News &amp; Updates

Prognosis is much poorer in patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) than in those with hepatitis B virus (HBV), with the former experiencing more complications and utilizing more healthcare resources, reveals a study.

Cirrhosis due to NASH tied to worse outcomes relative to HBV

Medication treatment lacking in cirrhotic veterans with active opioid use disorder

Majority of veterans with active opioid use disorder (OUD) and cirrhosis do not receive medication treatment, while those with alcohol use disorder, schizophrenia, and previous prescriptions for opioids were the least likely to receive such therapies despite their proven effectiveness, a US study has found.

Medication treatment lacking in cirrhotic veterans with active opioid use disorder

External compression device reduces reflux symptoms when used as PPI adjunct

23 Jul 2021 by

When used as an adjunct to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, the Reflux Band, an upper oesophageal sphincter (UES) compression device, effectively improves reflux symptoms, according to a recent study.

External compression device reduces reflux symptoms when used as PPI adjunct

Vonoprazan reduces delayed bleeding after endoscopic submucosal dissection

22 Jul 2021

The novel antisecretory agent vonoprazan ameliorates the risk of delayed bleeding following upper gastrointestinal endoscopic treatment better than proton pump inhibitors, according to a study.

Vonoprazan reduces delayed bleeding after endoscopic submucosal dissection

22 Jul 2021

Switching between infliximab biosimilars for IBD found safe

19 Jul 2021 by

In the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), switching from one infliximab biosimilar to another does not significantly alter trough levels and disease activity, regardless of whether switching for the first or second time, as shown in a study. Likewise, there is no substantial difference noted in time to loss of response using clinically relevant definitions.

Switching between infliximab biosimilars for IBD found safe

GLP-1RA improves liver steatosis, fibrosis

Treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) leads to improvement in liver steatosis and fibrosis, results of a study have shown. GLP-1RA also provides benefits to metabolic syndrome by reducing body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and hyperlipidaemia.

GLP-1RA improves liver steatosis, fibrosis

Sulfur microbial diet detrimental to colon health in women

Following a dietary pattern associated with sulfur-metabolizing bacteria in stool may lead to the development of early-onset colorectal cancer in women, a study suggests.

Sulfur microbial diet detrimental to colon health in women

Tenofovir tied to lower risk of severe COVID-19 in HBV patients

18 Jul 2021 by

Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who were treated with tenofovir had a lower risk of developing severe COVID-19 illness than those treated with entecavir, according to a study presented at the EASL International Liver Congress (ILC) 2021.

Tenofovir tied to lower risk of severe COVID-19 in HBV patients

Novel EGAL procedure safe, effective for benign, malignant strictures

Endoscopic gastrointestinal anastomosis using lumen-apposing metal stents (EGAL), a novel technique used as an alternative method to bypass benign or malignant strictures, is relatively safe and can be performed in selected patients, reports a study.

Novel EGAL procedure safe, effective for benign, malignant strictures

Cirrhosis patients in high- vs low-burden hospitals at higher risk of death

Patients with cirrhosis hospitalized in high-burden hospitals (HBH) are 5-percent more likely to die than those in low-burden hospitals (LBH), reports a study. Moreover, Blacks with cirrhosis have 27-percent higher in-hospital mortality than Whites even after adjusting for safety-net burden.

Cirrhosis patients in high- vs low-burden hospitals at higher risk of death