Hepatic Expression of Phosphorylated Kinase Akt and Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Isoforms in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.

Some patients with chronic hepatitis C also demonstrate liver steatosis, but the mechanism remains elusive. To analyze the hepatic expression of phosphorylated kinase Akt at Thr 308 and phosphorylated GSK-3 (Glycogen synthase kinase-3) isoforms, GSK3α at Ser 21 and GSK3β at Ser 9, in chronic hepatitis C patients with normal body weight, glucose, and lipid profiles depending on homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels and histological parameters. The study group consisted of 31 patients with chronic hepatitis C.

NFE2L2 is associated with NQO1 expression and low stage of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Oxidative stress is extremely important in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). In response to oxidative stress, adaptive antioxidant defenses are upregulated in the liver. The balance between antioxidant response and oxidative stress plays a key role in hepatic injury in HCV infection.

Dual therapy based on raltegravir and boosted protease inhibitors - the experience of Polish centers.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to present the experience of Polish centers regarding dual therapy based on the integrase inhibitor raltegravir (RAL) and ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors (PI/r) for treating treatment-naïve and -experienced HIV-infected patients.

Material And Methods: The paper concerns a retrospective multicenter study. The medical databases of six main Polish HIV centers from January 2009 to December 2014 were analyzed for the use of combined antiretroviral treatment consisting of RAL + PI/r.

Surveillance for portal hypertension in the course of liver cirrhosis.

Non-invasive liver fibrosis assessment techniques are under development for evaluating the severity of liver disease and portal hypertension. The paper presents practical arrangements for the diagnosis and treatment of portal hypertension in patients with chronic liver disease, established in the Baveno VI Consensus Workshop for diagnosis and treatment of portal hypertension. Currently, the diagnostic standard of liver disease severity is transient elastography, which can identify patients with clinically significant portal hypertension (liver stiffness > 20 kPa).

Efficacy and direct costs of chronic hepatitis C treatment with first generation NS3/4A protease inhibitors in a real life population.

Introduction: Recent years have brought a significant advance in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment that includes development of direct acting antivirals (DAA). Two of them, boceprevir (BOC) and telaprevir (TVR), were first approved for treatment of patients infected with CHC genotype 1 in combination with pegylated interferon (P) and ribavirin (R). Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and direct costs of BOC/PR and TVR/PR in a real life population.

Efficacy and safety of nucleoside-sparing regimen based on raltegravir and ritonavir-boosted darunavir in HIV-1-infected treatment-experienced patients.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of dual therapy containing raltegravir (RAL) and ritonavir boosted darunavir (DRV/r) in HIV-1-infected treatment-experienced patients.

Method: Retrospective analysis of 81 HIV-1-infected treatment-experienced patients (56 male and 25 female, 5 Polish centers) who switched to RAL/DRV/r.

Results: The main reasons for the introduction of dual therapy were renal dysfunction (16/81 patients-19.

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infections in Łódzkie voivodeship.

Introduction: Epidemiology of HCV subtypes plays an increasing role in treatment decision making in the era of direct acting antivirals. Data on incidence of HCV subtypes in Poland are sparse and equivocal.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of HCV subtypes basing on data collected in Lodzkie province in 2015.

Hepatic expression of miR-122 and antioxidant genes in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Introduction: The pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B depends on both, the immune response and oxidative stress.

Aim Of The Study: To assess the hepatic expression of miR-122 and the antioxidant genes: HMOX-1, NQO1 and GFER1, in liver biopsy specimens obtained from patients with chronic hepatitis B, with regard to selected clinical and histological parameters, using RT-PCR.

Results: The study group comprised 34 HBV-infected patients.

Adherence to antiviral therapy in HIV or HBV-infected patients.

Background: Antiviral therapies in HIV and chronic HBV infection are lifelong and require strict adherence to medication to ensure therapeutic success.

Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze adherence levels in HIV patients on antiretroviral regimen and in B-infected patients treated with nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Material And Methods: The study group consisted of 134 HIV-infected patients and 42 with chronic hepatitis B.

Ribavirin priming has no beneficial effects for chronic hepatitis C patients.

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of an initial dose of ribavirin administered before a 48-week course of treatment with peg-IFN + ribavirin in treatment-naïve patients and in patients after previous failure of CHC treatment.

Material And Methods: A total of 103 patients with chronic hepatitis C infected with genotype 1 HCV were qualified to the study. Study patients were randomised to receive one of two treatments: A- RBV for 4 weeks followed by combined therapy with peg-IFN alpha-2a +RBV for 48 weeks (n = 73), or B- combined therapy with peg-IFN alpha-2a +RBV for 48 weeks (n = 30).

Insulin resistance, adipokine profile and hepatic expression of SOCS-3 gene in chronic hepatitis C.

Aim: To analyze adipokine concentrations, insulin resistance and hepatic expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS-3) in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 with normal body weight, glucose and lipid profile.

