BACKGROUND Direct-acting antiviral agents(DAAs)are highly effective treatment for chronic hepatitis C(CHC)with a significant rate of sustained virologic response(SVR).The achievement of SVR is crucial to prevent addit...BACKGROUND Direct-acting antiviral agents(DAAs)are highly effective treatment for chronic hepatitis C(CHC)with a significant rate of sustained virologic response(SVR).The achievement of SVR is crucial to prevent additional liver damage and slow down fibrosis progression.The assessment of fibrosis degree can be performed with transient elastography,magnetic resonance elastography or shear-wave elastography(SWE).Liver elastography could function as a predictor for hepato-cellular carcinoma(HCC)in CHC patients treated with DAAs.AIM To explore the predictive value of SWE for HCC development after complete clearance of hepatitis C virus(HCV).METHODS A comprehensive literature search of clinical studies was performed to identify the ability of SWE to predict HCC occurrence after HCV clearance.In accordance with the study protocol,a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the evidence was planned.RESULTS At baseline and after 12 wk of follow-up,a trend was shown towards greater liver stiffness(LS)in those who go on to develop HCC compared to those who do not[baseline LS standardized mean difference(SMD):1.15,95%confidence interval(95%CI):020-2.50;LS SMD after 12 wk:0.83,95%CI:0.33-1.98].The absence of a statistically significant difference between the mean LS in those who developed HCC or not may be related to the inability to correct for confounding factors and the absence of raw source data.There was a statist-ically significant LS SMD at 24 wk of follow-up between patients who developed HCC vs not(0.64;95%CI:0.04-1.24).CONCLUSION SWE could be a promising tool for prediction of HCC occurrence in patients treated with DAAs.Further studies with larger cohorts and standardized timing of elastographic evaluation are needed to confirm these data.展开更多
Cirrhotic patients with severe thrombocytopenia are at increased risk of bleeding during invasive procedures.The need for preprocedural prophylaxis aimed at reducing the risk of bleeding in cirrhotic patients with thr...Cirrhotic patients with severe thrombocytopenia are at increased risk of bleeding during invasive procedures.The need for preprocedural prophylaxis aimed at reducing the risk of bleeding in cirrhotic patients with thrombocytopenia who undergo scheduled procedures is assessed via the platelet count;however,establishing a minimum threshold considered safe is challenging.A platelet count≥50000/μL is a frequent target,but levels vary by provider,procedure,and specific patient.Over the years,this value has changed several times according to the different guidelines proposed in the literature.According to the latest guidelines,many procedures can be performed at any level of platelet count,which should not necessarily be checked before the procedure.In this review,we aim to investigate and describe how the guidelines have evolved in recent years in the evaluation of the minimum platelet count threshold required to perform different invasive procedures,according to their bleeding risk.展开更多
The gut microbiota works in unison with the host,promoting its health.In particular,it has been shown to exert protective,metabolic and structural functions.Recent evidence has revealed the influence of the gut microb...The gut microbiota works in unison with the host,promoting its health.In particular,it has been shown to exert protective,metabolic and structural functions.Recent evidence has revealed the influence of the gut microbiota on other organs such as the central nervous system,cardiovascular and the endocrine-metabolic systems and the digestive system.The study of the gut microbiota is outlining new and broader frontiers every day and holds enormous innovation potential for the medical and pharmaceutical fields.Prevention and treatment of specific women’s diseases involves the need to deepen the function of the gut as a junction organ where certain positive bacteria can be very beneficial to health.The gut microbiota is unique and dynamic at the same time,subject to external factors that can change it,and is capable of modulating itself at different stages of a woman’s life,playing an important role that arises from the intertwining of biological mechanisms between the microbiota and the female genital system.The gut microbiota could play a key role in personalized medicine.展开更多
