Summary
Background
Several studies have reported an association between alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) or other forms of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and the genetic variant rs738409 (C>G) in ...adiponutrin/patatin‐like phospholipase domain‐containing 3 gene (PNPLA3).
Aim
To evaluate the influence of this variant on ALC and other forms of ALD.
Methods
We performed a systematic review of previous studies on the relationship between rs738409 of PNPLA3 and ALD and meta‐analysis was conducted in a random‐effects model. Calculations of the odds ratios (ORs) and their confidence intervals (CIs), tests for heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses were performed.
Results
Database search identified 11 previous studies available for inclusion with a total of 3495 patients with ALD (2087 with ALC) and 5038 controls (4007 healthy subjects and 1031 alcoholics without ALD). Patients with ALC compared to controls had a significantly higher prevalence of the G allele when comparing GG vs. CC (OR 4.30, 95% CI 3.25–5.69; P < 0.00001) or GC vs. CC genotypes (GC vs. CC: OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.67–2.17) or under a recessive or dominant model. Similar results were found when comparing separately patients with ALC vs. alcoholics without ALD or healthy subjects. An association of the G allele with ALD emerged when comparing ALD patients vs. alcoholics without ALD and/or healthy subjects although moderate to large heterogeneity was observed. Our data suggested an additive genetic model for this variant in ALD.
Conclusion
Our meta‐analysis shows that the rs738409 variant of PNPLA3 is clearly associated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.
ABSTRACT
Previous studies have suggested that the effect of naltrexone in patients with alcohol dependence may be moderated by genetic factors. In particular, the possession of the G allele of the ...A118G polymorphism of the µ‐opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) has been associated with a better response to naltrexone, although controversial results have been reported. The aim of this paper is to combine previous findings by means of a systematic review and a meta‐analysis. We retrieved studies on the relationship between A118G polymorphism in OPRM1 gene and response to treatment with naltrexone in patients with alcohol dependence by means of electronic database search. A meta‐analysis was conducted using a random‐effects model. Calculations of odds ratio (OR) and their confidence intervals (CI) and tests for heterogeneity of the results have been performed. Six previous studies have analyzed the role of A118G polymorphism in response to naltrexone for alcohol dependence. After meta‐analysis, we found that naltrexone‐treated patients carrying the G allele had lower relapse rates than those who were homozygous for the A allele (OR: 2.02, 95% CI 1.26–3.22; P = 0.003). There were no differences in abstinence rates. Our results support the fact that the G allele of A118G polymorphism of OPRM1 moderates the effect of naltrexone in patients with alcohol dependence. This genetic marker may therefore identify a subgroup of individuals more likely to respond to this treatment.
Introduction: The general objective of this research is to improve the quality of colorectal cancer screening (CRC) by assessing, as an indicator of effectiveness, the ability of colonoscopy to ...detect more advanced adenomas in the exposed group than in the control group. Material and Methods: The present work is designed as an open-label randomized study on cancer screening, using two groups based on their exposure to the protocol: an exposed to intervention group (EIG, 167), and a control group (CG, 167), without the intervention of the protocol and by 1:1 matching. Results: In 167 patients in the GEI, 449 polyps are visualized and 274 are adenomas (80.58%), of which 100 (36.49%) are advanced adenomas. In the CG (n = 174), there are 321 polyps and 152 adenomas (82.60%). The variables significantly associated by logistic regression to the detection of adenomas are the male sex with an OR of 2.52. The variable time to withdrawal, ≥9 min, is significant at 99% confidence (p = 0.002/OR 34.67) and the fractional dose is significant at 99% (p = 0.009, OR 7.81). Conclusion: Based on the observations made, our study suggests that the intervention in collaboration between primary care and hospital care is effective from a preventive point of view and achieves the objective of effectiveness and quality of the PCCR.
Introduction and hypothesis
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are considered the most common bacterial infections, especially in women. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of the ...sublingual bacterial vaccine Uromune® in order to prevent recurrent UTIs (RUTIs).
Methods
This study was conceived as a multicenter observational study. The clinical history of 319 women who presented at least 2 episodes of UTI in the last 6 months or 3 in 12 months was reviewed. Data related to treatment and clinical evolution were recorded and analyzed. A total of 159 patients received prophylactic treatment with Uromune® for a period of 3 months (group A) and 160 with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim 200/40 mg/day for a period of 6 months (group B). Uromune® contained an inactivated bacterial cell suspension of selected strains of
Escherichia coli
,
Klebsiella pneumoniae
,
Proteus vulgaris
, and
Enterococcus faecalis
.
