3% were successfully contacted on the 3rd-5th attempts. Among RNA-positive persons, 30.2% were referred to an HCV provider within 6 months, 25.5% made an appointment with a provider (completed referral), and 57.1% of these (20/35 eligible) arrived at a first appointment. Completed referrals were more common among insured

than uninsured (35.7% vs. 12.1%, p=0.003) as well as for persons with an existing primary care provider (51.3% vs. 22.2%, p=0.001). Referral success did not vary by gender or race. Conclusions: Follow-up among newly diagnosed persons from an ED HCV screening program was low, with only 1 in 8 persons successfully linking to HCV care. Lack of insurance and established primary care may deter access to the healthcare system at multiple levels. It is critical to develop

check details and implement individual and systems-level programming to facilitate timely HCV linkage support and address barriers to care, particularly for traditionally disparate or medically underserved populations. Disclosures: Michael Tanespimycin purchase Saag – Advisory Committees or Review Panels: BMS, Gilead; Grant/ Research Support: BMS, Gilead, Abbvie, Merck, ViiV, Janssen, BIPI The following people have nothing to disclose: Anne Zinski, Ricardo A. Franco, Henry E. Wang, Edgar T. Overton, Jordan M. Forsythe, Joel B. Rodgers, James W. Galbraith Background/Aims: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a major public health priority. HBV disease knowledge is important to addressing health disparity in the at-risk populations. Previous studies suggest that HBV knowledge is limited among Asian Americans but to date there are no studies evaluating HBV knowledge among a racially diverse HBV-infected North American population. We aimed to evaluate HBV knowledge and factors associated with knowledge in a diverse HBV-in-fected population. Methods: 510 CHB patients were enrolled from 5 US and one Canadian center. Patients with HIV co-infection, decompensated liver disease, liver cancer, or those on HBV therapy were excluded. Clinical and this website laboratory data were collected. A questionnaire

was developed and administered in English or Chinese with constructs including HBV knowledge, perceived HBV severity and susceptibility, patient communication, treatment efficacy, barriers to HBV care, trust in liver team, and HBV treatment intentions. Knowledge score was calculated as the percent of correct responses to 11 items. Results: Patient demographic characteristics were: mean age 45±13 years, 53% male, 72% Asian (13% Caucasian, 12% African), 86% born outside of North America (median duration of migration 15 years), 43% had limited English fluency, 18% had less than high school education, 8% uninsured, and median duration of liver specialty care was 3 years. Median HBV viral load was 2.9×10<3> IU/mL, ALT 32 U/L, and 78% were HBeAg-negative. The overall HBV knowledge score was 80±17%.

The cutoff of 17.55 Paul Ehrlich Institute units/mL (PEI-U/mL) in serum HBeAg at week 12 had a PPV of 38% and an NPV of 95%, and 8.52 PEI-U/mL at week 24 had a PPV of 44% and a NPV of 100% for HBeAg seroconversion at week 48. Moreover the HBsAg and HBeAg levels

of PegIFN alfa-2b group were lower than those of the conventional IFN alfa-2b group. During follow up, patients with HBeAg seroconversion remained Ferroptosis activation HBeAg negative and none of them progressed to cirrhosis, but among the patients with non-HBeAg seroconversion, two progressed to cirrhosis. Two additional patients with negative HBeAg were observed. Conclusions:  On-treatment serum HBsAg and HBeAg had high predictive values to predict sustained HBeAg seroconversion by PegIFN alfa-2b. Patients who cleared HBeAg had better survival free of hepatic complications during long-term follow-up study. “
“Epigenetic alterations

and microRNA (miRNA) deregulation are common in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) tri-methylating enzyme, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) mediates epigenetic silencing of gene expression and is frequently up-regulated in human cancers. In this study we aimed to delineate the implications find protocol of EZH2 up-regulation in miRNA deregulation and HCC metastasis. Expressions of a total of 90 epigenetic regulators were first determined in 38 pairs of primary HCCs and their corresponding nontumorous livers. We identified EZH2 and its associated click here polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) as one of the most significantly deregulated epigenetic regulators in primary HCC samples. Up-regulation of EZH2 was next confirmed in 69.5% (41/59) of primary HCCs. Clinicopathologically, EZH2 up-regulation was associated with HCC progression and multiple HCC metastatic features, including venous invasion (P = 0.043), direct liver invasion (P = 0.014), and absence of tumor encapsulation (P = 0.043). We further demonstrated that knockdown of EZH2 in HCC cell lines reduced the global levels of tri-methylated

