Cost-effectiveness of using hepatitis C viremic hearts for transplantation into HCV-negative recipients

Outcomes following hepatitis C virus (HCV)-viremic heart transplantation into HCV-negative recipients with HCV treatment are good. We assessed cost-effectiveness between cohorts of transplant recipients willing and unwilling to receive HCV-viremic hearts. Markov model simulated long-term outcomes among HCV-negative patients on the transplant waitlist. We compared costs (2018 USD) and health outcomes (quality-adjusted life-years, QALYs) between cohorts willing to accept any heart and those willing to accept only HCV-negative hearts. We assumed 4.9% HCV-viremic donor prevalence. Patients receiving HCV-viremic hearts were treated, assuming $39 600/treatment with 95% cure. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were compared to a $100 000/QALY gained willingness-to-pay threshold. Sensitivity analyses included stratification by blood type or region and potential negative consequences of receipt of HCV-viremic hearts. Compared to accepting only HCV-negative hearts, accepting any heart gained 0.14 life-years and 0.11 QALYs, while increasing costs by $9418/patient. Accepting any heart was cost effective (ICER $85 602/QALY gained). Results were robust to all transplant regions and blood types, except type AB. Accepting any heart remained cost effective provided posttransplant mortality and costs among those receiving HCV-viremic hearts were not >7% higher compared to HCV-negative hearts. Willingness to accept HCV-viremic hearts for transplantation into HCV-negative recipients is cost effective and improves clinical outcomes.     

Distinct immunopathological mechanisms of EBV-positive and EBV-negative posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders

EBV-positive and EBV-negative posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) arise in different immunovirological contexts and might have distinct pathophysiologies. To examine this hypothesis, we conducted a multicentric prospective study with 56 EBV-positive and 39 EBV-negative PTLD patients of the K-VIROGREF cohort, recruited at PTLD diagnosis and before treatment (2013–2019), and compared them to PTLD-free Transplant Controls (TC, n = 21). We measured absolute lymphocyte counts (n = 108), analyzed NK- and T cell phenotypes (n = 49 and 94), and performed EBV-specific functional assays (n = 16 and 42) by multiparameter flow cytometry and ELISpot-IFNγ assays (n = 50). EBV-negative PTLD patients, NK cells overexpressed Tim-3; the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) was poorer in patients with a CD4 lymphopenia (CD4⁺<300 cells/mm³, p <  .001). EBV-positive PTLD patients presented a profound NK-cell lymphopenia (median = 60 cells/mm³) and a high proportion of NK cells expressing PD-1 (vs. TC, p = .029) and apoptosis markers (vs. TC, p < .001). EBV-specific T cells of EBV-positive PTLD patients circulated in low proportions, showed immune exhaustion (p = .013 vs. TC) and poorly recognized the N-terminal portion of EBNA-3A viral protein. Altogether, this broad comparison of EBV-positive and EBV-negative PTLDs highlight distinct patterns of immunopathological mechanisms between these two diseases and provide new clues for immunotherapeutic strategies and PTLD prognosis.     

A Phase 2 open label study of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for 12 weeks in subjects with hepatitis B virus infection

Retrospective data showed that when we administered ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) to patients with hepatitis B and C coinfection, there was a modest reduction in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Therefore, we hypothesize that similar HBsAg reduction can be seen in hepatitis B virus (HBV) monoinfected subjects. Primary and secondary efficacy endpoints are the decline in HBsAg and HBV DNA at Week 12 from baseline, respectively. We conducted an open-label Phase 2 pilot study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and antiviral activity of LDV and/or SOF for HBV. Eligible subjects were either suppressed on antivirals (Group B) or inactive chronic HBV (Group A, C, D). Group A and B received LDV/SOF. Group C and D received SOF 400 mg and LDV 90 mg, respectively. All subjects completed the study, and all related adverse events (AEs) were mild. No discontinuations due to AEs or hepatitis flare occurred. At Week 12, HBsAg decline (log₁₀ IU/ml) was similar between Group A (0.399) and B (0.400), less in Group C (0.207), and none in Group D, and there was HBV DNA decline in the inactive chronic HBV groups. LDV and SOF are safe and well tolerated when given to chronic hepatitis B subjects and have modest antiviral activity, particularly when given in combination.     