Contrast enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)has been widely implemented in clinical practice because of the enormous quantity of information it provides,along with its low cost,reproducibility,minimal invasiveness,and safety of...Contrast enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)has been widely implemented in clinical practice because of the enormous quantity of information it provides,along with its low cost,reproducibility,minimal invasiveness,and safety of the secondgeneration ultrasound contrast agents.To overcome the limitation of CEUS given by the subjective evaluation of the contrast enhancement behaviour,quantitative analysis of contrast kinetics with generation of time-intensity curves has been introduced in recent years.The quantification of perfusion parameters[named as dynamic-CEUS(D-CEUS)]has several applications in gastrointestinal neoplastic and inflammatory disorders.However,the limited availability of large studies and the heterogeneity of the technologies employed have precluded the standardisation of D-CEUS,which potentially represents a valuable tool for clinical practice in management of gastrointestinal diseases.In this article,we reviewed the evidence exploring the application of D-CEUS in gastrointestinal diseases,with a special focus on liver,pancreas,and inflammatory bowel diseases.展开更多
Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has several extrapulmonary symptoms.Gastrointestinal(GI)symptoms are among the most frequent clinical manifestations of COVID-19,with severe consequences reported in elderly patients....Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has several extrapulmonary symptoms.Gastrointestinal(GI)symptoms are among the most frequent clinical manifestations of COVID-19,with severe consequences reported in elderly patients.Furthermore,the impact of COVID-19 on patients with pre-existing digestive diseases still needs to be fully elucidated,particularly in the older population.This review aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the GI tract,liver,and pancreas in individuals with and without previous digestive diseases,with a particular focus on the elderly,highlighting the distinctive characteristics observed in this population.Finally,the effectiveness and adverse events of the anti-COVID-19 vaccination in patients with digestive disorders and the peculiarities found in the elderly are discussed.展开更多
Chronic inflammation due to hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection leads to liver fibrosis and rearrangement of liver tissue,which is responsible for the development of portal hypertension(PH)and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC...Chronic inflammation due to hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection leads to liver fibrosis and rearrangement of liver tissue,which is responsible for the development of portal hypertension(PH)and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).The advent of direct-acting antiviral drugs has revolutionized the natural history of HCV infection,providing an overall eradication rate of over 90%.Despite a significant decrease after sustained virological response(SVR),the rate of HCC and liver-related complications is not completely eliminated in patients with advanced liver disease.Although the reasons are still unclear,cirrhosis itself has a residual risk for the development of HCC and other PH-related complications.Ultrasound elastography is a recently developed non-invasive technique for the assessment of liver fibrosis.Following the achievement of SVR,liver stiffness(LS)usually decreases,as a consequence of reduced inflammation and,possibly,fibrosis.Recent studies emphasized the application of LS assessment in the management of patients with SVR in order to define the risk for developing the complications of chronic liver disease(functional decompensation,gastrointestinal bleeding,HCC)and to optimize long-term prognostic outcomes in clinical practice.展开更多
In recent years,the traditional concept that cirrhosis-related coagulopathy is an acquired bleeding disorder has evolved.Currently,it is known that in cirrhotic patients,the hemostatic system is rebalanced,which invol...In recent years,the traditional concept that cirrhosis-related coagulopathy is an acquired bleeding disorder has evolved.Currently,it is known that in cirrhotic patients,the hemostatic system is rebalanced,which involves coagulation factors,fibrinolysis and platelets.These alterations disrupt homeostasis,skewing it toward a procoagulant state,which can lead to thromboembolic manifestations,especially when hemodynamic and endothelial factors co-occur,such as in the portal vein system in cirrhosis.Portal vein thrombosis is a common complication of advanced liver cirrhosis that negatively affects the course of liver disease,prognosis of cirrhotic patients and success of liver transplantation.It is still debated whether portal vein thrombosis is the cause or the consequence of worsening liver function.Anticoagulant therapy is the mainstay treatment for acute symptomatic portal vein thrombosis.In chronic portal vein thrombosis,the role of anticoagulant therapy is still unclear.Traditional anticoagulants,vitamin K antagonists and low-molecular-weight heparin are standard-of-care treatments for portal vein thrombosis.In the last ten years,direct oral anticoagulants have been approved for the prophylaxis and treatment of many thromboembolicrelated diseases,but evidence on their use in cirrhotic patients is very limited.The aim of this review was to summarize the evidence about the safety and effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants for treating portal vein thrombosis in cirrhotic patients.展开更多
