scholarly journals The role of antiviral treatment in the COVID-19 pandemic

Author(s):  
Talha Khan Burki
Keyword(s):  
1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 2525-2532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Mellor ◽  
Anna Hawkins ◽  
Peter Simmonds

Standardization and genotype independence of methods used to quantify hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in clinical specimens are necessary for accurate assessment of the role of HCV quantitation as a prognostic marker for HCV infection and monitoring of the response to antiviral treatment. Commercially available methods used to measure HCV loads include PCR-based (Roche Monitor) and hybridization-based (Quantiplex bDNA-2) methods. Recently, a new version of the Roche Monitor assay (version 2.0) has become available; it has been modified to achieve more equal quantitation of different HCV genotypes. Consistent with previous reports, Roche Monitor version 1.0 substantially underestimated concentrations of RNA transcripts of types 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, and 6a and virus loads in individuals infected with genotypes 2 to 6 relative to reference tests. However, version 2.0 achieved equivalent quantitation of each genotype over a narrow quantitative range (103 to 5 × 105 copies of RNA/ml) but significantly underestimated RNA concentrations above this range. The assay showed an equivalent inability to quantify high levels of HCV RNA in plasma samples, and this was responsible for the falsely narrow range of virus loads detected in HCV-infected individuals. In contrast, the Chiron bDNA-2 assay could only measure RNA concentrations in the upper quantitative range (2 × 105 to 5 × 107 copies of RNA/ml) but showed equivalent sensitivity for genotypes 1 to 5; however, concentrations of type 6a RNA transcripts and virus loads in clinical specimens from individuals infected with type 6a were underestimated by a factor of 2 to 4. Differences were observed between PCR- and hybridization-based assays in their relative quantitation of HCV RNA transcripts and HCV genomic RNA, which may cause problems with the use of transcripts for interassay calibration.


2012 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. S109
Author(s):  
F.R. Ponziani ◽  
B.E. Annicchiarico ◽  
E. Di Giambenedetto ◽  
M. Siciliano ◽  
M. Pompili ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 468-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Vallisa ◽  
Patrizia Bernuzzi ◽  
Luca Arcaini ◽  
Stefano Sacchi ◽  
Vittorio Callea ◽  
...  

Purpose Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is endemic in some areas of Northwestern Europe and the United States. HCV has been shown to play a role in the development of both hepatocellular carcinoma and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL). The biologic mechanisms underlying the lymphomagenic activity of the virus so far are under investigation. In this study, the role of antiviral (anti-HCV) treatment in B-NHL associated with HCV infection is evaluated. Patients and Methods Thirteen patients with histologically proven low-grade B-NHL characterized by an indolent course (ie, doubling time no less than 1 year, no bulky disease) and carrying HCV infection were enrolled on the study. All patients underwent antiviral treatment alone with pegilated interferon and ribavirin. Response assessment took place at 6 and 12 months. Results Of the twelve assessable patients, seven (58%) achieved complete response and two (16%) partial hematologic response at 14.1 ± 9.7 months (range, 2 to 24 months, median follow-up, 14 months), while two had stable disease with only one patient experiencing progression of disease. Hematologic responses (complete and partial, 75%) were highly significantly associated to clearance or decrease in serum HCV viral load following treatment (P = .005). Virologic response was more likely to be seen in HCV genotype 2 (P = .035), while hematologic response did not correlate with the viral genotype. Treatment-related toxicity did not cause discontinuation of therapy in all but two patients, one of whom, however, achieved complete response. Conclusion This experience strongly provides a role for antiviral treatment in patients affected by HCV-related, low-grade, B-cell NHL.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
hana ahmd alahmd ◽  
sawsan madi ◽  
adnan ekhtiar

Abstract ObjectiveAIDS patients are predisposed to develop certain tumors. Radiation therapy is one of the main treatments for cancer. However, exposure to ionizing radiation leads to defects in the lymphatic system. The cells with the highest sensitivity to radiation are the T lymphocytes. We aim to investigate the effect of irradiation on the ratio of CD4 to CD8, and to oppose this effect by using Bryostatin (B) and ZFN and ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy). So Balb/C mice aged 6-8 weeks were whole-body irradiated with 1.5 Gy of γ-rays, was then mice were treated with ZFN, Bryostatin intraperitoneally. And orally Antiviral treatment. At the end of the study, CD4/CD8 was measured by flow cytometry.Results Irradiation caused significant pathological changes that led to a clear reversal of CD4/CD8 ratio significantly within the normal radiating group. there are no significant differences in CD4/CD8 ratio between all groups treated with ZFN+ X, Z+ B+ X, ART+ X and normal group.So our study suggests the effect of Bryostatin in protecting living organs that were exposed to irradiation in mice. ZFN cuts off both BAX and BAK, and thus decreases apoptotic proteins, reducing cell death.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Matrajt ◽  
Elizabeth R Brown ◽  
Dobromir Dimitrov ◽  
Holly Janes

Despite the development of safe and effective vaccines, effective treatments for COVID-19 disease are still desperately needed. Recently, two antiviral drugs have shown to be effective in reducing hospitalizations in clinical trials. In the present work, we use an agent-based mathematical model to assess the potential population impact of the use of antiviral treatments in four countries, corresponding to four current levels of vaccination coverage: Kenya, Mexico, United States (US) and Belgium, with 1.5, 38, 57 and 74% of their populations vaccinated. For each location, we varied antiviral coverage and antiviral effect in reducing viral load (25, 50, 75 or 100% reduction). Irrespective of location, widespread antiviral treatment of symptomatic infections (≥50% coverage) is expected to prevent the majority of COVID-19 deaths. Furthermore, even treating 20% of adult symptomatic infections, is expected to reduce mortality by a third in all countries, irrespective of the assumed treatment efficacy in reducing viral load. Our results suggest that early antiviral treatment is needed to mitigate transmission, with early treatment (within two days of symptoms) preventing 50% more infections compared to late treatment (started on days 3 to 5 after developing symptoms). Our results highlight the synergistic effect of vaccination and antiviral treatment: as vaccination rate increased, antiviral treatment had a bigger impact on overall transmission. These results suggest that antiviral treatments can become a strategic tool that, in combination with vaccination, can significantly control SASRS-CoV-2 transmission and reduce COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.


2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. S323-S324
Author(s):  
C. Della Corte ◽  
R. D’ambrosio ◽  
N. Piazza O Sed ◽  
A. Sangiovanni ◽  
A.M. Aghemo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

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