Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the West of Scotland: a cohort study.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic had an undoubted impact on the provision of elective and emergency cancer care, including the diagnosis and management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aim was to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with HCC in the West of Scotland.

Design: This was a retrospective audit of a prospectively collated database of patients presented to the West of Scotland Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) between April and October 2020 (during the pandemic), comparing baseline demographics, characteristics of disease at presentation, diagnostic workup, treatment and outcomes with patients from April to October 2019 (pre pandemic).

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk Scores Predict Patients Under Surveillance at Low Risk of Benefit and High Risk of Harm.

Aims: Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is recommended for patients with cirrhosis. Multiple risk scores aim to stratify HCC risk, potentially allowing individualized surveillance strategies. We sought to validate four risk scores and quantify the consequences of surveillance via the calculation of numbers needed to benefit (NNB) and harm (NNH) according to classification by risk score strata.

The association between deprivation and the incidence and survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the West of Scotland.

Introduction: This study set out to examine the association between deprivation and the incidence of HCC and survival following diagnosis in the West of Scotland.

Methods: Data were gathered on patients from the prospective West of Scotland regional HCC database from November 2014 to August 2017. Patients were included if they had a new diagnosis of HCC.

Eight weeks of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir for genotype 3 hepatitis C in previously untreated patients with significant (F2/3) fibrosis.

Twelve weeks sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) is a highly effective pan-genotypic regimen for hepatitis C. Phase 2 data suggest 8 weeks of treatment may be sufficient for previously untreated noncirrhotic patients with genotype 3 (GT3) infection. To maximize the number of patients potentially cured within a fixed treatment budget, we elected to treat such patients locally eligible for treatment (F2/3), with 8 weeks of SOF/VEL.

Efficacy of direct-acting antivirals: UK real-world data from a well-characterised predominantly cirrhotic HCV cohort.

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have revolutionised the management of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We describe UK real-world DAA experience. Individuals commencing HCV treatment containing a DAA regimen (Mar 2014-Nov 2016), participating in the National HCV Research UK (HCVRUK) Cohort Study were recruited from 33 UK HCV centers.

Successful infliximab treatment for steroid-refractory celiac disease: a case report.

Celiac disease is a T cell-mediated enteropathy induced by gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. The majority of patients responds to a gluten-free diet but a small number do not. After the exclusion of gluten in the diet, ulcerative jejunititis, and an enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, another treatment modalities, such as systemic steroids and immunosuppressives, may be necessary.