Risk factors for development of early infectious and noninfectious complications in systemic lupus erythematosus patients undergoing major surgery.

Background We aimed to identify risk factors for early complications in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients undergoing major surgery. Methods We conducted a retrospective comparative cohort study including patients with SLE undergoing major surgery, and non-SLE patients matched 1:1. Main outcomes were development of infectious and noninfectious complications, and 30-day postoperative mortality. Results A total of 382 patients (191 SLE and 191 non-SLE) were included. Postoperative complications occurred in 82 (43%) SLE patients and 58 (30%) without SLE, ( p = 0.01). Variables associated with infectious complications in SLE patients: prednisone use (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.13-2.90), anemia (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.45-4.08), hypoalbuminemia (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.55-4.30) and lymphopenia (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.52-3.89), p < 0.05. Variables associated with noninfectious complications: anemia (OR, 1.93, 95% CI 1.03-3.64) and hypoalbuminemia (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.16-3.86), p < 0.05. Variables associated with any complication: SLEDAI-2K (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.01-1.20), nephritis (OR 10.08, 95% CI 1.21-83.63), aspirin use (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.19-6.02, p = 0.01), low C3 (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.06-3.80), anemia (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.39-5.18), hypoalbuminemia (OR 3.49, 95% CI 1.83-6.66) and lymphopenia (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.30-4.26), p < 0.05. More patients with SLE died (6% vs 1%, p = 0.02). Conclusions SLE patients present higher frequency of postoperative complications and mortality compared with non-SLE patients. Hypoalbuminemia, anemia, lymphopenia and aspirin use are independent risk factors.

Good clinical practice recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. An expert review from the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología.

INTRODUCTION: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is very prevalent in the general population, with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, requiring accurate diagnosis and treatment. AIM: The aim of this expert review is to establish good clinical practice recommendations for the diagnosis and personalized treatment of GERD. METHODS: The good clinical practice recommendations were produced by a group of experts in GERD, members of the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología (AMG), after carrying out an extensive review of the published literature and discussing each recommendation at a face-to-face meeting. This document does not aim to be a clinical practice guideline with the methodology such a document requires. RESULTS: Fifteen experts on GERD formulated 27 good clinical practice recommendations for recognizing the symptoms and complications of GERD, the rational use of diagnostic tests and medical treatment, the identification and management of refractory GERD, the overlap with functional disorders, endoscopic and surgical treatment, and GERD in the pregnant woman, older adult, and the obese patient. CONCLUSIONS: An accurate diagnosis of GERD is currently possible, enabling the prescription of a personalized treatment in patients with this condition. The goal of the good clinical practice recommendations by the group of experts from the AMG presented in this document is to aid both the general practitioner and specialist in the process of accurate diagnosis and treatment, in the patient with GERD.

[The Mexican consensus on gastroesophageal reflux disease. Part II]. / Consenso mexicano de enfermedad por relujo gastroesofágico. Parte II.

OBJECTIVE: To update the themes of endoscopic and surgical treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) from the Mexican Consensus published in 2002. METHODS: Part I of the 2011 Consensus dealt with the general concepts, diagnosis, and medical treatment of this disease. Part II covers the topics of the endoscopic and surgical treatment of GERD. In this second part, an expert in endoscopy and an expert in GERD surgery, along with the three general coordinators of the consensus, carried out an extensive bibliographic review using the Embase, Cochrane, and Medline databases. Statements referring to the main aspects of endoscopic and surgical treatment of this disease were elaborated and submitted to specialists for their consideration and vote, utilizing the modified Delphi method. The statements were accepted into the consensus if the level of agreement was 67% or higher. RESULTS: Twenty-five statements corresponding to the endoscopic and surgical treatment of GERD resulted from the voting process, and they are presented herein as Part II of the consensus. The majority of the statements had an average level of agreement approaching 90%. CONCLUSION: Currently, endoscopic treatment of GERD should not be regarded as an option, given that the clinical results at 3 and 5 years have not demonstrated durability or sustained symptom remission. The surgical indications for GERD are well established; only those patients meeting the full criteria should be candidates and their surgery should be performed by experts.

