ANGPTL8 (Betatrophin) is Expressed in Visceral Adipose Tissue and Relates to Human Hepatic Steatosis in Two Independent Clinical Collectives

Angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8)/betatrophin expression in visceral adipose tissue and associations with circulating fatty acid profile have not yet been investigated.Forty subjects were included in a cross-sectional study, 57 in a dietary weight reduction intervention. Circulating Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin was measured in all subjects. Liver and adipose tissue were sampled and plasma fatty acids and tissue Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin expression were evaluated in the cross-sectional study. In the intervention study oral glucose testing and liver magnetic resonance scanning at baseline and after 6 months were performed. Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin mRNA was increased in visceral compared to subcutaneous adipose tissue (p<0.001). Circulating ANGPTL8/betatrophin correlated with liver steatosis (r=0.42, p=0.047), triacylglycerols (r=0.34, p=0.046), saturated (r=0.43, p=0.022), monounsaturated (r=0.51, p=0.007), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (r=-0.53, p=0.004). In the intervention study, baseline Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin correlated with age (r=0.32, p=0.010) and triacylglycerols (r=0.30, p=0.02) and was increased with hepatic steatosis (p=0.033). Weight loss reduced liver fat by 45% and circulating Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin by 11% (288±17 vs. 258±17 pg/ml; p=0.015). Angiopoietin-like protein 8/betatrophin is related to liver steatosis, while visceral adipose tissue represents an additional site of expression in humans.

Hepatitis due to Reactivation of Hepatitis B Virus in Endemic Areas Among Patients With Hepatitis C Treated With Direct-acting Antiviral Agents

Hepatitis due to reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been reported in patients treated with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. We performed an observational study to determine the incidence of and factors associated with hepatitis in 327 patients receiving pan-oral DAA agents for HCV infections in areas endemic for HBV in China. Ten patients were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and 124 patients had occult HBV infection. HBV reactivation was determined by measuring HBV DNA and HBsAg status in serial serum samples collected every 2 weeks during DAA treatment and then every 4 weeks after treatment until week 12. In the total study population, 10 patients (3.1%) had hepatitis; 3 cases were associated with HBV reactivation (1 case not in the icteric phase, 1 case in the icteric phase, and 1 case with liver failure) and 7 from other causes. Testing positive for HBsAg before DAA treatment was a strong risk factor for developing hepatitis during treatment (hazard ratio, 15.0; P < .001).

Treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection-2017

Since the registration of the first effective nucleoside analogue against the hepatitis B virus almost two decades ago, major progress has been made in the management of chronic hepatitis B infection. However, hepatitis B-related morbidity and mortality remain a major global health threat. This is partly due to the escalating costs and the decrease in compliance related to the need for prolonged therapy for most patients who cannot be "cured". New biomarkers such as quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen might help to determine if hepatitis B e antigen negative patients can be taken off nucleos(t)ide analogues. On the other hand, novel compounds that target the viral life cycle or modulate host immune response are in the pipeline. In the next few years, one should expect breakthrough advancement to be made leading to a "cure" for patients with chronic hepatitis B infection by inducing hepatitis surface antigen loss with or without the development of the hepatitis B surface antibody. In addition, attention and necessary actions should also be taken in patients with hepatitis B infection who are being treated with immunosuppressive therapy and direct anti-viral (DAAs) agents for hepatitis C infection to prevent hepatitis from hepatitis B reactivation.

Efficacy and safety of 3-week response-guided triple direct-acting antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection: a phase 2, open-label, proof-of-concept study

BACKGROUND

To shorten the course of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we examined the antiviral efficacy and safety of 3 weeks of response-guided therapy with an NS3 protease inhibitor and dual NS5A inhibitor-NS5B nucleotide analogue.

METHODS

In this open-label, phase 2a, single centre study, Chinese patients with chronic HCV genotype 1b infection without cirrhosis were randomly allocated by a computer program to one of three treatment groups (sofosbuvir, ledipasvir, and asunaprevir; sofosbuvir, daclatasvir, and simeprevir; or sofosbuvir, daclatasvir, and asunaprevir) until six patients in each group (1:1:1) achieved an ultrarapid virological response (plasma HCV RNA <500 IU/mL by day 2, measured by COBAS TaqMan HCV test, version 2.0). Patients with an ultrarapid virological response received 3 weeks of therapy. Patients who did not achieve an ultrarapid response were switched to sofosbuvir and ledipasvir for either 8 weeks or 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with a sustained virological response at 12 weeks (SVR12) after treatment completion, analysed in the intention-to-treat population. All patients who achieved an ultrarapid virological response were included in the safety analysis. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02470858.

