Development and validation of a faecal immunochemical test-based model in the work-up of patients with iron deficiency anaemia.

Objective: In patients with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), the diagnostic yield of gastroscopy and colonoscopy (bidirectional endoscopy) in detecting neoplastic lesions is low. This study aimed to develop and validate a faecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based model to optimise the work-up of patients with IDA.

Methods: Outpatients with IDA were enrolled in a prospective, multicentre study from April 2016 to October 2019.

An artificial intelligence-generated model predicts 90-day survival in alcohol-associated hepatitis: A global cohort study.

Background And Aims: Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) poses significant short-term mortality. Existing prognostic models lack precision for 90-day mortality. Utilizing artificial intelligence in a global cohort, we sought to derive and validate an enhanced prognostic model.

Reengagement strategies for hepatitis C patients lost to follow-up: A randomized clinical trial.

Background And Aims: To achieve the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating HCV by 2030, reengagement of lost to follow-up cases is mandatory. However, there is lack of evidence concerning the best strategy. Our study evaluated the effectiveness, efficiency, predictive factors, and costs of 2 different strategies.

Bariatric Surgery Is Associated with Alcohol-Related Liver Disease and Psychiatric Disorders Associated with AUD.

Background/aims: Bariatric surgery can increase the risk of addictive disorders and nutritional deficiencies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between bariatric surgery and alcohol use disorder (AUD), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), and psychiatric disorders associated with AUD. The impact of vitamin D deficiency in these associations was also investigated.

Asynchronous electronic consultation between primary care and specialized care proved effective for continuum of care for viraemic hepatitis C patients.

Introduction: It has been proposed that primary care diagnose and treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, a care circuit between primary and specialized care based on electronic consultation (EC) can be just as efficient in the micro-elimination of HCV. It is proposed to study characteristics and predictive factors of continuity of care in a circuit between primary and specialized care.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia promotes early intrahepatic endothelial impairment in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a progressive disease that ranges from simple steatosis to cirrhosis. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) are implicated in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. However, the overlapping consequences of CIH on liver sinusoidal endothelial function over time in NAFLD are largely unknown.

Appropriateness of high-priority criteria and safety of endoscopy procedures during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Background: During the coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) pandemic, gastroenterology guidelines recommended the suspension or reduction of non-urgent endoscopy. We aimed to assess the appropriateness and safety of endoscopic activity during the pandemic first wave lockdown using European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) recommendations.

Methods: We identified scheduled patients from the onset of the lockdown in Spain since March 16, 2020) to April 14, 2020.

Hepatitis C virus infection screening reduces mortality and is cost-effective independently of the intervention test.

Introduction: Chronic infection due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) is frequently asymptomatic even in advanced stages of liver disease. Implementation of a screening program based on different HCV tests may enable an earlier diagnosis of HCV liver disease and subsequent application of highly effective treatment.

Patients And Methods: A Markov model which compares three different screening strategies for hepatitis C versus no screening in low-risk prevalence (general population) and high-risk prevalence population (people who inject drugs or prison population) was designed, taking into account age at the start of screening and participation.

A slowdown of hepatitis C diagnosis in high-prevalence groups and with decentralized diagnostic strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis by hindering the path to elimination. Albeit, in an uneven manner, depending on the risk group and diagnostic strategy.

Methods: the requests of antibodies/RNA by venipuncture at hospitals and Primary Care centers (centralized) and via venipuncture or dried blood spot tests at prison and drug treatment centers referred for central processing (integrated decentralized) were recorded for one year, before and after the onset of the COVID-19 health crisis.

Estimated glomerular filtration rate by formulas in patients with cirrhosis: An unreliable procedure.

Background & Aims: In cirrhosis, the reliability of formulas that estimate renal function, either those specifically developed in this population or the classic equations, has not been properly quantified. We studied the agreement between estimated (eGFR) and measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) in cirrhosis.

Methods: Renal function was estimated with 56 formulas including specific equations: Glomerular Filtration Rate Assessment in Liver Disease (GRAIL), Royal Free Hospital Cirrhosis (RFHC) and Mindikoglu-eGFR, and measured with a gold standard procedure; plasma clearance of iohexol using dried blood spots sampling in a group of cirrhotics.