BACKGROUND The use of umbilical venous catheters(UVCs)in the perinatal period may be associated with severe complications,including the occurrence of portal vein thrombosis(PVT).AIM To assess the incidence of UVC-rela...BACKGROUND The use of umbilical venous catheters(UVCs)in the perinatal period may be associated with severe complications,including the occurrence of portal vein thrombosis(PVT).AIM To assess the incidence of UVC-related PVT in infants with postnatal age up to three months.METHODS A systematic and comprehensive database searching(PubMed,Cochrane Library,Scopus,Web of Science)was performed for studies from 1980 to 2020(the search was last updated on November 28,2020).We included in the final analyses all peer-reviewed prospective cohort studies,retrospective cohort studies and casecontrol studies.The reference lists of included articles were hand-searched to identify additional studies of interest.Studies were considered eligible when they included infants with postnatal age up to three months with UVC-associated PVT.Incidence estimates were pooled by using random effects meta-analyses.The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.The systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis(PRISMA)guidelines.RESULTS Overall,16 studies were considered eligible and included in the final analyses.The data confirmed the relevant risk of UVC-related thrombosis.The mean pooled incidence of such condition was 12%,although it varied across studies(0%-49%).In 15/16 studies(94%),diagnosis of thrombosis was made accidentally during routine screening controls,whilst in 1/16 study(6%)targeted imaging assessments were carried out in neonates with clinical concerns for a thrombus.Tip position was investigated by abdominal ultrasound(US)alone in 1/16(6%)studies,by a combination of radiography and abdominal US in 14/16(88%)studies and by a combination of radiography,abdominal US and echocardiography in 1/16(6%)studies.CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge,this is the first systematic review specifically investigating the incidence of UVC-related PVT.The use of UVCs requires a high index of suspicion,because its use is significantly associated with PVT.Well-designed prospective studies are required to assess the optimal approach to prevent UVCrelated thrombosis of the portal system.展开更多
Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a chronic condition that requires continuous medical treatment.To date,the medical management of patients with moderatelyto-severely active IBD who develop dependence or resistance to...Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a chronic condition that requires continuous medical treatment.To date,the medical management of patients with moderatelyto-severely active IBD who develop dependence or resistance to corticosteroids is based on immunomodulator drugs.Such therapies are licenced after passing through three phases of randomized controlled trials(RCTs),and are subsequently adopted in clinical practice.However,the real-life population of IBD patients who require these therapies can significantly differ from those included in RCTs.As a matter of fact,there is a number of exclusion criteria–nearly ubiquitous in all RCTs–that prevent the enrolment of specific patients:Chronic refractory pouchitis or isolated proctitis in ulcerative colitis,short-bowel syndrome and stomas in Crohn’s disease,ileorectal anastomosis in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease,and elderly age are some representative examples.In this frontier article,we aim to give an overview of current literature on this topic,in order to address the main knowledge gaps that need to be filled in the upcoming years.展开更多
Introduction Severe thrombocytopenia(platelet count<50×10^(9)/L)occurs in 1%–2%of patients with liver cirrhosis and is associated with an increased risk of bleeding[1].In this clinical setting,there is no def...Introduction Severe thrombocytopenia(platelet count<50×10^(9)/L)occurs in 1%–2%of patients with liver cirrhosis and is associated with an increased risk of bleeding[1].In this clinical setting,there is no definite agreement on the platelet cut-off below which bleeding risk increases.However,in vitro evidence indicates that thrombin generation is preserved in patients with cirrhosis and platelet counts of>56×10^(9)/L[2].Observational studies found that severe thrombocytopenia may be predictive of post-procedure bleeding after liver biopsy,dental extractions,percutaneous ablation of liver tumors,and endoscopic polypectomy[3].展开更多
