Secondary Polycythemia and Non-Islet Cell Tumor-induced Hypoglycemia in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report.

Continuously holding its position as the sixth most common cause of cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death, globally, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remains as a healthcare priority. Production of various substances may result into systemic or metabolic complications, often known as paraneoplastic phenomena of HCC. A 56-year-old male with history of untreated chronic hepatitis B arrived with generalized weakness and intermittent headache in the last two days prior to admission. Laboratory findings demonstrated elevated hemoglobin (20.5 g/dl), alpha-fetoprotein (29,845 ng/dl), and d-Dimer (2,120 ng/ml) levels. Hypoglycemia (44 mg/dl) was documented with normal basal insulin level, confirming non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia. Abdominal multiphasic CT-scan demonstrated a large solid lesion involving the whole right liver lobe, hyper-enhanced at arterial phase and wash-out pattern at venous and delayed phases, with portal vein thrombosis; thus, confirming HCC BCLC C. Further examinations revealed hypercellularity from bone marrow biopsy with the absence of JAK2 mutation. He underwent serial phlebotomy and received 80 mg acetylsalicylic acid orally, as well as cytoreductive agent to reduce the risk of thrombosis. Despite applications of different interventions, control of hypoglycemia could not be achieved without parenteral administration of high dextrose load. He was planned to receive oral multikinase inhibitor, however, he passed away due to severe hospital-acquired pneumonia. Paraneoplastic phenomena are common in HCC. Increased risk of blood hyper-viscosity and thrombosis attributed to polycythemia, as well as medical emergency resulting from hypoglycemia showed that both conditions should not be overlooked since they may worsen the patient's prognosis.

Factors Associated with Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C among Infected Patients in Indonesia and Their Knowledge and Attitude: A Multicenter Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are global health problems, including in Indonesia. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes about HBV and HCV infection among infected patients in Indonesia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was adapted and translated into Indonesian language, and trialed with 27 HBV and 27 HCV patients. The final validated questionnaire was later used in the target population. Patients diagnosed with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C were included. The patients were enrolled from November 2019 until February 2020 in sixteen multicenter locations. Multivariate analysis with logistic regression was conducted to determine the factors that are associated with the knowledge and attitude among HBV and HCV patients toward their illness. RESULTS: A total of 931 HBV patients and 254 HCV patients were included in this survey. The proportion of infected patients with adequate knowledge of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C was 72.1% and 53.9%, respectively. Positive attitudes about Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C were 28.5% and 41.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that higher education level, higher income level, diagnosis duration of more than 5 years, and receiving of antiviral therapy were independent factors associated with adequate knowledge about Hepatitis B among HBV patients. Among HCV patients, independent factors associated with adequate knowledge about Hepatitis C were being married, higher education level, higher income level, and receiving antiviral therapy. Moreover, older age and receiving of antiviral therapy were independent factors associated with positive attitudes towards Hepatitis B among HBV patients. However, only higher education level was found to be an independent factor associated with positive attitudes towards Hepatitis C among HCV patients. CONCLUSION: The knowledge and attitude of patients regarding HBV and HCV were quite low among infected patients in Indonesia.

Scoring system for predicting 90-day mortality of in-hospital liver cirrhosis patients at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Liver cirrhosis is the final stage of chronic liver disease. Complications due to progression of liver disease may deteriorate the liver function and worsen prognosis. Previous studies have shown that patients with liver cirrhosis are at increased risk of death within 90-day after hospitalization. It is necessary to identify patients who are at higher risk of early mortality. This study aims to develop a scoring system to predict the 90-day mortality among hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis that could be used for modification of treatment plan according to the scores that have been obtained. By using this scoring system, crucial care of plans can be taken to reduce the risk of mortality. METHOD: This prospective cohort study was conducted on hospitalized cirrhotic patients at Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital, Jakarta. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded. Patients were monitored for up to 90-day after hospitalization to determine their condition. Cox regression analysis was performed to obtain predictor factors contributing to mortality in liver cirrhosis patients. The scoring system that resulted from this study categorized patients into low, moderate, and high-risk categories based on their predicted mortality rates. The sensitivity and specificity of the scoring system were evaluated using the AUC (area under the curve) metric. RESULT: The study revealed that liver cirrhosis patients who were hospitalized had a 90-day mortality rate of 42.2%, with contributing factors including Child-Pugh, MELD, and leukocyte levels. The combination of these variables had a good discriminative value with an AUC of 0.921 (95% CI: 0.876-0.967). The scoring system resulted in three risk categories: low risk (score of 0-3) with a 4.1-18.4% probability of death, moderate risk (score of 5-6) with a 40.5-54.2% probability of death, and high risk (score of 8-11) with a 78.1-94.9% probability of death. CONCLUSION: The scoring system has shown great accuracy in predicting 90-day mortality in hospitalized cirrhosis patients, making it a valuable tool for identifying the necessary care and interventions needed for these patients upon admission.

