Sub-optimal therapy of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in the real-life stetting of the German PBC cohort.

Real-world data on the management of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are so far scarce in Germany. Therefore, we aimed to establish a nationwide registry and describe the clinical characteristics and therapy of PBC patients.Three different cohorts defined as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) responders, as inadequate responders according to Paris II criteria, and as newly diagnosed patients were prospectively recruited.

Nurses' attitude towards patient advocacy and its associated factor in East Gojjam Zone Public hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023.

Introduction: One of the most important but underappreciated roles of nurses is patient advocacy. To advocate for patients effectively, the nurses should have a favorable attitude towards patient advocacy. Despite this fact, the nurses' attitude towards patient advocacy was not known in Ethiopia.

Long-term outcome of hepatitis delta in different regions world-wide: Results of the Hepatitis Delta International Network.

Background And Aims: Chronic hepatitis delta represents a major global health burden. Clinical features of hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection vary largely between different regions worldwide. Treatment approaches are dependent on the approval status of distinct drugs and financial resources.

Time to develop adverse drug reactions and associated factors among children HIV positive patients on antiretroviral treatment in North West Amhara Specialized Hospitals: Retrospective cohort study, 2022.

Introduction: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are harmful and unintended reactions to medicines given at standard doses through a proper route of administration for the purpose of prophylaxis, diagnosis, or treatment.

Objective: The objective of this research paper was to assess median time to development of ADRs and associated factors among children HIV positive patients on antiretroviral treatment (ART) in North West Amhara Specialized Hospitals.

Methods: The adverse drug effect survival time was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier survival method and log-rank test curves was applied for analyze "time-to-event" data.

Land use and land cover changes and their impact on ecosystem service values in the north-eastern highlands of Ethiopia.

The land use and land cover (LULC) changes driven by the growing demands of mankind have a considerable effect on ecosystem services and functions. The study was carried out in the north-eastern highlands of Ethiopia to (1) analyze the effect of LULC changes between 1984 and 2021 and (2) assess the spatiotemporal variations in ecosystem service values (ESVs) and elasticity in response to LULC changes. Using Landsat imageries from 1984 to 2021, the spatiotemporal changes in LULC were evaluated with supervised image classification using maximum likelihood algorithm in ArcGIS software.

Variable Outcomes of Hepatitis E Infections in Patients with Hemato-Oncologic Diseases.

Introduction: The hepatitis E virus (HEV) represents an important cause of viral hepatitis and could cause chronic infections in immunocompromised patients. However, data about immunocompromised patients other than solid organ transplant recipients are limited.

Methods: We identified patients from a laboratory database and retrospectively compiled and analyzed clinical as well as laboratory data in detail.

Catchment scale runoff time-series generation and validation using statistical models for the Continental United States.

We developed statistical models to generate runoff time-series at National Hydrography Dataset Plus Version 2 (NHDPlusV2) catchment scale for the Continental United States (CONUS). The models use Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) based Curve Number (CN) to generate initial runoff time-series which then is corrected using statistical models to improve accuracy. We used the North American Land Data Assimilation System 2 (NLDAS-2) catchment scale runoff time-series as the reference data for model training and validation.

Diversity and composition of farm plantation tree/shrub species along altitudinal gradients in North-eastern Ethiopia: implication for conservation.

On-farm tree plantation is a form of land use where trees are planted at the edge or interspersed with crops. It has been practiced in different parts of Ethiopia due to its contribution to the household economy and soil fertility. This study was carried out to evaluate the variation in tree/shrub plantations along altitudinal gradients and plantation niches, and farmers' on-farm tree plantation practices at Kobo and Guba Lafto districts, North-eastern Ethiopia.

COVID-19 lockdown and natural resources: a global assessment on the challenges, opportunities, and the way forward.

Background: The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, which has an enormous effect on human lives and the global environment. This review aimed to assess the global scientific evidence on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on natural resources using international databases and search engines. Thus, the unprecedented anthropause due to COVID-19 has positive and negative effects on natural resources.

Evaluating Slow Pyrolysis of Biochar: Perspectives to Acidic Soil Amelioration and Growth of Selected Wheat () Varieties.

Application of biochar on acidic soils may improve soil fertility and crop productivity. This study aimed to explore the relevance of parthenium biochar-induced changes in the physicochemical properties and agronomic performance of the selected wheat varieties in acidic soils. A pot trial was used in determining the effect of slow pyrolysis parthenium biochar on acidic soils and the agronomic performance of wheat varieties.

Comparison and Evaluation of Gridded Precipitation Datasets in a Kansas Agricultural Watershed Using SWAT.

Gridded precipitation datasets are becoming a convenient substitute for gauge measurements in hydrological modeling; however, these data have not been fully evaluated across a range of conditions. We compared four gridded datasets (Daily Surface Weather and Climatological Summaries [DAYMET], North American Land Data Assimilation System [NLDAS], Global Land Data Assimilation System [GLDAS], and Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model [PRISM]) as precipitation data sources and evaluated how they affected hydrologic model performance when compared with a gauged dataset, Global Historical Climatology Network-Daily (GHCN-D). Analyses were performed for the Delaware Watershed at Perry Lake in eastern Kansas.

The Fatty Liver Assessment in Germany (FLAG) cohort study identifies large heterogeneity in NAFLD care.

