Quality of life and psychological distress in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis and transplantation

BACKGROUND Among diverse profound impacts on patients’quality of life(QoL),end-stage renal disease(ESRD)frequently results in increased levels of depression,anxiety,and stress.Renal replacement therapies such as hemodialysis(HD)and transplantation(TX)are intended to enhance QoL,although their ability to alleviate psychological distress remains uncertain.This research posits the existence of a significant correlation between negative emotional states and QoL among ESRD patients,with varying effects observed in HD and TX patients.AIM To examine the relationship between QoL and negative emotional states(depression,anxiety,and stress)and predicted QoL in various end-stage renal replacement therapy patients with ESRD.METHODS This cross-sectional study included HD or TX patients in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia.The 36-item Short Form Survey and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale(DASS)was used for data collection,and correlation and regression analyses were performed.RESULTS The HD and TX transplantation groups showed statistically significant inverse relationships between QoL and DASS scores.HD patients with high anxiety levels and less education scored low on the physical component summary(PCS).In addition,the results of the mental component summary(MCS)were associated with reduced depression.Compared with older transplant patients,TX patients’PCS scores were lower,and depression,stress,and negative working conditions were highly correlated with MCS scores.CONCLUSION The findings of this study revealed notable connections between well-being and mental turmoil experienced by individuals undergoing HD and TX.The PCS of HD patients is affected by heightened levels of anxiety and lower educational attainment,while the MCS of transplant patients is influenced by advancing age and elevated stress levels.These insights will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of patient support.

Palliative long-term abdominal drains vs large volume paracenteses for the management of refractory ascites in end-stage liver disease

BACKGROUND Long-term abdominal drains(LTAD)are a cost-effective palliative measure to manage malignant ascites in the community,but their use in patients with end-stage chronic liver disease and refractory ascites is not routine practice.The safety and cost-effectiveness of LTAD are currently being studied in this setting,with preliminary positive results.We hypothesised that palliative LTAD are as effective and safe as repeat palliative large volume paracentesis(LVP)in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites and may offer advantages in patients’quality of life.AIM To compare the effectiveness and safety of palliative LTAD and LVP in refractory ascites secondary to end-stage chronic liver disease.METHODS A retrospective,observational cohort study comparing the effectiveness and safety outcomes of palliative LTAD and regular palliative LVP as a treatment for refractory ascites in consecutive patients with end-stage chronic liver disease followed-up at our United Kingdom tertiary centre between 2018 and 2022 was conducted.Fisher’s exact tests and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare qualitative and quantitative variables,respectively.Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were generated to stratify time-related outcomes according to the type of drain.RESULTS Thirty patients had a total of 35 indwelling abdominal drains and nineteen patients underwent regular LVP.The baseline characteristics were similar between the groups.Prophylactic antibiotics were more frequently prescribed in patients with LTAD(P=0.012),while the incidence of peritonitis did not differ between the two groups(P=0.46).The incidence of acute kidney injury(P=0.014)and ascites/drain-related hospital admissions(P=0.004)were significantly higher in the LVP group.The overall survival was similar in the two groups(log-rank P=0.26),but the endpoint-free survival was significantly shorter in the LVP group(P=0.003,P<0.001,P=0.018 for first ascites/drain-related admission,acute kidney injury and drain-related complications,respectively).CONCLUSION The use of LTAD in the management of refractory ascites in palliated end-stage liver disease is effective,safe,and may reduce hospital admissions and utilisation of healthcare resources compared to LVP.

Selection of dialysis methods for end-stage kidney disease patients with diabetes

The increasing prevalence of diabetes has led to a growing population of endstage kidney disease(ESKD)patients with diabetes.Currently,kidney transplantation is the best treatment option for ESKD patients;however,it is limited by the lack of donors.Therefore,dialysis has become the standard treatment for ESKD patients.However,the optimal dialysis method for diabetic ESKD patients remains controversial.ESKD patients with diabetes often present with complex conditions and numerous complications.Furthermore,these patients face a high risk of infection and technical failure,are more susceptible to malnutrition,have difficulty establishing vascular access,and experience more frequent blood sugar fluctuations than the general population.Therefore,this article reviews nine critical aspects:Survival rate,glucose metabolism disorder,infectious complications,cardiovascular events,residual renal function,quality of life,economic benefits,malnutrition,and volume load.This study aims to assist clinicians in selecting individualized treatment methods by comparing the advantages and disadvantages of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis,thereby improving patients’quality of life and survival rates.

