Digestive manifestations of SARS-COV2 infection in Togo

Objective: to identify the main digestive manifestations related to SARS-CoV-2 in Togo and to determine their impact on the prognosis of the disease. Patients and method: This was a cross-sectional study with retrospective and prospective collection, with descriptive and analytical aims, conducted from May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021 at the national center for the management of infectious diseases of Lome. Patients of both sexes and of any age, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR on nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples and hospitalized at the national center for infectious disease management of Lome were included in this study. Digestive manifestations were divided into gastrointestinal manifestations and hepatobiliary manifestations. The threshold of significance of the tests was retained for a p value less than or equal to 0.05. Results: out of 876 patients hospitalized during the study period, 215 presented with digestive manifestations, corresponding to a prevalence of 24.54%. the predominance was male, with a male/female sex ratio of 1.74. the mean age was 46.07+/-16.14 [02 months – 82 years]. gastrointestinal manifestations were found in 11.98% of cases. abdominal pain was the most frequent digestive symptom (15.35%). hepatobiliary manifestations were represented by cytolysis syndrome (44.19%) and cholestasis syndrome (36.28%). digestive manifestations were associated with renal failure (p=0.03) and thrombocytosis (p<0.01). The occurrence of death was associated with a decrease in HDL-cholesterol (p<0.001) and the presence of renal failure (p=0.027). The cure rate in our study was 83.72% with a lethality of 16.27%. Conclusion: the digestive manifestations constitute a not negligible form of revelation of the disease with coronavirus 2019. The best prevention is the vaccination and the respect of the measures of social distanciation.

SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENT DEGREES OF MEGAESOPHAGUS IN CHAGAS DISEASE

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is the most frequent digestive symptom in Chagas disease, although other symptoms are reported. These symptoms can be associated with the degree of radiological impairment of the esophagus and the duration of dysphagia. OBJECTIVE: This investigation aimed to assess the symptoms and the time of dysphagia related to the different degrees of megaesophagus in patients with Chagas disease. METHODS: A total of 29 patients aged 48 to 73 years participated in this investigation. All of them had dysphagia and a positive serum result for Chagas disease. They were submitted to the assessment of symptoms and radiological examination of the esophagus to assess the degree of megaesophagus, which ranged from I (mild change) to IV (intense change). Dysphagia was quantified with the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10). RESULTS: Twelve (41%) patients had megaesophagus degree I, 9 (31%) had degree II, and 8 (28%) had degrees III (6) and IV (2). The intensity of dysphagia was not related to the result of the radiological examination, with EAT-10 median of 5.5 for the degree I, 9.0 for degree II, and 5.5 for degrees III and IV (P>0.25). Choking (14%), regurgitation (21%), voice complaint (21%), weight loss (17%), and odynophagia (17%) were not related to the degree of megaesophagus. Voice changes and odynophagia were related to the patients’ time of dysphagia. Likewise, the frequency of symptoms and EAT-10 values were related to the duration of dysphagia. CONCLUSION: The longer the patient had dysphagia, the more frequent were the symptoms reported by the patients. There was no relationship between the degrees of megaesophagus and the symptoms and intensity of dysphagia.

CCOFEE-GI Study: Colombian COVID19 First Experience in Gastroentrology. Characterization of digestive manifestations in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at a highly complex institution in Bogota D.C., Colombia

The current pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has posed an important threat to the human health, healthcare systems, economy, and structure of societies. In Colombia, the first case was diagnosed on March 6, 2020 , with exponential progressive growth, and there were >200,000 confirmed cases as of July 20, 2020, in this cross-sectional, analytical, and observational study, we focused on the demographic, epidemiologic, and clinical characteristics of patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at a highly complex institution in Latinamerica, with special emphasis on gastrointestinal symptoms. Methods: Demographic and clinical data were collected, results related to the outcomes such as hospitalization time, admission to ICU, need for orotracheal intubation, and death were also included. Statistical analyses were conducted using Stata software V.15. Results: We included 72 patients RT-PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2 (34 women and 38 men) with age 47.5 17.7 years; 17 (23.6%) presented at least one of the gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, and/or diarrhea). 13 (76.47%) presented with diarrhea, 29.41% with nausea/vomiting, and five (29.41%) with abdominal pain. Diarrhea in 18.06% of all those infected with SARS-CoV-2 at the time of consultation, which was the most common digestive symptom. No significant differences were observed in requirement for endotracheal intubation, hospitalization, ICU admission, and fatal outcome between the NGIS and GIS groups (p:0.671, 0.483, 1,000, and 1,000). Conclusion: In our study, patients with gastrointestinal symptoms had no significant differences in disease severity, admission to ICU or death compared to those who did not have such symptoms.

Clinical response to linaclotide at week 4 predicts sustained response in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and improvements in digestive and extra-digestive symptoms

Background: Linaclotide is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation (IBS-C) in adults. This study aimed to assess factors predictive of a clinical response and improvements in non-IBS symptoms with linaclotide treatment in a Spanish patient population. Methods: In this open-label phase IIIb study, patients with moderate-to-severe IBS-C received linaclotide 290 μg once daily for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was clinical response at week 12, defined as >30% reduction in IBS symptom severity score (IBS-SSS) or IBS-SSS <75 plus self-reported response of feeling ‘better’ or ‘much better’ versus the baseline. Digestive nonintestinal and extra-digestive symptom scores were assessed. Baseline characteristics and week 4 clinical response were assessed as predictors of week 12 clinical response. Results: A total of 96 patients were eligible; 91 were female and the mean age was 47.4 years. Mean (SD) baseline IBS-SSS was 371 (72.5). In the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations, 22.9% and 31.7% were clinical responders at week 4, respectively, and 25.0% and 36.7% were clinical responders at week 12. Digestive nonintestinal and extra-digestive symptom scores were significantly improved at weeks 4 and 12. Baseline characteristic was not associated with week 12 clinical response; however, clinical response at week 4 was predictive of response at week 12 (OR: 6.5; 95%IC: 2.1–19.8). The most common adverse event was diarrhea inclusive of loose or watery stools (35.4%). Conclusions: Linaclotide improves IBS-C symptoms, including digestive nonintestinal and extra-digestive symptoms. A clinical response at week 4 may predict response at week 12.

Epidemiological and microbiological investigation of a large outbreak of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium 4,5,12:i:- in schools associated with imported beef in Poitiers, France, October 2010

An outbreak due to the emerging monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium 4,5,12:i:- occurred in four schools in Poitiers in October 2010. Food trace-back investigation led to the identification of beef burgers as the cause of the outbreak and their subsequent withdrawal. The Institute for Public Health Surveillance conducted a retrospective epidemiological investigation to assess the extent of the outbreak and describe cases. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by students and personnel attending each of the four schools affected. Clinical cases were defined as anyone having eaten at the school when the beef burgers were served and reporting diarrhoea or fever with at least one digestive symptom (nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain), within five days after the incriminated school meal or with unknown date of onset within a 15-day period after the incriminated school meal. Of 1,559 persons exposed, 554 clinical cases were identified corresponding to an overall attack rate of 35.5%. Of 554 clinical cases, a total of 286 (53%) sought medical care and 31 (6%) were hospitalised for more than 24 hours. This multi-school outbreak is one of the biggest food-borne outbreaks of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium 4,5,12:i:- described in France. Prompt notification of cases and rapid identification and withdrawal of the incriminated batch of beef burgers was crucial to limit the extension of this outbreak.