FINDINGS

Between April 5, 2015, and April 15, 2015, 26 eligible patients were recruited. 12 patients were assigned to sofosbuvir, ledipasvir, and asunaprevir; six to sofosbuvir, daclatasvir, and simeprevir; and eight to sofosbuvir, daclatasvir, and asunaprevir. Six patients in each group achieved an ultrarapid virological response (18 [69%]). All patients with an ultrarapid virological response who were given 3 weeks of triple therapy achieved SVR12. The most common adverse events were fatigue (one [17%] of six patients receiving sofosbuvir, ledipasvir, and asunaprevir; one [17%] of six patients receiving sofosbuvir, daclatasvir, and simeprevir; and two [33%] of six patients receiving sofosbuvir, daclatasvir, and asunaprevir) and headache (one [17%] patient in each group). No patients experienced any serious adverse events.

INTERPRETATION

In this proof-of-concept study, all patients with chronic HCV without cirrhosis who achieved an ultrarapid virological response on triple direct-acting antiviral regimens by day 2 and received 3 weeks of treatment were cured, with excellent tolerability. By shortening the duration of therapy from the currently recommended 12 weeks to 3 weeks, we could drastically reduce the cost of therapy and the rate of adverse events. Further large-scale studies should be done to confirm our findings.

FUNDING

Center for AIDS Research, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Energy, National Center for Research Resources and the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs, Cheng Si-Yuan (China-International) Hepatitis Research Foundation, and Humanity and Health Medical Group.

Twelve-week ribavirin-free direct-acting antivirals for treatment-experienced Chinese with HCV genotype 1b infection including cirrhotic patients

BACKGROUND

Treatment-experienced chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype (GT) 1b represents a major medical burden in China. We evaluate the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of ribavirin (RBV)-free pan-oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in treatment-experienced Chinese with GT1b CHC, including patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

One hundred forty treatment-experienced GT1b CHC Chinese with and without cirrhosis were included in this study. Ninety-four patients were treated with either daclatasvir (DCV, 60 mg)-sofosbuvir (SOF, 400 mg) (group 1, n = 46) or ledipasvir (LDV, 90 mg)-SOF (400 mg) (group 2, n = 48) for 12 weeks. Forty-six patients treated with pegylated interferon and RBV therapy for 72 weeks were enrolled as the control group (group 3). Patients were followed at 4-weekly intervals till 24 weeks after the end of treatment.

RESULTS

All patients in group 1 (46/46, 100 %) and 2 (48/48, 100 %) had achieved sustained virologic response at 24 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR 24), which was significantly higher than that of group 3 (13/46, 28.3 %) (p < 0.001). The SVR 24 rates of cirrhotic patients in group 1 (27/27, 100 %) and 2 (27/27, 100 %) were also significantly higher than that of group 3 (3/25, 12 %) (p < 0.001). Twelve weeks of RBV-free LDV-SOF and DCV-SOF was either cost-saving or cost-effective. Adverse events were significantly lower in group 1 and 2 compared with group 3 (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Compared with standard therapies, 12 weeks of RBV-free DAA therapies is highly effective, well tolerated and cost-effective in treatment-experienced Chinese with GT1b CHC including patients with cirrhosis.

Will Sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir (Harvoni) Be Cost-Effective and Affordable for Chinese Patients Infected with Hepatitis C Virus? An Economic Analysis Using Real-World Data

BACKGROUND

Little is known on the cost-effectiveness of novel regimens for hepatitis C virus (HCV) compared with standard-of-care with pegylated interferon (pegIFN) and ribavirin (RBV) therapy in developing countries. We evaluated cost-effectiveness of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir for 12 weeks compared with a 48-week pegIFN-RBV regimen in Chinese patients with genotype 1b HCV infection by economic regions.

METHODS

A decision analytic Markov model was developed to estimate quality-adjusted-life-years, lifetime cost of HCV infection and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). SVR rates and direct medical costs were obtained from real-world data. Parameter uncertainty was assessed by one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Threshold analysis was conducted to estimate the price which can make the regimen cost-effective and affordable.

RESULTS

Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir was cost-effective in treatment-experienced patients with an ICER of US$21,612. It varied by economic regions. The probability of cost-effectiveness was 18% and 47% for treatment-naive and experienced patients, and it ranged from 15% in treatment-naïve patients in Central-China to 64% in treatment-experienced patients in Eastern-China. The price of 12-week sofosbuvir/ledipasvir treatment needs to be reduced by at least 81% to US$18,185 to make the regimen cost-effective in all patients at WTP of one time GDP per capita. The price has to be US$105 to make the regimen affordable in average patients in China.

CONCLUSION

Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir regimen is not cost-effective in most Chinese patients with genotype 1b HCV infection. The results vary by economic regions. Drug price of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir needs to be substantially reduced when entering the market in China to ensure the widest accessibility.

