Characteristics and outcomes of HCV genotype-1-infected patients treated with peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy with discordant HCV responses 4 and 12 weeks after starting therapy.

Objective: Some patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection fail to achieve complete early virologic response (EVR) despite a marked decrease in HCV RNA at 4 weeks. We investigated the characteristics and final treatment outcomes of this patient subpopulation.

Methods: A total of 516 patients with HCV genotype 1 were enrolled.

Serum HBV RNA and HBeAg are useful markers for the safe discontinuation of nucleotide analogue treatments in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background: Treatment for chronic hepatitis B has improved drastically with the use of nucleot(s)ide analogues (NAs). However, NA therapy typically fails to eliminate Hepatitis B virus (HBV) completely, and it is difficult to discontinue these therapies. We previously demonstrated that NA therapy induced immature viral particles, including HBV RNA in sera of chronic hepatitis B patients.

Significance of a reduction in HCV RNA levels at 4 and 12 weeks in patients infected with HCV genotype 1b for the prediction of the outcome of combination therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin.

Background: The importance of the reduction in hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels 4 and 12 weeks after starting peginterferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin combination therapy has been reported to predict a sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients infected with HCV genotype 1. We conducted a multicenter study to validate this importance along with baseline predictive factors in this patient subpopulation.

Methods: A total of 516 patients with HCV genotype 1 and pretreatment HCV RNA levels ≥5.

Baseline factors and early viral response (week 4) to antiviral therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin for predicting sustained virologic response in patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1: a multicenter study.

Both baseline predictive factors and viral response at week 4 of therapy are reported to have high predictive ability for sustained virologic response to peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1. However, it is not clear how these baseline variables and week 4 response should be combined to predict sustained virologic response. In this multicenter study, the authors investigated the impact of baseline predictive factors on the predictive value of week 4 viral response.

The role of a real-time PCR technology for rapid detection and identification of bacterial and fungal pathogens in whole-blood samples.

The rapid diagnosis of pathogens and prompt initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy are critical factors to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with sepsis. In this study, we evaluated a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR-M) test that detects bacteria and fungi in whole-blood specimens, comparing its features to those of a blood culture (BC). Following evaluation of the performance for sensitivity and specificity of PCR-M, 78 blood samples from 54 patients with suspected bacterial infections were evaluated.

Evaluation of pathogen detection from clinical samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction using a sepsis pathogen DNA detection kit.

Introduction: Sepsis is a serious medical condition that requires rapidly administered, appropriate antibiotic treatment. Conventional methods take three or more days for final pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. We organized a prospective observational multicenter study in three study sites to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and potential clinical utility of the SeptiFast system, a multiplex pathogen detection system used in the clinical setting to support early diagnosis of bloodstream infections.