Planning the hepatitis C virus elimination in Cyprus: A modeling study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major global public health problem. In the Republic of Cyprus, the estimated prevalence of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) among the general population is 0.6%, while the CHC prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID) is estimated at 46%. Direct-acting antivirals that can eliminate HCV are not yet widely available in the Republic of Cyprus. However, when direct-acting antivirals become available, a long-term strategic plan to guide elimination efforts will be needed to maximize the effect of treatment. AIM: To determine the programmatic targets to eliminate HCV in the Republic of Cyprus. METHODS: A dynamic, stochastic, individual-based model of HCV transmission, disease progression, and cascade of care was calibrated to data from Cyprus. The model stratifies the population into the infected general population and the PWID population. A variety of test, prevention, and treatment strategies concerning the general population, PWID, or both were examined. The time horizon of the analysis was until 2034. RESULTS: Under the status quo scenario, the model predicted that 75 (95% confidence interval (CI): 60, 91) and 575 (95%CI: 535, 615) liver-related deaths and new infections would occur by 2034, respectively. Launching an expanded treatment program, without screening interventions, would cause modest outcomes regarding CHC prevalence (16.6% reduction in 2034 compared to 2020) and liver-related deaths (10 deaths would be prevented compared to the status quo scenario by 2034). Implementing a test and treat strategy among the general population but without any intervention in the PWID population would suffice to meet the mortality target but not the incidence target. To achieve HCV elimination in Cyprus, 3080 (95%CI: 3000, 3200) HCV patients need to be diagnosed and treated by 2034 (2680 from the general population and 400 from PWID), and harm reduction coverage among PWID should be increased by 3% per year (from 25% in 2020 to 67% in 2034). CONCLUSION: Elimination of HCV is a demanding public health strategy, which requires significant interventions both among the general population and high-risk groups.

Acute adrenal insufficiency as a first presentation of myelodysplastic syndrome and sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma: a case report.

Acute adrenal failure due to bilateral adrenal haemorrhage is rare and may initially present with non-specific symptoms. It can rapidly progress into a life-threatening condition if not diagnosed promptly. Both traumatic and non-traumatic conditions have been implicated in the aetiology, with the latter been even rarer. We describe the case of a 57-year-old woman presenting with vomiting and epigastric pain and later developing fever and diarrhoea. The patient then deteriorated into shock and primary adrenal insufficiency was identified. A computed tomography scan noted bilateral adrenal haemorrhage. Further investigations showed a sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma and a myelodysplastic syndrome, with monosomy seven. Bilateral non-traumatic adrenal haemorrhage is an infrequent finding and investigating its aetiology can be challenging. In our patient, two simultaneous underlying diseases were identified. To the best of our knowledge, the combination of these two non-traumatic conditions as a cause of acute bilateral adrenal haemorrhage has not been previously reported.