This randomized, multicenter clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of 2 treatments for deep caries lesions - partial caries removal (PCR) and stepwise excavation (SW) - with respect to the primary outcome of pulp vitality for a 3-year follow-up period. Inclusion criteria were as follows: patients with permanent molars presenting deep caries lesions (lesion affecting ≥ 1/2 of the dentin on radiographic examination), positive response to a cold test, absence of spontaneous pain, negative sensitivity to percussion, and absence of periapical lesions (radiographic examination). Teeth randomly assigned to PCR (test) received incomplete caries removal and filling in a single session. Outcome success was evaluated by assessment of pulp vitality, determined by pulp sensitivity to a cold test and the absence of periapical lesions. Data were analyzed by a Weibull regression model with shared frailty term (survival analysis). At baseline, 299 treatments were executed: PCR, 152 and SW, 147. By the end of the 3-year follow-up period, 213 teeth had been evaluated. Adjusted survival rates were 91% for PCR and 69% for SW (p = 0.004). These results suggest that there is no need to re-open a cavity and perform a second excavation for pulp vitality to be preserved (Clinical trials registration NCT00887952).

SummaryBackground  Depression and anxiety have been associated with interferon treatment and low treatment adherence.Aim  To study the incidence and associated risk factors of depressive and anxiety disorders during pegylated interferon plus ribavirin and treatment adherence in a prospective cohort of 176 patients with chronic hepatitis C patients.Methods  Patients were interviewed at baseline using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV Mental Disorders and the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were completed. Both questionnaires were completed also after 4, 12 and 24 weeks of treatment.Results  De novo depressive and/or anxiety disorders were diagnosed in 53 (36%) patients, in whom antidepressants and/or anxiolytics were administered. Higher baseline depression‐subscale score (OR = 27.8, 95% CI = 2.82–333), primary education level (OR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.40–7.03) and being an immigrant (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.12–9.47) were predictors of psychiatric disorders during anti‐viral therapy. The percentage of patients with good adherence was lower in those with depression and/or anxiety (79% vs. 90%, P < 0.04). Only one patient (1%) discontinued treatment because of a major depressive episode. Depression and/or anxiety disorders had no effect on attainment of sustained virological response.Conclusion  Early detection and treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders favours good adherence to anti‐viral treatment in hepatitis C.

The main goal of this study was to assess the role of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) during interruption of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Seventeen patients with early-stage chronic HIV type 1 infection were treated with HAART for 12 months. They were then randomized (day 0) to receive MMF (HAART-MMF group, n = 9) or to continue the regimen (HAART group, n = 6) for 120 additional days. At day 120 in the HAART-MMF group, HAART was discontinued, and MMF administration was continued. The primary end point of the study was the number of individuals maintaining a plasma viral load (VL) set point of <200 copies/mL after at least 6 months off HAART. At day 120, all patients in both groups had undetectable plasma VLs. After 6 months off HAART, 5 of 9 patients in the HAART-MMF group versus 1 of 6 patients in the HAART group maintained a plasma VL of <200 copies/mL (P = 0.28). According to the ability of their plasma to inhibit cellular proliferation, patients were reclassified and divided into an inhibition group (n = 6) and a no inhibition group (n = 9). The doubling time of VL rebound was significantly higher in the inhibition group (mean +/- SE, 10.22 +/- 1.3) than in the no inhibition group (mean +/- SE, 4.6 +/- 1.6; P = 0.03). Moreover, 5 of 6 patients in the inhibition group maintained a plasma VL of <200 copies/mL versus 1 of 9 patients in the no inhibition group (P = 0.005) after 6 months off HAART. We found that combining MMF and HAART delayed VL rebound and improved control of viral replication without HAART but only when inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation was achieved.

Human interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) inhibit African swine fever (ASF) virus replication in Vero cells. IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma exert a synergistic inhibition. Human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) does not inhibit ASF virus replication in this cell line, but in combination with IFNs it has antiviral enhancing activity. Analysis of the mechanism of inhibition suggests that the action of these cytokines blocks a step that comes prior to DNA replication. The 2'-5' A synthetase activity is induced in Vero cells by treatment with these cytokines and is activated after ASF virus infection. More interesting is the finding that continuous treatment with IFN-alpha cures Vero cells from lytic and persistent infections with ASF virus. A potential application of IFN for the treatment of animals carrying the virus is suggested.

VAC-3S is a therapeutic vaccine comprising a highly conserved HIV-gp41 motif coupled with the CRM197 carrier protein. High levels of anti-3S antibodies (Abs) have been associated with improved protection of CD4 + T-cell survival. A previous phase 1 study demonstrated the safety of VAC-3S. This multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical trial enroled between January 2014 and March 2015 HIV-1-infected patients under ART with plasma HIV RNA levels below 50 copies/mL and CD4 counts between 200 and 500 cells/μL. Participants were immunised with 16, 32, or 64 μg of VAC-3S, and compared to placebo. The primary outcome was immunogenicity assessed by changes from baseline of anti-3S Abs levels at week 12. Secondary outcomes included adverse events and the course of plasma HIV RNA level, CD4 count, CD4/CD8 ratio, inflammation and immune checkpoints from week 0 to week 48. Vaccination was well tolerated with no serious adverse events and induced a significant increase in anti-3S Ab response in vaccinated patients ( p < 0.0001), compared to placebo. In high responders, the robust increased of CD4 count was associated with a significant and sustained reduction of PD-1 expression on CD4 + T cells through week 48 (variance p = 0.0017). PD-1 expression was correlated with level of anti-3S Abs ( p = 0.0092, r = −0.68) and expression of NKp44L ( p < 0.0001; r = 0.54) in CD4 + T cells. Our findings regarding the increase of non-exhausted CD4 + T cells have potentially important application in personalised HIV vaccination for HIV-infected patients with high level of PD-1 to improve their T-cell immune function.