Serum Levels of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Predict Severity of Fibrosis in Patients With E Antigen-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Noninvasive techniques are needed to assess hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. We developed a scoring system to determine the degree of fibrosis in patients with genotype B or genotype C hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and positive for the hepatitis B e antigen.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study to identify baseline variables associated with the severity of fibrosis (METAVIR scores, F0-F4) in a large phase 3 clinical trial of predominantly Asian patients (n = 710), using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Significant variables were used to construct predictive models using optimal cut-off values. The final model was validated in similar patients from a large phase 4 clinical trial (n = 465).

RESULTS

We developed 2 prediction scoring systems (PSs). PS1 analyzed data on HBV genotype (B vs. C), patient age (<30 vs. ≥30 y), level of hepatitis B surface antigen (≤17,500 vs. >17,500 IU/mL), and level of alanine aminotransferase (≤3-fold vs. >3-fold the upper limit of normal). PS2 analyzed data on only age and level of hepatitis B surface antigen. PS1 identified patients with F0 to F1 vs. F2 to F4 fibrosis with more than 87% specificity and a positive predictive value greater than 75; it identified patients with F0 to F2 vs. F2 to F4 fibrosis with approximately 95% specificity and a positive predictive value (PPV) of approximately 97%. PS2 identified patients with F0 to F1 fibrosis with less accuracy than PS1, but identified patients with F0 to F2 fibrosis with an almost identical level of sensitivity and PPV.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a simple scoring system to determine the severity of fibrosis in patients with genotypes B or C HBV infection who are hepatitis B e antigen positive. Our system differentiated patients with no or mild fibrosis (F0-F1) from those with marked or severe (F2-F4) fibrosis with a high PPV. The high level of specificity for the identification of nonsevere fibrosis (F0-F2) limits the risk of overlooking patients with severe fibrosis (F3-F4).

Improvement of glucose and lipid metabolism with pegylated interferon-a plus ribavirin therapy in Chinese patients chronically infected with genotype 1b hepatitis C virus

BACKGROUND

Many epidemiological studies have demonstrated a significant association between Type 2 diabetes mellitus and abnormal lipid profiles with chronic HCV genotype 1 (GT1) infection. We examined the impact on glucose and lipid profiles of treating Chinese patients using pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN)-a and ribavirin (RBV).

METHODS

We conducted a hospital-based clinical study of Chinese patients chronically infected with GT1b HCV. All the patients were treated for 48 weeks (PR48) with Peg-IFN-a (180 micro g once per week) or Peg-IFN-a (1.5 micro g/kg once per week) plus RBV (15 mg/kg per day). Fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PBG-2h), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels, were measured at baseline, during therapy, at the end of therapy and at follow-up. In addition, liver stiffness (LS) by transient elastography, HCV RNA and ALT levels were also measured.

RESULTS

We enrolled 116 patients. At the end of treatment (EOT) (week 48), HCV RNA was negative in all patients, 77.6% (90/116) of patients achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) 24 weeks after EOT, and 22.4% (26/116) did not achieve SVR. All parameters associated with liver inflammation, liver fibrosis, glucose and lipid metabolism had decreased significantly compared with baseline (P < .05) in SVR patients. However, there were no obvious changes in lipid metabolism in non-SVR patients.

CONCLUSION

PR48 therapy is still the primary treatment for Chinese patients with GT1b HCV infection and will remain so until oral anti-HCV agents are approved. It is beneficial in amelioration of liver histological status and glucose metabolism regardless of post-treatment virologic response.

Telbivudine plus pegylated interferon alfa-2a in a randomized study in chronic hepatitis B is associated with an unexpected high rate of peripheral neuropathy

BACKGROUND & AIMS

This study investigated the antiviral efficacy and safety of telbivudine in combination with pegylated interferon (PegIFN) alpha-2a in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

METHODS

This was a randomized, open-label, multicentre study, in treatment-naïve patients with HBeAg-positive CHB, comparing the efficacy and safety of telbivudine in combination with PegIFN alpha-2a with telbivudine monotherapy and PegIFN alpha-2a monotherapy. The study was terminated early due to increased rates of peripheral neuropathy in the combination-therapy group.

RESULTS

Of the 159 patients randomized (from 300 planned) 50 were assigned to combination therapy, 55 to telbivudine, 54 to PegIFN, and 110 (18, 49, and 43, respectively) reached week 24. Peripheral neuropathy occurred in 7/50, 1/54, and 0/54 patients in the three groups of safety populations, respectively. No relationship between the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy and other variables (e.g., pharmacokinetic data, treatment efficacy, ALT levels, creatine kinase elevations) were observed. At week 24, undetectable HBV DNA (<300 copies/ml) was achieved by 71% (12/17), 35% (17/48), and 7% (3/42) of patients, with available data receiving combination therapy, telbivudine monotherapy and PegIFN monotherapy, respectively (p = 0.022 for combination therapy vs. telbivudine; p<0.0001 for combination therapy vs. PegIFN).

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapy carried an increased risk of peripheral neuropathy. Despite the rapid and profound reductions in HBV DNA levels, combination therapy with telbivudine and PegIFN should not be used.