Challenges with non-descriptive compliance labeling of end-stage renal disease patients in accessibility for renal transplantation

Non-descriptive and convenient labels are uninformative and unfairly project blame onto patients.The language clinicians use in the Electronic Medical Record,research,and clinical settings shapes biases and subsequent behaviors of all providers involved in the enterprise of transplantation.Terminology such as noncompliant and nonadherent serve as a reason for waitlist inactivation and limit access to life-saving transplantation.These labels fail to capture all the circum-stances surrounding a patient’s inability to follow their care regimen,trivialize social determinants of health variables,and bring unsubstantiated subjectivity into decisions regarding organ allocation.Furthermore,insufficient Medicare coverage has forced patients to ration or stop taking medication,leading to allograft failure and their subsequent diagnosis of noncompliant.We argue that perpetuating non-descriptive language adds little substantive information,in-creases subjectivity to the organ allocation process,and plays a major role in reduced access to transplantation.For patients with existing barriers to care,such as racial/ethnic minorities,these effects may be even more drastic.Transplant committees must ensure thorough documentation to correctly encapsulate the entirety of a patient’s position and give voice to an already vulnerable population.

Incidence and predictors of hypocalcemia in end-stage renal disease patients on denosumab therapy: A systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Denosumab inhibits the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-ligand.It markedly increases bone mineral density and has been proven to reduce the risk of fractures.However,numerous adverse effects,notably hypocalcemia,are prevalent in patients with end-stage renal disease(ESRD).AIM To analyze the incidence and predictors of hypocalcemia caused by denosumab compared to control in patients with ESRD.METHODS We conducted this study in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines.PubMed,Scopus,Cochrane Central,and EMBASE were systematically searched from inception through March 2024.All original studies investigating the effects of denosumab on patients with ESRD compared to control were extracted.The primary outcomes of our study were the incidence of mild,severe,and very severe hypocalcemia.Secondary outcomes included serum levels of intact parathyroid hormone,calcium,and phosphate.The results were pooled and analyzed using a random-effects model.RESULTS Seven articles comprising 3240 patients were included in our study.Patients treated with denosumab had a significantly increased incidence of mild hypocalcemia[risk ratio(RR):2.79;95%confidence interval(CI):0.99-7.91;P=0.05;I^(2)=37%]and of very severe hypocalcemia(RR:9.58;95%CI:1.58-57.98;P=0.01;I^(2)=49%).However,an increase in the occurrence of severe hypocalcemia was non-significant(RR:4.23;95%CI:0.47-38.34;P=0.20;I^(2)=96%).Alternatively,denosumab showed a significant decrease in serum intact parathyroid hormone[mean difference(MD):-433.20,95%CI:-775.12 to-91.28,I2=98%,P=0.01],while there was a non-significant decrease in phosphate(MD:-0.47,95%CI:-1.35 to 0.41,I^(2)=88%,P=0.30)and calcium levels(MD:-0.33,95%CI:-0.95 to 0.29,I^(2)=94%,P=0.29).CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that denosumab is significantly associated with mild and very severe hypocalcemia in patients with ESRD making it necessary to detect and prevent this side effect of treatment.

