Vasoactive agents for the management of acute variceal bleeding: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background & Aims: Vasoactive agents with endoscopic therapy are used to treat acute variceal bleeding (AVB). There are two main groups of vasoactive agents: terlipressin and vasopressin (T-V), and octreotide and somatostatin (O-S). However, the benefit/harm balance is unclear. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of T-V versus O-S for the management of AVB. Methods: We performed a systematic search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, Scopus, and CENTRAL. Our main outcomes were mortality and adverse events. Secondary outcomes were bleeding control, rebleeding, blood transfusion, hospital stay. We evaluated the certainty of evidence using GRADE methodology. Results: We included 21 RCTs. The risk of mortality (RR: 1.01; 95%CI: 0.83-1.22), bleeding control (RR: 0.96; 95%CI: 0.91-1.02; I2=53%), early rebleeding (RR: 0.91; 95%CI: 0.66-1.24: I2=0%), late rebleeding (RR: 0.94; 95 CI: 0.56-1.60; I2=0%), blood transfusion (MD: 0.04; 95%CI:-0.31-0.39; I2=68%) and hospital stay (MD:-1.06; 95%CI:-2.80-0.69; I2=0%) were similar between T-V and O-S groups. Only 15 studies reported adverse events, which were significantly higher in the T-V compared to the O-S group (RR 2.39; 95%CI: 1.58-3.63; I2=57%). The certainty of evidence was moderate for the main outcomes, and low or very low for others. Conclusions: In cirrhotic patients with AVB, those treated with T-V had similar mortality risk compared to O-S. However, the use of T-V showed an increased risk of adverse events compared to O-S.Revisión por pare

Alteración en las pruebas de función hepática en pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19: un estudio multicéntrico en Perú

Introduction: COVID-19 affects the liver, causing alteration in liver biochemistry tests such as aspartate transferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin and albumin. Objective: To determine the prevalence of alteration in liver functions tests and associated factors for severity among Peruvian COVID-19 patients. Materials and methods: A descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study was performed in 4 public hospitals in Peru. Patients admitted to hospitalization wards and intensive care units with a diagnosis COVID-19 were enrolled. The evaluation of AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin and albumin was performed. Associations with demographic and medical data were assessed. Results: 1,100 patients were enrolled, of which 81.7% had altered liver function tests. Only 2.8% of the patients had cirrhosis and 2.1% hepatitis B/C virus. AST and ALT were altered at admission in 64.7% and 63.7%, of the patients respectively. Factors associated with liver injury were: being female OR=0.53 (95% CI: 0.39-0.73; p<0.01), dyslipidemia OR=1.72 (95% CI: 1.10-2.70; p=0.01), previous medication OR=1.56 (95% CI: 1.12 -2.16, p<0.01) and fever OR=1.43 (95% CI: 1.03-1.199, p=0.03). Disease severity was associated with levels of AST and ALT (p<0.01). Patients taking self-medication OR=1.56 (95% CI: 1.12-2.16; p<0.01) and paracetamol OR= 1.41 (95% CI:1.01-1.98; p=0.04) had higher risk of liver injury. Meanwhile, corticosteroids OR=0.55 (95% CI: 0.38-0.78; p<0.01) and enoxaparin OR=0.53 (95% CI: 0.35- 0.81; p<0.01) were protective factors. Conclusions: Peruvian patients with COVID- teration in liver function tests, high levels of AST and ALT were related to disease severity.Introducción: La COVID-19 afecta al hígado, provocando alteración en las pruebas de función hepática como aspartato aminotransferasa (AST), alanina aminotransferasa (ALT), fosfatasa alcalina (FA), bilirrubina total y albúmina. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de alteración en las pruebas de función hepática y su asociación con la severidad en pacientes peruanos con COVID-19. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y transversal en 4 hospitales públicos del Perú. Se incluyeron pacientes admitidos en hospitalización y unidades de cuidados intensivos con diagnóstico de COVID-19. Se realizó la evaluación de AST, ALT, FA, bilirrubina total y albúmina. Se evaluaron las asociaciones con datos demográficos y médicos. Resultados: Se incluyeron 1,100 pacientes, de los cuales el 81,7% presentaba alteraciones en las pruebas de función hepática. Solo el 2,8% de los pacientes tenía cirrosis y el 2,1% infección por virus de la hepatitis B / C. Se encontraron niveles alterados de AST y ALT al ingreso en el 64,7% y 63,7% de los pacientes, respectivamente. Los factores asociados con alteración en pruebas de función hepáticas fueron: ser mujer OR = 0,53 (IC 95%: 0,39-0,73; p <0,01), dislipidemia OR=1,72 (IC 95%: 1,10-2,70; p=0,01), uso de medicación previa OR = 1,56 (IC del 95%: 1,12 -2,16, p <0,01) y fiebre OR = 1,43 (IC del 95%: 1,03-1,199, p = 0,03). La gravedad de la enfermedad se asoció con los niveles de AST y ALT (p <0,01). Los pacientes que se automedicaban OR = 1,56 (IC 95%: 1,12-2,16; p <0,01) y tomaban paracetamol OR = 1,41 (IC 95%: 1,01-1,98; p =0,04) tenían mayor riesgo de injuria hepática. Mientras tanto, los corticosteroides OR=0,55 (IC del 95%: 0,38-0,78; p <0,01) y la enoxaparina OR=0,53 (IC del 95%: 0,35-0,81; p <0,01) fueron factores protectores. Conclusiones: los pacientes peruanos con COVID-19 presentaron alta prevalencia de alte hepática, niveles elevados de AST y ALT se relacionaron con la gravedad de la enfermedad

