NS5A-P32 deletion as a factor involved in virologic failure in patients receiving glecaprevir and pibrentasvir

BACKGROUND

This study sought to clarify the factors involved in virologic failure in patients with HCV receiving retreatment with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) in real-world practice.

METHODS

Forty-two patients who had previously received direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapies consisting of 35, 3, 3, and 1 patient(s) with genotype (GT)-1b, GT-2a, GT-2b, and GT-3b HCV, respectively, received GLE/PIB for 12 weeks. Resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) at baseline were evaluated, and the dynamics of NS5A-RASs were assessed by deep sequencing in patients showing virologic failure.

RESULTS

Baseline NS5A-RASs were found in all the patients with GT-1b HCV including 16 patients with NS3-RASs. In contrast, both NS5A-RASs and NS3-RASs were absent in 3 and 2 patients with GT-2a and GT-2b HCV, respectively. Virologic failure occurred in 3 patients with GT-1b HCV with NS5A-P32del, while a sustained virologic response (SVR) was achieved in the remaining 39 patients including those with GT-1b HCV carrying NS5A-L31V + Y93H and NS5A-A92K. Virologic failure even occurred in a patient in whom the NS5A-P32del HCV strains had become undetectable by direct sequencing, and the percentage of such strains relative to the total HCV strains was 10%, as determined by deep sequencing. In the other patient with GT-1b HCV with NS5A-P32del, NS3-A156A/V/S were found at 4 weeks after GLE/PIB therapy, but had disappeared at 11 weeks, as determined by direct sequencing.

CONCLUSIONS

GLE/PIB was effective for patients with HCV who failed to achieve an SVR after prior DAA therapies except in those with GT-1b HCV carrying NS5A-P32del even when such strains became undetectable by direct sequencing.

Complete renal response at 12 months after induction therapy is associated with renal relapse-free rate in lupus nephritis: a single-center, retrospective cohort study

Background

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a major risk factor for overall morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed cases of proliferative and membranous LN patients who underwent a renal biopsy at our hospital in 1993–2016. We analyzed the association between complete renal response (CR) rates at 12 months after induction therapy and predictive factors for CR and their association with renal flares.

Results

Of the 95 cases analyzed, we were able to track the therapeutic responses of 81 patients at 12 months after their induction therapy. The median follow-up duration after renal biopsy was 51 months (interquartile range: 16.5–154.5 months). The Cox proportional hazards model showed that, compared to not attaining CR at 12 months, the attainment of CR at 12 months was correlated with being free from renal flares. The multivariate logistic analysis revealed that the predictive factors for CR at 12 months were the anti-La/SSB antibodies (U/ml) (odds ratio (OR) 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.63, p = 0.0220), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.44–0.90, p = 0.00048) and serum β2 microglobulin (MG) (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.06–0.74, p = 0.00098) levels.

Conclusions

Among LN patients, being free from renal flares was associated with attaining CR at 12 months after induction therapy. Anti-La/SSB antibodies were a positive predictive factor, and BUN and serum β2MG levels were negative predictive factors of CR at 12 months.

Effectiveness and safety of a new regimen of polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid for same-day bowel cleansing in constipated patients

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

In an exploratory study we compared a new regimen of low-volume polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid (PEG-Asc) with the standard regimen for same-day bowel cleansing in constipated patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January and June 2015 we studied consecutive patients with constipation (Rome III constipation criteria) scheduled for colonoscopy. The initial group received the standard regimen of PEG-Asc. The subsequent group received the new regimen. The new regimen involved ingestion of 10 mL of sodium picosulfate and 50g of magnesium citrate dissolved in 0.2 L of water followed by 0.2 L of PEG-Asc +0.2 L of water given 6 or 7 times over 3 hours. Bowel cleansing was prospectively evaluated using the Boston bowel preparation scale (BBPS). Bowel cleansing, adenoma detection rates and adverse events were reviewed using electronic medical records and endoscopic filing system.

RESULTS

Sixty-two patients used the standard regimen and sixty used the new regimen. The basic characteristics of the two groups were similar. The mean volume of PEG-Asc and total liquid intake was less with the new regimen compared to the standard regimen (1.3 L vs. 2.0 L, P<0.001; 2.6 L vs. 3.0 L, P<0.001). The proportion of patients with a BBPS score ≥ 6 was significantly greater with the new than the standard regimen (93% vs. 76%, P=0.008). Nausea and/or vomiting was also significantly less frequent than with the standard regimen (5% vs. 16%, P=0.046).

CONCLUSIONS

The new regimen of PEG-Asc gave improved same-day bowel cleansing for colonoscopy in constipated patients.

Graphical Access to Medical Expert Systems: I. Design of a Knowledge Engineer’s Interface

Optimal construction of medical expert systems demands a powerful interactive environment for knowledge base management by knowledge engineers. Key requirements include techniques for (a) examining existing information, (b) adding new knowledge and editing preexisting data structures, and (c) examining dynamic internal system behavior to facilitate debugging during consideration of actual cases. This article addresses design considerations in the development of such knowledge engineering tools. The emphasis is on the use of professional workstations with high density graphics interfaces since that technology is rapidly becoming a predominant environment for knowledge engineering activities. To illustrate the points made, examples are drawn from an experimental knowledge base management tool designed for knowledge engineers constructing the knowledge base of ONCOCIN, an expert system to advise in the management of cancer patients.

Graphical Access to Medical Expert Systems: I. Design of a Knowledge Engineer’s Interface

Optimal construction of medical expert systems demands a powerful interactive environment for knowledge base management by knowledge engineers. Key requirements include techniques for (a) examining existing information, (b) adding new knowledge and editing preexisting data structures, and (c) examining dynamic internal system behavior to facilitate debugging during consideration of actual cases. This article addresses design considerations in the development of such knowledge engineering tools. The emphasis is on the use of professional workstations with high density graphics interfaces since that technology is rapidly becoming a predominant environment for knowledge engineering activities. To illustrate the points made, examples are drawn from an experimental knowledge base management tool designed for knowledge engineers constructing the knowledge base of ONCOCIN, an expert system to advise in the management of cancer patients.