Diagnostic performance of FibroTouch® in assessing hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: An Asian experience.

Introduction And Objectives: FibroTouch® has shown efficacy in staging hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B, but its performance in assessing liver steatosis and fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) patients remains understudied. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of FibroTouch® in assessing steatosis and fibrosis in the MASLD population.

Materials And Methods: Liver stiffness measurements and steatosis were assessed using FibroTouch® and FibroScan®, with FibroScan® as the reference standard.

Efficacy of Coronary Calcium Score in Predicting Coronary Artery Morphology in Patients With Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is an established marker of coronary artery disease (CAD) and has been extensively used to stratify risk in asymptomatic individuals. However, the value of CACS in predicting plaque morphology in patients with advanced CAD is less established. The present analysis aims to assess the association between CACS and plaque characteristics detected by near-infrared spectroscopy-intravascular ultrasound (NIRS-IVUS) imaging in patients with obstructive CAD.

Non-contrast abbreviated MRI for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System LR-3 and LR-4 observations in MRI.

Background And Aims: With ultrasound sensitivity limited in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance and few prospective studies on non-contrast abbreviated MRI (NC-AMRI), this study aimed to assess its diagnostic performance in detecting HCC.

Methods: This prospective study involved cirrhotic patients with contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI) Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) LR-3 and LR-4 observations detected during HCC surveillance. Patients underwent average 3 complete CE-MRI rounds at 3-6 months interval, with approximately 12-month follow-up.

MRI for hepatocellular carcinoma and the role of abbreviated MRI for surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes the majority of liver cancers and significantly impacts global cancer mortality. While ultrasound (US) with or without alpha-fetoprotein is the mainstay for HCC surveillance, its limitations highlight the necessity for more effective surveillance tools. Therefore, this review explores evolving imaging modalities and abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (AMRI) protocols as promising alternatives, addressing challenges in HCC surveillance.

Risk Factors for Development of Cirrhosis in Chronic Viral Hepatitis B Patients Who Had Persistent Viral Suppression With Antiviral Therapy.

Background And Aims: Chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB)-infected patients occasionally develop cirrhosis despite having persistent viral suppression with antiviral therapy. We aimed to identify risk factors for developing cirrhosis in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-suppressed patients.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study involving 120 noncirrhotic CHB-infected patients achieving viral suppression with antiviral treatment, with 40 cases developing cirrhosis and 80 age-, sex-, and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4)-matched controls.

Screening for viral hepatitis B infection in cancer patients before receiving chemotherapy - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening rate in cancer patients before systemic chemotherapy, aiming to identify those needing antiviral prophylaxis for HBV reactivation.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar for relevant studies. The pooled screening rate was estimated using a random effects model.

Abbreviated MRI for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance - A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Given the limited sensitivity of ultrasound in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance, this systematic review and meta-analysis were aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of non-contrast abbreviated MRI (NC-aMRI) compared to contrast-enhanced abbreviated MRI (CE-aMRI) for HCC surveillance, offering evidence-based guidance for clinical decision-making.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across five databases, identifying studies on aMRI for HCC surveillance. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were estimated using a random effects model.

The frequency of gene variant reclassification and its impact on clinical management in the inherited arrhythmia clinic.

Background: Genetic testing in the inherited arrhythmia clinic informs risk stratification, clinical management, and family screening. Periodic review of variant classification is recommended as supporting evidence accrues over time. However, there is limited reporting of real-world data on the frequency and impact of variant reclassification.

CARDIAN: a novel computational approach for real-time end-diastolic frame detection in intravascular ultrasound using bidirectional attention networks.

Introduction: Changes in coronary artery luminal dimensions during the cardiac cycle can impact the accurate quantification of volumetric analyses in intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image studies. Accurate ED-frame detection is pivotal for guiding interventional decisions, optimizing therapeutic interventions, and ensuring standardized volumetric analysis in research studies. Images acquired at different phases of the cardiac cycle may also lead to inaccurate quantification of atheroma volume due to the longitudinal motion of the catheter in relation to the vessel.

Study on the Quality of Life among Cancer Survivors Attending a Tertiary Care Cancer Center in Malaysia.

Background: Cancer is a major public health problem across the globe. According to the Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report (MNCR), between 2007 and 2011, there has been a greater increase in the number of reported cancer cases among females (99.3 per 100,000 people) than males (86.

Strategy and Efficacy of Generic and Pan-genotypic Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus: A Myanmar Experience.

Background: In resource-constrained areas, generic direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have considerably reduced the cost of hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy while there remain significant costs related to the baseline and follow-up virologic assays.

Aim: The aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of HCV therapy in Myanmar with pan-genotypic generic DAA sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) and with and without the baseline genotype testing, while the duration of treatment and use of ribavirin (RBV) was dictated by cirrhosis and prior treatment failure.

Methods: Between September 2016 and June 2017, data from the 359 participants who completed treatment with SOF/VEL (± RBV) for 12-24 weeks were analyzed.

High sustained virologic response in genotypes 3 and 6 with generic NS5A inhibitor and sofosbuvir regimens in chronic HCV in myanmar.

Exclusive HCV therapy clinical trials with genotype 6 patients in high prevalence areas have been sparse. We analysed the safety and efficacy of two generic, pangenotypic NS5A/NS5B combination oral DAA regimens, primarily in genotypes 3 and 6, in a real-world setting: (a) daclatasvir/sofosbuvir (DCV/SOF) ± ribavirin (RBV) and (b) Velpatasvir/sofosbuvir (VEL/SOF ± RBV). Between December 2015 and November 2017, data from 522 patients were analysed, 311 of whom were treated with DCV/SOF ± RBV for 12/24 weeks (genotype 3: n = 193, genotype 6: n = 89) and 211 were treated with VEL/SOF ± RBV for 12/24 weeks (genotype 3: n = 83, genotype 6: n = 77).