H3K27, and suppressed HCC motility in vitro and pulmonary metastasis in a nude mouse model. By interrogating the miRNA expression profile in EZH2-knockdown cell lines and primary HCC samples, we identified a subset of miRNA that was epigenetically suppressed by EZH2 in human HCC. These included well-characterized tumor-suppressor miRNAs, such as miR-139-5p, miR-125b, miR-101, let-7c, and miR-200b. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed a common regulatory role of these EZH2-silenced miRNAs in modulating cell motility and metastasis-related pathways. Our findings suggest that EZH2 exerts its prometastatic function by way of epigenetic silencing of multiple tumor suppressor miRNAs. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that EZH2 epigenetically silenced multiple miRNAs that negatively regulate HCC metastasis.

Yet there are many challenges in the path of endoscopic surgery. In this new era of robotic endoscopy, one will likely need a virtual simulator to train and assess the performance of younger doctors. More evidence will be essential in multiple evolving fields, particularly to elucidate whether learn more more ambitious and complex pathways, such as intrathoracic and intraperitoneal surgery via natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), are superior or not to conventional techniques. “
“The role of ethnicity in determining disease severity

in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains unclear. We recruited 152 patients with biopsy-proven NASH, 63% of whom were Hispanic and 37% of whom were Caucasian. Both groups were well matched for age, sex, and total body fat. We measured: (1) liver fat by magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy; (2) fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin (FPI), and free fatty acid (FFA) levels; (3) total body fat by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA); (4) liver and muscle insulin sensitivity (insulin clamp with 3-[3H] glucose); (5) insulin resistance at the level of the liver (fasting endogenous glucose production derived from 3-[3H] glucose infusion × FPI) and adipose tissue (fasting FFA × FPI). Liver

fat was slightly, but not significantly, higher in Hispanic vs. Caucasian patients (27 ± 2% vs. 24 ± 2%, p = 0.16). However, this trend did not translate into worse liver steatosis, necroinflammation Compound Library or fibrosis. Patients with NASH had severe hepatic, adipose tissue and muscle insulin resistance versus healthy subjects without NASH nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, but there were no differences between both ethnic groups on these parameters. However, Hispanics versus Caucasians with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) had a trend for worse hepatic/adipose tissue insulin resistance and fibrosis. Conclusion: When Hispanic and Caucasian patients with NASH are well matched for clinical parameters,

particularly for adiposity, slightly higher liver fat content is not associated selleck chemicals with worse hepatic insulin resistance or more severe NASH on histology. Hispanic ethnicity does not appear to be a major determinant of disease severity in NASH, although those with diabetes may be at greater risk of fibrosis. Given the higher risk of T2DM in Hispanics, long-term studies are needed to define their risk of disease progression. (HEPATOLOGY 2011;) Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a broad spectrum of clinical and histopathological manifestations, ranging from mild hepatic steatosis through nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), to fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Bottlenose dolphins from Beaufort, North Carolina;

St. Joseph Bay, Florida; and Cape May, New Jersey had anti-DMV seroprevalences ranging from between 15% and 33% but those from Charleston, South Carolina and Sarasota Bay, Florida, sampled in recent years were largely negative. These latter groups are therefore now vulnerable to infection and could experience high mortality if exposed to CeMV. Sero-surveys of this kind are therefore vital for assessing the risk of new and recurring viral outbreaks in coastal FK228 clinical trial cetaceans. “
“Universidad de Quintana Roo, Quintana Roo, Mexico “
“Coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) form a mosaic of resident and seasonal migratory populations along the United States Atlantic seaboard. Seasonal, poorly known migrants (identified as a separate stock) move as far north as New Jersey. During 2003–2005, 73 boat-based photo-identification surveys were conducted in southern

