Budesonide as first-line treatment in patients with autoimmune hepatitis seems inferior to standard predniso(lo)ne administration.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In patients with non-severe acute or chronic autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) without cirrhosis, clinical practice guidelines recommend indistinct use of prednisone or budesonide. However, budesonide is infrequently used in clinical practice. We aimed to describe its use and compare its efficacy and safety with prednisone as first-line options. APPROACH AND RESULTS: This was a retrospective, multicenter study of 105 naive AIH patients treated with budesonide as the first-line drug. The control group included 276 patients treated with prednisone. Efficacy was assessed using logistic regression and validated using inverse probability of treatment weighting propensity score. The median time to biochemical response (BR) was 3.1 months in patients treated with budesonide and 4.9 months in those with prednisone. The BR rate was significantly higher in patients treated with prednisone (87% vs. 49% of patients with budesonide, p < 0.001). The probability of achieving BR, assessed using the inverse probability of treatment weighting propensity score, was significantly lower in the budesonide group (OR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.11-0.38) at any time during follow-up, and at 6 (OR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.29-0.89) and 12 months after starting treatment (0.41; 95% CI: 0.23-0.73). In patients with transaminases <2 × upper limit of normal, BR was similar in both treatment groups. Prednisone treatment was significantly associated with a higher risk of adverse events (24.2% vs. 15.9%, p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: In the real-life setting, the use of budesonide as first-line treatment is low, and it is generally prescribed to patients with perceived less disease activity. Budesonide was inferior to prednisone as a first-line drug but was associated with fewer side effects.

Validation of the INCREMENT-SOT-CPE score in a large cohort of liver transplant recipients with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales infection.

BACKGROUND: Management of infections due to carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients remains a difficult challenge. The INCREMENT-SOT-CPE score has been specifically developed from SOT recipients to stratify mortality risk, but an external validation is lacking. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective cohort study of liver transplant (LT) recipients colonized with CRE infection who developed infection after transplant over 7-year period. Primary endpoint was all-cause 30-day mortality from infection onset. A comparison between INCREMENT-SOT-CPE and other selected scores was performed. A two-level mixed effects logistic regression model with random effects for the center was fitted. Performance characteristics at optimal cut-point were calculated. Multivariable Cox regression analysis of risk factors for all-cause 30-day mortality was carried out. RESULTS: Overall, 250 CRE carriers developed infection after LT and were analyzed. The median age was 55 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 46-62) and 157 were males (62.8%). All-cause 30-day mortality was 35.6%. A sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score ≥ 11 showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of 69.7%, 76.4%, 62.0%, 82.0%, and 74.0%, respectively. An INCREMENT-SOT-CPE ≥ 11 reported a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 73.0%, 62.1%, 51.6%, 80.6% and 66.0%, respectively. At multivariable analysis acute renal failure, prolonged mechanical ventilation, INCREMENT-SOT-CPE score ≥ 11 and SOFA score ≥ 11 were independently associated with all-cause 30-day mortality, while a tigecycline-based targeted regimen was found to be protective. CONCLUSIONS: Both INCREMENT-SOT-CPE ≥ 11 and SOFA ≥ 11 were identified as strong predictors of all-cause 30-day mortality in a large cohort of CRE carriers developing infection after LT.

Implementation and impact of an antibiotic control program and multidrug-resistant bacterial colonization in a liver transplant unit.

INTRODUCTION: infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant patients. OBJECTIVE: a retrospective single-center study was performed to evaluate the implementation of an Antimicrobial Treatment Optimization Program (PROA) on multidrug-resistant bacteria colonization and infection after liver transplant (LT). METHODS: colonization by multidrug-resistant bacteria and infections during the first year after a liver transplant were analyzed in a group of 76 transplanted patients in two stages, before and after PROA (2016-2019). Clinical variables related to infection, readmissions and survival one year after the liver transplant were analyzed. RESULTS: there was good adherence to the PROA. Infection was the most frequent cause for readmission during the first year after the liver transplant. Incidence of infections was similar during both periods (mean of 1.25 and 1.5 episodes of bacterial infection per patient/year, respectively) with 19 bacterial infectious episodes, six by hospital-acquired multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant (MDR-XDR) bacteria in the pre-PROA stage, and 18 bacterial infectious episodes, five by MDR-XDR in the post-PROA stage. A 37 % decrease of post-TH of rectal colonization by MDR-XDR after liver transplant was observed during 2019. CONCLUSIONS: epidemiological surveillance policies and antibiotic optimization are key to control the increase of colonization and infection by multidrug-resistant bacteria in liver transplant units. Long-term studies are needed to better evaluate the impact of these programs.

