Development of a herbal mouthwash containing a mixture of essential oils and plant extracts and in vitro testing of its antimicrobial efficiency against the planktonic and biofilm-enclosed cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans.

A herbal mouthwash containing essential oils of holy basil and mountain tea, extracts of St John's wort and European goldenrod (Bucovia™) and cetylpyridinium chloride, was developed and in vitro tested for its efficiency against biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans, together with its eradicating activity against already preformed (48 h with saccharose) streptococcal biofilm. The minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of the final formulation, as well as of its individual components, were initially determined. The results revealed that the mouthwash needed to be applied at two-times its MIC (0.63% v.v-1) to completely inhibit biofilm formation by S. mutans, which was otherwise capable of developing a robust biofilm on the tested surface. Once fully developed, the matrix of the biofilm was found to contain a significant amount of exopolysaccharides protecting the cells, being impossible to eradicate even when exposed to pure mouthwash for 15 min, highlighting the great recalcitrance of biofilm-embedded S. mutans.

Pneumatic dilation for functional helix stenosis after sleeve gastrectomy: long-term follow-up (with videos).

BACKGROUND: A large number of patients who undergo laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy present with surgical complications. Stenosis, in particular, occurs in .7%-4% of cases. OBJECTIVES: To report our experience, results, and long-term follow-up after pneumatic dilation of late functional helix stenosis after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. SETTING: Multicenter study led by an endoscopic tertiary referral center. METHODS: Thirty-five patients were dilated initially at 30 mm. Thirteen out of 35 patients underwent a second dilation up to 35 mm. Only 8 patients underwent a third pneumatic dilation up to 40 mm. The stricture was localized in the mid-body of the sleeve in 32 patients overall; 3 had narrowing adjacent to the cardia. Eleven twists formed an acute angle between the 2 segments of the stomach, whereas 24 angles were obtuse. Seven out of 35 patients presented with persistent dilated pouch above the twist. Two patients were lost to follow-up. Overall outcome at an average follow-up of 15.5 months after primary surgery (range 7-49 mo) was as follows: 12 clinical failures and 1 technical failure (40%) and 60% (20 out of 33) clinical success. CONCLUSION: Pneumatic dilation of late functional helix stricture is an effective technique for treatment of dysphagia in the majority of patients treated. Complete helix stricture, defined in function of the angle within twist, as well as the presence of a persistently dilated gastric pouch above the kinking, seems to be correlated with higher failure rates.

Double Pigtail Stent Insertion for Healing of Leaks Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. Our Experience (with Videos).

BACKGROUND: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is complicated by a leak in 0-4.3% of cases. Treatment by fully covered stents has been reported to be associated with some life-threatening complications. We report our experience of insertion of double pigtail stents. METHODS: Thirty-three patients (20M, 43 years-20/65), presenting with a leak at an average of 10 days after RYGB (4-35), were treated by double pigtail stent insertion and a nasojejunal feeding tube. Sixty percent of these patients had undergone surgical drainage prior to stenting for control of sepsis. Thirty leaks were located at the top of staple line and three at the gastro-jejunal anastomosis. At a 4-weekly follow-up, ablation or re-stenting was performed depending on status of fistula closure and patients were placed on normal diet. RESULTS: At the first follow-up, 10/33 fistulae healed, one patient presented with clinical failure (3%) and needed surgery, and 22/33were re-stented. Twenty-one out of these 22 developed a secondary sub-clinical gastro-gastric fistula and one, instead, developed complex (gastro-gastric, gastro-colic) fistula. All (22) primary fistulae healed following four more weeks of treatment. Average treatment duration was of 61 days (28-99). Thirty-two patients (97%) at a follow-up of 1-33 months are asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Leaks following RYGB can be successfully and safely managed by double pigtail stents. Upper gastric staple line leaks are responsible for the formation of a secondary sub-clinic gastro-gastric fistula which needs no additional treatment.

