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TY - NEWS
TI - Merck scoots past Vertex in blockbuster race for hep C drug approval
AU - Carroll, John
PY - 2011
T2 - Fierce Biotech
UR - http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/merck-scoots-past-vertex-blockbuster-race-hep-c-drug-approval/2011-01-06
JF - Fierce Biotech
N2 -
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
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TY - JOUR
TI - High Efficacy of Preoperative Low-Dose Radiotherapy with Sanazole (AK-2123) for Extraskeletal Ewing's Sarcoma: A Case Report
AU - Sakabe, Tomoya
AU - Murata, Hiroaki
AU - Konishi, Eiichi
AU - Koto, Kazutaka
AU - Horie, Naoyuki
AU - Matsui, Takaaki
AU - Sawai, Yasushi
AU - Yamazaki, Hideya
AU - Kagiya, Tsutomu V
AU - Kubo, Toshikazu
PY - 2011
T2 - Sarcoma
J2 - Sarcoma
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2943094/
VL - 2011
DO - 10.1155/2011/185465
C2 - 2943094
N2 - Extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma is a rare soft tissue tumor that is morphologically indistinguishable from Ewing's sarcoma of bone. We report a case of extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma with several systemic problems. A 69-year-old man presented with a 5-month history of a rapidly enlarging mass in the right thigh. Because preoperative radiotherapy with sanazole (AK-2123) contributed the tumor mass reduction down to 40% in size, the tumor was successfully resected with clear surgical margins and repaired with a musculocutaneous flap. The high efficacy of pre-operative low-dose radiotherapy with sanazole was histologically confirmed that the resected tumor specimen involved no viable tumor cells and showed 100% necrosis. Based on clinical outcomes in this case, the combined modality of pre-operative low-dose radiotherapy with hypoxic cell radiosensitizer and adequate surgical resection might provide for the useful clinical application of extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma treatment.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
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TY - JOUR
TI - Diagnosis and monitoring of chronic viral hepatitis: serologic and molecular markers.
AU - Chakravarty, Runu
PY - 2011
T2 - Frontiers in bioscience (Scholar edition)
J2 - Front Biosci (Schol Ed)
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21196366
VL - 3
SP - 156-67
N2 - Chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) virus infections are global health problems which may cause cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis D virus (HDV) though a satellite virus of HBV, can also cause chronic infection. Serologic and molecular tools are needed for the diagnosis, monitoring and therapeutic management of chronic viral hepatitis associated with HBV, HDV and HCV. In HBV infection several serological markers are available for diagnosis and staging; while molecular assays are important for pretreatment evaluation, assessing drug response and identification of mutants. The endpoint of chronic HCV and HDV treatment is the sustained virological response, defined by an undetectable HCV/HDV RNA in serum with a sensitive assay 6 months after completion of treatment. HCV genotype and quantitative HCV RNA testing plays an important role in determining treatment duration, doses and also assess the likelihood of treatment response. Thus, virological assays are important in the diagnosis and management of individuals infected with chronic viral hepatitis.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
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TY - JOUR
TI - The liver-specific microRNA miR-122: biology and therapeutic potential.
AU - Filipowicz, Witold
AU - Grosshans, Helge
PY - 2011
T2 - Progress in drug research. Fortschritte der Arzneimittelforschung. Progrès des recherches pharmaceutiques
J2 - Prog Drug Res
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21141732
VL - 67
SP - 221-38
N2 - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate the expression of a large fraction of genes in animals, plants, and protozoa. miRNA-mediated gene repression occurs posttranscriptionally, generally by base-pairing to the 3'-untranslated regions of target mRNAs, which inhibits protein synthesis and destabilizes the mRNA. In this chapter, we discuss the biological functions of miR-122, a highly abundant, liver-specific miRNA. We will review how studies of miR-122 helped to establish important new paradigms of miRNA-mediated regulation, as well as identifying miR-122 as a factor implicated in important human diseases, including cancer and hepatitis C. We discuss antisense strategies targeting miR-122 as a potential therapeutic approach to treat hepatitis C and possibly other diseases.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
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TY - JOUR
TI - Current therapies for chronic hepatitis C.