Late presentation of chronic HBV and HCV patients seeking first time specialist care in Spain: a 2-year registry review.

Chronic viral hepatitis infection affects an estimated 325 million people globally. People who initiate treatment after significant disease progression face increased risk of severe liver complications and death. Data are scarce on the characteristics and risk factors of people who present late to care in Spain and globally.

Identification of optimal therapeutic window for steroid use in severe alcohol-associated hepatitis: A worldwide study.

Background & Aims: Corticosteroids are the only effective therapy for severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH), defined by a model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score >20. However, there are patients who may be too sick to benefit from therapy. Herein, we aimed to identify the range of MELD scores within which steroids are effective for AH.

Hepatitis C-treated patients as a potential source for referral of new cases.

Introduction: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are an opportunity for hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination. Strategies are needed to diagnose new patients and to attract those diagnosed without evaluation. Patients with other chronic viral diseases who receive satisfactory treatment promote referral of other patients for evaluation.

Telemedicine and decentralized hepatitis C treatment as a strategy to enhance retention in care among people attending drug treatment centres.

Background: People attending drug treatment centres have a high burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and face barriers to diagnosis and treatment. Dried blood spot (DBS) testing has been proposed to simplify diagnosis, but many patients remain untreated. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the reasons for non-retention in care in an intervention using on-site DBS testing and the effect of telemedicine and decentralized care compared to standard of care among people attending drug treatment centres who were lost to follow-up.

Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on liver cancer management (CERO-19).

Background & Aims: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems and it may have heavily impacted patients with liver cancer (LC). Herein, we evaluated whether the schedule of LC screening or procedures has been interrupted or delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: An international survey evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical practice and clinical trials from March 2020 to June 2020, as the first phase of a multicentre, international, and observational project.

Comparison of flipped learning and traditional lecture method for teaching digestive system diseases in undergraduate medicine: A prospective non-randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: This study examined the effects of a large-scale flipped learning (FL) approach in an undergraduate course of Digestive System Diseases.

Methods: This prospective non-randomized trial recruited 404 students over three academic years. In 2016, the course was taught entirely in a Traditional Lecture (TL) style, in 2017 half of the course (Medical topics) was replaced by FL while the remaining half (Surgical topics) was taught by TL and in 2018, the whole course was taught entirely by FL.

Integrated Multiomics Reveals Glucose Use Reprogramming and Identifies a Novel Hexokinase in Alcoholic Hepatitis.

Background & Aims: We recently showed that alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is characterized by dedifferentiation of hepatocytes and loss of mature functions. Glucose metabolism is tightly regulated in healthy hepatocytes. We hypothesize that AH may lead to metabolic reprogramming of the liver, including dysregulation of glucose metabolism.

Sexual behaviour and poor hygiene are related to recent hepatitis a virus community outbreaks.

Objectives: there has been a global increase in the incidence of hepatitis A infection. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of the increase in our region and the degree of adherence to the recommended hygienic measures after discharge from hospital.

Methods: demographic, clinical and biochemical variables were collected from patients with acute hepatitis A in our health area.

Diagnostic test accuracy of the cobas 6800 system for detection of hepatitis c virus viraemia levels from dried blood spots.

Introduction: Because hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is curable in the majority of cases, the diagnosis of all infected patients has become a priority. In difficult-to-diagnose populations, simpler diagnostic methods are required such as the use of dried blood spots (DBS) as an alternative to blood drawn by venipuncture (VP). Before being able to include it as a HCV diagnostic detection method within the Spanish National Health System, the diagnostic accuracy of standard hospital equipment must be evaluated.

Hepatitis C virus media coverage favorably impacts on antibody testing in the non-interferon era.

Background: In the non-interferon era, many patients still remain untested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Our aim was to determine if media coverage, number and type of news, can influence the rate of HCV testing.

Methods: For each calendar year we searched from national, regional and local newspapers for articles published related to HCV between 2001 and 2013 (interferon era) and 2014-2018 (non-interferon era) and the HCV tests performed.