New Jersey to discern seasonal occurrence, distribution, and patterns of movement and site fidelity. Neonates, young-of-year, and adults occurred in the study area from late May through late September, corresponding to water temperatures of 14.0–16.3°C. Of 205 individuals identified, 44% (n= 90) were sighted multiple times within or among years, including 10% (n= 20) of individuals identified in all 3 yr. Almost half (47%) of the multiple sightings were observed along a core area encompassed by the southern part of the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve. In contrast to stocks HM781-36B selleckchem studied in southern coastal areas of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, estuaries were used significantly less than open-beach habitat, which is consistent with the relative prey abundance

in these habitats. Research at additional sites will help confirm whether bottlenose dolphins at the northern end of their migratory range exhibit local site fidelity and habitat preferences similar to those found in this study. “
“Department of Environmental Science & Policy, George Mason University, Virginia, U.S.A. “
“Comparing humpback whale song from different breeding assemblages can reveal similarities in song due to acoustically interacting males, and therefore indirectly test whether males from different breeding sites are mixing. Northern Hemisphere song comparisons illustrated that whales within ocean basins share similar songs and are subpopulations within a larger population, whereas whales in different ocean basins are isolated populations and therefore do not share songs. During the 2006 breeding season, recordings were collected in Madagascar and Western Australia, and were compared visually plus aurally. Both regions shared one theme, whereas each region had four and six private themes, respectively. This study had a substantially low number of shared themes.

Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article. “
“Aim:  The present study describes the ability of a newly developed N-terminal pro-peptides of type IV collagen 7S domain (P4NP 7S) competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for describing liver fibrosis. The assay applies a monoclonal antibody specific for a PIVNP 7S epitope 100% homologous in the human, rat, and mouse species. Methods:  Monoclonal antibodies were raised against selected P4NP

7S specific sequences. Antibodies were screened and a competitive ELISA assay was developed using a selected antibody. The assay was evaluated in relation to technical performance, and in two preclinical liver fibrosis models; the bile duct ligation model (BDL) and the carbon tetrachloride model (CCL4) both performed in rats. Results:  A technically robust P4NP 7S ELISA selleck products assay using a monoclonal antibody was produced. In the BDL and CCL4 liver fibrosis models it was observed that the P4NP 7S levels were significantly elevated in rat with liver fibrosis as seen by histology (CCL4: 283% elevated in the highest quartile of total hepatic collagen compared with controls, P = 0.001; BDL: 183% elevated at week 4 compared with sham, P < 0.001) and correlated to the amount of hepatic type IV collagen expression Dabrafenib molecular weight in BDL rats (r = 0.49, P < 0.05) in contrast to

sham (r = −0.12). P4NP 7S also correlated to total collagen in CCL4 treated livers (P < 0.001, r = 0.67), however, not in controls (r = 0.04). Conclusions:  This newly developed

serum assay specific for P4NP 7S was highly related to liver fibrosis and correlated to extent of hepatic fibrosis. This assay may improve fibrosis quantification. “
“See Article on Page 81 Cholesterol is essential for life, both as a regulator of membrane structure and as a precursor for the synthesis of essential molecules such as steroid hormones and bile acids. However, excess selleck chemicals circulating cholesterol predisposes to cardiovascular disease and premature death. Thus, much of the attention on the role of cholesterol in human disease has focused on processes responsible for its deposition in the vascular endothelium and promoting its clearance from the vasculature. Comparatively little attention has been given to its role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH),1 now arguably the most common liver disease afflicting modern society. ER, endoplasmic reticulum; HMG-CoA, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA; LXR, liver X receptor; NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; NPC1L1, Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 protein. In this issue of Hepatology, Savard et al.2 methodically investigated the individual and synergistic contributions of high dietary fat and cholesterol content in the development of NASH and the associated metabolic abnormalities in normal mice.

