Efficacy of entecavir with or without tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for nucleos(t)ide-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: Entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) are potent antiviral agents that might have additive or synergistic antiviral activity in treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We compared the efficacy and safety of ETV monotherapy with those of a combination of ETV and TDF.

Methods: We performed a randomized, open-label, multicenter, superiority study of 379 nucleos(t)ide-naïve patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive (n = 264) or HBeAg-negative (n = 115) CHB.

Diagnosis of patients with suspected chronic hepatitis C infection.

The current optimal approach to detecting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection involves screening people for risk factors and only testing selected individuals at risk. Blood transfusion from infectious donors, unsafe therapeutic injection practices, and illegal intravenous drug use have been the predominant modes of transmission of HCV infection. Virological markers that are currently used for the clinical management of patients with hepatitis C include serologic assays (ELISA or immunoblot assays), which detect specific antibodies (IgG) to HCV, and virological assays, which detect serum HCV RNA, by highly sensitive qualitative and quantitative techniques.

Transtubular potassium concentration gradient: comparison between healthy old people and chronic renal failure patients.

Unlabelled: Transtubular potassium concentration gradient (TTKG) is an index of potassium secretory activity in the distal tubule. Since water reabsorption takes place in the distal tubule as well, urine potassium concentration is a less accurate index evaluating distal K+ secretion because the effect of water is not taken into account on urine potassium concentrations. Potassium secretion and water reabsorption are strongly related to age and renal function.

Major bleeding after drainage lancet vascular injury in total hip arthroplasty.

We report a patient who presented with acute hypovolemic shock due to massive bleeding through the suction drainage lancet holes three days after a total hip arthroplasty. Emergency digital arteriography revealed active bleeding of a perforating muscular branch of the profunda femoris artery located at the level of the lancet holes. Selective embolization with a microcatheter controlled the haemorrhage and avoided further surgical exploration, which could have demonstrated no active bleeding from the hip or pelvis.