Linked color imaging versus narrow-band imaging for colorectal polyp detection: a prospective randomized tandem colonoscopy study.

Background And Aims: Linked color imaging (LCI) is a newly available image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE) system that emphasizes the red mucosal color. No study has yet compared LCI with other available IEE systems. Our aim was to investigate polyp detection rates using LCI compared with narrow-band imaging (NBI).

Territory-wide population-based study of chronic hepatitis C infection and implications for hepatitis elimination in Hong Kong.

Background: To study the epidemiology of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in Hong Kong and to estimate the service gap for achieving the WHO hepatitis elimination targets of attaining a diagnosis rate of 90%, treatment rate of 80% and 65% reduction in mortality rate by 2030.

Methods: From January 2005 to March 2017, patients who were tested positive for anti-HCV were retrospectively retrieved from all public hospitals in Hong Kong. The epidemiological data of 15 participating hospitals were analysed.

Prevention of post-sphincterotomy bleeding by proton pump inhibitor: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Post-endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) bleeding is one of the most frequent complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Although the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduces the risk of peptic ulcer bleeding, their role in preventing EST bleeding has not been evaluated. This study aimed to assess the use of pre-emptive PPIs in patients undergoing EST.

Real-life efficacy and safety of paritaprevir/ritonavir, ombitasvir, and dasabuvir in chronic hepatitis C patients in Hong Kong.

Background And Aim: In registration studies, combination therapy of paritaprevir/ritonavir, ombitasvir, and dasabuvir (PrOD) with and without ribavirin for 12-24 weeks can achieve > 90% sustained virological response (SVR) for genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, data in Asia is scanty. We aimed to study the efficacy and safety of this combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients in Hong Kong.

To fine needle aspiration or not? An endosonographer's approach to pancreatic cystic lesions.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) is an established diagnostic tool in the management of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs). Due to the proximity to the target lesion, the fine diagnostic needle travels through only minimal normal tissues. The risks of bleeding, pancreatitis and infection are small.

Detection of colorectal adenoma by narrow band imaging (HQ190) vs. high-definition white light colonoscopy: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The benefits of narrow band imaging (NBI) on enhancing colorectal adenoma detection remain questionable. We tested whether the new generation of NBI (190-NBI), which is twice as bright as the previous version, would improve adenoma detection when compared with high-definition white light (HD-WL) colonoscopy.

Methods: It was a randomized controlled trial with tandem colonoscopy.

Ten day sequential versus 10 day modified bismuth quadruple therapy as empirical firstline and secondline treatment for Helicobacter pylori in Chinese patients: an open label, randomised, crossover trial.

Objective: Treatments with sequential therapy (SEQ) or bismuth quadruple (QUAD) therapy have been proposed as empirical firstline regimens for Helicobacter pylori. We compared the efficacy and tolerability of 10 day SEQ with 10 day modified QUAD as both firstline and secondline treatments for H pylori in a randomised crossover study.

Design: H pylori positive and treatment naïve patients were randomly assigned to receive either 10 day SEQ (esomeprazole for 10 days, amoxicillin for an initial 5 days, followed by clarithromycin and metronidazole for a subsequent 5 days) or modified QUAD (esomeprazole, bismuth subcitrate, tetracycline and metronidazole).

Reduction of liver stiffness following resolution of acute flares of chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Measuring liver stiffness is becoming more popular as a non-invasive tool for assessing liver fibrosis.

Aim: To assess the effect of severe hepatitis B flare on liver stiffness and determine factors that correlate with liver stiffness measurements.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with severe hepatitis B flare (ALT > 10 × upper limit of normal) were followed up for 1 year.

Prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection in a highly endemic area for chronic hepatitis B: a study of a large blood donor population.

Background And Aims: The aim of the present study was to determine the population prevalence of occult hepatitis B (OHB) infection and its clinical profile in a highly endemic area of chronic hepatitis B virus disease.

Methods: OHB was first identified by individual sample testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) followed by nucleic acid testing (NAT) and vice versa for 3044 (cohort 1, stored sera from donation within 1 year) and 9990 (cohort 2, prospective study) blood donors, respectively. OHB was confirmed meticulously by ≥2 out of 3 tests with detectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA using a sensitive standardised assay.

Safety evaluation of telbivudine.

Importance Of The Field: Successful treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) often requires long-term oral nucleoside/nucleotide agents which can be associated with viral resistance, patient non-compliance and adverse effects. Telbivudine is one of the more potent options available, with a 6.5- to 6.

Correlation of liver stiffness and histological features in healthy persons and in patients with occult hepatitis B, chronic active hepatitis B, or hepatitis B cirrhosis.

Objectives: Liver stiffness measurement using transient elastography has become a popular tool to assess liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to determine liver stiffness values and histological features in healthy subjects and in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: A total of 157 people were included (28 healthy subjects and 18 patients with occult hepatitis B infection, 102 with active CHB, and 9 with end-stage hepatitis B cirrhosis).

Clarithromycin-amoxycillin-containing triple therapy: a valid empirical first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori eradication in Hong Kong?

Background: Recent studies have suggested the eradication rate for Helicobacter pylori infection with standard amoxycillin-clarithromycin-containing triple therapy as first-line treatment have fallen below 80%. Levofloxacin-containing triple therapy was proposed as an alternative. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy and tolerability of the standard 7-day clarithromycin-containing triple therapy against the 7-day levofloxacin-containing triple therapy, and to assess whether the classical triple therapy is still valid as empirical first-line treatment for H.

Independent risk factors and predictive score for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B.

Background/aims: To determine whether gender, age, hepatitis B virus genotype, core promoter and precore mutations, HBeAg/ anti-HBe status, HBV DNA, ALT levels and cirrhosis on presentation were independent risk factors and derive a novel risk score for the development of HCC.

Methods: CHB patients (820) were followed up (mean duration 76.8 months) for the occurrence of HCC.

Factors affecting physicians' practices related to Helicobacter pylori infection: effect of experience and mode of practice.

Background: Studies found that guidelines on the management of Helicobacter pylori were not always followed in clinical practice. This study investigated factors that were responsible for the deviation.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a structured self-administered questionnaire was used to ask physicians whether they would offer testing and treatment for H.

Twenty-two years follow-up of a prospective randomized trial of hepatitis B vaccines without booster dose in children: final report.

Long-term immunogenicity and efficacy of HBVvaccination with different regimens of HBV vaccines (A: 2-dose recombinant vs. B: 3-dose recombinant vs. C: 3-dose plasma-derived vaccines) without booster dose were examined in 318 Chinese children.

HBsAg Seroclearance in chronic hepatitis B in Asian patients: replicative level and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Our aims were to study the virologic, histologic, and clinical outcome in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance.

Methods: We determined the age of HBsAg seroclearance that is associated with a lower risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 298 CHB patients (median follow-up, 108 months). The following virologic and histologic features were also determined: liver stiffness (n = 229), liver histology, serum HBV DNA levels over time (n = 265), intrahepatic HBV DNA with covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) levels, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression.

Prevalence of fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B: implications for treatment and management.

Objective: To document the prevalence and factors associated with severe fibrosis and cirrhosis in a large population of Asian chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: Transient elastography was performed in unselected CHB patients. Liver stiffness score of <8.