ETV was more effective in reducing AFP levels; mean time to AFP normalization was 11.9 weeks after ETV treatment initiation vs 22.3 weeks in peginterferon treated patients (P = 0.000). An additional cohort of 93 hepatitis B virus (HBV) cirrhotic patients with elevated AFP were treated with ETV prospectively and maintained under intensive surveillance. HCC developed in 16 (17.2%) patients in whom the strongest independent predictor was a continued Pevonedistat purchase AFP rise in spite of ongoing treatment. In this context, nodules of sizes 10-14 mm and 15-20 mm were detected in 40% of patients each. In conclusion, HBV cirrhotic patients with

rising AFP levels were at very high risk of HCC development. Early detection of minute lesions may be possible by monitoring AFP levels, whilst patients are on treatment in conjunction with enhanced computed tomography examination.”
“The ion swarm data, namely, the reduced mobility, diffusion, and reaction rates of the positive tetratomic ions O(4)(+) and N(2)O(2)(+) in N(2) and O(2) have been determined from a Monte Carlo simulation using calculated and fitted elastic and inelastic cross sections. The elastic momentum transfer cross sections have been determined from a semiclassical

Jeffreys-Wentzell-Kramers-Brilouin (JWKB) approximation based on a rigid core potential model well adapted for polyatomic ions. The inelastic cross sections have been approximated from considerations based on the N(4)(+)/O(2) and N(4)(+)/N(2) selleck products systems. The validated cross SYN-117 nmr section sets in pure N(2) and O(2) have been used to determine the O(4)(+) and N(2)O(2)(+) swarm data in dry air over a large E/N range up to 1000 Td. However, due to the lack of experimental ion transport coefficients necessary for a more rigorous cross section validation, the present data, validated only at low E/N, should be regarded as a first approximation, susceptible to improvements as soon as measurements of ion transport coefficients become available in the literature. Then, the present data are used in a two-dimensional discharge

dynamics fluid model for the simulation of the primary and secondary streamers for the case of a positive point-to-plane corona discharge in dry air. Relevant characteristics such as discharge current, charged particle densities, space charge electric field and the variation in active species like N and O radicals (very useful in many nonthermal plasma applications) are analyzed and discussed with and without the consideration of three positive tetratomic ions (N(4)(+), O4+, and N(2)O(2)(+)). More particularly, the non-negligible effect of O(4)(+), in the dynamics of the primary and secondary streamers during the discharge propagation and relaxation stages is highlighted with an emphasis on the role of the related kinetic reactions occurring between the different charged particles. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.