Diagnostic performance of Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) as a liver fibrosis marker in chronic hepatitis C patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Liver fibrosis assessment is essential to determine the initiation, duration, and evaluation of chronic hepatitis C treatment. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the role of Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) as a biomarker to measure liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design. Serum M2BPGi level and transient elastography results were evaluated in 102 chronic hepatitis C patients with CKD on HD, 36 CKD on HD patients, and 48 healthy controls. ROC analysis was conducted to identify the optimal cutoff values to assess significant fibrosis and cirrhosis among chronic hepatitis C patients with CKD on HD. RESULTS: In chronic hepatitis C patients with CKD on HD, the level of serum M2BPGi had a moderately significant correlation with transient elastography (r = 0.447, p < 0.001). The median serum M2BPGi was higher among CKD on HD patients compared to healthy controls (1.260 COI vs. 0.590 COI, p < 0.001) and was even higher in chronic hepatitis C patients with CKD on HD compared to CKD on HD group (2.190 COI vs. 1.260 COI, p < 0.001). It is also increased according to the severity of liver fibrosis: 1.670 COI, 2.020 COI, and 5.065 COI for F0-F1, significant fibrosis, and cirrhosis, respectively. The optimal cutoff values for diagnosing significant fibrosis and cirrhosis were 2.080 and 2.475 COI, respectively. CONCLUSION: Serum M2BPGi could be a simple and reliable diagnostic tool for evaluating cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C patients with CKD on HD.

Effect of Roselle Flower Extract (Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn.) on Reducing Steatosis and Steatohepatitis in Vitamin B12 Deficiency Rat Model.

Background and Objectives: Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) can occur as a result of micronutrient deficiencies. Hibiscus sabdarifa, a plant used in traditional medicine, contains ingredients that can help prevent this process. This study looked at the potency of Hibiscus sabdariffa Ethanol Extract (HSE) to prevent homocysteine-induced liver damage in animals that were deficient in vitamin B12. Materials and Methods: A comparative study of the effects of roselle extract is presented in an experimental design. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups using randomization. To demonstrate the absence of liver damage in the experimental animals under normal conditions, a control group was fed a normal diet without HSE. For the induction of liver damage in the experimental animals, the vitamin B12-restricted group was administered a vitamin B12-restricted diet. To test the effect of HSE on liver damage, the treatment group was given HSE along with a vitamin B12-restricted diet. Each group was given two treatment periods of eight and sixteen weeks. These results were compared with the results of the parameter examination between the vitamin B12 restriction group, with and without HSE, using an ANOVA statistic. The data were analyzed with licensed SPSS 20.0 software. Results: HSE significantly increased the blood levels of vitamin B12 while lowering homocysteine levels. The administration of HSE reduced liver damage based on the activity of liver function enzymes in the plasma due to a limitation of vitamin B12. HSE decreased Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein-1c (SREBP1c) and Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NFkB) protein expressions in the liver tissue, but did not decrease Glucose-Regulated Protein 78 (GRP78) protein expression. Significantly, the levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-a) and IL-6 in the liver tissue were lower, while the levels of IL-10 and Nuclear factor-erythroid-2 Related Factor 2 (NRF2) were higher with HSE administration. HSE produced a better histopathological profile of the Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E)-Masson tricrome for inflammation, fat and fibrosis in the liver. Conclusions: In this study, HSE was found to slow the development of liver damage in experimental animals that were given a vitamin B12-deficient diet.