AU - Ferguson, McKenzie C
PY - 2011
T2 - Pharmacotherapy
J2 - Pharmacotherapy
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21182362
VL - 31
IS - 1
SP - 92-111
N2 - Abstract Hepatitis C virus affects more than 180 million people worldwide and as many as 4 million people in the United States. Given that most patients are asymptomatic until late in the disease progression, diagnostic screening and evaluation should be performed in patients who display high-risk behaviors associated with acquisition of hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C is associated with cirrhosis, hepatic failure, and death; therefore, treatment is aimed at reducing these complications, as well as improving quality of life and minimizing adverse effects. The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Practice Guidelines on the Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment of Hepatitis C represent the gold standard for guidance on the management of hepatitis C. Standard treatment for hepatitis C is peginterferon alfa in combination with ribavirin. Currently, two pegylated interferon products are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of hepatitis C. The duration of therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin is dictated by viral genotype and virologic response. Additional therapies are under investigation for treatment of chronic hepatitis C and show early promise of comparative efficacy and fewer adverse effects. Special considerations in certain populations, including patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus, those with end-stage renal disease, injection drug users, pregnant women, and pediatric patients, should guide treatment decisions.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
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TY - JOUR
TI - MicroRNAs and Multiple Sclerosis
AU - Tufekci, Kemal Ugur
AU - Oner, Meryem Gulfem
AU - Genc, Sermin
AU - Genc, Kursad
PY - 2011
T2 - Autoimmune Diseases
J2 - Autoimmune Dis
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3003960/
VL - 2011
DO - 10.4061/2011/807426
C2 - 3003960
N2 - MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently emerged as a new class of modulators of gene expression. miRNAs control protein synthesis by targeting mRNAs for translational repression or degradation at the posttranscriptional level. These noncoding RNAs are endogenous, single-stranded molecules approximately 22 nucleotides in length and have roles in multiple facets of immunity, from regulation of development of key cellular players to activation and function in immune responses. Recent studies have shown that dysregulation of miRNAs involved in immune responses leads to autoimmunity. Multiple sclerosis (MS) serves as an example of a chronic and organ-specific autoimmune disease in which miRNAs modulate immune responses in the peripheral immune compartment and the neuroinflammatory process in the brain. For MS, miRNAs have the potential to serve as modifying drugs. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of miRNA biogenesis and mode of action and the diverse roles of miRNAs in modulating the immune and inflammatory responses. We also review the role of miRNAs in autoimmunity, focusing on emerging data regarding miRNA expression patterns in MS. Finally, we discuss the potential of miRNAs as a disease marker and a novel therapeutic target in MS. Better understanding of the role of miRNAs in MS will improve our knowledge of the pathogenesis of this disease.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
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TY - JOUR
TI - Factors associated with hepatitis C knowledge among a sample of treatment naive people who inject drugs.
AU - Treloar, Carla
AU - Hull, Peter
AU - Bryant, Joanne
AU - Hopwood, Max
AU - Grebely, Jason
AU - Lavis, Yvonna
PY - 2010
T2 - Drug and alcohol dependence
J2 - Drug Alcohol Depend
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21194852
N2 - BACKGROUND: Assessment and uptake of treatment for hepatitis C among people who inject drugs (PWID) is low and strategies to enhance hepatitis C care in this group are needed. Knowledge of hepatitis C and its treatment is one precursor to decisions about treatment. METHODS: We conducted a cross-section study designed to evaluate treatment considerations in participants with self-reported hepatitis C infection in New South Wales, Australia. Participants were recruited from needle and syringe programs, opiate substitution clinics, pharmacies that dispensed opiate substitution treatment and from the mailing list of a community-based hepatitis C organisation and completed a self-administered survey. Knowledge of hepatitis C was assessed by a 48-item scale addressing the natural history and treatment of hepatitis C. Factors associated with knowledge were assessed by ordinal regression. RESULTS: Among the 997 participants recruited, 407 self-reported acquiring hepatitis C through injecting drug use and had never received hepatitis C treatment. Knowledge about hepatitis C was overall poor and the effects of the long term consequences of hepatitis C were over-estimated. Higher knowledge scores were associated with recruitment site, higher education levels and recent contact with a general practitioner. One-third of participants indicated that they did not intend to have treatment and one-fifth did not answer this question. CONCLUSION: Knowledge is a precursor to informed decisions about hepatitis C treatment. These results indicate that efforts to support those less engaged with hepatitis C care (and specifically those on opiate substitution treatment) and those with lower literacy are required.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
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TY - JOUR
TI - The natural history of acute hepatitis C: clinical presentation, laboratory findings and treatment outcomes.