Biopsy and histologic examination of stricture was performed and showed no dysplasia. After the full discussion with the patient, biologic therapy (adalimumab: 160 mg sc, then-14 days later: 80 mg sc and 14 days later: 40 mg every 2 weeks sc) was started. An oral steroid therapy for a short period (40 mg/day prednisolone for 1 month, then gradually decreased for the last 2 months

and stopped) was started. His condition was dramatically improved. Four months later, magnetic resonance imaging enterography was performed and showed significantly improvement on the narrowing segments, particularly in the sigmoid and right colon (Fig. 3–5). He had no complaints during the follow-up for the last 18 months of adalimumab therapy. Radiologic and endoscopic examinations SB203580 datasheet were performed and showed in Fig. 6–8. Conclusion: Stricture development is an ongoing www.selleckchem.com/products/apo866-fk866.html dynamic process which includes both inflammatory and fibrotic components. Although colonic stenosis is a rare complication of CD, it is a typical complication by time because of transmural involvement of the bowel wall in CD. Management of CD with colonic stricture has not been clearly defined. Efficacy of biologics on stenosing form of CD was not established and

the data insufficient so far. The main concern is that biologic agents might increase stricture because of rapid mucosal healing induced fibrosis or rapid relief might cause perforation in the colon. According to our presented study, biologic agents might be a safe therapy option with their antifibrotic proporties in patients with stenosing CD, providing special patients should be carefully followed during the biologic therapies. Key Word(s): 1. Crohn’s Disease; 2. stricture; 3. colon; 4. biologics; Presenting Author: selleck REN MAO Additional Authors: MIN-HU

CHEN Corresponding Author: REN MAO, MIN-HU CHEN Affiliations: The first affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Objective: Crohn’s disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) are chronic granulomatous disorders that are difficult to differentiate. Though CT enterography (CTE) yields striking findings in the small bowel of CD, its role in differentiating CD from ITB is undefined. This prospective study aimed to investigate the value of CTE findings in the differential diagnosis between CD and ITB. Methods: 105 consecutive patients (67 CD, 38 ITB) who underwent CTE were enrolled. CTE findings and colonoscopic parameters were compared between CD and ITB by blinded reviewers. On the basis of univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses, a diagnostic algorithm combining colonoscopy and CTE was formulated. The diagnostic accuracy of this algorithm was validated. Interobserver agreement was assessed by using weighted k statistics.

Our results suggest that IL-33 expression in hepatocytes is partially dependent on perforin, but not on FasL or TNFα in acute hepatitis. Furthermore, we show that TRAIL is essential for inducing IL-33 expression in hepatocytes during T-cell-mediated hepatitis in mice or in cultured murine hepatocytes. AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ConA, concanavalin A; D-GalN, D-galactosamine; FasL, Fas ligand; IL-33, interleukin 33;

IL-1RAcP, interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein; TRAIL, tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand; TNFR1/2, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 or 2; WT, wildtype. The C57Bl/6 WT mice (8-10-week-old, Janvier, Le Genest-sur-isle, France) Selleckchem AZD6244 were injected intravenously with ConA (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) to induce acute hepatitis at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight.

Mice were sacrificed from 6 to 10 hours postinjection. Intraperitoneal injection of anti-Fas/Jo2 antibody (Purified Hamster Anti-Mouse CD95, BD Pharmingen) agonist antibody was administered at a dose of 0.15 μg/g of body weight to induce hepatic injury and MG-132 mice were sacrificed at 2, 4, 6, 10, and 24 hours postinjection. Recombinant murine (rm)-TNFα (PeproTech, USA) was injected intravenously (10 μg/kg body weight) alone or in combination with D-galactosamine (D-GalN, Sigma) at a dose of 15 mg/mouse (intraperitoneal) in WT mice and sacrificed at 8 hours postinjection. Mice C57Bl/6 perforin-KO, TRAIL-KO and IL-33-KO (provided by Dr.