Racial/ethnic differences in hip and diaphyseal femur fractures

Contemporary femur fracture rates were examined in northern California women and compared by race/ethnicity. During 2006-2012, hip fracture rates declined, but diaphyseal fracture rates increased, especially in Asians. Women with diaphyseal fracture were younger and more likely to be bisphosphonate-treated. These disparities in femur fracture should be further examined.

INTRODUCTION

The epidemiology of diaphyseal femur fracture differs from proximal femur (hip) fracture, although few studies have examined demographic variations in the current era. This study examines contemporary differences in low-energy femur fracture by race/ethnicity in a large, diverse integrated health-care delivery system.

METHODS

The incidence of hip and diaphyseal fracture in northern California women aged ≥50 years old during 2006-2012 was examined. Hip (femoral neck and pertrochanteric) fractures were classified by hospital diagnosis codes, while diaphyseal (subtrochanteric and femoral shaft) fractures were further adjudicated based on radiologic findings. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from health plan databases. Fracture incidence was examined over time and by race/ethnicity.

RESULTS

There were 10,648 (97.3 %) hip and 300 (2.7 %) diaphyseal fractures among 10,493 women. The age-adjusted incidence of hip fracture fell from 281 to 240 per 100,000 women and was highest for white women. However, diaphyseal fracture rates increased over time, with a significant upward trend in Asians (9 to 27 per 100,000) who also had the highest rate of diaphyseal fracture. Women with diaphyseal fracture were younger than women with hip fracture, more likely to be of Asian race and to have received bisphosphonate drugs. Women with longer bisphosphonate treatment duration were also more likely to have a diaphyseal fracture, especially younger Asian women.

CONCLUSION

During 2006 to 2012, hip fracture rates declined, but diaphyseal fracture rates increased, particularly among Asian women. The association of diaphyseal fracture and bisphosphonate therapy should be further investigated with examination of fracture pattern.

Effects of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in hepatitis B e antigen-positive patients with normal levels of alanine aminotransferase and high levels of hepatitis B virus DNA

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Little is known about the benefit of antiviral therapy for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients with high viral load and normal levels of alanine aminotransferase. We evaluated the effects of single and combination therapies in immune-tolerant patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODS

In a double-blind study, nucleos(t)ide-naïve patients with high levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA who were positive for HBeAg and had normal levels of alanine aminotransferase were randomly assigned to groups given either oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF, 300 mg) and placebo (n = 64) or a combination of TDF (300 mg) and emtricitabine (200 mg, n = 62) for 192 weeks. The primary end point was proportion of patients with serum levels of HBV DNA <69 IU/mL at week 192.

RESULTS

The study population (mean age was 33 years; 89% were Asian) was predominantly infected with HBV genotypes B and C (93%), 99% were HBeAg positive with a mean baseline level of HBV DNA of 8.41 log10 IU/mL. At week 192, 55% of patients (35 of 64) in the TDF+placebo group and 76% of patients (47 of 62) in the TDF+emtricitabine group had levels of HBV DNA <69 IU/mL (P = .016). No patients were found to have viral resistance to therapy. HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 3 patients (5%), all in the TDF+placebo group; no patient had loss of hepatitis B surface antigen. In multivariate analysis, female sex (odds ratio = 7.05; P = .002) and TDF+emtricitabine treatment (odds ratio = 3.9; P = .01) were associated with a favorable response. Both regimens were well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

In HBeAg-positive patients with chronic HBV infection, high viral loads, normal levels of alanine aminotransferase, and therapy with the combination of TDF and emtricitabine provided better viral suppression than TDF alone, although rates of HBeAg seroconversion and hepatitis B surface antigen loss were low.

Enterovirus 71 encephalomyelitis and Japanese encephalitis can be distinguished by topographic distribution of inflammation and specific intraneuronal detection of viral antigen and RNA

AIMS

To investigate if two important epidemic viral encephalitis in children, Enterovirus 71 (EV71) encephalomyelitis and Japanese encephalitis (JE) whose clinical and pathological features may be nonspecific and overlapping, could be distinguished.

METHODS

Tissue sections from the central nervous system of infected cases were examined by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.

RESULTS

All 13 cases of EV71 encephalomyelitis collected from Asia and France invariably showed stereotyped distribution of inflammation in the spinal cord, brainstem, hypothalamus, cerebellar dentate nucleus and, to a lesser extent, cerebral cortex and meninges. Anterior pons, corpus striatum, thalamus, temporal lobe, hippocampus and cerebellar cortex were always uninflamed. In contrast, the eight JE cases studied showed inflammation involving most neuronal areas of the central nervous system, including the areas that were uninflamed in EV71 encephalomyelitis. Lesions in both infections were nonspecific, consisting of perivascular and parenchymal infiltration by inflammatory cells, oedematous/necrolytic areas, microglial nodules and neuronophagia. Viral inclusions were absent.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization assays were useful to identify the causative virus, localizing viral antigens and RNA, respectively, almost exclusively to neurones. The stereotyped distribution of inflammatory lesions in EV71 encephalomyelitis appears to be very useful to help distinguish it from JE.

