A phase 1 randomized controlled trial of a peptide-based group A streptococcal vaccine in healthy volunteers.

Background: Group A streptococci (Strep A) orStreptococcus pyogenes is a major human pathogen causing an estimated 500,000 deaths worldwide each year. Disease can range from mild pharyngitis to more severe infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis, septicemia, and toxic shock syndrome. Untreated, Strep A infection can lead to the serious post streptococcal pathologies of rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Drug repurposing: Misconceptions, challenges, and opportunities for academic researchers.

Drug repurposing is promoted as a cost- and time-effective mechanism for providing new medicines. Often, however, there is insufficient consideration by academic researchers of the processes required to ensure that a repurposed drug can be used for a new indication. This may explain the inability of drug repurposing to fulfill its promise.

Employment after liver transplantation: a review.

Background: Return to productive employment is often an important milestone in the recovery and rehabilitation process after liver transplantation (OLT). This literature review identifies factors associated with employment in patients who underwent OLT.

Methods: We searched PubMed for articles that addressed the various factors affecting employment after OLT.

Low incidence of hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion in patients treated with oral nucleos(t)ides in routine practice.

Background And Aim: Treatment end-point of therapy for patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) includes HBeAg seroconversion, which ranges from 15% to 22% after 1 year of oral nucleos(t)ides according to clinical trials. Our goal was to determine the incidence and predictors of HBeAg seroconversion in such patients in routine clinical practice because they may differ than reported rates.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 333 consecutive treatment-naïve HBeAg-positive patients who were treated for CHB between 1/2000 and 6/2010 at three gastroenterology and liver clinics in the USA.

High frequency of recurrent viremia after hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion and consolidation therapy.

Background: The primary treatment endpoint for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B is HBeAg seroconversion; however, data on the durability of response are inconsistent.

Goals: Our goal was to investigate the rate of recurrent viremia after HBeAg seroconversion and subsequent discontinuation of therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 88 consecutive Asian American patients who achieved HBeAg seroconversion [loss of HBeAg and development of antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe)] among 458 HBeAg-positive patients who received oral antiviral therapy at 3 US clinics between March 1998 and November 2010.