Routes to diagnosis for hepatocellular carcinoma patients: predictors and associations with treatment and mortality.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence has increased rapidly, and prognosis remains poor. We aimed to explore predictors of routes to diagnosis (RtD), and outcomes, in HCC cases. METHODS: HCC cases diagnosed 2006-2017 were identified from the National Cancer Registration Dataset and linked to Hospital Episode Statistics and the RtD metric. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore associations between RtD, diagnosis year, 365-day mortality and receipt of potentially curative treatment. RESULTS: 23,555 HCC cases were identified; 36.1% via emergency presentation (EP), 30.2% GP referral (GP), 17.1% outpatient referral, 11.0% two-week wait and 4.6% other/unknown routes. Odds of 365-day mortality was >70% lower via GP or OP routes than EP, and odds of curative treatment 3-4 times higher. Further adjustment for cancer/cirrhosis stage attenuated the associations with curative treatment. People who were older, female, had alcohol-related liver disease, or were more deprived, were at increased risk of an EP. Over time, diagnoses via EP decreased, and via GP increased. CONCLUSIONS: HCC RtD is an important predictor of outcomes. Continuing to reduce EP and increase GP and OP presentations, for example by identifying and regularly monitoring patients at higher risk of HCC, may improve stage at diagnosis and survival.

Regional variations in hepatocellular carcinoma incidence, routes to diagnosis, treatment and survival in England.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence, management and survival across England were examined to determine if geographical inequalities exist. METHOD: 15,468 HCC cases diagnosed 2010-2016 were included. Age-standardised incidence rates, net survival and proportions receiving potentially curative treatment and presenting through each route to diagnosis adjusted for age at diagnosis, sex and area-based deprivation quintile, were calculated overall and by Cancer Alliance. RESULTS: HCC incidence rates increased in men from 6.2 per 100,000 in 2010 to 8.8 in 2016, and in women from 1.5 to 2.2. The highest incidence rates, found in parts of the North of England and London, were nearly double the lowest. The adjusted proportion presenting as an emergency ranged 27-41% across Cancer Alliances. Odds increased with increasing deprivation quintile and age. Only one in five patients received potentially curative treatment (range 15-28%) and odds decreased with increasing deprivation and age. One-year survival in 2013-2016 ranged 38-53%. CONCLUSION: This population-based, nationwide analysis demonstrates clear differences in HCC incidence, management and survival across England. It highlights socioeconomic-associated variation and the need for improvement in early diagnosis and curative treatment of HCC. This research should assist policymakers, service providers and clinicians to identify regions where additional training, services and resources would be best directed.

Sessile and mobile components of a benthic ecosystem display mixed trends within a temperate marine reserve.

Despite recent efforts to increase the global coverage of marine protected areas (MPAs), studies investigating the effectiveness of marine protected areas within temperate waters remain scarce. Furthermore, out of the few studies published on MPAs in temperate waters, the majority focus on specific ecological or fishery components rather than investigating the ecosystem as a whole. This study therefore investigated the dynamics of both benthic communities and fish populations within a recently established, fully protected marine reserve in Lamlash Bay, Isle of Arran, United Kingdom, over a four year period. A combination of photo and diver surveys revealed live maerl (Phymatolithon calcareum), macroalgae, sponges, hydroids, feather stars and eyelash worms (Myxicola infundibulum) to be significantly more abundant within the marine reserve than on surrounding fishing grounds. Likewise, the overall composition of epifaunal communities in and outside the reserve was significantly different. Both results are consistent with the hypothesis that protecting areas from fishing can encourage seafloor habitats to recover. In addition, the greater abundance of complex habitats within the reserve appeared to providing nursery habitat for juvenile cod (Gadus morhua) and scallops (Pecten maximus and Aequipecten opercularis). In contrast, there was little difference in the abundance of mobile benthic fauna, such as crabs and starfish, between the reserve and outside. Similarly, the use of baited underwater video cameras revealed no difference in the abundance and size of fish between the reserve and outside. Limited recovery of these ecosystem components may be due to the relatively small size (2.67 km(2)) and young age of the reserve (<5 years), both of which might have limited the extent of any benefits afforded to mobile fauna and fish communities. Overall, this study provides evidence that fully protected marine reserves can encourage seafloor habitats to recover, which in turn, can create a number of benefits that flow back to other species, including those of commercial importance.

Impaired functional capacity in potential liver transplant candidates predicts short-term mortality before transplantation.