Results
Patients in group A experienced a highly significant reduction in the number of infections compared to patients in group B. In the first 3 months, the mean number of infections was 0.36 versus 1.60 (
P
< 0.0001), respectively. A significant reduction was also observed after 9 and 15 months (
P
< 0.0001). The numbers of patients who did not have any UTI at 3, 9, and 15 months were 101, 90, and 55 in group A versus 9, 4, and 0 in group B (
P
< 0.0001).
Conclusions
The results obtained in this study favor the use of this bacterial-based therapeutic vaccine as an effective strategy to reduce frequency, duration, severity, and costs of RUTIs.
Summary
We studied the changes in the number of new referrals with Paget’s disease of bone (PDB) and severity of PDB in a high prevalence focus and its neighboring region. Referral of patients ...changed only in the high prevalence focus. The severity of PDB decreased in both regions. These results could suggest the effects of an environmental influence on disease activity.
Introduction
The prevalence and severity of PDB have decreased in several countries over recent years. We previously reported a high radiological prevalence of PDB in Vitigudino. Here we sought to determine if secular changes in the number of new referrals and severity of PDB had occurred over recent years.
Methods
We studied 280 patients with clinically diagnosed PDB who were evaluated at a regional referral center for metabolic bone disease between 1986 and 2009. Changes in the number of new referrals were calculated by relating these data to the number of subjects at risk as determined by population registers. Trends in disease severity were analyzed with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and disease extent on scan.
Results
Referrals from the Vitigudino region increased substantially between 1986 and 2003 but fell markedly between 2004 and 2009, although by this time there had been depopulation of the region due to emigration. No significant changes in the rates of referral occurred in the remainder of Salamanca. ALP activity and disease extent decreased in Salamanca, but only ALP activity decreased in Vitigudino. Referrals rate and severity of PDB in Vitigudino were greater than in the remainder of Salamanca.
Conclusions
Referral of patients with clinically diagnosed PDB has remained stable for most of Salamanca during the past 24 years, but substantial changes have been observed in Vitigudino. In agreement with other reports, the severity of PDB has decreased in both regions consistent with the effects of an environmental influence on disease activity.
To compare the clinical impact of a prophylactic treatment with sublingual immunostimulation in the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) with the use of antibiotics.
Retrospective ...cohort study evaluating the medical records of 669 women with rUTIs; 339 had a 6-month prophylaxis with antibiotics and 360 a 3-month prophylaxis with a sublingual bacterial preparation (MV 140-Uromune®). The time frame after the prophylaxis-period until the appearance of a new infection (assessed by uroculture) was scored and followed during 1 year. The absolute risk reduction (ARR) and number needed to treat (NNT) were also calculated.
All patients treated with antibiotics experienced a new UTI during the scoring period of 12 months, being 19 days the median number of days free of UTIs (range 5-300). In the group treated with the bacterial preparation, 35 (9.7%) patients experienced an UTI in the same period. Kaplan-Meier curves comparing the accumulated survival (disease-free time) between both groups were significant different (P < 0.0001). The absolute risk reduction (ARR) was 90.28% (87.18-93.38) and the number needed to treat (NNT) 1.1 (1.1-1.1).
These results suggest that the treatment with this bacterial preparation significantly reduces the incidence of rUTIs, arising as an effective strategy to reduce the frequency of rUTIs. It reduces antibiotic consumption, matching the current recommendations due to the raise of antimicrobial resistance. Randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled, clinical trials are needed to establish, more accurately, the clinical impact of this bacterial preparation in patients with rUTIs.
To perform a systematic review to analyze the association between occupational exposure to wood dust and cancer.
A systematic literature search of entries made in the MEDLINE-PubMed database between ...1957 and 2013 was conducted to identify studies that had assessed the relationship between occupational exposure to wood dust and different types of cancer. A meta-analysis of selected case-control and cohort studies was subsequently performed.
A total of 114 studies were identified and 70 were selected for review. Of these, 42 studies focused on the relationship between wood dust and nasal cancer (n = 22), lung cancer (n = 11), and other types of cancer (n = 9). Low-to-moderate quality evidence that wood dust acts as a carcinogen was obtained, and a stronger association between wood dust and nasal adenocarcinoma was observed. A lesser association between wood dust exposure and lung cancer was also observed. Several studies suggested that there is a relationship between wood dust and the onset of other cancers, although there was no evidence to establish an association. A meta-analysis that included four case-controls studies showed that workers exposed to wood dust exhibited higher rates of nasal adenocarcinoma than other workers (odds ratio = 10.28; 95% confidence interval: 5.92 and 17.85; P<0,0001), although a large degree of heterogeneity was found.
