Changes in light transmittance are determined by continuous measu

Changes in light transmittance are determined by continuous measurements and are designated the clot waveform (CW). This complete clotting process recorded in the CWA is categorized into three parts, e.g. the pre-coagulation phase, the coagulation phase and the post-coagulation phase. After the onset of coagulation, light transmittance is decreased in association with the formation of fibrin and is defined by a slope in the waveform. The advantages of utilizing CWA

are provided by the quantitative assessment of various parameters derived by mathematically processing the waveform data. Early reports suggested, however, that |min1| and |min2| are promising parameters for quantitative evaluation of clotting function [2]. Observations of CWA patterns during routine aPTT and PT assays can provide

supportive and novel data in a variety Enzalutamide chemical structure of coagulation disorders and during monitoring of anti-coagulant therapy such as heparin. Characteristic CW patterns are observed in specific coagulation abnormalities compared with normal reference plasma, and two components, the duration of pre-coagulation phase and the steepness of the slope of the coagulation phase, appear to be especially informative. A further advantage offered by the application of CWA is the possibility of assessing fibrin deficiency and fibrinolytic activity. Furthermore, modification to a “biphasic” pattern is a Autophagy Compound Library price useful tool for diagnosis of sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) [3]. CWA could discriminate between different levels of fVIII:C in this critical category of severe HA defined as having <1.0 IU dl−1 fVIII:C by conventional assays [2]. Furthermore, the CWA parameter, |min2|, appeared to be more directly correlated with both the degree of abnormality of

the CW and the fVIII:C MCE公司 level [4]. Similarly, in experiments in 36 patients with severe HA, significant correlations between |min2| and fVIII:C were confirmed, and the parameters correlated well with those of thrombin generation [4,5]. It is evident that since the distinction between severe and non-severe haemophilia cannot be determined precisely by the level of fVIII or fIX activity alone, the influence of other plasma components should be considered. It may be especially important that CWA can clearly discriminate between severe and non-severe groups. Defective clotting function in haemophilia can be assessed using CWA, and this method may be applicable to monitor the haemostatic and prophylactic effects of regular infusions of fVIII concentrate during ITI therapy in patients with inhibitor. Our previous results suggested that fVIII infusions may be continued with clinical benefit in some haemophilia patients with high responding inhibitors in whom the haemostatic response may be monitored effectively using CWA [6].

Changes in light transmittance are determined by continuous measu

Changes in light transmittance are determined by continuous measurements and are designated the clot waveform (CW). This complete clotting process recorded in the CWA is categorized into three parts, e.g. the pre-coagulation phase, the coagulation phase and the post-coagulation phase. After the onset of coagulation, light transmittance is decreased in association with the formation of fibrin and is defined by a slope in the waveform. The advantages of utilizing CWA

are provided by the quantitative assessment of various parameters derived by mathematically processing the waveform data. Early reports suggested, however, that |min1| and |min2| are promising parameters for quantitative evaluation of clotting function [2]. Observations of CWA patterns during routine aPTT and PT assays can provide

supportive and novel data in a variety FDA-approved Drug Library datasheet of coagulation disorders and during monitoring of anti-coagulant therapy such as heparin. Characteristic CW patterns are observed in specific coagulation abnormalities compared with normal reference plasma, and two components, the duration of pre-coagulation phase and the steepness of the slope of the coagulation phase, appear to be especially informative. A further advantage offered by the application of CWA is the possibility of assessing fibrin deficiency and fibrinolytic activity. Furthermore, modification to a “biphasic” pattern is a www.selleckchem.com/products/Rapamycin.html useful tool for diagnosis of sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) [3]. CWA could discriminate between different levels of fVIII:C in this critical category of severe HA defined as having <1.0 IU dl−1 fVIII:C by conventional assays [2]. Furthermore, the CWA parameter, |min2|, appeared to be more directly correlated with both the degree of abnormality of

the CW and the fVIII:C 上海皓元医药股份有限公司 level [4]. Similarly, in experiments in 36 patients with severe HA, significant correlations between |min2| and fVIII:C were confirmed, and the parameters correlated well with those of thrombin generation [4,5]. It is evident that since the distinction between severe and non-severe haemophilia cannot be determined precisely by the level of fVIII or fIX activity alone, the influence of other plasma components should be considered. It may be especially important that CWA can clearly discriminate between severe and non-severe groups. Defective clotting function in haemophilia can be assessed using CWA, and this method may be applicable to monitor the haemostatic and prophylactic effects of regular infusions of fVIII concentrate during ITI therapy in patients with inhibitor. Our previous results suggested that fVIII infusions may be continued with clinical benefit in some haemophilia patients with high responding inhibitors in whom the haemostatic response may be monitored effectively using CWA [6].

