Seroprevalence and epidemiology of hepatitis B and C viruses in pregnant women in Spain. Risk factors for vertical transmission

Background & aim Worldwide, measures are being implemented to eradicate hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses, which can be transmitted from the mother during childbirth. This study aims to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV in pregnant women in Spain, focusing on country of origin, epidemiological factors and risk of vertical transmission (VT). Methodology Multicentre open-cohort study performed during 2015. HBV prevalence was determined in 21870 pregnant women and HCV prevalence in 7659 pregnant women. Epidemiological and risk factors for VT were analysed in positive women and differences between HBV and HCV cases were studied. Results HBV prevalence was 0.42% (91/21870) and HCV prevalence was 0.26% (20/7659). Of the women with HBV, 65.7% (44/67) were migrants. The HBV transmission route to the mother was unknown in 40.3% of cases (27/67) and VT in 31.3% (21/67). Among risk factors for VT, 67.7% (42/62) of the women had viraemia and 14.5% (9/62) tested HBeAg-positive. All of the neonates born to HBV-positive mothers received immunoprophylaxis, and none contracted infection by VT. In 80% (16/20) of the women with HCV, the transmission route was parenteral, and nine were intravenous drug users. Viraemia was present in 40% (8/20) of the women and 10% (2/20) were HIV-coinfected. No children were infected. Women with HCV were less likely than women with HBV to breastfeed their child (65% vs. 86%). Conclusions The prevalences obtained in our study of pregnant women are lower than those previously documented for the general population. Among the women with HBV, the majority were migrants and had a maternal family history of infection, while among those with HCV, the most common factor was intravenous drug use. Despite the risk factors observed for VT, none of the children were infected. Proper immunoprophylaxis is essential to prevent VT in children born to HBV-positive women.This study received financial assistance from the following: Ciberehd, Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias del Instituto de Salud Carlos III. ISCIII, Proyecto del Plan Nacional I+D+i 2013-2016 (PI13/01925), Confinanciacio´n Fondos FEDER. Gilead Fellowship Program (GLD14-00292 and GLD15-00307)

Hepatocellular carcinoma risk-stratification based on ASGR1 in circulating epithelial cells for cancer interception

Purpose: Lack of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma impedes stratifying patients based on their risk of developing cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of circulating epithelial cells (CECs) based on asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 (ASGR1) and miR-122-5p expression as potential diagnostic and prognostic tools in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis (LC). Methods: Peripheral blood samples were extracted from LC and HCC patients at different disease stages. CECs were isolated using positive immunomagnetic selection. Genetic and phenotypic characterization was validated by double immunocytochemistry for cytokeratin (CK) and ASGR1 or by in situ hybridization with miR-122-5p and CECs were visualized by confocal microscopy. Results: The presence of CECs increased HCC risk by 2.58-fold, however, this was only significant for patients with previous LC (p = 0.028) and not for those without prior LC (p = 0.23). Furthermore, the number of CECs lacking ASGR1 expression correlated significantly with HCC incidence and absence of miR-122-5p expression (p = 0.014; r = 0.23). Finally, overall survival was significantly greater for patients at earlier cancer stages (p = 0.018), but this difference was only maintained in the group with the presence of CECs (p = 0.021) whereas progression-free survival was influenced by the absence of ASGR1 expression. Conclusion: Identification and characterization of CECs by ASGR1 and/or miR- 122-5p expression may be used as a risk-stratification tool in LC patients, as it was shown to be an independent prognostic and risk-stratification marker in LC and early disease stage HCC patients.Regional Ministry of Health of AndalusiaMinistry of Economy, Competitiveness, Enterprises and Universities PC-0522-2016 PC-0267-2017 PC-0033-2017Health Institute Carlos III (ISCIII) DOC_01682 CD18/0012

Hepatic hematoma after ERCP: two new case reports.

ERCP is an endoscopic procedure with a complication risk ranging from 2.5 to 8%. The most frequent complications are pancreatitis, cholangitis, hemorrhage or perforation. Hepatic hematoma after ERCP is a potentially serious, rare complication. Not many cases are reported in the literature. We present here two new cases of hepatic hematoma following ERCP along with a review of the literature and possible therapeutic options

Hepatic hematoma after ERCP: two new case reports

ERCP is an endoscopic procedure with a complication risk ranging from 2.5 to 8%. The most frequent complications are pancreatitis, cholangitis, hemorrhage or perforation. Hepatic hematoma after ERCP is a potentially serious, rare complication. Not many cases are reported in the literature. We present here two new cases of hepatic hematoma following ERCP along with a review of the literature and possible therapeutic options

In Obese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Mast Cells in Omental Adipose Tissue Decrease the Surface Expression of CD45, CD117, CD203c, and FcϵRI

