Noninvasive Markers of Hepatic Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B.

A serum biomarker (FibroTest; Biopredictive, Paris, France; FibroSure; LabCorp, Burlington, USA) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by Fibroscan (Echosens, Paris, France) have been extensively validated in chronic hepatitis C. This review updates the clinical validation of serum biomarkers and LSM in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). One meta-analysis combined all published studies and another used a database combining FibroTest individual data.

Supramolecular Nanocycles Comprising β-Cyclodextrin-click-Ferrocene Units: Rings of Rings of Rings.

We applied 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to bind ethynylferrocene onto 6I-azido-6I-deoxycyclomaltoheptaose under microwave assisted conditions. The process was investigated by (1) H NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The ability of the synthesized compound to self-organize to cyclic supramolecular structures was investigated by dynamic light scattering measurements and cryo-transmission electron microscopy.

Adapted response of the antioxidant defense system to oxidative stress induced by deoxynivalenol in Hek-293 cells.

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON), a contaminant of certain foods and feeds, is cytotoxic and genotoxic to mammalians cells. Exposure of human embryonic kidney (Hek-293) cells to DON led to a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability, with an IC(50) about 7.6 μM.

What are the best reference values for a normal serum alanine transaminase activity (ALT)? Impact on the presumed prevalence of drug induced liver injury (DILI).

Background: In clinical research, the definition of the upper limit of normal (ULN) is rarely detailed. For alanine transaminase (ALT), there are several definitions of ULN-ALT but no recognized global reference. Furthermore the inter-laboratory variability of results expressed using ULN-ALT is higher than using the actual value of ULN expressed in IU/L.

[Henoch-Schonlein nephritis: diagnosis and prognosis problems in childhood].

Unlabelled: Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is the most common vasculitis in childhood and is characterized by sistemic leukocytoclastic angiitis, mainly affecting small vessels of the skin, joints, gastro-intestinal tract and kidneys. Renal involvement is the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with HSP. The aim of this study was to evaluate renal involvement in children with HPS and the prognoses of short- and long-term outcome of patients diagnosed with HS nephritis.

Applicability and precautions of use of liver injury biomarker FibroTest. A reappraisal at 7 years of age.

Background: FibroTest (FT) is a validated biomarker of fibrosis. To assess the applicability rate and to reduce the risk of false positives/negatives (RFPN), security algorithms were developed. The aims were to estimate the prevalence of RFPN and of proven failures, and to identify factors associated with their occurrences.

Ranking hepatologists: which Hirsch's h-index to prevent the "e-crise de foi-e"?

Background: Hirsch's h-Index (h-I) quantifies and predicts an individual's scientific output. The h-I can be estimated from several sources, but no "gold-standard" approach has yet been established. The aim was to analyze the discordance rates in Hepatology between five h-I assessments from five databases: Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), ScholarL restricted to "liver", and a specialty h-I HepaTop.

HCV-GenoFibrotest: a combination of viral, liver and genomic (IL28b, ITPA, UGT1A1) biomarkers for predicting treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background And Aim: Three gene polymorphisms, interferon-lambda-3 (IL28B), inosinetriphosphatase (ITPA) and bilirubinuridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) are associated with treatment (interferon and ribavirin) efficacy and adherence in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The hypothesis was that fibrosis stage estimated with FibroTest instead of biopsy was still an independent predictive factor of sustained virologic response (SVR) when these new polymorphisms were assessed.

Methods: Patients receiving standard of care treatment were retrospectively analyzed with determination of IL28B, ITPA, and UGT1A1 polymorphisms.

[Leber stellate neuroretinitis: two cases].

Introduction: Described by Leber (1916), this clinical syndrome is characterized by unilateral decrease of visual acuity, papilledema and macular star. The condition concerns the young adult, has a favorable prognosis, and unspecified pathogeny.

Observations And Methods: We report the case of two young adults (25 and 27 years), examined because of decreased visual acuity in the left eye, installed 2-3 weeks after a flu-like syndrome.

FibroTest is an independent predictor of virologic response in chronic hepatitis C patients retreated with pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin in the EPIC³ program.

Background & Aims: EPIC-3 is a prospective, international study that has demonstrated the efficacy of PEG-IFN alfa-2b plus weight-based ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C and significant fibrosis who previously failed any interferon-alfa/ribavirin therapy. The aim of the present study was to assess FibroTest (FT), a validated non-invasive marker of fibrosis in treatment-naive patients, as a possible alternative to biopsy as the baseline predictor of subsequent early virologic (EVR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) in previously treated patients.

Methods: Of 2312 patients enrolled, 1459 had an available baseline FT, biopsy, and complete data.

An inter-laboratory validation of methods of lipid peroxidation measurement in UVA-treated human plasma samples.

