慢性丙型肝炎发生肝脂肪变与血清瘦素的关系

目的 探讨慢性丙型肝炎(chronic hepatitis C,CHC)患者发生肝脂肪变与血清瘦素水平的关系.方法 将未治疗的成年CHC患者80例分为有肝脂肪变组(8例)与无肝脂肪变组(72例),以单纯非酒精性脂肪性肝病(non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,NAFLD)26例作为对照组,比较各组血清瘦素等生化指标有无差异.结果 CHC有肝脂肪变组ALT、AST水平高于NAFLD组(t=2.10,P＜0.05;t=3.56,P＜0.05),血清总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、载脂蛋白A和B水平低于NAFLD组(t=-2.78,P＜0.05;t=-3.23,P＜0.05;t=-3.81,P＜0.05;t=-2.76,P＜0.05),两组瘦素水平差异无统计学意义(t=-0.30,P＞0.05).两组CHC的ALT、AST、FPG、TG、TC、LDL-C、APO-A、APO-B、胰岛素抵抗指数、HCVRNA水平、血清瘦素水平和体质量指数差异均无统计学意义(t值分别为-1.25,0.29,0.16,-0.53,0.90,1.58,1.93、0.40、0.24,-0.84,-0.05、-0.91,P均大于0.05).血清瘦素水平女性显著高于男性(t=2.22,P＜0.05).结论 CHC发生肝脂肪变时炎症程度重于NAFLD,胆固醇代谢异常程度轻于NAFLD.血清瘦素水平女性高于男性.CHC发生肝脂肪变与血清瘦素水平无关.     

The effects of direct-acting antiviral agents on the frequency of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and natural killer cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Currently, hepatitis C antiviral therapy is entering a new era with the use of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents. However, the precise immunological influences of DAA therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DAA therapy on the frequency of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), T lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells in patients with CHC. Thirty-two treatment-naive CHC patients were treated with DAA therapy, and the frequency of immune cells was analyzed by flow cytometry at various time points during and after therapy. Sixteen healthy donors were recruited for comparison. DAA therapy decreased the frequency of MDSCs and monocytic MDSCs in patients with CHC to a normal level. DAA therapy also increased the CD8⁺ T and NK cell levels in patients with CHC. In addition, activation (NKp30 and NKp46) and inhibitory (NKG2A) receptors on NK cells were downregulated to yield an NK cell phenotype resembling that observed in the healthy controls. This study provides insight into the normalization of immune cell levels under DAA therapy and indicates that restoration of the immune system in patients with CHC strongly supports long-term curative hepatitis C virus eradication.     

Comorbidities and medications of patients with chronic hepatitis C under specialist care in the UK

Designing services with the capacity and expertise to meet the needs of the chronic hepatitis C (CHC) population in the era of direct acting antivirals (DAAs), and widening access to such treatments, requires detailed understanding of the characteristics and healthcare needs of the existing patient population. In this retrospective analysis of data from the National HCV Research UK Biobank between March 2012 and October 2014, the characteristics of the CHC population currently under specialist care in the UK were evaluated—with specific focus upon use of medications, adverse lifestyle choices, and comorbidities. Demographic data, risk factors for CHC acquisition, HCV genotype, liver disease status, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, and medication classes were collected. Data were analyzed by history of injecting drug use (IDU), age, and severity of liver disease. A total of 6278 patients (70.5% white; median age, 52 years) from 59 UK specialist centres were included; 59.1% of patients had acquired HCV through IDU. The prevalence of adverse lifestyle factors was significantly lower in non‐IDU compared with previous IDU or recent IDU patients. Depression was common in the previous (50.8%) and recent IDU (68.1%) groups, compared with 27.6% in non‐IDU patients. Cirrhosis was common (23.6%), and prevalence increased with age. We describe a heterogeneous, polymorbid, and aging population of CHC patients in secondary care, and demonstrate underrepresentation of injecting drug users within the current system. The implications of this present significant challenges to physicians and healthcare commissioners in designing services which are fit for purpose inthe DAA era.

