Aim To analyse the impact of the length of antiviral therapy with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) on the renal function in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods A cross-sectional study included 75 patients with CHB treated with tenofovir, who had a normal renal function at the beginning of the treatment. Renal function was determined based on glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) value using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula (MDRD). Measurement of serum creatinine concentration and urinary protein excretion were performed using standard laboratory analyses. Viral load quantification (HBV-DNA) was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The degree of liver fibrosis was determined using fibrosis4 (FIB-4) and aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI) fibrosis score. Results Out of 75 CHB patients, 37 were on antiviral treatment for up to 2 years (group 1) and 38 patients on antiviral treatment longer than two years (group 2). Mean age of patients was not significantly different between the groups (p=0.076), nor was the gender distribution. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean values of the eGFR in the two groups (91.89±9.24 vs. 88.42±7.84 mL/min/1.73m2; p=0.42), as well as between the mean values of serum creatinine (p=0.360) and 24-hour urine protein excretion (p=0.380). There was no statistically significant correlation between renal parameters and viral load, APRI and FIB-4 fibrosis score. Conclusion Results of our study did not show significant changes in the measured parameters of renal function in group 1 and group 2 of patients, regardless of the length of antiviral treatment, indicating a good renal safety profile of TDF.

Aim To present our experience with a diagnostic ability of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and magnetic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in cases of choledocholithiasis verified by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Methods This retrospective study was conducted after a collection of data involving 58 suspected choledocholithiasis patients who underwent ERCP from January 2013 to December 2015. Patients who were diagnosed with choledocholithiasis on the basis of clinical symptoms and radiological findings and who underwent ERCP were included in this study. The first group (29 patients) underwent EUS, and the second group (29 patients) underwent MRCP. The ERCP was performed in both groups. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of EUS and MRCP were determined by comparing them with ERCP, which was considered to be a gold standard. Results Gender representation was in favour of males, 58:42%. The mean age was 55.5 years. In the group 1 (EUS) 22 patients were found to have choledocholithiasis using ERCP. The EUS stone detection rate was 88%. Endoscopic ultrasound showed sensitivity (97%), specificity (67%) and accuracy (88%), positive predictive value (PPV) of 88%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 80%. In the group 2 (MRCP) 16 patients were found to have choledocholithiasis by ERCP. MRCP sensitivity was 81%, specificity 40%, PPV of 74%, NPV of 50%. Conclusion The EUS was a superior non-invasive tool in comparison with MRCP for detecting choledocholithiasis, which was confirmed using ERCP.

Aim To present our experience with a diagnostic ability of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and magnetic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in cases of choledocholithiasis verified by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Methods This retrospective study was conducted after a collection of data involving 58 suspected choledocholithiasis patients who underwent ERCP from January 2013 to December 2015. Patients who were diagnosed with choledocholithiasis on the basis of clinical symptoms and radiological findings and who underwent ERCP were included in this study. The first group (29 patients) underwent EUS, and the second group (29 patients) underwent MRCP. The ERCP was performed in both groups. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of EUS and MRCP were determined by comparing them with ERCP, which was considered to be a gold standard. Results Gender representation was in favour of males, 58:42%. The mean age was 55.5 years. In the group 1 (EUS) 22 patients were found to have choledocholithiasis using ERCP. The EUS stone detection rate was 88%. Endoscopic ultrasound showed sensitivity (97%), specificity (67%) and accuracy (88%), positive predictive value (PPV) of 88%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 80%. In the group 2 (MRCP) 16 patients were found to have choledocholithiasis by ERCP. MRCP sensitivity was 81%, specificity 40%, PPV of 74%, NPV of 50%. Conclusion The EUS was a superior non-invasive tool in comparison with MRCP for detecting choledocholithiasis, which was confirmed using ERCP.

P Herzegovina Introduction: The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors and carries a poor survival rate. Increased understanding of cancer biology and technological advances have enabled identification of a multitude of pathological, genetic, and molecular events that drive hepatocarcinogenesis leading to discovery of numerous potential biomarkers in this disease. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF- β ) cytokine and its isoforms initiate a signaling cascade which is closely linked to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and subsequent progression to HCC. Methods: Totalof 150 subjects were divided into four groups, depending on the stage of HCC (BCLC scoring system). Group1: earlystage; group 2: intermediate stage; group 3: advanced stage; group 4: terminal stage and the control group. The analysis included serum levels of cytokine TGF- β 1. Used statistical methods: discriminant multivariate analysis, ANOVA test, multiple correlation test and Student ’ st-testfor independent samples. Charlson comorbidity index was determined forany possible influence of othercomorbid conditions. The analysis of serum levels of TGF- β 1 in HCC patients, according to BCLC scoring system has been performed, to evaluate its role as biomarker. Results: The highest mean concentration of this cytokine was in group 3 (advanced stage of HCC): 1023,55 pg/ml. ANOVA analysis provesthat serum levels of TGF- β 1 in the control group differed with respect to the otheras follows: in relation to group 1 at the level of statistical significance p=0.0028 (F=143.67); in relation to a group of 2 to p=0.0001 level (F=230.23); in relation to group 3 at p<0.0001 (F=2584). By Student ’ s T

