GEMA-Na and MELD 3.0 severity scores to address sex disparities for accessing liver transplantation: a nationwide retrospective cohort study

© 2024 The Author(s). This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. This document is the Published version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in EClinicalMedicine. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102737Background The Gender-Equity Model for liver Allocation corrected by serum sodium (GEMA-Na) and the Model for End-stage Liver Disease 3.0 (MELD 3.0) could amend sex disparities for accessing liver transplantation (LT). We aimed to assess these inequities in Spain and to compare the performance of GEMA-Na and MELD 3.0. Methods Nationwide cohort study including adult patients listed for a first elective LT (January 2016–December 2021). The primary outcome was mortality or delisting for sickness within the first 90 days. Independent predictors of the primary outcome were evaluated using multivariate Cox’s regression with adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The discrimination of GEMA-Na and MELD 3.0was assessed using Harrell c-statistics (Hc). Findings The study included 6071 patients (4697 men and 1374 women). Mortality or delisting for clinical deterioration occurred in 286 patients at 90 days (4.7%). Women had reduced access to LT (83.7% vs. 85.9%; p = 0.037) and increased risk of mortality or delisting for sickness at 90 days (adjusted RR = 1.57 [95% CI 1.09–2.28]; p = 0.017). Female sex remained as an independent risk factor when using MELD or MELD-Na but lost its significance in the presence of GEMA-Na or MELD 3.0. Among patients included for reasons other than tumours (n = 3606; 59.4%), GEMA-Na had Hc = 0.753 (95% CI 0.715–0.792), which was higher than MELD 3.0 (Hc = 0.726 [95% CI 0.686–0.767; p = 0.001), showing both models adequate calibration. Interpretation GEMA-Na and MELD 3.0 might correct sex disparities for accessing LT, but GEMA-Na provides more accurate predictions of waiting list outcomes and could be considered the standard of care for waiting list prioritization

Changes in humoral immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection in liver transplant recipients compared to immunocompetent patients

The protective capacity and duration of humoral immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection are not yet understood in solid organ transplant recipients. A prospective multicenter study was performed to evaluate the persistence of anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies in liver transplant recipients 6 months after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resolution. A total of 71 liver transplant recipients were matched with 71 immunocompetent controls by a propensity score including variables with a well-known prognostic impact in COVID-19. Paired case-control serological data were also available in 62 liver transplant patients and 62 controls at month 3 after COVID-19. Liver transplant recipients showed a lower incidence of anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies at 3 months (77.4% vs. 100%, p <.001) and at 6 months (63.4% vs. 90.1%, p <.001). Lower levels of antibodies were also observed in liver transplant patients at 3 (p =.001) and 6 months (p <.001) after COVID-19. In transplant patients, female gender (OR = 13.49, 95% CI: 2.17-83.8), a longer interval since transplantation (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03-1.36), and therapy with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (OR = 7.11, 95% CI: 1.47-34.50) were independently associated with persistence of antibodies beyond 6 months after COVID-19. Therefore, as compared with immunocompetent patients, liver transplant recipients show a lower prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and more pronounced antibody levels decline

Células cebadas mucosas y de tejido conectivo esplácnicas en la colestasis extrahepática microquirúrgica experimental

Tesis inédita de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Cirugía, leída el 09-01-2014Depto. de CirugíaFac. de MedicinaTRUEunpu

Delayed Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in a Case of Acute Cholecystitis and Intestinal Malrotation Type I

In adults, intestinal malrotation is an oligosymptomatic entity that is occasionally discovered during the course of diagnostic studies for other causes. In the case described herein, intestinal malrotation was discovered during investigation for cholelithiasis and acute cholecystitis. Malrotation may occur due to alterations in the asymmetric cellular dynamics of the mesentery responsible for intestinal shortening and unilateral retraction, this may occur as a secondary event following alterations in the expression of homeodomain transcription factors. The incidental finding of asymptomatic intestinal malrotation in adults does not preclude its surgical treatment. However, when intestinal malrotation is associated with cholecystitis, due to cholelithiasis, it is advisable, to first treat the cholecystitis conservatively, in our case, and then perform partial adhesiolysis of the Ladd bands that hinder access to the cystic area and carry out cholecystectomy by elective laparoscopy

Emergency department frequentation and unscheduled readmissions within the first year after liver transplantation, and their impact on survival.