Background & Aims: NAFLD is a growing health concern. The aim of the Fatty Liver Assessment in Germany (FLAG) study was to assess disease burden and provide data on the standard of care from secondary care.

Methods: The FLAG study is an observational real-world study in patients with NAFLD enrolled at 13 centres across Germany.

Diagnostic performance of tomoelastography of the liver and spleen for staging hepatic fibrosis.

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic performance, cut-off values, and optimal drive frequency range for staging hepatic fibrosis using tomoelastography by multifrequency MR elastography of the liver and spleen.

Methods: This prospective study consecutively enrolled a total of 61 subjects between June 2014 and April 2017: 45 patients with chronic liver disease and proven stage of fibrosis and 16 healthy volunteers. Tomoelastography was performed at 1.

Phenology-adjusted dynamic curve number for improved hydrologic modeling.

The Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN, or CN) is a widely used method to estimate runoff from rainfall events. It has been adapted to many parts of the world with different land uses, land cover types, and climatic conditions and successfully applied to situations ranging from simple runoff calculations and land use change assessment to comprehensive hydrologic/water quality simulations. However, the CN method lacks the ability to incorporate seasonal variations in vegetated surface conditions, and unnoticed landuse/landcover (LULC) change that shape infiltration and storm runoff.

Effectiveness and Safety of Direct-Acting Antiviral Combination Therapies for Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus in Elderly Patients: Results from the German Hepatitis C Registry.

Background: With the aging of the hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patient cohort and the availability of highly effective and tolerable treatment regimens, an increasing number of elderly patients are now eligible for HCV therapy. This study investigated clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of elderly HCV-infected patients as well as the effectiveness and safety of available therapies.

Methods: Patients were enrolled into the German Hepatitis C Registry (DHC-R), a prospective, multicenter, real-world cohort study.

Ecohydrological Index, Native Fish, and Climate Trends and Relationships in the Kansas River Basin.

This study quantified climatological and hydrological trends and relationships to presence and distribution of two native aquatic species in the Kansas River Basin over the past half-century. Trend analyses were applied to indicators of hydrologic alteration (IHAs) at 34 streamgages over a 50-year period (1962-2012). Results showed a significant negative trend in annual streamflow for 10 of 12 western streamgages (up to -7.

Sustained Off-Treatment Response After Discontinuation of Long-Term Nucleos(t)ide Analogue Treatment in HBeAg-Seronegative Hepatitis B: A Case Series.

International guidelines recommend lifelong nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) treatment in individuals with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection who are hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seronegative, because hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion is rarely achieved. However, after terminating therapy, sustained responses and HBsAg loss have been observed. Clinical characteristics identifying persons with favorable outcomes after discontinuing NA therapy have not yet been defined.

High incidence of cardiac dysfunction and response to antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been associated with cardiomyopathies. Former anti-HCV therapies employing interferon could have serious side effects in patients with advanced heart failure since interferon may adversely impact upon cardiac function. We, therefore, examined whether the novel, interferon-free and highly virus-selective anti-HCV combination therapy might be applicable even in advanced or end-stage heart failure.

Risky Sexual Behaviors and Associated Factors among Jiga High School and Preparatory School Students, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

Background. Young people constitute a large number of population worldwide, and majority of this population group lives in developing countries. They are at high risk of engaging in risky sexual behaviors.

Hepatitis C virus infection and kidney transplantation in 2014: what's new?

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains an important health problem, which is associated with deleterious consequences in kidney transplant recipients. Besides hepatic complications, several extrahepatic complications contribute to reduced patient and allograft survival in HCV-infected kidney recipients. However, HCV infection should not be considered as a contraindication for kidney transplantation because patient survival is better with transplantation than on dialysis.

Hydroxyproline-containing collagen analogs trigger the release and activation of collagen-sequestered proMMP-2 by competition with prodomain-derived peptide P33-42.

Background: Fibrolytic and profibrotic activities of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-2 and -9 play a central role in liver fibrosis. Since binding to the extracellular matrix influences the activity of both gelatinases, here the role of fibrillar collagens as the most abundant matrix components in fibrotic tissue was investigated.

Results: In situ zymography and immunohistology showed association of enzymatically inactive prodomain-containing proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 but not of their activated forms to fibrillar collagen structures, which are not substrates of these gelatinases.

Viscoelasticity-based staging of hepatic fibrosis with multifrequency MR elastography.

Purpose: To analyze the dynamics of the shear modulus of the liver to assess the optimal driving frequency and to determine the diagnostic accuracy of generalized frequency-independent elasticity cutoff values for staging hepatic fibrosis.

Materials And Methods: This institutional review board-approved prospective study included 16 healthy volunteers and 72 patients with biopsy-proved liver fibrosis. After obtaining written informed consent, imaging was performed at 1.

The alpha 2 chain of collagen type VI sequesters latent proforms of matrix-metalloproteinases and modulates their activation and activity.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) attracts increasing attention as a store of biologically active molecules and as a reservoir of potent cell signalling molecules released by proteolytic action. Both, cytokines and proteases mediating such release are sequestered in the ECM. Here, we found matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) proforms closely associated with collagenous septae in fibrotic liver tissue, and we screened immobilized human placenta-derived collagen chains and other ECM proteins for MMP-binding activity.