In the News
Adding factors to FIB-4 improves early identification of patients with risk of HCC
The score, which took into account age, sex, race and ethnicity, body mass index, diabetes status, smoking status, alcohol use, and Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) score, found patients at risk of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) who didn't have viral hepatitis or cirrhosis.
Risk for herpes zoster complications appears higher with IBD
A retrospective cohort study found that herpes zoster complications occurred in 15.52% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who got the virus versus 12.51% of those without IBD, a statistically significant difference.
Only half of patients with SBP received albumin per guidelines, VA study finds
Use of albumin for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) was lower among Black patients than White ones, but it did increase over time from 2008 to 2021, according to a retrospective Veterans Affairs (VA) study.
MKSAP Quiz: ED evaluation for fever, jaundice
A 59-year-old woman is evaluated in the emergency department for fever and jaundice. She has decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis with ascites. Following a physical exam and other tests, what is the most appropriate initial treatment?
Spotlight on newer methods of CRC screening
Recent analyses compared a multitarget stool DNA test for colorectal cancer (CRC) with fecal immunochemical testing (FIT), assessed the cost-effectiveness of new cell-free blood DNA tests for CRC, and looked at a FIT-based screening strategy for lower-income countries.
Increase in alcohol use during pandemic persisted through 2022
Compared with 2018, the National Health Interview Survey from 2020 and 2022 showed statistically significant increases in any alcohol use and heavy alcohol use in 2020 and 2022, a study found, leading its authors to call for increased screening for harmful drinking.
Hospitalizations, liver transplants linked to alcohol on the rise across age, gender groups
Between 2005 and 2021, liver transplants associated with alcohol-induced liver disease saw a relative increase of more than 2,000% among women younger than 40 years of age in the U.S., and their liver disease hospitalization rate more than doubled, according to data from the National Inpatient Sample.
Low-risk patients can continue GLP-1 receptor agonists perioperatively, guideline says
Decision making about perioperative use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists should be collaborative and balance patients' metabolic need for the medication with their risk of delayed gastric emptying and aspiration, according to a new multisociety guideline.
Case reports cover hepatitis B reactivation, colitis, black esophagus
These gastroenterology and hepatology topics were touched upon in recent cases.
In active ulcerative colitis, risankizumab induced and maintained remission
An industry-funded study provided evidence that risankizumab can be considered a first-line or rescue therapy for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, but with many medication options, cost may be a consideration, an ACP Journal Club commentary said.