Minerva gastroenterology最新文献

Background: The aim of this pilot, efficacy supplement registry was to use a supplementary management with berberine to control hyperlipidemia. The supplement Berberine (Berbevis™ as Sophy^® tablets) was used to control lipids and to evaluate (as a natural, preventive management) the early evolution of subclinical atherosclerosis in subjects (otherwise healthy, not using drugs) with borderline hyperlipidemia.

Methods: The registry involved two groups of subjects not using drugs for a total of 50 subjects and three months of supplementation.

Results: The registry groups using standard management (SM) or SM and supplement were resulted comparable. No side effects were observed during the three months of berberine supplementation. No tolerability problems were reported. All subjects managed with berberine completed the three-month registry. Compliance was >97% (% of correctly used tablets). Total cholesterol was significantly decreased with berberine (P<0.05) and HDL was significantly improved (P<0.5) with supplementation. Triglycerides decreased in the berberine groups (P<0.05) and the levels of CoQ10 remained within normal values in supplemented subjects. Oxidative stress - measured in Carr units - was significantly decreased with berberine (P<0.05). Routine blood tests remained within normal values during the registry. Body weight was significantly more decreased (P<0.05) with berberine in comparison with standard management. The fat proportion also decreased (P<0.05) with berberine supplementation and the abdominal fat thickness (in the peri-umbilical area) was significantly decreased after berberine supplementation (P<0.05).

Conclusions: This pilot registry indicates that berberine administration is effective in reducing lipids (decreasing weight, fat percentage and abdominal fat) in otherwise healthy subjects not using drugs. A longer study, with more advanced hyperlipidemic subjects is suggested. Predictive analytics according to Siegel suggests that a six-month study with 60 patients, in more advanced hyperlipidemic, also evaluating the intima-media thickness for the analysis of vascular benefits, may produce a stronger evaluation for this product.

Background: Atherosclerosis progression is possible in subjects with limited alteration of body weight, lipid profile, and oxidative stress. The ultrasound carotid thickness (IMT) and arterial wall modification (granulation and bubbles) are evident signs of the disease. Intestinal fats absorption shifting (IFAS) is expected to prevent or reduce the arterial damage. The aim of the registry was to evaluate the effects of a mild diet in association with lifestyle modifications (standard management [SM]) and SM+ a polyglucosamine biopolymer (BP) shifting the intestinal absorption of dietary fats.

Methods: The present is a two-year registry comparing two groups of otherwise healthy subjects, respectively 150 (SM) and 144 (SM+BP). BP was administered at the dosage of 3g/day. IMT and relative arterial damages were measured together with lipid profile, oxidative stress, anthropometric and vital measures.

Results: The two groups at the baseline were comparable for all variables: 8 cases of drop out were found limited to SM. Compliance with BP was optimal (>97%) and no side effect were observed. IMT showed a significant decrease in thickness (P<0.05) using BP+SM, while increased in SM group. Intimal granulations and lipid wall bubbles were also significantly decreased with BP in comparison to SM only (P<0.05). BMI significantly decreased with BP (P<0.05) as well as BW, fat mass, lipid profile and oxidative stress in comparison to SM only. A positive variation in blood pressure and heart rate (P<0.05) was also observed.

Conclusions: BP allows IFAS to improve early subclinical arterial lesions that tend to progress to plaques and clinical events. The long-term and safe treatment of BP is effective on IMT, lipids, BW, and early lesions of the arterial wall structure in subjects with subclinical conditions. BP also reduces oxidative stress which contributes to lipid oxidation and deposition into the arterial wall layer in areas of high dynamic stress (arterial bifurcations).

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare liver disorder characterized by biliary ducts inflammation, fibrosis and consequently chronic cholestasis, which progressively lead to liver cirrhosis. The main feature of PSC is the frequent association with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with an estimated prevalence of around 70% of the cases. This strong relationship seems due to the presence of shared pathogenetic mechanisms, which seem to involve the intestinal barrier function, the human gut microbiota and the immune innated and adaptative response to antigens derived from the bowel. Of relevance, PSC-IBD have specific clinical and pathological features that differ from PSC and IBD as separate entities, explaining the diversity in outcomes among these categories, and therefore the distinct clinical management that is required. The aim of this review is to present recent data regarding the epidemiology, pathobiology and clinical features of PSC-IBD.

