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Background Iron overload‐induced oxidative stress and transfusion‐acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are the main reasons of liver damage in beta thalassemia major (β‐TM). Objectives Based on metformin’s hepatic benefits in nondiabetic populations, the study aims to investigate the safety and the potential hepatoprotective effect of metformin in HCV‐infected β‐TM adolescent patients. Methods This was a prospective, randomised, parallel, controlled, open‐label study in which 60 HCV‐infected β‐TM adolescent patients aged 11 to 18 years and receiving no antiviral therapy were selected and randomly assigned to treatment or control group in 1:1 allocation. Both groups were receiving β‐TM standard‐of‐care regimen, whereas metformin (500 mg, twice daily) was added to the treatment group's regimen only. Patients were prospectively followed up for 6 months with assessment of liver biochemical profile, oxidative stress markers, liver fibrosis, clinical symptom improvement and metformin's adverse effects. Results Aspartate aminotransferase serum level decreased significantly over time in the treatment group only (P = .013). However, improvement was not clinically significant and did not attain normality. Change in total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde serum levels indicated significantly improved oxidative stress status in the treatment group versus significant deterioration in the control group (P < .001). Fibrosis grade improvement was observed in 14 patients in the treatment group versus one improved case in the control group. Conclusion The use of metformin in HCV‐infected β‐TM adolescent patients as an adjuvant antioxidant hepatoprotective agent is promising and can improve liver damage.

Vaccination is a key intervention for the elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections to fulfil the WHO’s 2030 global elimination goal. Innovations in 2021 promise to curb HBV transmission by reducing mother-to-child transmission and enhancing vaccine immunogenicity in at-risk adult groups. Additionally, an HCV vaccination trial was conducted, and there were also advances in our understanding of the immunology underpinning the lack of protection against HCV reinfection.Key advancesIn the Democratic Republic of the Congo, combining hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening and treatment for pregnant women, as well as infant birth-dose immunization, with existing platforms for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, has proven practical and been widely accepted3.A multicentre, randomized controlled trial demonstrated that the tri-antigenic HBV vaccine elicited a robust immune response in people aged >45 years, including those with chronic disease and an impaired immune response4.A phase I/II randomized trial evaluated two consecutive hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccines in adults with a history of injection drug use; the vaccine regimen produced HCV-specific T cell responses but did not prevent chronic HCV infection7.Transcriptomic data from a cohort treated with direct-acting antivirals revealed a molecular signature of T cell exhaustion in HCV-specific CD8+ T cells that remained as a chronic ‘scar’ even after chronic antigen stimulation was stopped10.

Favipiravir is considered a potential treatment for COVID-19 due its efficacy against different viral infections. We aimed to explore the safety and efficacy of favipiravir in treatment of COVID-19 mild and moderate cases. It was randomized-controlled open-label interventional phase 3 clinical trial [NCT04349241]. 100 patients were recruited from 18th April till 18th May. 50 patients received favipiravir 3200 mg at day 1 followed by 600 mg twice (day 2-day 10). 50 patients received hydroxychloroquine 800 mg at day 1 followed by 200 mg twice (day 2-10) and oral oseltamivir 75 mg/12 h/day for 10 days. Patients were enrolled from Ain Shams University Hospital and Assiut University Hospital. Both arms were comparable as regards demographic characteristics and comorbidities. The average onset of SARS-CoV-2 PCR negativity was 8.1 and 8.3 days in HCQ-arm and favipiravir-arm respectively. 55.1% of those on HCQ-arm turned PCR negative at/or before 7th day from diagnosis compared to 48% in favipiravir-arm (p = 0.7). 4 patients in FVP arm developed transient transaminitis on the other hand heartburn and nausea were reported in about 20 patients in HCQ-arm. Only one patient in HCQ-arm died after developing acute myocarditis resulted in acute heart failure. Favipiravir is a safe effective alternative for hydroxychloroquine in mild or moderate COVID-19 infected patients.

