scholarly journals Efficacy of CTPV for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Assessment: Comparison with Endoscopy in Cirrhotic Patients with Gastroesophageal Varices

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Zijin Cui ◽  
Haiqing Yang ◽  
Xiaoxu Jin ◽  
Huiqing Jiang ◽  
Wei Qi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Efficacy ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Gastric Varices ◽  
Variceal Hemorrhage ◽  
Gastroesophageal Varices ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Less Invasive ◽  
Kappa Test ◽  
Cirrhotic Patients

Background and Aims. Computed tomography portal venography (CTPV) shows potential in detecting varices that need treatment and their drainage pathways. However, its agreement with endoscopy requires further study. We investigated the feasibility of CTPV as an alternative tool to endoscopy in screening gastroesophageal varices (GEVs) and developed a CTPV-based model to provide a less invasive assessment of endotherapy for cirrhotic patients with GEVs. Methods. The study included 33 cirrhotic patients with a recent history of variceal hemorrhage. The presence, grade, and classification of GEVs on endoscopy and CTPV were compared (kappa test). Twenty-four patients were treated endoscopically, including 12 for esophageal varices (EVs), 8 for gastric varices (GVs), and 4 for GEVs. Treatment efficacies were assessed with the newly developed CTPV-based method at 1 week and 1 month after treatment. Efficiency evaluated by CTPV and endoscopy was compared by Fisher’s exact test to determine whether CTPV is efficient in the assessment of endotherapy efficacy. Results. For the screening and grading/classification of EVs and GVs, substantial agreement (EV kappa: 0.63 and 0.68; GV kappa: 0.62 and 0.75, respectively) was noted between endoscopy and CTPV. The therapeutic efficacy of EVs was higher when assessed by CTPV than when evaluated by endoscopy (37.50% vs. 12.50% at 1 week postoperation, P=0.22; 62.50% vs. 25.00% at 1 month postoperation, P=0.07), but without statistical significance. The same trend was also found in the assessment of therapeutic efficacy for GVs (25.00% vs. 16.67% at 1 week postoperation, P=1; 58.33% vs. 41.67% at 1 month postoperation, P=0.68). Conclusion. CTPV is comparable to endoscopy in the detection of GEVs and in the evaluation of endotherapy efficacy, which suggests that it could be a less invasive alternative for endoscopy in cirrhotic patients with GEVs needing treatment.

scholarly journals Can the Computed Tomographic Aspect of Porto-Systemic Circulation in Cirrhotic Patients Be Associated with the Presence of Variceal Hemorrhage?

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 301
Author(s):  
Cosmin Caraiani ◽  
Bianca Petresc ◽  
Anamaria Pop ◽  
Magda Rotaru ◽  
Lidia Ciobanu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Variceal Bleeding ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Gastric Varices ◽  
Systemic Circulation ◽  
Variceal Hemorrhage ◽  
Left Gastric Vein ◽  
Ct Examination ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ct ◽  
Cirrhotic Patients

Background and objectives: Variceal bleeding is a serious complication caused by portal hypertension, frequently encountered among cirrhotic patients. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the aspect of the collateral, porto-systemic circulation, as detected by CT are associated with the presence variceal hemorrhage (VH). Materials and Methods: 81 cirrhotic patients who underwent a contrast-enhanced CT examination were retrospectively included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: Cirrhotic patients with variceal hemorrhage during the hospital admission concomitant, with the CT examination (n = 33) and group 2-cirrhotic patients, without any variceal hemorrhage in their medical history (n = 48). The diameter of the left gastric vein, the presence or absence and dimensions of oesophageal and gastric varices, paraumbilical veins and splenorenal shunts were the indicators assessed on CT. Results: The univariate analysis showed a significant association between the presence of upper GI bleeding and the diameters of paraoesophageal veins, paragastric veins and left gastric vein respectively, all of these CT parameters being higher in patients with variceal bleeding. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, only the diameter of the left gastric vein was independently associated with the presence of variceal hemorrhage (OR = 1.6 (95% CI: 1.17–2.19), p = 0.003). We found an optimal cut-off value of 3 mm for the diameter of the left gastric vein useful to discriminate among patients with variceal hemorrhage from the ones without it, with a good diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.78, Se = 97%, Sp = 45.8%, PPV = 55.2%, NPV = 95.7%). Conclusions: Our observations point out that an objective CT quantification of porto-systemic circulation can be correlated with the presence of variceal hemorrhage and the diameter of the left gastric vein can be a reliable parameter associated with this condition.