Low-to-moderate quality evidence supports a causal association between cancer and occupational exposure to wood dust, and this association was stronger for nasal adenocarcinoma than for lung cancer. There was no evidence of an association between wood dust exposure and the other cancers examined.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
INTRODUCTIONThe influence of tobacco on the microbiological spectrum, resistance-sensitivity pattern and evolution in patients with recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTI) is analyzed. Evaluation ...of the effect of polyvalent bacterial vaccine on the prevention of RUTI and smoking status. MATERIAL AND METHODSRetrospective multicenter study of 855 women with RUTI receiving suppressive antibiotic treatment or bacterial vaccine between 2009 and 2013. Group A (GA): Antibiotic (n=495); Subgroups: GA1 non-smoker (n=417), GA2 smoker (n=78). Group B (GB): Vaccine (n=360); Subgroups: GB1 non-smoker (n=263), GB2 smoker (n=97). VARIABLESAge, pre-treatment UTI, disease-free time (DFT), microbial species, sensitivity and resistance. Follow-up at 3, 6 and 12 months with culture and SF-36 questionnaire. RESULTSMean age 56.51 years (18-75), similar between groups (P=.2257). No difference in the number of pretreatment UTIs (P=.1329) or in the distribution of the bacterial spectrum (P=.7471). DFT was higher in subgroups B compared with A. Urine cultures in GA1: E. coli 62.71% with 8.10% resistance (33% quinolones; 33% cotrimoxazole; 33% quinolones + cotrimoxazole); in GA2 E. coli 61.53% with 75% resistance (16.66% quinolones; 33.33% quinolones + cotrimoxazole; 16.66% amoxicillin-clavulanate; 16.66% erythromycin + phosphomycin + clindamycin) (P=.0133). There were no differences between patients of GA treated with cotrimoxazole and nitrofurantoin (P=.8724). Urine cultures in GB1: E. coli 47.36% with 22.22% resistance (5.55% ciprofloxacin; 5.55% cotrimoxazole; 5.55% ciprofloxacin + cotrimoxazole; 5.55% amoxicillin/clavulanic acid). In GB2 E. coli 70.02% with 61.90% resistances (30.76% quinolones; 30.76% cotrimoxazole; 30.76% quinolones + cotrimoxazole; 17.69% amoxicillin-clavulanic acid) (P=.0144). CONCLUSIONSThe development of bacterial resistance is more frequent among women with smoking habits and recurrent urinary infections. This could influence a worse response to preventive treatments, either with antibiotics or vaccines.
Immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) is a systemic small vessel vasculitis for which treatment of severe cases is usually based on glucocorticoids and other conventional immunosuppressive drugs. The ...role of rituximab for resistant or refractory cases has been explored in isolated case reports and small series.
To perform a literature review of all pediatric and adult patients with IgAV treated with rituximab (RTX) and to assess disease characteristics, RTX efficacy and safety.
Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review according to PRISMA guidelines by selecting articles with information on IgAV and RTX up to October 2019. We extracted data on patient characteristics, disease course, RTX efficacy and tolerance. The resulting database was analyzed with statistical software package SPSS v 22.0.
Among the initial 161 articles found, 20 studies including 35 well-characterized IgAV patients treated with RTX were finally analyzed. Distribution by sex was similar, and the median age at diagnosis was 26 (range: 2 months to 70 years). Patients included were equally diagnosed at pediatric age and in the adulthood. Almost 90% of patients had renal involvement before RTX treatment and resistant or refractory disease to glucocorticoids or other immunosuppressive agents, mainly with renal impairment, was the reason for RTX administration in 85.7% of patients. RTX was used because of contraindication to these previous agents in 8.6% of patients, and as first line therapy in 5.7% of them. With regard to RTX response, 94.3% of patients presented clinical improvement of any type and 74.3% achieved sustained remission at the end of follow-up. Among the 13 (37.1%) patients who experienced a disease relapse, 11 (31.4%) were treated with a new RTX dose, with good disease control in all cases. In terms of treatment requirements, glucocorticoids and additional immunosuppressants were significantly lower after RTX administration. No deaths were observed and the rate of minor RTX-associated adverse effects was of 8.6%.
RTX seems to be a safe and useful agent in inducing disease remission and reducing previous immunosuppressive treatment in IgAV pediatric and adult patients resistant or refractory to glucocorticoids or other immunosuppressive drugs, and in those patients in whom these agents are contraindicated. Nevertheless, controlled clinical trials in are still warranted to clarify the role of RTX in IgAV.
•Rituximab seems to be useful option for inducing disease remission in IgA vasculitis patients resistant or refractory to conventional treatment.•Rituximab may be a reasonable alternative for IgA vasculitis patients in whom glucocorticoids or other immunosuppressive drugs are contraindicated.•Rituximab administration in patients with IgA vasculitis has been associated with a good safety profile.•To better define the role of rituximab in IgA vasculitis, controlled clinical trials in pediatric and adult patients are still needed.
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