Prognostic value of C-reactive protein levels in patients with cirrhosis.

I dentifying cirrhosis with a poor short-term prognosis remains crucial for improving the allocation of liver grafts. The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic value of a model combining the variation of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels within 15 days, the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, and the presence of comorbidities in patients with decompensated cirrhosis with a Child-Pugh score > B7 and to test the relevance of this model in patients with compensated cirrhosis. We collected data for cirrhotic patients without hepatocellular carcinoma, extrahepatic malignancy, human immunodeficiency virus infection, organ transplantation, seen between January 2010 and December 2011. Multivariate analyses of predictors of 3-month mortality used Cox models adjusted with the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index. The prognostic performance [area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs)] of the 3-variable model was compared to that of the MELD score. The 241 patients who met the inclusion criteria included 109 patients with a Child-Pugh score > B7 who were hospitalized for decompensation. In these patients with severe cases, the 3-month mortality was independently predicted by the MELD score [hazard ratio (HR), 1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-1.14; P < 0.001] and a CRP level > 32 mg/L at the baseline and on day 15 (HR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.03-4.76; P = 0.042). This model was better than MELD alone (AUROC, 0.789 versus 0.734; P = 0.043). In the whole population with cirrhosis, the 3-month mortality was also predicted by high MELD scores (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.07-1.16; P < 0.001) and a CRP level > 10 mg/L at the baseline and on day 15 (HR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.29-6.48; P < 0.001), but the AUROCs of the 3-variable model and the MELD score alone were no longer significantly different (0.89 versus 0.88, not significant). In conclusion, prognostic models incorporating variations in CRP predict 3-month mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Such models are particularly relevant for patients with decompensated cirrhosis but provide a limited increase in prediction in comparison with the MELD score in the whole population with cirrhosis.

Loss of hepatitis B surface antigen in a real-life clinical cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance is the main indicator of viral cure in patients infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). We sought to identify the parameters associated with HBsAg loss in a well-characterized real-life clinical cohort of chronically HBV-infected patients. METHODS: Patients with chronic HBV infection were prospectively included, classified according to the disease stage, and followed up to determine parameters associated with HBsAg clearance. RESULTS: In total, 315 patients were followed up for a mean of almost 6 years. At study entry, 109 (34.6%) were inactive HBsAg carriers, 204 (64.8%) had chronic active hepatitis (CAH), and two (0.6%) were immune-tolerant carriers. During follow-up, 128 (62.7%) of the 204 patients with CAH received antiviral therapy. Sixty-nine had HBeAg-positive CAH: 55 (79.7%) were treated and 14 (20.3%) untreated. One hundred thirty-five had HBeAg-negative CAH: 73 (54.1%) were treated and 62 (45.9%) untreated. Inactive carriers showed an annual HBsAg clearance incidence rate of 23.4 cases per 1000 persons-years, which was higher than that of CAH groups. The clearance incidence rates (in cases per 1000 persons-years) of CAH groups were: treated HBeAg-positive (20.7), untreated HBeAg-positive (19.1), treated HBeAg-negative (10.1), and untreated HBeAg-negative (8.1). Older age (P = 0.001) and inactive carrier status (P = 0.019) were independent predictors of HBsAg clearance. CONCLUSION: In a well-characterized real-life clinical cohort of chronically HBV-infected patients in various disease phases, older age, and inactive HBsAg carrier status were the only predictors of HBsAg clearance, whereas anti-HBV therapy only marginally increased annual incidence of HBsAg loss.