AU - Loomba, R
AU - Rivera, M M
AU - McBurney, R
AU - Park, Y
AU - Haynes-Williams, V
AU - Rehermann, B
AU - Alter, H J
AU - Herrine, S K
AU - Liang, T J
AU - Hoofnagle, J H
AU - Heller, T
PY - 2010
T2 - Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics
J2 - Aliment Pharmacol Ther
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21198704
N2 - Background  Acute hepatitis C has variable modes of presentation and frequently results in chronic infection. Its optimal management has yet to be defined. Aim  To establish natural history and complications of treatment of acute hepatitis C. Methods  Data from all patients presenting with acute hepatitis C to the National Institutes of Health between 1994 and 2007 were reviewed. Results  Twenty-five patients were identified. Symptoms were reported by 80% and jaundice by 40%. Aminotransferase levels and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels fluctuated greatly; 18% of patients were intermittently negative for HCV RNA. Five patients recovered spontaneously whereas 20 developed chronicity or received interferon-based therapy during the acute phase. Among 15 patients treated during the acute phase with peginterferon with or without ribavirin for 24 weeks, all became HCV RNA negative within 4-8 weeks, and all except two (HIV-positive) achieved a sustained virological response. Side effects (particularly psychiatric) were common and limited treatment in 30%. Conclusions  Among 25 patients with acute HCV infection, fluctuating illness was common and spontaneous recovery occurred in only 20%. Anti-viral treatment with a 24-week course of peginterferon and ribavirin was highly effective, but marked by frequent and severe side effects.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
ER -

TY - JOUR
TI - Scaling up the national methadone maintenance treatment program in China: achievements and challenges
AU - Yin, Wenyuan
AU - Hao, Yang
AU - Sun, Xinhua
AU - Gong, Xiuli
AU - Li, Fang
AU - Li, Jianhua
AU - Rou, Keming
AU - Sullivan, Sheena G
AU - Wang, Changhe
AU - Cao, Xiaobin
AU - Luo, Wei
AU - Wu, Zunyou
PY - 2010
T2 - International Journal of Epidemiology
J2 - Int J Epidemiol
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2992615/
VL - 39
IS - suppl_2
SP - ii29-ii37
DO - 10.1093/ije/dyq210
C2 - 2992615
N2 - China’s methadone maintenance treatment program was initiated in 2004 as a small pilot project in just eight sites. It has since expanded into a nationwide program encompassing more than 680 clinics covering 27 provinces and serving some 242 000 heroin users by the end of 2009. The agencies that were tasked with the program’s expansion have been confronted with many challenges, including high drop-out rates, poor cooperation between local governing authorities and poor service quality at the counter. In spite of these difficulties, ongoing evaluation has suggested reductions in heroin use, risky injection practices and, importantly, criminal behaviours among clients, which has thus provided the impetus for further expansion. Clinic services have been extended to offer clients a range of ancillary services, including HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C testing, information, education and communication, psychosocial support services and referrals for treatment of HIV, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases. Cooperation between health and public security officials has improved through regular meetings and dialogue. However, institutional capacity building is still needed to deliver sustainable and standardized services that will ultimately improve retention rates. This article documents the steps China made in overcoming the many barriers to success of its methadone program. These lessons might be useful for other countries in the region that are scaling-up their methadone programs.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
ER -

TY - JOUR
TI - Current antiviral combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients who failed to interferon alfa-based treatment.