This work was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grants PI15/01361 and PI18/01947), and Conserjeria de Salud y Familias, Junta de Andalucia (grant PIN-0235-2019). Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) is a public organization that belongs to the Spanish Ministry of Health. ISCIII funds scientific projects on competitive open calls. Conserjeria de Salud y Familias, Junta de Andalucia is a department of the regional government of Andalucia (Spain) that funds scientific projects on competitive open calls.The paradigm of mast cells in type 2 diabetes is changing. Although they were first considered deleterious inflammatory cells, now they seem to be important players driving adipose tissue homeostasis. Here we have employed a flow cytometry-based approach for measuring the surface expression of 4 proteins (CD45, CD117, CD203c, and FcϵRI) on mast cells of omental (o-WAT) and subcutaneous white adipose tissue (s-WAT) in a cohort of 96 patients with morbid obesity. The cohort was split into three groups: non-T2D, pre- T2D, and T2D. Noteworthy, patients with T2D have a mild condition (HbA1c <7%). In o- WAT, mast cells of patients with T2D have a decrease in the surface expression of CD45 (p=0.0013), CD117 (p=0.0066), CD203c (p=0.0025), and FcϵRI (p=0.043). Besides, in s- WAT, the decrease was seen only in CD117 (p=0.046). These results indicate that T2D affects more to mast cells in o-WAT than in s-WAT. The decrease in these four proteins has serious effects on mast cell function. CD117 is critical for mast cell survival, while CD45 and FcϵRI are important for mast cell activation. Additionally, CD203c is only present on the cell surface after granule release. Taking together these observations, we suggest that mast cells in o-WAT of patients with T2D have a decreased survival, activation capacity, and secretory function.Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIEuropean Commission PI15/01361 PI18/01947Junta de Andalucia FPU18/04432 PIN-0235-2019Spanish Ministry of Health. ISCIII fundsJunta de Andalucia B16.56.

In Patients With Obesity, the Number of Adipose Tissue Mast Cells Is Significantly Lower in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes

This work was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant PI15/01361), Spain; and MINECO (grant DPI2017-84439-R), Madrid and FEDER. DL-P is a predoctoral fellow ("Programa de doctorado en Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular", B16.56.1) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (" Formacion de profesorado universitario" grant FPU18/ 04432). DL-P participated in this work thanks to a grant from University of Granada ("Becas de iniciacion a la investigacion del plan propio de la UGR").Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a rising global health problem mainly caused by obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. In healthy individuals, white adipose tissue (WAT) has a relevant homeostatic role in glucose metabolism, energy storage, and endocrine signaling. Mast cells contribute to these functions promoting WAT angiogenesis and adipogenesis. In patients with T2D, inflammation dramatically impacts WAT functioning, which results in the recruitment of several leukocytes, including monocytes, that enhance this inflammation. Accordingly, the macrophages population rises as the WAT inflammation increases during the T2D status worsening. Since mast cell progenitors cannot arrive at WAT, the amount of WAT mast cells depends on how the new microenvironment affects progenitor and differentiated mast cells. Here, we employed a flow cytometry-based approach to analyze the number of mast cells from omental white adipose tissue (o-WAT) and subcutaneous white adipose tissue (s-WAT) in a cohort of 100 patients with obesity. Additionally, we measured the number of mast cell progenitors in a subcohort of 15 patients. The cohort was divided in three groups: non-T2D, pre-T2D, and T2D. Importantly, patients with T2D have a mild condition (HbA1c <7%). The number of mast cells and mast cell progenitors was lower in patients with T2D in both o-WAT and s-WAT in comparison to subjects from the pre-T2D and non-T2D groups. In the case of mast cells in o-WAT, there were statistically significant differences between non-T2D and T2D groups (p = 0.0031), together with pre-T2D and T2D groups (p=0.0097). However, in s-WAT, the differences are only between non-T2D and T2D groups (p=0.047). These differences have been obtained with patients with a mild T2D condition. Therefore, little changes in T2D status have a huge impact on the number of mast cells in WAT, especially in o-WAT. Due to the importance of mast cells in WAT physiology, their decrease can reduce the capacity of WAT, especially o-WAT, to store lipids and cause hypoxic cell deaths that will trigger inflammation.Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI15/01361MINECO, Madrid DPI2017-84439-REuropean CommissionSpanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (" Formacion de profesorado universitario" grant) FPU18/04432 B16.56.1University of Granada ("Becas de iniciacion a la investigacion del plan propio de la UGR"

Polymorphisms for predicting or forecasting the response to antiviral treatment

Número de publicación: ES2546153 B1 . Número de solicitud: 201430205.Polimorfismos para predecir o pronosticar la respuesta al tratamiento antiviral. Método de obtención de datos útiles para predecir o pronosticar la respuesta al tratamiento antiviral con interferón pegilado más ribavirina en pacientes con hepatitis crónica C genotipo 1 que presentan el alelo HLA-DQB1*0301, kit o dispositivo y sus usos.Universidad de Granad