Genotype-specific mutations in the polymerase gene of hepatitis B virus potentially associated with resistance to oral antiviral therapy.

The evolution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the role of different variants during antiviral therapy may be influenced by HBV genotype. We have therefore analysed substitutions potentially related to nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) resistance at 42 positions within RT-region in a cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis B in relation to HBV-genotype. RT mutations analysis was performed by direct sequencing in 200 NAs-naïve patients and in 64 LAM or LAM+ADV experienced patients with NAs resistance, infected mainly by HBV-genotypes D and A.

Association between hepatocellular carcinoma and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Italy: potential role of insulin.

Aim: To investigate the relationships between Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We studied the association between DM2 and HCC in a large case-control study that enrolled 465 consecutive Caucasian patients with HCC (78.3% males, mean age 68.

Sequential algorithms combining non-invasive markers and biopsy for the assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.

Aim: To assess the performance of several non-invasive markers and of our recently proposed stepwise combination algorithms to diagnose significant fibrosis (F > or = 2 by METAVIR) and cirrhosis (F4 by METAVIR) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: One hundred and ten consecutive patients (80 males, 30 females, mean age: 42.6 +/- 11.

Liver microsomal triglyceride transfer protein is involved in hepatitis C liver steatosis.

Background & Aims: Hepatic steatosis is frequent in chronic hepatitis C. Several mechanisms might be implicated, including metabolic cofactors and direct viral effects on intracellular lipid pathways. In a transgenic mouse model, hepatitis C virus (HCV) was shown to inhibit microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) activity, which is essential for hepatic lipoprotein assembly and secretion.

Stepwise combination algorithms of non-invasive markers to diagnose significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: In chronic hepatitis C, biopsy is the gold standard for assessment of liver fibrosis. Non-invasive markers have been proposed but their use is limited by diagnostic accuracy. Our aim was to increase the diagnostic performance of non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis by combining them in sequential algorithms.

Therapy of acute hepatitis C.

Acute hepatitis C has a high propensity to become chronic, which provides the rationale for treating patients with acute disease attempting to prevent chronicity. Almost all published studies on therapy of acute hepatitis C have been small in size, uncontrolled, and highly heterogeneous as to patient features, dose and duration of treatment, follow-up evaluation, and criteria used to define efficacy and safety. The published studies on treatment of acute hepatitis C have used standard alfa or beta interferon monotherapy: none have evaluated combination therapy of interferon and ribavirin or peginterferon.