Altered Activity and Expression of Cytosolic Peptidases in Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The role of peptidases in carcinogenic processes and their potential usefulness as tumor markers in colorectal cancer (CRC) have been classically attributed to cell-surface enzymes. The objective of the present study was to analyze the activity and mRNA expression of three cytosolic peptidases in the CRC and to correlate the obtained results with classic histopathological parameters for tumor prognosis and survival. METHODS: The activity and mRNA levels of puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA), aminopeptidase B (APB) and pyroglutamyl-peptidase I (PGI) were measured by fluorimetric and quantitative RT-PCR methods in colorectal mucosa and tumor tissues and plasma samples from CRC patients (n=81). RESULTS: 1) PSA and APB activity was higher in adenomas and carcinomas than in the uninvolved mucosa. 2) mRNA levels of PSA and PGI was lower in tumors. 3) PGI activity in CRC tissue correlated negatively with histological grade, tumor size and 5-year overall survival of CRC patients. 4) Higher plasmatic APB activity was independently associated with better 5-year overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that cytosolic peptidases may be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis and point to the determination of this enzymes as a valuable method in the determination of CRC prognosis.

Liver Support With Albumin Dialysis Reduces Hepatitis C Virus Viremia and Facilitates Antiviral Treatment of Severe Hepatitis C Virus Recurrence After Liver Transplantation.

Patients with severe hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) present an ominous prognosis, rarely achieving sustained virological response (SVR). Dialysis procedures may transiently decrease the HCV viral load, but the effect of albumin dialysis is currently unknown. Here, we evaluated the impact of albumin dialysis using the Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) used as a co-adjuvant antiviral treatment for severe HCV recurrence after LT. Thirteen patients (11 males, median age 48 years) with fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis or METAVIR fibrosis score ≥ F3 with severe portal hypertension underwent three consecutive MARS sessions. Antiviral therapy was initiated in 11 patients within 24 h after the MARS sessions. A contemporary cohort of seven patients who did not follow the MARS protocol is shown for comparison. MARS treatment resulted in consistent decreases of viral load from 7.59 log10 IU/mL [6.15-8.90] to 6.79 log10 IU/mL [5.18-7.84] (P = 0.003) as well as in decreases of serum bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (all P < 0.05). The overall rate of SVR was 0% in the Control group and 54.6% in patients initiating antiviral therapy within 24 h after MARS. Survival at 1 and 3 years was, respectively, 93% and 70% in patients undergoing MARS, compared with 29% and 14% in the Control group (P = 0.001). No major adverse events related to MARS treatment were observed. In conclusion, the use of MARS may facilitate the achievement of SVR and improve the prognosis of patients with severe HCV-recurrence after LT by reducing viral load and improving liver function prior to antiviral therapy.

Aminopeptidase N activity predicts 5-year survival in colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Aminopeptidase N (APN; EC 3.4.11.2) is a membrane dimeric metallopeptidase involved in differentiation, development, and proliferative processes of several tissues. Recent studies have demonstrated the increased expression and activity of this enzyme in several cancers. However, there are no available data about the impact of this peptidase in the biological aggressiveness and the survival of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. METHODS: The activity and mRNA expression of APN in tumor tissue (n = 81) and plasma (n = 40) of patients with CRC of low and high grades and stages were prospectively analyzed by fluorimetric and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction methods. Data obtained in adenoma and CRC were compared with those from the surrounding normal mucosa. Classic clinical and pathological parameters were stratified following APN data and analyzed for 5-year survival. RESULTS: mRNA levels of APN (ANPEP) were lower in colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas than in the surrounding uninvolved mucosa (Kruskal-Wallis, P < 0.001). Aminopeptidase N activity in CRC tissue was higher in patients with better overall survival (log-rank P < 0.05, Cox analysis P < 0.05). By contrast, higher plasmatic APN activity correlated with worse overall survival (log-rank P < 0.01, Cox analysis P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Aminopeptidase N activity in tissue and plasma from CRC patients is an independent prognostic factor of 5-year survival. The determination of APN activity levels in the plasma may be a safe, minimally invasive, and inexpensive way to define the aggressiveness of CRC in daily practice.

