Risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in the course of chronic hepatitis B virus infection and the protective effect of therapy with nucleos(t)ide analogues

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is a major health problem worldwide, representing one of the leading causes of death. Chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection(CHB) is the most important etiologic factor of this tumor, accounting for the development of more than50% of the cases in the world. Primary prevention ofHCC is possible by hepatitis B vaccination conferring protection from HBV infection. However, according to the World Health Organization Hepatitis B Fact sheet N° 204(update of July 2014) globally there exists a large pool of > 240 million people chronically infected with HBV who are at risk for development of HCC. These individuals represent a target population for secondary prevention both of cirrhosis and of HCC. Since ongoing HBV replication in CHB is linked with the progression of the underlying liver disease to cirrhosis as well as with the development of HCC, effective antiviral treatment in CHB has also been evaluated in terms of secondary prevention of HCC. Currently, most patients with active CHB are subjected to long term treatment with the first line nucleos(t)ide analogues entecavir and tenofovir. These compounds are of high antiviral potency and have a high barrier to HBV resistance compared to lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil and even telbivudine. Many studies have shown that patients under antiviral treatment, especially those in virological remission, develop less frequently HCC compared to the untreated ones. However, the risk for development of HCC cannot be eliminated. Therefore, surveillance for the development of HCC of patients with chronic hepatitis B must be lifelong or until a time in the future when new treatments will be able to completely eradicate HBV from the liver particularly in the early stages of CHB infection. In this context, the aim of this review is to outline the magnitude of the risk for development of HCC among patients with CHB, in the various phases of the infection and in relation to virus, host and environmental factors as evaluated in the world literature. Moreover, the benefits of antiviral treatment of CHB with nucleos/tide analogs, which have changed the natural history of the disease and have reduced but not eliminated the risk of HCC are also reviewed.

Acute renal dysfunction in liver diseases

Renal dysfunction is common in liver diseases,either as part of multiorgan involvement in acute illness or secondary to advanced liver disease.The presence of renal impairment in both groups is a poor prognostic indicator.Renal failure is often multifactorial and can present as pre-renal or intrinsic renal dysfunction.Obstructive or post renal dysfunction only rarely complicates liver disease.Hepatorenal syndrome(HRS)is a unique form of renal failure associated with advanced liver disease or cirrhosis,and is characterized by functional renal impairment without significant changes in renal histology.Irrespective of the type of renal failure,renal hypoperfusion is the central pathogenetic mechanism,due either to reduced perfusion pressure or increased renal vascular resistance.Volume expansion,avoidance of precipitating factors and treatment of underlying liver disease constitute the mainstay of therapy to prevent and reverse renal impairment.Splanchnic vasoconstrictor agents,such as terlipressin,along with volume expansion,and early placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)may be effective in improving renal function in HRS.Continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)and molecular absorbent recirculating system(MARS)in selected patients may be life saving while awaiting liver transplantation.

Percutaneous microwave ablation vs radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular cancer ranks fifth among cancers and is related to chronic viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse,steatohepatitis and liver autoimmunity. Surgical resection and orthotopic liver transplantation have curative potential, but fewer than 20% of patients are suitable candidates. Interventional treatments are offered to the vast majority of patients. Radiofrequency(RFA) and microwave ablation(MWA) are among the therapeutic modalities, with similar indications which include the presence of up to three lesions, smaller than 3 cm in size, and the absence of extrahepatic disease. The therapeutic effect of both methods relies on thermal injury, but MWA uses an electromagnetic field as opposed to electrical current used in RFA. Unlike MWA, the effect of RFA is partially limited by the heat-sink effect and increased impedance of the ablated tissue. Compared with RFA, MWA attains a more predictable ablation zone, permits simultaneous treatment of multiple lesions, and achieves larger coagulation volumes in a shorter procedural time. Major complications of both methods are comparable and infrequent(approximately 2%-3%), and they include haemorrhage, infection/abscess, visceral organ injury, liver failure, and pneumothorax. RFA may incur the additional complication of skin burns. Nevertheless, there is no compelling evidence for differences in clinical outcomes, including local recurrence rates and survival.