Introduction Epiploic appendagitis(EA)is an acute inflammation of the pedunculated mesenteric fat attached to the colonic surface,distinguished into two forms:primary EA,seemingly elicited by local ischaemic factors;a...Introduction Epiploic appendagitis(EA)is an acute inflammation of the pedunculated mesenteric fat attached to the colonic surface,distinguished into two forms:primary EA,seemingly elicited by local ischaemic factors;and secondary EA(SEA),elicited by the inflammation of the adjacent organs,with diverticulitis being the most common trigger[1].Few case series have described the association between SEA and inflammatory bowel disease(IBD);however,information about clinical,laboratory and imaging findings,outcomes,and the impact of IBD-specific therapy were not reported.We first report the case of a woman affected by ulcerative colitis(UC)who developed a SEA during vedolizumab therapy(Figure 1A).展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Direct-acting antiviral agents(DAAs)are highly effective treatment for chronic hepatitis C(CHC)with a significant rate of sustained virologic response(SVR).The achievement of SVR is crucial to prevent additional liver damage and slow down fibrosis progression.The assessment of fibrosis degree can be performed with transient elastography,magnetic resonance elastography or shear-wave elastography(SWE).Liver elastography could function as a predictor for hepato-cellular carcinoma(HCC)in CHC patients treated with DAAs.AIM To explore the predictive value of SWE for HCC development after complete clearance of hepatitis C virus(HCV).METHODS A comprehensive literature search of clinical studies was performed to identify the ability of SWE to predict HCC occurrence after HCV clearance.In accordance with the study protocol,a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the evidence was planned.RESULTS At baseline and after 12 wk of follow-up,a trend was shown towards greater liver stiffness(LS)in those who go on to develop HCC compared to those who do not[baseline LS standardized mean difference(SMD):1.15,95%confidence interval(95%CI):020-2.50;LS SMD after 12 wk:0.83,95%CI:0.33-1.98].The absence of a statistically significant difference between the mean LS in those who developed HCC or not may be related to the inability to correct for confounding factors and the absence of raw source data.There was a statist-ically significant LS SMD at 24 wk of follow-up between patients who developed HCC vs not(0.64;95%CI:0.04-1.24).CONCLUSION SWE could be a promising tool for prediction of HCC occurrence in patients treated with DAAs.Further studies with larger cohorts and standardized timing of elastographic evaluation are needed to confirm these data.
文摘Cirrhotic patients with severe thrombocytopenia are at increased risk of bleeding during invasive procedures.The need for preprocedural prophylaxis aimed at reducing the risk of bleeding in cirrhotic patients with thrombocytopenia who undergo scheduled procedures is assessed via the platelet count;however,establishing a minimum threshold considered safe is challenging.A platelet count≥50000/μL is a frequent target,but levels vary by provider,procedure,and specific patient.Over the years,this value has changed several times according to the different guidelines proposed in the literature.According to the latest guidelines,many procedures can be performed at any level of platelet count,which should not necessarily be checked before the procedure.In this review,we aim to investigate and describe how the guidelines have evolved in recent years in the evaluation of the minimum platelet count threshold required to perform different invasive procedures,according to their bleeding risk.
文摘The gut microbiota works in unison with the host,promoting its health.In particular,it has been shown to exert protective,metabolic and structural functions.Recent evidence has revealed the influence of the gut microbiota on other organs such as the central nervous system,cardiovascular and the endocrine-metabolic systems and the digestive system.The study of the gut microbiota is outlining new and broader frontiers every day and holds enormous innovation potential for the medical and pharmaceutical fields.Prevention and treatment of specific women’s diseases involves the need to deepen the function of the gut as a junction organ where certain positive bacteria can be very beneficial to health.The gut microbiota is unique and dynamic at the same time,subject to external factors that can change it,and is capable of modulating itself at different stages of a woman’s life,playing an important role that arises from the intertwining of biological mechanisms between the microbiota and the female genital system.The gut microbiota could play a key role in personalized medicine.
