Patients with Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (GAVE) Are at a Higher Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding in the Absence of Cirrhosis

Background and Aims: Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is commonly found in patients with cirrhosis, but it is also associated with other diseases in the absence of cirrhosis. Whether GAVE confers a different severity of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding between patients with and without cirrhosis remains unknown. We aim to examine whether there is a difference in clinically significant GI bleeding due to GAVE in patients with or without cirrhosis. Methods: This is a retrospective case-control study of patients who were diagnosed with GAVE between January 2000 and June 2014. Patients were categorized into cirrhosis and noncirrhosis groups, and those with an additional GI bleeding source were excluded. Univariate comparisons and multivariable models were constructed using logistic regression. Results: In total, 110 patients diagnosed with GAVE on esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) were included in our analysis; 84 patients had cirrhosis (76.4%) and 26 (23.6%) did not. Active GI bleeding was more prevalent in patients without cirrhosis (63.4% vs. 32.1%, p=0.003) despite similar indications for EGD, and endoscopic treatment with argon plasma coagulation (APC) was required more often in this group, approaching statistical significance (27% vs. 10.7%, p=0.056). There was no difference in bleeding severity, as evidenced by similar re-bleeding rates, surgery, or death attributed to uncontrolled bleeding. The strongest independent risk factor for GI bleeding was the absence of cirrhosis (odds ratio (OR): 5.151 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-24.48, p=0.039). Conclusions: Patients with GAVE in the absence of cirrhosis are at higher risk for active GI bleeding and require more frequent endoscopic treatment than similar patients with cirrhosis. It may be worthwhile to treat GAVE in this population even in the absence of active bleeding.     

Clinical implications,diagnosis,and management of diabetes in patients with chronic liver diseases

Diabetes mellitus(DM) negatively affects the development and progression of chronic liver diseases(CLD) of various etiologies. Concurrent DM and CLD are also associated with worse clinical outcomes with respect to mortality, the occurrence of hepatic decompensation, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Unfortunately, early diagnosis and optimal treatment of DM can be challenging, due to the lack of established clinical guidelines as well as the medical complexity of this patient population. We conducted an exploratory review of relevant literature to provide an up-to-date review for internists and hepatologists caring for this patient population. We reviewed the epidemiological and pathophysiological associations between DM and CLD, the impact of insulin resistance on the progression and manifestations of CLD, the pathogenesis of hepatogenic diabetes, as well as the practical challenges in diagnosis and monitoring of DM in this patient population. We also reviewed the latest clinical evidence on various pharmacological antihyperglycemic therapies with an emphasis on liver disease-related clinical outcomes. Finally, we proposed an algorithm for managing DM in patients with CLD and discussed the clinical and research questions that remain to be addressed.     

参麦注射液联合米力农治疗难治性心力衰竭疗效观察

目的探讨参麦注射液联合米力农治疗难治性心力衰竭的临床效果。方法选择难治性心力衰竭患者92例,依据随机数字的方法分为对照组46例和观察组46例,患者入院后均常规治疗,对照组给予米利农治疗,观察组在对照组治疗方法基础上给予参麦注射液。对两组治疗前后的心型脂肪酸结合蛋白(H-FABP),血浆心肌肌钙蛋白Ⅰ(cTnⅠ),氨基末端B型钠尿肽原(NT-proBNP),心率(HR),左心室射血分数(LVEF),每搏输出量(SV)进行对比。对两组的临床治疗效果进行对比。对两组治疗过程中的不良反应对比。结果经过治疗后,对照组的H-FABP从(17.23±3.51)ng/L降低到(15.11±3.12)ng/L,NT-proBNP从(8.13±2.32)μg/L降低到(6.51±1.45)μg/L,cTnⅠ从(31.25±5.01)ng/L降低到(23.81±4.25)ng/L,观察组的H-FABP从(16.97±3.78)ng/L降低到(9.91±3.01)ng/L,NT-proBNP从(8.21±1.98)μg/L降低到(4.13±1.34)μg/L,cTnⅠ从(32.07±5.23)ng/L降低到(18.81±5.12)ng/L,观察组的变化幅度大于对照组,数据差异均具有统计学意义(t=8.135,8.176,5.096,P<0.05),经过治疗后,对照组的HR从(135.26±10.51)次/min降低到(103.81±9.81)次/min,LVEF从(32.41±5.41)%升高到(38.31±4.87)%,SV从(37.91±2.71)mL升高到(43.23±3.47)mL,观察组的HR从(134.81±11.28)次/min降低到(95.31±9.97)次/min,LVEF从(31.87±5.37)%升高到(43.21±4.25)%,SV从(38.11±3.13)mL升高到(50.91±3.68)mL,观察组的变化幅度大于对照组,数据差异均具有统计学意义(t=4.122,-5.142,-10.298,P<0.05),观察组的治疗效果优于对照组,数据差异具有统计学意义(z=-4.994,P<0.05),两组的恶心[4.35%(2/46)VS. 2.17%(1/46)],血压低[6.52%(3/46)VS. 4.35%(2/46)],头晕[8.70%(4/46)VS. 13.04%(6/46)],乏力[15.22%(7/46)VS. 8.70%(4/46)],呕吐[4.35%(2/46)VS. 6.52%(3/46)],室性早搏[2.17%(1/46)VS. 4.35%(2/46)],发生率数据差异均不具有统计学意义(χ^2=0.000,0.000,0.449,0.929,0.000,0.000,P>0.05)。结论利用参麦注射液联合米力农治疗难治性心力衰竭,可以改善心肌功能,提升治疗效果,安全性良好。     

肝移植术后认知与脑改变的多模态神经成像

肝性脑病是终末期肝硬化的重要并发症,导致病人出现一系列神经及认知功能改变。肝移植术后病人在肝功能恢复的同时其认知功能也可明显改善。MRI可以从脑代谢、结构及功能方面更进一步揭示肝硬化病人移植术后认知及脑改变情况。综述肝移植术后认知改变的研究现状以及最新的多模态MRI技术在术后脑改变中的应用,及其在揭示术后认知恢复及残存损害的神经机制中的价值。