Reasons of PEG failure to eliminate gastroesophageal reflux in mechanically ventilated patients

AIM： To investigate factors predicting failure of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy （PEG） to eliminate gastroesophageal reflux （GER）. METHODS： Twenty-nine consecutive mechanically ventilated patients were investigated. Patients were evaluated for GER by pH-metry pre-PEG and on the 7th post-PEG day. Endoscopic and histologic evidence of reflux esophagitis was also carried out. A beneficial response to PEG was considered when pH-metry on the 7th post-PEG day showed that GER was below 4%. RESULTS： Seventeen patients responded （RESP group） and 12 did not respond （N-RESP） to PEG. The mean age, sex, weight and APACHE II score were similar in both groups. GER （%） values were similar in both groups at baseline, but were significantly reduced in the RESP group compared with the N-RESP group on the 7th post-PEG day [2.5 （0.6-3.8） vs 8.1 （7.4-9.2, P 〈 0.001）]. Reflux esophagitis and the gastroesophageal flap valve （GEFV） grading differed significantly between the two groups （P = 0.031 and P = 0.020, respectively）. Histology revealed no significant differences between the two groups.CONCLUSION： Endoscopic grading of GEFV and the presence of severe reflux esophagitis are predisposing factors for failure of PEG to reduce GER in mechanically ventilated patients.

The Role of Multislice Computed Angiography of the Bronchial Arteries before Arterial Embolization in Patients with Hemoptysis

Purpose: To evaluate the role of multislice computed angiography of the bronchial arteries and nonbronchial systemic arteries in patients with hemoptysis when performed before arterial embolization procedure. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight patients with hemoptysis underwent multislice CT angiography of the bronchial arteries with dual-source 64 × 2 detector row scanner before embolization. The transverse CT images as well as the multiplanar reconstructions, the maximum intensity projections and the three-dimensional CT images were used for the depiction of bronchial arteries (the total number of the bronchial arteries, the abnormal bronchial arteries, their origin at the aorta and the diameter of the ostium). The presence of nonbronchial systemic arteries regarded as causing hemoptysis was also evaluated. Digital angiography and selective arteriograms of abnormal bronchial and nonbronchial systemic arteries were performed based on the findings of multislice computed tomography (MDCT). Results: Seventy-eight (40 right and 38 left) bronchial arteries were detected at computed angiography (CTA). Forty of the seventy-eight bronchial arteries that were detected at CTA, were considered abnormal. On selective angiography 38 of these bronchial arteries were regarded as causing hemoptysis. Two of these arteries could not be selectively catheterized and therefore could not be evaluated. All 38 bronchial arteries regarded as causing hemoptysis at selective angiography were detected prospectively at CTA as abnormal. Four bronchial arteries that were found to be responsible for hemoptysis had diameter <2 mm. Twelve nonbronchial systemic arteries were considered to be abnormal on CTA scans. Ten of these twelve nonbronchial systemic arteries were regarded on selective angiography as causing hemoptysis. Two of these arteries were found normal on angiography. All 10 nonbronchial arteries regarded as causing hemoptysis were detected at CTA scans. All bronchial and nonbronchial arteries causing hemoptysis were successfully embolized. Conclusion: MDCT angiography allows detailed identification of abnormal bronchial and nonbronchial systemic arteries using a variety of reformatted images, providing a precise road map for the interventional radiologist.

Update on Hepatitis B Virus Infection:Focus on Treatment

This review article is an update of the current treatment strategies available for chronic hepatitis B. In addition to achieving on-therapy clinical remission and suppression of HBV replication without resistance, the ultimate goal of therapy is the development of sustained remission and HBsAg loss after discontinuation of treatment. This is the closest possible to cure outcome for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. These goals can be achieved by response-guided courses of pegylated interferon (peg-IFN)-alpha at rates higher than 30%, both in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and HBeAg-negative patients. Review of the data regarding discontinuation of long term NA treatment in HBeAg-negative patients revealed that stopping such therapy is safe with high rates of sustained off treatment responses that appear to be immunologically induced. Decreasing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) titers under therapy to<500, particularly<100 IU/mL, and adding a course of peg-IFN to ongoing long term nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy increase the percentage of sustained responses following discontinuation of NA treatment.

COVID-19 rebound after oral treatment in a nursing home facility:A case series

Paxlovid(nirmatrevir/ritonavir)is a 2 drug regimen taken together twice daily for 5 days was authorized for emergency use for nonhospitalized patients who are at risk for the progression of coronavirus disease(COVID-19).However,recurrence of symptoms 2–8 days after completing the treatment course has been recently recognized.In some cases patients tested negative on a direct SARS-CoV-2 viral test and then tested positive again(rebound COVID-19).The disease is mild and requires no additional antiviral treatment.Data are limited based on anecdotal case reports and few studies.According to the available data it is unclear if rebound symptoms are due to the drug treatment,drug resistance,re-infection or impaired immunity.