Gigantic Stomach: A Rare Manifestation of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by degeneration and atrophy of skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscles after a latent period of apparently normal development and function. The gastrointestinal manifestations start in the second decade of life and are mainly due to atrophy of smooth muscle layers. Refractory gastroparesis and chronic constipation can lead to severe gastric and small bowel dilatation, which can be life threatening. Here, we present a case of a 21-year-old male with a gigantic stomach secondary to DMD resolved with conservative management and no surgical intervention

Development and Validation of a Questionnaire to Assess Awareness and Knowledge of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, a Liver Cancer Etiological Factor, among Chinese Young Adults

PURPOSE: Despite the increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a liver cancer etiological factor, among Chinese young adults (CYA), there is a lack of valid, reliable, ready-to-use survey instruments for assessing awareness and knowledge of NAFLD in this population. The aims of this study were to develop, validate, and assess the reliability of a web-based, self-administered questionnaire evaluating awareness and knowledge of NAFLD among CYA. METHODS: Based on review of relevant literature, a draft questionnaire was initially developed. Face and content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by an expert panel of seven gastroenterologists. The construct validity was tested through item analysis based on item response theory. Reliability assessment included test-retest for stability and test for internal consistency. Two pilot tests were conducted among 60 randomly selected students at Lanzhou University, China, through WeChat App. RESULTS: The content validity and clarity indexes were both greater than 0.85. Face validity was established by concluding that questions had no issue with feasibility, readability, clarity of wording, clarity of layout, and style. Response rates for two pilot tests were 96.7% (58 out of 60) and 98.3% (59 out of 60), respectively. Results testing the construct validity showed estimated amount of information obtained by the test between -3 and +3 range of ability was 97.57%. The test-retest reliability (Pearson\u27s r) was 0.62. The internal consistency (KR20) was 0.92. CONCLUSIONS: This newly developed questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing awareness and knowledge of NAFLD among this sample from CYA

Practice, Knowledge, and Barriers for Screening of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among High-Risk Chinese Patients

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the leading causes of cancer deaths in China. Considering its poor prognosis when diagnosed late, Chinese guidelines recommend biannual screening for HCC with abdominal ultrasound and serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) test for high-risk populations. Objectives: To investigate the practice, knowledge, and self-perceived barriers for HCC screening among high-risk hospital patients in China. Methods: An interview-based questionnaire was conducted among Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B and/or chronic hepatitis C infection from outpatient clinics at 2 tertiary medical institutions in Shanghai and Wuhan, China. Findings: Among 352 participating patients, 50.0% had routine screening, 23.3% had irregular screening, and 26.7% had incomplete or no screening. Significant determinants for screening included higher level of education, underlying liver cirrhosis, a family history of HCC, and better knowledge concerning viral hepatitis, HCC, and HCC screening guidelines. Moreover, factors associated with better knowledge were younger age, female gender, urban residency, education level of college or above, annual household income of greater than 150,000 RMB, and longer duration of hepatitis infection. The 3 most common barriers reported for not receiving screening were not aware that screening for HCC exists (41.5%), no symptoms or discomfort (38.3%), and lack of recommendation from physicians (31.9%). Conlusions: Health care professionals and community leaders should actively inform patients regarding the benefits of HCC screening through design of educational programs. Such interventions are expected to increase knowledge about HCC and HCC screening, as well as improve screening adherence and earlier diagnosis

Intravenous Lipid Emulsions in the Prevention and Treatment of Liver Disease in Intestinal Failure

The development of intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) in pediatric and adult patients on parenteral nutrition is usually multifactorial in nature due to nutritional and non-nutritional causes. The role of lipid therapy as a contributing cause is well-established with the pathophysiological pathways now better understood. The review focuses on risk factors for IFALD development, biological effects of lipids, lipid emulsions and the mechanisms of lipid toxicity observed in laboratory animals followed by a synopsis of clinical studies in pediatric and adult patients. The introduction of fish oil-based lipid emulsions that provide partial or complete lipid replacement therapy has resulted in resolution of IFALD that had been associated with soybean oil-based therapy. Based on case reports and cohort studies in pediatric and adult patients who were at risk or developed overt liver disease, we now have more evidence that an early switch to partial or complete fish oil–based lipid therapy should be implemented in order to successfully halt and reverse IFALD

Adherence and perceived barriers to oral antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B

Background: Globally, of the 248 million people chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), 74 million reside in China. Five oral nucleot(s)ide analogs (NUCs) have been approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in China. Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine rates of adherence to NUC therapy in patients with CHB, to identify the self-perceived barriers to adherence, and to examine the factors associated with adherence. Methods: Questionnaire-based interviews were administered among Chinese patients with CHB at hepatology clinics of a tertiary hospital in the city of Wuhan, China. Adults aged 18 years or older prescribed with NUCs were recruited and interviewed to complete a 27-item questionnaire in a private setting, and adherence was measured using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Results: Among 369 participants, only 16.5% had high adherence (score of 8), 32.2% had medium adherence (score of 6 to <8), and 51.2% were measured with low adherence (score of <6). A logistic regression model was used to determine the factors associated with medication adherence. Significant predictors of high adherence consisted of urban residency, non-cirrhotic status, not using prescribed pills other than HBV medications, and reminders from family members. The five most common reasons for skipping NUCs were that medication(s) are expensive (48.7%), forgetfulness (45.1%), have experienced or worry about potential side effects (19.8%), do not want others to know about my medication(s) usage (18.5%), and ran out of pills and do not have time to refill (15.9%). Conclusions: This study revealed that adherence rates to oral antiviral therapy were far from optimal. This finding should generate public attention, and it would be beneficial for interventional programs to target Chinese patients from rural regions, as well as patients with low socioeconomic status, cirrhosis, and taking multiple medications