Impact of COVID-19 on liver transplant recipients: A nationwide cohort study evaluating hospitalization, transplant rejection, and inpatient mortality

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has posed a major public health concern worldwide.Patients with comorbid conditions are at risk of adverse outcomes following COVID-19.Solid organ transplant recipients with concurrent immunosuppression and comorbidities are more susceptible to a severe COVID-19 infection.It could lead to higher rates of inpatient complications and mortality in this patient population.However,studies on COVID-19 outcomes in liver transplant(LT)recipients have yielded inconsistent findings.AIM To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital-related outcomes among LT recipients in the United States.METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the 2019–2020 National Inpatient Sample database.Patients with primary LT hospitalizations and a secondary COVID-19 diagnosis were identified using the International Classi-fication of Diseases,Tenth Revision coding system.The primary outcomes included trends in LT hospitalizations before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Secondary outcomes included comparative trends in inpatient mortality and transplant rejection in LT recipients.RESULTS A total of 15720 hospitalized LT recipients were included.Approximately 0.8%of patients had a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.In both cohorts,the median admission age was 57 years.The linear trends for LT hospitalizations did not differ significantly before and during the pandemic(P=0.84).The frequency of in-hospital mortality for LT recipients increased from 1.7%to 4.4%between January 2019 and December 2020.Compared to the pre-pandemic period,a higher association was noted between LT recipients and in-hospital mortality during the pandemic,with an odds ratio(OR)of 1.69[95%confidence interval(CI):1.55-1.84),P<0.001].The frequency of transplant rejections among hospitalized LT recipients increased from 0.2%to 3.6%between January 2019 and December 2020.LT hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic had a higher association with transplant rejection than before the pandemic[OR:1.53(95%CI:1.26-1.85),P<0.001].CONCLUSION The hospitalization rates for LT recipients were comparable before and during the pandemic.Inpatient mortality and transplant rejection rates for hospitalized LT recipients were increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fentanyl and xylazine crisis:Crafting coherent strategies for opioid overdose prevention

The United States is in the throes of a severe opioid overdose epidemic,primarily fueled by the pervasive use of fentanyl and the emerging threat of xylazine,a veterinary sedative often mixed with fentanyl.The high potency and long duration of fentanyl is compounded by the added risks from xylazine,heightening the lethal danger faced by opioid users.Measures such as enhanced surveillance,public awareness campaigns,and the distribution of fentanylxylazine test kits,and naloxone have been undertaken to mitigate this crisis.Fentanyl-related overdose deaths persist despite these efforts,partly due to inconsistent policies across states and resistance towards adopting harm reduction strategies.A multifaceted approach is imperative in effectively combating the opioid overdose epidemic.This approach should include expansion of treatment access,broadening the availability of medications for opioid use disorder,implementation of harm reduction strategies,and enaction of legislative reforms and diminishing stigma associated with opioid use disorder.

Semaglutide’s Trail of Success in Weight Loss Management and HbA1c Reduction: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Obesity is a preventable health condition, yet it remains a complex relapsing global health conundrum, triggering an array of comorbidities, including diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and mental health decline. This review intends to highlight the success of semaglutide for its therapeutic intervention for weight loss management in diabetics and non-diabetics and HbA1c reduction in type 2 diabetics. Methods: We searched and systematically reviewed the literature from within the past ten years on semaglutide utilization for weight loss and HbA1c reduction. Databases investigated included PMC, JAMA, Nature Medicine, and The Lancet, resulting in four original research articles that were systematically reviewed. Web consultations with WHO, CDC, and Healthy People 2030 were conducted to ascertain epidemiological obesity and diabetes data. AAFP and USPSTF references were included for obesity management and preventive care guidelines. Results: Based on results from systematically reviewing four original research studies, semaglutide can effectively reduce elevated weight and HbA1c, using the once-weekly subcutaneous injection formulation. A composite average percent weight loss of 8.27% (16 - 20 pounds) and an average HbA1c percent reduction rate of 1.07% (3 - 4 points) were attained. There were no major adverse events reported from any of the four original research studies related to the drug. Discussion: With evidence from several studies after its FDA approval, semaglutide delivers a promise for weight loss management and HbA1c reduction for appropriate patient populations. Clinician and patient education on its proper use should be continuously revisited.

