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BackgroundCurrent diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection requires two sequential steps: testing for anti-HCV followed by HCV RNA PCR to confirm viremia. We have developed a highly sensitive and specific HCV-antigens enzyme immunoassay (HCV-Ags EIA) for one-step diagnosis of viremic HCV infection.AimTo assess the clinical application of the HCV-Ags EIA in one-step diagnosis of viremic HCV infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coinfected individuals.MethodsThe study blindly tested HCV-Ags EIA for its performance in one-step diagnosing viremic HCV infection in 147 sera: 10 without HCV or HIV infection; 54 with viremic HCV monoinfection; 38 with viremic HCV/HIV coinfection; and 45 with viremic HCV and non-viremic HIV coinfection.ResultsUpon decoding, it was 100% accordance of HCV-Ags EIA to HCV infection status by HCV RNA PCR test. In five sera with HCV infection, HCV RNA was as low as 50-59 IU/mL, and four out of five tested positive for HCV-Ags EIA. Likewise, it was also 100% accordance of HCV-Ags EIA to HCV infection status by HCV RNA PCR in 83 sera with HCV and HIV coinfection, regardless if HIV infection was active or not.ConclusionThe modified HCV-Ags EIA has a lower detection limit equivalent to serum HCV RNA levels of approximately 100 IU/mL. It is highly sensitive and specific in the setting of HIV coinfection, regardless of HIV infection status and CD4 count. These data support the clinical application of the HCV-Ags EIA in one-step diagnosis of HCV infection in HIV-infected individuals.

A time domain spin-stand tester noise measurement and a micromagnetic modeling study are conducted to investigate track edge noise reduction effect in multilayer thin film media. Both experimental and modeling studies show that track edge noise is concentrated in the side written band of a reversed bit-cell, in which the magnetization is opposite to the previous dc erased state. The track edge noise level is substantially suppressed for films laminated with a very thin non-magnetic interlayer. Thus the multi-layer thin film media is more suitable for future narrow track recording.

This paper presents a magnetic force microscopy (MFM) study on recording and edge overwrite in a keepered perpendicular thin film medium with a pole-tip hea which is in-contact with the disk surface during the recording. The MFM image o a single recorded track shows that the edge of the recorded track is well defined by transition overshoot at track edges. The images of edge overwrite patterns show that at track edges, there is no separation between the newly recorded and residual previous tracks. It is argued that the sharp track edges and lack of edge erase band in perpendicular single pole head recording can be advantageous as well as disadvantageous depending on system and track serving designs.

Micromagnetic modeling, used to study magnetic thin films with subgrain structures, revealed that maintenance of exchange coupling between subgrains in a normal grain was conducive for low transition noise. High signal amplitude and low transition noise were essential for high density recording. Nonzero exchange coupling was necessary for high coercive squareness.

Micromagnetic modeling is utilized to study the track edge overwrite characteristics and correlations with grain easy axes orientation in longitudinal thin film recording media. The paper compares well-oriented with planar isotropic films. It is found that for well-oriented films, the side-written band contains signal-related magnetic pole density. The pole density patterns exhibit strong dependence on previously written transitions at track edges. For planar isotropic media, edge overwrite simulation shows a clear side erase band. Read-back voltage waveforms are analyzed. A planar isotropic film shows much better off-track properties than that of an oriented film.

Narrow track recording in a double-layer perpendicular film medium is studied via micromagnetic modeling. A 3D probe head field with a track width W = 1.5 micrometer is used for recording simulations. Recordings of multiple consecutive transitions are simulated. Edge transition patterns and edge overwrite properties are characterized. Simulated transition magnetization pattern at track edges turns towards to the head motion direction and extends to the next transition front. Edge overwrite is studied by simulating recording of a new track over an shifted previously recorded track. It is found that the edges of the new track exhibit no separations with the overwritten track and the inter-track edge of newly recorded transitions are strongly modified by the previously written transitions.

