Volume 5, Issue 3

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects 25–30% of the general population worldwide and this high prevalence is linked with lifestyle and dietetic changes, not only in Western countries, but also in the urban areas of developing countries. Several pharmacological approaches were proposed in the treatment of NAFLD, but the reported results are inconclusive. International guidelines recommended the reduction of dietary fat and fructose, in association with some physical activity. In this context, it was reported that the protective effects of traditional Mediterranean diet, related to the high concentration of antioxidant compounds, particularly of polyphenols. Polyphenols are a heterogeneous class of plant derived compounds, with some proven hepatoprotective effects. Our opinion is that the adherence to traditional Mediterranean diet characterized by the consumption of antioxidant-rich foods in general and of polyphenols in particular, can be considered as a potential new approach in the treatment of NAFLD.

Objective To elucidate the mechanism of an increase in the albumin levels by daclatasvir (DCV)/asunaprevir (ASV) therapy, we assessed the factors associated with an increase in the albumin levels. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 125 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, treated with DCV/ASV from November 2014 to January 2016. Results Albumin levels significantly increased from 4.0 ± 0.4 g/dL at baseline to 4.2 ± 0.4 g/dL at 24 weeks after the end of treatment (EOT) ( P < 0.0001) in 108 patients with SVR. Patients with SVR were divided into three groups according to their baseline albumin levels: group A, ≥ 4 g/dL; group B, 3.6–3.9 g/dL; and group C, ≤ 3.5 g/dL. The increase in albumin levels from baseline to at 24 weeks after EOT was significantly larger in group C (0.5 ± 0.5 g/dL, P < 0.0001) and group B (0.2 ± 0.4 g/dL, P = 0.0059) than in group A (0.0 ± 0.3 g/dL). Multivariate analysis showed that aspartate transaminase (AST) levels was the only factor associated with ≥ 0.3 g/dL increase in albumin levels in groups B and C ( P = 0.0305). An increase in albumin levels was significantly correlated with a decrease in AST levels ( r = 0.4729, P = 0.0119). Conclusion DCV/ASV therapy resulted in an increase in albumin levels in SVR patients, which was significantly correlated with a decrease in AST levels. It is probable that the reduction of inflammation, but not by reduction of fibrosis, mainly caused an increase in albumin levels.

Background and Objectives To observe the effect of Pentoxifylline for 1 year on hepatic histological activity and fibrosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Materials and Methods A single center, open label Randomized Control Trial. Patients were included if they had ultrasonographic evidence of fatty liver and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) ≥ 5 on liver histology. A total of 35 patients were selected; 25 of PL (Experimental) group and 10 of L (Control) group. PL group received 400 mg pentoxifylline thrice daily along with lifestyle modification and there was only lifestyle modification for the L group. After one year, NAS and fibrosis was compared in both groups. Results In PL group, NAS improved 2.10 ± 1.07; whereas in L group, NAS was 0.90 ± 0.99 ( P = 0.006). As per the protocol analysis, NAS ≥ 2 improved in 15/20 (75%) in PL group and in 3/10 (30%) in L group ( P = 0.018). In PL group, the individual component of NAS, steatosis improved from 2.30 ± 0.66 to 0.95 ± 0.76 ( P = 0.000), lobular inflammation from 1.65 ± 0.59 to 1.05 ± 0.51 ( P = 0.002) and hepatocyte ballooning from 1.50 ± 0.51 to 1.30 ± 0.57 ( P = 0.258). In L group, steatosis improved from 2.30 ± 0.68 to 1.40 ± 1.08 ( P = 0.01), lobular inflammation and hepatocyte ballooning did not improve. The fibrosis score did not improve in any group. In PL group, NAS improved significantly ( P = 0.027; OR=22.76, CI=1.43-362.40) independent of weight reduction. Conclusion Pentoxifylline for 1 year improves the hepatic histological activity but not fibrosis of NASH patients.

Background and Objectives Studies on hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Egypt supported a strong role for various exposures in the health-care setting. In this study, we attempted to estimate the frequency of HCV exposure among Egyptian health-care workers (HCWs). Methods Five hundred and sixty-four (564) HCWs were included in this study. Two hundred and fifty-eight (45.74%) were health-care providers and 306 (54.25%) were non-health-care providers. All HCWs completed both the study questionnaire and provided a blood sample for anti-HCV testing by third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Subsequently, anti-HCV-positive samples were tested for HCV RNA using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results The mean age of included HCWs was 33.0 ± 9.8 years; of them, 319 (56.56%) were males and 245 (43.44%) were females. The mean duration of health-care work was 9.3 ± 6.7 years. The frequency of antibody against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) among included HCWs was 8.7% ( n = 49). Old age and prolonged duration of health-care work were significantly associated with anti-HCV seropositivity. Forty (81.63%) of 49 with anti-HCV-positive HCWs had positive hepatitis C viremia. The frequency of HCV RNA positivity increased with age. The frequency of eradicated past infection among nurses (36.85%) was markedly higher than that (6.7%) detected in non-health-care providers. Conclusion High rate of HCV infection is detected in Egyptian HCWs in rural Lower Egypt governorates. Health-care providers seem to eradicate HCV infection more frequently than non-health-care providers. National screening and treatment of infected HCWs are recommended.

