Diabetes mellitus has been reported to have an increased prevalence and to be associated with more severe fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. We evaluated the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C as well as the possible association between presence of diabetes and extent of liver fibrosis. In total, 434 consecutive patients with histologically documented hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B (n = 174) or chronic hepatitis C (n = 260) were studied. The relationships of diabetes and epidemiological, somatomorphic, laboratory and histological patient characteristics were evaluated. Liver histological lesions were blindly evaluated according to the Ishak's classification. Diabetes was present in 58 (13%) patients, without any difference between those with chronic hepatitis B (14%) or C (13%). Diabetes was observed significantly less frequently in patients with fibrosis score 0-2 (7.7%) than 3-4 (10.4%) than 5-6 (29.2%) (P < 0.001). The presence of diabetes was independently associated with higher gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT) levels and more severe fibrosis or presence of cirrhosis (P < 0.001) as well as with presence of hepatic steatosis and increased serum triglycerides levels (P < 0.02). In the noncirrhotic patients, diabetes was significantly associated with older age and higher GGT levels, but not with the extent of fibrosis. In conclusion, diabetes mellitus is observed in more than 10% of patients with either HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C. The presence of diabetes is strongly associated with more severe liver fibrosis, but such an association may be related to the high prevalence of diabetes in patients with cirrhosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relative frequency of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Greek patients with chronic infection as well as possible secular changes in their distribution in relation to modes of transmission, age and time at acquisition of the infection and other variables. We evaluated 434 unselected patients, 241 males and 193 females with a median age of 46.2 years (18-75), with chronic HCV infection presenting during the period 1996-2000. HCV infection was confirmed by the detection of HCV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while HCV genotyping was performed by the Inno-LiPA assay. Liver biopsies were evaluated according to Ishak's scoring system. Of 434 patients, 167 had a history of blood transfusion [post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH)], 80 were i.v. drug users and in 187 the route of infection remained unknown. The overall distribution of HCV genotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4 was 47, 8.3, 27 and 15.2%, respectively. Genotype 3 was common in younger adults and i.v. drug users, whereas genotype 1 predominated in older people and PTH patients (P < 0.001 for both). Infection acquired before 1981 (group A) was related to transfusion and genotype 1, while after 1981 (group B) with i.v. drug use and genotype 3 (P < 0.01). Biopsy was available in 369 (85%) patients, of whom 22.5% had cirrhosis; 29.8% in group A and 9.9% in group B. In a multivariate analysis, cirrhosis was strongly associated with the duration of infection (P = 0.013). Our study revealed a change of HCV genotype distribution in the last 20 years among Greek patients with chronic HCV infection as a result of epidemiological changes in HCV transmission. The presence of cirrhosis was associated only with the duration of infection. These observations have impact both on prevention and treatment.

Three out of four patients had undetectable serum HCV-RNA, normal levels of aminotransferases and substantially lower or undetectable levels of cryoglobulins at the end of treatment and at 24 weeks follow-up period. Treatment was well tolerated and all patients exhibited significant improvement of neuropathy based on solid clinical and laboratory criteria that was associated with the virological response.

Increasing rates of overweight and eating disorders among young people are a concern. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of overweight/obesity among Cypriot adolescents between cohorts from 2003 and 2010 and to determine whether body mass index (BMI) was associated with psychological traits linked to eating disorders. Anthropometric measures were done on a representative sample of students aged 10-18 years and the Eating Disorder Inventory-3rd version (EDI-3) and 26-item Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) scales were completed by 13-18-year-olds. Mean waist circumference of the 2010 cohort of 10-18-year-olds was 3.6 cm higher in boys and 5.5 cm higher in girls than the 2003 cohort. Mean BMI was higher in 2010 only in the 16-18-year-old age group. More adolescents on the higher end of the weight spectrum had pathological scores on the eating disorder scales. Obesity and maladaptive eating attitudes are common in Cypriot adolescents.

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