All six known tyrosine sulphations of FVIII were confirmed in N8

All six known tyrosine sulphations of FVIII were confirmed in N8. Two N-linked glycosylations are present in the A3 and C1 domain of the light chain and two in the A1 domain of the heavy chain. The majority of the N-linked glycans are sialylated bi-antennary structures. An O-glycosylation site is present in the B-domain linker region. This site was glycosylated with a doubly sialylated GalNAc-Gal structure in approximately 65% of the product. In conclusion, the present data http://www.selleckchem.com/products/MK-1775.html show that N8 is a

pure and well-characterized FVIII product with biochemical properties that equal other FVIII products. “
“Haemophilia is a complex disease to manage. Home-based management of haemophilia has placed greater responsibility for disease management on individuals with haemophilia, heightening the individual’s need for knowledge, particularly among individuals with severe haemophilia. The aim of this study was to identify and understand the knowledge needs and gaps of Canadian men with severe haemophilia

from the perspectives of health care providers. A qualitative approach was undertaken. Data were collected using semi-structured focus groups and interviews with health care providers from Haemophilia Treatment Centres (HTCs) across Canada; data were analysed using thematic analysis. Three focus groups and two interviews were conducted; 13 individuals participated in this study. Health care providers identified the following areas of knowledge required by men with severe haemophilia: disease pathology, causes and consequences of bleeds, bleed prevention, recognition, treatment, how and when to access support, Ridaforolimus activity selection and risk reduction, benefits of exercise, genetic inheritance patterns, impact on career selection, travel and ageing. Knowledge gaps and challenges to knowledge provision were highlighted. In addition, providers emphasized the influences of timing, rapport and context on

readiness to receive and assimilate information and recommended tailoring education to the individual and creating a developmental curriculum and knowledge assessment tool. Provision and uptake of disease knowledge is essential to patient self-management. To effectively receive, retain and assimilate information, individuals with severe medchemexpress haemophilia require the right information, from the right source, at the right time. Education should be tailored to the needs of the individual, provided throughout the lifespan. “
“To explore the experiences and educational needs of parents learning to use an Implanted Central Venous Access Device (IVAD) to administer clotting factor to their child with haemophilia. Parents of children with haemophilia who had learnt to administer clotting factor via IVAD attended focus groups to discuss their experiences of the learning process. Data were transcribed and analyzed thematically. Parents described distress and trauma in dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of their child’s haemophilia.

All six known tyrosine sulphations of FVIII were confirmed in N8

All six known tyrosine sulphations of FVIII were confirmed in N8. Two N-linked glycosylations are present in the A3 and C1 domain of the light chain and two in the A1 domain of the heavy chain. The majority of the N-linked glycans are sialylated bi-antennary structures. An O-glycosylation site is present in the B-domain linker region. This site was glycosylated with a doubly sialylated GalNAc-Gal structure in approximately 65% of the product. In conclusion, the present data find more show that N8 is a

pure and well-characterized FVIII product with biochemical properties that equal other FVIII products. “
“Haemophilia is a complex disease to manage. Home-based management of haemophilia has placed greater responsibility for disease management on individuals with haemophilia, heightening the individual’s need for knowledge, particularly among individuals with severe haemophilia. The aim of this study was to identify and understand the knowledge needs and gaps of Canadian men with severe haemophilia

from the perspectives of health care providers. A qualitative approach was undertaken. Data were collected using semi-structured focus groups and interviews with health care providers from Haemophilia Treatment Centres (HTCs) across Canada; data were analysed using thematic analysis. Three focus groups and two interviews were conducted; 13 individuals participated in this study. Health care providers identified the following areas of knowledge required by men with severe haemophilia: disease pathology, causes and consequences of bleeds, bleed prevention, recognition, treatment, how and when to access support, this website activity selection and risk reduction, benefits of exercise, genetic inheritance patterns, impact on career selection, travel and ageing. Knowledge gaps and challenges to knowledge provision were highlighted. In addition, providers emphasized the influences of timing, rapport and context on