Factors Associated with Sarcopenia in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is associated with worse outcomes in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Differences in criteria and methods used to diagnose sarcopenia, results in a wide range of prevalence. Factors associated with sarcopenia in MHD have not been well-studied. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in the MHD population. METHODS: Observational cross-sectional study was done with 96 MHD patients aged ≥18 years old, with dialysis vintage ≥120 days at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital March-May 2022. Descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression analysis were done to find sarcopenia's prevalence and association with Simplify Creatinine Index (SCI), type 2 diabetes (DM), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), nutritional status, physical activity, and phosphate serum level. Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria used to diagnose sarcopenia, Hand Grip Strength (HGS) to identify muscle strength, Bioimpedance Spectroscopy (BIS) to calculate muscle mass, and 6-meter walk test to evaluate physical performance. RESULTS: The prevalence of sarcopenia was 54.2%. Factors with a significant association in bivariate analysis were phosphate serum level (p=0.008), SCI (p=0.005) and low physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) (p-0.006). Logistic regression analysis found higher phosphate serum level and high physical activity protective of sarcopenia (OR 0.677;CI95% 0.493-0.93 and OR 0.313;CI95% 0.130-0.755 respectively). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of sarcopenia in the MHD population was 54.2%. Phosphate serum level, SCI, and physical activity were significantly correlated with sarcopenia. Both high phosphate level and high physical activity were protective against sarcopenia.

Identification and Validation of Entrustable Professional Activities in Indonesian Internal Medicine Residency Programs.

BACKGROUND: Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are tasks entrusted to students who assist supervisors in determining their competencies. However, the competencies required and the end-educational stage in which each EPA item is assigned have yet to be determined by the stakeholders of internal medicine residency programs in Indonesia. This study aimed to identify and determine the activities in internal medicine residency programs which could be defined as EPAs in the competency-based curriculum of Indonesian internal medicine residency programs. METHODS: A literature review was conducted to identify activities which could be examined as EPA items in Indonesian internal medicine residency programs, which were then validated by 10 educational experts. Two rounds of the Delphi method were conducted with participants consisting of the Indonesian Board of Internal Medicine professionals, residency program directors, internal medicine specialists, and internal medicine residents to evaluate the importance of the identified EPA items. The EPA items were rated on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, and their variances were analyzed. The participants also rated the end-educational stage appropriate for each EPA item. The effect size was calculated between groups as (1) small, <0.3; (2) moderate, approximately 0.5; and (3) large, >0.8. RESULTS: The literature review identified 29 modified items from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RCPS) and three items from other academically developed EPA designs. The expert discussion resulted in the validation of 28 EPA items (out of the 32 items in the initial EPA draft). All 28 items were accepted after two rounds of the Delphi method, and a decrease in their variances was found. CONCLUSION: This study formulated 28 EPA items for Indonesian internal medicine residency programs. Further collaboration between the Board of Internal Medicine and residency program directors will be needed for the application of these EPA items at each residency year.

The Validity and Reliability of the Indonesian Version of the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) in Measuring Quality of Life in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Liver cirrhosis remains the major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality around the world. Cirrhosis also negatively affects health-related quality of life. Quality of life evaluation in cirrhosis treatment is often overlooked, despite its importance compared to traditional outcome. One of the specific tools to measure quality of life in cirrhosis patient is the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ). Although this tool has been widely used in many countries, no studies have been conducted on its validity and reliability in the Indonesian language. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Indonesian version of CLDQ using appropriate methods. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at Hepatobiliary outpatient clinic in Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital (RSCM), from April-May 2021. The CLDQ was first translated into the Indonesian language and subsequent pretest was performed on 10 people, resulting in the final Indonesian version of the CLDQ. The final version was later tested in the main study with larger number of subjects (52 people). Validity was assessed using construct and external validity tests, while reliability was tested using internal consistency and test-retest methods. RESULTS: The Indonesian version of CLDQ had a good construct validity (r 0.613-0.917), moderate external validity (54.1%), strong correlations between CLDQ and SF-36, good internal consistency (Cronbach-Alpha ≥ 0.7), and good test-retest reliability (ICC > 0.7). CONCLUSION: The Indonesian version of CLDQ is valid and reliable in measuring the quality of life of liver cirrhosis patients in Indonesia.

National Consensus on Portal Hypertension Management in Indonesia.