Comparison of the Effects of Endotracheal Intubation of Wistar Rats Using the Conventional Technique vs. a New Modified Technique Using a 3D Mouth-Piece.

AIMS: Endotracheal intubation in rats is challenging due to the difficult anatomical characteristics of the airway. The success rate at first attempt is low and airway damage is a common complication. We aimed to compare and evaluate the conventional intubation method with a modified procedure using an inclined plate, headlamp (700-Lumen), and 3D mouth-piece designed with a 20° curvature. Both techniques were conducted by laboratory personnel with and without previous experience in airway management of laboratory rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, we used 36 Wistar rats of both genders. Three groups of laboratory personnel (anesthesiologists, medical students, and laboratory technicians) performed both endotracheal intubation techniques, i.e., blind intubation at supine position and endotracheal intubation at 70° supine position with a 3D mouth-piece and direct illumination of the glottis. RESULTS: The modified technique had a significantly higher success rate and shorter procedure duration. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the procedure duration between personnel with and without previous training in airway management. CONCLUSION: Previous knowledge and experience in airway management are required when performing conventional endotracheal intubation; moreover, its success rate is low. Contrastingly, using proper instruments and the 3D mouth-piece facilitated easier and quicker airway management regardless of previous experience.

Comparative Study of Capillary Filtration Coefficient (Kfc) Determination by a Manual and Automatic Perfusion System. Step by Step Technique Review.

The purpose of calculating the capillary filtration coefficient is to experimentally evaluate edema formation in models of pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury. For many years, the obtaining of this coefficient implies a series of manual maneuvers during ex-vivo reperfusion of pulmonary arterial pressure, venous pressure and weight, as well as the calculation of the Kfc formula. Through automation, the calculation of capillary filtration coefficient could be easier and more efficient. To describe an automatic method designed in our laboratory to calculating the capillary filtration coefficient and compare with traditional determination of capillary filtration coefficient as gold standard method. An automatic three valve perfusion system was constructed, commanded by a mastery module connected to a graphical user interface. To test its accuracy, cardiopulmonary blocks of Wistar rats were harvested and distributed in manual (n=8) and automated (n=8) capillary filtration coefficient determination groups. Physiological parameters as pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary venous pressure, weight and capillary filtration coefficient were obtained. Results: Capillary filtration coefficient, pulmonary arterial pressure, venous arterial pressure shown no statistical significance difference between the groups. The automated perfusion system for obtaining Kfc was standardized and validated, giving reliable results without biases and making the process more efficient in terms of time and personal staff.

The Mexican consensus on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. / Consenso mexicano de la enfermedad por hígado graso no alcohólico.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects nearly one third of the population worldwide. Mexico is one of the countries whose population has several risk factors for the disease and its prevalence could surpass 50%. If immediate action is not taken to counteract what is now considered a national health problem, the medium-term panorama will be very bleak. This serious situation prompted the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología and the Asociación Mexicana de Hepatología to produce the Mexican Consensus on Fatty Liver Disease. It is an up-to-date and detailed review of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical forms, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease, whose aim is to provide the Mexican physician with a useful tool for the prevention and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Effects of Sildenafil and Tadalafil on Edema and Reactive Oxygen Species Production in an Experimental Model of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