Lipid peroxidation products like malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal and F(2)-isoprostanes are widely used as markers of oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo. This study reports the results of a multi-laboratory validation study by COST Action B35 to assess inter-laboratory and intra-laboratory variation in the measurement of lipid peroxidation. Human plasma samples were exposed to UVA irradiation at different doses (0, 15 J, 20 J), encoded and shipped to 15 laboratories, where analyses of malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal and isoprostanes were conducted.

Depletion of intracellular glutathione and increased lipid peroxidation mediate cytotoxicity of hematite nanoparticles in MRC-5 cells.

Particles generated from numerous anthropogenic and/or natural sources, such as crystalline α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, have the potential to damage lung cells. In our study we investigated the effects of these nanoparticles (12.5 µg/ml) on lipid peroxidation and the antioxidative system in MRC-5 lung fibroblast cells following exposure for 24, 48 or 72h.

[Idiopatic parafoveolar telangiectasia associated with pseudoviteliform lesion, basal laminar drusen and optic nerve head drusen].

Background: We present a case with bilateral optic disc drusen, associated in one eye with idiopathic parafoveal telangiectasis (Group 1B), basal laminar drusen, and foveal pseudovitelliform lesion.

Patient: A 45-years old female patient, which complained about a deterioration of vision at the right eye, was ophthalmologically examined.

Results: The examination revealed a bilateral optic disc drusen, and on the right eye a macular haemorrhage.

[Post traumatic entero-mesenteric venous infarct].

The paper presents a case of entero-mesenteric venous infarct, occurred in a man of 34 years, discovered intraoperator, when to intervene surgically in emergency surgery for acute abdomen of peritonitic type. The etiology of this venous infarct was posttraumatic, the patient underwent an abdominal aggression with seven days prior to onset of symptoms. In literature, the posttraumatic etiology is found in a small number compared to the large number of abdominal contusion, intimal lesional factor beeing associated with blood thickness.

[Gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the cecum--a rare cause of ileo-cecal-colic invagination].

The gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the rares mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (1-3% of all gastrointestinal neoplasias). The frequency of their location on the rectocolic site is quoted with the values lower than 10% of all GIST. The authors present a patient case 55 years aged, who presented a gastrointestinal stromal tumor cecal located.

[Characteristic features of urinary tract infection in malnourished children].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study is to prove a relationship between urinary tract infection and malnutrition in children 0-3 years old, hospitalized in the IVI Pediatric Clinic, Hospital St. Mary Iaşi, between January 2000 and December 2004.

Material And Methods: We have made a retrospective study for 298 infant and young children with urinary tract infection, 237 eutrophic and 61 malnourished.

[Height and weight growth delay and protein-energy malnutrition in children with chronic dialysis].

Unlabelled: Growth retardation is an important problem in children with chronic renal disease, and malnutrition is a determinative factor.

Aim: The study intends to assess the relationship between protein-energy malnutrition and stature-weight retardation in children enrolled in chronic dialysis program.

Material And Method: The study group was composed of 16 children (5 boys and 11 girls--sex ratio of 2.

Hirsch index and truth survival in clinical research.

Background: Factors associated with the survival of truth of clinical conclusions in the medical literature are unknown. We hypothesized that publications with a first author having a higher Hirsch' index value (h-I), which quantifies and predicts an individual's scientific research output, should have a longer half-life.

Methods And Results: 474 original articles concerning cirrhosis or hepatitis published from 1945 to 1999 were selected.

Biomarkers of liver injury for hepatitis clinical trials: a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.

Background: Liver biopsy and virological end points are standard references for assessing the effect of viral hepatitis treatments. We aimed to review evidence-based published data of biomarkers that have been validated as non-invasive alternatives to biopsy as end points for HBV and HCV infection trials.

Methods: Studies were included if there were at least two repeated estimates of fibrosis per patient using biomarkers with at least two studies and a control group.

Interferon gamma receptor 2 gene variants are associated with liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Background: Only a minority of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection develops severe liver fibrosis, a process that may be controlled by human genetic factors.

Objective: To investigate the role of 384 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in 36 candidate genes related to the fibrogenesis/fibrolysis process.

Methods: Patients with chronic HCV infection were gathered from two French cohorts (prospectively and retrospectively).

ActiTest accuracy for the assessment of histological activity grades in patients with chronic hepatitis C, an overview using Obuchowski measure.

Background: ActiTest (AT) is a biomarker of liver necro-inflammatory histological activity validated in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV).

Aim: The aim was to assess the accuracy of AT in comparison with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) the standard of care.

Methods: Methods used an integrated database of individual data and the new recommended Obuchowski measures.

Prevalence of liver fibrosis and risk factors in a general population using non-invasive biomarkers (FibroTest).

Background: FibroTest and elastography have been validated as biomarkers of liver fibrosis in the most frequent chronic liver diseases and in the fibrosis screening of patients with diabetes. One challenge was to use them for estimating the prevalence of fibrosis, identifying independent risk factors and to propose screening strategies in the general population.

Methods: We prospectively studied 7,463 consecutive subjects aged 40 years or older.