Elevated Serum Triglyceride Levels in Acute Pancreatitis: A Parameter to be Measured and Considered Early

Triglicéridos séricos; Pancreatitis agudaTriglicèrids sèrics; Pancreatitis agudaAcute pancreatitis; Serum triglycerideBackground The value of serum triglycerides (TGs) related to complications and the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) has not been clearly defined. Our study aimed to analyze the association of elevated levels of TG with complications and the severity of AP. Methods The demographic and clinical data of patients with AP were prospectively analyzed. TG levels were measured in the first 24 h of admission. Patients were divided into two groups: one with TG values of<200 mg/dL and another with TG≥200 mg/dL. Data on the outcomes of AP were collected. Results From January 2016 to December 2019, 247 cases were included: 200 with TG<200 mg/dL and 47 with TG≥200 mg/dL. Triglyceride levels≥200 mg/dL were associated with respiratory failure (21.3 vs. 10%, p=0.033), renal failure (23.4 vs. 12%, p=0.044), cardiovascular failure (19.1 vs. 7.5%, p=0.025), organ failure (34 vs. 18.5%, p=0.02), persistent organ failure (27.7 vs. 9.5%, p=0.001), multiple organ failure (19.1 vs. 8%, p=0.031), moderately severe and severe AP (68.1 vs. 40.5%, p=0.001), pancreatic necrosis (63.8 vs. 34%, p<0.001), and admission to the intensive care unit (27.7 vs. 9.5%, p=0.003). In the multivariable analysis, a TG level of≥200 mg/dL was independently associated with respiratory, renal, and cardiovascular failure, organ failure, persistent organ failure, multiple organ failure, pancreatic necrosis, severe pancreatitis, and admission to the intensive care unit (p<0.05). Conclusions In our cohort, TG≥200 mg/dL was related to local and systemic complications. Early determinations of TG levels in AP could help identify patients at risk of complications.Open Access Funding provided by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

Prevalence, features and predictive factors of liver nodules in Fontan surgery patients: The VALDIG Fonliver prospective cohort

Background & Aims: Fontan surgery is used to treat a variety of congenital heart malformations, and may lead to advanced chronic liver disease in the long-term. This study examines the prevalence, characteristics and predictors of liver nodules in patients following Fontan surgery. Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study conducted at 8 European centres. Consecutive patients who had undergone Fontan surgery underwent blood tests, abdominal ultrasonography (US), transient elastography (Fibroscan®), echocardiography, haemodynamic assessments, and abdominal MRI/CT scan. The primary outcome measure was liver nodules detected in the MRI/CT scan. Predictors of liver nodules were identified by multivariate logistic regression. Results: One hundred and fifty-two patients were enrolled (mean age 27.3 years). The mean time elapsed from surgery to inclusion was 18.3 years. Liver nodule prevalences were 29.6% (95% CI 23–37%) on US and 47.7% (95% CI 39–56%) on MRI/CT. Nodules were usually hyperechoic (76.5%), round-shaped (>80%), hyperenhancing in the arterial phase (92%) and located in the liver periphery (75%). The sensitivity and specificity of US were 50% (95% CI 38–62%) and 85.3% (95% CI 75–92%), respectively. Inter-imaging test agreement was low (adjusted kappa: 0.34). In the multivariate analysis, time since surgery >10 years was the single independent predictor of liver nodules (odds ratio 4.18; p = 0.040). Hepatocellular carcinoma was histologically diagnosed in 2 of the 8 patients with hypervascular liver nodules displaying washout. Conclusion: While liver nodules are frequent in Fontan patients, they may go unnoticed in US. Liver nodules are usually hyperechoic, hypervascular and predominantly peripheral. This population is at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, the diagnosis of which requires confirmatory biopsy

Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (Abernethy malformation): An international observational study

Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS) or Abernethy malformation is a rare condition in which splanchnic venous blood bypasses the liver draining directly into systemic circulation through a congenital shunt. Patients may develop hepatic encephalopathy (HE), pulmonary hypertension (PaHT), or liver tumors, among other complications. However, the actual incidence of such complications is unknown, mainly because of the lack of a protocolized approach to these patients. This study characterizes the clinical manifestations and outcome of a large cohort of CEPS patients with the aim of proposing a guide for their management. This is an observational, multicenter, international study. Sixty-six patients were included; median age at the end of follow-up was 30 years. Nineteen patients (28%) presented HE. Ten-, 20-, and 30-year HE incidence rates were 13%, 24%, and 28%, respectively. No clinical factors predicted HE. Twenty-five patients had benign nodular lesions. Ten patients developed adenomas (median age, 18 years), and another 8 developed HCC (median age, 39 years). Of 10 patients with dyspnea, PaHT was diagnosed in 8 and hepatopulmonary syndrome in 2. Pulmonary complications were only screened for in 19 asymptomatic patients, and PaHT was identified in 2. Six patients underwent liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma or adenoma. Shunt closure was performed in 15 patients with improvement/stability/cure of CEPS manifestations. Conclusion: CEPS patients may develop severe complications. Screening for asymptomatic complications and close surveillance is needed. Shunt closure should be considered both as a therapeutic and prophylactic approach

Purchasing and warehouse management model for Peruvian textile SMEs with production to order

