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.

HERACLIS-HDV cohort for the factors of underdiagnosis and prevalence of hepatitis D virus infection in HBsAg-positive patients.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis D virus (HDV) underdiagnosis remains common. We assessed the HDV screening and prevalence rates in HBsAg-positive patients seen at tertiary liver centres throughout Greece as well as factors affecting HDV diagnosis.

Methods: All adult HBsAg-positive patients seen within the last 5 years were included.

Comparative Utility of Transient and 2D Shear Wave Elastography for the Assessment of Liver Fibrosis in Clinical Practice.

The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility and correlation of liver stiffness measurements (LSM) between 2D-shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) and transient elastography (TE) in patients with chronic liver disease. Over 4 months, 421 patients with chronic liver disease of any cause underwent LSM by 2D-SWE and TE (M and/or XL probe) and controlled attenuation parameter at the same visit. LSM was not feasible by TE in 16 (3.

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).

Occult hepatitis B virus infection in Greek patients with congenital bleeding disorders.

Occult Hepatitis B Infection (OBI) is a form of chronic HBV infection characterized by low level HBV DNA, without detectable HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). OBI is frequently associated with the presence of anti-HBc and in some cases also with anti-HBs. Patients, who formerly received non-inactivated factor concentrates, can potentially be considered at high risk for OBI, especially since these patients usually are HIV or HCV co-infected.

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.

Associations Between Lifestyle Characteristics and the Presence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Dietary and physical activity (PA) habits have been suggested as important factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Published data are mainly focused on the effect of either diet or exercise, whereas data on other aspects like sleep remain sparse. The aim of this study was to explore potential associations between dietary intake, PA, and sleeping habits, and the presence of NAFLD.

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.

Common ABCB1 polymorphisms in Greek patients with chronic hepatitis C infection: A comparison with hyperlipidemic patients and the general population.

Background: Hepatitis C virus infectivity and replication efficiency appears to be dependent on the lipid content and organization of the plasma membrane of the host cell, as well as of the intracellular membranous web. As there is increasing awareness of a role played by the efflux pump ABCB1 (p-glycoprotein, P-gp) in lipid homeostasis, its function could be a determinant of chronic HCV infection. The aim of the present study was to examine and compare the distribution of common ABCB1 genotypes in patients with chronic HCV infection (n=168), hyperlipidemic patients (n=168) and a control group (n=173), all from Greece.

Effective etanercept treatment for psoriatic arthritis complicating concomitant human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus infection.

High levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and all stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. TNF-alpha may have a role in both the pathogenesis and the response to treatment of these chronic viral diseases. We describe a 42-year-old HIV/HCV coinfected hemophiliac man who developed psoriasis and severe psoriatic arthritis not responding to combination treatment with methotrexate and cyclosporin A.