Four-year Outcomes After Cessation of Tenofovir in Immune-tolerant Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

Goals: To study the long-term outcome after cessation of antiviral therapy in immune-tolerant patients.

Background: Experience in the treatment of immune-tolerant chronic hepatitis B is scanty. Some immune-tolerant patients may receive temporary antiviral therapy, such as for prevention of vertical transmission at pregnancy or prophylaxis for chemotherapy.

Cost-effectiveness of the highly effective direct-acting antivirals in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in Hong Kong.

Background And Aim: In Asia-Pacific where cost is a major concern, peginterferon plus ribavirin (PR) often remain as the standard of care in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment, while the direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are commonly recommended as retreatment. Newer DAAs can achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) of nearly 100% with pan-genotypic coverage, that is "Highly Effective DAAs." We aimed to investigate the most desirable cost range for the Highly Effective DAAs using Hong Kong as an example.

Adverse effects of vitamin D deficiency on outcomes of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: Vitamin D is an immunomodulator that might be involved in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis. We investigated the effects of vitamin D deficiency on long-term outcomes of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of 426 patients with CHB (65% male; mean age, 41 ± 13 years), who were enrolled from 1997 through 2000.

Cost effectiveness of response-guided therapy with peginterferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: The high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in Asian countries produces a substantial economic burden. Peginterferon has immunomodulatory effects and a finite course for treatment of hepatitis B, but also a high cost and side effects. The recent introduction of a 12-week stopping rule (stopping treatment after 12 weeks) has increased its appeal as a first-line treatment for hepatitis B.

Current developments in nucleoside/nucleotide analogues for hepatitis B.

There had been remarkable development in nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and evolution in treatment strategies in last 15 years. Currently, there are five NAs available for chronic hepatitis B treatment, namely lamivudine, telbivudine and entecavir (nucleoside analogues), adefovir dipivoxil and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (nucleotide analogues). The advantages of relatively infrequent side effects and easy administration per oral make NAs popular treatment options.

Efficacy of entecavir switch therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients with incomplete virological response to telbivudine.

Background: The roadmap concept suggests the use of on-treatment HBV DNA to guide treatment strategy of chronic hepatitis B patients treated by telbivudine. Our aim was to validate the roadmap approach of entecavir switch therapy in patients with incomplete response to telbivudine.

Methods: Consecutive chronic hepatitis B patients on telbivudine monotherapy were studied.

Entecavir treatment reduces hepatic events and deaths in chronic hepatitis B patients with liver cirrhosis.

Unlabelled: Entecavir is a potent antiviral agent with high genetic barrier to resistance, hence it is currently recommended as first-line antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of entecavir on clinical outcomes and deaths. It was a retrospective-prospective cohort study based on two cohorts of patients.

Association between anthropometric parameters and measurements of liver stiffness by transient elastography.

Background & Aims: We investigated the association between anthropometric parameters and results of liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) by transient elastography in healthy subjects and patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: We analyzed anthropometric and LSM data from 658 healthy subjects (37% male; mean age, 47 ± 11 years; body mass index [BMI], 21.8 ± 3.

Gastroprotective therapy does not improve outcomes of patients with Helicobacter pylori-negative idiopathic bleeding ulcers.

Background & Aims: We performed a prospective cohort study to investigate the effects of gastroprotective agents (such as proton pump inhibitors or histamine-2 receptor antagonists) on long-term clinical outcomes of patients with Helicobacter pylori-negative idiopathic bleeding ulcers.

Methods: Patients with H pylori-negative idiopathic bleeding ulcers were recruited from a single center from April 2002 to March 2009 (n = 663). Age- and sex-matched patients with H pylori-positive bleeding ulcers were used as controls (n = 633).

Coronary artery disease and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is associated with cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to determine the role of fatty liver in predicting coronary artery disease and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing coronary angiogram.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study carried out in a University hospital.

Piperacillin/tazobactam Induced Myelosuppression.

Unlabelled: Neutropenia, secondary to immune destruction or maturation arrest, is the most commonly described adverse haematological effect of beta-lactam antibiotics. We describe a case of reversible pancytopenia, with evidence of hypocellular marrow, after a prolonged course of piperacillin/tazobactam for 26 days.

Keywords: Piperacillin; Tazobactam; Myelosuppression; Neutropenia.

A hospital clinic-based survey on traditional Chinese medicine usage among chronic hepatitis B patients.

Objectives: To survey the pattern of traditional Chinese medicine usage among chronic hepatitis B patients.

Design: Self-administered questionnaire survey.

Setting: Hepatitis clinic at a university hospital in Hong Kong.