文摘Contrast enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)has been widely implemented in clinical practice because of the enormous quantity of information it provides,along with its low cost,reproducibility,minimal invasiveness,and safety of the secondgeneration ultrasound contrast agents.To overcome the limitation of CEUS given by the subjective evaluation of the contrast enhancement behaviour,quantitative analysis of contrast kinetics with generation of time-intensity curves has been introduced in recent years.The quantification of perfusion parameters[named as dynamic-CEUS(D-CEUS)]has several applications in gastrointestinal neoplastic and inflammatory disorders.However,the limited availability of large studies and the heterogeneity of the technologies employed have precluded the standardisation of D-CEUS,which potentially represents a valuable tool for clinical practice in management of gastrointestinal diseases.In this article,we reviewed the evidence exploring the application of D-CEUS in gastrointestinal diseases,with a special focus on liver,pancreas,and inflammatory bowel diseases.
文摘Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has several extrapulmonary symptoms.Gastrointestinal(GI)symptoms are among the most frequent clinical manifestations of COVID-19,with severe consequences reported in elderly patients.Furthermore,the impact of COVID-19 on patients with pre-existing digestive diseases still needs to be fully elucidated,particularly in the older population.This review aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the GI tract,liver,and pancreas in individuals with and without previous digestive diseases,with a particular focus on the elderly,highlighting the distinctive characteristics observed in this population.Finally,the effectiveness and adverse events of the anti-COVID-19 vaccination in patients with digestive disorders and the peculiarities found in the elderly are discussed.
文摘Chronic inflammation due to hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection leads to liver fibrosis and rearrangement of liver tissue,which is responsible for the development of portal hypertension(PH)and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).The advent of direct-acting antiviral drugs has revolutionized the natural history of HCV infection,providing an overall eradication rate of over 90%.Despite a significant decrease after sustained virological response(SVR),the rate of HCC and liver-related complications is not completely eliminated in patients with advanced liver disease.Although the reasons are still unclear,cirrhosis itself has a residual risk for the development of HCC and other PH-related complications.Ultrasound elastography is a recently developed non-invasive technique for the assessment of liver fibrosis.Following the achievement of SVR,liver stiffness(LS)usually decreases,as a consequence of reduced inflammation and,possibly,fibrosis.Recent studies emphasized the application of LS assessment in the management of patients with SVR in order to define the risk for developing the complications of chronic liver disease(functional decompensation,gastrointestinal bleeding,HCC)and to optimize long-term prognostic outcomes in clinical practice.
文摘In recent years,the traditional concept that cirrhosis-related coagulopathy is an acquired bleeding disorder has evolved.Currently,it is known that in cirrhotic patients,the hemostatic system is rebalanced,which involves coagulation factors,fibrinolysis and platelets.These alterations disrupt homeostasis,skewing it toward a procoagulant state,which can lead to thromboembolic manifestations,especially when hemodynamic and endothelial factors co-occur,such as in the portal vein system in cirrhosis.Portal vein thrombosis is a common complication of advanced liver cirrhosis that negatively affects the course of liver disease,prognosis of cirrhotic patients and success of liver transplantation.It is still debated whether portal vein thrombosis is the cause or the consequence of worsening liver function.Anticoagulant therapy is the mainstay treatment for acute symptomatic portal vein thrombosis.In chronic portal vein thrombosis,the role of anticoagulant therapy is still unclear.Traditional anticoagulants,vitamin K antagonists and low-molecular-weight heparin are standard-of-care treatments for portal vein thrombosis.In the last ten years,direct oral anticoagulants have been approved for the prophylaxis and treatment of many thromboembolicrelated diseases,but evidence on their use in cirrhotic patients is very limited.The aim of this review was to summarize the evidence about the safety and effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants for treating portal vein thrombosis in cirrhotic patients.
