Research on expression of Toll-like receptors and IFN-α in HCV infected patients with different clinical outcomes / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective To investigate the changes in expression of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and interferon-α (IFN-α) in patients with different clinical outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection treated with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), and to explore the relationship between the expression of TLR3 and IFN-α with the clinical outcomes of HCV infection. Methods A total of 149 HCV infected patients who received initial treatment were selected from Hainan General Hospital between September 2020 and August 2022. The patients were divided into two groups: chronic hepatitis C (CHC) group (n=129) and liver cirrhosis (LC) group (n=20). Additionally, 28 volunteers were selected as the control group during the same period. All patients with HCV infection were first treated with Sofosbuvir/Vipatavir tablets for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected at 0, 4, 12, 24 and 48 weeks after treatment. Liver function indicators were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while TLR3 mRNA were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRCR), IFN-α was detected by Luminex multiplex cytokine assays. Measurement data subject to normal distribution were represented by x±s, and t test was used between groups. Compare differences between groups. Results TLR3 mRNA in CHC group was higher than that in LC group and control group at baseline (P<0.05). After 4 weeks of DAAs treatment, TLR3 mRNA in CHC and LC groups was significantly up-regulated (P<0.05). TLR3 mRNA in the CHC group was gradually down-regulated to the level of the control group at 12, 24, and 48 weeks. In addition, IFN-α expression gradually increased with prolonged treatment, while it decreased in the LC group. The liver inflammation indicators in both the CHC and LC groups partially recovered after treatment with DAAs. Conclusions TLR3 is involved in viral clearance and chronic inflammatory response. The expression difference of TLR3 in patients with different clinical outcomes of HCV infection after DAAs treatment may be related to the severity of the disease.

Effect evaluation of medical insurance policy for hepatitis C DAA drugs based on patient survey / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To provide reference for the prevention and treatment of hepatitis C and the formulation and improvement of medical insurance payment policy for direct-acting antiviral （DAA） drugs. METHODS An questionnaire survey was conducted among the patients who received hepatitis C treatment in a third-grade class-A hospital in Sichuan province from 2019 to 2020 and enjoyed Chengdu medical insurance policy. The patients’ hepatitis C treatment and satisfaction with the medical insurance policy for DAA drugs were compared before and after DAA drugs were included in the medical insurance list. RESULTS A total of 203 patients effectively responded among 644 investigated patients. In terms of treatment plans， although there were significant differences in the treatment plan between patients who saw a doctor in 2019 and 2020 （P＜0.05）， the vast majority of patients were cured within the course of treatment （200 cases， 98.52%）， and there were no obvious adverse reactions （193 cases， 95.07%）. In terms of economic burden， the out-of-pocket costs and economic burden of patients treated with DAA drugs in 2020 were significantly lower than those treated with DAA drugs in 2019 （P＜0.05）； in terms of patient services， 78.82% of patients received expert consultation services from designated medical institutions， but 9.85% of patients still did not receive any patient services provided by the hospital. In terms of satisfaction with outpatient reimbursement policy， the overall satisfaction of patients who saw a doctor in 2020 （95.37%） was significantly higher than those who saw a doctor in 2019 （81.05%）（P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The surveyed patients with hepatitis C obtain good efficacy after DAA drugs treatment， and are satisfied with the medical insurance policy of DAA drugs， but the standardized management of patient services in designated medical institutions is insufficient.

An eye on hepatitis C: a review / O olho na hepatite C: uma revisão

ABSTRACT This review aims to caution ophthalmologists about the ocular consequences leading to the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection. In addition, in this context, the effects of old and new drugs are discussed in the ophthalmological setting. The importance of early diagnosis and the curative treatment of the disease has been reported in the national and international literature, demonstrating that its progression has important implications for daily clinical and surgical ophthalmological practice. Despite the scarcity of studies on new direct-acting antiviral drugs, fewer side effects of these drugs have been shown when compared with conventional interferon treatment with or without ribavirin. The ophthalmologist's risk of becoming infected, as demonstrated by the presence of the virus in ocular structures, and the possibility of contamination, is also discussed.

RESUMO Esta revisão objetiva alertar os oftalmologistas sobre as consequências oculares que levam ao diagnóstico da infecção pelo vírus da Hepatite C. Além disso, neste contexto, os efeitos de drogas antigas e novas são discutidos no cenário oftalmológico. A importância do diagnóstico precoce e do tratamento curativo da doença tem sido relatada na literatura nacional e internacional, demonstrando que sua progressão tem implicações importantes para a prática oftalmológica diária. Apesar da escassez de estudos sobre novos medicamentos antivirais de ação direta, foram demonstrados menos efeitos colaterais desses medicamentos quando comparados ao tratamento convencional com interferon, com ou sem ribavirina associado ou não à rivabirina. O risco do oftalmologista de se infectar, como demonstrado pela presença do vírus nas estruturas oculares, e a possibilidade de contaminação, também é discutido.

Efficacy of precision therapy with direct-acting antiviral drugs for patients with chronic HCV genotype 1b infection / 中华临床感染病杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of precision therapy with direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) for patients with chronic HCV gene type 1b infection.Methods One hundred and thirteen patients with chronic HCV genotype 1b infection admitted in the Department of Infectious Diseases of First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2018 to July 2019 were enrolled,including 89 patients with chronic hepatitis and 24 patients with cirrhosis.Different DAAs therapeutic schedule were taken based on liver function, kidney function, complication and treatment costs.Seventy-two patients were treated with pan-genotype drugs, including 43 patients treated with Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir (SOF+VEL), 13 treated with Sofosbuvir and Ribavirin ( SOF +RBV), and 16 treated with Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir ( SOF +DCV).Forty one patients were treated with specific genotype DAAs , including 15 treated with Ombitasvir and Dasabuvir (OBV+DSV), and 26 treated with Elbasvir and Grazoprevir tablets (EBR+GZR).Pair t test and Chi-square test were used to compare virological response rate , the liver function and the adverse reactions were observed.Results The super-rapid virological response (SRVR) rate with DAAs treatment at 1 week was 88.5%(100／113),and the rapid virological response ( RVR) at 4 weeks of treatment was 98.2%(111／113).There was no significant differences in SRVR and RVR among the patients treated with five treatment regimens (χ2 ＝5.95 and 1.04,P＞0.05), all the patients obtained complete early virological response (CEVR) at 12 weeks and sustained virological response ( SVR12) at 12 weeks after treatment. Besides, there were no significant differences in SRVR and RVR between pan-genotype and gene-specific drugs (χ2 ＝0.03 and 0.17, P＞0.05),both CEVR and SVR12 reached 100% in all patients.The liver transaminase levels were improved in patients undergoing pan-genotype or gene-specific drugs treatment. Mild adverse reactions were observed in 5 cases, hemolysis occurred in 1 patient and it was cured after replacement of drugs.Conclusion Both pan-genotype and specific genotypes of DAAs can achieve high virological response rates.Genotypic testing should be performed before antiviral therapy , in order to accurately select treatment options and to save costs.