scholarly journals The Frequency and Significance of Portopulmonary Venous Anastomosis (PPVA) and Transvenous Obliteration for Gastric Varices

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-03
Author(s):  
Laxmisamhitha Bontha
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Gastric Varices ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Venous Anastomosis ◽  
Gastroesophageal Varices ◽  
Vascular Connection ◽  
Advanced Cirrhosis ◽  
Cirrhotic Patients ◽  
Clinically Significant

A Portopulmonary Venous Anastomosis (PPVA) is a direct vascular connection between the portal venous system and the pulmonary veins, close to the left atrium. We describe a patient with advanced cirrhosis and moderately severe Hepatopulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in whom (PPVA) was demonstrated by a high resolution computed tomographic scan. In order to reduce the symptoms of hypoxia in our patient, we sequentially performed Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) followed by a catheter based obliteration of the PPVA. The case raised three questions which were addressed through an extensive literature review. Among patients with advanced cirrhosis, what is the frequency of PPVA? Our literature review suggests that the frequency of finding a PPVA in patients with portal hypertension depends on the imaging technique used. Transhepatic or transvenous portal venography may demonstrate PPVA in about 20% of patients with cirrhosis and varices. Limited published experience with contrast enhanced (bubble) echocardiography suggests that PPVA may be present in about 30% of such patients. An increasing number of case reports of PPVA have been published in recent years. This observation indicates that routine use of High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) and magnetic resonance imaging is able to identify PPVA in cirrhotic patients. The visualization of PPVA with HRCT depends on the timing of the contrast injection and the expertise of the viewer. The present report describes three patients with portopulmonary venous anastomosis (PPVA) in whom balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) of gastric varices was attempted. No patients had a gastrorenal shunt. In one patient, after an approach from the inferior phrenic vein (IPV), the PPVA was embolized with the use of microcoils. Portopulmonary Venous Anastomosis Detected at Balloon-occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration for Gastric Varices among cirrhotic patients with PPVA, what is the clinical significance of the PPVA? There are multiple causes of clinically significant hypoxia in patients with cirrhosis. A PPVA is a right to left shunt that, theoretically, could be associated with clinically significant systemic arterial hypoxemia or emboli. There is not definitive evidence in the published literature that PPVA alone causes clinically significant hypoxia in cirrhotic patients. PPVA is, however, a documented important risk factor for systemic emboli when needle or catheter techniques are used to treat or prevent bleeding from gastroesophageal varices.

scholarly journals Terlipressina: profilo farmacologico clinico, terapeutico e farmacoeconomico nel trattamento delle varici esofagee

2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-68
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Pradelli
Keyword(s):  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Gastric Varices ◽  
Endoscopic Sclerotherapy ◽  
Variceal Hemorrhage ◽  
Pharmacological Agents ◽  
Endoscopic Techniques ◽  
Drug Of Choice ◽  
Cirrhotic Patients

The formation and rupture of esophageal and gastric varices are severe but common complications of hepatic cirrhosis. They represent the cause underlying more than one forth of all deaths in cirrhotic patients and exact an impressive burden in terms of survival, quality of life and health care resource consumption. Therapeutic options for the control of active variceal hemorrhage comprise pharmacological agents, endoscopic techniques and surgery. Of these, the only options immediately available in the absence of highly specialized medical personnel are vasoactive drugs, namely vasopressin and derivatives and somatostatin and derivatives. Despite this clear advantage, the role of pharmacological treatment is still debated; furthermore, there’s no consensus on the drug of choice for variceal bleeding control. In this paper the main pharmacological and clinical features of terlipressin, a synthetic vasopressin analog, are outlined, as well as a frame for its pharmacoeconomical evaluation. Terlipressin is the only vasoactive drug that demonstrated survival benefits in cirrhotic patients with active variceal hemorrhage, even in those treated with endoscopic sclerotherapy, and is characterized by a favorable risk/benefit ratio. The relative cost-effectiveness of the different drugs, nevertheless, is yet to be determined by methodologically rigorous studies, partly because at the present state of the research there still are clinical and economical uncertainties to be cleared.

