Interferon-α for patients with chronic hepatitis delta: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection therapy is unclear. This systematic analysis aimed to clarify the evidence on the efficacy of interferon (IFN)-α-based therapy in HDV.

Methods: We performed a systematic search on electronic databases including MEDLINE (1970 to January 2011), Web of Science, The Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.

Effects of allergen-specific immunotherapy on functions of helper and regulatory T cells in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Background: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is characterized by a helper T (Th)2 cell-mediated immune response at the target site. There is a relative Th1 and/or regulatory T (Treg) cell insufficiency in patients with SAR. It has been demonstrated that there is a change in the balance between these cells after allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT), which is a curative treatment modality for this disease.