Methods: The study group consisted of 31 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 9 healthy subjects. Total levels of adiponectin, leptin, resistin, visfatin, omentin, osteopontin and insulin were measured using an ELISA kit.

Hepatic HMOX1 expression positively correlates with Bach-1 and miR-122 in patients with HCV mono and HIV/HCV coinfection.

Aim: To analyze the expression of HMOX1 and miR-122 in liver biopsy samples obtained from HCV mono-and HIV/HCV co-infected patients in relation to selected clinical parameters, histological examination and IL-28B polymorphism as well as to determine whether HMOX1 expression is dependent on Bach-1.

Materials And Methods: The study group consisted of 90 patients with CHC: 69 with HCV mono and 21 with HIV/HCV co-infection. RT-PCR was used in the analysis of HMOX1, Bach-1 and miR-122 expression in liver biopsy samples and in the assessment of IL-28B single-nucleotide polymorphism C/T (rs12979860) in the blood.

Expression of selected genes in liver biopsy specimens in relation to early virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C with HCV mono- and HIV/HCV co-infection.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the significance of IL-28B single-nucleotide polymorphism and hepatic expression of IFI27, SOCS3 and miR-122 in order to predict early virological response (EVR) in patients infected with HCV genotype 1 or 4. The study group consisted of 65 patients: 46 with HCV mono- and 19 with HIV/HCV co-infection. Analyses of IL-28B single-nucleotide polymorphism C/T (rs12979860) in the blood and expression of SOCS3, IFI27 and miR-122 in liver biopsy samples obtained before PegIFN and ribavirin treatment were performed by the RT-PCR method.

Urine liver-type fatty acid-binding protein and kidney injury molecule-1 in HIV-infected patients receiving combined antiretroviral treatment based on tenofovir.

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of kidney tubular damage in the absence of overt evidence of glomerular dysfunction (GFR>60 ml/min without proteinuria) in HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. Urine kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) levels were measured by ELISA and expressed as a ratio to creatinine. Sixty-six patients (median age 38 years) and 10 healthy controls (median age 35.

Sustained virologic response and IL28B single-nucleotide polymorphisms in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem which can lead to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma in one-fifth of chronically infected patients.

Materials And Methods: The study group consisted of 123 patients: 90 with HCV mono- and 33 with HIV/HCV co-infection, who were treated with pegylated interferon alfa (Peg-IFN-α) and ribavirin. We analyzed selected pretreatment factors: age, sex, HIV/HCV co-infection, grade of inflammation, necrotic changes and fibrosis in histological analysis of liver bioptates, HCV viral load, HCV genotypes, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL28B and tried to find out which of them influence sustained virological response (SVR).

The influence of treatment with pegylated interferon-alfa and ribavirin on neutrophil function and death in patients with HIV/HCV coinfection.

In patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as well as in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection the impairment of neutrophil activity is observed. We decided to analyze how treatment with pegylated interferon-alfa (Peg-IFN-alfa) and ribavirin affects neutrophil function in HIV/HCV coinfected patients. The study group consisted of 18 patients with HIV/HCV coinfection, on combination antiretroviral treatment (cART), aged between 27 and 42 y (mean 33.

Neutrophil function and apoptosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon α and ribavirin.

The role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C as well as the effect of pegylated interferon α (PEG-IFN-α) and ribavirin treatment on neutrophil function is not precisely known. The study included 32 patients with CCH aged between 19 and 58 years (mean 33.5 years).

[Malignancy cases in HIV-positive patients in Lodz region in years 1992-2010].

Unlabelled: Cancers are increasingly recognized as a complication of HIV infection. The traditional AIDS defining cancers (ADCs), including Kaposi sarcoma, cervical cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, are common in HIV-positive individuals. However, in the period of antiretroviral therapy the incidence of non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADCs) has increased significantly.

Sudden hearing loss in chronic hepatitis C patient suffering from Turner syndrome, treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

Sudden hearing loss is a very rare complication of interferon-alpha treatment. At this time, hearing loss in patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin has only been described in two reports. We present a case of a 27-year-old patient who was diagnosed with Turner syndrome, treated for hepatitis C with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, and suffered from hearing loss during the 10th week of treatment.

Antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus recurrence after liver transplantation in HIV-infected patients: outcome in the Bonn cohort.

Recurrent hepatitis C is a major cause of mortality in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-co-infected patients after orthotopic liver transplantation. We report sustained viral clearance in all four transplanted HIV/HCV-positive patients treated with pegylated interferon/ribavirin. Early therapy after HCV recurrence, tailoring treatment duration to the individual decline in HCV-RNA and the management of side effects are key factors for improved efficacy.

[Brain abscess: analysis of prevalence and clinical course].

The aim of the study was the analysis of the patients with bacterial meningitis and brain abscess who were treated in the Department of Infection Disease and Hepatology of Medical University in Lodz in years 1996-2005. We reviewed their clinical presentation, bacteriology treatment and outcome retrospectively. Among 135 patients who were confirmed cases of bacterial meningitis 16 identified as having brain abscesses.