This prospective study investigated the relationship between 2 inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) polymorphisms (rs7270101 and rs1127354) and the efficacy of ribavirin-based antiviral therapy in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected Chinese patients.A total of 906 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C receiving pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin combination therapy between January 2011 a...

Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) affects a substantial number of children every year and requires a long and rigorous course of chemotherapy treatments in three stages, with the longest phase, the maintenance phase, lasting 2-3years. While the primary drugs used in the maintenance phase, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and methotrexate (MTX), are necessary for decreasing risk of relapse, th...

Fusion of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells was carried out in an isotonic salt solution at pH 7.8. Fusion occurred efficidntly even under nitrogen with glucose as the only added substrate. In the presence of NaCN (1 mu), rotenone (0.5 mM), or dinitrophenol (0.25 mM) the process was absolutely dependent on glucose concentration (1 to 10 mu). Inosine alone (10 mM) or with addition of adenine (2 m&r) c...

BACKGROUND A decline in hemoglobin (Hb) concentration during antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a serious side effect. It may compel to dose reduction or even termination of antiviral treatment. The activation of erythropoietin (EPO) synthesis as a physiological response to anemia and its relation to a genetic variation within the EPO gene has not been evaluated yet. METHODS Da...

Direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) are currently replacing antiviral therapy for Hepatitis C infection. Treatment related side effects are even worse and the emergence of resistant viruses must be avoided because of the direct-antiviral action. Altogether it remains a challenge to take treatment decisions in a clinical setting with cost restrictions. Genetic host factors are hereby essential ...

BACKGROUND Simeprevir with peginterferon and ribavirin has been used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis caused by genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV). We explored the predictive factors for sustained virological response (SVR) and viral relapse using datasets from four Japanese phase 3 studies (CONCERTO). METHODS We used a multiple logistic regression model. First, an integrated dataset co...

Abstract BACKGROUND Intestinal fibrosis is a debilitating complication of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. Surgical resection used to treat intestinal strictures, but this approach may adversely affect the patients' quality life. Based on findings our groups and others, we hypothesize that metabolites are associated with fibrosis. We aimed discover novel anti-fibrogenic metabolites. METHODS compa...

Excessive intake of purine-rich foods elevates serum levels of uric acid. Animal and fish meats contain high amounts of inosine and its related purines, and the reduction of taking those purines is crucial for the improvement of serum uric acid levels. We previously showed that Lactobacillus gasseri PA-3 (PA-3) incorporates adenosine and its related purines and that oral treatment with PA-3 red...