Portal hypertension is a clinical syndrome that consists of hypersplenism, ascites, gastroesophageal varices, and encephalopathy. This condition is marked by increased portal pressure gradient and may occur with or without liver cirrhosis. To date, portal hypertension remains as the leading cause of severe complications and death of a patient with chronic liver disease, especially liver cirrhosis. Therefore, thorough understanding about management of portal hypertension is strongly required, especially considering that many complications of portal hypertension require early diagnosis and treatment to improve the prognosis of the patients. Additionally, although hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement has become a gold standard procedure for measuring portal pressure in the last twenty years, utilization of this method in Indonesia has been hindered by reluctance of the patients due to its invasiveness, high cost, and limited availability. This consensus is developed with evidence-based medicine principles to provide a guideline for portal hypertension management for general practitioners, specialists, and consultants, to achieve better clinical outcomes of portal hypertension in Indonesia.  Keywords: portal hypertension, liver cirrhosis, chronic liver disease.

Diagnostic Performance of Mac-2-Binding Protein Glycosylation Isomer (M2BPGi), compared to Transient Elastography to Assess Liver Stiffness in Treatment Naïve Chronic Hepatitis C Patients.

BACKGROUND: Liver fibrosis is an essential factor in the management of Hepatitis C virus infection. Its assessment is crucial in decision-making regarding the therapeutic decisions, and the patients' follow up. However, the established liver measurement methods have several limitations. Therefore, this study aims to assess the role of Mac-2-Binding Protein Glycosylation Isomer (M2BPGi) as a novel biomarker to measure liver stiffness in treatment naïve Chronic Hepatitis C Indonesian patients. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design to determine the correlation between serum M2BPGi and the degree of liver stiffness, Transient Elastrography, and differences in serum M2BPGi levels in chronic hepatitis C patients. Serum M2BPGi level and Transient Elastography results were evaluated in 56 Chronic Hepatitis C patients and 48 healthy controls. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to find the correlation between the level of M2BPGi and Transient Elastography result. ROC analysis was conducted to find the optimum cut-off to assess fibrosis's degree among Chronic Hepatitis C Patients. RESULTS: The level of serum M2BPGi and Transient Elastography result was strongly correlated with the median level of serum M2BPGi. It was also significantly higher among Chronic Hepatitis C Patients than among healthy controls (r: 0.708, p<0.001; 0.590 COI vs. 4.130 COI, p<0.001). Among the Chronic Hepatitis C patients, the median serum of M2BPGi increased according to the degree of liver fibrosis: 1.500 COI (F0-F1), 2.985 COI (F2-F3) and 8.785 COI (≥F4). The optimum cut-off value for diagnosing significant fibrosis (F2-F3) was 1.820 COI (AUC: 90.8%) and for diagnosing cirrhosis (≥F4) was 3.770 COI (AUC: 89.3%). CONCLUSION: Serum M2BPGi was a reliable diagnostic tool for identifying liver fibrosis in Indonesian patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.

Asian consensus recommendations on optimizing the diagnosis and initiation of treatment of hepatitis B virus infection in resource-limited settings.

Asia has an intermediate-to-high prevalence of and high morbidity and mortality from hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Optimization of diagnosis and initiation of treatment is one of the crucial strategies for lowering disease burden in this region. Therefore, a panel of 24 experts from 10 Asian countries convened, and reviewed the literature, to develop consensus guidance on diagnosis and initiation of treatment of HBV infection in resource-limited Asian settings. The panel proposed 11 recommendations related to diagnosis, pre-treatment assessment, and indications of therapy of HBV infection, and management of HBV-infected patients with co-infections. In resource-limited Asian settings, testing for hepatitis B surface antigen may be considered as the primary test for diagnosis of HBV infection. Pre-treatment assessments should include tests for complete blood count, liver and renal function, hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg), anti-HBe, HBV DNA, co-infection markers and assessment of severity of liver disease. Noninvasive tests such as AST-to-platelet ratio index, fibrosis score 4 or transient elastography may be used as alternatives to liver biopsy for assessing disease severity. Considering the high burden of HBV infection in Asia, the panel adopted an aggressive approach, and recommended initiation of antiviral therapy in all HBV-infected, compensated or decompensated cirrhotic individuals with detectable HBV DNA levels, regardless of HBeAg status or alanine transaminase levels. The panel also developed a simple algorithm for guiding the initiation of treatment in noncirrhotic, HBV-infected individuals. The recommendations proposed herein, may help guide clinicians, to optimize the diagnosis and improvise the treatment rates for HBV infection in Asia.