Haematologic consequences of viral infections including serum iron status

Twenty-seven children with mumps or chickenpox were taken as a model to evaluate the haematological consequences of viral infections including serum iron status. Blood samples were obtained from all patients at presentation and on the 21 st day of the disease. While haemoglobin, haematocrit, and meam corpuscular volume levels were similar in two measurements (P>0.05), the mean leucocyte, absolute lymphocyte and thrombocyte counts, mean serum iron, serum iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation levels were lower at presentation than on the 21 st day of the disease. The serum iron levels were below 30 g/dl in 16 (59.2%) patients at presentation while only 4 (14.8%) had low values on 21 st day. Twenty-four (88.9%) patients had an increment in the serum iron binding capacity levels and 2 (7.6%) reached values above the normal range on the 21 st day. Int 21 (77.8%) patients, the transferrin saturation levels were below the expected ranges at presentation but 26 (96.3%) showed an increment on the 21 st day. However, the mean ferritin level was higher at presentation. Therefore, during the evaluation of patients for anaemia, the presence of a recent acute viral infection should be documented so as to avoid unnecessary iron medication.     

血浆置换治疗重型肝炎疗效观察

目的 评价应用血浆置换治疗重型肝炎的临床疗效。方法 对48例重型肝炎患在综合保肝治疗基础上给予血浆置换治疗。结果 早期好转率85．71％，中期好转率33．33％，差异具有显性。结论 血浆置换是重肝较为安全有效的治疗手段，早期应用效果尤佳。     

抗柯萨奇B中药胶囊治疗病毒性心肌炎的临床疗效评价

目的观察抗柯萨奇B心肌炎胶囊(ACCM)治疗病毒性心肌炎(VM)的临床疗效.方法将120例VM患者随机分成ACCM组(用ACCM治疗,60例)和对照组(西药常规治疗,60例),进行对比观察.结果ACCM组总有效率85%,明显优于对照组的57%(P<0.05).治疗后ACCM组的心悸、反复感冒、胸闷、胸痛、气短、乏力、头晕等症状的恢复明显优于对照组.结论ACCM是治疗VM的一种高效、价廉及使用方便的中药制剂, 无明显不良反应.     

彩色多普勒组织显像在小儿病毒性心肌炎诊断中的应用

本文报告用彩色多普勒组织显像(DTI)测定正常小儿173名,病毒性心肌炎40例,发现DTI在正常小儿的规律。病毒性心肌炎二尖瓣环舒张早期运动速度(MVR-DeV)显著低于正常儿童,40例病毒性心肌炎MVR-DeV降低者占72.5％,经过治疗后MVR-DeV90％以上短期内恢复正常。MVR-DeV降低率显著高于心脏解剖、心功能、心脏血流参数、心电图和心肌酶的异常率。因此,MVR-DeV对病毒性心肌炎的诊断、病情了解以及疗效观察均有重要价值。     

Initial transforming event in myelodysplastic syndromes may be viral: case for cytomegalovirus

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematopoietic disorders which begin in a pluripotential bone marrow (BM) stem cell. This early stem cell is believed to acquire a growth advantage over its neighbors as a result of an initial transforming event, the nature of which has remained obscure. In this paper, we propose that pathogens such as those belonging to the herpesvirus family of DNA viruses may play a role in the initial transformation of the stem cell. The case for cytomegalovirus (CMV) as a representative of this family of viruses is discussed at length and a molecular mechanism which may be involved in the oncogenic activity of CMV is proposed. No proof has been presented to implicate CMV directly in MDS, but circumstantial evidence which supports such a possibility is provided.     

柴莪退热栓治疗急性病毒性上呼吸道感染临床研究

目的观察柴莪退热栓治疗急性病毒性上呼吸道感染中医辨证属卫分证、卫气同病证的临床疗效,并探讨外感高热卫分证、卫气同病证证候与疗效间的关系.方法将患者 80例随机分为治疗组与对照组,分别予柴莪退热栓和消炎痛栓塞肛,并进行安全性评价.结果两组总体疗效相当,且未发现明显毒副作用.结论 柴莪退热栓治疗急性病毒性上呼吸道感染疗效满意.     

病毒性脑膜脑炎262例血清线粒体天冬氨酸转氨酶同工酶变化的临床意义

目的　探讨病毒性脑膜脑炎 (病脑 )患儿血清线粒体天冬氨酸转氨酶同工酶 (m AST)变化及其临床意义。方法　应用全自动生化分析仪测定 2 62例病脑患儿和 12 1例健康儿童静脉血清中m AST、天冬氨酸转氨酶总活性 (t AST)活性 ,并计算m AST/t AST。结果　轻度病脑组血清m AST活性 15.50± 3 .91U/L ,中度组3 4 .79± 7.2 5U/L ,重度组 55.76± 11.3 3U/L ,正常对照组 7.93± 2 .80U/L ,各组间比较差异有显著性 (P均 <0 .0 5) ;m AST/t AST值 ,轻度患儿组 (3 6.76± 8.51) % ,中度患儿组 (47.63± 11.53 ) % ,重度患儿组 (61.81±7.3 3 ) % ,正常对照组 (2 5.2 6± 9.2 1) % ,各组间比较差异亦有显著性 (P均 <0 .0 5)。结论　测定血清m AST活性及m AST/t AST可作为判断小儿病脑病情及预后的指标之一