Palliative care for end-stage liver disease and acute on chronic liver failure:A systematic review

BACKGROUND End stage liver disease(ESLD)represents a growing health concern characterized by elevated morbidity and mortality,particularly among individual ineligible for liver transplantation.The demand for palliative care(PC)is pronounced in patients grappling with ESLD and acute on chronic liver failure(ACLF).Unfortunately,the historical underutilization of PC in ESLD patients,despite their substantial needs and those of their family caregivers,underscores the imperative of seamlessly integrating PC principles into routine healthcare practices across the entire disease spectrum.AIM To comprehensively investigate the evidence surrounding the benefits of incorporating PC into the comprehensive care plan for individuals confronting ESLD and/or ACLF.METHODS A systematic search in the Medline(PubMed)database was performed using a predetermined search command,encompassing studies published in English without any restrictions on the publication date.Subsequently,the retrieved studies were manually examined.Simple descriptive analyses were employed to summarize the results.RESULTS The search strategies yielded 721 references.Following the final analysis,32 fulllength references met the inclusion criteria and were consequently incorporated into the study.Meticulous data extraction from these 32 studies was undertaken,leading to the execution of a comprehensive narrative systematic review.The review found that PC provides significant benefits,reducing symptom burden,depressive symptoms,readmission rates,and hospital stays.Yet,barriers like the appeal of transplants and misconceptions about PC hinder optimal utilization.Integrating PC early,upon the diagnosis of ESLD and ACLF,regardless of transplant eligibility and availability,improves the quality of life for these patients.CONCLUSION Despite the substantial suffering and poor prognosis associated with ESLD and ACLF,where liver transplantation stands as the only curative treatment,albeit largely inaccessible,PC services have been overtly provided too late in the course of the illness.A comprehensive understanding of PC's pivotal role in treating ESLD and ACLF is crucial for overcoming these barriers,involving healthcare providers,patients,and caregivers.

Prognostic Nutritional Index Predicts Life Expectancy of Patients with End-Stage Oral Cancer: A Retrospective Study

Background: Generally, clinicians do not accurately estimate life expec-tancy in terminally ill patients with cancer. Aim: To evaluate the value of the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) for accurately estimating the life expectancy of patients with end-stage oral cancer. Design: A longitudinal section study. Setting/participants: Fifteen patients (12 men;mean age: 71.7 years) who died of oral cancer between 2005 and 2014 (the terminal group) were included. The mean PNI values at the initial visit and at 3, 2, and 1 months before the deaths were comparatively analyzed. Results: The mean follow-up period was 133 days. At the initial examination, the PNI values were 49.1 ± 4.5 (p = 0.6723). The PNI value of the terminal group was 35.6 ± 5.1 at 2 months before death and 28.6 ± 3.0 at 1 month before death. The PNI values at 3, 2, and 1 months before death in the terminal group significantly differed from each other and from that at the initial visit and steadily decreased until death. Conclusions: Our findings suggest the utility of PNI as a prognostic index in patients with end-stage oral cancer patients. Furthermore, the PNI should be routinely considered in the nutritional management of patients with oral cancer nearing death.

Reevaluating health metrics:Unraveling the limitations of disabilityadjusted life years as an indicator in disease burden assessment

In 1993,the World Bank released a global report on the efficacy of health promotion,introducing the disability-adjusted life years(DALY)as a novel indicator.The DALY,a composite metric incorporating temporal and qualitative data,is grounded in preferences regarding disability status.This review delineates the algorithm used to calculate the value of the proposed DALY synthetic indicator and elucidates key methodological challenges associated with its application.In contrast to the quality-adjusted life years approach,derived from multi-attribute utility theory,the DALY stands as an independent synthetic indicator that adopts the assumptions of the Time Trade Off utility technique to define Disability Weights.Claiming to rely on no mathematical or economic theory,DALY users appear to have exempted themselves from verifying whether this indicator meets the classical properties required of all indicators,notably content validity,reliability,specificity,and sensitivity.The DALY concept emerged primarily to facilitate comparisons of the health impacts of various diseases globally within the framework of the Global Burden of Disease initiative,leading to numerous publications in international literature.Despite widespread adoption,the DALY synthetic indicator has prompted significant methodological concerns since its inception,manifesting in inconsistent and non-reproducible results.Given the substantial diffusion of the DALY indicator and its critical role in health impact assessments,a reassessment is warranted.This reconsideration is imperative for enhancing the robustness and reliability of public health decisionmaking processes.