The Association between Peripheral Th17, Th1, IL-17, and IFN-γ Levels and TACE Response in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma with or without Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Th17 cells, a subset of CD4+ T cells with the capacity to produce IL-17, were reported to have pro-tumor and anti-tumor effects. Th1 cells are known for their capacity to eliminate tumor cells by producing IFN-γ. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a treatment of choice for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between peripheral Th17, Th1, IL-17, and IFN-γ levels and TACE response in patients with unresectable HCC with or without cirrhosis. METHODS: a prospective cohort study was conducted in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital and several affiliated hospitals from June 2015 to January 2019. HCC patients with or without cirrhosis who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. Blood samples were obtained immediately before TACE and 30 days after TACE. Th1 and Th17 cells were analyzed by flowcytometry, while IL-17 and IFN-γ were examined with ELISA method. TACE response was assessed with mRECIST. RESULTS: forty-one HCC patients were enrolled in this study. According to mRECIST, 12 patients were assessed as response group (complete and partial response) and 29 patients were assessed as nonresponse group (stable and progressive disease). Levels of Th1 and Th17 increased significantly after TACE in the response group. On the other hand, IL-17 and IFN-γ decreased after TACE in both groups, although not statistically significant. Interestingly, in the response group, a significant increase was found in the number of T cells subset showing both IFN-γ and IL-17 markers on their surfaces, i.e. CD4+/IFN-γ+/IL-17+ T cells. CONCLUSION: increased circulating Th1, Th17, and CD4+/IFN-γ+/IL-17+ T cells were observed in HCC patients with complete or partial response to TACE.

The role of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) patients evaluated using Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) Transient Elastography (TE): a tertiary referral center experience.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging disease, where it can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and lead to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has been hypothesized to play an important role in NAFLD development and progression, however, there is still conflicting data about this phenomenon. Transient Elastography (TE) examination using controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) has been validated for liver disease progression assessment in NAFLD. It is non-invasive method and easy to perform in clinical practice. Therefore, we would like to know the role of SIBO in NAFLD and its possible impact on disease progression. METHODS: A cross-sectional design study performed at outpatient's Hepatobiliary clinic at tertiary referral university hospital in Jakarta. All recruited study subjects based on inclusions criteria underwent laboratory examination, transabdominal ultrasound examination, CAP-TE 502 (by Echosens, France), and glucose hydrogen breath test (GHBT) using portable hydrogen breath test apparatus (Gastro+™ Gastrolyzer by Bedfont Scientific Ltd). Stool sample examination was performed using RT-PCR. RESULTS: This study recruited 160 subjects with median age of 58 (22-78) years and 108 (67.5%) of them are female. SIBO (65,5%), DM (70.8%), dyslipidemia (75.2%), obesity (76.6%), and metabolic syndrome (73%) were more prevalent in NAFLD than non-NAFLD population. Bivariate analysis showed no significant association between SIBO and NAFLD development (p = 0.191; PR 0.871; CI 95% [0.306-1.269]). SIBO was also not associated with significant hepatic steatosis (p = 0.951; PR = 0.951; CI 95% [0.452-2.239]) and fibrosis (p = 0.371; PR = 1.369; CI 95% [0.608-3.772]). However, the presence of central obesity has significantly associated with the presence of SIBO (p = 0.001; PR = 0.378; CI 95% [0.021-0.478]). Based on stool sample analysis from 60 NAFLD patients, there is a significant correlation using Spearmen test between the presence of Bacteroides and the stage of fibrosis (p .037). Further analysis between obese NAFLD patients and non-obese NAFLD patients showing that there is a significant decrease of Bifidobacteria (p .047) and Lactobacillus (p .038) in obese NAFLD patients and a tendency of increase Bacteroides in obese NAFLD patients (p .572). CONCLUSIONS: SIBO is not associated with NAFLD development and progression.

Gallbladder Wall Thickening for Early Detection of Plasma Leakage in Dengue Infected Adult Patients.