Ischemic colitis induced by the newly reformulated multicomponent weight-loss supplement Hydroxycut~

Ischemic colitis accounts for 6%-18% of causes of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. It is more often multifactorial and more common in elderly. Drugs are considered important causative agents of this disease with different mechanisms. In this paper, we describe a 37-year-old otherwise healthy female presented with sudden onset diffuse abdominal pain and bloody stool. Radiologic, colonoscopic and histopathologic findings were all consistent with ischemic colitis. Her only suspected factor was hydroxycut which she had been taking for a period of 1 mo prior to her presentation. Her condition improved uneventfully after cessation of hydroxycut, bowel rest, intravenous hydration, and antibiotics. This is a first case of ischemic colitis with clear relationship with hydroxycut use (Naranjo score of 7). Our case demonstrates the importance of questioning patients regarding the usage of dietary supplements; especially since many patients consider them safe anddo not disclose their use voluntarily to their physicians. Hydroxycut has to be considered as a potential trigger for otherwise unexplained ischemic colitis.

Vanishing bile duct syndrome in Hodgkin's lymphoma: A case report and literature review

Vanishing bile duct syndrome(VBDS) has been described in different pathologic conditions including infection, ischemia, adverse drug reactions, autoimmune diseases, allograft rejection, and humoral factors associated with malignancy. It is an acquired condition characterized by progressive destruction and loss of the intra-hepatic bile ducts leading to cholestasis. Prognosis is variable and partially dependent upon the etiology of bile duct injury. Irreversible bile duct loss leads to significant ductopenia, biliary cirrhosis, liver failure, and death. If biliary epithelial regeneration occurs, clinical recovery may occur over a period of months to years. VBDS has been described in a number of cases of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma(HL) where it is thought to be a paraneoplastic phenomenon. This case describes a 25-year-old man found on liver biopsy to have VBDS. Given poor response to medical treatment, the patient underwent transplant evaluation at that time and was found to have classical stage ⅡB HL. Early recognition of this underlying cause or association of VBDS, including laboratory screening, and physical exam for lymphadenopathy are paramount to identifying potential underlying VBDS-associated malignancy. Here we review the literature of HL-associated VBDS and report a case of diagnosed HL with biopsy proven VBDS.

Lubiprostone induced ischemic colitis

Ischemic colitis accounts for 6%-18% of the causes of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.It is often multifactorial and more commonly encountered in the elderly.Several medications have been implicated in the development of colonic ischemia.We report a case of a 54-year old woman who presented with a two-hour history of nausea,vomiting,abdominal pain,and bloody stool.The patient had recently used lubiprostone with close temporal relationship between the increase in the dose and her symptoms of rectal bleeding.The radiologic,colonoscopic and histopathologic findings were all consistent with ischemic colitis.Her condition improved without any serious complications after the cessation of lubiprostone.This is the first reported case of ischemic colitis with a clear relationship with lubiprostone(Naranjo score of 10).Clinical vigilance for ischemic colitis is recommended for patients receiving lubiprostone who are presenting with abdominal pain and rectal bleeding.