readiness to receive and assimilate information and recommended tailoring education to the individual and creating a developmental curriculum and knowledge assessment tool. Provision and uptake of disease knowledge is essential to patient self-management. To effectively receive, retain and assimilate information, individuals with severe MCE haemophilia require the right information, from the right source, at the right time. Education should be tailored to the needs of the individual, provided throughout the lifespan. “
“To explore the experiences and educational needs of parents learning to use an Implanted Central Venous Access Device (IVAD) to administer clotting factor to their child with haemophilia. Parents of children with haemophilia who had learnt to administer clotting factor via IVAD attended focus groups to discuss their experiences of the learning process. Data were transcribed and analyzed thematically. Parents described distress and trauma in dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of their child’s haemophilia.

In this model, passenger leukocytes, which are donor-derived hepa

In this model, passenger leukocytes, which are donor-derived hepatic resident leukocytes, appear to mediate much of the injury. CD39tg livers were more resistant to IRI and were deficient in both CD4+ T cells and iNKT cells. Reconstitution of these livers with a WT immune system (restoring resident T-cell number and function) abolished resistance. Furthermore, WT donor livers depleted of CD4+ T cell showed similar protection

to CD39tg donor livers. Although CD4+ iNKT cells represent 20% to 40% of hepatic T cells,27 conventional AZD1208 CD4+ T cells appeared to be the prime orchestrators of early hepatic injury, as livers from iNKT KO mice were not protected. The role of CD4+ T-cell subsets in warm hepatic IRI has been defined.28 T-cell activation occurring through antigen-dependent and -independent mechanisms mediates liver injury through neutrophil recruitment and activation.

Further, NKT cell activation can cause direct liver injury in partial hepatic warm IRI.28 Our data are in accordance with recent observations in a similar mouse liver transplantation model using CD1d KO donors and WT recipients,29 but is at odds with data from a warm model of hepatic IRI where systemic blocking of NKT cells was protective and adoptive transfer of NKT cells in T-cell-deficient mice restored injury.14 This discrepancy suggests that warm and cold IRI have two distinct pathophysiologies and that the immune check details response against the transplanted organ differs from the response to local ischemia. Further, NK and NKT cells mediate phase-specific responses in IRI: depletion of NK1.1 cells, which encompass both NK and NKT cells, failed to moderate

IRI at early timepoints17 but significantly reduced later hepatocellular damage.14 NK and NKT cells are a prime source of IFN-γ, which becomes critically important at 24 hours of reperfusion. Our data confirm 上海皓元 that CD4+ iNKT cells of donor origin have minimal effect during the early phase (within 6 hours) of IRI. We have previously shown that the overexpression of CD39 on the renal parenchyma mitigates IRI up to 72 hours following transplantation.15 However, overexpression of CD39 within the hepatic parenchyma appears to play a minor role, if any, in this model of liver transplantation. Recipient circulating T cells, particularly CD4+ T cells, are recruited to the liver within hours of perfusion.16 It was anticipated that the adenosine-rich milieu created by CD39 overexpression would modify the inflammatory response. However, there was no significant difference in the susceptibility to IRI of WT or CD39tg donor livers following reconstitution with WT bone marrow, suggesting minimal if any effect of tissue restricted overexpression of CD39. This was unexpected, given the potent antiinflammatory effects of adenosine, but may be accounted for by the very short half-life of adenosine in the circulation.

01) and splenomegaly (40% vs 63%, P= 001) on ultrasound, and hig

01) and splenomegaly (40% vs 63%, P= 0.01) on ultrasound, and higher Hb (P=0.01) and platelet count (P<0.001). Patients with mild-PH had higher systemic vascular resistance (1469±335 vs 1336±423 dyne.s.cm-5, P<0.01) and lower cardiac index (2.8±0.5 vs 3.3±0.9 L/min.m2, P<0.01). Clinical markers of PH, as well as HVPG, hyperdynamic circulation and liver dysfunction worsened gradually from patients with mild-PH to patients with CSPH without varices, and from these to those with varices. After propranolol,

