Prevalence and Factors Related to Natural Resistance-Associated Substitutions to Direct-Acting Antivirals in Patients with Genotype 1 Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of natural resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) to NS3, NS5A and NS5B inhibitors in 86 genotype 1 Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-infected patients from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and to determine their effect on therapy outcome. Additionally, virological, clinical and host genetic factors were explored as predictors of the presence of baseline RASs. RASs (39.

Access to direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of hepatitis C in a country with limited resources.

Aims: To estimate the number of patients that have access to treatment of hepatitis C with direct-acting antivirals in Argentina and evaluate the factors associated with the lack of access.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted that included all the consecutive prescriptions of direct-acting antivirals issued at health centers that participated in the ECHOTM telemedicine project directed by the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, within the time frame of January 2016 and February 2017.

Results: A total of 143 treatment prescriptions were included and overall access was 70% (95% CI 62-77%).

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: biomarkers as diagnostic tools for liver damage assessment in adult patients from Argentina.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease whose prevalence has been increasing constantly and linked to the global obesity epidemic. The NAFLD histologic spectrum ranges from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver biopsy is the only reliable means to diagnose and stage NASH, but its invasive nature limits its use.

Effectiveness and safety of original and generic sofosbuvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: A real world study.

We report the first real-world prospective multicenter cohort study that evaluated the effectiveness and safety of original or generic sofosbuvir-based regimens in patients with chronic hepatitis C in Latin America. The main endpoints were assessment of sustained virological response and serious adverse events rates. A total of 321 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with the following regimens were included: sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir for 12 (n = 34) or 24 (n = 135) weeks, sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir plus ribavirin for 12 (n = 84) or 24 (n = 56) weeks, or sofosbuvir plus ribavirin for 12 (n = 8) or 24 (n = 2) weeks.

Intrahepatic and peripheral blood phenotypes of natural killer and T cells: differential surface expression of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors.

Deep characterization of the frequencies, phenotypes and functionalities of liver and peripheral blood natural killer (NK), natural killer T (NKT) and T cells from healthy individuals is an essential step to further interpret changes in liver diseases. These data indicate that CCR7, a chemokine essential for cell migration through lymphoid organs, is almost absent in liver NK and T cells. CD56 NK cells, which represent half of liver NK cells, showed lower expression of the inhibitory molecule NKG2A and an increased frequency of the activation marker NKp44.