Value of macrobiopsies and transanal endoscopic microsurgery in the histological work-up of rectal neoplasms:A retrospective study

AIM To evaluate a step up approach: Taking macrobiopsies and performing excision biopsies in patients with suspected rectal cancer in which biopsies taken though the flexible endoscope showed benign histology. METHODS Patients with a rectal neoplasm who underwent flexible endoscopy and biopsies were included. In case of benign biopsies rigid rectoscopy and macrobiopsies were employed. If this failed to prove malignancy, transanalendoscopic microsurgery(TEM) was used in a final effort to establish a certain preoperative diagnosis. The preoperative results were compared with the findings after surgical excision and follow up to calculate the reliability of this algorithm.RESULTS One hundred and thirty-two patients were included. One hundred and ten patients with a carcinoma and 22 with an adenoma. Seventy-five of 110 carcinomas were proven malignant after flexible endoscopy. With the addition of rigid endoscopy and taking of macrobiopsies, this number increased to 89. Performing TEM excision biopsies further enlarged the number of proven malignancies to 100.CONCLUSION The step-up approach includes taking macrobiopsies through the rigid rectoscope and performing excision biopsies using transanal endoscopic microsurgery in addition to flexible endoscopy. This approach, reduced the number of missed preoperative malignant diagnoses from 32% to 9%.

Epidemiology of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus and Quality of Life for People Living with HIV/AIDS in China

HIV/AIDS is increasing in prevalence in China and spread of infection from highly risk populations to the general populations was recognized. Despite the fact, there are still only few scientific reviews on quality of life （QOL） for people living with HIV/AIDS （PLWHAs）. However, many PLWHAs are struggling with social and psychological influences such as substances abuse, cultural beliefs, depression, stigma, poverty, which can affect their QOL. Public unawareness about infection and disease, willingness to seek medical care and motivation to follow therapy are indirectly influencing health outcome. In 2003 Chinese government has established the so-called the ＂Four Frees and One Care＂ policy. The policy was officially implemented from 2004 in some areas, yet to date it is not implemented nationwide. This paper discussed the epidemiology of HIV, underlying psychosocial factors affecting PLWHAs and their impact on QOL. We put forward some recommendations for stakeholders, advocacy groups, non-government organizations and Chinese government.

Univariate Risk Factors for Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation in Patients Undergoing Prosthetic Heart Valves Replacement Surgery

Data from 736 patients undergoing prosthetic heart valve replacement surgery and concomitant surgery （combined surgery） from January 1998 to January 2004 at Union Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identity risk factors for prolonged mechanical ventilation. The results showed that prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass duration, prolonged aortic cross clamp time and low ejection fraction less than 50 percent （50 %） were found to be independent predictors for prolonged mechanical ventilation. Meanwhile age, weight, and preoperative hospital stay （days） were not found to be associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation. It was concluded that. for age and weight, this might be due to the lower number of old age patients （70 years and above） included in our study and genetic body structure of majority Chinese population that favor them to be in normal weight, respectively.

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab versus sorafenib or atezolizumab alone for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Despite the use of current standard therapy,the prognosis of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is poor,with median survival times of 40 mo for intermediate HCC(Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer[BCLC]stage B)and 6-8 mo for advanced HCC(BCLC stage C).Although patients with earlystage HCC are usually suitable for therapies with curative intention,up to 70% of patients experience relapse within 5 years.In the past decade,the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved different immunogenic treatment options for advanced HCC,the most common type of liver cancer among adults.Nevertheless,no treatment is useful in the adjuvant setting.Since 2007,the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib has been used as a first-line targeted drug to address the increased mortality and incidence rates of HCC.However,in 2020,the IMbrave150 trial demonstrated that combination therapy of atezolizumab(antiprogrammed death-ligand 1[PD-L1])and bevacizumab(anti-vascular endothelial growth factor[VEGF])is superior to sorafenib,a single anti-programmed death 1/PD-L1 antibody inhibitor used as an anti-cancer monotherapy for HCC treatment.AIM To conduct a systematic literature review to evaluate the evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab/bevacizumab as preferred first-line drug therapy over the conventional sorafenib or atezolizumab monotherapies,which are used to improve survival outcomes and reduce disease progression in patients with unresectable HCC and non-decompensated liver disease.METHODS A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the PubMed,Scopus,ScienceDirect,clinicaltrials.gov,PubMed Central,Embase,EuropePMC,and CINAHL databases to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria using relevant MeSH terms.This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and risk of bias(RoB)were assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool and Sevis.RESULTS In the atezolizumab/bevacizumab group,an improvement in overall tumor response,reduction of disease progression,and longer progression-free survival were observed compared to monotherapy with either sorafenib or atezolizumab.Hypertension and proteinuria were the most common adverse events,and the rates of adverse events were comparable to those with the monotherapy.Of the studies,there were two completed trials and two ongoing trials analyzed using high quality and low bias.A more thorough analysis was only performed on the completed trials.CONCLUSION Treatment of HCC with atezolizumab/bevacizumab combination therapy was confirmed to be an effective first-line treatment to improve survival in patients with unresectable HCC and non-decompensated liver disease compared to monotherapy with either sorafenib or atezolizumab.