the HVPG decreased from 7.3±1 to 6.6±1 mmHg (P<0.01) in patients with mild-PH and from 14.7±4 to 12.2±5 mmHg (P<0.01) in those with CSPH. Such a reduction Navitoclax supplier was much higher in patients with CSPH: -16±12% vs -8±9% (P<0.01). Patients with CSPH had higher rates of decreasing HVPG ≥10% (69% vs 36%, P<0.001), ≥20% (40 vs 12%, P<0.001) and ≥30% (14% vs 0, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In compensated cirrhosis, patients with mild-PH had better liver function, lower liver stiffness, less hyperdynamic circulation and lower portal pressure reduction

with propranolol than those with CSPH. These findings support the potential utility of NSBB to prevent decompensation of cirrhosis in CSPH but not in earlier stages. Disclosures: Juan G. Abraldes – Speaking and Teaching: Gore, Janssen Rosa María Morillas – Advisory Committees or Review Panels: BRISTOL, GILEAD, Abvvie; Speaking CH5424802 and Teaching: ROCHE, JANSSEN, MSD Juan Carlos Garcia-Pagan – Grant/Research Support: GORE Jaime Bosch – Consulting: Falk, Gilead Science, Norgine, ONO-USA, Intercept pharma, Exalenz, Almirall, Conatus; Grant/Research Support: Gore The following people have nothing to disclose: Càndid Villanueva, Agustin Albil-los, Joan Genescà, Jose Luis Calleja, Carles Aracil, Rafael Bañares, Maria Poca, Beatriz Peñas, Salvador Aguustin,

Oana Pavel BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The increase of intrahepatic availability of nitric oxide induced by statins makes this drugs a potential option for the treatment of portal hypertension. This clinical trial was designed to evaluate the effects of simvastatin on the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and on the azygos vein blood flow (AzBF) in cirrhotic patients. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, 上海皓元 controlled, triple-blind trial with simvastatin and placebo was conducted, including patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension detected by abdominal ultrasound with color Doppler flowmetry or upper digestive endoscopy. Placebo or simvastatin (40 mg) was given daily; HVPG was determined by hepatic vein catheterization and AzBF was measured by color Doppler echoendoscopy (EUS-Cd), both procedures performed at the beginning and after three months of treatment. The main endpoint was a decrease in HVPG of at least 20% from baseline or to ≤ 12 mm Hg after treatment, considered clinically relevant. The correlation between HVPG and AzBF was also tested. RESULTS: Thirty four patients were prospectively enrolled in the study and 22 of them completed the 3 month-protocol.

Al momento, existe un plan para llevar a cabo al menos un estudio

Al momento, existe un plan para llevar a cabo al menos un estudio clínico adicional para migrañas crónicas en los Estados

Unidos. En Europa, uno de los dispositivos de estimulación del nervio H 89 occipital tiene la aprobación para su uso en migraña crónica. Actualmente, no está aprobado por la FDA para los pacientes de migraña crónica en los EE.UU.. Un pequeño número de pacientes con cefaleas en racimos muy difíciles de tratar y dolor incapacitante han tenido un estimulador colocado profundamente en el área del cerebro llamada hipotálamo. Este es el procedimiento más riesgoso e invasivo de los procedimientos quirúrgicos utilizados para tratar el dolor de cabeza. Aunque los resultados han sido prometedores en un número limitado de casos, existe un riesgo de sangrado cerebral e incluso la muerte. Debido a que la cefalea en racimos no es una enfermedad mortal, la recomendación es tratar la neuromodulación periférica o no invasiva para estos pacientes antes de recurrir a la ECP. No existen estudios científicos comparando la ECP con placebos y el procedimiento no es aprobado por el FDA para el tratamiento de cefalea en racimos en EE.UU.. La estimulación eléctrica y magnética del cerebro o los nervios periferales es un área de tratamiento prometedora y en crecimiento, que sin duda, se expandirá en uso mientras se lleven a

cabo más estudios para demostrar su eficacia y seguridad. Por ahora, la mejor evidencia se encuentra en la estimulación magnética transcraneal para el tratamiento Enzalutamide manufacturer agudo de la migraña con aura y en la prevención de la migraña, que se parece ser probablemente eficaz, y la estimulación del ganglio esfenopalatino, que es probablemente efectiva