Human albumin solution is a commonly used therapeutic agent because of its ability to expand plasma volume and improve oncotic pressure in various clinical settings, such as in patients with cirrhosis and sepsis, whose management is a major challenge. Despite the lack of evidence for the superiority of human albumin solutions compared with crystalloids in improving major outcomes, short-term administration of human albumin solution appears to be more effective than both saline and plasmalyte in recovering systemic hemodynamics and achieving a lower daily net fluid balance in patients with cirrhosis and sepsis-induced hypotension. The use of 25% human albumin solution could also effectively manage ascites in patients with cirrhosis, reducing the volume of fluids administered and allowing a faster achievement of the plasma target concentration. This article aims to comprehensively review the indications for the use of human albumin solutions, examine the associated risks, and outline best practices for monitoring patients receiving this treatment, ensuring optimal patient outcomes while minimizing adverse effects.

Background: End-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients have frequent readmissions to the same facility or a different hospital (care fragmentation). Care fragmentation results in care delivery from an unfamiliar clinical team or setting, a potential source of suboptimal clinical outcomes. We examined the occurrence, trends, and association between care fragmentation and outcomes during readmissions for ESLD.

Methods: From the Nationwide Readmissions Database (January to September 2010-2014), we followed adult (age ≥18 years) hospitalizations for ESLD who were discharged alive for 90 days. During 30- and 90-day readmissions, we calculated the frequency, determinants, and clinical outcomes of care fragmentation (SAS 9.4).

Results: Of the 67,480 ESLD hospitalizations surviving at discharge from 2010-2014, 35% (23,872) and 52% (35,549) were readmitted in 30- and 90-days respectively. During readmissions, the frequencies of care fragmentation were similar (30-day: 25.4% and 90-day: 25.8%) and remained stable from 2010 to 2014 (P trends>0.5). Similarly, factors associated with care fragmentation were consistent across 30- and 90-day readmissions. These included ages: 18-44 years, liver cancer, receipt of liver transplantation, hepatorenal syndrome, prolonged length of stay, and hospitalization in non-teaching facilities. During 30- and 90-day readmissions, care fragmentation was associated with higher risk of mortality (adjusted mean ratio: 1.13[1.03-1.24] and 1.14 [1.06-1.23]; P values<0.0001), prolonged length of stay (4.6-days vs. 4.1-days and 5.2-days vs. 4.6-days; P values<0.0001), and higher hospital charges ($36,884 vs. $28,932 and $37,354 vs. $30,851; P values<0.0001).

Conclusions: Care fragmentation is high among readmissions for ESLD and is associated with poorer outcomes.

Background: Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is a yearly alternative colorectal screening modality for average risk individuals unwilling or unable to undergo invasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening due to cost and accessibility. This study aimed to determine whether FIT should be interpreted within the context of patient demographics and medical history.

Methods: Patients >50 years old who had a FIT followed by colonoscopy within 1 year were analyzed based on age, race, BMI, social and medical comorbidities. False positive (FP) and false negative (FN) FIT results within each patient demographic and medical history variable were determined by comparing with the gold standard of colonoscopy using χ² analysis.

Results: One thousand twenty-five patients were reviewed. 21.8% of FIT results were positive. Factors which differed in positive FIT rates were age (P=0.003), smoking (P<0.001), alcohol (P=0.001), and hypertension (P<0.001). The difference in rates of FP and FN FIT outcomes among each variable underwent further subanalysis. The FP was 66.8% and the FN rate was 12.8%. Higher FN outcomes were noted in those above 70, males and smokers, though the result was only statistically significant for males (P=0.009). Females were observed to have higher FP rates (P=0.019).

Conclusions: Females had higher FP FIT rates compared to males, indicating that sex may influence FIT outcomes and should be accounted for when interpreting FIT results. This information can be utilized to identify populations at higher risk of FP or FN FIT results to target CRC screening. Additionally, recalculating the FP and FN rates for each variable may help determine new FIT targets.