Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C virus infection in the rural northeastern United States.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The majority of studies regarding hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevention, screening, and treatment have been conducted in urban populations, and it is unlikely that their findings are broadly generalizable to nonurban populations. This study aimed to measure the prevalence and risk factors of HCV infection in the rural northeastern United States (US) to provide further clinical guidance for HCV screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review of all patients older than 18 years evaluated at an integrated healthcare system, serving northern Pennsylvania and southern and central New York, who received first-time HCV screening from January 2014 to December 2019. RESULTS: 30,549 patients were screened, of which 1.7% were HCV antibody positive. From 2014 to 2018, the incidence of positive HCV antibody screening cases per 100,000 population increased two-fold from 18.1 in 2014 to 40.4 in 2018. The age of positive HCV antibody patients peaked at 29.13 (95% CI 26.15-31.77) and 59.93 (95% CI 58.71-61.17). Positive HCV antibody was associated with positive urine drug screen (OR 5.9; 95% CI 3.8-9.3), narcotic use (OR 25.4; 95% CI 8.7-77.8), and overdose (OR 17.5; 95% CI 3.0-184.6). CONCLUSIONS: In this rural northeastern US population, there is an increasing incidence of positive HCV screening with a bimodal age of distribution. Risk factors associated with opioid use reflect challenges to disease eradication in this population. We propose a one-time screening for persons aged 35 to 40 will aid in earlier HCV infection diagnosis and treatment in rural populations.

Clinical Utility of an Increase in Magnetic Resonance Elastography in Predicting Fibrosis Progression in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cross-sectional studies have shown that magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is accurate in the noninvasive detection of advanced fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, there are limited data on the longitudinal association between an increase in liver stiffness on MRE and fibrosis progression in NAFLD. Therefore, using a well-characterized prospective cohort of patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD, we aimed to examine the longitudinal association between a 15% increase in liver stiffness on MRE and fibrosis progression in NAFLD. APPROACH AND RESULTS: This prospective cohort study included 102 patients (62.7% women) with biopsy-proven NAFLD who underwent contemporaneous MRE and liver biopsy at baseline followed by a repeat paired liver biopsy and MRE assessment. The primary outcome was odds of fibrosis progression by one or more stage as assessed by the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network histologic scoring system. The mean (±SD) of age and body mass index (BMI) were 52 (±14) years and 32.6 (±5.3) kg/m2 , respectively. The median time interval between the two paired assessments was 1.4 years (interquartile range 2.15 years). The number of patients with fibrosis stages 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 27, 36, 12, 17, and 10, respectively. In unadjusted analysis, a 15% increase in MRE was associated with increased odds of histologic fibrosis progression (odds ratio [OR], 3.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-10.76; P = 0.0248). These findings remained clinically and statistically significant even after multivariable adjustment for age, sex, and BMI (adjusted OR, 3.36; 95% CI, 1.10-10.31; P = 0.0339). A 15% increase in MRE was the strongest predictor of progression to advanced fibrosis (OR, 4.90; 95% CI, 1.35-17.84; P = 0.0159). CONCLUSIONS: A 15% increase in liver stiffness on MRE may be associated with histologic fibrosis progression and progression from early fibrosis to advanced fibrosis.

Liver Stiffness Severity is Associated With Increased Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).1 Accurately assessing CVD risk in NAFLD patients is critical to improving clinical outcomes.1 Use of liver stiffness measurements to noninvasively assess for liver fibrosis is broadening, and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is the most accurate modality in NAFLD.2 However, the association between fibrosis severity on MRE and the degree of CVD risk is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether MRE-assessed liver fibrosis stage is associated with CVD risk determined by Framingham risk score (FRS) and coronary artery calcium (CAC).