Dipeptidyl-peptidase IV activity is correlated with colorectal cancer prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.5) (DPPIV) is a serine peptidase involved in cell differentiation, adhesion, immune modulation and apoptosis, functions that control neoplastic transformation. Previous studies have demonstrated altered expression and activity of tissue and circulating DPPIV in several cancers and proposed its potential usefulness for early diagnosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The activity and mRNA and protein expression of DPPIV was prospectively analyzed in adenocarcinomas, adenomas, uninvolved colorectal mucosa and plasma from 116 CRC patients by fluorimetric, quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical methods. Results were correlated with the most important classic pathological data related to aggressiveness and with 5-year survival rates. Results showed that: 1) mRNA levels and activity of DPPIV increased in colorectal neoplasms (Kruskal-Wallis test, p<0.01); 2) Both adenomas and CRCs displayed positive cytoplasmic immunostaining with luminal membrane reinforcement; 3) Plasmatic DPPIV activity was lower in CRC patients than in healthy subjects (Mann-U test, p<0.01); 4) Plasmatic DPPIV activity was associated with worse overall and disease-free survivals (log-rank p<0.01, Cox analysis p<0.01). CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: 1) Up-regulation of DPPIV in colorectal tumors suggests a role for this enzyme in the neoplastic transformation of colorectal tissues. This finding opens the possibility for new therapeutic targets in these patients. 2) Plasmatic DPPIV is an independent prognostic factor in survival of CRC patients. The determination of DPPIV activity levels in the plasma may be a safe, minimally invasive and inexpensive way to define the aggressiveness of CRC in daily practice.

Implantación e impacto de un programa de control antibiótico y colonización por bacterias multirresistentes en una unidad de trasplante hepático / Implementation and impact of an antibiotic control program and multidrug-resistant bacterial colonization in a liver transplant unit

Introducción: las infecciones por bacterias multirresistentes constituyen una importante causa de morbimortalidad pre coz en los pacientes trasplantados.Propósito: se presenta un estudio unicéntrico, retrospectivo, con objetivo de evaluar la implantación de un programa de optimización del uso de antibióticos y de control epidemio lógico (PROA) en la colonización e infección por bacterias multirresistentes tras el trasplante hepático (TH).Métodos: se analizaron la colonización por bacterias multi rresistentes y las infecciones en el primer año postrasplante hepático (post-TH) en un grupo de 76 pacientes trasplanta dos en dos etapas, anterior y posterior al PROA, entre los años 2016 y 2019. Se analizaron variables clínicas relacio nadas con infección, reingresos y supervivencia a un año.Resultados: se produjo una buena adherencia al PROA. Las infecciones en el primer año post-TH fueron la causa más fre cuente de reingreso. La incidencia de infecciones fue similar en ambos periodos, con una media de 1,25 y 1,5 episodios de infección bacteriana por paciente/año con 19 episodios infecciosos bacterianos, seis por bacterias multirresistentes y de resistencia extendida (MDR-XDR) en la etapa pre-PROA y 18 episodios infecciosos bacterianos, cinco por MDR-XDR. en la etapa posterior. Se objetivó un descenso del 37 % post TH de colonización rectal por MDR-XDR durante el año 2019.Conclusión: las políticas de vigilancia epidemiológica y optimización de antibióticos son necesarias como estrategia de control del incremento de colonización e infección por bac terias multirresistentes en unidades de trasplante hepático. Son necesarios estudios a largo plazo para evaluar mejor el impacto de estos programas (AU)