scholarly journals Associations of viscosity, stercobilin and bilirubin levels in meconium stained amniotic fluid to meconium aspiration syndrome

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
M. Sholeh Kosim ◽  
Lisyani B. Suromo ◽  
Chrisna Hendarwati
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Meconium Aspiration ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Kappa Test ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Observational Cohort ◽  
Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid

Background Meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) increases morbidity and mortality in neonates. Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) occurs in 2-9% of neonates with MSAF. Viscosity of MSAF is associated with the amount of the meconium release.Objective To determine the associations between viscosity and the presence of stercobilin and bilirubin in MSAF with MAS in neonates.Methods This observational cohort study was perfonned with term babies who were born v.ith MSAF in Kariadi Hospital from August 2009 to May 2010. Amniotic fluid specimens were taken at birth and neonates were observed for respiratory symptoms until the 5th day of life. Analysis was done by chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and relative risk.Results The majority of the 48 subjects were male, Mth mean gestational age of 39.9 (SD 1.73) weeks. Classification of MSAF as thick or thin was done by macroscopic examination Mth Kappa test 0.741. The MSAF tested ositively for stercobilin and bilirubin in 12/48 and 17/48 subjects, respectively. Thick MSAF correlated significantly to MAS (P=0.03) Mth a relative risk of 10.1 (95% CI 1.2 to 87 .6), while stercobilin and bilirubin presence did not.Conclusion Thick MSAF was associated Mth lvtAS and was a risk factor for MAS. Stercobilin and bilirubin presence in MSAF were not associated with MAS.

Plant communities on rock outcrops in the northwest part of the Black Sea Caucasian coast

2009 ◽  
pp. 3-14
Author(s):  
V. B. Golub ◽  
N. A. Grechushkina ◽  
A. N. Sorokin ◽  
L. F. Nikolaychuk
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Rock Outcrops ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
Phi Coefficient

The classification of petrophytic vegetation of coastal steeps was proposed for the Northwest Cauca­sian coast of the Black Sea using the Braun-Blanquet approach. The main factors that influence the deve­lopment of vegetation in question are abrasion and denudation sea coast processes. The coastal steeps in study area are formed by carbonate flysch. The plant communities occur on rocky slopes with poorly deve­loped soil cover, fine stone chips as well as rock crevices. Nine associations and four communities without syntaxonomic rank were documented in the table and described with respect to their phyto­socio­logical affinities, ecology, and geographical location. Diagnostic species of syntaxa were established using phi-coefficient calculations of fidelity and Fisher’s exact test. In addition, the results of relevé ordination were given using the algorithm of non-metric multi­dimensional scaling (NMS) that is embedded in PC-ORD 5.0 software package.

Use of SAMe-TT₂R₂ Score to Predict the Quality of Anticoagulation Control in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Receiving Warfarin in Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 103 (6) ◽  
pp. 548-552
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Therapeutic Range ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Discrimination Performance ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Time In Therapeutic Range ◽  
Anticoagulation Control

