New research suggests that use of older donor grafts does not compromise outcomes in liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Reuters Health Information
In patients undergoing liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, viral load at the time of surgery is predictive of hepatoma recurrence, according to Chinese researchers. Reuters Health Information
Early in the course of HIV infection, collagen deposition in gut-associated lymphatic tissues (GALT) causes greater CD4+ T cell depletion than in other lymph tissues and limits the extent of immune reconstitution that can be achieved with antiretroviral medications, according to research by scientists at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Reuters Health Information
Rosiglitazone, by improving insulin sensitivity, improves steatosis and transaminase levels in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), according to French researchers. Reuters Health Information
Judicious use of endoclips can provide an opportunity to avoid surgery for colonoscopy-associated perforations. Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons
In a large, prospective study of men without known diverticular disease, nut, corn, seed, and popcorn consumption did not increase the risk for diverticulosis or diverticular complications. Medscape Medical News
Survival rates are higher for Asian/Pacific Islanders with stage I or stage II gastric adenocarcinomas compared with patients of other racial or ethnic groups with similar-stage stomach cancers. Reuters Health Information
Jennifer Tan, MD, and Sammy Saab, MD, MPH, AGAF, summarize the key issues and evidence involved in deciding when to initiate therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Medscape Gastroenterology
Nancy Reau, MD, reviews the evidence regarding combination vs monotherapy regimens for the treatment of hepatitis B, within the context of the current goals of antiviral therapy. Medscape Gastroenterology
Tram Tran, MD, focuses on the major global health problem that HBV infection remains to highlight ongoing issues specific to the Asian population, a disproportionately affected group. Medscape Gastroenterology
