Real-World Experience of Chronic Hepatitis C-Related Compensated Liver Cirrhosis Treated with Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is a protease inhibitor-containing pangenotypic direct-acting antiviral regimen that has been approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in patients with compensated cirrhosis in a real-world setting.

Methods: We evaluated the real-world safety and efficacy of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in patients with compensated cirrhosis from five hospitals in the Changhua Christian Care System, who underwent treatment between August 2018 and October 2020.

Glecaprevir-pibrentasvir for chronic hepatitis C: Comparing treatment effect in patients with and without end-stage renal disease in a real-world setting.

Introduction: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is increasingly observed in patients with renal disease. With the introduction of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) as a pan-genotype therapy for HCV, treatment efficacy is expected to rise.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of GLE/PIB treatment in adults with HCV infection and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Relationship Between Diurnal Cortisol Profile and Sleep Quality in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Sleep problems are common in HCC patients and may be attributable to disturbances in the circadian rhythm. Research into the role of circadian rhythms in sleep quality among HCC patients is lacking, however.

Relationships between Serum Uric Acid, Malondialdehyde Levels, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in the Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.

Oxidative stress is the major cause of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. This cross-sectional study is aimed at determining if parallel serum markers of oxidative stress are related to carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). We enrolled 134 participants with varied metabolic syndrome (Met-S) scores (zero, = 21; one, = 19; two, = 27; three, = 26; four, = 25; five, = 16).

Rapid virological response assessment by Abbott RealTime hepatitis C virus assay for predicting sustained virological responses in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 treated with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin.

The lower limits of virus detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA detection assays are continuously improving. We aimed to assess the utility of more precise definition of 4(th) week viral load [rapid virological response (RVR)] in predicting sustained virological response (SVR) in HCV genotype 1 patients treated with pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin. Clinical data of treatment-naïve HCV genotype 1 patients were retrospectively collected from 2009 to 2014.

Two case reports of gastroendoscopy-associated Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia.

Two cases of gastroendoscopy-associated Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) bacteremia were discovered at the study hospital. The first case was a 66-year-old woman who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic retrograde papillotomy, and then A.

Sustained hepatitis C virus clearance and increased hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance in patients with dual chronic hepatitis C and B during posttreatment follow-up.

Unlabelled: Patients dually infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV)/hepatitis B virus (HBV) have a higher risk of developing advanced liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma compared with monoinfected patients. Yet, there is a similar rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) after peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin combination therapy in these patients compared with HCV-monoinfected patients and a high hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance rate. The durability of hepatitis C and B clearance in coinfected patients was investigated in a 5-year follow-up study.

Pyogenic liver abscess and colorectal neoplasia: a case series.

Background: Colorectal neoplasia is occasionally associated with hepatic abscess. To identify cases, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of all patients admitted to our hospital for liver abscess from 2004 to 2008.

Methods: Underlying disease was actively sought for all patients.

Oral versus intravenous proton pump inhibitors in preventing re-bleeding for patients with peptic ulcer bleeding after successful endoscopic therapy.

Background: High dose intravenous proton pump inhibitor after endoscopic therapy for peptic ulcer bleeding has been recommended as adjuvant therapy. Whether oral proton pump inhibitor can replace intravenous proton pump inhibitor in this setting is unknown. This study aims to compare the clinical efficacy of oral and intravenous proton pump inhibitor after endoscopic therapy.

Thalidomide-based multidisciplinary treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective analysis.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of thalidomide in combination with other therapies to treat patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients with HCC who were treated with thalidomide for at least two months. The medical records of patients with HCC who were treated at our institution between April 2003 and March 2008 were reviewed.

Thyroid autoantibodies and dysfunction do not impact the treatment efficacy of peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C.

Aims: Thyroid disorders, such as the emergence of thyroid autoantibodies (TAs) and thyroid dysfunction (TD), are not uncommon in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. The study aimed to investigate the impact of TAs and dysfunction on the treatment response to pegylated interferon-α plus ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV) combination therapy in CHC patients. The association between interleukin-28B (IL-28B) genetic variants and occurrence of TAs and dysfunction was also analyzed.

