Incidence and predictors of 30-day readmissions in patients hospitalized with chronic pancreatitis: A nationwide analysis

Background

Patients with chronic pancreatitis are prone to frequent readmissions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the rate and predictors of 30-day readmissions in patients with chronic pancreatitis using the Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD).

Immune‐mediated graft dysfunction in liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C virus treated with direct‐acting antiviral therapy

Interferon treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after liver transplantation (LT) can result in immune‐mediated graft dysfunction (IGD). The occurrence of, risk factors for, and outcomes of IGD with direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) therapy have not been reported. We conducted a multicenter study of HCV+LT recipients who did or did not develop DAA‐IGD (1 case: 2 controls—33 vs 66). Among all treated between 2014 and 2016, DAA‐IGD occurred in 3.4% (33/978). IGD occurred only after treatment completion (76.0 [IQR, 47.0;176]). Among those treated, 48% had plasma cell hepatitis, 36% acute cellular rejection, 6% chronic rejection, and 9% combined findings. Median time to liver enzyme resolution was 77.5 days (IQR, 31.5;126). After diagnosis, hospitalizations, steroid‐induced hyperglycemia, and infection occurred in a higher percentage of cases vs controls (33% vs 7.5%, 21% vs 1.5%, 9% vs 0%; all P < .05). Only one IGD patient died and none required retransplant. A multivariate regression analysis found that liver enzyme elevations during and soon after DAA therapy completion correlated with subsequent IGD. In conclusion, while DAA‐IGD is uncommon, liver enzyme elevations during or after DAA therapy may be a sign of impending IGD. These indicators should guide clinicians to diagnose and treat IGD early before the more deleterious later clinical presentation.     

Agents capable of eliminating reactive oxygen species

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and hypochlorous acid have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammation and tissue injury in colitis. To determine whether or not anti-ROS agents can decrease the severity of colitis, we evaluated the effects of three known anti-ROS agents: catalase, WR-2721, and Cu(II)₂(3,5-DIPS)₄ on acetic acid-induced colonic inflammation in rats. Histologically, all three compounds significantly decreased the severity of colonic inflammation. The anti-ROS activity of these compounds was also tested using the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence assay. Catalase, WR-2721, or Cu(II)₂(3,5-DIPS)₄ significantly inhibited luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence produced by inflamed colonic mucosa. These findings suggest that ROS, and in particular superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and/or one of its secondarily derived species, may play an important role in acetic acid-induced colitis. Further studies are needed to determine the potential effectiveness of these compounds in human colitis.     

Results of photodynamic therapy for ablation of dysplasia and early cancer in Barrett's esophagus and effect of oral steroids on stricture formation

OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of this study was to investigate whether oral steroids would reduce the incidence of stricture formation after photodynamic therapy (PDT) in Barrett's patients. The effect of balloon window length, pretreatment of nodules, retreatment of skipped areas, and subsequent PDT on the incidence of strictures was also investigated. The ultimate goal of treatment was elimination of dysplasia, early cancer, and Barrett's mucosa. METHODS: A total of 60 patients were injected with Photofrin (2 mg/kg). Patients were randomized to receive PDT (n = 30) or PDT and oral prednisone (n = 30). Two days later, 630 nm light (KTP/dye laser) was delivered using a 5- or 7-cm windowed balloon at a light dose of 200 or 175 J/cm. The majority of patients received 200 J/cm using a 7-cm balloon. Nodules were pretreated with a short diffuser at a dose of 50-75 J/cm. Additional light was delivered to skipped areas 2-3 days later. Endoscopies were conducted every 3-6 months to evaluate the response. Residual or recurrent Barrett's was treated using neodymium:aluminum-yttrium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (small areas) or was retreated with PDT. RESULTS: The effect of steroids on the incidence of strictures was analyzed in patients receiving a single treatment with a light dose of 200 J/cm using a 7- cm balloon. There was no reduction in the incidence of strictures in patients receiving PDT and steroids (29%) compared to those receiving PDT alone (16%). Treatment using a 7-cm balloon caused more strictures (31%) than treatments using a 5-cm balloon (7%). Pretreatment of nodules or retreatment of skipped areas did not increase strictures. Patients receiving subsequent PDT had a higher incidence of strictures. Cancer was eliminated in all patients. High-grade dysplasia was eliminated in 41 of 43 patients (96%). Barrett's mucosa was totally eliminated in 25 of 60 patients (42%). CONCLUSIONS: Oral prednisone after PDT did not reduce the incidence of strictures. Subsequent PDT and longer balloon window were associated with higher incidence of strictures. PDT followed by thermal ablation of small islands eliminated dysplasia, early cancer, and Barrett's mucosa.     

