVs detected by ultra-deep sequencing could be detected by direct sequencing.Conclusions：The majority of genotype lb CHC patients in China present a virus population carrying HCV DAAs RAVs.Pretreatment sequencing of HCV genome might need to be performed when patients infected with GTlb HCV receiving DAAs-containing regimens in China.Population sequencing would be quite quantified for the work.

Response rates to direct antiviral agents among hepatitis C virus infected patients who develop hepatocellular carcinoma following direct antiviral agents treatment

Aim:Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection who develop hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)soon after treatment with direct antiviral agents(DAA)may have been harboring hitherto hidden tumors.If this were true,they should have a lower sustained viral response(SVR)rate,since active HCC hampers DAA efficacy.We aimed to verify this hypothesis.Methods:We included all patients who attended an HCV clinic,provided that they:(1)had no previous history of HCC;(2)had received at least one DAA dose;and(3)had been followed-up clinically and ultrasonographically for at least six months after concluding DAA.Results:The study population included n=789 patients(55%males,median age 62 years).A median of 9.3 months(8.8-11.9)after concluding DAA,n=19(2.4%)patients were discovered to harbor HCC.In comparison to all others,patients with HCC were more commonly male(84%vs.54%,P=0.009),obese(47%vs.17%,P=0.002),and cirrhotic(95%vs.35%,P<0.001)and had less commonly achieved an SVR(68%vs.98%,P<0.001).Moreover,they had a trend for being less commonly treatment na?ve(58%vs.67%,P=0.051).Based on multivariate analysis, ;the independent predictors of HCC were male sex(P=0.031),cirrhosis(P=0.004),obesity(P=0.006),and failure to achieve an SVR(P<0.001).Conclusion:Lack of achieving SVR is a strong independent predictor of development of HCC early after treatment of hepatitis C with DAA.Treatment failure should further alert clinicians to the possibility of this dreadful complication.

Cucurbit[6]uril-based supramolecular frameworks assembled via the outer surface interaction of cucurbit[n]urils

Curcurbit[n]uril(Q[n])-based supramolecular frameworks(QSFs) constructed from the outer surface interaction of Q[n]s(OSIQ) have the characteristic of simplicity,diversity and modulability.Their simplicity is reflected in their simple composition and preparation methods used for QSFs.The diversity of supramolecular organic frameworks(SOFs) is reflected in the synthesis methods and structural characteristics of the as-obtained QSFs,as well as the variety of structural directing agents and basic building blocks used to prepare QSFs.The modulability is reflected by the controllable channel size in the QSFs,which can be adjusted using different sizes of Q[n]s.In this work,the first re ported cucurbituril Q[6]was selected as the basic building block and three Q[6]-based su p ramolecular frameworks were obtained from aqueous HCl solutions in the presence of [CdCl_(4)]^(2-)respectively.The OSIQs are the main driving forces for the formation of these frameworks.This study shows the diversity of the QSFs.

Curing Hepatitis C in Liver Transplant Recipients Is Associated with Changes in Immunosuppressant Use

Background and Aims:All-oral interlferon-free antivirals are highly effective in treating recurrent hepatitis C (HCV) infection in liver transplant (LT) recipients.The aim of the study was to assess immunosuppression needs after achieving a sustained viral response (SVR).Methods:We compared immunosuppression needs before and after achieving a SVR in adult LT recipients treated for recurrent HCV infection with alloral direct acting agents.Results:We identified 52 liver LT treated recipients who achieved a SVR.The median (25th and 75th percentile interquartile range [IQR]) age was 62 years (57.75,65).Most recipients received tacrolimus (TAC) for their immunosuppressant regimen.After achieving SVR,there was no statistically significant difference in daily dose of TAC unadjusted per weight (p > 0.05).However,there was a statistically significant decrease in daily dose of TAC adjusted per weight,serum levels of TAC,and the product of glomerular filtration rate and TAC.No statistically significant differences in cyclosporine unadjusted/adjusted per weight daily dose or serum levels were noted.Conclusions:Immunosuppression needs were increased for those patients treated with TAC but not cyclosporine.LT recipients prescribed TAC require close monitoring after treatment completion to avoid potential risk of acute rejection.

Antiviral therapy for ＂difficult-to-treat＂ hepatitis C virus-infected patients

Objective To review the updated research on direct antiviral agents （DAAs）-including regimens for hepatitis C virus （HCV）,and focus on ＂difficult-to-treat＂ HCV-infected patients.Data sources The literature concerning DAAs and hepatitis C cited in this review was collected from PubMed and Google Scholar databases published in English up to July 2013.Study selection Data from published articles regarding HCV and DAAs in clinical trials and in clinical use were identified and reviewed.Results It was recognized that some ＂difficult-to-treat＂ patients would still exist,even though stronger treatments using such as DAAs,including telaprevir and boceprevir,which lead to higher sustained virological response rates,are available.Such patients include those with advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis,elderly persons,children,HCV-human immunodeficiency virus co-infected patients,HCV-infected recipients,and so on.Conclusions Certain ＂difficult-to-treat＂ patients would still exist,even though stronger treatment is available.Although evidence from clinical trials is still lacking,interferon-sparing regimens could have stronger effects for eradicating HCV in such cases.

Interferon-Free Treatments for Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 1 Infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects as many as 185 million people globally,many of whom are chronically infected and progress over time to cirrhosis,decompensated liver disease,hepatocellular carcinoma,and eventually death without a liver transplant.In the United States,HCV genotype 1 constitutes about 75% of all infections.While interferon and ribavirin therapy was the cornerstone of treatment for many years,interferon-free treatments have become the standard of care with the emergence of new direct-acting agents,resulting in more effective treatment,shorter duration of therapy,better tolerability,lower pill burden,and ultimately better adherence.This review will summarize the evidence for the currently available combination therapies as well as emerging therapies in phase 3 trials for treatment of HCV genotype 1.

Some stability results for a model of Hepatitis C including alanine aminotransferase and immune system

In clinical practice,many cirrhosis scores based on alanine aminotransferase(ALT)levels exist.Although the most recent direct acting antivirals(DAAs)reduce fibrosis and ALT levels,the Hepatitis C virus(HCV)is not always removed.In this paper,we study a mathematical model of the HCV virus,which takes into account the role of the immune system,to investigate the ALT behavior during therapy.We find five equilibrium points and analyze their stability.A sufficient condition for global asymptotical stability of the infeetion-free equilibrium is obtained and local asymptotical stability conditions are given for the immune-free infection and cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTL)response equilibria.The stability of the infection equilibrium with the full immune response is numerically performed.