Palliative care needs and symptom burden in younger and older patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing maintenance hemodialysis:A cross-sectional study

Objectives:To investigate the current situation of palliative care needs and the symptom burden in patients with end-stage renal disease(ESRD)undergoing maintenance hemodialysis(MHD),and to explore whether there are differences between younger and older patients.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted in the hemodialysis centers of two tertiary hospitals from November 2021 to June 2022.Participants were selected by convenience sampling.Sociodemographics,clinical characteristics,the Palliative Care Outcome Scale(POS),the Dialysis Symptom Index(DSI),and health-related quality of life(EQ-5D-3L)were used for evaluation.Descriptive statistics,between-group comparisons,and correlation analysis were used to analyze the data.Results:A total of 236 patients were enrolled,including 118 younger and 118 older patients.The total median(P25,P75)POS score was 16.0(12.0,23.0),and the score was higher in older patients(P<0.01).The mean total number of symptoms in MHD patients was 15.04±5.06,and the overall median symptom severity score was 59.0(52.0,71.0);these scores were higher in the older group(P<0.01).The most common symptom was dry mouth(91.5%),followed by itching(83.1%),and dry skin(82.2%).Additionally,palliative care needs were significantly associated with symptom burden and health-related quality of life(HRQOL).Conclusions:The results showed that patients with ESRD undergoing MHD have a significant symptom burden and moderate palliative care needs,which are more severe in older patients.Therefore,interdisciplinary teams should be formed to actively manage patients’symptoms and meet the physical,psychological,social,and spiritual needs related to palliative care to improve patients’HRQOL.

Indocyanine green clearance test and model for end-stage liver disease score of patients with liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND: The indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test (clearance rate (K) and retention rate at 15 minutes (R(15))) is a sensitive indicator to evaluate liver function. The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score has emerged as a useful tool for estimating the mortality of patients awaiting liver transplantation and has recently been validated on patients with liver diseases of various etiologies and severity. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the ICG clearance test and MELD score of patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: From June 2007 to March 2008, 52 patients with liver cirrhosis admitted to our center were classified into Child-Pugh class A (8 patients), B (14) and C (30). The ICG clearance test (K value and R(15)) was performed by ICG pulse spectrophotometry (DDG-3300K), and the MELD scores of patients were calculated. RESULTS: As the Child-Pugh classification of liver function gradually deteriorated, the K value decreased, while R(15) and MELD score increased. There were significant statistical differences in K value, R(15) and MELD score in patients with different Child-Pugh classifications. Significant correlations were found between the parameters of the ICG clearance test (K value and R(15)) and MELD score. A negative correlation was observed between K value and MELD score (r=-0.892, P < 0.05), while a positive correlation was observed between R(15) and MELD score (r=0.804, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ICG clearance test and MELD score are good parameters for evaluating liver function. Moreover, K value and R(15) have significant correlations with MELD score, especially the K value, which may be a convenient and appropriate indicator to evaluate liver function of patients with liver cirrhosis.

Outcomes of liver transplantation for end-stage biliary disease: A comparative study with end-stage liver disease

AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of patients with endstage biliary disease(ESBD) who underwent liver transplantation, to define the concept of ESBD, the criteria for patient selection and the optimal operation for decision-making.METHODS: Between June 2002 and June 2014, 43 patients with ESBD from two Chinese organ transplantation centres were evaluated for liver transplantation. The causes of liver disease were primary biliary cirrhosis(n = 8), cholelithiasis(n = 8), congenital biliary atresia(n = 2), graft-related cholangiopathy(n = 18), Caroli's disease(n = 2), iatrogenic bile duct injury(n = 2), primary sclerosing cholangitis(n = 1), intrahepatic bile duct paucity(n = 1) and Alagille's syndrome(n = 1). The patients with ESBD were compared with an end-stage liver disease(ESLD) case control group during the same period, and the potential prognostic values of multiple demographic and clinical variables were assessed. The examined variables included recipient age, sex, pre-transplant clinical status, pre-transplant laboratory values, operation condition and postoperative complications, as well as patient and allograft survival rates. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves, and the rates were compared using log-rank tests. All variables identified by univariate analysis with P values < 0.100 were subjected to multivariate analysis. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to determine the effect of the study variables on outcomes in the study group.RESULTS: Patients in the ESBD group had lower model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)/paediatric end-stage liver disease(PELD) scores and a higher frequency of previous abdominal surgery compared to patients in the ESLD group(19.2 ± 6.6 vs 22.0 ± 6.5, P = 0.023 and 1.8 ± 1.3 vs 0.1 ± 0.2, P = 0.000). Moreover, theoperation time and the time spent in intensive care were significantly higher in the ESBD group than in the ESLD group(527.4 ± 98.8 vs 443.0 ± 101.0, P = 0.000, and 12.74 ± 6.6 vs 10.0 ± 7.5, P = 0.000). The patient survival rate in the ESBD group was not significantly different from that of the ESBD group at 1, 3 and 5 years(ESBD: 90.7%, 88.4%, 79.4% vs ESLD: 84.9%, 80.92%, 79.0%, χ2 = 0.194, P = 0.660). The graftsurvival rates were also similar between the two groups at 1, 3 and 5 years(ESBD: 90.7%, 85.2%, 72.7% vs ESLD: 84.9%, 81.0%, 77.5%, χ2 = 0.003, P = 0.958). Univariate analysis identified MELD/PELD score(HR = 1.213, 95%CI: 1.081-1.362, P = 0.001) and bleeding volume(HR = 0.103, 95%CI: 0.020-0.538, P = 0.007) as significant factors affecting the outcomes of patients in the ESBD group. However, multivariate analysis revealed that MELD/PELD score(HR = 1.132, 95%CI: 1.005-1.275, P = 0.041) was the only negative factor that was associated with short survival time.CONCLUSION: MELD/PELD criteria do not adequately measure the clinical characteristics and staging of ESBD. The allocation system based on MELD/PELD criteria should be re-evaluated for patients with ESBD.

Comparison of four models for end-stage liver disease in evaluating the prognosis of cirrhosis

AIM： To investigate the prognostic value of the model for end-stage liver disease （MELD） and three new MELD-based models combination with serum sodium in decompensated cirrhosis patients-the MELD with the incorporation of serum sodium （MELD-Na）, the integrated MELD （iMELD）, and the MELD to sodium （MESO） index. METHODS： A total of 166 patients with decompensated cirrhosis were enrolled into the study. MELD, MELD- Na, iMELD and MESO scores were calculated for each patient following the original formula on the first day of admission. All patients were followed up at least 1 year. The predictive prognosis related with the four models was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve （AUC） of the four parameters. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were made using the cut-offs identified by means of receiver operating characteristic （ROC）. RESULTS： Out of 166 patients, 38 patients with significantly higher MELD-Na （28.84 ± 2.43 vs 14.72 ± 0.60）, iMELD （49.04 ± 1.72 vs 35.52 ± 0.67）, MESO scores （1.59 ± 0.82 vs 0.99 ± 0.42） compared to the survivors died within 3 mo （P 〈 0.001）. Of 166 patients, 75 with markedly higher MELD-Na （23.01 ± 1.51 vs 13.78 ± 0.69）, iMELD （44.06 ± 1.19 vs 34.12 ± 0.69）, MESO scores （1.37 ± 0.70 vs 0.93 ± 0.40） than the survivors died within 1 year （P 〈 0.001）. At 3 mo of enrollment, the iMELD had the highest AUC （0.841）, and was followed by the MELD-Na （0.766）, MESO （0.723）, all larger than MELD （0.773）; At year, the iMELD still had the highest AUC （0.783）, the difference between the iMELD and MELD was statistically significant （P 〈 0.05）. Survival curves showed that the three new models were all clearly discriminated the patients who survived or died in short-term as well as intermediate-term （P 〈 0.001）. CONCLUSION： Three new models, changed with serum sodium （MELD-Na, iMELD, MESO） can exactly predict the prognosis of patients with decompensated cirrhosis for short and intermediate period, and may enhance the prognostic accuracy of MELD. The iMELD is better prognostic model for outcome prediction in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