Safety and tolerability of aripiprazole in the treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder in pediatric patients: Results from a 52-week open-label study

Objective

Evaluate the time-course, severity and resolution patterns of adverse events (AEs) occurring with long-term aripiprazole treatment for irritability associated with autistic disorder.

Methods

Participants were treated with aripiprazole in a 52-week, open-label, flexibly dosed (2–15 mg/day) study. Subjects had either completed one of two 8-week randomised trials or were de novo. AEs with an incidence of ≥10% were evaluated by incidence, peak first onset, severity, percent resolved and time to resolution.

Results

A total of 330 subjects entered open-label treatment; 199 completed 52 weeks. Mean dose for the population stabilised at around 10 mg/day after approximately 4 months. Thirteen AEs had an incidence of ≥10%; most were mild or moderate in severity. Vomiting, diarrhoea and headache had an early first onset and tended to resolve fairly quickly.

Sedation, fatigue and insomnia also appeared early and resolved in a majority of cases, but not as quickly. Increased appetite appeared early (followed by increased weight) and fewer weight-related AEs resolved. More than half of the subjects increased their weight by at least one percentile category rank; nevertheless, only a small proportion of subjects with normal baseline metabolic or glucose measures had a treatment-emergent, clinically relevant laboratory abnormality. Nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory infection, cough, nasal congestion and pyrexia all had peak onset at variable times during the study, resolving in nearly all cases, with short time to resolution.

Conclusion

AEs were mostly mild or moderate and of variable duration. Increased weight was observed.

HBV mutations in untreated HIV-HBV co-infection using genomic length sequencing

HIV infection has a significant impact on the natural progression of hepatitis B virus (HBV) related liver disease. In HIV-HBV co-infected patients, little is known about mutations in the HBV genome, which can influence severity of liver disease. The aim of this study was to characterize and to determine the frequency of known clinically significant mutations in the HBV genomes from HIV-HBV co-infected patients and from HBV mono-infected patients. To accomplish this, genomic length HBV sequencing was performed in highly-active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART)-naïve HIV-HBV co-infected patients (n=74) and in anti-HBV therapy-naïve HBV mono-infected patients (n=55). The frequency of HBV mutations differed between the co-infected and mono-infected patients when comparing patients with the same genotype. BCP mutations A1762T and G1764A were significantly more frequent in HBV genotype C mono-infection and the -1G frameshift was significantly more frequent in co-infection and was only observed in HBV genotype A co-infection. PreS2 deletions were observed more frequently in the setting of co-infection. Further work is needed to determine if these mutational patterns influence the differences in liver disease progression in HIV-HBV co-infected and HBV mono-infected patients.

Maternal deaths from suicide in Singapore

INTRODUCTION

Maternal mortality in Singapore, as in other developed countries, has remained low in the past decade. In the United Kingdom and Australia, maternal deaths from suicide and psychiatric causes have been the leading cause of maternal mortality, and there have therefore been comprehensive healthcare programmes to address the mental health needs of mothers.

METHODS

In this study, we looked at maternal deaths from 2000 to 2004, by linking coronial cases of female suicide in the reproductive age group 15-45 years, with the birth registration database, to identify both early and late maternal deaths.

RESULTS

There was only one identified maternal death among 589 female suicides aged 15-45 years, occurring in a teenager within the first month postpartum. There was likely also another case that was unconfirmed and unreported.

CONCLUSION

From this preliminary study, suicide and psychiatric causes are not significant causes of maternal mortality in Singapore. However, given that the epidemiology of postnatal depression statistics mirror that of the other countries, it is possible that maternal suicides have been underreported, and the load may well be higher. There is a need for a similar confidential enquiry into maternal deaths to be set up here, as is already in place in various countries, notably the United Kingdom and Australia, for the past decade.

Defective hepatitis B virus DNA is not associated with disease status but is reduced by polymerase mutations associated with drug resistance