Prediction of mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease(CKD)is a common medical condition that is increasing in prevalence.Existing published evidence has revealed through regression analyses that several clinical characteristics are associated with mortality in CKD patients.However,the predictive accuracies of these risk factors for mortality have not been clearly demonstrated.AIM To demonstrate the accuracy of mortality predictive factors in CKD patients by utilizing the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC)analysis.METHODS We searched Ovid MEDLINE,EMBASE,and the Cochrane Library for eligible articles through January 2021.Studies were included based on the following criteria:(1)Study nature was observational or conference abstract;(2)Study populations involved patients with non-transplant CKD at any CKD stage severity;and(3)Predictive factors for mortality were presented with AUC analysis and its associated 95%confidence interval(CI).AUC of 0.70-0.79 is considered acceptable,0.80-0.89 is considered excellent,and more than 0.90 is considered outstanding.RESULTS Of 1759 citations,a total of 18 studies(n=14579)were included in this systematic review.Eight hundred thirty two patients had non-dialysis CKD,and 13747 patients had dialysis-dependent CKD(2160 patients on hemodialysis,370 patients on peritoneal dialysis,and 11217 patients on non-differentiated dialysis modality).Of 24 mortality predictive factors,none were deemed outstanding for mortality prediction.A total of seven predictive factors[N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),BNP,soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor(suPAR),augmentation index,left atrial reservoir strain,C-reactive protein,and systolic pulmonary artery pressure]were identified as excellent.Seventeen predictive factors were in the acceptable range,which we classified into the following subgroups:predictors for the non-dialysis population,echocardiographic factors,comorbidities,and miscellaneous.CONCLUSION Several factors were found to predict mortality in CKD patients.Echocardiography is an important tool for mortality prognostication in CKD patients by evaluating left atrial reservoir strain,systolic pulmonary artery pressure,diastolic function,and left ventricular mass index.

Hepatitis E in solid organ transplant recipients:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus(HEV)infection is underdiagnosed due to the use of serological assays with low sensitivity.Although most patients with HEV recover completely,HEV infection among patients with pre-existing chronic liver disease and organ-transplant recipients on immunosuppressive therapy can result in decompensated liver disease and death.AIM To demonstrate the prevalence of HEV infection in solid organ transplant(SOT)recipients.METHODS We searched Ovid MEDLINE,EMBASE,and the Cochrane Library for eligible articles through October 2020.The inclusion criteria consisted of adult patients with history of SOT.HEV infection is confirmed by either HEV-immunoglobulin G,HEV-immunoglobulin M,or HEV RNA assay.RESULTS Of 563 citations,a total of 22 studies(n=4557)were included in this metaanalysis.The pooled estimated prevalence of HEV infection in SOT patients was 20.2%[95%confidence interval(CI):14.9-26.8].The pooled estimated prevalence of HEV infection for each organ transplant was as follows:liver(27.2%;95%CI:20.0-35.8),kidney(12.8%;95%CI:9.3-17.3),heart(12.8%;95%CI:9.3-17.3),and lung(5.6%;95%CI:1.6-17.9).Comparison across organ transplants demonstrated statistical significance(Q=16.721,P=0.002).The subgroup analyses showed that the prevalence of HEV infection among SOT recipients was significantly higher in middle-income countries compared to high-income countries.The pooled estimated prevalence of de novo HEV infection was 5.1%(95%CI:2.6-9.6)and the pooled estimated prevalence of acute HEV infection was 4.3%(95%CI:1.9-9.4).CONCLUSION HEV infection is common in SOT recipients,particularly in middle-income countries.The prevalence of HEV infection in lung transplant recipients is considerably less common than other organ transplants.More studies examining the clinical impacts of HEV infection in SOT recipients,such as graft failure,rejection,and mortality are warranted.