D-dimer level and long-term outcome in patients with end-stage heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Background Previous studies had demonstrated hemostatic abnormalities in patients with heart failure (HF) and several studies have shown that abnormal coagulation indices, represented by elevated D-dimer, had prognostic significance in patients with compatible or acute decompensated HF. However, the impact of D-dimer on the outcome in patients with end-stage HF remains unclear. Methods A total of 244 consecutive patients with end-stage HF due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) were prospectively enrolled from February 2011 to September 2014. D-dimer levels were measured and its prognostic value was assessed. Primary endpoint was all-cause mortality during the follow-up period. Secondary endpoints were stroke, bleeding, occurrence of sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results D-dimer was significantly elevated in the non-survivors (median: 0.8 vs. 1.1 mg/L, P < 0.001). Traditional markers including B-type natriuretic peptide, troponin I, left ventricular ejection fraction, and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension provided limited prognostic value;but the addition of D-dimer refined the risk stratification. The optimal cut-off value of D-dimer to predict all-cause mortality was 0.84 mg/L by receiver operator characteristic analysis. Elevated D-dimer level was independently associated with increased risk of long-term all-cause mortality (HR = 2.315, 95% CI: 1.570–3.414, P < 0.001) and MACE (HR = 1.256, 95% CI: 1.058–1.490, P = 0.009), and the predictive value was independent of age, sex, atrial fibrillation and anticoagulation status. Conclusions Elevated D-dimer level was independently associated with poor long-term outcome in patients with end-stage HF secondary to idiopathic DCM, and the predictive value was superior to that of traditional prognostic markers.

Modified model for end-stage liver disease improves shortterm prognosis of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

AIM To investigate whether the short-term prognosis of hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF) could be improved by using a modified model for end-stage liver disease(MELD) including serum lactate.METHODS This clinical study was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medicine University, China. From 2009 to 2015, 236 patients diagnosed with HBV-related ACLF at our center were recruited for this 3-month followup study. Demographic data and serum lactate levels were collected from the patients. The MELD scores with or without serum lactate levels from survival and nonsurvival groups were recorded and compared.RESULTS Two hundred and thirty-six patients with HBV-ACLF were divided into two groups: survival group(S) andnon-survival group(NS). Compared with the NS group, the patients in survival the S group had a significantly lower level of serum lactate(3.11 ± 1.98 vs 4.67 ± 2.43, t = 5.43, P < 0.001) and MELD score(23.33 ± 5.42 vs 30.37 ± 6.58, t = 9.01, P = 0.023). Furthermore, serum lactate level was positively correlated with MELD score(r = 0.315, P < 0.001). Therefore, a modified MELD including serum lactate was developed by logistic regression analysis(0.314 × lactate + 0.172 × MELD-5.923). In predicting 3-month mortality using the MELD-LAC model, the patients from the S group had significantly lower baseline scores(-0.930 ± 1.34) when compared with those from the NS group(0.771 ± 1.32, t = 9.735, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC) was 0.859 calculated by using the MELD-LAC model, which was significantly higher than that calculated by using the lactate level(0.790) or MELD alone(0.818). When the cutoff value was set at-0.4741, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for predicting short-term mortality were 91.5%, 80.10%, 94.34% and 74.62%, respectively. When the MELD-LAC scores at baseline level were set at-0.5561 and 0.6879, the corresponding mortality rates within three months were 75% and 90%, respectively.CONCLUSION The short-term prognosis of HBV-related ACLF was improved by using a modified MELD including serum lactate from the present 6-year clinical study.

Increased end-stage renal disease risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease:A nationwide populationbased study