BACKGROUND: plasma leakage is defined as ≥20% elevation of hematocrit from baseline or decrease in convalescence or evidence of plasma leakage such as pleural effusion, ascites or hypoproteinaemia/hypoalbuminaemia. These signs of plasma leakage, in the early phase, are usually difficult to ascertain by physical examination and laboratory tests where the patient is only reflecting a mild degree of plasma leakage. This study aimed to investigate whether gallbladder wall thickening (GBWT) in the early phase of the disease can be used to detect the occurrence of plasma leakage in dengue patients. METHODS: a diagnostic study was conducted among dengue patients. Patients with fever less than 3 days, positive results of non-structural protein 1 antigen dengue and RT-PCR examination were included consecutively. Laboratory tests and chest and abdominal ultrasonography examination were also performed daily from day-3 to day-7 of fever to confirm the occurrence of plasma leakage using WHO 1997 criteria during treatment. RESULTS: there were 69 patients included in this study. Male patients were found more frequently (52.2%), average age was 24.2 years, and 46 patients (66.7%) presented with secondary dengue infection. On the third day of fever, 37 patients presented with GBWT, 30 of which showed plasma leakage during treatment. Out of 46 patients found to have plasma leakage during treatment, 12 patients had presented with plasma leakage on the third day of fever. Sensitivity and specificity of GBWT on the third day of fever were 65% (95% CI: 0,51-0,79) and 70% (95% CI: 0.51-0.88); PPV and NPV were 81% (95% CI: 0.68-0.94) and 50% (95% CI: 0.33-0.67); LR (+) and LR (-) were 2.14 (95% CI: 1.12-4.12) and 0.5 (95% CI: 0.31-0.81), respectively. CONCLUSION: gallbladder wall thickening in the early phase of the disease can be used to detect the occurrence of plasma leakage in adult dengue infected patients.

Current Practice of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. This is due to the heterogeneity of the tumor biology and lack of curative treatment options. The most significant prognostic factor is detection at early stage and thus, surveillance strategies are of high importance. High-risk patients should undergo ultrasound and tumor marker tests at six-month interval in order to detect HCC at the earlier stage. However, in real-life practice, ultrasound has several limitations and the adherence to HCC surveillance is suboptimal due to various provider, patient, and health-care system factors. In this paper, we will address current methods of HCC surveillance and obstacles found in real-life practice.

Association between Serum Uric Acid and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is known to be associated with some metabolic disorders. Recent studies suggested the role of uric acid in NAFLD through oxidative stress and inflammatory process. This study is aimed to evaluate the association between serum uric acid and NAFLD. METHODS: a systematic literature review was conducted using Pubmed and Cochrane library. The quality of all studies was assessed using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE). All data were analyzed using REVIEW MANAGER 5.3. RESULTS: eleven studies from America and Asia involving 100,275 subjects were included. The pooled adjusted OR for NAFLD was 1.92 (95% CI: 1.66-2.23; p<0.00001). Subgroup analyses were done based on study design, gender, non-diabetic subjects, non-obese subjects. All subgroup analyses showed statistically significant adjusted OR and most of which having low to moderate heterogeneity. Two studies revealed relationship between increased serum uric acid levels and severity of NAFLD. No publication bias was observed. CONCLUSION: our study demonstrated association between serum uric acid level and NAFLD. This finding brings a new insight of uric acid in clinical practice. Increased in serum uric acid levels might serve as a trigger for physician to screen for NAFLD.

Prevalence and Profile of Fibrosis in Diabetic Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Associated Factors.

BACKGROUND: the risk of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is increasing in patients with type-2 diabetes. Prevalence and factors related to the increased risk of NAFLD in diabetic patients in Indonesia has never been studied before. Data regarding the profile of fibrosis in the population has also been unknown. This study aimed to identify the difference on the profile of diabetic patients with and without NAFLD as well as the degree of fibrosis. METHODS: the study was conducted using a cross-sectional method in type-2 diabetic patients who were treated at the outpatient clinic of endocrinology and metabolic division in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. Sampling was done consecutively. Collected data comprised of age, duration of diabetes, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, HDL, triglyceride, and HbA1C levels. Abdominal ultrasonography was conducted for all patients to determine the presence of NAFLD. Patients with NAFLD were subsequently underwent transient elastography in order to assess their degree of liver fibrosis. Chi-square or Fisher's-Exact tests were used for bivariate analysis and logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: as many as 186 patients were analyzed in the study and 84 patients (45.2%) were demonstrated to have NAFLD. Transient elastography examinations were carried out in 68 patients and 17 patients (25.0%) were found with severe fibrosis. Univariate analysis showed significant differences on BMI (PR=1.878; 95%CI= 1.296-2.721; p<0.001) and waist circumference (PR=2.368; 95%CI= 1.117-5.017; p=0.018) between patients with and without NAFLD. However, the multivariate test showed that BMI was the only factor that had a significance difference between both groups (OR=2.989; 95%CI=1.625-5.499; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: prevalence of NAFLD among type-2 diabetic patients in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital has reached 45.2% and 25.0% among them had severe fibrosis. BMI is the only factor found to be associated with the occurrence of NAFLD.