Gabapentin for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

Objective: To examine the efficacy of gabapentin for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Design: A retrospective chart review. Settings: Tertiary care geriatric psychiatry inpatient unit. Participants: 230 patients with BPSD. Measurements: The socio-demographic information, type of behaviors, co-morbid psychiatric and medical diagnoses, daily doses of medications and side-effects were recorded. Results: Of the 230 patients, 22 were treated with gabapentin. Twenty of these patients were on a combination of gabapentin and an antipsychotic medication while two patients were treated with gabapentin monotherapy. Eighteen of the 20 patients in the combination group tolerated the treatments with little or no side effects as did the two patients in the monotherapy group. Conclusions: Gabapentin may be a safe option for the treatment of BPSD in combination with antipsychotic medications. Gabapentin may also be effective as monotherapy in certain patients with BPSD.

An unusual case presentation of spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute myocardial infarction in the young which can be life threatening. The clinical presentation is wide, ranging from simple chest pain to sudden death. Asymptomatic spontaneous coronary dissection is extremely rare. We present a case of asymptomatic spontaneous coronary artery dissection which was managed conservatively;we also review the literature and various treatment options.

The Univariate and Bivariate Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Quality of Life:A Cross Sectional Study in the Hubei Province-Central China

This study is aimed to evaluate the quality of life （QOL） for individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus （HIV）/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome （AIDS） in Hubei province-central China by using WHOQOL-BREF instrument （Chinese version）. One hundred and thirty six respondents （HIV/AIDS individuals） attending out-patient department of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention （Chinese CDC） were administered a structured questionnaire developed by investigators. QOL was evaluated by using WHOQOL-BREF instrument （Chinese version）. The results showed that the mean score of overall QOL on a scale of 0-100 was 25.8. The mean scores in 4 domains of QOL on a scale of 0-100 were 82.9 （social domain）, 27.5 （psychological domain）, 17.7 （physical domain） and 11.65 （environmental domain）. The significant difference of QOL was noted in the score of physical domain between asymptomatic （14.6） and early symptomatic individuals （12） （P=0.014）, and between patients with early symptoms （12） and those with AIDS （10.43） （P〈0.001）. QOL in psychological domain was significantly lower in early symptomatic （12.1） （P〈0.05） and AIDS patients （12.4） （P〈0.006） than in asymptomatic individuals （14.2）. The difference in QOL scores in the psychological domain was significant with respect to the income of patients （P〈0.048） and educational status （P〈0.037）. Significantly better QOL scores in the physical domain （P〈0.040） and environmental domain （P〈0.017） were noted with respect to the occupation of the patients. Patients with family support had better QOL scores in environmental domain. In our research, QOL for HIV/AIDS individuals was associated with education, occupation, income, family support and clinical categories of the patients. It was concluded that WHOQOL-BREF Chinese version was successfully used in the evaluation of QOL of HIV/AIDS individuals in Chinese population and proved to be a reliable and useful tool.

