Mourabit Halima, Author at MediaMedic

AASLD Voice of China | Dr. Zhenhuan Cao’s Team: The Impact of Hepatic Steatosis on Antiviral Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

By Mourabit Halima 2023.12.21

From November 10th to 14th, 2023, the annual highlight in the field of hepatology—the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Annual Meeting 2023 was grandly held in Boston, USA. Dr. Zhenhuan Cao from Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University, as the corresponding author, presented a research abstract at the conference, revealing the influence of hepatic steatosis on the efficacy of antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The results suggest that hepatic steatosis has no significant impact on the effectiveness of nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) and pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) treatment [1]. Hepatology Digest reports on this, and the relevant content is shared below.

AASLD Review | New Therapies for Hepatitis B: Vebicorvir, Selgantolimod, Bepirovirsen, Therapeutic Vaccines, and More

By Mourabit Halima 2023.12.21

Currently, some patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can achieve clinical cure through interferon-based antiviral treatment. To pursue clinical cure for a larger population, there is a flurry of activity in the development of new drugs. Six studies on new therapies for hepatitis B were selected for presentation at the 2023 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Annual Meeting, to be discussed in the "Hepatitis B: New Therapies for HBV and HDV" session. Hepatology Digest has compiled this information for interested readers, and the session is scheduled for online access on November 12th at 8:30 AM local time.

🔬 Deciphering the Future of RCC Treatment: Prof. Manuela Schmidinger on LITESPARK Studies and HIF-2α Inhibitors

By Mourabit Halima 2023.12.20

At the recent European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) conference, a critical spotlight was on the groundbreaking results of the LITESPARK-003 and LITESPARK-005 studies. Understanding the implications of these studies…

AASLD Hot Topic | Dr. Zhihong Liu of Southern Hospital: Hepatitis B Expanded Treatment, Simplified Treatment, and Progress in Functional Cure Drugs Deserve Attention

By Mourabit Halima 2023.12.20

The AASLD (American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases) 2023 conference was held in Boston, USA, from November 10th to 14th, marking a significant event in the field of hepatology. Hepatology Digest's reporting team was fortunate to invite Dr. Zhihong Liu from the Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology at Southern Hospital of Southern Medical University to share insights from the AASLD and discuss the work presented by his team at the conference, along with their learning experiences.

AASLD Interview | Professor Wai-Kay Seto’s Team: Presentation of Five Achievements in Predicting Clinical Cure of Hepatitis B and Post-operative Recurrence of Liver Cancer, and Commentary on Liver Disease Research Trends

By Mourabit Halima 2023.12.20

The 74th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD 2023) has just concluded in Boston, USA. The team led by Professor Wai-Kay Seto from the University of Hong Kong focused on five research outcomes in the areas of mother-to-child transmission blockage and clinical cure of Hepatitis B, clearance of Hepatitis C, post-operative recurrence of liver cancer, and post-liver transplant management. These outcomes were presented at the meeting, with two of them being shared in the form of oral presentations. Professor Seto's team has been committed to the clinical management and scientific research of chronic liver diseases, achieving fruitful results. Hepatology Digest invited the team's principal researchers to interpret the findings and comment on the trends in liver disease research and share their experiences at the conference. The interview video is shared below.

AASLD Interview | Professor Bernd Schnabl: Delving into the “Gut-Liver Axis,” Decoding the Role of Gut Microbiota in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Autoimmune Liver Diseases

By Mourabit Halima 2023.12.14

The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem within the human intestinal tract, has a broad impact on physiological functions. Gut microbiome imbalance has become one of the most critical environmental factors in the onset of chronic inflammatory diseases. The liver is one of the first identified targets of autoimmune attack. In recent years, with deeper research into the gut microbiome, the relationship between gut microbiota and liver diseases has gained increasing attention. Studies have found that gut microbiota might play a role in the development and progression of autoimmune liver diseases, making the treatment of gut microbiota imbalance a potential key target.

AASLD Interview丨Professor Jeffrey V. Lazarus: Clinical Management, Research Priorities, and Future Action Plans for MASLD

By Mourabit Halima 2023.12.14

The 2023 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD 2023) recently concluded in Boston, USA. metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) was a key topic at the conference. In the "Healthy Liver, Healthy Lives" session, experts discussed how to reverse the global MASLD trend and what actions to take to address MASLD management challenges. Dr. Jeffrey V. Lazarus, head of the Health Systems Research Group at ISGlobal in Barcelona, Spain, attended the meeting and gave an interview to "Hepatology Digest" afterward. The interview video and the transcript in both English and Chinese are compiled below.

Dr. Jessica Seidelman: Implementation of a blood culture algorithm in emergency department patients as a diagnostic stewardship intervention

By Mourabit Halima 2023.12.10

Blood culture is one of the most important tests in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Blood culture is the gold standard for diagnosing bloodstream infection and bacteremia. However, in the United States, blood cultures are still performed even for emergency patients with a low probability of bacteremia, which may result in a large waste of resources. At IDWeek 2023, a study reported the implementation of a blood culture algorithm in emergency department patients as a diagnostic stewardship intervention.

Multiple HIV Research Achievements by Dr. Yaokai Chen’s Team from Chongqing Public Health Medical Center Was Selected for the 2023 IDWeek

By Mourabit Halima 2023.12.10

The IDWeek in the United States is one of the largest infectious disease academic conferences globally, often referred to as the "Oscars" of the infectious disease field. Numerous cutting-edge research findings would be shared and discussed at this highly anticipated academic event. During the recent 2023 IDWeek, Dr. Yaokai Chen's team from Chongqing Public Health Medical Center had four HIV-related research findings selected for the conference. One of these was presented as a Rapid-Fire Poster, while the other three were included in poster presentations.

IDWeek Commentary | Dr. Hongzhou Lu: Can ” Online Celebrity Weight Loss Drugs” Also Be Used for HIV-Infected Individuals?

By Mourabit Halima 2023.12.10

Experiencing weight gain due to medication" is a common concern for many people living with HIV (PLWH). Some antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens are associated with weight gain and related metabolic complications. In the field of endocrinology, newer antidiabetic medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have been used for weight management and have gained popularity. So, are these new weight loss treatments suitable for PLWH experiencing ART-related weight gain? At the 2023 Infectious Diseases Week (IDWeek 2023), two studies on the use of GLP-1 RAs in PLWH and one study of weight control using protease inhibitor switching were presented. Dr. Hongzhou Lu from Shenzhen Third People's Hospital (The Second Hospital Affiliated with the School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology) provides an introduction and commentary on these studies.