Comparison of Sofosbuvir Plus Ribavirin Treatment with Pegylated Interferon Plus Ribavirin Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 2.

BACKGROUND: Sofosbuvir plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy showed higher sustained virological response at 12 weeks after treatment (SVR12) than pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) plus RBV; however, liver function, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma markers have not been assessed so far. SUMMARY: Patients (n = 21) receiving Sofosbuvir plus RBV and those (n = 24) receiving peg-IFN plus RBV were enrolled in this study. Changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, platelet (PLT) counts, FIB-4, and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) in both groups were assessed in patients achieving SVR12. Also, fibrosis regression was assessed using pathophysiological biomarkers, such as hyaluronic acid, bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the Sofosbuvir plus RBV group. In both groups, while the reduction in ALT levels was significant that of AFP was not. Compared with the baseline, although serum PLT count at the end of treatment (EOT) was significantly higher in the Sofosbuvir plus RBV group, it was significantly lower in the peg-IFN plus RBV group. Although a significant decline in fibrosis markers such as FIB-4 and APRI was observed between the baseline and at EOT in the Sofosbuvir plus RBV group, no significant change of these markers was observed in the peg-IFN plus RBV group. Moreover, BMP-7 and CTGF were significantly lower at EOT than the baseline in the Sofosbuvir plus RBV group. Key Message: The treatment with Sofosbuvir plus RBV results in not only a higher SVR, but also improves the liver function and the degree of fibrosis.

Efficacy and Safety of Sofosbuvir Plus Ribavirin Treatment for Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 2.

OBJECTIVES: The efficacy of sofosbuvir plus ribavirin (RBV) treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 focusing on virological response was compared with that of pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) plus RBV treatment. Safety of the former focusing on the decline in hemoglobin levels was compared with that of the latter and assessed in terms of age and inosine triphosphatase (ITPA). METHODS: Patients (n = 17) receiving sofosbuvir plus RBV and those (n = 24) receiving peg-IFN plus RBV diagnosed with chronic HCV genotype 2 were enrolled in this study, and the efficacy and safety of both treatments were assessed. RESULTS: Rapid virological response was attained with sofosbuvir plus RBV treatment compared with peg-IFN plus RBV treatment. All patients under sofosbuvir plus RBV treatment achieved end-of-treatment response compared with 70% who sustained viral response under the peg-IFN plus RBV treatment, with the former demonstrating greater virological response. The decline in hemoglobin levels under the former treatment was greater than that under the latter and in patients over 65 years of age with ITPA gene major. CONCLUSION: Efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir plus RBV treatment were clearly demonstrated compared with those of peg-IFN plus RBV treatment. The decline in hemoglobin levels was not related to the discontinuation of the former treatment, irrespective of age or the effect of the ITPA gene.

Thermally stable carbazole-diimides as hole transport materials for organic light-emitting devices.

We synthesized new carbazole-diimide hole-transporting materials with different dianhydride groups by thermal imidization. The imide moieties were introduced to improve thermal stability of a carbazole hole transport molecule. Result showed that the carbazole-diimdes exhibit good thermal stability with glass transition temperature of 142-182 degrees C and degradation temperature of approximately 450 degrees C as well as good optical transparency in the visible region. The organic light-emitting device (OLED) using alicyclic diimide (CBCZ) shows maximum luminance approximately 8,600 cd/m2 at 12 V and current efficiency of 2.1 cd/A. With optimization of fabricating conditions, the thermally stable CBCZ is expected to be used as a promising hole-transporting material with higher efficiency and durability.

Effect of side groups in polynorbornene films for transparent conductive substrates.

The imide-functionalized polynorbornene films exhibited excellent optical transparency in the visible range as well as high thermal stability over 200 degrees C. The indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films were coated on the imide-functionalized polynorbornene films at various deposition temperatures by employing radio-frequency (r.f.) planar magnetron sputtering system. The resulting ITO-coated imide-functionalized polynorbornene substrates showed good electrical and optical properties, while the figure of merit examination revealed that the present substrates are comparable to conventional ITO-glass substrates. This was confirmed from the preliminary result of organic light-emitting devices fabricated using the imide-functionalized polynorbornene substrates.