Jean-Philippe Girard26 and bred in our local animal facility) were injected intravenously with ConA (20 mg/kg body weight) and sacrificed at the designated timepoints. The C57Bl/6 CD1d-KO mice were primed with ConA for 2 hours followed by injection of rm-TRAIL (30 μg/mouse, intravenous, PeproTech, USA). Mice were sacrificed 8 hours after injection of ConA. In each experiment the control mice were treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or vehicle only. All the mice were bred in specific pathogen-free conditions in the local animal house facilities and all treatment protocols were in accordance with the French laws and the institution’s guidelines for animal welfare (agreement of M. Samson #3596). The histopathological and serum selleck screening library biochemical analysis was performed as reported.2 The protocol and conditions for RNA extraction, RT-PCR, and qPCR were the same as reported earlier by our laboratory2, 3 using specific primers for 18S, IL-33, FasL, Fas, TRAIL, DR5, TNFα, TNFR1, and TNFR2 (Table 1). The relative gene expression was normalized against 18S gene expression. The control mice in each treatment group served as a reference for messenger RNA (mRNA) expression (control mRNA level was arbitrarily taken as 1). Cryosections or paraformaldehyde-fixed and paraffin-embedded mouse liver sections (7 μm) followed by antigen retrieval were incubated with primary antibody (goat IgG antimouse IL-33, R&D Systems) in a Ventana automated machine (Ventana Medical Systems, USA).

“
“Interactions between watermelon and a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged isolate of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum race 1 (Fon-1) were studied to determine the differences in infection and colonization Rucaparib of watermelon roots in cultivars resistant to and susceptible to Fusarium wilt.

The roots of watermelon seedlings were inoculated with a conidial suspension of the GFP-tagged isolate, and confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to visualize colonization, infection and disease development. The initial infection stages were similar in both the resistant and susceptible cultivars, but the resistant cultivar responded differentially after the pathogen had penetrated the root. The buy Fulvestrant pathogen penetrated and colonized resistant watermelon roots, but further fungal advance appeared to

be halted, and the fungus did not enter the taproot, suggesting that resistance is initiated postpenetration. However, the tertiary and secondary lateral roots of resistant watermelon also were colonized, although not as extensively as susceptible roots, and the hyphae had penetrated into the central cylinder of lateral roots forming a dense hyphal mat, which was followed by a subsequent collapse of the lateral roots. The initial infection zone for both the wilt-susceptible and wilt-resistant watermelon roots appeared to be the epidermal cells within the root hair zone, which the fungus penetrated directly after forming appressoria. Areas where secondary roots emerged and wounded root tissue

also were penetrated preferentially. “
“The outbreak of a severe mosaic disease with a significant incidence was noticed on Jatropha curcas plants growing in Lucknow, Northern India. The causal virus was successfully transmitted by whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and grafting from naturally infected to healthy J. curcas plants. The association of Begomovirus with the mosaic disease of J. curcas was detected by PCR using primers specific to DNA-A of Begomoviruses. Further, full-length DNA-A genome of ∼2.7 kb was amplified by RCA followed by digestion with Bam check details HI restriction enzyme. Cloning and sequencing of obtained amplicons resulted in 2740 nucleotides of complete DNA-A consisting of six ORFs and IR region (GenBank Accession HM230683). The sequence analysis revealed highest 85% similarities with Jatropha curcas mosaic virus, 77–84% with Indian cassava mosaic virus and 73–76% with Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of the Begomovirus isolate also showed a clear-cut distinct relationship with earlier reported Begomoviruses from Jatropha curcas and other Begomoviruses.

5b). Interestingly, the ratio between AQP4 and H+/K+-ATPase was significantly decreased by H. pylori infection in the H2R knockout mouse, but not in the wild type (Fig. 5c). Since the

mRNA expression levels of TFF2 was significantly higher in the H. pylori-infected H2R knockout mouse compared with H2R knockout mouse without the infection of H. pylori, the decreased ratio between AQP4 and H+/K+-ATPase was supposed to be one of the indicators on the process of cancer development from SPEM. In the present study, the distribution of the AQP4-positive parietal cells which is localized in the basal part of the fundic gland in wild type was extended toward the apical side of the mucosa in the H2R knockout mouse. Furthermore, the mRNA expression level of AQP4 was significantly higher in the H2R knockout mouse compared with that of wild type. We previously reported that PPI treatment, which induces acid

