Controlled attenuation parameter for steatosis grading in chronic hepatitis C compared with digital morphometric analysis of liver biopsy: impact of individual elastography measurement quality.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) diagnostic performance for steatosis grading has been controversial and considerable observer-related variability in liver biopsy has been reported. This is a subanalysis of a larger chronic hepatitis C study on noninvasive fibrosis staging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were prospectively enrolled for paired liver biopsy and transient elastography. Biopsy fragments were subjected to digital morphometric steatosis quantification. Associated patient and technical factors, including a newly described elastogram quality score, were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 312 patients were included in the final analysis. The mean liver stiffness was 8.7±2.1 kPa. Morphometry showed S0 in 19.2% of patients, S1 in 28.5%, S2 in 31.1%, and S3 in 21.2%. CAP showed S0 in 11.2% of patients, S1 in 26.6%, S2 in 56.7%, and S3 in 5.4%. Spearman coefficient showed a positive and independent correlation between CAP and morphometric analysis (r=0.48, P<0.05), except for distinguishing S1 and S2 (P=0.11). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the presence or absence of steatosis was 0.944; differentiation between levels I, II, and III were 0.776, 0.812, and 0.879. Elastogram quality independently predicted accuracy [odds ratio (OR): 6.95, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 4.45-9.06 as well as CAP interquartile range OR: 2.81, 95%CI: 1.67-3.99] and liver stiffness (OR: 0.78, 95%CI: 0.51-0.80). CONCLUSION: We present an external validation for CAP against the objective steatosis quantification provided by digital morphometry. Fairly good performance indicators were found, except for S1 versus S2 differentiation. Variability and higher liver stiffness were associated with lower performance. Achieving higher quality measurements, however, overcame such limitations with excellent accuracy.

Predictors of early discontinuation of interferon-free direct antiviral agents in patients with hepatitis C virus and advanced liver fibrosis: results of a real-life cohort.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for premature treatment discontinuation among patients with hepatitis C and advanced fibrosis with advanced fibrosis treated with interferon (IFN)-free direct antiviral agents (DAA)-based therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included all patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and advanced liver fibrosis in whom treatment was initiated with IFN-free DAA therapy at a university hospital from December 2015 through June 2016. We prospectively collected data from medical records using standardized questionnaires and evaluated them using Epi Info 7.1.2.0. The primary outcome was treatment interruption and associated factors. RESULTS: In total, 214 patients were included in this study; 180 patients were treated with sofosbuvir (SOF)+daclatasvir±ribavirin (RBV), 31 received SOF+simeprevir±RBV, and three were treated with SOF+RBV. Treatment discontinuation rate was 8.9% (19 patients) and cirrhotic decompensation was the main reason [8 (42.1%)]. Among patients with Child B or C cirrhosis (31), 10 (32.2%) prematurely interrupted treatment. The risk factors for treatment discontinuation in univariate analysis were older age (P=0.0252), higher comorbidity index (P=0.0078), higher model for end-stage liver disease (P<0.0001), higher fibrosis index based on the 4 factores (P=0.0122), and lower hemoglobin (P=0.0185) at baseline. Multivariate analysis showed that older age (odds ratio: 1.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.19) and higher model for end-stage liver disease (odds ratio: 1.27, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.56) were associated with premature treatment interruption. CONCLUSION: Older age and advanced liver disease were related to treatment interruption. Identification of risk factors associated with treatment discontinuation is important to recognize patients who should be followed up closely during treatment, ando those whom possibly may not benefit from immediate DAA treatment or should be followed up closely during treatment.

Retrospective analysis of the effects of orthognathic surgery on the pharyngeal airway space.

