Emricasan to prevent new decompensation in patients with NASH-related decompensated cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is a leading cause of end-stage liver disease. Hepatic steatosis and lipotoxicity cause chronic necroinflammation and direct hepatocellular injury resulting in cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Emricasan is a pan-caspase inhibitor that inhibits excessive apoptosis and inflammation; it has also been shown to decrease portal pressure and improve synthetic function in mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Stress and the Perceived Style of Decision-Making in Clinicians and Patients With Cancer.

Background And Aims: Perceived stress and mindfulness can impact medical decision-making in both patients and clinicians. The aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional evaluation of the relationships between stress, mindfulness, self-regulation, perceptions of treatment conversations, and decision-making preferences among clinicians. Also, perceptions of treatment conversations and decision-making preferences among patients with cancer were evaluated.

Efficacy and Safety of Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir in Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1 or 4 Infection and Advanced Kidney Disease.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in patients with end-stage renal disease. We investigated the safety and efficacy of ombitasvir (OBV)/paritaprevir (PTV)/ritonavir (r) ± dasabuvir (DSV) ± ribavirin (RBV) in 2 phase 3, open-label, multicenter studies in patients with stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: RUBY-I, Cohort 2 enrolled treatment-naïve or -experienced patients with HCV genotype (GT) 1a or 1b infection, with or without cirrhosis.

Longitudinal correlations between MRE, MRI-PDFF, and liver histology in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: Analysis of data from a phase II trial of selonsertib.

Background & Aims: Non-invasive tools for monitoring treatment response and disease progression in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are needed. Our objective was to evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance (MR)-based hepatic imaging measures for the assessment of liver histology in patients with NASH.

Methods: We analyzed data from patients with NASH and stage 2 or 3 fibrosis enrolled in a phase II study of selonsertib.

Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir Treatment in Liver or Kidney Transplant Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Unlabelled: Well-tolerated, ribavirin-free, pangenotypic hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatments for transplant recipients remain a high priority. Once-daily glecaprevir/pibrentasvir demonstrates high rates of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks posttreatment (SVR12) across all major HCV genotypes (GTs). This trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir for patients with chronic HCV GT1-6 infection who had received a liver or kidney transplant.

Selective internal radiation therapy using yttrium-90 resin microspheres in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study.

Background: Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with yttrium-90 resin (Y-90 resin) microspheres has been used as a locoregional therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We examined patient and disease characteristics that might affect survival after Y-90 resin, as well as treatment tolerability.

Methods: Data from patients with unresectable HCC treated with Y-90 resin at a single institution were reviewed retrospectively.

Efficacy of Direct-Acting Antiviral Combination for Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1 Infection and Severe Renal Impairment or End-Stage Renal Disease.

Background & Aims: Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in patients with end-stage renal disease, highly efficacious, well-tolerated, direct-acting antiviral regimens have not been extensively studied in this population. We investigated the safety and efficacy of ombitasvir co-formulated with paritaprevir and ritonavir, administered with dasabuvir (with or without ribavirin) in a prospective study of patients with stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: We performed a single-arm, multicenter study of treatment-naïve adults with HCV genotype 1 infection, without cirrhosis and with CKD stage 4 (estimated glomerular filtration rate, 15-30 mL/min/1.

Dasabuvir (ABT333) for the treatment of chronic HCV genotype I: a new face of cure, an expert review.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects nearly 1.3% of US population and around 2% of people worldwide. It is associated with serious complication of Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular carcinoma leading to significant morbidity and mortality.

An interferon-free antiviral regimen for HCV after liver transplantation.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading indication for liver transplantation worldwide, and interferon-containing regimens are associated with low response rates owing to treatment-limiting toxic effects in immunosuppressed liver-transplant recipients. We evaluated the interferon-free regimen of the NS5A inhibitor ombitasvir coformulated with the ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor ABT-450 (ABT-450/r), the nonnucleoside NS5B polymerase inhibitor dasabuvir, and ribavirin in liver-transplant recipients with recurrent HCV genotype 1 infection.

Methods: We enrolled 34 liver-transplant recipients with no fibrosis or mild fibrosis, who received ombitasvir-ABT-450/r (at a once-daily dose of 25 mg of ombitasvir, 150 mg of ABT-450, and 100 mg of ritonavir), dasabuvir (250 mg twice daily), and ribavirin for 24 weeks.

Small-bowel masses found and missed on capsule endoscopy for obscure bleeding.

Objective: Data on the nature of small-bowel tumors found or missed by capsule endoscopy (CE) are limited. The aim of this study was to review the CE findings in patients with small-bowel tumors presenting as obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the first 300 patients who underwent CE for obscure bleeding (non-diagnostic EGD and colonoscopy) at our institution.

Capsule endoscopy for obscure GI bleeding: therapeutic yield of follow-up procedures.

Positive findings on capsule endoscopy (CE) often prompt a follow-up procedure with therapeutic intent. Our purpose was to review the therapeutic yield of subsequent procedural interventions based on positive CE findings. The medical records of all patients who underwent CE between June 2002 and February 2005 for obscure bleeding were retrospectively reviewed.

What we have learned from 5 cases of permanent capsule retention.

Background: Capsule endoscopy allows the direct visualization of the entire small bowel. There is limited data on the clinical significance of permanent capsule retention.

Objective: Our purpose was to document the frequency, findings, risk factors, management, and outcomes of permanent capsule retention.

Liver transplantation in sickle cell anemia: a case of acute sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis and a case of sclerosing cholangitis.

Very few cases of liver transplantation in patients with sickle cell disease have been reported in peer-reviewed literature. We reviewed the medical records of two patients with sickle cell disease that received liver transplantation at our institution. The first patient was a 27-year-old female who presented with encephalopathy and cholestatic jaundice with a Hemoglobin S (HbS) level of 69.