Background and Objectives Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is described endoscopically as “mosaic-like appearance” of gastric mucosa with or without the red spots. It can only be diagnosed by upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of platelet count to spleen diameter ratio (PSR) and right liver lobe diameter to albumin ratio (RLAR) in the detection of PHG using upper GI endoscopy as a gold standard in patients with liver cirrhosis. Material and Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi. All consecutive patients with ages 18–65 years who were screened using esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to exclude esophageal varices were enrolled. At the same time, findings related to PHG were noted. After informed consent, all the patients had blood tests including platelet count and albumin and abdominal ultrasound determining spleen diameter and right liver lobe diameter. Results Out of 111 patients, 59 (53.15%) were males with a mean age of 44 ± 12.61 years. Rate of PHG was observed in 84.68% (94/111) cases confirmed by EGD. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of PSR were 87.23%, 5.88%, 83.67%, 7.69%, and 74.7%, respectively, and those of RLAR were 28.72%, 70.59%, 84.38%, 15.19%, and 35.14%, respectively. Conclusion PSR is better predictor of PHG than RLAR but at the expense of relatively lower specificities and NPV likely because of underlying pathophysiology (portal hypertension) which is similar for esophageal varices, PHG, and ascites.

Background Lower lung field tuberculosis (LLF TB) is an atypical presentation of tuberculosis (TB). LLF TB is common, and a proportionate number of non-resolving pneumonia cases are diagnosed to have pulmonary TB. Materials and Methods The prospective observational study was conducted during June 2013 to December 2015 in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, MIMSR Medical College, Latur, India; the objective of the study is clinical, microbiological, and radiological presentation of LLF TB and the comparison of yield of conventional diagnostic techniques and bronchoscopy-guided modalities in LLF TB. Additional important objective of the study is to find LLF TB in patients with nonresolving pneumonia (NRP). A total of 2,600 patients with pulmonary TB were included in the study after inclusion and exclusion criteria. Ethical clearance was taken from the ethical committee of the institutional review board. Consent was taken from the patients before inclusion in the study. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test. Results In the present study, 300 (11.53%) cases of LLF TB of total 2600 pulmonary tuberculosis were included, females constitutes 66.66% (200/300) with mean age of 58.4 ± 11.8 years and males constitutes 33.34% (100/300) with mean age of 56.8 ± 10.6 years. Constitutional symptoms were observed as cough in 93% cases, fever in 83% cases, shortness of breath in 72% cases, anorexia in 91% cases, and weight loss in 84% cases. Radiological assessment of study cases documented the involvement of right lower zone in 84% cases and left lower zone in only 16% cases. In the studied LLF TB cases, 57 cases (20.66%) were diagnosed by routine sputum microscopic examination for acid fast bacilli (AFB) and 80 cases (28%) were diagnosed by induced sputum microscopic examination for AFB. In the study of 170 LLF TB cases, head-to-head comparison between conventional diagnostic techniques (sputum microscopy and Induced sputum microscopy for AFB) made diagnosis in 60 cases, while bronchoscopy-guided sampling techniques (BAL for AFB and BAL for Gene Xpert MTB/RIF) made diagnosis in 155 cases (91.17%) ( P < 0.00001). Comorbid conditions such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection in 36 cases (12.00%), Diabetes mellitus in 64 cases (21.33%), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in 22 cases (7.33%) were observed. Comorbidities were observed in 41.67% of the studied cases and found very significant assessment to have successful treatment outcome ( P < 0.00001). In the study of 300 LLF TB cases, 60 cases were having NRP pattern. In LLF TB cases with NRP pattern, bronchoscopy-guided bronchial wash microscopy for AFB made diagnosis in 18 cases (42%), while bronchoscopy-guided BAL for Gene Xpert MTB/RIF made diagnosis in 58 cases (96.66%) ( P < 0.00001). Conclusion LLF TB is usually underdiagnosed because of diverse clinical and radiological presentation, less diagnostic yield of conventional diagnostic modalities, and these modalities used routinely and universally. Bronchoscopy-guided diagnostic techniques are superior, sensitive, and reliable to confirm LLF TB. Gene Xpert MTB/RIF in bronchial wash samples is found to be best diagnostic modality in evaluating LLF TB and should be used routinely to have successful treatment outcome. A proportionate number of NRP cases are having LLF TB and a high index of suspicion is a must while evaluating these cases.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is now a recognized revolutionary technology, which has emerged as a life-saving therapeutic option for patients with potentially reversible severe respiratory failure who fail to respond positively with the conventional ventilation therapy. Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and ECMO has been proven to increase the survival rates in these patients by improving the gas exchange and thus preventing the further hypoxia and catecholamine induced multi-organ damage. The authors present a case of H1N1 influenza related severe ARDS who was successfully rescued by the early use of ECMO. The authors recommend the early use of ECMO to be incorporated in the management of severe refractory ARDS caused due to a potentially reversible cause.

Fund of knowledge on palliative treatment of unresectable retrorectal tumors is scare. Here, we reported a non-surgical treatment of a huge retrorectal malignant tumor in an aged and debilitated patient complicated with colorectal obstruction. An 86-year-old male with severe comorbidities was admitted with acute colorectal obstruction owing to an untreated retrorectal malign epithelial tumor. There was a lobulated retrorectal mass, 20 cm × 15 cm at largest size, extending to the superior iliac bifurcation level, caused an obstruction of the rectal lumen. He was not suitable for surgical excision because of the severe comorbidities. Rectal obstruction was palliated by two self-expandable metallic stents. He tolerated the procedures well and post-procedural course was uneventful. After four months, stents were patent and the patient was continent. Stenting for colorectal obstruction owing to a retrorectal tumor can be feasible in patients who are not suitable for surgery (aged, debilitated, advanced tumor). It avoided the surgical trauma to a high-risk patient and ensured the continuity of continence. As far as we know, this was the first report on colorectal stenting for a retrorectal tumor.