Posttreatment FIB-4 score change predicts hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis C patients: Findings from the Taiwan hepatitis C registry program.

Purpose: This study investigated whether Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score and its change can serve as predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection receiving direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

Methods: This study identified 9679 patients who completed DAA treatment and achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) from the Taiwan Nationwide Real-World HCV Registry Program, and their risk of HCC was analyzed.

Results: Multivariable Cox regression analyses identified diabetes mellitus (DM), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, and FIB-4 score as independent predictors of HCC in both Model 1 (baseline) and Model 2 (SVR).

Real-world efficacy and safety of universal 8-week glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in patients with chronic hepatitis C with early chronic kidney disease or pre-end-stage renal disease: Insights from a nationwide hepatisis C virus registry in Taiwan.

An 8-week regimen of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is recommended for treatment-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). In alignment with the Taiwanese government's objective to eliminate hepatitis C by 2025, this study aimed to provide real-world evidence on the use of this regimen in treatment-naïve patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by using data from the Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver HCV Registry (TACR). CKD was defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL/min/1.

Xalnesiran with or without an Immunomodulator in Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background: Xalnesiran, a small interfering RNA molecule that targets a conserved region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome and silences multiple HBV transcripts, may have efficacy, with or without an immunomodulator, in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Methods: We conducted a phase 2, multicenter, randomized, controlled, adaptive, open-label platform trial that included the evaluation of 48 weeks of treatment with xalnesiran at a dose of 100 mg (group 1), xalnesiran at a dose of 200 mg (group 2), xalnesiran at a dose of 200 mg plus 150 mg of ruzotolimod (group 3), xalnesiran at a dose of 200 mg plus 180 μg of pegylated interferon alfa-2a (group 4), or a nucleoside or nucleotide analogue (NA) alone (group 5) in participants with chronic HBV infection who had virologic suppression with NA therapy. The primary efficacy end point was hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss (HBsAg level, <0.

Screening for Helicobacter pylori to Prevent Gastric Cancer: A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Effects of screening for Helicobacter pylori on gastric cancer incidence and mortality are unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of an invitation to screen for H pylori on gastric cancer incidence and mortality.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A pragmatic randomized clinical trial of residents aged 50 to 69 years in Changhua County, Taiwan, eligible for biennial fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) for colon cancer screening.

Impact of HCV eradication by directly acting antivirals on glycemic indices in chronic hepatitis C patients -a nationwide Taiwan HCV registry.

Background/aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication using antiviral agents augments the metabolic profile. Changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in chronic hepatitis C patients who receive glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) remain elusive.

Methods: Data from 2417 patients treated with GLE/PIB from the Taiwan HCV Registry were analyzed, and pretreatment HbA1c levels were compared with 3-months after the-end-of treatment levels.

Benefits of Hepatitis C Viral Eradication: A Real-World Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) increases the risk of liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This nationwide cohort study assessed the effectiveness of viral eradication of CHC.

Methods: The Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C cohort and Taiwan hepatitis C virus (HCV) registry are nationwide HCV registry cohorts incorporating data from 23 and 53 hospitals in Taiwan, respectively.

Elucidation of triacylglycerol catabolism in Yarrowia lipolytica: How cells balance acetyl-CoA and excess reducing equivalents.

Yarrowia lipolytica is an industrial yeast that can convert waste oil to value-added products. However, it is unclear how this yeast metabolizes lipid feedstocks, specifically triacylglycerol (TAG) substrates. This study used C-metabolic flux analysis (C-MFA), genome-scale modeling, and transcriptomics analyses to investigate Y.

Real-World Efficacy and Safety of Universal 8-Week Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir for Treatment-Naïve Patients from a Nationwide HCV Registry in Taiwan.

Introduction: Eight-week glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) is indicated for treatment-naïve (TN) patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), with or without compensated cirrhosis. Given that the Taiwanese government is committed to eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2025, this study aimed to measure real-world evidence for TN patients using 8-week GLE/PIB in the Taiwan HCV Registry (TACR).

Methods: The data of patients with CHC treated with 8-week GLE/PIB were retrieved from TACR, a nationwide registry program organized by the Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver (TASL).

Increased prevalence but decreased survival of nonviral hepatocellular carcinoma compared to viral hepatocellular carcinoma in recent ten years.

Due to the comprehensive hepatitis B virus vaccination program in Taiwan since 1986, the development of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C infection and covered by National health insurance. Besides, the increased prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and currently, approved therapy for NAFLD remain developing. The etiology of liver-related diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma required reinterpretation.

Phase 1 trial of the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of EDP-514 in untreated viremic chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background/aims: Oral EDP-514 is a potent core protein inhibitor of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, which produced a >4-log viral load reduction in HBV-infected chimeric mice with human liver cells. This study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of three doses of EDP-514 in treatment-naive viremic patients with HBeAgpositive or -negative chronic HBV infection.

Methods: Patients with HBsAg detectable at screening and at least 6 months previously were eligible.

An algorithm for simplified hepatitis C virus treatment with non-specialist care based on nation-wide data from Taiwan.

Background: Both European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (AASLD-IDSA) guidelines recommend simplified hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment with pan-genotypic sofosbuvir/velpatasvir or glecaprevir/pibrentasvir for eligible patients. This observational study used real-world data to assess these regimens' safety in eligible patients and develop an algorithm to identify patients suitable for simplified treatment by non-specialists.

