A software tool to support follow-up care in a French childhood cancer cohort: construction and feasibility.

Background: Treatment summaries and a personalized survivorship care plans based on internationally approved, organ-specific follow-up care recommendations are essential in preserving the health and quality of life for cancer survivors. Cohorts made up of survivors of childhood cancer have made significant contributions to the understanding of early mortality, somatic late complications, and psychosocial outcomes among former patients. New treatment protocols are needed to enhance survival and reduce the potential risk and severity of late effects, and working with treatment databases is crucial in doing so.

Residual risk of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus infection despite timely birth-dose vaccination in Cameroon (ANRS 12303): a single-centre, longitudinal observational study.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, administration of hepatitis B virus (HBV) birth-dose vaccines remains suboptimal. Evidence is scarce on whether African countries should focus on increasing vaccine coverage or developing strategies incorporating additional measures, such as peripartum antiviral prophylaxis to pregnant women at high risk. To better inform decision makers, we estimated the residual risk of mother-to-child transmission despite HBV birth-dose vaccine in Cameroon.

Different precore/core mutations of hepatitis B interact with, limit, or favor liver fibrosis severity.

Background And Aim: The impact of basal core promoter (BCP) and precore (PC) mutants of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) on liver disease severity remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to screen BCP and PC mutations in 252 HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) positive carriers in France and to assess relationships between these mutations and severe fibrosis.

Methods: Direct sequencing of the precore/core gene was used to detect A1762T/G1764A and G1757A mutations in the BCP and G1896A and G1899A mutations in the PC region.

Does Epoetin Beta Still Have a Place in Peginterferon Alpha-2a Plus Ribavirin Treatment Strategies for Chronic Hepatitis C?

To investigate the impact of epoetin beta (EPO) on sustained virological response (SVR) in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients treated with peginterferon-ribavirin (RBV). Controlled, randomized, pragmatic multicenter study to assess 2 strategies, ie, the use (EPO group) or nonuse (control group) of EPO in terms of achieving SVR in treatment-naive, genotype non-2/non-3 HCV-infected patients receiving a 48-week treatment regimen of pegylated interferon α-2a (peg-IFN) plus RBV (randomization 2:1). The single-nucleotide polymorphisms of interferon lambda 3 (IFNL3) (rs12979860 and rs8099917), interferon lambda 4 (IFNL4) (ss469415590), and inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) (rs1127354 and rs7270101) were determined retrospectively.

Duplication of the V3 domain in hepatitis C virus (1b) NS5A protein: Clonal analysis and physicochemical properties related to hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence.

Background: Hepatitis C virus non-structural protein 5A is known to play a role in development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) via interactions with host cell pathways.

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus genotype 1b strains presenting a wide insertion of 31 amino acids in the non-structural protein 5A V3 domain (V3 DI) were studied to determine whether this V3-like additional domain (V3 DII) was associated with HCC occurrence.

Study Design: Seventy-four patients' sera were screened for V3 DII presence regarding clinical status.

The CUPIC algorithm: an accurate model for the prediction of sustained viral response under telaprevir or boceprevir triple therapy in cirrhotic patients.

Triple therapy using boceprevir or telaprevir remains the reference treatment for genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C in countries where new interferon-free regimens have not yet become available. Antiviral treatment is highly required in cirrhotic patients, but they represent a difficult-to-treat population. We aimed to develop a simple algorithm for the prediction of sustained viral response (SVR) in cirrhotic patients treated with triple therapy.

Identification of a duplicated V3 domain in NS5A associated with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in HCV-1b patients.

Background: The NS5A protein of the hepatitis C virus has been shown to be involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objectives: In a French multicenter study, we investigated the clinical and epidemiological features of a new HCV genotype 1b strain bearing a wide insertion into the V3 domain.

Study Design: We studied NS5A gene sequences in 821 French patients infected with genotype 1b HCV.

Interest of human papillomavirus DNA quantification and genotyping in paired cervical and urine samples to detect cervical lesions.

Background: Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV). Conventional human papillomavirus (HPV) testing requires cervical sampling. However, vaginal and urine self-sampling methods are more acceptable for patients and result in increased participation when they are available in screening programs.

Impact of hepatitis B and delta virus co-infection on liver disease in Mauritania: a cross sectional study.

Objectives: Mauritania is a highly endemic region for hepatitis B (HBV) and delta (HDV) viruses. No data are available on HDV's impact on the severity of liver disease in consecutive HBV-infected patients in Africa. This study evaluated the degree of liver fibrosis in a cohort of chronic HBV carriers.

The osteopontin level in liver, adipose tissue and serum is correlated with fibrosis in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) plays an important role in the progression of chronic liver diseases. We aimed to quantify the liver, adipose tissue and serum levels of OPN in heavy alcohol drinkers and to compare them with the histological severity of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.

Methodology/principal Findings: OPN was evaluated in the serum of a retrospective and prospective group of 109 and 95 heavy alcohol drinkers, respectively, in the liver of 34 patients from the retrospective group, and in the liver and adipose tissue from an additional group of 38 heavy alcohol drinkers.

Assessment of new hyaluronic acid assays and their impact on FibroMeter scores.

