“
“Background: There are few published data characterizing patterns of liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) among HCV-infected persons and their potential impact on clinical decisions (for example, deferring treatment and hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance).\n\nMethods: A total of 591 HCV-infected injection drug users in a community-based cohort had four LSMs. We used semi-parametric

latent class growth modelling to identify patterns, which then became a gold standard against which we characterized validity of information from the initial measurements.\n\nResults: Median age was 49, 68% were male, 92% African-American and 33% HIV-coinfected. The median LSM at visit 1 was 6.7 kPa (IQR 5.3-8.8). check details Over a median 1.75 years, LSM ISRIB measures were stable; median change between visits was 0 kPa (IQR -1.4-1.7). Only 3% had evidence of fibrosis progression. Other groups included stable patterns of no fibrosis (59%), moderate fibrosis (21%), severe fibrosis (7%) and cirrhosis (9%). Individuals with fibrosis progression were more likely to be HIV-infected than those with stable low fibrosis (P<0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of the first LSM for identification of need for cancer surveillance (cirrhosis >= 12.3 kPa) was high (positive predictive

value = 97%). Although no single low LSM had high negative predictive value for significant fibrosis (metavir <2), individuals with two or more low results rarely had progression.\n\nConclusions:

These data underscore the stability of liver fibrosis in a cohort of predominantly African-American HCV-infected persons over 1.75 years, support using LSMs to monitor untreated persons at risk for progression and assess need for hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance.”
“Twelve compounds were isolated from the rhizoma of Paris polyphylla Smith var. pubescens Handel-Mazzetti. Based on spectral data, the isolated compounds were identified as stigmasterol (1), beta-Ecdysterone (2), Diosgenin (3), Ophiopogonin C’ (4), Diosgenin-3-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl(1 -> 4)-beta-D-glucoside (5), Dioscin (6), Paris saponin I (7), Paris saponin 11 (8), Pennogenin-3-O-alpha-L- arabinofuranosyl (1 -> 4)- beta- D-glucoside (9), Paris saponin VI (10), Pennogennin- 3-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl(1 GSK-J4 -> 4)[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1 -> 2)-beta-D-glucoside (11) and Paris saponin VII (12). Their cytotoxicity and anti-migration on mouse B16 melanoma cells were evaluated.”
“”Live” singing to persons with dementia (PWDs) may be an underused but highly accessible resource for their caregivers, regardless of qualifications. A systematic literature review sought to illuminate who sings to PWDs, and with what objectives and effects, to address the question of whether it is the singer or the singing which is effective.