Association Between Nonselective Beta-Blocker Use and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Without Cirrhosis and Decompensation.

Nonselective beta-blockers (NSBBs) can reduce the incidence or mortality of certain types of cancers, and NSBBs exert a protective effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis. However, the potential preventive effect of NSBBs has not yet been investigated in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who have a high HCC risk regardless of the presence of underlying cirrhosis. This study evaluated the association between NSBB use and HCC incidence in patients with CHB without cirrhosis and decompensation.

Association Between Acid-Suppressive Agents' Use and Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Acid-suppressive agents (ASAs), which are mostly used in patients with upper gastrointestinal diseases (UGIDs), may influence the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients with UGID who used ASAs and those who did not receive ASAs were identified.

Increased Risk of Acute Pancreatitis in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

The study was conducted to determine whether patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk of acute pancreatitis compared with those without RA and to determine if the risk of acute pancreatitis varied by anti-RA drug use. We used the large population-based dataset from the National Health Insurance (NHI) program in Taiwan to conduct a retrospective cohort study. Patients newly diagnosed with RA between 2000 and 2011 were referred to as the RA group.

A fast screening procedure for ketamine and metabolites in urine samples with tandem mass spectrometry.

A screening method based on electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) was developed. Urine samples were spiked with ketamine-d(4) and norketamine-d(4) as internal standard and extracted with 0.5 mL ethyl acetate.

Albutropin: a growth hormone-albumin fusion with improved pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in rats and monkeys.

Growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy is used to treat GH deficiency. Treatment requires daily administration because of the short plasma t(1/2) of GH. Albutropin, human GH fused at its N-terminus with human serum albumin, should be cleared from the circulation more slowly than GH.