AIM To estimate the risk of end-stage renal disease(ESRD)in patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).METHODS From January 2010 to December 2013, patients with Crohn's disease(CD) and ulcerative colitis(UC) were identified, based on both the International Classification of Diseases, 10 th revision(ICD-10) and the rare,intractable disease registration program codes from the National Health Insurance(NHI) database in South Korea. We compared 38812 patients with IBD to ageand sex-matched non-IBD controls with a ratio of 1:3.Patients newly diagnosed with ESRD were identified with the ICD-10 code.RESULTS During a mean follow-up of 4.9 years, ESRD was detected in 79(0.2%) patients with IBD and 166(0.1%)controls. The incidence of ESRD in patients with IBD was0.42 per 1000 person-years. Patients with IBD had a significantly higher risk of ESRD than controls [adjusted hazard ratio(HR) = 3.03; 95% confidence interval(CI):1.77-5.20; P < 0.001]. The incidences(per 1000 personyears)of ESRD were 0.51 in patients with CD and 0.13 in controls, respectively(adjusted HR = 6.33; 95%CI:2.75-14.56; P < 0.001). In contrast, the incidence of ESRD was similar between the UC and control groups(0.37 vs 0.37 per 1000 person-years; adjusted HR = 2.01;95%CI: 0.90-4.51; P = 0.089).CONCLUSION The risk of ESRD was elevated in patients with CD, but not UC. Patients with CD should be monitored carefully for signs of renal insufficiency.

End-stage liver disease score and future liver remnant volume predict post-hepatectomy liver failure in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the world’s sixth most common malignant tumor and the third cause of cancer death.Although great progress has been made in hepatectomy,it is still associated with a certain degree of risk of posthepatectomy liver failure(PHLF),which extends the length of hospital stay and remains the leading cause of postoperative death.Studies have shown that assessment of hepatic functional reserve before hepatectomy is beneficial for reducing the incidence of PHLF.AIM To assess the value of model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)score combined with standardized future liver remnant(sFLR)volume in predicting PHLF in patients undergoing hepatectomy for HCC.METHODS This study was attended by 238 patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy between January 2015 and January 2018.Discrimination of sFLR volume,MELD score,and sFLR/MELD ratio to predict PHLF was evaluated according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.RESULTS The patients were divided into two groups according to whether PHLF occurred after hepatectomy.The incidence of PHLF was 8.4%in our research.The incidence of PHLF increased with the decrease in sFLR volume and the increase in MELD score.Both sFLR volume and MELD score were considered independent predictive factors for PHLF.Moreover,the cut-off value of the sFLR/MELD score to predict PHLF was 0.078(P<0.001).This suggests that an sFLR/MELD≥0.078 indicates a higher incidence of PHLF than an sFLR/MELD<0.078.CONCLUSION MELD combined with sFLR is a reliable and effective PHLF predictor,which is superior to MELD score or sFLR volume alone.

Analysis of prognosis on patients with severe viral hepatitis using the model for end-stage liver disease

AIM: To study the practical use of the model for endstage liver disease (MELD) on clinic and assess its validity by the concordance (C)-statistic in predicting the prognosis of the patient with severe viral hepatitis.METHODS: One hundred and twenty-one patients were divided into plasma exchange group and non-plasma exchange group, and were graded with MELD formula.The death rate was observed within 3 mo.RESULTS: Eighty-one patients died within 3 mo (35 cases in PE group, 46 cases in non-PE group). The mortality of patients in PE group whose MELD score between 20-30and 30-40 were 31.6% and 57.7%, respectively, but in non-PE cases they were 67.6%, 81.3% respectively.There was significant difference between PE group and non-PE group (P＜0.05). However, the mortality of patients whose MELD score higher than 40 were 93.3% in PE group and 100% in non-PE group and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P= 0.65＞0.05). The optimal cut-off values of MELD to predict the prognosis of patients were 30 in PE group whose sensitivity, specificity and C-statistic were 80.0%, 52.0% and 0.777, but in non-PE group they were 25, 82.6%, 86.7% and 0.869, respectively.CONCLUSION: The MELD score can act as a disease severity index for patients with severe viral hepatitis, and the mortality of the patient increases with the increase of the MELD score. The MELD can accurately predict the short-term prognosis of patients with severe viral hepatitis.