AU - Trapero-Marugán, M
AU - Mendoza, J
AU - Moreno Monteagudo, J A
AU - Chaparro, M
AU - García-Buey, L
AU - González-Moreno, L
AU - Borque, M J
AU - Moreno-Otero, R
PY - 2010
T2 - Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
J2 - J Clin Pharm Ther
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21175705
N2 - What is known and Objective:  Interferon-alfa-based therapy is effective in the treatment of Hepatitis C. However, some patients fail to respond and others relapse, after initially responding. Our objective was to assess the efficacy, safety and predictive factors for sustained virological response (SVR) to peginterferon plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients who failed to interferon-alfa (IFNα)-based therapy. Methods:  Seventy-five consecutive patients who failed to IFNα-based therapy were retreated with peginterferon plus ribavirin. Of these patients, 85% were infected by genotype 1. The primary endpoint was SVR. Results and Discussion:  Of 75 non-responder (n = 54) or relapser patients (n = 21), 50 were previously treated with IFNα-monotherapy and 25 with IFNα plus ribavirin. Global SVR rate was 41·3%: for patients re-treated with IFNα the response was 48% whilst for those retreated with IFNα plus ribavirin, it was 28%. For previous non-responders the SVR rate was 37% and for relapsers it was 52·4%. What is new and Conclusion:  Retreatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin is an effective option for some chronic hepatitis C non-responder or relapser patients. Higher SVR rate was achieved in relapsers and in those patients who received IFNα monotherapy previously.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
ER -

TY - JOUR
TI - Incidence and Severity of Acute Allograft Rejection in Liver Transplant Recipients Treated With Alfa lnterferon
AU - Jain, A
AU - Demetris, A J
AU - Manez, R
AU - Tsamanadas, A C
AU - Van Thiel, D
AU - Rakela, J
AU - Starzl, T E
AU - Fung, J J
PY - 2010
T2 - Liver transplantation and surgery : official publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society
J2 - Liver Transpl Surg
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3005707/
VL - 4
IS - 3
SP - 197-203
C2 - 3005707
N2 - Interferon alfa-2b (IFN-α) therapy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of viral hepatitis B (HBV) or viral hepatitis C (HCV) in patients who did not undergo transplantation. However, in allograft recipients, treatment with IFN-α often leads to allograft rejection. The aim of the present study was to determine if IFN-α therapy increases the incidence or severity of acute rejection in human liver allograft recipients. One hundred five orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients with HBV (n = 32), HCV (n = 58), or Non A Non B Non C (n = 15) viral infections were treated with a 6-month course of IFN-α, 5 million U subcutaneously three times a week, which began 2 to 97 months after transplantation. The mean hepatitis activity index (HAI) at the beginning of the therapy was 10.1 ± 3.0. The baseline immunosuppression was achieved by tacrolimus in 77 patients and by cyclosporine A (CyA) in 28 patients. Contemporaneous controls consisted of 132 OLT patients (100 who received tacrolimus and 32 who received CyA) who did not receive IFN-α. A retrospective analysis was performed on this group of patients. The incidence of rejection and the baseline immunosuppression were compared. All biopsies were reviewed without knowledge of clinical data and scored for HAI and for rejection activity index (RAI). The biochemical response to IFN-α was also examined. The mean baseline maintenance dose of prednisone was greater by 2 mg daily in patients who received IFN-α with tacrolimus compared with control patients who did not receive IFN-α with tacrolimus (IFN-α 5.3 ± 5.2 mg daily v controls 3.3 ± 4.9 mg daily; P ≤ .05). Similarly, the mean maintenance dose of prednisone was greater by 2.5 mg daily in patients who received IFN-α compared with controls who received CyA-based immunosuppression (IFN-α 9.8 ± 3.1 mg daily v controls 7.3 ± 3.3 mg daily; P = .01). Acute rejection episodes were detected in 10.5% (n = 11) of IFN-α–treated patients compared with 8.8% of controls for the similar time period from OLT and period of exposure to risk of rejection. Mean RAI was 2.0 ± 2.4 for the IFN-α–treated group and 2.1 ± 1.7 for controls. Rejection episodes with IFN-α treatment were mild and responded to steroid therapy. In OLT recipients, the risk of acute rejection was not increased by the introduction of IFN-α. However, in this study, patients were exposed to greater levels of immunosuppression.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
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TY - JOUR
TI - Augmentation of DHCR24 expression by hepatitis C virus infection facilitates viral replication in hepatocytes.
AU - Takano, Takashi
AU - Tsukiyama-Kohara, Kyoko
AU - Hayashi, Masahiro
AU - Hirata, Yuichi
AU - Satoh, Masaaki
AU  - Tokunaga, Yuko
AU - Tateno, Chise
AU - Hayashi, Yukiko
AU - Hishima, Tsunekazu
AU - Funata, Nobuaki
AU - Sudo, Masayuki
AU - Kohara, Michinori
PY - 2010
T2 - Journal of hepatology
J2 - J Hepatol
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21184787
N2 - BACKGROUND & AIMS: The role of 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR24) in hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) was characterized, because DHCR24 is a cholesterol biosynthetic enzyme and cholesterol is a major component of lipid rafts, which is reported to play an important role in HCV replication. Therefore, we examined the potential of DHCR24 as a target for novel HCV therapeutic agents. METHODS: We examined DHCR24 expression in human hepatocytes in both the livers of HCV-infected patients and those of chimeric mice with human hepatocytes. We targeted DHCR24 with siRNA and U18666A which is an inhibitor of both DHCR24 and cholesterol synthesis. We measured the level of HCV replication in these HCV replicon cell lines and HCV infected cells. U18666A was administrated into chimeric mice with humanized liver, and anti-viral effects were assessed. RESULTS: Expression of DHCR24 was induced by HCV infection in human hepatocytes in vitro, and in human hepatocytes of chimeric mouse liver. Silencing of DHCR24 by siRNA decreased HCV replication in replicon cell lines and HCV JFH-1 strain-infected cells. Treatment with U18666A, suppressed HCV replication in the replicon cell lines. Moreover, to evaluate the anti-viral effect of U18666A in vivo, we administrated U18666A with or without pegylated interferon to chimeric mice and observed an inhibitory effect of U18666A on HCV infection and a synergistic effect with interferon. CONCLUSIONS: DHCR24 is an essential host factor which is augmented its expression by HCV infection, and plays a significant role in HCV replication. DHCR24 may serve as a novel anti-HCV drug target.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
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TY - JOUR
TI - Interferon-gamma (+874) T/A genotypes and risk of IFN-alpha-induced depression.
