Is Cell-Free DNA Testing in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Ready for Prime Time?

Revamping the current biomarker landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cell-free DNA (cfDNA) could improve overall outcomes. The use of commercially available cfDNA testing (also known as liquid biopsy) is limited by the low prevalence of targetable mutations and does not have any prognostic or predictive value. Thus, current cfDNA testing cannot be relied upon for perioperative risk stratification (POR), including early detection of recurrence, long-term surveillance, predicting outcomes, and treatment response.

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in inflammatory bowel disease flare-ups.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a set of chronic inflammatory diseases associated with significant morbidity. Generally, IBD patients have twice the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared to healthy controls. VTE in IBD is associated with greater morbidity and mortality.

Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration (BRTO) Versus Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) for Treatment of Gastric Varices Because of Portal Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Although gastric variceal (GV) bleeding is less common than esophageal variceal bleeding, the severity of GV bleeding is often greater with higher morbidity and mortality rates. Minimally invasive endovascular treatments such as balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) have been used for the management of GVs with varying results, and individual and institutional differences exist in the use of BRTO and TIPS. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of BRTO and TIPS for the treatment of GVs because of portal hypertension.