PURPOSE: Dentofacial deformities can be defined as defects in the growth and development of facial bones, mainly the maxilla and mandible. Such deformities can change the dimension and function of the pharyngeal airway space and orthognathic surgery is the treatment of choice. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the pharyngeal airway space after orthognathic surgery and test the ability of cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) imaging to allow analysis of the airway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre- and postoperative measurements were taken using CBCT images of 100 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery. RESULTS: The results showed an increase of the airway at the middle portion in the anteroposterior and lateral directions in the maxillary advancement, mandibular advancement, and maxillomandibular advancement groups. The results also showed an increase of total area in the maxillary advancement, mandibular advancement, maxillomandibular advancement, and maxillary advancement and mandibular setback groups. Total sagittal area increased in accord with bone movement. CONCLUSIONS: CBCT imaging allows the analysis of the effects of orthognathic surgery on the pharyngeal airway. Changes to the airway follow the maxillomandibular advancement that is carried out and the maxillary and mandibular advancements increase the upper and middle airway in the anteroposterior and lateral directions.

Retreatment of hepatitis C patients with pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin in non-responders to interferon plus ribavirin. Is it different in real life?

BACKGROUND: More than 50% of hepatitis C viruses (HCV)-infected patients do not respond to the classical Interferon (IFN)/Ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of retreatment with Peg-Interferon alpha-2b (PEG-IFN alpha-2b) plus RBV, in patients with HCV, genotypes 1 or 3, who were non-responders to the previous standard treatment with IFN/RBV. METHODS: In the period 2005-2007, a total of 238 HCV chronic patients were non-responders to previous treatment with IFN plus RBV. Of these 130 agreed to be retreated with PEG-IFN alpha-2b and participated in this evaluation (90 with genotype 1 HCV and 40 with genotype 3 HCV). Patients were retreated at assisted IFN application hubs in compliance with the country's public health system rules. They received subcutaneous PEG-IFN alpha-2b, 1.5 microg, once weekly, associated with RBV, through the oral route, with doses determined according to weight (1,000 mg if weight 75 kg). Patients with genotype 1 HCV were retreated for over 48 weeks and patients with genotype 3 HCV for over 24 weeks. HCV-RNA was tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at baseline, at week 12, at the end of the treatment, and 6 months thereafter. The predictiveness of week 12 in the development of a sustained virologic response (SVR) was also evaluated. Patients with negative HCV-RNA at week 12 were considered as early virologic responders (EVR). RESULTS: EVR was observed in 25% of the patients with genotype 1 HCV and in 64% of the patients genotype 3 HCV (risk = 2.075 and p-value = 0.0414). SVR was observed in 22.2% of the patients with genotype 1 HCV and in 40% with genotype 3 HCV (intention-to-treat analysis). The positive predictive value (PPV) of the HCV-RNA testing at week 12, in order to obtain the SVR, was 65% for genotype 1 and 56% for genotype 3, and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 88% for genotype 1 and 89% for genotype 3. CONCLUSIONS: PEG-IFN alpha-2b plus weight-based ribavirin is effective in re-treating previous interferon-alpha plus RBV failure; 22.2% of the patients with genotype 1 HCV and 40% of patients with genotype 3 HCV achieved SVR.

Extended treatment with interferon and ribavirin in a hemodialysis patient with chronic hepatitis C.

Hemodialysis patient with chronic HCV infection,who was started on monotherapy with interferon.Qualitative HCV RNA remained positive at 12 weeks of treatment; ribavirin was associated. HCV RNA was negative at week 24 and treatment was extended to 72 weeks. HCV RNA negative six months after treatment.