文摘BACKGROUND The use of umbilical venous catheters(UVCs)in the perinatal period may be associated with severe complications,including the occurrence of portal vein thrombosis(PVT).AIM To assess the incidence of UVC-related PVT in infants with postnatal age up to three months.METHODS A systematic and comprehensive database searching(PubMed,Cochrane Library,Scopus,Web of Science)was performed for studies from 1980 to 2020(the search was last updated on November 28,2020).We included in the final analyses all peer-reviewed prospective cohort studies,retrospective cohort studies and casecontrol studies.The reference lists of included articles were hand-searched to identify additional studies of interest.Studies were considered eligible when they included infants with postnatal age up to three months with UVC-associated PVT.Incidence estimates were pooled by using random effects meta-analyses.The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.The systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis(PRISMA)guidelines.RESULTS Overall,16 studies were considered eligible and included in the final analyses.The data confirmed the relevant risk of UVC-related thrombosis.The mean pooled incidence of such condition was 12%,although it varied across studies(0%-49%).In 15/16 studies(94%),diagnosis of thrombosis was made accidentally during routine screening controls,whilst in 1/16 study(6%)targeted imaging assessments were carried out in neonates with clinical concerns for a thrombus.Tip position was investigated by abdominal ultrasound(US)alone in 1/16(6%)studies,by a combination of radiography and abdominal US in 14/16(88%)studies and by a combination of radiography,abdominal US and echocardiography in 1/16(6%)studies.CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge,this is the first systematic review specifically investigating the incidence of UVC-related PVT.The use of UVCs requires a high index of suspicion,because its use is significantly associated with PVT.Well-designed prospective studies are required to assess the optimal approach to prevent UVCrelated thrombosis of the portal system.
文摘Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a chronic condition that requires continuous medical treatment.To date,the medical management of patients with moderatelyto-severely active IBD who develop dependence or resistance to corticosteroids is based on immunomodulator drugs.Such therapies are licenced after passing through three phases of randomized controlled trials(RCTs),and are subsequently adopted in clinical practice.However,the real-life population of IBD patients who require these therapies can significantly differ from those included in RCTs.As a matter of fact,there is a number of exclusion criteria–nearly ubiquitous in all RCTs–that prevent the enrolment of specific patients:Chronic refractory pouchitis or isolated proctitis in ulcerative colitis,short-bowel syndrome and stomas in Crohn’s disease,ileorectal anastomosis in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease,and elderly age are some representative examples.In this frontier article,we aim to give an overview of current literature on this topic,in order to address the main knowledge gaps that need to be filled in the upcoming years.
文摘Introduction Severe thrombocytopenia(platelet count<50×10^(9)/L)occurs in 1%–2%of patients with liver cirrhosis and is associated with an increased risk of bleeding[1].In this clinical setting,there is no definite agreement on the platelet cut-off below which bleeding risk increases.However,in vitro evidence indicates that thrombin generation is preserved in patients with cirrhosis and platelet counts of>56×10^(9)/L[2].Observational studies found that severe thrombocytopenia may be predictive of post-procedure bleeding after liver biopsy,dental extractions,percutaneous ablation of liver tumors,and endoscopic polypectomy[3].
文摘Introduction Epiploic appendagitis(EA)is an acute inflammation of the pedunculated mesenteric fat attached to the colonic surface,distinguished into two forms:primary EA,seemingly elicited by local ischaemic factors;and secondary EA(SEA),elicited by the inflammation of the adjacent organs,with diverticulitis being the most common trigger[1].Few case series have described the association between SEA and inflammatory bowel disease(IBD);however,information about clinical,laboratory and imaging findings,outcomes,and the impact of IBD-specific therapy were not reported.We first report the case of a woman affected by ulcerative colitis(UC)who developed a SEA during vedolizumab therapy(Figure 1A).
