Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Targeting the Amygdala May Increase Psychophysiological and Subjective Negative Emotional Reactivity in Healthy Older Adults.

Background: The amygdala is highly implicated in an array of psychiatric disorders but is not accessible using currently available noninvasive neuromodulatory techniques. Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (TFUS) is a neuromodulatory technique that has the capability of reaching subcortical regions noninvasively.

Methods: We studied healthy older adult participants ( = 21, ages 48-79 years) who received TFUS targeting the right amygdala and left entorhinal cortex (active control region) using a 2-visit within-participant crossover design.

Transcranial focused ultrasound selectively increases perfusion and modulates functional connectivity of deep brain regions in humans.

Background: Low intensity, transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is a re-emerging brain stimulation technique with the unique capability of reaching deep brain structures non-invasively.

Objective/hypothesis: We sought to demonstrate that tFUS can selectively and accurately target and modulate deep brain structures in humans important for emotional functioning as well as learning and memory. We hypothesized that tFUS would result in significant longitudinal changes in perfusion in the targeted brain region as well as selective modulation of BOLD activity and BOLD-based functional connectivity of the target region.

Microbiome in Anxiety and Other Psychiatric Disorders.

Initial studies suggested that the fluctuations in the quantity, variety, and composition of the gut microbiota can significantly affect disease processes. This change in the gut microbiota causing negative health benefits was coined dysbiosis. Initial research focused on gastrointestinal illnesses.

Substantial gaps in evaluation and treatment of patients with hepatitis B in the US.

Background & Aims: The occurrence of HBV-associated liver complications is reduced by antiviral therapy. However, prior studies using local institutional cohorts have suggested that evaluation and treatment are suboptimal. We aimed to determine the proportion of patients with chronic HBV infection who received adequate evaluation, were treatment eligible, and received antiviral treatment using a large, nationwide cohort.

ALT Levels in Treatment-Naive, Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Concurrent Fatty Liver Disease: A US Nationwide Study.

Introduction: Treatment criteria for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) relies on ALT, which can be impacted by concurrent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but ALT data on patients with CHB and NAFLD are limited. We aimed to characterize ALT distribution in untreated CHB patients with NAFLD.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed untreated US adults with CHB (533 with NAFLD, 3,172 without NAFLD) using the Clinformatics™ Data Mart Database (2003-2019).

Surveillance of patients with cirrhosis remains suboptimal in the United States.

Background & Aims: Regular monitoring/surveillance for liver complications is crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Recommendations from professional societies are available but adherence is not well studied, especially outside of academic centers. We aimed to determine the frequencies and factors associated with laboratory monitoring, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and esophageal varices (EV) surveillance in patients with cirrhosis.

A population-based US study of hepatitis C diagnosis rate.

Background: Underdiagnosis of HCV infection may hinder the obtainment of 2030 elimination goal.

Objective: To estimate the pre-DAA HCV diagnosis rate to inform future public health effort.

Methods: Data were obtained from three nationwide databases (Truven Health MarketScan Research Database 2007-2014, US Census Bureau 2012-2016 and NHANES 2007-2014).

Diagnosis Rates of Chronic Hepatitis B in Privately Insured Patients in the United States.

Importance: To achieve the World Health Organization goal of viral hepatitis elimination by 2030, it is important to estimate current rates of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) diagnosis and treatment.

Objective: To provide an accurate accounting of the number of patients with CHB aged 6 years or older who have not yet been diagnosed in the United States.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used the commercial US Truven Health MarketScan Database (138 634 154 privately insured individuals in January 2007 to December 2014) to identify patients with CHB diagnosis and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to estimate the actual number of privately insured persons with CHB.