Defective hepatitis B virus DNA (dDNA) is reverse-transcribed from spliced hepatitis B virus (HBV) pregenomic messenger RNA (pgRNA) and has been identified in patients with chronic HBV (CH-B). The major 2.2-kb spliced pgRNA encodes a novel HBV gene product, the hepatitis B splice protein (HBSP) via a deletion and frame shift within the polymerase. Although spliced RNA and HBSP expression have been associated with increased HBV DNA levels and liver fibrosis, the role of dDNA in HBV-associated disease is largely undefined. Our aims were to (1) compare the relative proportions of dDNA (% dDNA) in a range of HBV-infected serum samples, including patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HBV coinfection and HBV-monoinfected persons with differing severities of liver disease, and (2) determine the effect of mutations associated with drug resistance on defective DNA production. Defective DNA was detected in 90% of persons with CH-B. There was no significant difference in the relative abundance of dDNA between the monoinfected and HIV/HBV-coinfected groups. We also found no association between the % dDNA and alanine aminotransferase, hepatitis B e antigen status, HBV DNA levels, fibrosis levels, compensated or decompensated liver cirrhosis, genotype, or drug treatment. However, the % dDNA was significantly lower in individuals infected with lamivudine-resistant (LMV-R) HBV compared with wild-type HBV (P < 0.0001), indicating that antiviral drug resistance alters the balance between defective and genomic length DNA in circulation. Experiments in vitro using HBV encoding LMV-R mutations confirmed these results.

CONCLUSION

Our results identified no association between dDNA and parameters associated with disease status and suggested that the relative abundance of dDNA is largely dependent on the integrity of the HBV polymerase and is unrelated to the severity of liver disease.

Sustained response to peginterferon alfa-2a (40 kD) with or without lamivudine in Asian patients with HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B

PURPOSE

The 2 reported trials investigated the effectiveness of treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a in Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODS

Patients with HBeAg-positive (n = 708) or HBeAg-negative (n = 332) CHB were enrolled in 2 randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled studies. Patients received peginterferon alfa-2a 180 mug once weekly, peginterferon plus lamivudine 100 mg per day, or lamivudine alone for 48 weeks. Patients were followed up at 6 and 12 months posttreatment.

RESULTS

Peginterferon alfa-2a provided significantly higher rates of HBeAg seroconversion (31%) in HBeAg-positive patients than did lamivudine (19%, P = 0.005) 6 months posttreatment, irrespective of genotype. Of these, 83% achieving seroconversion during treatment or early posttreatment sustained their response at 12 months posttreatment. In patients who seroconverted, 69% maintained HBV DNA suppression at <10,000 copies/ml and alanine aminotrasferase (ALT) normalization. In HBeAg-negative patients, peginterferon produced a significantly higher combined response of HBV DNA at <20,000 copies/ml and ALT normalization (45%) than lamivudine (31%, P = 0.032), irrespective of genotype. Almost 80% of these patients sustained their response at 12 months posttreatment.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, a finite course of peginterferon alfa-2a provides significant and sustained treatment benefit in Asian CHB patients, who have traditionally been regarded as difficult to treat.

Virologic monitoring of hepatitis B virus therapy in clinical trials and practice: recommendations for a standardized approach

Treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is aimed at suppressing viral replication to the lowest possible level, and thereby to halt the progression of liver disease and prevent the onset of complications. Two categories of drugs are used in HBV therapy: the interferons, including standard interferon alfa or pegylated interferon alfa, and specific nucleoside or nucleotide HBV inhibitors that target the reverse-transcriptase function of HBV-DNA polymerase. The reported results of clinical trials have used varying definitions of efficacy, failure, and resistance based on different measures of virologic responses. This article discusses HBV virologic markers and tests, and their optimal use both for planning and reporting clinical trials and in clinical practice.

Regulation of endogenous gene expression using small molecule-controlled engineered zinc-finger protein transcription factors

Small-molecule-regulated gene expression offers the promise of titrating the dose and duration of action of DNA-based therapies. To this end, we show that engineered zinc-finger protein transcription factors (ZFP TFs) can be coupled with a drug-inducible regulatory domain to permit small-molecule control of endogenous gene transcription. We constructed a drug-responsive ZFP TF via the fusion of a ZFP DNA-binding domain (DBD) targeting the human VEGF-A gene and an effector domain containing a truncated progesterone receptor ligand-binding domain linked to the NFkappaB p65 activation domain. Introduction of this engineered ZFP TF into human or murine cells allowed expression of the chromosomal VEGF-A gene to be induced upon addition of mifepristone, a synthetic steroid analog. Mifepristone-dependent VEGF-A induction was rapid, dose-dependent and reversible. Moreover, stable lines expressing the drug-responsive ZFP TF could be maintained in a state of continuous induction for at least 30 days without loss of viability. Potent VEGF-A induction was demonstrated using different engineered ZFP DBDs, thus this approach may represent a general solution to small-molecule regulation of targeted endogenous genes.

Chronic hepatitis B: a global health problem requiring coherent worldwide treatment strategies

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection, a major cause of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma, is a worldwide health concern. While the past two decades have brought major advances in the availability of treatments to help delay or prevent these outcomes, treatment of chronic hepatitis B remains a serious challenge, not least due to the ability of the virus to remain in hepatocyte nuclei as a source of potential reactivation-hence the term chronic hepatitis B infection. This article reviews the current treatments available and suggests a framework for a rational approach to managing the disease.

