Gilbert syndrome (GS) is a frequent benign clinical condition, marked by intermittent unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, mostly due to the polymorphism uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1∗28 (UGT1A1∗28). Hyperbilirubinemia has been reported in a GS patient undergoing hepatitis C treatment, and other UGT isoforms polymorphisms have been linked to worse outcomes in viral hepatitis. Yet, little is known to GS contributions’ to the liver disease scenario. Our aim was to assess UGT1A1 genotypes’ frequency in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients and correlate with total bilirubin (TB). This is a case–control study in a large tertiary medical center. Cases were CHC patients confirmed by hepatitis C virus (HCV)–polymerase chain reaction. Exclusion criteria were hepatitis B virus or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection. Control were healthy blood donors. UGT1A1 promoter region gene genotyping was performed, and bilirubin serum levels were available for HCV patients. Genotypes and alleles frequencies were similar in case (n = 585; P = 0.101) and control groups (n = 313; P = 0.795). Total bilirubin increase was noticed according to thymine–adenine repeats in genotypes (P < 0.001), and the TB greater than 1 mg/dL group had more UGT1A1∗28 subjects than in the group with TB values <1 mg/dL (18.3 vs 5.3; P < 0.001). Bilirubin levels are linked to the studied polymorphisms, and this is the first time that these findings are reported in a chronic liver disease sample. Among patients with increased TB levels, the frequency of UGT1A1∗28 is higher than those with normal TB. Personalized care should be considered to GS, regarding either abnormal bilirubin levels or drug metabolism.

Nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) are the main drug category used in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment. Despite the fact that NAs have a favourable safety profile, undesired adverse events (AEs) may occur during the treatment of CHB. Given the eminent number of patients currently receiving NAs, even a small risk of any of these toxicities can represent a major medical issue. The main objective of this review was to analyse information available on AEs associated with the use of NAs in published studies. We choose the following MesH terms for this systematic review: chronic hepatitis B, side effects and treatment. All articles published from 1 January 1990 up to 19 February 2018 in MEDLINE of PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and LILACS databases were searched. A total of 120 articles were selected for analysis, comprising 6419 patients treated with lamivudine (LAM), 5947 with entecavir (ETV), 3566 with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), 3096 with telbivudine (LdT), 1178 with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and 876 with tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). The most common AEs in all NAs assessed were abdominal pain/discomfort, nasopharyngitis/upper respiratory tract infections, fatigue, and headache. TAF displays the highest density of AEs per patient treated among NAs (1.14 AE/treated patient). In conclusion, treatment of CHB with NAs is safe, with a low incidence of AEs. Despite the general understanding TAF being safer than TDF, the number of patients treated with TAF still is too small in comparison to other NAs to consolidate an accurate safety profile. PROSPERO Registration No. CRD42018086471

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PurposeLimited data are available about the tolerability and clinical outcomes of elderly patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who are treated with docetaxel. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of docetaxel as first-line chemotherapy for patients with mCRPC who were treated in our institution.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively identified patients with mCRPC and a Karnosfky performance status of 60% or greater treated with docetaxel on any schedule as first-line chemotherapy between 2008 and 2013. The primary end point was a comparison of median overall survival (OS) according to age in this population. Secondary end points were comparisons of the rates of severe toxicities, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline of 50% or greater, and time to progression (TTP). Results were stratified by three age groups: younger than 65 years, 65 to 74 years, and 75 years or older.ResultsAmong the 197 patients included, 68 (34%) were younger than 65 years, 85 (43%) were 65 to 74 years, and 44 (22%) were 75 years or older. The mean number of comorbidities was not different among groups (1.19 v 1.32 v 1.43; P = .54). Patients younger than 65 years received a higher cumulative dose of docetaxel (450 mg/m2 v 382 mg/m2 v 300 mg/m2; P = .004). The rates of PSA decline of 50% or greater (41% v 47% v 36.4%; P = .51) and the median TTP (5.13 v 5.13 v 4.7 months; P = .15) were comparable among all groups. The median OS was longer in the group of patients younger than age 65 years (19.6 v 12.4 v 12.3 months; P = .012). Rates of any grade 3 or higher adverse event were not different among groups (63.2% v 71.8% v 54.5%; P = .14).ConclusionAdministration of docetaxel in elderly patients who had good performance status was well tolerated. Rates of PSA decline and TTP were similar to those of younger patients, but median survival was lower.

Objective Metastases are rare in early breast cancer (EBC), and international guidelines recommend against routine systemic staging for asymptomatic patients. However, imaging exams remain widely employed in the clinical practice. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the value of imaging for systemic staging in EBC. Methods A retrospective analysis of newly-diagnosed breast cancer (BC) patients was performed. Clinical data including BC subtype, stage, presence of symptoms at diagnosis and instrumental procedures performed for staging were recorded. Results A total of 753 patients were included, with a median age of 57 years. The majority of the patients underwent at least 1 imaging procedure (91%); had invasive ductal carcinoma (83.5%); histological grade 2 (51.4%); stage II (61.8%); and luminal subtype (67.9%). Among the 685 (91%) patients who underwent any radiologic staging, distant metastases (DMs) were detected in 32 (4.7%). In the univariate analyses, stage IIb and pathological lymph node involvement (pN1) showed a statistically significant association with the presence of DMs, versus only a trend for triple negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) positive subtype. In an exploratory analysis performed in this same subgroup, when unfavorable biology (triple negative or Her2 positive) was present, patients had a DM rate of 14.4%, one of the highest reported at this stage of the disease. Conclusion Early breast cancer has a low prevalence of DM at the initial evaluation, and systemic staging of asymptomatic, unselected patients is not warranted as a routine practice. However, we have identified subgroups of patients to whom a full staging could be indicated. ResumoObjetivo Metástases são de ocorrência rara no câncer de mama precoce, e as diretrizes internacionais não recomendam o estadiamento sistêmico de rotina para pacientes assintomáticos. Apesar disso, exames de imagem continuam sendo