Limited information is available regarding the characteristics of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in children. We compared the epidemiological background along with the virological and ...histological features as well as the intrahepatic immunologic phenotype of both children and adults with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Serum samples of 24 pediatric and 32 adult patients were drawn for alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, HCV‐typing, and viral load. The histological diagnosis and a semiquantitative immunohistochemical assessment were performed in all patients. The majority of children (62%) had been transfused and the mean duration of viral infection in these cases was 11 ± 4 years, being similar in adults (11 ± 9 years, not significant). Although genotype distribution was similar, viral load was lower in children than in adults. The mildest histological forms of chronic hepatitis along with a weak intrahepatic immunological phenotype were significantly more frequent among children than adult patients. In conclusion, in children with CHC, perinatal blood transfusion was the most frequent source of viral infection and the liver disease was characterized by both low ALT level and viral load, as well as the mildest histological and immunohistochemical forms of chronic hepatitis.
Prostate cancer plays an undeniably prominent role in public health in our days and health systems. Its epidemiological impact is quantitatively very close to that of other tumors such as colon ...cancer and breast cancer, in which genetic counseling is part of their routine clinical practice, both in the initial evaluation and in the selection of therapeutic strategies. Hereditary cancer syndromes, breast/ovarian and Lynch syndrome are part of genetic counseling in these tumors. Currently, we also know that they can be associated to prostate cancer.
The time has come to implement genetic counseling in prostate cancer from the earliest stages of its approach, from initial suspicion to the most advanced tumors. We present an updated review carried out by our interdisciplinary working group on scientific literature, clinical practice guidelines and consensus documents, aimed at the creation and drafting of a ‘Protocol for genetic counseling in prostate cancer’ for the study of germline, with easy application in different healthcare settings. This protocol is currently being implemented in our routine practice and provides answers to 3 specific questions: Who should receive genetic counseling for prostate cancer? Which gene panel should be analyzed? How should counseling be done according to the results obtained? Other aspects about who should perform genetic counseling, ethical considerations and regulations are also collected.
El cáncer de próstata tiene un protagonismo socio-sanitario innegable en nuestros días y sistemas de salud. Su impacto epidemiológico cuantitativamente está muy próximo a otros tumores como el cáncer de colon y el cáncer de mama, en los que el asesoramiento genético forma parte de su práctica clínica habitual, tanto en la evaluación inicial como en la selección de estrategias terapéuticas. Los síndromes de cáncer hereditario, mama/ovario y síndrome de Lynch, forman parte del asesoramiento genético en estos tumores y hoy día también sabemos que pueden tener relación con el cáncer de próstata.
Ha llegado el momento de implementar el asesoramiento genético en cáncer de próstata desde las etapas más iniciales de su abordaje, desde la sospecha inicial hasta los tumores más avanzados.Presentamos una revisión actualizada de nuestro grupo de trabajo interdisciplinar sobre la literatura científica, guías de práctica clínica y documentos de consenso hasta la creación y redacción de un «Protocolo de asesoramiento genético en cáncer de próstata», centrado en el estudio de línea germinal, de fácil aplicabilidad en los diferentes entornos asistenciales. Dicho protocolo se encuentra actualmente implementado en nuestra práctica habitual y da respuesta a tres preguntas concretas: ¿A quién realizar asesoramiento genético en cáncer de próstata?, ¿qué panel de genes analizar?, y ¿cómo aconsejar de acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos? Otros aspectos acerca de quién debe realizar el asesoramiento genético, consideraciones éticas y normativa también son recogidos.
To perform a systematic review of clinical studies to directly compare clinical outcomes of patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with versus without suture tape (ST) ...augmentation.
A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase to identify comparative studies directly comparing outcomes of ACLR with versus without ST augmentation with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. The search terms used were anterior cruciate ligament suture tape. Patients were evaluated based on graft failure rates, return to sport (RTS), anteroposterior (AP) laxity, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).
Five studies (all Level III) met inclusion criteria, including a total of 246 patients undergoing ACLR with ST augmentation (SA group) and 282 patients undergoing ACLR without augmentation (control group). Patient age ranged from 14.9 to 29.7 years. The mean follow-up time ranged from 24.0 to 48.6 months. The mean body mass index ranged from 25.3 to 26.3 kg/m2 and the overall percentage of males ranged from 43.4% to 69.0%. Overall, the graft failure rate ranged from 1.0% to 25.0% in the SA group and 8.0% to 20.0% in the control group. Among the studies that reported RTS rates, the rate ranged from 69.2% to 88.9% in the SA group and 51.5% to 87.5% in the control group. Among all PROs, 2 studies found a significant difference in the Tegner score favoring the SA group. Otherwise, no significant differences were found between groups in terms of PROs. No significant differences in AP laxity were found between groups within any particular study. There was heterogeneity between studies regarding surgical techniques, postoperative rehabilitation protocols, and reported PROs.