比较有或无左心室功能紊乱的冠状动脉疾病患者心理应激导致心肌缺血的区别

To examine the susceptibility tomyocardial ischemia withmental stress in patients who have coronary artery disease and normal left ventricular(LV) function versus those who have impaired LV function, we examined 58 patients who had coronary artery disease, including 22 who had normal LV function(ejection fraction< 50%), 16 who had mild to moderate LV dysfunction(ejection fraction 30%to 50%), and 20 who had severe LV dysfunction(ejection fraction ≤30%) and underwent bicycle and mental stress testing with myocardial perfusion scintigraphy on consecutive days in random order. Ischemia was assessed based on summed difference scores in regional rest versus stress myocardial perfusion and defined as a summed difference score >3. At comparable double products across the 3 groups, ischemia was induced with mental stress more frequently in patients who had severe LV dysfunction(50%) than in those who had normal LV function(9%; p< 0.01). The frequency of exercise-induced ischemia was different only between those who had mild/moderate LV dysfunction and those who had normal LV function(56%vs 18%, respectively, p< 0.05). The pattern of mental stress versus exercise ischemia differed between groups(p< 0.02): there was a higher prevalence of mental stress ischemia versus exercise ischemia in patients who had severe LV dysfunction(p=0.06), a marginally higher prevalence of exercise versus mental stress ischemia in those who had moderate LV dysfunction(p=0.07), and no difference in mental stress versus exercise ischemia in those who had normal LV function. Thus, at comparable double products during mental stress and similar extent of coronary artery disease, ischemia with mental stress was induced more frequently in patients who had severe LV dysfunction than in those who had normal LV function. These data suggest that mental stress ischemia may be of particular clinical importance in patients who have coronary artery disease and LV dysfunction.

放疗引起的主动脉食管瘘:病例报告和文献复习

Aortoesophageal fistula(AEF)is a rare cause of massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.Thoracic aortic aneurysm,esophageal foreign body,esophageal cancer and post-surgical complications are common causes of AEF;however,AEF induced by radiation therapy is a rare phenomenon and seldom described in the literature.It is a catastrophic condition which requires rapid implementation of resuscitative measures,broad-spectrum antibiotics and surgical or endovascular intervention.Transthoracic endovascular aortic repair(TEVAR)is a newer and less invasive technique,which helps to achieve rapid hemostasis in patients with severe hemodynamic instability and offers advantages over conventional repair of the aorta in emergency situations.However initial TEVAR should be followed up with a more definitive surgical repair of the aorta and the esophagus,to lower the mortality rate and achieve better outcomes.We describe here a case of a seventyyear-old male who presented with massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to AEF induced by radiation therapy,and his subsequent successful initial management with TEVAR.

运动反应阈电流强于或弱于0．5mA在超声引导下行肌问沟神经阻滞均可产生良好效果

背景对超声引导下行肌间沟阻滞时神经电刺激的运动反应进行定量，并比较运动反应阈电流强于或弱于0．5mA时的阻滞情况。方法选择61例在肌间沟阻滞和全身麻醉下行非住院肩部手术的患者，进行前瞻性观察研究。手术前超声引导下在肌问沟放置一绝缘穿刺针，测定能诱发运动反应的最小电流值，并注射含肾上腺素的0．5％布比卡因30ml。测定上干（uppertrunk）支配区感觉和运动神经阻滞情况15分钟，然后开始全麻诱导。手术后记录麻醉后恢复室（PACU）中上干阻滞成功率和疼痛评分，并记录阻滞持续时间和手术后当晚镇痛药使用剂量。诱发运动反应的电流阈值≤0．5mA者编入A组，〉0．5mA者编入B组，并比较2组上述指标间的差异。结果诱发运动反应的电流阂值范围在0．14～1．7mA间，其中≤0．5mA者即A组病例占42％。所有患者均获得满意的上千感觉和运动阻滞，并且在PACU中无一例患者需要应用阿片类药物。两组的平均阻滞时问为17．8±4．9小时，手术后镇痛药物用量无差异。两组感觉阻滞起效时间相同，但15分钟时运动神经阻滞不全率B组（37％）高于A组（12％）（P=0．03）。结论超声引导下使用神经刺激仪行肌间沟神经阻滞时，出现运动反应的电流强度大于或小于Q5InA对上干阻滞成功率和持续时间无影响。