Immunoregulatory cytokines influence the persistence of hepatitis C virus chronic infection and the extent of liver damage. Interleukin-1 plays an important role in the inflammatory process. Some studies have demonstrated that IL-1 production was impaired in patients with chronic infections of hepatitis C virus, implying that IL-1 may play a role in viral clearance. In this study, along with routine laboratory tests, has been performed the analysis of serum levels of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1α in order of better understanding and monitoring of chronic hepatitis C. The aim of study was to analyze the usefulness of laboratory tests, which are routinely used in the assessment of liver disease with specified immunological parameters, in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Total of 60 subjects were divided into two groups: HCV-PCR positive and negative group. The control group of 30 healthy participans was included. Apart from standard laboratory tests, the analysis included serum levels of cytokine IL-1α. IL-1α had the highest mean concentration in group of viral hepatitis C, with PCR positive test (5.73 pg/mL), and then in of chronic viral hepatitis C, PCR negative test (5.39 pg/mL). ANOVA test proves that IL-1α in the healthy group was different from other groups as follows: in relation to HCV-RNA-PCR positive patients statistical significance level was p < 0.001 (F = 32,755); in relation to HCV-RNA-PCR negative was also statistically significant at p < 0.001 (F = 182,361); Cytokine IL-1 was statistically analyzed separately and compared by group 1 and 2 using Student t-test for independent samples. Statistical significance was observed at p = 0.026. IL-1α was positively correlated with the duration of the illness (p < 0.01) and with serum ALT activity (p < 0.01) and serum AST activity (p < 0.01). Using multivariate analysis model "Factor Analysis", was made significant stratification predic- tive parameters in relation to the cytokine IL-1α, stratified significance is indicated as follows: 1. Age, 2. history of receiv- ing transfusions, 3. ALT 4. AST, 5. MELD score (negative), 6. Child-Pugh score (negative). IL-1α was significantly ele- vated in inflammatory conditions of pronounced activity (PCR positive hepatitis). IL-1α may have important role as marker of both inflammation and hepatic injury, particularly in the course of hepatitis C. Results suggest that inflammatory and immune parameters, analyzed together can significantly contribute to the understanding and predicting of chronic liver damage.

The goal: The goal of this work was to give advantage to EUS as endoscopic method in diagnosis and following therapeutic treatment of pancreatic cancer in relation to radiological methods of CT and CTA. Material and Methods: The study included 49 patients, 20 women and 29 men hospitalized at the Clinic for gastroenterohepatology, due to suspicion on pancreatic cancer during observed 2 years period. All cancers were histologically and cytologically confirmed. The patients underwent ERCP as a mandatory part of staging and all patients underwent endoscopic ultrasound as well as CT or CT angiography. Results: Testing of differences was carried out using Fisher’s exact test in open-source software R. The following characteristics were tested: involvement of the blood vessels, lymph nodes, metastases, tumor size and duodenum infiltration. Results showed statistically significant difference at the 0.05 level for EUS, CT and CT angiography. Risk ratio showed that EUS is less effective in detecting infiltration of blood vessels within a malignant process then CTA where RR=0.52, CI 0.2–1.38, p-value=0.33. EUS and CTA are equal in the diagnosis of enlarged lymph nodes affected by malignancy where RR=1.3, CI 0.75–1.42, p-value=0.09. Comparison according to distant metastases showed that EUS is less effective compared to CT in approximately 30% of cases. In the diagnosis of duodenal infiltration EUS is in 5% of cases less accurate than the CT with the RR=0.95, CI 0.27–3.32, p-value=0.76, but the CTA method is more efficient because the comparison of EUS and CTA showed RR=12.52, CI 0.2–1.38, p-value=0.33. EUS as a diagnostic method is dominant in determining the size of malignant lesions located in the pancreas as compared to CT and CTA. Conclusion: EUS as endoscopic method compared to CT and CTA is one of the more invasive methods of examination but due to its ability to be performed immediately, to locate a changes smaller than 5 mm and the target biopsy option, to measure the change and that in many cases determine the relationship of malignant lesions with blood vessels, along with visualization of the surrounding lymph nodes and metastases in neighboring organs, we may give this method an advantage over other methods in the preoperative staging of patients with pancreatic cancer.