Effects of HCV Clearance with Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs) on Liver Stiffness, Liver Fibrosis Stage and Metabolic/Cellular Parameters.

Introduction: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a clinical and pathological syndrome with various causes and is characterized by varying degrees of hepatocellular necrosis and inflammation. It is a significant cause of liver transplantation and liver-related death worldwide. The hepatic manifestations of CHC are typically characterized by slowly progressing liver fibrosis, which is a non-specific and often disproportionate response to tissue damage.

Role of Inflammatory/Immune Response and Cytokine Polymorphisms in the Severity of Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) before and after Direct Acting Antiviral (DAAs) Treatment.

Host regulatory immune response is involved in the hepatic inflammatory process caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). We aimed to determine if HCV clearance with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) changes the hepatic fibrosis stage, biochemical parameters of liver injury, and inflammatory/immune responses. Sample: 329 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, 134 of them treated with DAAs.

Polymorphism R1587K in Chronic Hepatitis C Is Gender-Specific and Modulates Liver Disease Severity through Its Influence on Cholesterol Metabolism and Liver Function: A Preliminary Study.

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) progression is highly variable and can be influenced by lipid metabolism. The ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) is involved in lipid metabolism and mediates cholesterol efflux from liver cells. gene polymorphism rs2230808 (R1587K) modulates lipid levels as it is located in an ABCA1 protein domain, which is essential for cholesterol efflux.

Incidence, predictive factors and clinical significance of development of portal vein thrombosis in cirrhosis: A prospective study.

Background And Aims: The role of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in the natural history of cirrhosis is controversial. There are few prospective studies validating risk factors for development of PVT. We analysed the incidence, factors associated with PVT development and its influence on cirrhosis decompensations and orthotopic liver transplant (OLT)-free survival.

Anticoagulation in Cirrhosis and Portal Vein Thrombosis Is Safe and Improves Prognosis in Advanced Cirrhosis.

Background: The role of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in the natural history of cirrhosis is controversial.

Aims: We analyzed the safety and effect of anticoagulant therapy (AT) on PVT recanalization and orthotopic liver transplant (OLT)-free survival.

Methods: Eighty consecutive patients from a prospective registry of cirrhosis and non-tumoral PVT at a tertiary center were analyzed.

Epidemic history of hepatitis C virus genotypes and subtypes in Portugal.

Any successful strategy to prevent and control HCV infection requires an understanding of the epidemic behaviour among the different genotypes. Here, we performed the first characterization of the epidemic history and transmission dynamics of HCV subtypes in Portugal. Direct sequencing of NS5B was performed on 230 direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAA)-treatment naïve patients in Lisbon.

Lipids, glucose and iron metabolic alterations in chronic hepatitis C after viral eradication - comparison of the new direct-acting antiviral agents with the old regimens.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a unique virus which interacts with cholesterol, iron and insulin metabolism. There is limited data on the effects of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) on metabolic profiles. We aimed at evaluating the behavior of metabolic risk factors of chronically HCV-infected patients after sustained virologic response (SVR), comparing the outcomes with the new DAAs versus the old treatment regimen Peg-interferon ± ribavirin.

Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma, Ileal Crohn Disease or Both? - A Case of Diagnostic Challenge.

Signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare form of adenocarcinoma that predominantly affects the stomach. Signet ring cell carcinoma originated from the ileum is extremely rare and the prognosis is poor. We present a case of small bowel obstruction with features suggesting Crohn disease of the ileum.

Impact of sorafenib dosing on outcome from the European patient subset of the GIDEON study.

Aims: To evaluate sorafenib dosing and safety in the Global Investigation of therapeutic GIDEON study's European subpopulation.

Patients & Methods: Patient demographics, disease characteristics and treatment history were recorded at enrollment; dose, adverse events and efficacy were recorded at follow-up.

Results: Of 1113 evaluable patients, 82% started on 800 mg/day sorafenib; patients starting on 400 mg/day were slightly older, had baseline characteristics indicative of greater disease progression and higher adverse events incidences (96 vs 88%).

Procollagen type III amino terminal peptide and myocardial fibrosis: A study in hypertensive patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy.

Introduction And Objectives: An exaggerated accumulation of type I and type III fibrillar collagens occurs throughout the free wall and interventricular septum of patients with primary hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). In the present study the serum concentration of procollagen type III amino terminal peptide (PIIIP) was measured to determine the value of this peptide as a potential marker of ventricular fibrosis in hypertensive patients, particularly those with LVH.

Methods: The study population consisted of patients with never-treated mild to moderate essential hypertension and 30 normotensive control subjects.

The soluble form of HFE protein regulates hephaestin mRNA expression in the duodenum through an endocytosis-dependent mechanism.

Dietary iron absorption regulation is one of the key steps for the maintenance of the body iron homeostasis. HFE gene expression undergoes a complex post-transcriptional alternative splicing mechanism through which two alternative transcripts are originated and translated to a soluble HFE protein isoform (sHFE). The first purpose of this study was to determine if sHFE transcript levels respond to different iron conditions in duodenal and macrophage cell models.

Chronic hepatitis C treated with peginterferon alfa plus ribavirin in clinical practice.

Background/aims: The role of genotype and viremia were retrospectively evaluated on sustained virological response (SVR) rates in routine clinical practice.

Methodology: From 1907 patients with chronic hepatitis C proposed for treatment, we analysed 1380 (1124 naive and 256 treatment-experienced) with complete follow-up. Genotype and HCV RNA quantification were assayed by commercial tests.

Eradication of hepatitis C virus reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with compensated cirrhosis.

Background: The effect of a sustained virological response (SVR) to interferon (IFN) on clinical outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis is controversial.

Aims: Evaluate the effect of SVR to IFN on the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and mortality in patients with compensated HCV-induced cirrhosis.

Methods: A cohort of 130 consecutive patients (92 men, mean age 51.

Clastogenic factors in the plasma of patients with hepatitis C: their possible role at the origin of hepatocarcinoma.

Clastogenic factors (CF) are endogenous clastogens composed of lipid peroxidation products, cytokines, and abnormal nucleotides of inosine. They are regularly observed after radiation exposure and in chronic inflammatory diseases, where they are supposed to be risk factors for carcinogenesis. In the present study, we evaluate clastogenic activity in the plasma of patients with chronic hepatitis C, HCV-positive liver cirrhosis, and hepatocarcinoma in comparison to liver metastasis.

Oxidative stress in chronic hepatitis C: a preliminary study on the protective effects of antioxidant flavonoids.

Background/aims: Oxidative stress is involved in chronic hepatitis C, and efforts have been made to influence the disease process with antioxidants. The present study evaluates the protective effects of a phenol-rich processed grain food with superoxide-scavenging properties (trade name antioxidant biofactor AOB).

Methodology: Thirty patients participated in this placebo-controlled double-blind pilot study.

Factors associated with the development of cirrhosis in patients with HCV chronic infection.

Background/aims: The natural history of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection still has some details to be established, namely in what concerns progression to hepatic cirrhosis (HC). The study aims to define predictive factors for progression to HC in patients with HCV chronic infection.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was performed on 129 patients consecutively submitted to liver biopsy.