Hepatitis C virus load and expression of a unique subset of cellular genes in circulating lymphoid cells differentiate non-responders from responders to pegylated interferon alpha-ribavirin treatment.

Based on investigations of liver biopsy material, certain cellular genes have been implicated as correlates of success or failure to interferon alpha-ribavirin (IFN/RBV) therapy against hepatitis C. The current study aimed at determining whether expression of host genes thought to be relevant to HCV replication in the liver would be correlated with HCV infection status in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and also with patient responsiveness to IFN/RBV treatment. Therefore, PBMCs from patients with chronic hepatitis C responding (n = 35) or not (n = 49) to IFN/RBV and from healthy controls (n = 15) were evaluated for HCV RNA load and cellular gene expression. Non-responders had 3- to 10-fold higher basal levels of interleukin (IL)-8, IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS), and Toll-like receptors (TLR)-4, -5, and -7 compared to responders. Non-responders with similar post-treatment follow-ups as responders persistently expressed 6- to 20-fold greater levels of IL-8, ISG15, and OAS after therapy. Higher expression of IFN-α, IFN-γ, and IFN-λ was found in PBMCs of individuals achieving sustained virological response, either before or after therapy. Pre-treatment HCV RNA loads in PBMCs of non-responders were significantly higher (P = 0.016) than those of responders. In conclusion, the data indicate that immune cells of responders and non-responders to IFN/RBV therapy exhibited significantly different virological and host gene expression profiles. Elevated baseline HCV loads and TLR-4, -5, and -7 levels, and persistently high levels of IL-8, ISG15, and OAS were correlated with IFN non-responsiveness. The results warrant further investigations on the utilization of PBMCs for predicting success or failure to IFN-based therapies.

Wrist motion assessment using Microsoft Azure Kinect DK: A reliability study in healthy individuals.

BACKGROUND: Motion analysis systems have been widely used in orthopedics and rehabilitation for diagnostics, patient monitoring and outcome evaluation purposes. Since Microsoft Azure Kinect Developer Kit (DK) had been released, only a few studies were published concerning its usage. However, it has not been used for wrist motion assessments, even though the use of standardized examinations with known reliability, validity and responsiveness remains a constant challenge. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the reliability of hand and forearm range of motion (ROM) measurements recorded using new software utilizing the Microsoft Azure Kinect DK. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy males and 28 healthy females participated in measurements of active ROM for wrist extension, wrist flexion, radial deviation, ulnar deviation, and forearm supination and pronation on 3 separate occasions. Sessions 1 and 2 were carried out on the same day with a 90-minute rest period between each session, while the 3rd session was conducted a week later. Data were recorded simultaneously in both limbs using a custom-made software developed by a software development company (Oleksy Medical & Sports Sciences, Lancut, Poland) for the purposes of the present study using Microsoft Azure Kinect DK. The assessment of intra-day and inter-day reliability was based on intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) calculations and interpreted based on commonly used guidelines. RESULTS: In the group of males, the lowest ICC was 0.846 for intra-day comparisons and 0.816 for inter-day analyses. In the female group, the lowest ICC for intra-day comparisons was 0.826 and exceeded 0.833 for inter-day comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: The developed software using Microsoft Azure Kinect DK demonstrated high reliability in measuring wrist and forearm active ROM. These promising results support the use of Microsoft Azure Kinect DK in a clinical capacity as a potential hand assessment and rehabilitation tool.

[Cytokine assessment in untreated hepatitis C virus infected patients and during interferon alpha +ribavirine therapy]. / Badanie wybranych cytokin w surowicy krwi pacjentów z przewleklym zapaleniem watroby typu C nieleczonych oraz leczonych interferonem alfa i rybawiryna.

UNLABELLED: Many articles concerning the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection emphasize the role of cytokines Th1- and Th2-dependent. The aim of our study was to assess the changes in the concentration of cytokines (IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-10) determined by ELISA test in serum of HCV infected patients treated with interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and ribavirine. RESULTS: The cytokine levels in HCV patients (n = 40) were similar to levels observed in healthy volunteers (p > 0.05). During IFN-alpha and ribavirine therapy no statistically significant changes in cytokine levels were observed in patients who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) compared to unsuccessfully treated patients (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 1. Serum is not useful compartment to determinate level of cytokines by ELISA method in chronic hepatitis C. 2. The measurement of cytokine levels using ELISA test was not confirmed to be useful in monitoring and assessment of the therapy results in HCV infected patients.