Long-term treatment with entecavir induces reversal of advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: Long-term treatment with entecavir resulted in durable virologic suppression and continued histologic improvement in nucleoside-naive chronic hepatitis B patients. Patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, who received long-term entecavir treatment, were evaluated for improvement in liver histology.

Methods: The study included a subset of patients from phase III and long-term rollover studies, who received entecavir for at least 3 years, had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, and evaluable biopsies at baseline and after long-term treatment.

Long-term entecavir therapy results in the reversal of fibrosis/cirrhosis and continued histological improvement in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Unlabelled: One year of treatment with entecavir (0.5 mg daily) in nucleoside-naive patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive or HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) resulted in significantly improved liver histology and virological and biochemical endpoints in comparison with lamivudine. Patients who received at least 3 years of cumulative entecavir therapy in phase 3 studies and a long-term rollover study and underwent long-term liver biopsy were evaluated for improvements in histological appearance.

HBsAg profiles in patients receiving peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin for the treatment of dual chronic infection with hepatitis B and C viruses.

Background: With use of peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with dual chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, 11.2% of patients achieved clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) at 6 months after treatment; however, reactivation of HBV DNA was observed in 36.3%.

Geographic variations of predominantly hepatitis C virus associated male hepatocellular carcinoma townships in Taiwan: identification of potential high HCV endemic areas.

Purpose: The proportion of B-HCC cases in Taiwan has progressively decreased over the last 20 years. It was not really due to an overall decrease in B-HCC but due to an increase in HCV-related HCC. The identification of potential HCV endemic areas in Taiwan has consequently become important.

Peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin for the treatment of dual chronic infection with hepatitis B and C viruses.

Background & Aims: Dual chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is common in areas endemic for either virus. Combination therapy with ribavirin and pegylated interferon (peginterferon) is the standard of care for patients with HCV monoinfection. We investigated the effects of combination therapy in patients infected with both HBV and HCV (genotypes 1, 2, or 3).

Factors associated with quality of life in chronic hepatitis C patients who received interferon plus ribavirin therapy.

Background/purpose: Antiviral treatment leading to impaired quality of life in chronic hepatitis C patients has been reported in the West. To promote high quality care, we explored the quality of life in Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C patients treated with antiviral therapy by means of comparing quality of life, social support and its factors.

Methods: One hundred and fifteen patients with chronic hepatitis C, enrolled from hospitals in Central Taiwan, were treated with interferon plus ribavirin.

Long-term trends and geographic variations in the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: analysis of 11,312 patients in Taiwan.

Background/aims: The survival rates of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were investigated over the past 20 years to clarify the long-term survival trend.

Methods: A total of 11 312 patients with HCC from seven medical centers from 1986 to 2002 were included. Survival was analyzed by correlating data with the national mortality databank.

Do young hepatocellular carcinoma patients have worse prognosis? The paradox of age as a prognostic factor in the survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Background/aims: Our previous study showed that male hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients below 40 years of age had the worst survival in the initial several years, but had the best prognosis thereafter. Thus, it seems that age has a paradoxical influence on the prognosis. To further clarify the issue of age on HCC prognosis, we initiated this study.

Secular trends and geographic variations of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan.

Etiological variations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exist across different geographic areas. To gain better control of HCC, we retrospectively studied the secular trends and geographic variations in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCCs in Taiwan. A total of 18,423 HCC cases enrolled in 8 medical centers from 1981 to 2001 were reviewed.

Monopolar coagulation versus conventional endoscopic treatment for high-risk peptic ulcer bleeding: a prospective, randomized study.

Background: Severe upper GI hemorrhage from an actively bleeding peptic ulcer is sometimes difficult to treat by conventional endoscopic means, such as multipolar electrocoagulation, heat probe coagulation, and injection therapy. It was hypothesized that monopolar coagulation with a "hot biopsy" forceps may be more effective in such cases.

Methods: A prospective, randomized trial was performed to assess the safety and short-term efficacy of monopolar coagulation versus conventional treatment (combination heat probe coagulation and injection therapy) in the treatment of patients with various types of actively bleeding or high-risk ulcers.