The effect of malnutrition on survival in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis has not been well defined. Nutritional intervention with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) can increase serum albumin concentration ...The effect of malnutrition on survival in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis has not been well defined. Nutritional intervention with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) can increase serum albumin concentration in patients with decompensated cirrhosis but its effects on survival are unclear. The BCAA to tyrosine ratio (BTR) is a surrogate marker (the normal range of BTR is between 4.41 and 10.05, and a Fischer's ratio of 1.8 corresponds to a BTR of 3.5) in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, and BCAA inhibits hepatic carcinogenesis in patients with compensated cirrhosis. This review discusses data regarding the effect of early administration of BCAA granules based on the ratio of BCAA to BTR on prognosis in patients with cirrhosis.展开更多
Due to their relative abundance,stable biological properties and excellent reproductive activity,umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have previously been utilized for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy,whi...Due to their relative abundance,stable biological properties and excellent reproductive activity,umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have previously been utilized for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy,which is a muscular atrophy disease.Three patients who were clinically and pathologically diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were transplanted with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells by intravenous infusion,in combination with multi-point intramuscular injection.They were followed up for 12 months after cell transplantation.Results showed that clinical symptoms significantly improved,daily living activity and muscle strength were enhanced,the sero-enzyme,electromyogram,and MRI scans showed improvement,and dystrophin was expressed in the muscle cell membrane.Hematoxylin-eosin staining of a muscle biopsy revealed that muscle fibers were well arranged,fibrous degeneration was alleviated,and fat infiltration was improved.These pieces of evidence suggest that umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can be considered as a new regimen for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.展开更多
This study analyzed the impact of participatory plant breeding （PPB） and participatory variety selection （PVS） on the adoption of improved sweetpotato varieties （ISPV） in central Uganda. The study quantitatively...This study analyzed the impact of participatory plant breeding （PPB） and participatory variety selection （PVS） on the adoption of improved sweetpotato varieties （ISPV） in central Uganda. The study quantitatively assessed how the two approaches influence farmers＇ uptake of the improved sweetpotato varieties and also determined other factors influencing this adoption. This was done by estimating a robust standard errors logit model. Both PPB and PVS positively and significantly influenced the likelihood of adoption of improved sweetpotato varieties at 5% and 10% levels, respectively. Other variables that positively influenced the adoption are extension services, training in sweetpotato production, farming experience, and off-farm income of the household. Farmers who participated in the plant breeding and variety selection processes were 37 and 6.7 times more likely to adopt the improved sweetpotato varieties than those who had not, respectively. Farmers who were trained specifically in sweetpotato production were 8.8 times more likely to adopt the improved varieties than those who had not received this type of training.展开更多
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of adopting improved maize varieties on crop yield in Uganda using propensity score matching （PSM） algorithms to control for hidden selection bias. The stu...The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of adopting improved maize varieties on crop yield in Uganda using propensity score matching （PSM） algorithms to control for hidden selection bias. The study employed cross-sectional household data collected in 2005/2006 by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics （UBOS） across the country. Data were divided into two parts; the full sample and smallholder farmer sub-sample （those that cultivated less than 5 acres or 2 Hectares of maize in 2004 and 2005）. Then estimation was made of the difference in yields between the adopters and non adopters, the average treatment effect on the treated （ATT） for the full sample and smallholder farmer sub-sample. Matching methods were used to control for hidden selection bias and the standardized bias measure was used to check for the quality of matching. The results indicate that adoption of improved maize seed had a robust positive and significant effect on yields obtained by farmers. The results were consistent for both the full and smallholder farmer sub-samples. Sensitivity analysis using Rosenbaum bounds indicated that the ATT results were fairly robust to hidden selection bias. That is, the results were not sensitive to unobserved selection bias. Therefore it is confidently asserted that the estimated average difference in maize yields between the adopters and non-adopters was due to the effect of planting improved maize seed.展开更多
Hepatitis D is the most severe form of viral hepatitis associated with a more rapid progression to cirrhosis and an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality compared with hepatitis B mono-infection.Alt...Hepatitis D is the most severe form of viral hepatitis associated with a more rapid progression to cirrhosis and an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality compared with hepatitis B mono-infection.Although once thought of as a disappearing disease,hepatitis D is now becoming recognized as a serious worldwide issue due to improvement in diagnostic testing and immigration from endemic countries.Despite these concerns,there is currently only one accepted medical therapy(pegylated-interferon-a)for the treatment of hepatitis D with less than desirable efficacy and significant side effects.Due to these reasons,many patients never undergo treatment.However,increasing knowledge about the virus and its life cycle has led to the clinical development of multiple promising new therapies that hope to alter the natural history of this disease and improve patient outcome.In this article,we will review the literature from discovery to the current investigational therapies.展开更多
Hepatitis D virus(HDV)infection is associated with severe liver-related morbidity and mortality.The prevalence of HDV is rising especially among people who abuse drugs and immigrants from endemic areas.Reliable diagno...Hepatitis D virus(HDV)infection is associated with severe liver-related morbidity and mortality.The prevalence of HDV is rising especially among people who abuse drugs and immigrants from endemic areas.Reliable diagnostic assays with enhanced sensitivity and specificity are essential for screening at-risk populations.Until recently,interferon has been the only treatment for hepatitis D.Its efficacy is,however,limited and it is associated with significant side effects.A number of novel antiviral agents that target various stages of the HDV life cycle show promising results.They are currently in different phases of clinical development.This review focuses on the changing epidemiology,novel therapeutic agents,and updated management of chronic hepatitis delta.展开更多
文摘The effect of malnutrition on survival in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis has not been well defined. Nutritional intervention with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) can increase serum albumin concentration in patients with decompensated cirrhosis but its effects on survival are unclear. The BCAA to tyrosine ratio (BTR) is a surrogate marker (the normal range of BTR is between 4.41 and 10.05, and a Fischer's ratio of 1.8 corresponds to a BTR of 3.5) in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, and BCAA inhibits hepatic carcinogenesis in patients with compensated cirrhosis. This review discusses data regarding the effect of early administration of BCAA granules based on the ratio of BCAA to BTR on prognosis in patients with cirrhosis.