Objective: To predict the quality of anticoagulation control in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving warfarin in Thailand. Materials and Methods: The present study retrospectively recruited Thai AF patients receiving warfarin for three months or longer between June 2012 and December 2017 in Central Chest Institute of Thailand. The patients were classified into those with SAMe-TT₂R₂ of 2 or less, and 3 or more. The Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the proportion of the patients with poor time in therapeutic range (TTR) between the two groups of SAMe-TT₂R₂ score. The discrimination performance of SAMe-TT₂R₂ score was demonstrated with c-statistics. Results: Ninety AF patients were enrolled. An average age was 69.89±10.04 years. Most patients were persistent AF. An average CHA₂DS₂-VASc, SAMe-TT₂R₂, and HAS-BLED score were 3.68±1.51, 3.26±0.88, and 1.98±0.85, respectively. The present study showed the increased proportion of AF patients with poor TTR with higher SAMe-TT₂R₂ score. The AF patients with SAMe-TT₂R₂ score of 3 or more had a larger proportion of patients with poor TTR than those with SAMe-TT₂R₂ score of 2 or less with statistical significance when TTR was below 70% (p=0.03) and 65% (p=0.04), respectively. The discrimination performance of SAMe-TT₂R₂ score was demonstrated with c-statistics of 0.60, 0.59, and 0.55 when TTR was below 70%, 65% and 60%, respectively. Conclusion: Thai AF patients receiving warfarin had a larger proportion of patients with poor TTR when the SAMe-TT₂R₂ score was higher. The score of 3 or more could predict poor quality of anticoagulation control in those patients. Keywords: Time in therapeutic range, Poor quality of anticoagulation control, Warfarin, SAMe-TT₂R₂, Labile INR

scholarly journals Antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates and gonorrhoea treatment in the Republic of Belarus, Eastern Europe, 2009–2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliaksandra Aniskevich ◽  
Iryna Shimanskaya ◽  
Iryna Boiko ◽  
Tatyana Golubovskaya ◽  
Daniel Golparian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Neisseria Gonorrhoeae ◽  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Antimicrobial Treatment ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
First Line ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
The Republic

Abstract Background Limited antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data for Neisseria gonorrhoeae are available in Eastern Europe. We investigated AMR in N. gonorrhoeae isolates in the Republic of Belarus from 2009 to 2019, antimicrobial treatment recommended nationally, and treatment given to patients with gonorrhoea. Methods N. gonorrhoeae isolates (n = 522) cultured in three regions of Belarus in 2009–2019 were examined. Determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of eight antimicrobials was performed using Etest. Resistance breakpoints from the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing were applied where available. A Nitrocefin test identified β-lactamase production. Gonorrhoea treatment for 1652 patients was also analysed. Statistical significance was determined by the Z-test, Fisher’s exact test, or Mann-Whitney U test with p-values of < 0.05 indicating significance. Results In total, 27.8% of the N. gonorrhoeae isolates were resistant to tetracycline, 24.7% to ciprofloxacin, 7.0% to benzylpenicillin, 2.7% to cefixime, and 0.8% to azithromycin. No isolates were resistant to ceftriaxone, spectinomycin, or gentamicin. However, 14 (2.7%) isolates had a ceftriaxone MIC of 0.125 mg/L, exactly at the resistance breakpoint (MIC > 0.125 mg/L). Only one (0.2%) isolate, from 2013, produced β-lactamase. From 2009 to 2019, the levels of resistance to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline were relatively high and stable. Resistance to cefixime was not identified before 2013 but peaked at 22.2% in 2017. Only sporadic isolates with resistance to azithromycin were found in 2009 (n = 1), 2012 (n = 1), and 2018–2019 (n = 2). Overall, 862 (52.2%) patients received first-line treatment according to national guidelines (ceftriaxone 1 g). However, 154 (9.3%) patients received a nationally recommended alternative treatment (cefixime 400 mg or ofloxacin 400 mg), and 636 (38.5%) were given non-recommended treatment. Conclusions The gonococcal resistance to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline was high, however, the resistance to azithromycin was low and no resistance to ceftriaxone was identified. Ceftriaxone 1 g can continuously be recommended as empiric first-line gonorrhoea therapy in Belarus. Fluoroquinolones should not be prescribed for treatment if susceptibility has not been confirmed by testing. Timely updating and high compliance with national evidence-based gonorrhoea treatment guidelines based on quality-assured AMR data are imperative. The need for continued, improved and enhanced surveillance of gonococcal AMR in Belarus is evident.