Evaluation of Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) for Fibrosis Staging in Chronic Liver Diseases.

BACKGROUND: acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) is a new proposed noninvasive method for liver fibrosis staging. Integrated with B-mode ultrasonography, ARFI can be used to assess liver tissue condition. However its diagnostic accuracy is still being continuously evaluated. Also, there is lack of data regarding the utilization of ARFI in our population. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of ARFI as an alternative noninvasive modality for fibrosis staging in chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C patients in our population. METHODS: we conducted cross-sectional comparison of ARFI imaging and transient elastography on patients who underwent liver biopsy at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. Fibrosis staging using METAVIR scoring system presented as standard reference. A total of 43 patients underwent liver biopsy was evaluated by ARFI imaging and transient elastography. Cut-off values were determined using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC). RESULTS: both liver stiffness determined by ARFI and transient elastography (TE) were moderately correlated with METAVIR score with value of 0.581 and 0.613, respectively (both P<0.01). Diagnostic accuracy of ARFI predicted significant fibrosis (F≥2) with area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.773 (95% CI 0.616-0.930) and even better for cirrhosis (F4 fibrosis), expressed as AUROC of 0.856 (95% CI 0.736-0.975). Transient elastography was better for significant fibrosis with AUROC of 0.761 (95% CI 0.601-0.920) and was best for prediction of cirrhosis, expressed as AUROC of 0.845 (95% CI 0.722-0.968). CONCLUSION: ARFI is provided with more convenient evaluation of liver tissue condition, and its diagnostic accuracy is not significantly different from TE for staging liver fibrosis.

Colloids Versus Albumin in Large Volume Paracentesis to Prevent Circulatory Dysfunction: Evidence-based Case Report.

Large volume paracentesis may cause paracentesis induced circulatory dysfunction (PICD). Albumin is recommended to prevent this abnormality. Meanwhile, the price of albumin is too expensive and there should be another alternative that may prevent PICD. This report aimed to compare albumin to colloids in preventing PICD. Search strategy was done using PubMed, Scopus, Proquest, dan Academic Health Complete from EBSCO with keywords of "ascites", "albumin", "colloid", "dextran", "hydroxyethyl starch", "gelatin", and "paracentesis induced circulatory dysfunction". Articles was limited to randomized clinical trial and meta-analysis with clinical question of "In hepatic cirrhotic patient undergone large volume paracentesis, whether colloids were similar to albumin to prevent PICD". We found one meta-analysis and four randomized clinical trials (RCT). A meta analysis showed that albumin was still superior of which odds ratio 0.34 (0.23-0.51). Three RCTs showed the same results and one RCT showed albumin was not superior than colloids. We conclude that colloids could not constitute albumin to prevent PICD, but colloids still have a role in patient who undergone paracentesis less than five liters.

Mortality-related Factors in Patients with Malignant Obstructive Jaundice.

AIM: to obtain survival rate and mortality-related factors of malignant obstructive jaundice patients. METHODS: all medical records of obstructive jaundice inpatient at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta from January 2010 to December 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. The following factors were analyzed in terms of mortality: age, gender, sepsis, hypoalbumin, serum bilirubin level, serum CA 19-9 level, billiary drainage, non-ampulla Vateri carcinoma, and comorbid factors. RESULTS: total 181 out of 402 patients were enrolled in this study with male proportion was 58.6%, and patients aged 50 years or above was 57.5%. Multivariate analysis showed that only sepsis, unsuccessful or no prior biliary drainage and Charlson comorbid score ≥4 were independent predictors of mortality. Patients with significant prognostic factors had median survival 14 days compared with overall median survival 26 days. Score ≥2 identified as the highest prognostic score threshold with sensitivity 68%, specificity 75%, and AUC on ROC curve 0.769. CONCLUSION: sepsis, unsuccessful or no prior bilirary drainage, and Charlson comorbid score ≥4 are factors significantly associated with shortened survival in malignant obstructive jaundice patients. Prognostic score  ≥2 was determined to classify patients into high risk mortality group. Mortality of patients with those significant prognostic factors can be predicted in 76.9%.