IFNL4 genotype and other personal characteristics to predict response to 8-week sofosbuvir-based treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Shorter duration therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection might reduce treatment costs and increase the number of patients treated and cured. We determined factors associated with treatment response after an 8-week sofosbuvir-based therapy and developed a simple model to predict an individual's likelihood of treatment success.

Methods: Among 2907 patients who received ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for 8 weeks, we determined failure rates by demographic and clinical characteristics, and IFNL4-∆G/TT genotype.

Circulating trans fatty acids are associated with prostate cancer in Ghanaian and American men.

The association between fatty acids and prostate cancer remains poorly explored in African-descent populations. Here, we analyze 24 circulating fatty acids in 2934 men, including 1431 prostate cancer cases and 1503 population controls from Ghana and the United States, using CLIA-certified mass spectrometry-based assays. We investigate their associations with population groups (Ghanaian, African American, European American men), lifestyle factors, the fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genetic locus, and prostate cancer.

Genotypes and Risk of Childhood Burkitt Lymphoma in East Africa.

Interferon lambda 4 (IFN-λ4) is a novel type-III interferon that can be expressed only by carriers of the genetic variant rs368234815-dG within the first exon of the gene. Genetic inability to produce IFN-λ4 (in carriers of the rs368234815-TT/TT genotype) has been associated with improved clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The IFN-λ4-expressing rs368234815-dG allele (-dG) is most common (up to 78%) in West sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), compared to 35% of Europeans and 5% of individuals from East Asia.