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (105): Sigmoid volvulus causing intestinal obstruction, with successful endoscopic decompression

An 89-year-old woman was admitted for intestinal obstruction. Her abdominal radiograph showed typical features of sigmoid volvulus. Decompression was done successfully through careful flexible sigmoidoscopy with minimum air insufflation. The patient's symptoms were relieved and she was discharged two days post-procedure. No recurrence was noted at extended follow-up. Rapid diagnosis and early decompression are key to optimal management of sigmoid volvulus.

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (104): Gastric trichobezoar (or hairball)

A 56-year-old man underwent triphasic computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen as part of his work-up for liver transplantation. A mottled, rounded lesion with a dense rim was noted in the gastric lumen, which remained unchanged in appearance in the arterial, portal venous, and delayed phases of the CT. Gastroscopy performed three days later confirmed the presence of trichobezoar. The foreign body was broken down into smaller pieces by an endoscopic snare and was passed out spontaneously. The clinical presentation, radiological findings, and management of trichobezoars are discussed.

After the Indian Ocean tsunami: Singapore's contribution to the international disaster victim identification effort in Thailand

This paper describes the international disaster victim identification (DVI) response mounted in Thailand, with particular reference to Singapore's contribution to this process, in the wake of the Asian tsunami of 26 December, 2004, which devastated parts of more than 10 countries in and around the Indian Ocean and claimed more than 200,000 lives. Although Singapore was unscathed by this natural calamity, over 30 Singaporean visitors were counted amongst the thousands of deceased victims, mostly in Thailand. The systematic application of forensic pathology, forensic dentistry, DNA profiling, and fingerprinting to human identification, especially of the bodies of various nationalities that were in advanced states of putrefaction, was crucial to the entire DVI process. The authors perceive that the resource implications arising from such a disaster, which is unprecedented in both its scale and reach in the international history of DVI, are immense. Forward planning, adequate funding and international cooperation are essential to mounting an effective response to any major mass disaster of the future.

Pattern of injuries in helmeted motorcyclists in Singapore

BACKGROUND

Singapore has a mandatory helmet law for motorcyclists. This study aimed to determine the injuries sustained by helmeted motorcyclists presenting to the emergency Department (ED).

METHODS

Adult victims of motor vehicular incidents (MVI) who presented to an urban public hospital ED from 1 December 1998 to 31 May 1999 were interviewed. Chart reviews were done for those hospitalised. Data collected were demographic, nature of injury, ambulance care, ED and hospital care, outcome and final diagnoses.

RESULTS

Motorcyclists formed 49.1% (1018) of all MVI victims, of whom 96.1% were men. The mean age was 32.5 years (SD 13.1), significantly younger (p<0.0001) than the mean age of 36.4 years (SD 16.4) among other MVI victims. The proportions of motorcyclists and other MVI patients admitted to the hospital were not different. Among those admitted, significantly fewer (p = 0.001) motorcyclists (32.2%) sustained head injury compared with other MVI victims (46.8%) but among the motorcyclists with head injury, more than one third (34.2%) had severe head injury. The proportion of patients with thoracic injury was not different (p = 0.93) between motorcyclists (10.2%) and other MVI victims (9.9%). However, among those with thoracic injury, 79.2% of motorcyclists had severe thoracic injury, significantly more (p = 0.04) than 50% of other MVI patients. Wounds, fractures, and/or dislocations of the limbs (p<0.001) were significantly more among motorcyclists compared with other MVI patients.

CONCLUSION

Compared with other MVI victims, fewer helmeted motorcyclists sustained head injury. When head injury occurs in helmeted motorcyclists, it tends to be more severe. Motorcyclists remain vulnerable to extremity injury and to severe chest injury.

Persistence of cccDNA during the natural history of chronic hepatitis B and decline during adefovir dipivoxil therapy

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is a unique episomal replicative intermediate responsible for persistent infection of hepatocytes. Technical constraints have hampered the direct study of cccDNA maintenance and clearance mechanisms in patients. The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive and specific assay for quantifying cccDNA in biopsy samples from chronic hepatitis B patients during different natural history phases and in patients undergoing antiviral therapy.

METHODS

Intrahepatic cccDNA levels were quantified by a specific real-time PCR assay. Ninety-eight liver biopsy samples from patients in the major phases of the natural history of chronic hepatitis B and 32 pairs of samples from patients receiving adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) therapy were assessed.

RESULTS

cccDNA was detected, at levels ranging over 3 orders of magnitude, in patients in different phases of the natural history of chronic hepatitis B. cccDNA levels were strongly correlated with levels of total intracellular HBV DNA and serum HBV DNA. Forty-eight weeks of ADV therapy resulted in a significant 0.8 log decrease in cccDNA copies/cell. Changes in cccDNA were correlated with a similar reduction in serum HBsAg titer but not with a decrease in the number of HBV antigen-positive cells during ADV treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

cccDNA persists throughout the natural history of chronic hepatitis B, even in patients with serologic evidence of viral clearance. Long-term ADV therapy significantly decreased cccDNA levels by a primarily noncytolytic mechanism.