Aim: To compare the effects of telbivudine (LDT) and entecavir (ETV) in treatment of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B by meta-analysis., Methods: We conducted a literature search using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the VIP database, the Wanfang database and the Cochrane Controlled Trial Register for all relevant articles published before April 1, 2012. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing LDT with ETV for treatment of HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B were included. The data was analyzed with Review Manager Software 5.0. We used relative risk (RR) as an effect measure, and reported its 95% CI. Meta-analysis was performed using either a fixed-effect or random-effect model, based on the absence or presence of significant heterogeneity. Two reviewers assessed the risk of bias and extracted data independently and in duplicate. The analysis was executed using the main outcome parameters including hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA undetectability, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization, HBeAg loss, HBeAg seroconversion, drug-resistance, and adverse reactions. Meta-analysis of the included trials and subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the association between pre-specified characteristics with the therapeutic effects of the two agents., Results: Thirteen eligible trials (3925 patients in total) were included and evaluated for methodological quality and heterogeneity. In various treatment durations of 4 wk, 8 wk, 12 wk, 24 wk, 36 wk, 48 wk, 52 wk, 60 wk and 72 wk, the rates of HBV DNA undetectability and ALT normalization in the two groups were similar, without statistical significance. At 4 wk and 8 wk of the treatment, no statistical differences were found in the rate of HBeAg loss between the two groups, while the rate in the LDT group was higher than in the ETV group at 12 wk, 24 wk, 48 wk and 52 wk, respectively (RR 2.28, 95% CI 1.16, 7.03, P = 0.02; RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.16, 1.82, P = 0.001; RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.11, 1.89, P = 0.006; and RR 1.86, 95% CI 1.04, 3.32, P = 0.04). At 4 wk, 8 wk, 60 wk and 72 wk of the treatment, there were no significant differences in the rate of HBeAg seroconversion between the two groups, while at 12 wk, 24 wk, 48 wk and 52 wk, the rate in the LDT group was higher than in the ETV group (RR 2.10, 95% CI 1.36, 3.24, P = 0.0008; RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.29, 2.28, P = 0.0002; RR 1.86, 95% CI 1.36, 2.54, P < 0.0001; and RR 1.87, 95% CI 1.21, 2.90, P = 0.005). The rate of drug-resistance was higher in the LDT group than in the ETV group (RR 3.76, 95% CI 1.28, 11.01, P = 0.02). In addition, no severe adverse drug reactions were observed in the two groups. And the rate of increased creatine kinase in the LDT group was higher than in the ETV group (RR 5.58, 95% CI 2.22, 13.98, P = 0.0002)., Conclusion: LDT and ETV have similar virological and biomedical responses, and both are safe and well tolerated. However, LDT has better serological response and higher drug-resistance.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the genetic polymorphisms of CYP3A5 and the clinical effectiveness of Bicyclol on patients with chronic hepatitis B to make individual medication possible., Methods: 34 cases of chronic hepatitis B were treated by bicyclol tablets for 24 weeks. Liver function indexes (ALT and AST) were determined before and after treatment. Blood CYP3A5 genotyping of each patient was determined by the PCR-RFLP analysis., Results: All subjects were genotyped for the CYP3A5*3 gene and divided into different group. The groups comprised subjects with CYP3A5*3 carriers (n=18) and CYP3A5*1 carriers (n=16) which include CYP3A5*1/*1 (n=2) and CYP3A5*1/*3 (n=14). Compared with pre-treatment, the serum ALT and AST levels were decreased obviously in all patients. The mean percentage reduction of serum ALT and AST levels were significantly greater in subjects with CYP3A5*3 carriers (79.73% and 74.76%) than in those with CYP3A5*1 carriers (65.90% and 49.63%; P < 0.05) The recovery rates of ALT and AST were significantly highter in CYP3A5*3 carriers than those in CYP3A5*1 carriers (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: CYP3A5 genotype has an impact on the therapeutic effects of Bicyclol. The subjects with CYP3A5*3 carriers is more effective than the subjects with CYP3A5*1 carriers. CYP3A5 genotyping may be helpful in predicting therapeutic effects of Bicyclol especially in the terms of decreasing ALT and AST.

Objective: To study the changes in liver function in patients with epidemic hemorrhagic fever (EHF)., Method: A retrospective analysis of the laboratory tests of liver function in 103 patients with EHF and control subjects was carried out., Results: The alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum bilirubin (SB) and albumin levels in patients with severe and critical liver damages significantly differed from those in milder cases, and more sever liver damages were found in the death cases of EHF than in survived patients in terms of ALT and SB increment (P=0.000). The liver damage was related to the clinical type, age and the levels of blood platelet , albumin, lactic dehydrogenase and creatinine in EHF cases (P=0.000, 0.000, 0.030, 0.010, 0.000 and 0.013, respectively)., Conclusions: Liver damage is common in patients with EHF and exacerbates with the severity of the disease. Monitoring of ALT, SB and albumin is helpful for evaluating the progression and prognosis of EHF.