Clinical Outcomes of Medical Management Options for Chronic Anal Fissures in a Long-Term Follow-up: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Topical treatments and botulinum toxin injections are valid options for the management of patients with chronic anal fissures (CAF), but little is known about the efficacy of these techniques in long-term follow-up. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness, given to clinical outcomes, of medical treatments with calcium antagonists, nitroglycerin, and botulinum toxin on CAF treatment in adults. METHOD: A systemic review and meta-analysis developed according to PRISMA [PLoS Med. 2009 Jul 21;6(7):e1000100; BMJ. 2010 Mar 23;340:c332] and registered in PROSPERO (Registration number: CRD42020120386). A systematic literature search was conducted through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Randomized control trials that compared medical treatment were identified; publications had to have a clinical definition of CAF with at least one of the following signs or symptoms: visible sphincter fibers at the base of the fissure, anal papillae, sentinel piles, and indurated margins. The symptoms had to be chronic for at least 4 weeks. Data were independently extracted for each study, and a meta-analysis was drawn using fixed- and random-effects models. RESULTS: 17 randomized trials met the inclusion criteria. Diltiazem showed a superior effect compared with glycerin (RR = 1.16 [95% CI = 1.05-1.30]; I2 = 18%) and with fewer adverse effects (RR = 0.13 [95% CI = 0.04-0.042]; I2 = 87%). Similar results were evidenced with the use of nifedipine compared with lidocaine (RR = 4.53 [95% CI = 2.99-6.86]; I2 = 28%). Botulinum toxin did not show statistically significant differences compared to glycerin (RR = 0.81 [95% CI = 0.02-29.36]; I2 = 93%) or isosorbide dinitrate (RR = 1.45 [95% CI = 0.32-6.54]; I2 = 85%). Regarding recurrence, nifedipine was superior to lidocaine (RR = 0.18 [95% CI = 0.08-0.44]; I2 = 31%). CONCLUSIONS: Calcium channel blockers performed well regarding the healing of CAF when compared to others in long-term follow-up. The superiority of botulinum toxin was not evidenced compared to topical treatments. More studies are needed to better assess recurrence rates.

Doppler de la arteria oftálmica: un modelo para predicción de preeclampsia / Ophthalmic artery Doppler: a model for the prediction of preeclampsia

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: En México, la preeclampsia sigue siendo un problema de salud pública; en la actualidad es la principal causa de muerte materna. Su incidencia es de 47.3 casos por cada 1000 nacimientos. La preeclampsia trae consigo repercusiones en la madre y el feto; de ahí la necesidad de la validación de modelos de tamizaje efectivos que permitan su diagnóstico oportuno. La evaluación Doppler de la arteria oftálmica sigue siendo motivo de diversas investigaciones porque aporta información valiosa de los cambios hemodinámicos intracraneales que suceden, incluso, antes del curso sintomático de la enfermedad. OBJETIVO: Analizar las recomendaciones emitidas por diferentes autores que han evaluado la utilización del Doppler de la arteria oftálmica como modelo de tamizaje para la predicción y diagnóstico tempranos de preeclampsia. METODOLOGÍA: Estudio retrospectivo basado en la búsqueda exhaustiva en diferentes bases de datos de metanálisis y estudios clínicos aleatorizados que describieran, detalladamente, la población estudiada y los parámetros de la arteria oftálmica evaluados. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 22 publicaciones y en el cribado se excluyeron 8 artículos que estaban duplicados, 2 por no cumplir con los criterios de inclusión y 1 por encontrarse en otro idioma diferente al inglés; al final se revisaron 11 títulos y para complementar el tema de estudio se revisaron otros 60 artículos. CONCLUSIONES: La evaluación mediante Doppler de la arteria oftálmica es un examen simple, rápido, reproducible, seguro y no invasivo que puede incorporarse a la predicción y diagnóstico temprano de pacientes con alto riesgo de preeclampsia.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia remains a public health problem in Mexico and is currently the leading cause of maternal death. Its incidence is 47.3 cases per 1000 live births. Pre-eclampsia has consequences for the mother and the fetus, so there is a need to validate effective screening models for early diagnosis. Doppler assessment of the ophthalmic artery continues to be studied because it provides valuable information on intracranial hemodynamic changes that occur before the symptomatic course of the disease. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the recommendations of different authors who have evaluated the use of ophthalmic artery Doppler as a screening model in the prediction and early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective study based on the search exhaustive search of different databases of meta-analyses and randomized clinical trials describing in detail the population studied and the ophthalmic artery parameters evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-two publications were identified and after screening, 8 articles were excluded as duplicates, 2 for not meeting the inclusion criteria and 1 for being in a language other than English; finally, 11 titles were reviewed, and another 60 articles were reviewed to complement the study topic. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler evaluation of the ophthalmic artery is a simple, rapid, reproducible, safe, and noninvasive test that can be used to evaluate the ophthalmic artery.