Liver transplantation (LT) is a lifesaving treatment. Because of the shortage of donor organs, some patients will not survive long enough to receive a transplant. The identification of LT candidates at increased risk of short-term mortality without transplantation may affect listing decisions. Functional capacity, determined with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), is a measure of cardiorespiratory reserve and predicts perioperative outcomes. This study examined the association between functional capacity and short-term survival before LT and the potential for CPET to predict 90-day mortality without transplantation. A total of 176 patients who were assessed for nonacute LT underwent CPET. Ninety days after the assessment, 10 of the 164 patients who had not undergone transplantation were deceased (mortality rate = 6.1%). According to a comparison of survivors and nonsurvivors, the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, UK Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (UKELD) score, age, anaerobic threshold, and peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)) were significant univariate predictors of 90-day mortality without transplantation, but only the UKELD score and peak VO(2) retained significance in a multivariate analysis. The mean peak VO(2) was significantly lower for nonsurvivors versus survivors (15.2 ± 3.3 versus 21.2 ± 5.3 mL/minute/kg, P < 0.001). According to a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, peak VO(2) performed well as a diagnostic test (area under the ROC curve = 0.84, 95% confidence interval = 0.76-0.92, sensitivity = 0.90, specificity = 0.74, P < 0.001). The optimal cutoff value for predicting mortality was ≤17.6 mL/minute/kg. The positive predictive value of a peak VO(2) ≤ 17.6 mL/minute/kg for 90-day mortality was greatest for patients with high UKELD scores: 38% of the patients with a UKELD score ≥ 57 and a peak VO(2) ≤ 17.6 mL/minute/kg died, whereas only 6% of the patients with a UKELD score ≥ 57 and a peak VO(2) > 17.6 mL/minute/kg died (P = 0.03). In conclusion, patients assessed for LT with an impaired functional capacity have poorer short-term survival; this is particularly true for individuals with worse liver disease severity.

Role of mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis-an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Eighty percent (80%) of patients with Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) respond to a combination of prednisolone and Azathioprine (AZA). Choice of treatment is limited for those who do not respond to this standard therapy. We evaluated the role of Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as a second line therapy in AIH. METHOD: A retrospective observational study was carried out on all patients who received MMF for AIH. RESULTS: Twenty out of 117 patients with AIH received MMF due to AZA intolerance (18 patients) or refractory disease (2 patients). Median age of the study patients was 56 (18-79) years, Male, n = 3 (15%) and Female, n = 18 (85%). After a median follow-up period of 47 (5-83) months, 14 (73.6%) patients were still on MMF with biochemical remission, including 4 out of 5 patients with cirrhosis. One patient was lost to follow-up. Three patients were intolerant of MMF due to adverse events, and two had disease refractory to MMF. Both these patients with refractory disease to MMF were initially unresponsive to AZA therapy. CONCLUSION: MMF is a safe second line agent in patients with autoimmune hepatitis including those with cirrhosis.

Treatment of autoimmune hepatitis: a review of current and evolving therapies.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an immune-mediated necroinflammatory condition of the liver. Presentation can vary from the asymptomatic individual with abnormal liver function test to fulminant liver failure. The diagnosis is based on the combination of biochemical, autoimmune, and histological parameters, and exclusion of other liver diseases. Standard therapy consists of a combination of corticosteroids and azathioprine, which is efficacious in 80% of patients. Alternative therapies are increasingly being explored in patients who do not respond to the standard treatment and/or have unacceptable adverse effects. This review examines the role of alternative drugs (second-line agents) available for AIH treatment non-responders. These agents include budesonide, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporin, tacrolimus, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, rituximab, ursodeoxycholic acid, rapamycin, and methotrexate. In addition, the risk of opportunistic infections and malignancies are discussed. A treatment algorithm is proposed for the management of patients with AIH treatment non-responders.

Acute drug induced hepatitis secondary to a weight loss product purchased over the internet.

BACKGROUND: Many people now seek alternative methods of weight loss. The internet provides a readily available source of weight reduction products, the ingredients of which are often unclear. The authors describe a case of acute hepatitis in a 20 year old woman caused by such a product purchased over the internet. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20-year old woman presented with a two day history of abdominal pain, vomiting and jaundice. There were no identifiable risk factors for chronic liver disease. Liver function tests demonstrated an acute hepatitis (aminoaspartate transaminase 1230 IU/L). A chronic liver disease screen was negative. The patient had started a weight loss product (Pro-Lean), purchased over the internet two weeks prior to presentation. The patient was treated conservatively, and improved. The sequence of events suggests an acute hepatitis caused by an herbal weight loss product. CONCLUSION: This case report highlights the dangers of weight loss products available to the public over the internet, and the importance of asking specifically about alternative medicines in patients who present with an acute hepatitis.