基金a grant by Key Projects of Liaoning Province, No. 2008225009
文摘Due to their relative abundance,stable biological properties and excellent reproductive activity,umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have previously been utilized for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy,which is a muscular atrophy disease.Three patients who were clinically and pathologically diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were transplanted with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells by intravenous infusion,in combination with multi-point intramuscular injection.They were followed up for 12 months after cell transplantation.Results showed that clinical symptoms significantly improved,daily living activity and muscle strength were enhanced,the sero-enzyme,electromyogram,and MRI scans showed improvement,and dystrophin was expressed in the muscle cell membrane.Hematoxylin-eosin staining of a muscle biopsy revealed that muscle fibers were well arranged,fibrous degeneration was alleviated,and fat infiltration was improved.These pieces of evidence suggest that umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can be considered as a new regimen for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
文摘This study analyzed the impact of participatory plant breeding （PPB） and participatory variety selection （PVS） on the adoption of improved sweetpotato varieties （ISPV） in central Uganda. The study quantitatively assessed how the two approaches influence farmers＇ uptake of the improved sweetpotato varieties and also determined other factors influencing this adoption. This was done by estimating a robust standard errors logit model. Both PPB and PVS positively and significantly influenced the likelihood of adoption of improved sweetpotato varieties at 5% and 10% levels, respectively. Other variables that positively influenced the adoption are extension services, training in sweetpotato production, farming experience, and off-farm income of the household. Farmers who participated in the plant breeding and variety selection processes were 37 and 6.7 times more likely to adopt the improved sweetpotato varieties than those who had not, respectively. Farmers who were trained specifically in sweetpotato production were 8.8 times more likely to adopt the improved varieties than those who had not received this type of training.
文摘The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of adopting improved maize varieties on crop yield in Uganda using propensity score matching （PSM） algorithms to control for hidden selection bias. The study employed cross-sectional household data collected in 2005/2006 by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics （UBOS） across the country. Data were divided into two parts; the full sample and smallholder farmer sub-sample （those that cultivated less than 5 acres or 2 Hectares of maize in 2004 and 2005）. Then estimation was made of the difference in yields between the adopters and non adopters, the average treatment effect on the treated （ATT） for the full sample and smallholder farmer sub-sample. Matching methods were used to control for hidden selection bias and the standardized bias measure was used to check for the quality of matching. The results indicate that adoption of improved maize seed had a robust positive and significant effect on yields obtained by farmers. The results were consistent for both the full and smallholder farmer sub-samples. Sensitivity analysis using Rosenbaum bounds indicated that the ATT results were fairly robust to hidden selection bias. That is, the results were not sensitive to unobserved selection bias. Therefore it is confidently asserted that the estimated average difference in maize yields between the adopters and non-adopters was due to the effect of planting improved maize seed.
基金This study was supported by[grant number Z99-DK-999999]from the Intramural Research Programs of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
文摘Hepatitis D is the most severe form of viral hepatitis associated with a more rapid progression to cirrhosis and an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality compared with hepatitis B mono-infection.Although once thought of as a disappearing disease,hepatitis D is now becoming recognized as a serious worldwide issue due to improvement in diagnostic testing and immigration from endemic countries.Despite these concerns,there is currently only one accepted medical therapy(pegylated-interferon-a)for the treatment of hepatitis D with less than desirable efficacy and significant side effects.Due to these reasons,many patients never undergo treatment.However,increasing knowledge about the virus and its life cycle has led to the clinical development of multiple promising new therapies that hope to alter the natural history of this disease and improve patient outcome.In this article,we will review the literature from discovery to the current investigational therapies.
文摘Hepatitis D virus(HDV)infection is associated with severe liver-related morbidity and mortality.The prevalence of HDV is rising especially among people who abuse drugs and immigrants from endemic areas.Reliable diagnostic assays with enhanced sensitivity and specificity are essential for screening at-risk populations.Until recently,interferon has been the only treatment for hepatitis D.Its efficacy is,however,limited and it is associated with significant side effects.A number of novel antiviral agents that target various stages of the HDV life cycle show promising results.They are currently in different phases of clinical development.This review focuses on the changing epidemiology,novel therapeutic agents,and updated management of chronic hepatitis delta.