End-stage renal disease is associated with increased post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography adverse events in hospitalized patients

AIM To determine if end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a risk factor for post endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) adverse events (AEs). METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2011-2013. We identified adult patients who underwent ERCP using the International Classification of Diseases 9^(th) Revision (ICD-9-CM). Included patients were divided into three groups: ESRD, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and control. The primary outcome was post-ERCP AEs including pancreatitis, bleeding, and perforation determined based on specific ICD-9-CM codes. Secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay, in-hospital mortality, and admission cost. AEs and mortality were compared using multivariate logistic regression analysis.RESULTS There were 492175 discharges that underwent ERCP during the 3 years. The ESRD and CKD groups contained 7347 and 39403 hospitalizations respectively, whereas the control group had 445424 hospitalizations. Post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) was significantly higher in the ESRD group (8.3%) compared to the control group (4.6%) with adjusted odd ratio (aOR) = 1.7 (95% CI: 1.4-2.1, ~aP < 0.001). ESRD was associated with significantly higher ERCP-related bleeding (5.1%) compared to the control group 1.5% (aOR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.4-2.4, ~aP < 0.001). ESRD had increased hospital mortality 7.1% vs 1.15% in the control OR = 6.6 (95%CI: 5.3-8.2, ~aP < 0.001), longer hospital stay with adjusted mean difference (aMD) = 5.9 d (95% CI: 5.0-6.7 d, ~aP < 0.001) and higher hospitalization charges aMD = $+82064 (95%CI: $68221-$95906, ~aP < 0.001). CONCLUSION ESRD is a risk factor for post-ERCP AEs and is associated with higher hospital mortality. Careful selection and close monitoring is warranted to improve outcomes.

Childlife干预在儿童隐匿阴茎围术期护理中的应用

分析儿童隐匿阴茎围术期护理中采取Child life干预的效果。方法 选取2022年1月-2023年2月纳入的隐匿性阴茎儿童60例作为观察对象,经随机抽签法分组,对照组、观察组各有30例。两组分别采取常规护理、Child life干预,观察围术期患儿的心理状态,并评估患儿术后疼痛评分及护理满意度、护理依从性。结果 护理前,组间SAS及SDS评分相比,p>0.05;护理后,观察组SAS及SDS评分比对照组低,p<0.05;观察组Wong-Baker分值低于对照组,p<0.05;观察组依从性及护理满意度高于对照组,p<0.05。结论 在隐匿性阴茎儿童围术期护理中采取Child life护理模式可提升患儿的依从性、护理满意度,并改善患儿心理状态,减轻其疼痛感。

Clinical Outcome of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Infusion via Hepatic Artery or Portal Vein in Patients with End-stage Liver Diseases

Objective To investigate the efficacy of hematopoietic stem cell （HSC） transplantation via the hepatic artery vs. the portal vein for end-stage liver disease （ESLD）. Methods Patients with hepatic decompensation were prospectively recruited from September 2010 to September 2012 to receive HSC transplantation via the hepatic artery or the portal vein. Liver function was examined at 3, 6, and 12 months after transplantation. Liver biopsy results were analyzed using the Knodell score. Results Eighty patients （58 males and 22 females） were enrolled in the study. The Child-Pugh score was grade B in 69 cases, and grade C in the remaining 11 cases. HSC transplantation was performed via the portal vein in 36 patients and via the hepatic artery in 44 patients. ALT levels decreased while serum albumin levels increased significantly in both groups at 6 and 12 months after HSC transplantation （P〈0.05 compared with pre-transplantation levels）. Total biliruhin levels decreased significandy in both groups at 3, 6, and 12 months after HSC transplantation （P〈0.05 compared with pre-transplantation levels）. Additionally, prothromhin time decreased in both groups at 12 months after HSC transplantation （P〈0.05 compared with pre-transplantation level）. There were no significant differences in ALT, total bilirubin and prothromhin time between the two groups either before or after transplantation. Moreover, Knodell score decreased significantly at 6 and 12 months. Histological examination showed that liver cell edema, degeneration, necrosis, and inflammation were significantly relieved at 3, 6, and 12 months after transplantation. The incidence of portal vein thrombosis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and hepatic encephalopathy were 1.25%, 3.75%, and 2.5% respectively. The one-year survival rate was 100%. Conclusions Autologous HSC transplantation improves liver function and histology in ESLD patients The administration route of HSC has no significant impact on the efficacy of transplantation.