Scoring Systems that Predict Mortality at Admission in End-stage Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND: Various scoring systems have been developed to assess the severity and survival in end-stage liver disease. AIM OF THE STUDY: Prospective study to compare and analyze the efficacy of scoring systems in predicting mortality in ESLD patients who present with cirrhosis specific complications to the emergency room. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, single point study was conducted over a two year period from September 2014 to August 2016 among 162 ESLD patients seeking admission to the emergency unit of Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai. Baseline investigations incorporated hemogram, liver biochemical parameters, coagulation parameters (PT/INR), serum creatinine, serum electrolytes and blood gas analysis, to calculate the CTP score, MELD, MELD-Na, MESO, iMELD, Updated MELD, UKELD, SOFA and APACHE II. Comparison of MELD snd non MELD scores were done between survivors and nonsurvivors. The mortality rate for the same admission was calculated. RESULTS: Of the 162 patients requiring emergency admision, 148 were men (91.4%). The median age of patients was 56 years (range 25-75 years). The cause for liver cirrhosis was alcohol followed by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and hepatitis B. The indications for emergency admissions were fever, tense ascites, reduced urine output and altered sensorium. Thirty patients (18.5%) expired during the same admission. The predictive accuracy of all scores for predicting mortality by ROC curves was between 0.7 and 0.8 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although, all scores appear to be equally good, simple scores like CTP and MELD is all that is required to ascertain the prognosis of patients seeking emergency admission. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Mangla N, Bokarvadia R, Jain M, Varghese J, Venkataraman J. Scoring Systems that Predict Mortality at Admission in End-stage Liver Disease. Indian J Crit Care Med 2019;23(10):445-448.

Seasonal dengue surge: Providers⬨tm) perceptions about the impact of dengue on patient volume, staffing and use of point of care testing in Indian emergency departments.

BACKGROUND: Global health emergencies, such as from diseases like dengue fever, can lead to rapid surges in visits to emergency departments. The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of dengue on factors that could impact emergency department flow, including patient volume and staffing, on Indian emergency departments. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of Indian emergency providers. Respondents were queried via online survey about a number of domains including practice environment, use of rapid testing, changes in ED volume and ED staffing adjustments occurring during dengue season. Data was analyzed using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We had a total of 210 respondents to our online survey. Less than half of respondents reported that their institutions used rapid point of care testing. When asked how dengue impacted ED flow, the most common response was that dengue increased the total number of ED visits (84%). Despite this increase, only about 32% of respondents reported that their institutions increased hospital staffing. In multivariate analysis, respondents at hospitals that experienced ED visit surges over 40% of baseline were more likely to also report that their institutions also increased staffing during this time (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.44-7.46). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that despite increases in visits during dengue season, ED providers noted that their EDs did not respond with staffing increases. More research is needed to better understand how emergency departments can adjust to dengue to provide optimal care for patients in India.

MRI Assessment of Treatment Response in HIV-associated NAFLD: A Randomized Trial of a Stearoyl-Coenzyme-A-Desaturase-1 Inhibitor (ARRIVE Trial).

Aramchol, an oral stearoyl-coenzyme-A-desaturase-1 inhibitor, has been shown to reduce hepatic fat content in patients with primary nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, its effect in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated NAFLD is unknown. The aramchol for HIV-associated NAFLD and lipodystrophy (ARRIVE) trial was a double-blind, randomized, investigator-initiated, placebo-controlled trial to test the efficacy of 12 weeks of treatment with aramchol versus placebo in HIV-associated NAFLD. Fifty patients with HIV-associated NAFLD, defined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-proton density fat fraction (PDFF) ≥5%, were randomized to receive either aramchol 600 mg daily (n = 25) or placebo (n = 25) for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was a change in hepatic fat as measured by MRI-PDFF in colocalized regions of interest. Secondary endpoints included changes in liver stiffness using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE), and exploratory endpoints included changes in total-body fat and muscle depots on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), whole-body MRI, and cardiac MRI. The mean (± standard deviation) of age and body mass index were 48.2 ± 10.3 years and 30.7 ± 4.6 kg/m2 , respectively. There was no difference in the reduction in mean MRI-PDFF between the aramchol group at -1.3% (baseline MRI-PDFF 15.6% versus end-of-treatment MRI-PDFF 14.4%, P = 0.24) and the placebo group at -1.4% (baseline MRI-PDFF 13.3% versus end-of-treatment MRI-PDFF 11.9%, P = 0.26). There was no difference in the relative decline in mean MRI-PDFF between the aramchol and placebo groups (6.8% versus 1.1%, P = 0.68). There were no differences in MRE-derived and VCTE-derived liver stiffness and whole-body (fat and muscle) composition analysis by MRI or DXA. Compared to baseline, end-of-treatment aminotransferases were lower in the aramchol group but not in the placebo arm. There were no significant adverse events. Conclusion: Aramchol, over a 12-week period, did not reduce hepatic fat or change body fat and muscle composition by using MRI-based assessment in patients with HIV-associated NAFLD (clinicaltrials.gov ID:NCT02684591).