La gestión de almacén y compras en las pymes peruanas con producción a pedido presentan dificultades a diferencia de las grandes empresas, así, se tiene personal poco calificado, falta de financiamiento, pequeños tamaños de stock, procesos no definidos, ineficiente comunicación entre áreas y baja prioridad por parte de los proveedores. Por ello, no se puede aplicar los modelos de gestión de las grandes empresas. En adición, los modelos hallados, respecto a la gestión de compras y almacén, no se acoplan a las necesidades de una pyme textil con producción a pedidos, ya que emplean conceptos complejos especializados en gestión, herramientas y/o sistemas de información cuya implementación resulta en un presupuesto elevado, no asequible. En este trabajo se propone un modelo gestión de compras-almacén (MGCA) orientado a las pymes de producción a pedido para reducir la frecuencia de compras innecesarias que ocasiona sobrestock y prevenir roturas de stock. Este contempla procesos simples y flexibles, una guía de implementación e indicadores que puedan ayudar a la gestión; a su vez, se basan en los pilares del ISO 9001, JIT, gestión del cambio y sistemas de información. Un estudio de caso en una pyme textil peruana muestra que el modelo propuesto es fácil de implementar y que mejora la calidad de los materiales en un 37.50 %, el abastecimiento oportuno en 62.50 % respecto a los proveedores, la rotación de inventarios incrementó en 55.61 %, el cumplimiento de despachos internos en 28.77 % respecto a producción, los pedidos conformes recepcionados en 30.14 % y el clima organizacional aumentó en 22.77 %.Warehouse management and purchases in Peruvian SMEs with production to order present difficulties unlike big companies, such as low-skilled personnel, lack of financing, small stock sizes, undefined processes, inefficient communication between areas and low priority for part of the vendors. For this reason, the management models of big companies cannot be applied. In addition, the models found regarding purchasing and warehouse management do not fit the needs of a textile SME with production to order, since they use complex concepts specialized in management, tools and / or information systems whose implementation results in a high budget, not affordable. This thesis proposes a purchasing-warehouse management model (MGCA) aimed at production-to-order SMEs to reduce the frequency of unnecessary purchases that cause overstock and prevent stock outs. This includes simple and flexible processes, an implementation guide and indicators that can help management; in turn, they are based on the pillars of ISO 9001, JIT, change management and information systems. A case study in a Peruvian textile SME shows that the proposed model is easy to implement and that it improves the quality of materials by 37.50%, timely supply by 62.50% compared to suppliers, and inventory turnover increased by 55.61% , the fulfillment of internal dispatches in 28.77% with respect to production, the conforming orders received in 30.14% and the organizational climate increased in 22.77%.Tesi

Non-invasive Prediction of High-risk Varices in Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

BACKGROUND Baveno-VI guidelines recommend that patients with compensated cirrhosis with liver stiffness by transient elastography (LSM-TE) 150,000/mm do not need an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to screen for varices, since the risk of having varices needing treatment (VNT) is 110,000/mm), and other criteria in predicting the absence of VNT. METHODS This was a multicenter cross-sectional study in four referral hospitals. We retrospectively analyzed data from 227 patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) due to PBC (n = 147) and PSC (n = 80) that had paired EGD and LSM-TE. We calculated false negative rate (FNR) and number of saved endoscopies for each prediction rule. RESULTS Prevalence of VNT was 13%. Baveno-VI criteria had a 0% FNR in PBC and PSC, saving 39 and 30% of EGDs, respectively. In PBC the other LSM-TE-based criteria resulted in FNRs >5%. In PSC the expanded Baveno criteria had an adequate performance. In both conditions LSM-TE-independent criteria resulted in an acceptable FNR but saved less EGDs. CONCLUSIONS Baveno-VI criteria can be applied in patients with cACLD due to ChLDs, which would result in saving 30-40% of EGDs. Expanded criteria in PBC would lead to FNRs >5%

Congenital Extrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts (Abernethy Malformation): An International Observational Study

Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS) or Abernethy malformation is a rare condition in which splanchnic venous blood bypasses the liver draining directly into systemic circulation through a congenital shunt. Patients may develop hepatic encephalopathy (HE), pulmonary hypertension (PaHT), or liver tumors, among other complications. However, the actual incidence of such complications is unknown, mainly because of the lack of a protocolized approach to these patients. This study characterizes the clinical manifestations and outcome of a large cohort of CEPS patients with the aim of proposing a guide for their management. This is an observational, multicenter, international study. Sixty-six patients were included; median age at the end of follow-up was 30 years. Nineteen patients (28%) presented HE. Ten-, 20-, and 30-year HE incidence rates were 13%, 24%, and 28%, respectively. No clinical factors predicted HE. Twenty-five patients had benign nodular lesions. Ten patients developed adenomas (median age, 18 years), and another 8 developed HCC (median age, 39 years). Of 10 patients with dyspnea, PaHT was diagnosed in 8 and hepatopulmonary syndrome in 2. Pulmonary complications were only screened for in 19 asymptomatic patients, and PaHT was identified in 2. Six patients underwent liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma or adenoma. Shunt closure was performed in 15 patients with improvement/stability/cure of CEPS manifestations. Conclusion: CEPS patients may develop severe complications. Screening for asymptomatic complications and close surveillance is needed. Shunt closure should be considered both as a therapeutic and prophylactic approach.status: publishe