Long-term health and economic benefits of switching to tenofovir alafenamide versus continuing on entecavir in chronic hepatitis B patients with low-level viremia in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Despite the success of current treatments, many chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients still live with low-level viremia [LLV] resulting in liver disease progression. This study evaluated the long-term health and economic impact of switching to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) from entecavir (ETV) in Saudi Arabia (SA) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) LLV patients.

Methods: A hybrid decision tree Markov state-transition model was developed to simulate a cohort of patients with CHB LLV treated with ETV and switched to TAF over a lifetime horizon in SA.

Tandem mass tag-based quantitative proteomic analysis of cervical cancer.

Background: Cervical cancer is a common cancer in women caused by high-risk human papillomavirus (Hr-HPV). Many potential biomarkers have been proposed for precancerous lesions and cancer diagnosis and some of these markers studied for prognosis. This study determined potential biomarkers for cervical cancer diagnosis in regard to HPV genotype by using isobaric labeling quantitative proteomics.

Saudi association for the study of liver diseases and transplantation position statement on the hepatology workforce in Saudi Arabia.

The field of hepatology has evolved significantly over the last two decades. Hepatology practice in Saudi Arabia (SA) was dominated by hepatitis B and C viruses but is now being overtaken by patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. These patients require greater medical attention as their care is more complex compared to patients with viral hepatitis.

A Rare Case of Rapid Onset Thrombocytopenia Induced by Piperacillin/Tazobactam in a Liver Transplant Recipient.

Drug-induced thrombocytopenia is a relatively common clinical condition. However, acute thrombocytopenia after initiation of piperacillin/tazobactam is rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature. The mechanism by which it happens is still unclear but it is thought to be immune-mediated.

Salvage liver transplantation after resection of colorectal cancer liver metastasis with favorable outcomes: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Approximately 50% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) develop metastases most commonly in the liver. Liver transplantation (LT) can be used in certain cases of primary liver malignancy or in metastatic diseases, such as Neuroendocrine tumors. However, there are controversies regarding LT as a treatment option for liver metastasis from CRC due to poor outcomes in previously reported cases.

Classification of Covid-19 Coronavirus, Pneumonia and Healthy Lungs in CT Scans Using Q-Deformed Entropy and Deep Learning Features.

Many health systems over the world have collapsed due to limited capacity and a dramatic increase of suspected COVID-19 cases. What has emerged is the need for finding an efficient, quick and accurate method to mitigate the overloading of radiologists' efforts to diagnose the suspected cases. This study presents the combination of deep learning of extracted features with the Q-deformed entropy handcrafted features for discriminating between COVID-19 coronavirus, pneumonia and healthy computed tomography (CT) lung scans.

Principles of Care for Patients with Liver Disease During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: Position Statement of the Saudi Association for the Study of Liver Disease and Transplantation.

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified in patients in Wuhan, China. The virus, subsequently named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, spread worldwide and the disease (coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Older adults and individuals with comorbidities have been reported as being more vulnerable to COVID-19.

Menotrophin Induced Autoimmune Hepatitis.

Menotrophin is a protein-based hormonal therapy. It is used as a fertility medication that is given as injection either subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Menotrophin has not been previously reported to cause drug-induced liver injury.

Real life efficacy of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir in hepatitis C genotype 4-infected patients with advanced liver fibrosis and decompensated cirrhosis.

Unlabelled: Limited clinical trial data has shown high efficacy of co-formulated ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT)-4 infected cirrhotic patients. We assessed real-world safety and efficacy of LDV/SOF with or without ribavirin (RBV) in GT4-infected patients with compensated and decompensated cirrhosis.

Patients & Methods: This observational cohort (n = 213) included GT4 treatment-naïve (59.

Transient elastography in Canada: current state and future directions.

Background: Transient elastography (TE) is a safe and effective technology to noninvasively assess hepatic fibrosis in patients with numerous liver conditions. TE is not readily available to all Canadians, and data regarding how this technology is incorporated into clinical practice are lacking.

Objective: To describe TE practices in Canada, and to identify strategies to optimize access and usage.

Percutaneous liver biopsy practice patterns among Canadian hepatologists.

Background: Percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) is the standard procedure to obtain histological samples essential for the management of various liver diseases. While safe, many hepatologists no longer perform their own PLBs; the reasons for this practice shift are unknown.

Objective: To describe the attitudes, practice patterns and barriers to PLB among hepatologists in Canada.

Ephrin b2 receptor and microsatellite status in lymph node-positive colon cancer survival.

Background: Ephrin B2 receptor (EphB2) is a target of the canonical wnt pathway implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis, and its down-regulation may be associated with adverse prognosis. We evaluated its prognostic value in resected colon cancer stratified by microsatellite status and other clinicopathologic characteristics.

Methods: We identified all cases of resected stage III colon cancer from 1995 to 2009 managed in the Capital Health district of Nova Scotia.

Liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease among Canadian transplant centres: a national study.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND⁄

Objective: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a controversial yet established indication for liver transplantation (LT), and there is emerging evidence supporting a survival benefit in selected patients with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis. The aim of the present survey was to describe policies among Canadian transplant centres for patients with ALD.

Methods: A survey was distributed to the medical directors of all seven liver transplant centres in Canada.