Inhaled beclomethasone in the treatment of early COVID-19: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, hospital-based trial in Sri Lanka.

Objectives: To study if early initiation of inhaled beclomethasone 1200 mcg in patients with asymptomatic, mild or moderate COVID-19 reduces disease progression to severe COVID-19.

Design: Double-blinded, parallel-groups, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: A hospital-based study in Sri Lanka.

Identification of patients with type 2 diabetes with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who are at increased risk of progressing to advanced fibrosis: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Identification of advanced hepatic fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is important as this may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The risk of hepatic fibrosis is especially high among patients with diabetes with NAFLD. Annual screening of patients with diabetes for fatty liver and calculation of Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score and exclusion of significant fibrosis with vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) have been recommended.