     

Change in the hepatic profile of hepatitis C virus genotype 4–infected patients with compensated cirrhosis receiving ombitasvir,paritaprevir, and ritonavir plus ribavirin: A subanalysis of the AGATE‐II study

In AGATE‐II, treatment with ombitasvir coformulated with paritaprevir/ritonavir plus ribavirin (RBV) in Egyptians infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 4 resulted in high rates of sustained virologic response at post‐treatment week 12. This subanalysis examined the effects of treatment in AGATE‐II on liver biomarkers in patients with compensated cirrhosis. AGATE‐II was a phase 3, open‐label, partly randomized trial of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir with weight‐based RBV daily once in treatment‐naive or treatment‐experienced patients. Patients without cirrhosis received treatment for 12 weeks and patients with compensated cirrhosis were randomized 1:1 to the same regimen for either 12 or 24 weeks. Sixty patients with compensated cirrhosis were randomized to treatment for 12 weeks (n = 31) or 24 weeks (n = 29). In the 12‐week arm, significant improvements were observed in biomarkers of liver injury (alanine aminotransferase: –53.7 U/L, P < 0.001; aspartate aminotransferase: –35.9 U/L, P < 0.001) and liver fibrosis (aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index: –0.987, P < 0.001; fibrosis‐4 index: –1.165, P < 0.001). Similar results were reported in the 24‐week arm. Treatment with ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus RBV in hepatitis C virus genotype, 4‐infected Egyptians with compensated cirrhosis resulted in improvements in certain biomarkers of liver synthetic function, injury, and fibrosis, independent of treatment duration.     

Iron overload in patients with chronic hepatitis C: A clinicopathologic study

Recent studies suggest that increased hepatic iron may impair the response to interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. We reviewed the records and liver biopsies of 72 patients with chronic hepatitis C to determine the prevalence of iron overload and to evaluate whether there is a correlation between serum and hepatic iron concentrations and activity of liver disease. Patients with other causes of liver disease or iron overload were excluded. Necroinflammatory activity and fibrosis were evaluated using modified Knodell score. Hepatic iron was assessed using Brissot's grading system. Increased serum iron and ferritin levels were found in 29% and 43% patients, respectively. Hepatic iron grades 0, I, II, III, and IV were present in 37%, 35%, 25%, 3%, and 0% of patients, respectively. A significant correlation was found between hepatic iron grade and serum ferritin (P = .0001). There was no correlation between hepatic iron grade and histological activity index or fibrosis score. In summary, we found a high proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C had mild to moderate increase in hepatic iron content even when patients with alcoholism and recurrent transfusions were excluded. However, very few patients had severely increased iron load.     

Improvement of liver stiffness measurement,acoustic radiation force impulse measurements,and noninvasive fibrosis markers after direct‐acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus G4 recurrence post living donor liver transplantation: Egyptian cohort

Progression of recurrent hepatitis C is accelerated in liver transplant (LT) recipients. Direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) have recently emerged as a promising therapeutic regimen for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. Rates of sustained virological response (SVR) have drastically improved since the introduction of DAAs. The aim is to elucidate the changes in liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography (TE) as well as acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography and fibrosis scores after DAA treatment in LT recipients with hepatitis C virus recurrence. A single‐center, prospective study including 58 LT recipients with hepatitis C recurrence who received different sofosbuvir‐based treatment regimens. Transient elastography and ARFI elastography values were recorded as well as fibrosis 4 score (FIB‐4) and aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio index were calculated at baseline and SVR at week 24 (SVR24). The outcome was improvement in LSM and at least a 20% decrease in LSM at SVR24 compared with baseline. The sustained virological response was 98.1%. There was improvement of platelet counts, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase, which in turn caused improvement in fibrosis scores at SVR24. LSM by TE and ARFI elastography decreased from the baseline median value of 6.3 kPa (interquartile range [IQR]; 4.6 to 8.8 kPa) and 1.28 m/s (IQR; 1.07 to 1.53 m/s) to an SVR24 median value of 6.2 kPa (IQR; 4.85 to 8.9 kPa) and 1.12 (IQR; 0.97 to 1.30 m/s), respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that baseline viral load was the only significant predictor of improvement in LS after DAA therapy at SVR24. Sofosbuvir‐based treatment resulted in an early improvement in parameters of liver fibrosis in post‐LT patients with hepatitis C recurrence.     

