Journal of hepatology
-
Journal of hepatology · Sep 2015
Gas6/Axl pathway is activated in chronic liver disease and its targeting reduces fibrosis via hepatic stellate cell inactivation.
Liver fibrosis, an important health concern associated to chronic liver injury that provides a permissive environment for cancer development, is characterized by accumulation of extracellular matrix components mainly derived from activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Axl, a receptor tyrosine kinase and its ligand Gas6, are involved in cell differentiation, immune response and carcinogenesis. ⋯ The Gas6/Axl axis is required for full HSC activation. Gas6 and Axl serum levels increase in parallel to chronic liver disease progression. Axl targeting may be a therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis management.
-
Journal of hepatology · Aug 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyOmbitasvir/paritaprevir/r and dasabuvir plus ribavirin in HCV genotype 1-infected patients on methadone or buprenorphine.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients with a history of injection drug use have low rates of initiation and completion of interferon-based therapies. This study evaluated efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of a 12-week all-oral regimen of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir+ribavirin in HCV genotype 1-infected patients on stable opioid replacement therapy. ⋯ The interferon-free regimen of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir+ribavirin for 12weeks was well tolerated and achieved sustained virologic response in 97.4% of patients on opioid substitution therapy in this study. This all-oral regimen may provide an effective alternative to interferon-based therapies for HCV-infected patients with a history of injection drug use.
-
Journal of hepatology · Aug 2015
Targeted-bisulfite sequence analysis of the methylation of CpG islands in genes encoding PNPLA3, SAMM50, and PARVB of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is affected by epigenetic factors as well as by genetic variation. ⋯ Hypomethylation of CpG26 and hypermethylation of CpG99 may contribute to the severity of fibrosis in patients with NAFLD or chronic hepatitis C infection.
-
Journal of hepatology · Jul 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyDrug-drug interaction profile of the all-oral anti-hepatitis C virus regimen of paritaprevir/ritonavir, ombitasvir, and dasabuvir.
Paritaprevir (administered with ritonavir, PTV/r), ombitasvir (OBV), and dasabuvir (DSV) are direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Thirteen studies were conducted to characterize drug-drug interactions for the 3D regimen of OBV, PTV/r, and DSV and various medications in healthy volunteers to inform dosing recommendations in HCV-infected patients. ⋯ The majority of medications can be coadministered with the 3D regimen of OBV, PTV/r, and DSV without dose adjustment, or with clinical monitoring or dose adjustment. Although no dose adjustment is necessary for the 3D regimen when coadministered with 17 of the 20 medications, coadministration with gemfibrozil, carbamazepine, or ethinyl estradiol-containing contraceptives is contraindicated.