Increased prevalence of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux diseases in type 2 diabetics with neuropathy

AIM:To analyze the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) related symptoms in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and to find out the relationship between diabetic neuropathy and the prevalence of GERD symptoms. METHODS:In this prospective questionnaire study, 150 consecutive type 2 diabetic patients attending the endocrine clinic were enrolled. A junior physician helped the patients to understand the questions. Patients were asked about the presence of five most frequent symptoms of GERD that included heartburn (at least 1/wk), regurgitation, chest pain, hoarseness of voice and chronic cough. Patients with past medical history of angina, COPD, asthma, cough due to ACEI or preexisting GERD prior to onset of diabetes and apparent psychiatric disorders were excluded from the survey. We further divided the patients into two groups based on presence or absence of peripheral neuropathy. Out of 150 patients, 46 had neuropathy, whereas 104 patients did not have neuropathy. Data are expressed as mean ± SD, and number of patients in each category and percentage of total patients in that group. Normal distributions between groups were compared with Student t test and the prevalence rates between groups were compared with Chi-square tests for significance. RESULTS:The average duration of diabetes were 12 ± 9.2 years and the average HbA1c level of this group was 7.7% ± 2.0%. The mean weight and BMI were 198 ± 54 lbs. and 32 ± 7.2 kg/m2. Forty percent (61/150) patients reported having at least one of the symptoms of GERD and thirty percent (45/150) reported having heartburn at least once a week. The prevalence of GERD symptoms is higher in patients with neuropathy than patients without neuropathy (58.7% vs 32.7%, P < 0.01). The prevalence of heartburn, chest pain and chronic cough are also higher in patients with neuropathy than in patients without neuropathy (43.5% vs 24%;10.9% vs 4.8% and 17.8% vs 6.7% respectively, P < 0.05).CONCLUSION:The prevalence of GERD symptoms in type 2 DM is higher than in the general population. Our data suggest that DM neuropathy may be an important associated factor for developing GERD symptoms.

Pathophysiology of pulmonary complications of acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis in its severe form is complicated by multiple organ system dysfunction, most importantly by pulmonary complications which include hypoxia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, atelectasis, and pleural effusion. The pathogenesis of some of the above complications is attributed to the production of noxious cytokines. Clinically significant is the early onset of pleural effusion, which heralds a poor outcome of acute pancreatitis. The role of circulating trypsin, phospholipase A2, platelet activating factor, release of free fatty acids, chemoattractants such as tumor necrsosis factor (TNF)- alpha, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, fMet-leu-phe (a bacterial wall product), nitric oxide, substance P, and macrophage inhibitor factor is currently studied. The hope is that future management of acute pancreatitis with a better understanding of the pathogenesis of lung injury will be directed against the production of noxious cytokines.

Pravastatin:A potential cause for acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) secondary to drugs is un- common, with an incidence ranging from 0.3% to 2.0% of AP cases. Drug-induced AP due to statins is rare, and only 12 cases have thus far been reported. In this case report, we report a case of a 50-year-old female on pravastatin therapy for 3 d prior to developing symptoms of AP. The common etiological factors for AP were all excluded. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit secondary to respiratory distress, though she subsequently improved and was discharged 14 d after admission. Although the incidence of drug-induced AP is low, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for it in patients with AP due to an unknown etiology. Clinicians should be aware of the association of statins with AP. If a patient taking a statin develops abdominal pain, clinicians should consider the diagnosis of AP and conduct the appropriate laboratory and diagnostic evaluation if indicated.

Vitamin B12 deficiency and gastric histopathology in older patients

AIM: To compare upper gastric endoscopic and histopathologic findings in older adults in the presence and absence of B12 deficiency.METHODS: A prospective analysis of upper gastric endoscopic and gastric histopathologic findings from 30 newly identified B12-deficient patients (11 males,19 females) and 16 controls with normal B12 status (6males, 10 females) was performed. For all subjects, the indication for upper endoscopy and gastric biopsy were unrelated to B12 status. A single pathologist, blinded to B12 status, processed and interpreted the biopsy samples. Endoscopic and histopathologic findings were correlated with age, gender, hematocrit (Hct), MCV and B12 status.RESULTS: The B12-deficient group had significantly lower mean serum B12 levels compared to the controls (P＜0.00005) while their mean Hct, MCV and serum albumin levels were similar. Iron deficiency (ferritinbased) was present in 21% of B12-deficient patients and intrinsic factor antibodies were present in29% (5/17) of B12-deficient patients. The endoscopic findings revealed significantly different rates of gastritis and atrophy between the B12-deficient and control groups (P= 0.017).B12-deficient patients had significantly less superficial gastritis (62% vs 94%) and significantly more atrophic gastritis (28% vs 0%) as compared to the controls (P= 0.039). Intestinal metaplasia was similar in both groups. Helicobacter pyloriinfection rates were similar in the B12-deficient patients and controls (40% vs31%).CONCLUSION: Significantly different endoscopic findings and types of gastritis could often be observed in the presence and absence of B12 deficiency. Atrophy,based on endoscopy, and atrophic gastritis, based on histopathology, suggest the presence of B12 deficiency.Gastric histopathology is not influenced by the age,gender, Hct or MCV of the patients.

Co-morbidity,not age predicts adverse outcome in clostridium difficile colitis

AIM To examine whether age alone or co-morbidity is a risk factor for death in olderadults who developed Clostridium difficile(Cd)colitis during hospitalization.METHODS A retrospective,observationalstudy design was performed in our Lady ofMercy Medical Center,a 650-bed,urban,community-based,university-affiliated teachinghospital.121 patients with a positive diagnosisof Cd colitis Caged 23-97 years)were studied,and data pertinent to demographic variables,medical history,co-morbidity,physicalexamination,and laboratory results werecollected.Age was examined as a continuousvariable and stratified into Age1(【80 vs 80+);Age2(【60,60-69,70-79 and 80+);or Age3(【60,60-69,70-79,80-89,90+).RESULTS Cd colitis occurs more frequentlywith advancing age(55% of cases 】80 years).However,age,per se,had no effect onmortality.A history of cardiac disease(P=0.036),recurrent or refractory infection】4weeks(P=0.007),low serum total protein(P=0.034),low serum albumin(P=0.001),antibiotic use 】4 weeks(P【0.010),use of over 4 antibiotics(P=0.026),and use of certainclasses of antibiotics(P=0.035-0.004)werepredictive of death.Death was stronglypredicted by the use of penicillin-like antibioticsplus clindamycin,in the presence ofhypoalbuminemia,refractory sepsis,andcardiac disease(P=0.00005).CONCLUSION Cd colitis is common in the veryold.However,unlike co-morbidity,age alonedoes not affect the clinical outcome(survival vsdeath).