•Ledipasvir (LDV) and sofosbuvir (SOF) were best described using a 1-compartment model with zero-order absorption and lag time, while the 2-compartment model with first-order absorption and lag time was the best-fitting model for the SOF metabolite.•The patients’ weight explained the variability in the volume of distribution of LDV and the systemic clearance of SOF and LDV.•The final SOF model also included a statistically significant covariate of steatosis stage on its volume of distribution, while the final GS-331007 model included mean corpuscular volume values on GS-331007 central compartment volume, packed cell volume, and direct bilirubin values on metabolite intercompartmental clearance.•The presence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia did not explain any variability in the developed popPK models for SOF, LDV, and SOF major metabolite.•Despite weight being a significant covariate in the final pharmacokinetic models suggesting that body-weight-based dosing of LDV/SOF is better than less optimal fixed dosing, the fixed dosing (200/45 mg SOF/LDV) is more practical in terms of simplicity in dosing children at home with the currently available formulations. This study and previously published studies proved the efficacy and safety of the fixed dose through both the clinical outcomes and pharmacokinetic exposure results using non-compartmental analysis. Weight-based dosing is still hindered due to the absence of exposure-response analysis and the unavailability of dose-flexible formulas in the market. The pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of direct-acting antivirals, namely ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF), might be altered in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), affecting the optimum dose needed for hepatitis C virus treatment. Limited data are available evaluating the population PK of LDV/SOF and SOF metabolite GS-331007. We aimed to study whether ALL could affect population PK parameters of LDV, SOF, and the SOF major metabolite GS-331007 in hepatitis C virus-infected children, develop and validate a predictive PK model of LDV/SOF disposition in this special population, and identify their explained and unexplained sources of variability. Population PK modeling was performed using MonolixSuite software using the non-linear mixed effect modeling approach. Different compartmental models, absorption models, and lag times for absorption parameters were tested to find out the best-fitting base model. For final model development, data-driven systematic covariate analysis using conditional sampling for the stepwise approach based on the correlation tests method has been performed. The final models were then evaluated using internal validation approaches. The PK results of 22 fully compliant patients were included in the population PK analysis. LDV and SOF were best described by a 1-compartment model with zero-order absorption and lag time, while the 2-compartment model with first-order absorption and lag time was the best-fitting model for the SOF metabolite. The internal validation approach confirmed the good predictive power of the selected models. The patients’ weight explained the variability in the volume of distribution of LDV and the systemic clearance of SOF and LDV. The final SOF model also included a statistically significant covariate of steatosis stage on its volume of distribution, while the final GS-331007 model included mean corpuscular volume values on GS-331007 central compartment volume, packed cell volume, and direct bilirubin values on metabolite intercompartmental clearance. The presence of ALL did not explain any variability in the developed population PK models for SOF, LDV, and GS-331007. Despite weight being a significant covariate in the final models suggesting that weight-based dosing of LDV/SOF is better than fixed dosing, the fixed dosing (45/200 mg LDV/SOF) is more practical in terms of simplicity in dosing children at home besides the proved efficacy and safety through both the clinical outcomes and PK exposure results. Weight-based dosing is still hindered due to the absence of exposure-response analysis, and the unavailability of dose-flexible formulas in the market. Future studies are required to support these findings. NCT03903185.

Children with hematological malignancies and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are at a higher risk for rapid progression of liver disease and malignancy relapse due to multiple hepatitis flares and chemotherapy interruption. They are therefore potential candidates for microelimination of HCV infection. This study aimed to assess the effect of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of direct-acting antivirals, namely ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) and the SOF major metabolite GS-331007. This was a 24-week, prospective, controlled, open-label, 2-arm PK study of patients receiving 45/200 mg once-daily LDV/SOF orally for 12 weeks. Eligible patients were HCV-RNA–positive, treatment-naive children aged 6 to <12 years and/or weighing 17 to <35 kg with genotype 4 chronic HCV infection without cirrhosis. The primary efficacy and safety end points were the achievement of sustained virologic response for all patients with absence of any adverse events leading to permanent discontinuation of the study drug. Steady-state noncompartmental analysis was performed to determine the PK parameters of SOF, GS-331007, and LDV as the primary PK outcome. Dose suitability was based on the 90% CI of exposure geometric mean ratio percentage within 50% to 200% compared with adults. Ten HCV-infected children with ALL (chemotherapy treatment group) and 12 eligible children with no malignancy (control group) were enrolled and completed the study period. All 22 patients achieved the sustained virologic response with no adverse events leading to interruption or permanent discontinuation of the study drug. Compared with the control group, the ALL group patients had similar SOF, GS-331007, and LDV exposure. Compared with adults, the AUCτ of GS-331007 was lower and the AUCτ and Cmax,ss of SOF and the Cmax,ss of LDV were modestly higher in the ALL group (acceptance limit, 50%–200%). However, the observed efficacy and favorable safety profile made these changes not clinically significant. Weight-based dosing of LDV/SOF (45/200 mg) is highly effective and safe among genotype 4 HCV-infected children weighing 17 to <35 kg and diagnosed with ALL undergoing maintenance chemotherapy. The similarity in the drug exposure, efficacy, and safety clinical end points between patients with and without hematological malignancy support their therapeutic equivalence. Further studies with a larger sample size may be required to confirm the safety of LDV/SOF in patients with ALL and to recommend appropriate dosing in children with hematological malignancies, if needed. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03903185.