Hepatitis B virus: molecular genotypes and HBeAg serological status among HBV-infected patients in the southeast of Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of HBV genotype is very important for clinical treatment. Studies have suggested possible pathogenic and therapeutic differences among HBV genotypes. The aim of this study was to determine HBV subtypes and genotypes in HBV-infected patients in our region (southeast Brazil) and to correlate results with clinical and histopathological data. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-nine HBsAg-positive patients were included in the study. All patients were anti-HCV and anti-HIV negative (64% male; mean age 42 +/- 14.5 years; range 7-80 years; 84% Caucasian) and were followed up at the University Hospital. A method for genotyping and subtyping HBV by partial HBsAg gene sequencing with primers common to all known genotypes was used. The viral load was measured by Amplicor Monitor assay (Roche). RESULTS: HBV genotype A was the most prevalent (55%), while genotypes C, D and F were found in 3%, 38% and 4% of HBV-infected patients, respectively. Among the patients infected by genotype A, 18.3% (14/76) were African descendents and, among the patients infected by genotype D, 11.3% (6/53) were also African descendents. In the four patients infected with genotype C, 2 were Asian descendents and 2 were Caucasians. All (7) genotype F infected patients were Caucasians. Seventy percent of our HBsAg-positive patients were HBeAg negative (62% genotypes A; 26.2% D; 7.1% C and 4.7%F). The viral load of HBV-DNA was about 5 times higher in HBeAg-positive than in HBeAg-negative patients. About 40% of these patients had alanine aminotransferase of up to 1.5 times the normal level. The mean stage of fibrosis in genotype A patients (2.8) was significantly higher than the mean stage of fibrosis in genotype D patients (2.0) (P = 0.0179). CONCLUSION: The genotypes encountered in our HBV-infected patients were apparently a consequence of the types of immigration that occurred in our region, where European and African descendents predominate. The HBeAg-negative status predominated, possibly due to the length of time of infection. The viral load in HBeAg-positive patients was higher than in HBeAg-negative individuals. The fibrosis grade in genotype A-infected patients was more advanced than genotype D-infected patients.

Influence of orthognathic surgery on voice fundamental frequency.

Considering that orthognathic surgery promotes changes in orofacial structures constituting the resonating system, functional changes secondary to surgery are expected to affect speech, leading to the need for further speech and voice adjustments. Thus, understanding the possible relationships of these structures with voice production is important. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the changes in voice fundamental frequency of a patient submitted to orthognathic surgery and observe if there is a relationship with hyoid bone positioning at the different treatment periods. The results revealed that voice fundamental frequency increased after surgery, returning to values close to the preoperative condition, which corresponded to vertical movement of the hyoid bone.

Comparative study of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection due to genotypes 1 and 3 referred for treatment in southeast Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The progression of liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is influenced by host and viral factors. Distinct clinical outcomes in patients infected with different HCV genotypes have been described in the literature. However, the association between specific HCV genotype and clinical outcome remains unclear. We set out to study the natural history of HCV genotype 1 and 3 infections in Campinas, São Paulo state, Brazil, focusing on epidemiological, clinical, biochemical, and histological characteristics. METHODS: Patients with HCV infection referred for treatment between January 2003 and December 2006 were included in this study. We collected epidemiological, clinical, and laboratorial data using standard forms. RESULTS: A total of 283 patients were included; genotype 1 was identified in 163 (57.6%) patients, genotype 3 in 112 (39.6%), genotype 2 in 7 (2.5%), and genotype 4 in 1 (0.35%). Patients with genotype 2 and 4 were excluded from analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that intravenous energetic drug, positive cryoglobulin, and cirrhosis were independently and significantly associated with HCV genotype 3 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Genotype 3 currently seems to be associated with intravenous energetic drug, high frequency of cryoglobulinemia, and advanced liver disease in our region. Understanding the distribution of the different HCV genotypes can elucidate transmission of HCV and support optimal prevention strategies.

Síndrome de Eagle: estudo radiográfico da incidência de processos estilóides alongados / Ealle's Syndrome: radiographic study of the incidence of elongated styloid process

O alongammento do processo estilóide é uma anomalia que pode ser acompanhada pela calcificação do ligamento estilo-hióideo e/ou estilomandibular. Quando origina sintomatologia, denomina-se Síndrome de Eagle, a qual é caracterizada por dores na cabeça, disfonia, restrição dos movimentos cervicais e sensação de corpo estranho alojado na garganta. O diagnóstico é baseado em achados clínicos e radiográficos e o tratamento depende do gráu de desconforto do paciente, sendo, na maioria das vezes, cirúrgico. Este trabalho apresenta uma pesquisa realizada a partir de radiografias panorâmicas de uma amostra aleatória de pacientes cadastrados na Clínica de Odontologia da Universidade do Sagrado Coração, situada na cidade de Bauru-SP, com objetivo de verificar a incidência de processos estilóides alongados.