Above-Standard Survival of Hepatocellular Carcinoma as the Final Outcome of Comprehensive Hepatology Care Programs in a Remote HCV-Endemic Area.

Early detection and prompt linkage to care are critical for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) care. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) Yunlin branch, a local hospital in a rural area, undertakes health checkup programs in addition to its routine clinical service. Patients with HCC are referred to CGMH Chiayi branch, a tertiary referral hospital, for treatment.

Non-B, Non-C Hepatocellular Carcinoma in an HBV- and HCV-Endemic Area: A Community-Based Prospective Longitudinal Study.

A large community cohort of adults who participated in a health screening program from 2003 to 2013 were prospectively analyzed for the risk factors of non-B, non-C (NBNC) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The serostatus of hepatitis B and C of 52,642 participants was linked to the mortality and cancer registration data of the Health and Welfare Data Science Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan. During a median follow-up of 6 years, 35 of the 43,545 participants who were negative for both HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody developed HCC.

Reappraisal of the roles of alpha-fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance using large-scale nationwide database and hospital-based information.

Background/purpose: Controversies over the use of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) existed from guidelines. Using large-scale database and hospital-based information, we aimed to reappraise the role of AFP in HCC surveillance, including proportion of AFP elevation by stage of HCC, additional benefit of AFP in combination of ultrasonography (US) in the detection of early HCC, and survival in early HCC with high AFP levels.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 43,437 patients from database of the Taiwan Cancer Registry (TCR) and 4250 patients from Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (KCGMH) between January 2011 and December 2017.

Community-based screening by Anti-HCV reflex HCV Ag test and accessible post-screening care toward elimination of hepatitis C in two hyperendemic townships.

Background: Hyperendemic townships of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection should devote extra efforts to eliminate HCV. We aimed to evaluate efficacy of the screening and linkage to care in two HCV hyperendemic townships.

Methods: Village-to-village HCV screening using anti-HCV reflex HCV Ag test was conducted in two HCV hyperendemic rural townships (Lioujiao and Yijhu).

Liver Disease Screening and Hepatitis C Virus Elimination in Taiwan Rural Indigenous Townships: Village-By-Village Screening and Linking to Outreach Hepatology Care.

Medical resources are limited for hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination in rural indigenous areas of Taiwan. This study aimed to investigate liver disease risk and conduct a HCV elimination program in two rural indigenous townships. A program of village-by-village screening tests was conducted including hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), linking to outreach hepatology care at two indigenous townships (Laiyi and Mudan).

Community-Based Screening for Hepatitis B and C Infectivity Using Two Quantitative Antigens to Identify Endemic Townships.

Screening and linkage to care are essential to achieve viral hepatitis elimination before 2030. The accurate identification of endemic areas is important for controlling diseases with geographic aggregation. Viral activity drives prognosis of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection.

Village-to-village screening for hepatitis B and C using quantitative HBsAg and anti-HCV testing with reflex HCV core antigen tests in the remote communities of a resource-rich setting: a population-based prospective cohort study.

Objectives: Community-based screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is essential for hepatitis elimination. This study attempted to increase screening accessibility and efficacy by using alternative tools.

Design: Population-based prospective cohort study.

Feasibility of anti-HCV reflex HCV Ag screening strategy in an HCV endemic community.

Background/purpose: The HCV core antigen (HCV Ag) assay displays high sensitivity and strong correlation with HCV RNA. However, the feasibility of anti-HCV reflex HCV Ag screening in a community-wide setting is rarely discussed.

Methods: We performed a two-phase community-based hepatitis C screen in an HCV-prone area of central Taiwan.

Usefulness of quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen testing in hepatitis B community-based screening.

Background/purpose: Low viral load (LVL) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a predictor of chronic HBV infection. However, the usefulness of quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) in predicting LVL in community-based screening has not been well studied. We aimed to measure the prevalence of LVL in HBV carriers and validate the efficacy of qHBsAg in predicting LVL.

Secular Trends and Geographic Maps of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among 4 Million Blood Donors in Taiwan from 1999 to 2017.

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Taiwan was approximately 4% a decade ago, much higher than the worldwide average. This study aimed to assess the HCV burden among 4 million voluntary blood donors after 2 decades of prevention and treatment policies. We retrieved screening results for anti-HCV and HCV RNA from the Database for Evaluating Voluntary Taiwanese Eligible Donors.

Using AST-platelet ratio index and fibrosis 4 index for detecting chronic hepatitis C in a large-scale community screening.

Background: Aspartate transaminase-platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis 4 (FIB-4) are two non-invasive indexes to predict liver fibrosis in liver disease. This study was to use APRI and FIB-4 to detect chronic virus hepatitis in community screenings.

Methods: From 2004 to 2013, a series of community-based health screenings for residents aged 40 and older were held in Tainan city.

Association between chronic viral hepatitis and metabolic syndrome in southern Taiwan: a large population-based study.

Background: The impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on hepatitis is an interesting issue.

Aim: To evaluate the association of MetS and chronic viral hepatitis including hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in southern Taiwan.

Methods: From 2004 to 2013, a series of community-based health screenings for residents aged 40 and older were held in Tainan city.