para el tratamiento agudo y preventivo de la cefalea en racimos. El uso del estimulador del ganglio esfenopalatino está aprobado en Europa para su uso en las cefaleas en racimos crónicas. Los estudios en Estados Unidos sobre la estimulación no invasiva del nervio vago, el estimulador del ganglio esfenopalatino y la estimulación del nervio occipital estarán en marcha en 2014. En este momento, ninguno de estos dispositivos para la neuromodulación tiene aprobación de la FDA en los EE.UU.. Para encontrar más recursos, visite la 上海皓元医药股份有限公司 Fundación Americana de la Migraña (http://kaywa.me/ir2eb) “
“(Headache 2010;50:481-484) “
“This issue of Headache Currents offers three remarkable and remarkably different articles on nontraditional approaches to Headache Medicine. The articles vary as much as the treatments. Dr. Rob Cowan of Stanford addresses reality in Headache Medicine practice, that is, that patients are taking a potpourri of treatments, some that we prescribe, others that they find out about, and others that are recommended by Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) practitioners. Dr. Cowan’s article is not a literature review.

Controversially, in this case, the patient presented with few sym

Controversially, in this case, the patient presented with few symptoms and no clinical history of the acute or chronic pancreatitis. Both UG and CT lacked features of inflammatory changes in pancreas except for the uncertainty in the contour of pancreatic tail. Although pancreatitis may occur focally, but in this case, the lesion in the spleen was far more impressive. Combined the traumatic experience in this patient, another

possibility that a post-traumatic splenic pseudocyst involving the pancreas was posed. As the time going on, post-traumatic splenic hematoma developed into the splenic pseudocyst through resolution and liquefaction. With the enlargement and secondary infection of the splenic pseudocyst, the tail of pancreas was invaded. As the condition progressed, digestive enzymes leaked out, forming the pancreatic pseudocyst. selleck screening library Conclusion: Because CH5424802 solubility dmso of the absence of further pathological analysis of cystic content, though it was black-brown, it was not sure about the elements in the pseudocyst, such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, macrophages, etc. So it made the cause of this huge splenic pseudocyst

complicated and confusing. Key Word(s): 1. pseudocyst; 2. spleen; 3. pancreas Presenting Author: JONG WOOK KIM Additional Authors: SANG KYUNG JUNG, BU HYUN LEE, YOUNG DOO KIM, WOO HYUN PAIK, WON KI BAE, NAM HOON KIM, KYUNG AH KIM, JUNE SUNG LEE, PYONG WHA CHOI Corresponding Author: JONG WOOK KIM Affiliations: Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital Objective: Surgery for elderly patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) may

be curative, but age-related risks are present. We compared clinical course of elderly patients with CRC who underwent curative surgery and who did not. Methods: Clinical course of elderly patients aged 80 years or more who were diagnosed as having advanced CRC were analyzed retrospectively in a tertiary facility. Cox proportional 上海皓元 hazards models were used to compare multivariable-adjusted risk for mortality Results: There were 92 patients aged 80 years or more who were diagnosed as having advanced CRC in our center. Among them, 57 patients (62%) underwent curative resection. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification was I/II in 46 (50%) and III/IV in 46 (50%) patients. TNM stage was I in 10 (10.9%), II in 25 (27.2%), III in 32 (34.8%), and IV in 25 (27.1%) patients. Disease location was rectum in 22 patients (24.3%), colon in 65 (70.7%), and multiple in 5 (5.5%) patients. Disease related mortality among patients who underwent surgery was 8.

Controversially, in this case, the patient presented with few sym

Controversially, in this case, the patient presented with few symptoms and no clinical history of the acute or chronic pancreatitis. Both UG and CT lacked features of inflammatory changes in pancreas except for the uncertainty in the contour of pancreatic tail. Although pancreatitis may occur focally, but in this case, the lesion in the spleen was far more impressive. Combined the traumatic experience in this patient, another

possibility that a post-traumatic splenic pseudocyst involving the pancreas was posed. As the time going on, post-traumatic splenic hematoma developed into the splenic pseudocyst through resolution and liquefaction. With the enlargement and secondary infection of the splenic pseudocyst, the tail of pancreas was invaded. As the condition progressed, digestive enzymes leaked out, forming the pancreatic pseudocyst. selleck compound Conclusion: Because selleck chemical of the absence of further pathological analysis of cystic content, though it was black-brown, it was not sure about the elements in the pseudocyst, such as erythrocytes, leukocytes, macrophages, etc. So it made the cause of this huge splenic pseudocyst