scholarly journals Efficacy and safety of combined endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous occlusion (BRTOcc) of gastrorenal shunts in patients with bleeding gastric fundal varices

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fateh Bazerbachi ◽  
Akira Dobashi ◽  
Swarup Kumar ◽  
Sanjay Misra ◽  
Navtej S Buttar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Gastric Varices ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Cyanoacrylate Glue ◽  
Serious Adverse Events ◽  
Gastroesophageal Varices ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Glue Embolization

Abstract Background Endoscopic cyanoacrylate (glue) injection of fundal varices may result in life-threatening embolic adverse events through spontaneous gastrorenal shunts (GRSs). Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous occlusion (BRTOcc) of GRSs during cyanoacrylate injection may prevent serious systemic glue embolization through the shunt. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combined endoscopic–interventional radiologic (BRTOcc) approach for the treatment of bleeding fundal varices. Methods We retrospectively analysed the data of patients who underwent the combined procedure for acutely bleeding fundal varices between January 2010 and April 2018. Data were extracted for patient demographics, clinical and endoscopic findings, technical details, and adverse events of the endoscopic–BRTOcc approach and patient outcomes. Results We identified 30 patients (13 [43.3%] women; median age 58 [range, 25–92] years) with gastroesophageal varices type 2 (53.3%, 16/30) and isolated gastric varices type 1 (46.7%, 14/30) per Sarin classification, and median clinical and endoscopic follow-up of 151 (range, 4–2,513) days and 98 (range, 3–2,373) days, respectively. The median volume of octyl-cyanoacrylate: Lipiodol injected was 7 (range, 4–22) mL. Procedure-related adverse events occurred in three (10.0%) patients, including transient fever, non-life-threatening pulmonary glue embolism, and an injection-site ulcer bleed. Complete gastric variceal obturation was achieved in 18 of 21 patients (85.7%) at endoscopic follow-up. Delayed variceal rebleeding was confirmed in one patient (3.3%) and suspected in two patients (6.7%). Although no procedure-related deaths occurred, the overall mortality rate was 46.7%, primarily from liver-disease progression and co-morbidities. Conclusion The combined endoscopic–BRTOcc procedure is a relatively safe and effective technique for bleeding fundal varices, with a high rate of variceal obturation and a low rate of serious adverse events.

Do longitudinal orthodontic trials use appropriate statistical analyses? A meta-epidemiological study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samer Mheissen ◽  
Haris Khan ◽  
Mohammed Almuzian ◽  
Emad Eddin Alzoubi ◽  
Nikolaos Pandis
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Epidemiological Study ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Repeated Measure ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Optimal Analysis ◽  
Study Characteristics ◽  
Measure Analysis ◽  
Repeated Measure Analysis

Summary Background In orthodontic trials, longitudinal designs with multiple outcome measurements over time are common. The aim of this epidemiological study was to examine whether optimal statistical analysis approaches have been used in longitudinal orthodontic trials. Methods Pubmed was searched in August 2021 for longitudinal orthodontic trials with at least three time points of outcome assessment published in the 2017–20 period. Study selection and data extraction were done independently and in duplicate. The analysis approaches undertaken were tabulated and associations between study characteristics and the use of optimal analysis or not were assessed using Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression. Results One hundred forty-seven out of 563 unique records were deemed eligible for inclusion. Only 26.50% of these trials used an optimal statistical analysis for longitudinal data where the data structure is accounted for. None of the study characteristics except the statistical significance of the results were associated with the appropriateness of the statistical analysis. The odds of significant results in studies with suboptimal analyses were higher than that in studies with optimal longitudinal analyses (odds ratio: 3.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.62, 7.46, P = 0.001). For the studies with optimal analysis, the most frequent test was repeated-measure analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA). The reporting of the statistical analysis section was suboptimal in the majority of the trials. Conclusion Most longitudinal orthodontic trials are not analysed using optimal statistical approaches. Inferences and interpretation of their results are likely to be compromised.

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