Shear-wave elastography for evaluation of hepatic stiffness in chronic viral hepatitis B and C.

Aim of the study: To analyse the consistency between 2D shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE) stiffness and fibrosis in liver biopsy in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. The secondary aim of the study was to analyse the consistency between liver stiffness in 2D-SWE and transient elastography (TE) measurements in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C. Material and methods: The study compared the results of hepatic stiffness assessment with 2D-SWE to available past liver biopsy reports in 153 patients with chronic HBV (n = 51) and HCV (n = 102) infection. In 43 patients with both hepatitides HBV (n = 8) and HCV (n = 35) we performed FibroScan on the same day as 2D-SWE. The appropriate statistical tests were applied for the analysis. Results: Stiffness values analysed in the whole studied population showed a significant positive correlation with a stage of liver fibrosis in biopsy (r = 0.555, p < 0.001). If 2D-SWE was carried out within 24 months since liver biopsy the consistency of the results was 96%, and if the period between procedures exceeded 24 months the consistency was 81%. In 43 patients with both 2D-SWE and TE the coherence (r = 0.872, p < 0.001) and consistency (95%) between these two methods were high. Conclusions: Liver stiffness measured with 2D-SWE showed good consistency with stage of liver fibrosis in liver biopsies, particularly in HCV infected patients, and if the period between procedures did not exceed 24 months.

Non-HIV-related comorbidities and uncontrolled HIV replication are independent factors increasing the odds of hospitalization due to COVID-19 among HIV-positive patients in Poland.

PURPOSE: Immunocompromised patients are postulated to be at elevated risk of unfavorable outcomes of COVID-19. The exact effect of HIV infection on the course of COVID-19 remains to be elucidated. The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV-infected individuals. METHODS: The HIV-positive patients who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified through thirteen specialist HIV clinics routinely following them due to HIV treatment. The data were collected between November 2020 and May 2021 through an on-line electronical case report form (SurveyMonkey®). The collected information included demographics, lifestyle, comorbidities, HIV care history, COVID-19 clinical course and treatment. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with the odds of death or hospitalization due to COVID-19. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-three patients with HIV-SARS-CoV-2 coinfection were included in the analysis. One hundred and sixty-one (93.1%) subjects had a symptomatic course of the disease. Thirty-nine (23.1%) of them were hospitalized, 23 (13.3%) necessitated oxygen therapy. Three (1.8%) patients required admission to the intensive care unit and 6 (3.5%) patients died. The presence of comorbidities and an HIV viral load of more than 50 copies/mL were linked to the increased odds of hospitalization (OR 3.24 [95% CI 1.27-8.28]) and OR 5.12 [95% CI 1.35-19.6], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: As depicted by our analyses, HIV-positive patients with comorbidities and/or uncontrolled HIV replication who are diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection should be considered of high risk of poor COVID-19 outcome and followed up carefully.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of HCV/HIV Co-Infection and HCV Genotype Distribution in North-Eastern Poland.

BACKGROUND: HIV/HCV co-infection predisposes to accelerated liver damage and increased both liver-related and unrelated morbidity and mortality in patients with HIV infection. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HCV infection, seropositivity, risk factors and genotype distribution among treated HIV positive patients. Furthermore, the occurrence and causes of deaths were analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adult HIV-1 infected patients, with at least one antiHCV result, treated in one of Polish HIV/AIDS reference centers, participated in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty seven patients with a median age of 38 years (ranged 23 - 72), and predominantly male (76.6%) were enrolled in the study. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 325 individuals (71.1%). HCV RNA was detected in 207 of the 233 patients tested (88%). The HCV genotype analysis (n = 193) demonstrated almost equal distribution with slight genotype 1 domination as 37.3%, mainly 1b, followed by genotypes 3 as 32.1% and 4 as 30.6%. No association was found between HCV genotype and route of HIV acquisition. In univariate analysis, higher HCV seropositivity was related to male sex, intravenous drug use (IDU), mode of HIV transmission, history of drug and alcohol abuse and imprisonment. In multivariate analysis, only being injection drug user (P = 0.0001), imprisonment (P = 0.310) and younger age at the HIV diagnosis per each year (P = 0.025) were identified as risk factors for HCV infection. Sixty three deaths were reported; no association was found between HCV seropositivity and death prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: HIV/HCV co-infection is an important medical problem in North-Eastern Poland. A history of incarceration and younger age at HIV diagnosis were additional to IDU risk factors for HCV seropositivity in this cohort.

[Clostridium difficile infecion--diagnostics, prevention and treatment]. / Zakazenie clostridium difficile--diagnostyka, profilaktyka i leczenie.

Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of an antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Frequency of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) increased in the last decade. This study presents current preventive measure i.e. hand washing, disposable gloves. Additionally, the article presents diagnostic methods: detection glutamine dehydrogenase (GDH), toxins A and B, cytotoxicity neutralization test, polymerase chain reaction methods (PCR) i.e. nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) and stool culture. Moreover available methods of treatment were presented depending on severity of CDI e.i. metronidazole, vancomycin, fidaxomicin, rifaximin. Furthermore, the review provides information about alternative methods of treatment in view of new hypervirulent strains of C. difficile and increasing resistance to commonly used antibiotics, including: fuscid acid, bacitracin, probiotics, non-toxigenic strains, immunoglobulins, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, toxins binders and fecal transplant.