Non-invasive assessment of portal hypertension in patients with primary biliary cholangitis is affected by severity of cholestasis.

Background&aims: Non-invasive tests (NITs) for ruling-out clinical significant portal hypertension (CSPH) and high-risk varices (HRV) in patients with primary biliary cholangitis(PBC) and compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) are lacking. We evaluated NITs in these patients and the influence of cholestasis on their performance.

Methods: Consecutive patients from the "Italian PBC registry" and two UK large-volume PBC referral centres with upper endoscopy within 6 months from biochemical evaluation and transient elastography were included.

Elimination of HCV Infection: Recent Epidemiological Findings, Barriers, and Strategies for the Coming Years.

Hepatitis C is a disease for which in approximately 30 years we have gone from the discovery of the causative agent in 1989, to the introduction of direct-acting antiviral (DAAs) therapies starting from 2011, and to a proposal for its elimination in 2016, with some countries being on track for this goal. Elimination efforts, in the absence of a vaccine, rely on prevention measures and antiviral therapies. However, treatment rates have declined in recent years and are not considered adequate to achieve this goal at a global level.

Eco-friendly Synthesis and Molecular Modelling of 2-Phenylimidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine Derivatives: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies for Lead Optimization.

7-methyl-2-phenylimidazo[1,2-b]pyridazin-3-carboxylic acid (DM1) and 6-methoxy-2-phenylimidazo[1,2-b]pyridazin-3-carboxylic acid (DM2) have been shown to act as human (h) Cav voltage-gated calcium channel blockers with promising in vivo anti-absence activity, positioning them as potential antiepileptic drugs. The primary aim of this work was to develop cost-effective and environmentally friendly synthetic procedures for preparing 2-phenylimidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives. After optimizing the synthesis of this compound class using efficient and green techniques such as microwaves and ultrasound irradiation, we further evaluated the antiepileptic effects of DM1 and DM2 in two animal models: CD-1 ICR mice after pentylenetetrazol administration and DBA/2 mice with seizures induced by audiogenic stimuli.