AU - Oxenkrug, G
AU - Perianayagam, M
AU - Mikolich, D
AU - Requintina, P
AU - Shick, L
AU - Ruthazer, R
AU - Zucker, D
AU - Summergrad, P
PY - 2010
T2 - Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)
J2 - J Neural Transm
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21161299
N2 - Depression is a frequent side effect of interferon (IFN)-alpha therapy of hepatitis C (HCV) and is of great relevance with regard to adherence, compliance, and premature therapy discontinuation. There are no reliable tests to identify patients-at-risk for the development of IFN-alpha induced depression. We retrospectively studied distribution of IFN-gamma (IFNG) (+874) T/A genotypes in 170 Caucasian HCV patients treated by IFN-alpha. Distribution of IFNG (+874) genotypes was different between depressed and not depressed subjects with more TA and less AA carriers among depressed than among not depressed subjects (P = 0.003). Carriers with at least one T allele were more frequent among depressed than among not depressed patients (P = 0.003). Our results suggest that presence of high producer (T) alleles might be a genetic risk factor for the development of IFN-alpha-induced depression. Assessment of IFNG (+874) genotypes might help to identify patients-at-risk for IFN-alpha-induced depression. IFNG and IFN-alpha transcriptionally induce indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), the rate-limiting enzyme of the kynurenine (KYN) pathway of tryptophan (TRY) metabolism. IFN-induced up-regulation of IDO triggers depression by shifting TRY metabolism from formation of serotonin to production of neuroactive kynurenines. TRY-KYN pathway might be a new target for pharmacological prevention and treatment of IFN-alpha-induced psychiatric complications.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
ER -

TY - JOUR
TI - Overview of the PROVE studies evaluating the use of telaprevir in chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 patients.
AU - Burney, Tabinda
AU - Dusheiko, Geoffrey
PY - 2010
T2 - Expert review of anti-infective therapy
J2 - Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21143041
N2 - Current treatment for genotype 1 HCV infection with pegylated interferon (PEG IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) is effective in less than 50% of patients. The advent of direct-acting antiviral agents that target replication of HCV promises to improve therapy for the disease. Telaprevir is a new peptidomimetic serine protease inhibitor that specifically targets the NS3/4a HCV serine protease to cause rapid reduction in HCV RNA levels. Three Phase II Protease Inhibition for Viral Evaluation (PROVE) studies have assessed the efficacy and safety of telaprevir in genotype 1 patients. The studies examined sustained virological response (SVR) rates and also the adverse events related to the use of this drug in different groups. The results of these studies suggested that the addition of this specific protease inhibitor to PEG IFN alfa-2a and RBV can significantly improve the results of treatment in patients affected with chronic HCV infection with genotype 1, when compared with the standard treatment, PEG IFN alfa-2a and RBV alone. The key observations in these Phase II trials of telaprevir were higher rate of SVR above current standard of care (61-69% for T12PR24 treatment-naive patients compared with 46-48% for standard of care in naive patients). Low rates of relapse were observed in T12PR24-treated patients (2-14% vs 22-23%). The studies suggest that the duration of treatment could be reduced for rapidly responsive naive patients from 48 to 24 weeks while maintaining improved SVR rates. RBV remains an essential component of treatment with protease inhibitors combined with PEG IFN. The main adverse reactions of note with its use were rashes, anemia and nausea.
N1 - Exported from www.Quertle.info. Search query: Hepatitis C treatment .
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