Awareness and attitudes of Greek medical students on colorectal cancer screening

AIM: To prospectively assess the knowledge and attitudes of medical students (MS), as tomorrow’s physicians, about colorectal cancer (CRC) and its screening modalities.

METHODS: Three hundred fourth year MS of the University of Athens were enrolled in this survey. Their selection was random, based on student identification card number. All participants completed an anonymous written questionnaire over a 4 month period. The questionnaire was divided into 4 sections and included queries about CRC-related symptoms, screening with colonoscopy and MS awareness and attitudes in this field. Following collection and analysis of the data, the results are presented as percentages of answers for each separate question.

RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty-five students answered the questionnaire over a 4 mo period. Interestingly, only 69% of the study population considered CRC to be a high-risk condition for public health. However, the vast majority of participants identified CRC-related symptoms and acknowledged its screening to be of great value in reducing CRC incidence and mortality. A very small proportion (38%) had received information material regarding CRC screening (either during their medical training or as a part of information provided to the general public) and only 60% of the participants declared willingness to receive further information. Regarding colonoscopy, 85% would prefer an alternative to colonoscopy methods for CRC screening. Moreover, 53% considered it to be a painful method and 68% would appreciate more information about the examination.

CONCLUSION: MS in Greece need to be better informed about CRC screening and screening colonoscopy.

Quantitative Analysis of Hepatitis D Virus RNA and Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Serum Levels in Chronic Delta Hepatitis Improves Treatment Monitoring

Background/aims

Treatment of chronic delta hepatitis is long and difficult and better monitoring is needed.

Methods

In this study, hepatitis delta virus (HDV) RNA, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA were retrospectively quantified in 53 patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis delta. Twenty-one had received 28 courses of 3–5 MU interferon-α2b (IFN-α2b) thrice weekly for a median of 12.6 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 7.3–31.6), five had received eight courses of 100 mg lamivudine (LAM) daily for 23.6 months (IQR: 8.4–61.5) and 27 were untreated. The controls were 54 untreated, randomly selected, HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients without delta infection. Quantification of serum HDV RNA, HBsAg and HBV DNA were performed at baseline, during and at the end of treatment and end of follow up.

Results

Untreated patients had significantly higher median HBsAg levels than controls (5,872 vs 3,501 IU/ml; P=0.046), but lower median HBV DNA levels (2.933 vs 6.459 log10 copies/ml; P<0.001). Median baseline HDV RNA (6.374 log10 copies/ml) was similar in IFN-α2b-treated, LAM-treated and untreated patients. At the end of treatment, IFN-α2b significantly suppressed in paired measurements HDV RNA ( P=0.012) and HBsAg ( P=0.043), but LAM was inefficient. In IFN-α2b-treated patients, HDV RNA became undetectable in five patients within a median of 30 months (IQR: 8–90), followed by a slower decrease in HBsAg.

Conclusions

In untreated chronic delta hepatitis, suppressed HBV replication is associated with significantly increased HBsAg serum levels. IFN-α2b significantly suppresses both HDV RNA and HBsAg, but LAM has no effect. Long-term IFN-α2b treatment (IQR: 1.5–5.0 years) appears necessary for undetectable serum HDV RNA and further treatment is required for HBsAg loss. Monitoring of HDV RNA and HBsAg serum levels in patients with chronic delta hepatitis provides insight during treatment.

Quantitative analysis of hepatitis D virus RNA and hepatitis B surface antigen serum levels in chronic delta hepatitis improves treatment monitoring

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Treatment of chronic delta hepatitis is long and difficult and better monitoring is needed.

METHODS

In this study, hepatitis delta virus (HDV) RNA, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA were retrospectively quantified in 53 patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis delta. Twenty-one had received 28 courses of 3-5 MU interferon-alpha2b (IFN-alpha2b) thrice weekly for a median of 12.6 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 7.3-31.6), five had received eight courses of 100 mg lamivudine (LAM) daily for 23.6 months (IQR: 8.4-61.5) and 27 were untreated. The controls were 54 untreated, randomly selected, HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients without delta infection. Quantification of serum HDV RNA, HBsAg and HBV DNA were performed at baseline, during and at the end of treatment and end of follow up.

RESULTS

Untreated patients had significantly higher median HBsAg levels than controls (5,872 vs 3,501 IU/ml; P = 0.046), but lower median HBV DNA levels (2.933 vs 6.459 log10 copies/ml; P < 0.001). Median baseline HDV RNA (6.374 log10 copies/ml) was similar in IFN-alpha2b-treated, LAM-treated and untreated patients. At the end of treatment, IFN-alpha2b significantly suppressed in paired measurements HDV RNA (P = 0.012) and HBsAg (P = 0.043), but LAM was inefficient. In IFN-alpha2b-treated patients, HDV RNA became undetectable in five patients within a median of 30 months (IQR: 8-90), followed by a slower decrease in HBsAg.

CONCLUSIONS

In untreated chronic delta hepatitis, suppressed HBV replication is associated with significantly increased HBsAg serum levels. IFN-alpha2b significantly suppresses both HDV RNA and HBsAg, but LAM has no effect. Long-term IFN-alpha2b treatment (IQR: 1.5-5.0 years) appears necessary for undetectable serum HDV RNA and further treatment is required for HBsAg loss. Monitoring of HDV RNA and HBsAg serum levels in patients with chronic delta hepatitis provides insight during treatment.