No abstract

Genome-wide association studies have linked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the interleukin-28B gene to the hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) response to peginterferon/ribavirin treatment. We aimed to explore the impact on the treatment outcomes of Asian HCV-2 patients. We determined rs8105790, rs8099917, rs4803219, and rs10853728 to be candidate SNPs in 482 Asian HCV-2 patients treated with the standard of care. Because the first three SNPs were in very strong linkage disequilibrium with one another (r 2 5 0.94-0.96), rs8099917 and rs10853728 were selected for an analysis of their influence on the achievement of rapid virological response [RVR; seronegativity for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in treatment week 4] and sustained virological response (SVR; seronegativity for HCV RNA throughout 24 weeks of posttreatment follow-up). The rs10853728 genotype did not predict RVR or SVR in HCV-2 patients. However, patients with the rs8099917 TT genotype, in comparison with patients with GT/GG genotypes, had a significantly higher rate of achieving RVR (85.2% versus 72.0%, P 5 0.017) but did have not a significantly higher rate of achieving SVR (89.4% versus 86.0%). Multivariate analysis revealed that a baseline HCV viral load <400,000 IU/mL was the strongest predictor of RVR [odds ratio (OR) 5 4.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5 2.31-7.87, P < 0.001], and this was followed by advanced liver fibrosis (OR 5 0.28, 95% CI 5 0.15-0.53, P < 0.001), the carriage of the rs8099917 TT genotype (OR 5 3.10, 95% CI 5 1.34-7.21, P 5 0.008), and the pretreatment level of aspartate aminotransferase (OR 5 0.996, 95% CI 5 0.99-1.00, P 5 0.04). Nevertheless, the achievement of RVR was the single predictor of SVR with an OR of 19.37 (95% CI 5 8.89-42.23, P < 0.001), whereas the rs8099917 genotypes played no role in achieving SVR with or without RVR. Conclusion: The rs8099917 TT genotype is significantly independently predictive of RVR, which is the single best predictor of SVR, in Asian HCV-2 patients. (HEPATOLOGY 2011;53:7-13)

SSNHL patients with midtone loss have the best prognosis. This study of the audiometric patterns and prognostic factors of SSNHL allow us to better predict its outcome.

These results suggest that metabolic syndrome is an independent risk factor for sudden sensorineural hearing loss in Taiwan. Vertigo and total hearing loss were indicators of a poor outcome in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

This study, one of the largest to date to study the relationship between hyperlipidemia and NIHL, found that individuals with hypertriglyceridemia are at greater risk of NIHL. On the basis of this finding, workers exposed to high noise levels should be educated on control of triglyceride levels to help reduce their risk of NIHL.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is considered a cause of abnormal deposition of fat into hepatocytes, which might be associated with hepatic steatosis or abnormal liver function. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the factors associated with MS and the relationship between MS and abnormal aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and g-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels in Taiwanese subjects without chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or C (CHC). Subjects: We enrolled 2539 Taiwanese adults without CHB or CHC (age range: 16-88 years old) and investigated the factors related to MS using the NCEP-ATP (National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel) III criteria; body mass index (BMI) was measured using Asia-Pacific criteria. Results: The prevalence rate of MS in Taiwanese adults without CHB or CHC was 16.9% using the modified ATP III criteria and 15.4% using the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Males had a significantly higher prevalence rate than females (Po0.001), and subjects with MS were significantly older and had significantly higher BMI values and AST, ALT and GGT levels (all Po0.001). In univariate analyses, the abnormality of liver function test results were related to gender, level of fasting sugar, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, BMI and MS (all Po0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the male gender, a higher BMI value and MS were related to abnormal liver function test results. The cutoff value for ALT in relation to MS is 31 IU l À1 for male and 18 IU l À1 for female.

Squamous papillomas (SPs) are common benign neoplastic lesions, usually affecting the skin, oral mucosa, upper aerodigestive tract and genital organs. However, SPs of the external auditory canal (EAC) are rarely reported in the English literature. In this report, we present a 19-year-old female with left EAC SP. The etiology, natural course, diagnosis and management of this disease are discussed, with a brief review of the literature.

Eccrine porocarcinoma (EP) is a rare skin malignant lesion representing 0.005-0.01% of all cutaneous tumors. It is a tumor that most commonly present in elderly people aged over 60 years. Approximately 250 cases of EP have been reported since this disease was first described in 1963. However, only three cases occurring specifically on the ear (including the current case) have been documented in the literature to date. Based on the rarity of EP of the ear, we present this 78-year-old man with EP on the right ear lobule, which was diagnosed accidentally during the management of other unrelated problems. The etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this disease are discussed, with a brief review of the literature in this report.