There is insufficient evidence to suggest that patients undergoing ACLR with ST augmentation may experience favorable clinical outcomes compared with ACLR alone.
Level III, systematic review of Level III studies.
Lymphomagenesis is a multifactorial process in which genetic, environmental and infectious factors can be involved. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus ...(HCV) infection among patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and to compare it with that of a control group of voluntary blood donors.
All consecutive patients with a histological diagnosis of NHL from January 1996 to December 2001 were included in this prospective study. As control group for HCV infection, voluntary blood donors recruited over the same time period from the same geographical area were considered. The presence of anti-HCV antibodies was investigated by ELISA-II and RIBA-II, and viraemia (HCV RNA) was tested by using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HCV genotyping was also performed.
Ninety-nine patients (mean age 48 years) with NHL were diagnosed during the study period. Histological classification of NHL was high-intermediate grade (63 patients), and low grade (36 patients). Immunophenotype distribution was type B (86 patients) and type T (13 patients). Seven of the 99 NHL patients (7%) were infected with HCV (both using serology and PCR), five of them with immunophenotype B and two with immunophenotype T. The prevalence of HCV infection according to NHL phenotype was 5.8% in B-cell NHL and 15.4% in T-cell NHL. The HCV genotype was 1b in six cases, and 3a in one. In voluntary blood donors (mean age 45 years), HCV infection was detected in 517/55 587 (0.93%). Therefore, HCV infection was more frequent in NHL patients than in controls (odds ratio = 8.1; 95% CI = 3.7-17.6). The odds ratio for the association of HCV and B-cell NHL was 6.2 (95% CI = 2.5-15.3), and for T-cell NHL 16.4 (95% CI = 3.7-72.8).
The prevalence of HCV infection in patients with NHL (both B- and T-type) is higher than that observed in controls, suggesting a role of HCV in lymphoma aetiopathogenesis.
A major challenge in updating clinical guidelines is to efficiently identify new, relevant evidence. We evaluated the efficiency and feasibility of two new approaches: the development of restrictive ...search strategies using PubMed Clinical Queries for MEDLINE and the use of the PLUS (McMaster Premium Literature Service) database.
We evaluated a random sample of recommendations from a national guideline development program and identified the references that would potentially trigger an update (key references) using an exhaustive approach. We designed restrictive search strategies using the minimum number of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and text words required from the original exhaustive search strategies and applying broad and narrow filters. We developed PLUS search strategies, matching Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) terms with guideline topics. We compared the number of key references retrieved by these approaches with those retrieved by the exhaustive approach.
The restrictive approach retrieved 68.1 % fewer references than the exhaustive approach (12,486 versus 39,136), and identified 89.9 % (62/69) of key references and 88 % (22/25) of recommendation updates. The use of PLUS retrieved 88.5 % fewer references than the exhaustive approach (4,486 versus 39,136) and identified substantially fewer key references (18/69, 26.1 %) and fewer recommendation updates (10/25, 40 %).
The proposed restrictive approach is a highly efficient and feasible method to identify new evidence that triggers a recommendation update. Searching only in the PLUS database proved to be a suboptimal approach and suggests the need for topic-specific tailoring.
Phase angle in patients with colorectal cancer Miranda, C. M. Peteiro; Toro, J. J. Ortez; Martín, B. Sanz ...
Clinical nutrition ESPEN,
December 2020, 2020-12-00, Volume:
40
Journal Article
Background/Aims:
Interferon can induce autoantibodies and autoimmune reactions. This study reviewed the clinical, serological, and HLA phenotypical features of patients who developed autoimmune ...hepatitis during interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C, analyzing their response to immunosuppressive treatment.
Methods:
The diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C was based on positivity for viral RNA and a liver biopsy specimen obtained before interferon treatment. Sera were tested for autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence assay. HLA typing was performed by applying a standard microlymphocytotoxicity method.
Results:
Of 144 patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon, 7 women deteriorated during treatment; serum transaminase, γ-globulin, and immunoglobulin G levels increased; and serum autoantibodies became positive. Interferon was interrupted, a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis was established, and immunosuppressive therapy was initiated. All patients responded to this treatment. The 7 patients had similar HLA typing to those with autoimmune hepatitis, with DR4 in 2 patients (67%) with type 2 autoimmune hepatitis, and with DR3 and DR52 in 2 (50%) and 4 (100%) patients, respectively, with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis; additionally, 5 patients (71%) had DQ2, and 4 (57%) had both DR52 and DQ2.
Conclusions:
In female patients with chronic hepatitis C, a genetic susceptibility to autoimmune hepatitis may exist, possibly triggered by immunostimulating effects during interferon therapy. Immunosuppressive treatment has been well tolerated and seems to be effective.
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