Hepatitis C virus genotype 3 predominates in North and Central India and is associated with significant histopathologic liver disease

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes help to tailor the treatment response, but their influence on the disease severity and association with hepatic steatosis is not well understood. The prevalence of HCV genotypes and their correlation with the histopathological severity of liver disease and steatosis in Indian patients were studied. HCV-RNA and genotyping was carried out in 398 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Liver biopsy was available in 292 (73.4%) patients. The severity of liver disease was graded on the basis of the histological activity index and the stage of hepatic fibrosis. The patients were categorized as having mild (histological activity index < or =5 and/or fibrosis < or =2) or severe (histological activity index > or =6 and/or fibrosis > or =3) liver disease. Steatosis was graded in 106 patients as 0 (no steatosis), 1 (<33% of hepatocytes affected), 2 (33%-66% of hepatocytes affected), or 3 (>66% of hepatocytes affected). HCV genotype 3 was detected in 80.2% patients (3a:24.4%, 3b:3.3%, 3c:0.5%, 3a/3b:36.7%, and un-subtypable 3:15.3%), genotype 1 in 13.1% (1a:3%, 1b:5.5%, 1a/1b:0.3%, and un-subtypable 1:4.3%), genotype 4 in 3% patients (4a:1.5%, 4b:0.3%, 4a/4c:0.5%, and un-subtypable 4:0.8%), 2 in 2.5% and mixed genotypes (more than one genotype) in 1.3% of patients. The median histological activity index and fibrosis scores were: 5 and 2 in genotype 1; 4 and 2 in genotype 2; 5 and 2 in genotype 3; 7 and 3 in genotype 4; and 5 and 2 in mixed genotypes, respectively. Severe liver disease was present in 17 of 38 (45%) with genotype 1; in 1 of 3 (33%) with genotype 2; in 128 of 236 (54%) with genotype 3; 7 of 10 (70%) with genotype 4; and in 1 of 4 (25%) with mixed genotype. Hepatic steatosis grade > or =2 was found in 28.1% of genotype 3; 23.5% of genotype 1; 20% of genotype 4; and in none of genotype 2 and mixed genotypes. In conclusion, genotype 3 is the most prevalent genotype in patients with chronic hepatitis C in North and Central India and this is associated with significant hepatic steatosis and fibrosis.     

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation—The potential role of direct‐acting agents for hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known to inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in patients with HBV/HCV coinfection. Reactivation of HBV in patients treated for HCV with direct‐acting agents (DAAs) has emerged recently as an important clinical consideration. A growing number of case reports and case series support the association between new HCV treatments and HBV reactivation. Yet, very little is known about the specific viral characteristics that facilitate reactivation as functional characterization of the reactivated HBV has been conducted only rarely. This review provides the most recent data on HBV reactivation in the context of DAA initiation and highlights the existing viral genomic data from reactivating viruses. Current functional studies of HBV reactivation are largely limited by the retrospective identification of cases, no standardization of genomic regions that are studied with respect to HBV reactivation, and the lack of inclusion of nonreactivating controls to establish specific viral mutations that are associated with HBV reactivation. Importantly, none of these sequencing studies included cases of HBV reactivation after initiation of DAAs. While new HCV treatments have revolutionized care for HCV infected patients, HBV reactivation will likely increase in frequency, as DAAs are more commonly prescribed. Pretreatment determination of HBV status and thoughtful management of HBV coinfections will be necessary and lead to improved patient safety and yield optimal treatment results.     

