An overview of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) as an etiological factor of the anal cancer.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA tumour virus that is the primary cause of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The direct connection between HPV and cervical cancer was discovered in 1980, however, many physicians and the general public are still oblivious to the association of HPV and anal cancer; most individuals find out about this relationship after a confirmed diagnosis, and therefore, it is important to raise awareness about HPV as an etiological agent in anal cancer. There is a quadrivalent vaccine available, which prevents an individual from being infected with HPV, thus anal cancer is mainly a preventable cancer when caused by HPV, and ultimately, preventing cancer is better than curing cancer, especially when there is no definite cure.This article aims to review the microbiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, prophylaxis and treatment options for HPV as an etiology agent in anal cancers in light of recent literature.

A systematic review of the present and future of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the Western world. Ongoing research has furthered our understanding of NAFLD, the nature of progression of this disease, and its impact on morbidity and mortality. An active form of NAFLD is non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); it is the most severe subtype, without any current recommended therapies, according to the European Medicines Agency. The development of new therapies presents challenges, notably due to the slow progression of NASH and the clinically relevant endpoints. Correlating new data with effective treatment regimens is an emerging challenge, which will increase our understanding of the factors affecting the NAFLD course. This can enable more appropriate non-invasive prognostic assessments, which can focus on specifically at-risk NAFLD populations for tailored individual treatment. This review article aims to highlight the current developments in the field of NAFLD: pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical features, and available treatment, including novel targets and therapies.

Hepatitis E - A new era in understanding.

Hepatitis E virus [HEV], the last of the five hepatotropic viruses to be discovered, was originally considered to cause an acute, travel-associated self-limiting illness restricted to humans; however, new research shows that there are animal reservoirs and zoonotic transmission. Additionally, HEV is now considered as a major health burden worldwide, leading to significant morbidity and mortality; therefore, the topic of hepatitis E is of re-emerging importance, having brought to light important questions such as the transmission of HEV, especially in developed countries, as well as treatment and vaccination options. HEV belongs to the genus Hepevirus in the Hepeviridae family. The HEV genome sequence is relatively stable; however, there is a diversity of genotypes which are helpful in comprehending the epidemiological phenomena. HEV is classified based on the nucleotide sequences of the genome and is now characterised as a single serotype with four major genotypes [HEV 1-4]. Hepatitis E cases are not clinically distinguishable from other types of acute viral hepatitis, although diagnosis can be strongly suspected in certain epidemiological settings. It is imperative to raise awareness among physicians about the importance of HEV, with the aim of helping recognise, prevent and treat HEV infections. This review article highlights the current developments of HEV in microbiology, epidemiology, clinical features, treatment and prophylaxis.

Acute hepatitis A virus infection in patients hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lublin (Eastern Poland) in 2017 - a hospital-based retrospective study.

The aim of our study was to analyze medical records of all adult patients with acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection who were hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lublin, Poland in 2017. During the studied period acute HAV infection was confirmed in 33 patients. In the study group there were 30 men and 3 women. The mean time of hospitalization was 12 days. All patients recovered with no clinical sequelae.

Acute hepatitis A virus infection in patients hospitalised at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lublin (Eastern Poland) in the years 2009-2015.

The aim of our study was to analyse all medical records from the years 2009-2015 for adult patients with acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection who were hospitalised at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lublin (Eastern Poland). During this 7-year study, there were only 5 hospitalised patients with confirmed HAV infection. In the study group 4 out of 5 patients had travelled to HAV-endemic areas (Egypt, Ukraine), and 3 of the hepatitis A cases were imported from Egypt. Our data indicate that during the past 7-year period most HAV patients hospitalised at the Department of Infectious Diseases in Lublin were due to travel.