Viral hepatitis screening in transgender patients undergoing gender identity hormonal therapy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Viral hepatitis is a global health issue and can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Guidelines for viral hepatitis screening in the transgender population do not exist. Transgender patients may be at higher risk for contracting viral hepatitis due to socioeconomic and behavioral factors. The aim of this study was to measure the quality of screening, prevalence, and susceptibility of viral hepatitis, and to identify barriers to screening in transgender patients undergoing gender identity hormonal therapy. METHODS: LGBTQ-friendly clinic visits from transgender patients older than 18 years in New York City from 2012 to 2015 were reviewed. RESULTS: Approximately 13% of patients were screened for any viral hepatitis on initial consultation. Screening rates for hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis A virus (HAV) at any point were 27, 22, and 20%. HAV screening was performed in 28% of the female to male (FtM) patients and 16% of male to female (MtF) (P<0.05) patients. HBV screening was performed in 30% of FtM patients and 18% of MtF patients (P<0.05). Thirty-one percent of FtM, 24% of MtF, and 17% of genderqueer patients were tested for HCV (P>0.05). Prevalence of HCV, HBV, and HIV in FtM was 0, 0, and 0.44% and that in MtF was 1.78, 0.89, and 1.78%, respectively. Percentage of patients immune to hepatitis A in FtM and MtF subgroups were 55 and 47% (P>0.05). Percentage of patients immune to HBV in FtM and MtF subgroups were 54 and 48% (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study indicates a significant lack of hepatitis screening in the transgender population and a concerning proportion of patients susceptible to disease.

Pemetrexed-Associated Eyelid Edema: Effective Treatment by Excision of Lymphedematous Eyelid Tissue.

Pemetrexed is an antimetabolite agent that inhibits multiple folate-requiring enzymes and is used in the treatment of mesothelioma and non-small-cell lung cancer. One of its toxicities is isolated cutaneous swelling affecting the eyelids and/or orbit. The pathologic assessment or its management has not been addressed to date. Herein, the authors report a case of a 77-year-old woman treated with pemetrexed for non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma who developed persistent, severe bilateral lower eyelid swelling for several months, despite compresses and oral diphenhydramine. Elective excision was performed with good results and no recurrence after 6 months' follow up. Histopathologically, the excised tissue showed changes typical of dermatochalasis with dissolution of collagen and elastic bundles and marked dilation of lymphatic vessels. The combination of pre-existing, localized lymphatic failure and capillary leakage secondary to pemetrexed therapy can explain the onset and worsening swelling with successive rounds of chemotherapy.

Treatment of consecutive exotropia: unilateral lateral rectus recession combined with medial rectus advancement or resection.

PURPOSE: Consecutive exotropia presents a difficult clinical problem, especially when previously recessed medial recti are to be strengthened. Surgical options include advancement, typically with a small resection, and resection alone. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed records of all patients who underwent a second two-muscle surgery on a single eye for consecutive exotropia. Patients with paralytic strabismus and those with less than 1 month of postoperative follow-up were excluded. In 2003, one of the authors began medial rectus resections without advancements in most cases, whereas a second author continued to perform advancements. Two treatment groups were thus reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-two patients qualified for inclusion, including 23 for the resection group and 19 for the advancement group. Preoperative deviations were similar (P = .35, 95% confidence interval: -2.64 to 9.82). Postoperative deviations averaged 11.4 prism diopters (PD) in the resection group and 11.5 PD in the advancement group (P = .98, 95% confidence interval: -12.2 to 12.3). Forty-eight percent of the resection group and 63% of the advancement group achieved alignment within 10 PD of orthophoria (P = .33, 95% confidence interval: -9.0% to 39%). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical results were favorable following both techniques. Although both techniques appear to be adequate, resection of previously recessed medial recti may be preferable because they allow use of standard surgical tables and avoid advancement of inflamed tissue into the palpebral fissure.