Real life results of direct acting antiviral therapy for HCV infection in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients: Epi-Ter2 study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the baseline demographics and real-life efficacy of direct acting antivirals (DAAs) in HIV-HCV-positive patients as compared to patients with HCV monoinfection. The analysis included 5690 subjects who were treated with DAAs: 5533 were HCV-positive and 157 were HIV-HCV-positive. Patients with HCV-monoinfection were older (p < .0001) and in HIV-HCV group there were more men (p < .0001). Prevalence of genotype 1a (p = .002), as well as of genotypes 3 and 4 (p < .0001) was higher in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients. Genotype 1b was more frequent (p < .0001) in the HCV-mono-infection group. Patients with HCV-monoinfection had a higher proportion of fibrosis F4 (p = .0004) and lower proportion of fibrosis F2 (p < .0001). HIV-HCV-coinfected individuals were more often treatment-naïve (p < .0001). Rates of sustained viral response after 12 weeks did not differ significantly between both groups (95.9% versus 97.3% in coinfection and monoinfection group, respectively; p > .05). They were, however, influenced by HCV genotype (p < .0001), stage of hepatic fibrosis (p < .0001), male sex (p < .0001), BMI (p = .0001) and treatment regimen modifications (p < .0001). Although factors associated with worse response to therapy (male sex, genotype 3) occurred more often in the HIV coinfection group, real-life results of DAAs did not differ significantly between both populations.

[The presence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi associated with immunologic complexes in sera of foresters]. / Obecnosc przeciwcial dla Borrelia burgdorferi zwiazanych w kompleksy immunologiczne w surowicach lesników.

Binding of antibodies specific to Borrelia burgdorferi in circulating immune complexes can lead to false negative results in serological tests. The aim of our study was to determine the presence of IgM antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi bound in immune complexes in 52 sera of foresters the National Park in Karkonosze. Free and bound in immune complexes IgM antibodies present in 6 (11.5%) examined sera. In 24 (46.2%) seronegative sera after dissociation of immune complexes IgM antibodies to spirochaeta were found. The rest of the examined seronegative sera we failed to find IgM antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. The diagnostic assay, such as antibody analysis of immune components is useful in establishing of the diagnosis of borreliosis in seronegative cases and monitoring of disease activity. That method should be introduced for routine diagnosis of Lyme disease.

[The interferon system in chronic brucellosis]. / Uklad interferonowy w przewleklej brucelozie.

The purpose of the paper was to evaluate activity of interferon system in a group of patients with chronic brucellosis. Trial was performed in 21 persons: 10-with active and 11-with non active disease. "Whole blood test" was used to induce interferon by peripheral blood leucocytes after stimulation with antigens: non specific (NDV, LPS, PHA + PMA) and specific (Brucella). There was no difference between examined and control groups in interferon induction by non specific factors. This indicates correct functions by interferon system in chronic brucellosis. Relatively, after stimulation by specific antigens 4-fold increase of endogenic interferon (alfa and gamma) was observed. These results suggest that chronic brucellosis (active and non active) in still immunologically active and pathological changes depend on delayed hypersensitivity. We conclude, that this method seems to be deciding diagnostic test in latent brucellosis.

[Epidemiological and clinical analysis of chronic brucellosis and new Brucella infections]. / Analiza epidemiologiczno-kliniczna brucelozy przewleklej i zakazen swiezych.

We analyzed clinically and epidemiologically 285 patients suffered from chronic brucellosis treated during 12 years. Especially we observed 51 persons with the infection called "brucellosis recens". Comparing both groups, we did not notice any statistically significant differences in the changes of organs and systems. This suggests greater influence of kind and frequency of exposition on pathologic changes than duration of illness.