Latest Conference Articles

A launderable mattress barrier has shown to decrease hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infections.

Clostridium difficile infection leads to higher rates of overall mortality among patients with cirrhosis compared to those who do not have the condition.

The use of mood-altering medications does not increase odds for hepatic encephalopathy or hepatic encephalopathy-related hospital admissions after TIPS placement, according to the results of a new study.

When compared with enalapril, in patients with acute decompensated heart failure, sacubitril–valsartan led to greater reduction in N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and reduced re-hospitalization for heart failure, and was well tolerated.

People who inject drugs who are infected with hepatitis C virus can achieve sustained viral response at the completion of treatment, despite imperfect adherence.

In addition to a 25% reduction of risk of future cardiovascular events, icosapent ethyl (Vascepa) lowered the risk of cardiovascular death by 20%.

Research on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in persons infected with HIV revealed a prevalence of the condition of about 40%.

Although acute kidney injury is common in patients with cirrhosis, those who are admitted to the hospital are at increased risk, especially if they are of older age, Child-Pugh Class C, or have ascites or sepsis.

Ezetimibe 10 mg/day significantly reduced the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events in elderly patients with high LDL cholesterol compared to control.

Treatment was also successful in patients with prior noncompletion or poor adherence to direct-acting antiviral therapy.

Anthony Rosenzweig, MD, Chief of Cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital discusses how exercise can protect the heart and its potential role in cardiac regeneration.

In the VITAL study, investigators found that supplementation with omega-3s and vitamin D did not meet the primary endpoint of significantly reducing major cardiovascular events or total invasive cancer.

PTSD was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality or a major heart event in 12 months following cardiac arrest.

The updated cholesterol guidelines continue to emphasize a healthy lifestyle for people of all ages and the need for personalized treatment plans. They also lay out a path for escalating treatment when statins aren’t sufficient.

Obese patients who underwent weight-loss surgery prior to receiving a liver transplant had a significantly lower risk of metabolic complications post-transplant than those who followed medical weight loss prior to transplant.

The first results of a study on the use of monthly RNAi with ARO-HBV in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infections indicate that the treatment effectively reduced all measurable viral products, including HBsAg.

The biology of thrombopoietin metabolism in advanced liver disease may be influenced by platelet count and degree of liver failure.

In visits with overweight or obese children with high blood pressure, pediatricians either provide no communication about BP or unclear or dismissive statements, unless SBP is ≥120 mmHg.

Glenn Tillotson, PhD, highlights possible treatment options besides antibiotics that may be worth evaluating for the infectious disease.

Data from a new study indicate that trauma is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in sexual minority women, suggesting it should be screened for as a risk factor in this population.

Dale Gerding, MD, highlights newest and most promising treatment approaches and preventions for C difficile.

Catia Mato Ferreira, PhD, global medical lead of Medical Affairs at Pfizer discussed the preventive potential of the C difficile vaccine that is currently in development in a phase 3 trial.

Nicola Petrosillo, MD, discusses current controversies in C difficile prevention and treatment.

Investigators have found an association between opioid use and cardiovascular mortality.

Combining glaucoma medications into a single eye drop could simplify regimens and reduce costs for patients. Investigators found that a combination eye drop also significantly reduced intraocular pressure compared to control.

Patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) switching to aflibercept from ranibizumab improved their BCDA by an average of 5 letters over 9-12 months.

Authors compared investigator assessments to reading center-assessed optical coherence tomography outcomes to evaluate intravitreal aflibercept injection with or without rescue photodynamic therapy.

A new study emphasizes the need for specially designed syringes that ensure accuracy and precision when administering anti-VEGF agents via intravitreal injection.