Extreme hyperbilirubinemia: An indicator of morbidity and mortality in sickle cell disease

BACKGROUND Sickle cell disease(SCD) is a disorder that results in increased hospitalizations and higher mortality. Advances in management have resulted in increases in life expectancy and led to increasing awareness of sickle cell hepatopathy(SCH).However, its impact in patients on the natural history and outcomes of SCD is not known. Our study aims to describe the prevalence of extreme hyperbilirubinemia(EH), one form of SCH, its effect on morbidity and mortality,and correlations between sickle cell genotype and SCH type. We hypothesize that EH is associated with higher morbidity and mortality.AIM To investigate the effects of EH on morbidity and mortality among patients with SCD.METHODS This retrospective cohort study was performed using a database of patients with SCD treated at Grady Memorial Hospital between May 2004 and January 2017.Patients with EH(defined as total bilirubin above 13.0 mg/dL) were identified. A control group was identified from the same database with patients with total serum bilirubin ≤ 5.0 mg/dL. Electronic medical records were used to extract demographic information, laboratory values, radiology results, current medications, need for transfusions and mortality data. Two samples T-test, chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were then used to compare the parameters between the two groups.RESULTS Out of the database, fifty-seven charts were found of patients with bilirubin 13 mg/dL. Prevalence of severe SCH as defined by EH was 4.8%(57/1172). There were no demographic differences between patients with and without EH.Significant genotypic differences existed between the two groups, with hemoglobin SS SCD being much higher in the EH group(P 0.001). Patients with severe EH had a significant elevations in alanine aminotransferase(157.0 ± 266.2 IU/L vs 19.8 ± 21.3 IU/L, P 0.001), aspartate aminotransferase(256.5 ± 485.9 U/L vs 28.2 ± 14.7 U/L, P 0.001) and alkaline phosphatase(218.0 ± 176.2 IU/L vs 85.9 ± 68.4 IU/L, P 0.001). Patients with EH had significantly higher degree of end organ failure measured with quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores(0.42 ± 0.68 vs 0.01 ± 0.12, P 0.001), increased need for blood products(63% vs 5%, P 0.001), and exchange transfusions(10.5% vs 1.3%, P = 0.022).CONCLUSION Among patients with SCD, elevated levels of total bilirubin are rare, but indicative of elevated morbidity, mortality, and need for blood transfusions.Large differences in sickle cell genotype also exist, but the significance of this is unknown.     

Light sources and delivery devices for photodynamic therapy in the gastrointestinal tract

This article provides discussion on different light sources and light delivery devices used for photodynamic therapy of a variety of gastrointestinal malignancies. Different laser and nonlaser sources are discussed with emphasis on most commonly used clinical units. The discussion of light delivery devices is divided into several sections, each reviewing the evolution of fiberoptic delivery devices for different gastrointestinal malignancy. A discussion is provided on power meters and wavelength calibration devices used to assure proper light dosimetry. Finally, a short discussion is provided on a technique used to improve endoscopic monitoring of photodynamic therapy procedure during the treatment.     

Circulating neutrophils from patients with ulcerative colitis have a normal respiratory burst

The hallmark of ulcerative colitis is a diffuse infiltration of neutrophils from the circulation into the colonic mucosa. The underlying mechanism for neutrophil tissue infiltration is unknown. One possible hypothesis is abnormal circulating neutrophils. This hypothesis has been previously tested with conflicting results. The aim of our study was to re-evaluate circulating neutrophil function in the absence of several possible confounding factors. To this end, we measured the respiratory burst of circulating neutrophils in response to two different stimuli by chemiluminescence in patients with active and inactive ulcerative colitis being off all medications. Our results show no significant difference between ulcerative colitis patients and controls in peak chemiluminescence, area-under-the-curve and time to peak comparisons. However, 27 % of patients with active ulcerative colitis had an abnormally elevated chemiluminescence to stimuli. In addition, no correlations were seen between disease activity and peak chemiluminescence. Thus circulating neutrophils in the majority of patients with ulcerative colitis do not appear to be either primed or hyperactive. This may suggest the presence of local colonie factors that lead to neutrophil tissue infiltration and activation.     

Optimization of light dosimetry for photodynamic therapy of Barrett's esophagus: efficacy vs. incidence of stricture after treatment

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) may be used to ablate high-grade dysplasia/early stage cancer (HGD/T1) in patients with Barrett's esophagus. PDT may result in esophageal stricture. This nonrandomized, unblinded, dose de-escalation study in consecutive patients was designed to determine the lowest light dose effective for ablation of HGD/T1 while reducing the incidence of stricture. METHODS: A total of 113 patients received an injection of porfimer sodium (2 mg/kg). Three days later, 630 nm light was delivered by using a 20-mm-diameter PDT balloon at doses of 115 J/cm (n=59), 105 J/cm (n=18), 95 J/cm (n=17), or 85 J/cm (n=19). Treatment efficacy was determined by obtaining biopsy specimens of the treated area 3 months later. The incidence of stricture was determined by the need for esophageal dilation to treat dysphagia. A stricture was considered severe if 6 or more dilations were required. RESULTS: The incidence of severe stricture was related to the light dose. At 115 J/cm, 15.3% of patients developed severe strictures compared with 5.3% to 5.6% of those treated with the lower doses. At a light dose of 115 J/cm, 17.0% of patients had residual HGD/T1. Light doses of 105 J/cm, 95 J/cm, and 85 J/cm resulted in residual HGD/T1 in 33.3%, 29.4%, and 31.6% of patients, respectively. None of the observations were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Decreasing the light dose below 115 J/cm appeared to result in a reduced incidence rate of severe stricture but higher relative frequencies of residual HGD/T1 in Barrett's esophagus.