suppression, encounters mucosal hyperplasia Alectinib concentration and enhances the expression of AQP4 while the expression of Shh was decreased.[24] Similarly, the expression of Shh and hedgehog signaling reported to depend on gastrin and gastric acidity.[25] Furthermore, the expression of AQP4 was reported BIBW2992 concentration to be significantly decreased in gastrin knockout mouse compared with wild type and was restored by the supplementation of gastrin.[7] In both PPI-treated mouse and H2R knockout mouse, the plasma level of gastrin was known to be elevated through the acid suppression.[26] Thus, it was suggested that acid suppression might disturb the differentiation process of gastric mucosal epithelial cells including parietal cells and the expression of AQP4 followed by the formation of mucosal hyperplasia through the increase of gastrin. However, long-term acid suppression also leads to the development of SPEM through the decrease of parietal cells and the increase of TFF2-positive cells.[27] The decrease of AQP4 mRNA expression by aging might reflect the loss of viability

of whole parietal cells. Meanwhile, the expression of AQP4 mRNA was significantly decreased by the infection of H. pylori in both of wild type and the H2R knockout mouse. Although the expression of H+/K+-ATPase was also decreased by the infection of H. pylori, the increase in the check details ratio between AQP4 and H+/K+-ATPase mRNA expression was only observed in the H2R knockout mouse without H. pylori infection. Immunohistochemistry showed almost all of the AQP4-positive parietal cells are co-stained with H+/K+-ATPase, suggesting the ratio between AQP4 and H+/K+-ATPase mRNA expression indicate the proportion of AQP4-positive parietal cells. Interestingly, previous report revealed that the infection rate of H. pylori was significantly higher in patients with anti-AQP4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica that is one of the demyelinating diseases of central nerve system.[28] The infection of H. pylori is known to produce H.

This suggested that the SVR benefit reflects RBV pharmacokinetics rather than the Hb level per se. This hypothesis was tested in a patient subset (n = 203) in which plasma RBV levels were found to be associated with both Hb reduction and SVR. However RBV levels were not associated with ITPase activity. In a multivariable

logistic regression model including RBV level, the association between nadir Hb and SVR was attenuated. Conclusion: ITPase deficiency protects against RBV-haemolysis, but is not associated with SVR. The association between Hb reduction and SVR is independent of ITPase deficiency. Our data confirm that the relationship between Hb decline and SVR is not mechanistic, but is explained by RBV pharmacokinetics. The data emphasize the importance of adequate RBV exposure during antiviral therapy for HCV. 1 Fellay J. Nature 2010; 464:405; 2 Sievert W. Hepatol 2011; 53:1109; 3 Sulkowski Gastro 2010; 139:1602; find more 4 Thompson AJ. Gastro 2010; 139:1181 JA HOLMES,1 A MANGIA,2 PJ CLARK,3 DM ISER,1 T NGUYEN,1 SJ BELL,1 M RYAN,1 S BONANZINGA,4 PV DESMOND,1 D PETRUZZELLIS,2 DS BOWDEN,4 AJ THOMPSON1 1St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 2IRCCS ‘Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza’ Hospital, San Giovanni MLN0128 clinical trial Rotondo, Italy, 3Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 4Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, North Melbourne, VIC Australia

Background: Anaemia is a frequent adverse event associated learn more with protease inhibitor (PI) therapy for HCV, and is additional to that observed with pegylated-interferon (peg-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV). Management may require blood

transfusions (BT) or RBV dose reduction which may compromise efficacy and tolerability of treatment. Identification of patients at highest risk for severe anaemia would be useful. ITPA polymorphisms, predicting ITPase deficiency, have been associated with protection from ribavirin-induced haemolytic anaemia. We evaluated the association between ITPA polymorphisms and anaemia during PI therapy in a real-world multi-centre cohort. Methods: Patients from Australia and Europe who had received at least 4 weeks of PI (Boceprevir or Telaprevir) in combination with weight-based RBV and peg-IFN were included. Anaemia management was at the discretion of the treating clinician. Haemoglobin (Hb) was evaluated at baseline and 4 weeks after the introduction of PI. ITPA variants (rs7270101 and rs1127354) were determined using the TaqMan Allelic Discrimination Kit, and predicted ITPase activity was estimated as previously described†. ITPase activity was then correlated with week 4 Hb reduction (>30 g/L) after PI commencement (PI anaemia). Results: 164 patients were included: median age was 54.6 years, 42% female, 50% received boceprevir PI therapy, and 83% had METAVIR stage F3-4. Median baseline Hb was 151.