Incidence of primary hepatitis C infection among people who inject drugs during 2012-2020 in Athens, Greece.

One of the World Health Organization's targets for the 2030 viral hepatitis elimination strategy is to reduce new hepatitis C (HCV) infections. In Athens, Greece, people who inject drugs (PWID) have a high HCV prevalence, with increasing trends since the 2000s. This analysis aims to assess primary HCV incidence among PWID during 2012-2020.

High levels of all-cause mortality among people who inject drugs from 2018 to 2022.

Background: Mortality among people who inject drugs (PWID) is high, with overdose and HIV infection being the main causes of death. In Greece, there have been no data on mortality, and two HIV outbreaks have been recorded in this population in the past decade. In this study, we aim to estimate the all-cause crude mortality rate and the standardised mortality ratio in this population during 2018-2022.

Assessment of dietary habits and the adequacy of dietary intake of patients with cirrhosis-the KIRRHOS study.

Background & Aims: Undernutrition is widely prevalent in patients with cirrhosis and affects prognosis. Given the lack of data regarding the dietary intake (DI) and habits of patients with cirrhosis, the aim of the present study was to evaluate them by assessing diet's adequacy compared to the new guidelines, and the association of DI with nutritional status indicators.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-seven patients (57.

Validation of cutoffs for skeletal muscle mass index based on computed tomography analysis against dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in patients with cirrhosis: the KIRRHOS study.

Background: Accurate assessments of muscle mass in patients with cirrhosis are necessary in clinical practice. Computed tomography (CT) of the upper abdomen has been proposed as a useful method for quantifying muscle mass. Recently, Carey et al developed specific cutoffs for muscle wasting based on the skeletal muscle index at the L3 vertebra (L3-SMI) for cirrhotic patients.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of eight screening tools in detecting risk of malnutrition in cirrhotic patients: the KIRRHOS study.

Malnutrition risk screening in cirrhotic patients is crucial, as poor nutritional status negatively affects disease prognosis and survival. Given that a variety of malnutrition screening tools is usually used in routine clinical practice, the effectiveness of eight screening tools in detecting malnutrition risk in cirrhotic patients was sought. A total of 170 patients (57·1 % male, 59·4 (sd 10·5) years, 50·6 % decompensated ones) with cirrhosis of various aetiologies were enrolled.

Improvements in clinical characteristics of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, after an intervention based on the Mediterranean lifestyle: a randomised controlled clinical trial.

Lifestyle interventions remain the cornerstone therapy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This randomised controlled single-blind clinical trial investigated the effect of Mediterranean diet (MD) or Mediterranean lifestyle, along with weight loss, in NAFLD patients. In all, sixty-three overweight/obese patients (50 (sd 11) years, BMI=31·8 (sd 4·5) kg/m2, 68 % men) with ultrasonography-proven NAFLD (and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels) were randomised to the following groups: (A) control group (CG), (B) Mediterranean diet group (MDG) or (C) Mediterranean lifestyle group (MLG).

Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: This study aimed to assess the significance of serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: Sixty-seven consecutive NAFLD patients and 47 healthy controls who visited our liver clinics between May 2008 and December 2010 were included. The NAFLD diagnosis required elevated alanine aminotransferase and/or gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels, evidence of hepatic steatosis on ultrasound and/or liver histology, and exclusion of other causes of liver injury.

A "healthy diet-optimal sleep" lifestyle pattern is inversely associated with liver stiffness and insulin resistance in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Several lifestyle habits have been described as risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Given that both healthy and unhealthy habits tend to cluster, the aim of this study was to identify lifestyle patterns and explore their potential associations with clinical characteristics of individuals with NAFLD. One hundred and thirty-six consecutive patients with ultrasound-proven NAFLD were included.

Adherence to follow-up and treatment recommendations in Greek and immigrant patients with chronic hepatitis B in Greece.

Background/aim: Immigrants have multiple barriers to access to health care systems. We evaluated the adherence to follow-up and treatment recommendations of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) Greek and immigrant patients.

Methods: In total, 1001 consecutive adult patients with chronic HBV infection who visited our clinics for the first time between 2002 and 2011 were included.

Reliability and applicability of two-dimensional shear-wave elastography for the evaluation of liver stiffness.

Background/aim: Two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) is a new elastographic technique that is increasingly being used across several indications. We assessed the reliability and applicability of 2D-SWE in patients with various chronic liver diseases and attempted to identify parameters potentially affecting liver stiffness.

Methods: We included all patients with chronic liver disease who underwent 2D-SWE examination over a 15-month period.

Changes in serum transforming growth factor-β1 levels in chronic hepatitis C patients under antiviral therapy.

Background: Several cytokines including transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 have been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. We examined the changes of TGF-β1 serum levels and their predictive value in patients with chronic hepatitis C under antiviral therapy.

Methods: We included 84 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were treated with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin between 2008 and 2009.

The interferon receptor-1 promoter polymorphisms affect the outcome of Caucasians with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection.

Background & Aims: The outcome of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients who may remain in the inactive carrier state (IC) or progress to HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B may be affected by the host genetic profile. Genetic polymorphisms within not only the promoter but also the coding sequence of the interferon receptor 1 (INFAR1) gene have been associated with susceptibility to chronic HBV infection, but their role on the outcomes of HBeAg-negative patients has not been evaluated. We examined the association of INFAR1 promoter polymorphisms with the phase of chronic HBV infection in a demographically characterized Caucasian cohort of 183 consecutive HBeAg-negative chronic HBV patients.

Elastography for hepatic fibrosis severity in chronic hepatitis B or C.

Aims: To assess the value of transient elastography for predicting significant fibrosis or cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B or C (CHB or CHC) patients.

Methods: 75 patients (CHB: 45, CHC: 32) were included. All underwent elastography and liver biopsy concurrently.

Concomitant diagnosis of myeloproliferative neoplasm and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a patient with portal vein thrombosis.

We describe here the rare coexistence, at the time of diagnosis, of a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in a 74-year-old patient who presented with thrombocytosis and signs of portal hypertension on physical examination. Abdominal computed tomography scan demonstrated extensive portal vein system thrombosis. Secondary causes of thrombocytosis were excluded.