Effectiveness and safety of direct-acting antivirals in hepatitis C infected patients with mental disorders: Results in real clinical practice

The aim of this study is to analyze the effectiveness and safety of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in psychiatric patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Secondary objectives included adherence and drug-drug interaction (DDIs) evaluations. Prospective observational comparative study carried out during 3 years. Psychiatric patients were included and mental illness classified by a psychiatric team based on clinical records. Main effectiveness and safety variables were sustained virologic response (SVR) at posttreatment week 12 (SVR12) and rate of on-treatment serious drug-related adverse events (AEs), respectively. A total of 242 psychiatric and 900 nonpsychiatric patients were included. SVR12 by intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis of psychiatric vs nonpsychiatric patients was 92.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 89.1-96.1) vs 96.2% (95% CI, 94.9-97.5) (P = .02). SVR12 by modified-ITT analysis was 97.8% (95% CI, 95.0-99.3) vs 98.4% (95% CI, 97.5-99.3) (P = .74). 92.2% of psychiatric patients with mental disorders secondary to multiple drug use (MDSDU) and 93.0% of psychiatric patients without MDSDU vs 96.2% of nonpsychiatric patients reached SVR12 (P = .05 and P = .20, respectively). The percentage of adherent patients to DAAs did not show differences between cohorts (P = .08). 30.2% of psychiatric patients and 27.6% of nonpsychiatric patients presented clinically relevant DDIs (P = .47). 1.7% vs 0.8% of psychiatric vs nonpsychiatric patients developed serious AEs (P = .39); no serious psychiatric AEs were present. DAAs have shown a slightly lower effectiveness in psychiatric patients with CHC, as a result of loss of follow up, which justifies the need for integrated and multidisciplinary health care teams. DAAs safety, adherence, and DDIs, however, are similar to that of nonpsychiatric patients.     

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with HIV/HCV coinfection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the most frequent causes of comorbidity and mortality in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) population, and liver-related mortality is now the second highest cause of death in HIV-positive patients, so HCV infection should be countered with adequate antiviral therapy. In 2011 began the era of directly acting antivirals (DAAs) and the HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors telaprevir and boceprevir were approved to treat HCV-genotype-1 infection, each one in combination with pegylated interferon alfa (Peg-IFN) + ribavirin (RBV). The addition of the first generation DAAs, strongly improved the efficacy of antiviral therapy in patients with HCV-genotype 1, both for the HCV-monoinfected and HIV/HCV coinfected, and the poor response to Peg-IFN + RBV in HCV/HIV coinfection was enhanced. These treatments showed higher rates of sustained virological response than Peg-IFN + RBV but reduced tolerability and adherence due to the high pill burden and the several pharmacokinetic interactions between HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors and antiretroviral drugs. Then in 2013 a new wave of DAAs arrived, characterized by high efficacy, good tolerability, a low pill burden and shortened treatment duration. The second and third generation DAAs also comprised IFN-free regimens, which in small recent trials on HIV-positive patients have shown comforting preliminary results in terms of efficacy, tolerability and adherence.     

Effect of interferon on GB virus C and hepatitis C virus in hepatitis patients with the co-infection

Of 74 patients who were infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and received interferon, 12 (16%) were positive for RNA of GB virus C (GBV-C). RNA of GBV-C was determined in sera from the co-infected patients retrospectively, and the effect of interferon on GBV-C was compared with that on HCV in them. Titers of both GBV-C and HCV RNAs decreased during interferon in all of them. Two patients lost both GBV-C and HCV RNAs and remained clear until 6 months after treatment with interferon, while 2 lost RNA for GBV-C only and 2 for HCV RNA alone. Low pre-treatment RNA titers of GBV-C and HCV correlated with the efficacy of interferon in clearing. Alanine aminotransferase returned to normal only in the patients who lost HCV RNA, regardless of the persistence or loss GBV-C RNA. These results indicate that the response to interferon of GBV-C is comparable to but independent of that of HCV and that the persistence of GBV-C would not prevent the normalization of aminotransferases in response to interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C. J. Med. Virol. 52:156–160, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Autoimmune forms of chronic hepatitis associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with and without HCV-RNA: histological differences from pure autoimmune hepatitis and chronic hepatitis C

