Unlabelled: The only beneficial agent for the treatment of chronic delta hepatitis (CDH) is interferon (IFN). However, there is no consensus on the best dosage or duration of IFN therapy. As ribavirin (RBV) increases the sustained response when added to IFN in chronic hepatitis C, probably because of its immunomodulatory effect, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of 2-year IFN treatment and whether RBV had any additive effect to IFN in CDH.
Methods: Patients (n = 31) with CDH were randomized with a 1:2 ratio as 10 patients (3 females/7 males, age 39 +/- 9) receiving IFN monotherapy (9 MU IFN-alpha2a three times weekly) and 21 patients (8 females/13 males, age 38 +/- 11) receiving IFN plus RBV for 2 years (IFN at the same dosage and RBV at 1000-1200 mg/day). Alanine transferase normalization and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) RNA negativity at the end of treatment and at the end of the follow-up period (at least 6 months following 2-year treatment) were primary endpoints of the study. In addition, virological response and biochemical response were determined separately.
Results: Eight of 31 patients (25%) had cirrhosis in liver biopsies. Six patients from the IFN monotherapy group and 12 patients from the combination group had biochemical response. Five patients from the IFN monotherapy group and 11 patients from the combination group had virological response at the end of therapy. Two patients from the IFN group and five patients from the combination group had sustained biochemical response at the end of the follow-up period. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) activations with HBV DNA positivity were observed in two patients (one from the IFN monotherapy group, one from the combination group). Two patients (20%) in the IFN group and five patients (23.5%) in IFN plus RBV group remained as virological responders at the end of the follow-up period (P > 0.05). None of the patients with liver cirrhosis were responsive at the end of the follow-up period.
Conclusion: Almost 20% of the patients with CDH were responsive to 2-year IFN treatment at the end of the follow-up period and no additional effect of RBV was observed. Patients with advanced liver disease failed to respond to treatment.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|
Neurorehabil Neural Repair
January 2025
Department of Human Movement Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Background: How gait changes during the early stages of stoke rehabilitation, and which patient characteristics are associated with these changes is still largely unknown.
Objective: he first objective was to describe the changes in gait during stroke rehabilitation. Secondly, we determined how various patient characteristics were associated with the rate of change of gait over time.
Pilot Feasibility Stud
January 2025
Department of Internal Medicine - Cardiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, West Hospital 8th Floor, North Wing, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
Background: To determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a 6-month tailored non-linear progressive physical activity intervention (PAI) for lymphoma patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Methods: Patients newly diagnosed with lymphoma (non-Hodgkin (NHL) or Hodgkin (HL)) were randomized into the PAI or healthy living intervention (HLI) control (2:1). Feasibility was assessed by examining accrual, adherence, and retention rates.
Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul
January 2025
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Background: Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) are both effective in treating borderline personality disorder (BPD). Impulsivity and impaired decision-making are prominent features of BPD, and therapeutic interventions targeting these symptoms could lead to significant improvements.
Objective/hypothesis: We hypothesized that intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a modified rTMS protocol that targets the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, would enhance the therapeutic effects of DBT, leading to greater improvements in impulsivity and decision-making compared with sham stimulation.
Clin Implant Dent Relat Res
February 2025
Department of Implantology, The Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effects of deproteinized bovine bone mineral with collagen (DBBMC) combined with deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) on facial alveolar bone augmentation in the anterior maxillary region.
Materials And Methods: Patients receiving dental implant placement with simultaneous lateral bone augmentation using DBBM (control group) or DBBMC combined with DBBM (test group) were included in the study. The radiographic assessment of facial alveolar bone, such as facial horizontal bone thickness (FHBT), facial vertical bone level (FVBL), and square of facial bone (SFB), was taken by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).
J Orthop Surg Res
January 2025
Guizhou Medical University, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Guizhou Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, People's Republic of China.
Background: Wound repair methods are commonly used in clinical practice, such as skin graft and flap repair, which can cause secondary injuries, and high costs. Many methods for skin stretching and repair have been reported domestically and internationally. However, their clinical use is limited owing to lack of equipment, complexity, and high costs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!