This study aimed at assessing the dominance of risk practices associated with HCV endemicity in Egypt and detecting the behavioral development level concerning different aspects of HCV risk behaviors with respect to age and gender. The survey highlights the most cost-effective strategies that could accelerate HCV elimination in Egypt. A national household survey targeted 3780 individuals (age range: 10-85 years). The sample was a systematic probability proportionate to size from 6 governorates representing the six major subdivisions of Egypt. The indicators used for assessing the behavioral development level towards HCV included six domains: awareness (7 indicators), perceived risk (5 indicators), motivation with the intention to change (4 and 5 indicators for males and females respectively), trial, rejection or adoption (6 and 5 indicators for males and females respectively). The study revealed that along the continuum of behavior development, the percentage of the participants who acquired half of the scores was as follows: 73.1% aware, 69.8% developed perceived risk, 80.6% motivated with only 28.9% adopting the recommended behaviors, 32% rejected them, 2.3% were in the trial stage versus 35.8% who did not try any. Adolescents had significantly lower levels of development for almost all domains when compared to adults. Statistical higher significance was detected in favor of adults, employees, married, Lower Egypt governorates, and university-educated participants (p<0.001) regarding awareness, perceived risk, and motivation scores. More than half of the participants incorrectly believed that contaminated food, sharing food utilities, contaminated water, mosquitoes, and schistosomiasis would lead to HCV transmission. Egypt would be closer to HCV elimination when cost-effective strategies are directed not towards creating awareness, perceived risk or motivation to change- (at an acceptable level)- but towards motivating adopting risk-reduction behaviors for HCV, tackling misconceptions and reinforcement of social support.

Background Smoking negatively impacts COVID-19 severity and adverse outcomes. Evidence on whether smoking is associated with SARS-Co-V2 infection and having a positive test is scarce, particularly from low-and middle-income countries, where most of the world’s billion smokers live. The inconsistency in relevant findings calls for study designs and analyses to account for possible confounders including background characteristics and pre-existing co-morbidities, to disentangle the specific effect of smoking. In healthcare workers (HCWs) the frequency of exposure to COVID-19 cases adds another layer of risk that was not factored in previous studies. We examined the association of HCWs’ tobacco/nicotine use (never, former, and current use) with having a positive SARS-Co-V2 test result and symptoms suggestive of infection, accounting for demographics, exposures, and co-morbidities. Methods A prospective cohort study of 4040 healthcare workers with baseline and follow-up screening took place during April–June 2020 in 12 healthcare facilities in Cairo, Egypt. Data on demographics, tobacco/nicotine use (manufactured or roll-your-own cigarettes, waterpipe tobacco, and electronic devices), co-morbidities, symptoms, exposures, and SARS-Co-V2 investigations were analyzed. Multinomial and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Overall, 270/4040 (6.7, 95%CI: 5.9–7.5) had positive SARS-CoV-2 tests, 479 (11.9%) were current and 79 (2.0%) were former tobacco/nicotine users. The proportion of positive tests was 7.0% (243/3482, 95%CI: 6.1–7.8) among never, 5.1% (4/79, 95%CI: 0.1–10.0) among former, and 4.8% (23/479, 95%CI: 2.9–6.7) among current users. HCWs’ SARS-CoV-2 test results did not vary significantly by single/multiple or daily/non-daily tobacco/nicotine use. Compared to never users, former users were more likely to self-report a pre-existing medical condition (OR adjusted 1.87, 95%CI: 1.05–3.33, p  = 0.033), and to experience symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 (OR adjusted 1.76, 95%CI: 1.07–2.90, p  = 0.027). After adjustment, former (OR adjusted 0.45, 95%CI: 0.11–1.89, p  = 0.273) and current (OR adjusted 0.65, 95%CI: 0.38–1.09, p  = 0.101) tobacco/nicotine use was not associated with HCWs’ SARS-CoV-2 positive test results. Conclusions This is the first report on this association from low- and middle-income countries with high tobacco/nicotine use prevalence. In this HCW cohort, having a positive SARS-CoV-2 test was not associated with tobacco/nicotine use after accounting for demographics, exposures, and co-morbidities. Additional population-based studies could use such preliminary evidence to investigate this controversial association.

The global burden of viral hepatitis is substantial; in terms of mortality, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections are on a par with HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, among the top four global infectious diseases. In 2016, the 194 Member States of the World Health Organization committed to eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, with a particular focus on hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection. With only 10 years to go until the 2030 deadline is reached, and although much progress has been made towards elimination, there are still some important gaps in terms of policy and progress. In this Viewpoint, we asked a selection of scientists and clinicians working in the viral hepatitis field for their opinions on whether elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030 is feasible, what the key areas of progress are and what the focus for the next 10 years and beyond should be for viral hepatitis elimination.Viral hepatitis is a global public health problem. In this Viewpoint, we asked a selection of scientists and clinicians working in the viral hepatitis field to provide their opinions on progress and pitfalls towards the 2030 viral hepatitis elimination goals.