complicated and confusing. Key Word(s): 1. pseudocyst; 2. spleen; 3. pancreas Presenting Author: JONG WOOK KIM Additional Authors: SANG KYUNG JUNG, BU HYUN LEE, YOUNG DOO KIM, WOO HYUN PAIK, WON KI BAE, NAM HOON KIM, KYUNG AH KIM, JUNE SUNG LEE, PYONG WHA CHOI Corresponding Author: JONG WOOK KIM Affiliations: Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital Objective: Surgery for elderly patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) may

be curative, but age-related risks are present. We compared clinical course of elderly patients with CRC who underwent curative surgery and who did not. Methods: Clinical course of elderly patients aged 80 years or more who were diagnosed as having advanced CRC were analyzed retrospectively in a tertiary facility. Cox proportional MCE公司 hazards models were used to compare multivariable-adjusted risk for mortality Results: There were 92 patients aged 80 years or more who were diagnosed as having advanced CRC in our center. Among them, 57 patients (62%) underwent curative resection. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification was I/II in 46 (50%) and III/IV in 46 (50%) patients. TNM stage was I in 10 (10.9%), II in 25 (27.2%), III in 32 (34.8%), and IV in 25 (27.1%) patients. Disease location was rectum in 22 patients (24.3%), colon in 65 (70.7%), and multiple in 5 (5.5%) patients. Disease related mortality among patients who underwent surgery was 8.

Plasma IP-10 levels ≥150 pg/mL occurred more often in non-Aborigi

Plasma IP-10 levels ≥150 pg/mL occurred more often in non-Aboriginals (51% versus 20%, P = 0.014), those with HCV RNA >6 log IU/mL (76% versus 41% in those <4 log IU/mL, P

= 0.002) and those with HIV infection (70% versus 42%, P = 0.002). No differences were observed in the proportions with plasma IP-10 level ≥150 pg/mL by sex, age, or estimated duration of HCV infection. In adjusted logistic regression CH5424802 molecular weight analyses (Table 2), HCV RNA >6 log IU/mL (versus <4 log adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 6.11; 95% CI: 2.11, 17.69) and HIV infection (AOR 2.11; 95% CI: 0.96, 4.61) were independently associated with plasma IP-10 levels ≥150 pg/mL, while individuals of Aboriginal ethnicity were less likely to have plasma IP-10 levels ≥150 pg/mL at the time of acute HCV detection (AOR 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.58). No difference was observed in the frequency of IL28B rs12979860 CC genotype among buy PLX3397 Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals (39% versus 53%, P = 0.254). Plasma IP-10 levels were monitored longitudinally in 20 untreated individuals with acute HCV (eight with clearance, Fig. 3; Supporting Fig. 2). Although

IP-10 levels generally mirrored HCV RNA levels, there was no clear pattern that could predict clearance or persistence. Among the 245 participants who were positive for HCV RNA at the time of acute HCV detection, 214 were either untreated (n = 137) or had chronic infection (persistent HCV RNA and estimated duration of infection ≥26 weeks) at the time of treatment initiation (n = 77) and formed the study population for assessment of spontaneous clearance (Fig. 1). In this group who were HCV RNA-positive at acute HCV detection (n = 214), spontaneous clearance occurred in 14% (29 of 214) of individuals. Among those with available plasma IP-10 levels at acute HCV

detection (n = 187), individuals who failed to clear HCV spontaneously had significantly higher mean plasma IP-10 levels at acute HCV detection than those with spontaneous viral clearance (248 ± 32 versus 142 ± 22 pg/mL, P = 0.008; Fig. 4A); however, the median plasma IP-10 levels did not differ (133 versus 103 pg/mL, P = 0.430). Although one individual had a very high IP-10 value (3,071 pg/mL), mean IP-10 levels remained significantly higher in those without clearance excluding this individual (230 ± 27 versus MCE 142 ± 21, P = 0.010). ROC curve analysis identified an IP-10 level of 380 pg/mL as the most useful threshold associated with spontaneous clearance. No patients with a baseline IP-10 ≥380 pg/mL (0 of 22) achieved spontaneous clearance, compared to 16% (27 of 165) of those with IP-10 levels <380 pg/mL (P = 0.048; Fig. 4B). There was no significant difference in the proportion with spontaneous clearance stratified by plasma IP-10 levels above and below 150 pg/mL (15%, <150 pg/mL, versus 13%, ≥150 pg/mL; P = 0.835). Other factors associated with spontaneous viral clearance were also examined (Table 3).