Liver biopsy specimens of pure autoimmune hepatitis (pAIH), autoimmune forms of chronic hepatitis with positivity for anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) and negativity for HCV-RNA (cAIH-RNA(-)), autoimmune forms of chronic hepatitis with positivity for anti-HCV and HCV-RNA (cAIH-RNA(+)), and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) were compared histologically and statistically to clarify the histological character of the autoimmune form of chronic hepatitis with HCV infection. The following representative histological features were used to investigate: inflammation, fibrosis, plasma cell infiltration, lymphoid aggregates/follicles, non-suppurative destructive cholangitis, and the shape of the enlarged portal tracts. While a considerable overlap in histological features between the pAIH and cAIH-RNA(-) groups and between the CHC and cAIH-RNA(+) groups was recognized, the overlap between the pAIH and CHC groups was small. Significant differences were found between cAIH-RNA(-) and cAIH-RAN(+) groups, especially in necroinflammatory findings. In conclusion, most cases of cAIH-RNA(-) with histological features similar to those of pAIH were shown to be AIH. The remaining cases might be CHC with subsidence of viral duplication. Conversely, many cases of cAIH-RNA(+) with histological findings similar to those of CHC were shown to be CHC clinically mimicking pAIH. The remaining cases might represent coexistence of pAIH and HCV infection.     

体重指数和血清甘油三酯水平对急性胰腺炎预后的影响研究

目的研究体重指数和血清甘油三酯水平对急性胰腺炎预后的影响,为临床防治急性胰腺炎提供一定的理论依据。方法临床入选183例急性胰腺炎患者,根据病情严重程度分为轻型组（92例）与重型组（91例）,统计分析两组患者的相关临床资料。结果在体重正常患者中MAP的发生率为47.83%,而SAP发生率为27.47%,两者具有统计学差异（P〈0.05）;在体重超重者患者中MAP和SAP发生率分别为39.13%、43.00%,两组间没有统计学差异（P〉0.05）;在肥胖患者中SAP发生率（28.57%）明显高于MAP发生率（13.04%）（P〈0.05）。与TG水平正常组相比较,高脂血症组的血钙和PaO2水平明显降低（P〈0.05）,同时高脂血症组的血清肌酐和血糖水平也是显著升高的（P〈0.05）。同时,两组患者在血清甘油三酯水平和体重指数方面均具有统计学差异（P〈0.05）。结论血清甘油三酯水平和体重指数可能是预测急性胰腺炎病情严重程度的两个危险因素。     

干扰素治疗慢性乙型肝炎疗效预测因素的研究进展

对于慢性乙型肝炎患者,干扰素-α常作为首选抗乙肝病毒的药物之一,具有疗程有限、疗效持久的优点,但因其毒副作用多且抗病毒效率低等缺点限制了干扰素的临床应用。因此如何在抗病毒前预测干扰素-α抗病毒疗效至关重要。本文就影响干扰素-α疗效的各种因素进行简要综述,为临床医生选择干扰素-α治疗慢性乙型肝炎患者提供参考。     

辽西地区健康成人超声心动图测量值与年龄、体质量指数的关系

目的:通过对辽西地区健康成人超声心动图测量指标的调查,并分析年龄、体质量指数对心结构的影响,为辽西地区心超声诊断提供参考。方法:在知情同意的基础上,按照随机抽样的调查方法,对798例(其中男性393例,女性405例)健康成人进行超声心动图检查,并测量身高、体质量,计算体质量指数。结果:男性左室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度、左室舒张末期内径、升主动脉内径、左室舒张末期容积和左室收缩末期容积均有年龄和体质量指数分组的差异;在女性左房内径、左室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度、左室舒张末期内径、左室舒张末期容积和左室收缩末期容积均有年龄和体质量指数分组的差异。结论:年龄和体质量指数均是心结构和功能的影响因素,尤其是体质量指数对左室后壁厚度有影响。