Homicidal and dyadic falls from a height: rarities in Singapore

A review of homicidal falls from a height, over a ten-year-period (1991-2000), demonstrated the rarity of such deaths in Singapore, despite the high frequency of fatal falls from a height that prevails in the city-state. During that time, there were four cases (involving five individuals) of pure homicide and nine episodes (involving 19 individuals) of dyadic death involving vertical deceleration from a considerable height in the approximate range of 17-31 m (6-11 floors) and 17-50 m (6-18 floors), respectively. The index cases were gleaned from a total of 533 homicides and 3,963 fatal falls from a height. Hence, the corresponding ten-year prevalence rates of homicidal falls were 0.9% in terms of all homicidal deaths and 0.1% in relation to all fatal falls, and 3.6% and 0.5% for dyadic falls, respectively. The majority of victims were children, with almost equal numbers of males and females, aged between two months and six years for pure homicides and between 20 months and 13 years for homicide-suicides. Over a third (9/24) of these subjects attained the maximum Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 75. With respect to the dyadic deaths, the majority of the perpetrators (6/9) were females, comprising four mothers and two live-in maids. It would appear that strained or broken relationships, probable or actual mental illness, or a combination of both factors, had largely predisposed them to these tragic events which may, potentially, carry diplomatic implications when foreign nationals are involved.

Hand, foot and mouth disease in Singapore: a comparison of fatal and non-fatal cases

AIM

An epidemic of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) occurred in Singapore between September and November 2000. During the epidemic, there were four HFMD-related deaths and after the epidemic, another three HFMD-related deaths. This study sought to determine the risk factors predictive of death from HFMD disease.

METHODS

The risk factors for fatal HFMD were determined by comparing clinical and laboratory findings between fatal cases (n = 7) and non-fatal controls (n = 131) admitted between September 2000 and April 2001. Enterovirus 71 positive fatal cases (n = 4) and non-fatal controls (n = 63) were also compared.

RESULTS

In total, 138 HFMD cases with a mean age of 32 mo were studied. The majority of fatal cases died from interstitial pneumonitis, of whom three also had brainstem encephalitis. Of the 131 non-fatal cases, 3 had concomitant infections (respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis, right-sided pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis), 2 had aseptic meningitis, and 1 each had transient drowsiness, intravenous immunoglobulin-related complications and transverse myelitis. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, atypical physical findings (p = 0.0006), raised total white cell count (p = 0.0128), vomiting (p = 0.0116) and absence of mouth ulcers (p = 0.043) were predictive of a fatal course. Although previous epidemics have described neurogenic pulmonary oedema as the main cause of death, the fatal cases in this study died mainly from interstitial pneumonitis alone or with myocarditis or encephalitis.

CONCLUSION

Although HFMD is generally a benign disease, risk factors such as vomiting, absence of mouth ulcers, atypical presentation and raised total white cell count should alert the physician of a fatal course of illness.

Lamivudine and Famciclovir resistant hepatitis B virus associated with fatal hepatic failure

BACKGROUND

Lamivudine (LMV) is the only nucleoside analogue approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). LMV, as with other nucleoside analogues including Famciclovir (FCV), suppresses the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) by targeting the viral polymerase. However, prolonged antiviral therapy results in the emergence of drug resistance HBV which can contribute to virological breakthroughs and recurrent hepatitis flares.

OBJECTIVES

A 38-year-old hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive Chinese female infected with genotype B HBV commenced treatment with FCV and LMV combination therapy but was later maintained on LMV monotherapy. The patient remained HBeAg positive throughout treatment. Virological breakthrough occurred with the emergence of drug resistant HBV. This coincided with worsening liver function and the patient died of subacute fulminant hepatitis. This study evaluated the virological factors that contributed to the clinical decline of the patient.

STUDY DESIGN

Biochemical analysis and full-length HBV genomic sequencing were performed on serial serum samples collected from the patient before and during antiviral therapy.

RESULTS

Virological analysis revealed that the pre-treatment dominant HBV quasispecies in the patient had a number of non-consensus genotype B mutations which were located in the basal core promoter (BCP), polymerase, X, core and S genes. Subsequent to the instigation of antiviral therapy, the dominant drug resistant HBV which caused virological breakthrough and was associated with hepatic failure displayed a series of unique mutations particularly in the BCP (A1762T and G1764A) and in the polymerase (rtL180M, rtM204V, rtA222T and rtL336V), core (cP5T, cS26A, cV85I and cP135A), surface (sI195M and sM213I) and X (xK95Q, xN118T, xK130M and xV131I) proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

Monitoring for the accumulation of unique mutations within the genome of drug resistant HBV mutants isolated during long term antiviral therapy appears warranted in the clinical management of patients with CHB.