Background: We compared three hyaluronic acid (HA) assays and analyzed the impact of their variations on FibroMeter scores.

Methods: In a test group of 165 patients, HA levels were assessed with the commonly used ELISA assay from Corgenix, a new ELISA assay from Teco and an immunoturbidimetry assay from Wako, this latter tested across three different instruments. Five different FibroMeter scores were calculated.

Comparison of liver fibrosis blood tests developed for HCV with new specific tests in HIV/HCV co-infection.

Background & Aims: We compared 5 non-specific and 2 specific blood tests for liver fibrosis in HCV/HIV co-infection.

Methods: Four hundred and sixty-seven patients were included into derivation (n=183) or validation (n=284) populations. Within these populations, the diagnostic target, significant fibrosis (Metavir F > or = 2), was found in 66% and 72% of the patients, respectively.

Reproducibility of blood tests of liver fibrosis in clinical practice.

Objectives: To evaluate the inter-laboratory reproducibility of blood test for liver fibrosis: FibroMeter, Fibrotest, APRI and their composites variables.

Design And Methods: Four studies, including 147 patients, were performed: study #1 included 2 metachronous blood samples and 2 laboratories; studies #2, #3 and #4 included synchronous samples with assays delayed at day 1 in 12 laboratories, at day 0 in 10 laboratories and at day 0 or 1 in 2 laboratories, respectively. Agreement was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (r(ic)).

Quasispecies evolution in NS5A region of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b during interferon or combined interferon-ribavirin therapy.

Aim: To evaluate the implication of substitutions in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural 5A (NS5A) protein in the resistance of HCV during mono-interferon (IFN) or combined IFN-ribavirin (IFN-R) therapy. Although NS5A has been reported to interact with the HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, NS5B, as well as with many cellular proteins, the function of NS5A in the life cycle of HCV remains unclear.

Methods: HCV quasispecies were studied by cloning and sequencing of sequential isolates from patients infected by HCV genotype 1b.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients unresponsive to interferon. Interest of re-treatment combining interferon induction therapy and ribavirin (a multicenter pilot study).

Aim: About 45% of patients with chronic hepatitis C are unresponsive to the present reference treatment combining pegelated interferon plus ribavirin; before pegylated interferon was available the non-response rate was around 60%. This open multicenter pilot study, initiated before pegylated interferon became available, was designed to evaluate, in patients unresponsive to interferon monotherapy, the rate of biological and virological response and side-effects of the ribivirin-alpha 2b interferon combination.

Methods: The combination protocol was ribavirin (1 to 1.

Mutations within the hepatitis C virus genotype 1b E2-PePHD domain do not correlate with treatment outcome.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope protein 2 (E2) interacts in vitro with the interferon alpha (IFN-alpha)-inducible double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase, suggesting a possible mechanism by which HCV may evade the antiviral effects of IFN-alpha. Variability in the part of the HCV E2 gene encoding the carboxy-terminal part of the protein, which includes the interaction domain (E2-PePHD), was explored in 25 patients infected with HCV genotype 1b and receiving IFN-alpha therapy. PCR products were generated and sequenced for 15 patients with a sustained response and for 10 patients with no virological response after treatment with IFN-alpha and ribavirin.

[Mutation analysis of ISDR and V3 domains of hepatitis C virus NS5A region before interferon therapy with or without ribavirin].

Aim Of The Study: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural NS5A protein has been controversially implicated in the resistance of HCV to interferon therapy in clinical studies. In Japan, mutations in the interferon sensitivity-determining region (ISDR) in the NS5A gene were associated with response to interferon therapy in patients infected with genotype 1b. In contrast, studies from Europe did not confirm such association.

Antiviral effect of ribavirin in early non-responders to interferon monotherapy assessed by kinetics of hepatitis C virus RNA and hepatitis C virus core antigen.

Background/aims: To evaluate the efficacy of ribavirin, given in second intention in non-responders to interferon alone, by studying viral kinetics.

Methods: We conducted a trial including 203 patients with chronic hepatitis C, naïve of treatment. Patients were treated with interferon three times a week with or without ribavirin and amantadine according to response.

Significance of pretreatment analysis of hepatitis C virus genotype 1b hypervariable region 1 sequences to predict antiviral outcome.

The heterogeneity of hypervariable region 1 (HVR1), located at the amino terminus of the E2 envelope, may be involved in resistance to alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) treatment. We investigated whether peculiar HVR1 domain profiles before treatment were associated with the maintenance of sensitivity or the appearance of resistance to treatment. Fifteen patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b and treated with IFN with or without ribavirin were selected.

Comparative evaluation of the total hepatitis C virus core antigen, branched-DNA, and amplicor monitor assays in determining viremia for patients with chronic hepatitis C during interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy.

An assay prototype designed to detect and quantify total hepatitis C virus [HCV] core antigen (HCV core Ag) protein in serum and plasma in the presence or absence of anti-HCV antibodies has been recently developed by Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of the Total HCV core Ag assay in comparison with two quantitative assays for HCV RNA: Quantiplex HCV RNA 2.0 (bDNA v2.