20.500.12530/87909The aim of this study was to assess emergency room frequentation, visit causes, and unscheduled readmissions within the first year after discharge from hospital following liver transplantation. Their impact on graft and patient survival was also assessed. This was a retrospective study of the medical records of 98 patients (mean age, 55.6 ± 8.59 years, 77.6 % males) who were consecutively discharged from hospital after undergoing a first liver transplant in our institution during 2012-2015. All visits to the emergency room during the first years after transplantation were analyzed, and survival at two years after transplantation was calculated. Fifty-six of the 98 patients (57.15 %) visited the emergency room on 117 occasions within the first year post-transplantation. Fever (n = 34; 29.05 %) and digestive symptoms (n = 32; 27.35 %) were the most common causes of consultation, and resulted in over half of visits. Thirty-five of these 56 patients (62.5 %) required an urgent readmission during 50 of the 117 (42.7 %) visits. This was primarily due to infectious complications (44 %) of diverse causes (bacterial pneumonia, cholangitis, Clostridium difficile colitis) and biliary tract-related issues. The likelihood of readmission increased from 11.22 % at 30 days after discharge to 22.4 % at 90 days after discharge. Patient survival at 1 and 2 years after transplantation was lower for patients who were readmitted (88.4 % and 80.7 %, respectively) when compared to those who were not readmitted (95.56 % and 91.17 %, respectively, p = 0.002)

Movement behaviors and cardiometabolic risk in schoolchildren.

Growing evidence has accumulated in recent years showing that movement behaviors have important implications for health in children, especially for cardiovascular health, whose risk factors could track from childhood to adulthood. However, these findings are mixed and inconsistent in children. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between different movement behaviors (sedentary behavior, physical activity and sleep duration) and cardiometabolic risk in schoolchildren. The study shows cross-sectional results of baseline measurement from 146 Spanish schoolchildren, aged 8-to-11 years old, participating in the MOVI-2 study. Movement behaviors were determined using accelerometry combined with self-reported sleep time. Cardiometabolic risk was assessed using a validated metabolic syndrome index. Logistic regression analysis showed that higher levels of vigorous physical activity (OR = 0.110, p = 0.004) and sleeping more than 9 hours (OR = 0.269, p = 0.015) could be protective factors against metabolic syndrome risk in children. ANCOVA analysis showed associations between vigorous physical activity and waist circumference (p < 0.001), and sleep time with insulin resistance (p = 0.017) and lipid profile (p = 0.035). No association was observed between light and moderate physical activity, sedentary behavior and metabolic syndrome (index and components). No statistically significant differences were found for blood pressure and any of the movement behaviors. Our data suggest that both the amount of vigorous physical activity accumulated and sleep duration are independently associated with higher cardiometabolic risk in children

Long term SARS-CoV-2-specific cellular immunity after COVID-19 in liver transplant recipients.

20.500.12530/87854Long-term immunity after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in immunosuppressed patients is not well characterized. We aimed to explore the long-term natural immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in liver transplant (LT) recipients compared to the non-transplanted population (control group). Fifteen LT recipients and 15 controls matched according to variables associated with disease severity were included at 12 months following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) onset. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with peptide pools covering spike (S), nucleocapside (N), and membrane (M) proteins. Reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were identified using flow cytometry, and cytokine production was evaluated in the culture supernatants using cytometric bead array. Serum anti-N and anti-S IgG antibodies were detected with chemiluminescence. The percentage of patients with a positive response in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells against each viral protein and IL2, IL10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels was similar between LT recipients and controls. IFN-γ levels were positively correlated with the percentage of reactive CD4+ (p = 0.022) and CD8+ (p = 0.043) T cells to a mixture of M + N + S peptide pools. The prevalence and levels of anti-N and anti-S IgG antibodies were slightly lower in the LT recipients, but the difference was not statistically significant. LT recipients exhibited a similar T cell response compared to non-transplanted individuals one year after COVID-19 diagnosis

COVID-19 in hospitalized solid organ transplant recipients in a nationwide registry study

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Underlying immunodeficiency has been associated with worse clinical presentation and increased mortality in patients with COVID-19. We evaluated the mortality of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients (SOTR) hospitalized in Spain due to COVID-19. Methods: Nationwide, retrospective, observational analysis of all adults hospitalized because of COVID-19 in Spain during 2020. Stratification was made according to SOT status. The National Registry of Hospital Discharges was used, using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision coding list. Results: Of the 117,694 adults hospitalized during this period, 491 were SOTR: kidney 390 (79.4%), liver 59 (12%), lung 27 (5.5%), and heart 19 (3.9%). Overall, the mortality of SOTR was 13.8%. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, SOTR was not associated with higher mortality risk (odds ratio [OR] = 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60-1.03). However, lung transplantation was an independent factor related to mortality (OR = 3.26, 95% CI 1.33-7.43), while kidney, liver, and heart transplantation were not. Being a lung transplant recipient was the strongest prognostic factor in SOT patients (OR = 5.12, 95% CI 1.88-13.98). Conclusion: This nationwide study supports that the COVID-19 mortality rate in SOTR in Spain during 2020 did not differ from the general population, except for lung transplant recipients, who presented worse outcomes. Efforts should be focused on the optimal management of lung transplant recipients with COVID-19

Mean differences in movement behaviors by MAP categories.

MAP, mean arterial pressure; MPA, moderate physical activity; SB, sedentary behavior; VPA, vigorous physical activity.</p