Diagnostic performance of three non-invasive fibrosis scores (Hepamet, FIB-4, NAFLD fibrosis score) in NAFLD patients from a mixed Latin American population

Introduction and aims: Several non-invasive scoring systems have been developed and validated worldwide to predict the risk of liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, information about the performance of these systems in Latin American populations is scarce. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of the Hepamet Fibrosis Score, Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and the NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS) in a mixed Latin American group of NAFLD patients. Methods: Clinical, laboratory and liver biopsy data collected from 379 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients from Latin American tertiary health centers were reviewed. Histological fibrosis stages were classified using the Kleiner score. Accuracy was determined, and new fibrosis score thresholds were calculated to better compare the performances of non-invasive tests and to explore their usefulness in excluding fibrosis. Results: The distribution of fibrosis stages among the sample population was as follows: F0 (45%), F1 (27%), F2 (8%), F3 (16%) and F4 (4%). Using modified thresholds, the areas under the ROC curves (AUROC) for Hepamet and FIB-4 (0.73 and 0.74, respectively) to detect significant fibrosis were higher than that of NFS (0.58). However, the AUROCs of the three scores were not significantly different in advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. To exclude fibrosis, we calculated lower cutoffs than standard thresholds for Hepamet, FIB-4 and NFS with similar performances. Conclusion: Thresholds of non-invasive fibrosis scores (Hepamet, FIB-4 and NFS) can be modified to maximize diagnostic accuracy in Latin American patients with NAFLD

I simposio Internacional sobre Investigación en la enseñanza de las ciencias

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Searching for VHE gamma-ray emission associated with IceCube neutrino alerts using FACT, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS

The realtime follow-up of neutrino events is a promising approach to search for astrophysical neutrino sources. It has so far provided compelling evidence for a neutrino point source: the flaring gamma-ray blazar TXS 0506+056 observed in coincidence with the high-energy neutrino IceCube-170922A detected by IceCube. The detection of very-high-energy gamma rays (VHE, E&gt;100GeV E &gt; 100 G e V ) from this source helped establish the coincidence and constrained the modeling of the blazar emission at the time of the IceCube event. The four major imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope arrays (IACTs) - FACT, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS - operate an active follow-up program of target-of-opportunity observations of neutrino alerts sent by IceCube. This program has two main components. One are the observations of known gamma-ray sources around which a cluster of candidate neutrino events has been identified by IceCube (Gamma-ray Follow-Up, GFU). Second one is the follow-up of single high-energy neutrino candidate events of potential astrophysical origin such as IceCube-170922A. GFU has been recently upgraded by IceCube in collaboration with the IACT groups. We present here recent results from the IACT follow-up programs of IceCube neutrino alerts and a description of the upgraded IceCube GFU system