BACKGROUND: Lung ischemia-reperfusion injury is characterized by formation of reactive oxygen species and cellular swelling leading to pulmonary edema and primary graft dysfunction. Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors could ameliorate lung ischemia-reperfusion injury by interfering in many molecular pathways. The aim of this work was to evaluate and compare the effects of sildenafil and tadalafil on edema and reactive oxygen species formation in an ex vivo nonhuman animal model of lung ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar rats were distributed, treated, perfused and the cardiopulmonary blocks were managed as follows: control group: immediate excision and reperfusion without pretreatment; ischemia reperfusion group: treatment with dimethylsulfoxide 0.9% and excision 1 hour later; sildenafil group: treatment with sildenafil (0.7 mg/kg) and excision 1 hour later; and tadalafil group: treatment with tadalafil (0.15 mg/kg) and excision 2 hours later. All cardiopulmonary blocks except control group were preserved for 8 hours and then reperfused. Pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary venous pressure, and capillary filtration coefficient were measured. Reactive oxygen species were measured. RESULTS: Edema was similar between control and sildenafil groups, but significantly greater in the ischemia-reperfusion (P ≤ .04) and tadalafil (P ≤ .003) groups compared with the sildenafil group. The malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in the sildenafil (P ≤ .001) and tadalafil (P ≤ .001) groups than the ischemia-reperfusion group. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of sildenafil, but not tadalafil, decreased edema in lung ischemia-reperfusion injury. Both drugs decreased reactive oxygen species formation in a lung ischemia-reperfusion injury model.

Achalasia--An Autoimmune Inflammatory Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Idiopathic achalasia is a disease of unknown etiology. The loss of myenteric plexus associated with inflammatory infiltrates and autoantibodies support the hypothesis of an autoimmune mechanism. Thirty-two patients diagnosed by high-resolution manometry with achalasia were included. Twenty-six specimens from lower esophageal sphincter muscle were compared with 5 esophagectomy biopsies (control). Immunohistochemical (biopsies) and flow cytometry (peripheral blood) analyses were performed. Circulating anti-myenteric autoantibodies were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence. Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection was determined by in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry. Histopathological analysis showed capillaritis (51%), plexitis (23%), nerve hypertrophy (16%), venulitis (7%), and fibrosis (3%). Achalasia tissue exhibited an increase in the expression of proteins involved in extracellular matrix turnover, apoptosis, proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines, and Tregs and Bregs versus controls (P < 0.001). Circulating Th22/Th17/Th2/Th1 percentage showed a significant increase versus healthy donors (P < 0.01). Type III achalasia patients exhibited the highest inflammatory response versus types I and II. Prevalence of both anti-myenteric antibodies and HSV-1 infection in achalasia patients was 100% versus 0% in controls. Our results suggest that achalasia is a disease with an important local and systemic inflammatory autoimmune component, associated with the presence of specific anti-myenteric autoantibodies, as well as HSV-1 infection.

Electrical stimulation therapy of the lower oesophageal sphincter for refractory gastro-oesophageal reflux disease - interim results of an international multicentre trial.

BACKGROUND: A previous single-centre study showed that lower oesophageal sphincter electrical stimulation therapy (LES-EST) in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients improves reflux symptoms and decreases oesophageal acid exposure. AIM: To evaluate safety and efficacy of LES-EST in GERD patients with incomplete response to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in a prospective, international, multicentre, open-label study. METHODS: GERD patients, partially responsive to PPIs, received LES-EST. GERD health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL), daily symptom diaries, quality of life scores, oesophageal acid exposure, and LES resting and residual pressure were measured before and after initiation of LES-EST. Stimulation sessions were optimised based on residual symptoms and oesophageal acid exposure. RESULTS: Forty-four patients were enrolled and 6-month data from 41 patients are available. Hiatal repair was performed in 16 patients. One device-related, one procedure-related and one unrelated severe adverse event were reported. GERD-HRQL improved from 31.0 (IQR 26.2-36.8) off-PPI and 16.5 (IQR 9.0-22.8) on-PPI to 4 (IQR 1-8) at 3-month and 5 (IQR 3-9) at 6-month follow-up (P < 0.0001 vs. on- and off-PPI). Oesophageal acid exposure (pH < 4.0) improved from 10.0% (IQR 7.5-12.9) to 3.8% (IQR 1.9-12.3) at 3 months (P = 0.0027) and 4.4% (IQR 2.2-7.2) at 6 months (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These interim results show an acceptable safety record of LES-EST to date, combined with good short-term efficacy in GERD patients who are partially responsive to PPI therapy. A remarkable reduction in regurgitation symptoms, without the risk of intervention-requiring dysphagia may prove to be an advantage compared with other anti-reflux procedures. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01574339.