Search results for "ALPHA"
showing 10 items of 3228 documents
Improved Responses to Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2b and Ribavirin by Individualizing Treatment for 24–72 Weeks
2011
Guidelines recommend that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection be treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 24, 48, or 72 weeks, based on their virologic response to treatment. We investigated the effects of treating patients for individualized durations.We treated 398 treatment-naïve patients who had HCV genotype 1 infections with pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin for 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 60, or 72 weeks (mean of 39 weeks, termed individualized therapy); the duration of therapy was determined based on baseline viral load and the time point at which HCV RNA levels became undetectable (measured at weeks 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, and 30). Results were compared with…
Early monotherapy with pegylated interferon alpha-2b for acute hepatitis C infection: the HEP-NET acute-HCV-II study.
2006
Early treatment of acute hepatitis C with interferon alpha-2b for 24 weeks prevents chronic infection in almost all patients. Because pegylated interferons have replaced conventional interferon in the therapy of chronic hepatitis C, the aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of an early treatment of acute hepatitis C with peginterferon alpha-2b. Between February 2001 and February 2004, 89 individuals with acute HCV infection were recruited at 53 different centers in Germany. Patients received 1.5 microg/kg peginterferon alpha-2b for 24 weeks; treatment was initiated after a median of 76 days after infection (range 14-150). End-of-treatment response and sustained virological response …
Short-term effectiveness of golimumab for ulcerative colitis: Observational multicenter study
2016
AIM To evaluate the real-world effectiveness of golimumab in ulcerative colitis (UC) and to identify predictors of response. METHODS We conducted an observational, prospective and multi-center study in UC patients treated with golimumab, from September 2014 to September 2015. Clinical activity was assessed at wk 0 and 14 with the physician' s global clinical assessment (PGA) and the partial Mayo score. Colonoscopies and blood tests were performed, following daily-practice clinical criteria, and the results were recorded in an SPSS database. RESULTS Thirty-three consecutive patients with moderately to severely active UC were included. Among them, 54.5% were female and 42 years was the averag…
Long-term course of interferon-treated chronic hepatitis C
1998
Abstract Background/Aims: To evaluate whether sustained response to α-interferon improves clinical outcome in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Methods: A cohort of 410 consecutive patients (65% with chronic hepatitis, 35% with cirrhosis) were treated with α-interferon in two trials (mean follow-up 62.1 months, range 7–109 months). All were serum HCV RNA positive before therapy and received first 10 then 5 million units of α-2b or α-n1 interferon three times weekly for 6 to 12 months. Sustained response was defined as normal aminotransferases 12 months after stopping interferon. Results: Sixty-two patients (15.1%: 54 with chronic hepatitis, eight with cirrhosis) were sustained responders. …
Postoperative Reduction of Fibrinolysis as a Prognostic Factor of Fatal Outcome
2001
For the resection of an esophagus carcinoma a mortality rate of 2 to 30% was described, It is still unclear whether an abdominothoracic or transhiatal intervention is superior regarding the outcome. To investigate the prognostic value of fibrinolytic markers, plasmin-α2-antiplasmin (PAP) and D-dimer (DD) values were determined daily in the early postoperative period for 11days. In addition, the course of PAP and DD concentrations was compared with the method of esophagectomy. Of the 28 patients enclosed in the study, 5 died between day 10 and day 34 owing to adult respiratory distress syndrome and septicemia. The PAP and DD concentrations increased in survivors after surgery until day 5 an…
Predicting Early and Sustained Virological Responses in Prior Nonresponders to Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b Plus Ribavirin Retreated With Peginterfe…
2013
GOALS: To evaluate the predictive value of complete early virological response (cEVR) on sustained virological response (SVR) following retreatment with peginterferon alpha-2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin in previous nonresponders to peginterferon alpha-2b (12 kDa). BACKGROUND: In the randomized multinational retreatment with Pegasys in patients not responding to PegIntron therapy study, a 72-week regimen of peginterferon alpha-2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin improved SVR rates over a standard 48-week regimen in previous nonresponders to peginterferon alpha-2b (12 kDa). cEVR, defined as hepatitis C virus RNA <50 IU/mL at treatment week 12, was an important predictor of SVR. STUDY: We conducted an exp…
Limb Ischemic Conditioning Induces Oxidative Stress Followed by a Correlated Increase of HIF-1α in Healthy Volunteers.
2019
Background Local and remote ischemic preconditioning has been used as a protective intervention against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) damage in several preclinical and clinical studies. However, its physiological mechanisms are not completely known. I/R increases the production of reactive oxygen species, which also serve as messengers for a variety of functions. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) is probably the most important transcription factor mediator of hypoxic signaling. Objective We hypothesized that limb ischemic conditioning (LIC) induces a local oxidative/nitrosative stress and a correlated increase of HIF-1α plasma levels. Methods An observational, prospective, and single-c…
Defer or treat? Reasons for treatment decisions in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 in the early era of directly acting antiviral agents
2013
Abstract Background In chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C, telaprevir or boceprevir plus peginterferon and ribavirin have become the new standard of care. Aim of this study was to identify factors contributing to the decision whether to defer or treat with the current triple regimens. Methods Prospective assessment of eight parameters on 0-4-point scales by the attending physician at a German tertiary referral centre between 1st September 2011 and 31st December 2012. Results 307 patients were evaluated at least once by one of the 11 hepatologists involved; 267 patients were considered, but only 163 were recommended to receive triple therapy. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that a high…
Adalimumab efficacy in enteropathic spondyloarthritis: A 12-mo observational multidisciplinary study
2017
AIM To report adalimumab (Ada) efficacy on articular-gastrointestinal disease and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with enteropathic spondyloarthritis (ES). METHODS A cohort of 52 patients with ES was evaluated in the departments of gastroenterology and internal medicine. At baseline, all patients underwent assessment by an integrated gastro-rheumatologic evaluation of articular and gastrointestinal activity, as well patient reported outcomes (PROs) of the HRQoL questionnaires. After this integrated evaluation and following a specific working flowchart, the Ada anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-inhibitor was assigned to a cohort of 30 patients and its clinical efficacy was …
The effect of two low doses of aspirin on whole blood thromboxane and prostacyclin generation in healthy subjects
1983
SummaryThe effects of two low doses of aspirin (20 mg and 100 mg) on prostacyclin and thromboxane formation during whole blood clotting were studied in 8 healthy volunteers.A single 100 mg aspirin dose caused more than 90% reduction of both serum TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1α; a single 20 mg dose of aspirin inhibited serum TXB2 more than 6-keto-PGF1α but effects on these two products could not be completely dissociated.However, the effect of a single 20 mg aspirin dose on serum TXB2, was of much longer duration than its inhibitory effect on PGI2 synthesis during whole blood clotting.