Methods: 7,677 HCV-infected patients from Taiwan Hepatitis C Registry (TACR) who received at least one dose of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir or glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, and fulfilled the EASL/AASLD-IDSA criteria for simplified treatment were analyzed.

Artificial intelligence predicts direct-acting antivirals failure among hepatitis C virus patients: A nationwide hepatitis C virus registry program.

Background/aims: Despite the high efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), approximately 1-3% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients fail to achieve a sustained virological response. We conducted a nationwide study to investigate risk factors associated with DAA treatment failure. Machine-learning algorithms have been applied to discriminate subjects who may fail to respond to DAA therapy.

Trabecular microbypass stent combined with phacoemulsification in patients with open-angle glaucoma, 1-year outcome in a Taiwanese population.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of one trabecular microbypass stent (first generation iStent) combined with phacoemulsification cataract surgery (phaco) in eyes with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in a Taiwanese population.

Materials And Methods: One trabecular microbypass stent was implanted after phacoemulsification cataract surgery by one surgeon. Intraocular pressure (IOP), medications, corrected distance visual acuity, complications, and adverse events were evaluated.

Using the Diabetes Care System for a County-Wide Hepatitis C Elimination: An Integrated Community-Based Shared Care Model in Taiwan.

Introduction: Despite the serious risks of diabetes with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, this preventable comorbidity is rarely a priority for HCV elimination. We aim to examine how a shared care model could eliminate HCV in patients with diabetes (PwD) in primary care.

Methods: There were 27 community-based Diabetes Health Promotion Institutes in each township/city of Changhua, Taiwan.

A Nano-Biohybrid-Based Bio-Solar Cell to Regulate the Electrical Signal Transmission to Living Cells for Biomedical Application.

Bio-solar cells are studied as sustainable and biocompatible energy sources with significant potential for biomedical applications. However, they are composed of light-harvesting biomolecules with narrow absorption wavelengths and weak transient photocurrent generation. In this study, a nano-biohybrid-based bio-solar cell composed of bacteriorhodopsin, chlorophyllin, and Ni/TiO nanoparticles is developed to overcome the current limitations and verify the possibility of biomedical applications.

Comparison of Machine Learning Models and the Fatty Liver Index in Predicting Lean Fatty Liver.

The reported prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in studies of lean individuals ranges from 7.6% to 19.3%.

Effectiveness and safety of 8-week glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in HCV treatment-naïve patients with compensated cirrhosis: real-world experience from Taiwan nationwide HCV registry.

Background: Large-scale real-world data of the 8-week glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) therapy for treatment-naïve patients of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with compensated cirrhosis is scarce.

Methods: The TASL HCV Registry (TACR) is an ongoing nationwide registry program that aims to set up a database and biobank of patients with chronic HCV infection in Taiwan. In this study, data were analyzed as of 31 October 2021 for treatment-naïve HCV patients with compensated cirrhosis receiving 8-week GLE/PIB therapy.

mC-dependent cross-regulation between nuclear reader ALYREF and writer NSUN2 promotes urothelial bladder cancer malignancy through facilitating RABL6/TK1 mRNAs splicing and stabilization.

The significance of 5-methylcytosine (mC) methylation in human malignancies has become an increasing focus of investigation. Here, we show that mC regulators including writers, readers and erasers, are predominantly upregulated in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) derived from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center and The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort. In addition, NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase family member 2 (NSUN2) as a methyltransferase and Aly/REF export factor (ALYREF) as a nuclear mC reader, are frequently coexpressed in UCB.

Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection previously treated with NS5A direct-acting antivirals: a real-world multicenter cohort in Taiwan.

Background: Real-world data are scarce about the effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir (SOF/VEL/VOX) for retreating East Asian patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who previously received NS5A direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). We conducted a multicenter study to assess the performance of SOF/VEL/VOX in patients who were not responsive to prior NS5A inhibitors in Taiwan.

Methods: Between September 2021 and May 2022, 107 patients who failed NS5A inhibitor-containing DAAs with SOF/VEL/VOX salvage therapy for 12 weeks were included at 16 academic centers.

Application and Validation of LUXIE: A Newly Developed Virtual Reality Perimetry Software.

Purpose: To report the application of LUXIE and validate its reliability by comparing the test results with those of Humphrey Field Analyzer 3 (HFA3).

Methods: In this pilot study, we prospectively recruited participants who had received HFA3 SITA standard 30-2 perimetry and tested them with LUXIE on the same day. LUXIE is a software designed for visual field testing cooperating with HTC Vive Pro Eye, a head-mounted virtual reality device with an eye-tracking system.

Early Glaucoma Detection by Using Style Transfer to Predict Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Distribution on the Fundus Photograph.

Objective: We aimed to develop a deep learning (DL)-based algorithm for early glaucoma detection based on color fundus photographs that provides information on defects in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and its thickness from the mapping and translating relations of spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT) thickness maps.

Design: Developing and evaluating an artificial intelligence detection tool.

Subjects: Pretraining paired data of color fundus photographs and SD-OCT images from 189 healthy participants and 371 patients with early glaucoma were used.