Nueva fórmula para estimar creatininuria en población chilena / A new equation to predict urine creatinine values using data from Chilean population

Background: Evaluation of 24-hour collection accuracy is based on urinary creatinine excretion (UCr), usually using wide ranges indexed by weight. Equations that predict the expected UCr are also available. Aim: To generate an equation for estimating UCr in Chilean population and evaluate its performance in comparison to existing formulas. Material and Methods: A total of 464 24-hour urine collections from outpatients aged between 15 and 88 years old were used. Ninety percent of collections (n = 418) were randomly extracted to assess the association between absolute UCr values with sex, age, height and weight of participants. A formula was created to estimate the 24-hour UCr using a multiple linear regression model. In the remaining 10% of urine collections (n = 46), the performance of this formula and others reported in the literature were tested. Results: Age, sex and weight were significantly associated with 24-hour UCr values. The new equation was able to predict UCr values with a similar accuracy than CKD-EPI and Walser equations and outperformed other equations. Conclusions: Our equation developed with Chilean values predicts 24-hour UCr values accurately.

[A new equation to predict urine creatinine values using data from Chilean population]. / Nueva fórmula para estimar creatininuria en población chilena.

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of 24-hour collection accuracy is based on urinary creatinine excretion (UCr), usually using wide ranges indexed by weight. Equations that predict the expected UCr are also available. AIM: To generate an equation for estimating UCr in Chilean population and evaluate its performance in comparison to existing formulas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 464 24-hour urine collections from outpatients aged between 15 and 88 years old were used. Ninety percent of collections (n = 418) were randomly extracted to assess the association between absolute UCr values with sex, age, height and weight of participants. A formula was created to estimate the 24-hour UCr using a multiple linear regression model. In the remaining 10% of urine collections (n = 46), the performance of this formula and others reported in the literature were tested. RESULTS: Age, sex and weight were significantly associated with 24-hour UCr values. The new equation was able to predict UCr values with a similar accuracy than CKD-EPI and Walser equations and outperformed other equations. CONCLUSIONS: Our equation developed with Chilean values predicts 24-hour UCr values accurately.

Do albendazole-loaded lipid nanocapsules enhance the bioavailability of albendazole in the brain of healthy mice?

Neurocysticercosis is a neglected tropical disease that affects the central nervous system and is the most common cause of human epilepsy acquired in developing countries. Therapeutic failures attributed to medical management of neurocysticercosis with albendazole (ABZ) have been primarily linked to the poor drug absorption rate resulting in low drug level in plasma and brain tissue. The aim of the current work was to characterize and compare the brain pharmacokinetic behavior of ABZ formulated as a suspension or lipid nanocapsules (ABZ-LNCs) in healthy mice. The relative availability in brain tissue of the active metabolite ABZ sulphoxide increased 183% when ABZ was administered as LNCs, in relation to ABZ suspension. The parent drug was also detected for a short period of time. The bioavailability of ABZ in ABZ-LNCs treated mice increased more than 2 fold compared with ABZ suspension group. The enhanced drug brain exposure observed after administration of ABZ-LNCs to healthy mice has potential usefulness for the treatment of human neurocysticercosis.