Improved survival of cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding over the decade 2000-2010.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Advances in the management of variceal bleeding (VB) have been highlighted recently. We aimed at assessing whether changing the management of VB has improved the outcome (mortality and rebleeding rates). METHODS: The files of two cohorts (n=57, 2000-2001 and n=64, 2008-2009) of patients referred to our university center were reviewed after a cross-searching using two coding systems. Data were recorded during the six months after VB. RESULTS: As compared to 2000-2001, more use of general anesthesia (25.4% vs. 11.1%; P=0.049), band ligations (96.1% vs. 71.4%; P=0.001), octreotide (95.3% vs. 80.7%; P=0.012) and antibiotic prophylaxis (93.8% vs. 82.5%; P=0.09) were performed in 2008-2009, whereas the number of red-cell units transfused during the hospital stay (4.3 ± 3.2 vs. 7.1 ± 5.7; P=0.005) decreased. Surprisingly, more than 60% of patients reached the emergency department from home without medical assistance in both periods. In 2008-2009, patients had more comorbidities and no patients underwent early-TIPS but the 6-week mortality rate (24.6% vs.10.9%; P=0.048) was lower. The 6-week mortality was associated with high MELD score (HR=1.13; 95%CI: 1.08-1.18) and hypovolemic shock (HR=5.36; 95%CI: 1.96-14.67) at admission. In multivariate analysis adjusted on MELD and comorbidities, the 2008-2009 period (HR: 0.42; 95%CI: 0.20-0.87; P=0.02) was associated with a lower 6-month mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: Although cirrhotic patients with VB had more comorbidities in 2008-2009 and received no early-TIPS, their prognosis has improved during this last decade concomitantly to a more intensive care and a lower transfusion strategy.

Endoscopic Internal Drainage with Enteral Nutrition (EDEN) for treatment of leaks following sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic treatment of gastric leaks (GL) following sleeve gastrectomy (SG) involves different techniques; however, standard management is not yet established. We report our experience about endoscopic internal drainage of leaks using pigtail stents coupled with enteral nutrition (EDEN) for 4 to 6 weeks until healing is achieved. METHODS: In 21 pts (18 F, 41 years), one or two plastic pigtail stents were delivered across the leak 25.6 days (4-98) post-surgery. In all patients, nasojejunal tube was inserted. Check endoscopy was done at 4 to 6 weeks with either restenting if persistent leak, or removal if no extravasation of contrast in peritoneal cavity, or closure with an Over-the-Scope Clip® (OTSC®) if contrast opacifying the crossing stent without concomitant peritoneal extravasation. RESULTS: Twenty-one out of 21 (100 %) patients underwent check endoscopy at average of 30.15 days (26-45) from stenting. In 7/21 (33.3 %) patients leak sealed, 2/7 needed OTSC®. Second check endoscopy, 26.7 days (25-42) later, showed sealed leak in 10 out 14; 6/10 had OTSC®. Four required restenting. One patient, 28 days later, needed OTSC®. One healed at 135 days and another 180 days after four and seven changes, respectively. One patient is currently under treatment. In 20/21 (95.2 %), GL have healed with EID treatment of 55.5 days (26- 180); all are asymptomatic on a normal diet at average follow-up of 150.3 days (20-276). CONCLUSIONS: EDEN is a promising therapeutic approach for treating leaks following SG. Multiple endoscopic sessions may be required.

Plasma copeptin, a possible prognostic marker in cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND & AIM: Copeptin, secreted stoichiometrically with vasopressin, demonstrated its prognostic role in various diseases other than cirrhosis. METHODS: We investigated the association between severity of cirrhosis and plasma concentrations of copeptin, and the prognostic value of copeptin in 95 non-septic cirrhotic patients (34 Child-Pugh A, 29 CP-B, 32 CP-C), 30 septic patients with a Child-Pugh >8 ('group D'), and 16 healthy volunteers. Patients were followed for at least 12 months to assess the composite endpoint death/liver transplantation. RESULTS: Median copeptin concentrations (interquartile range) increased through healthy volunteers group [5.95 (3.76-9.43) pmol/L] and 'group D' patients [18.81 (8.96-36.66) pmol/L; P < 0.001)]. During a median follow-up of 11.0 ± 6.1 months, 28 non-transplanted patients died and eight were transplanted. In receiver operated characteristic curves analysis, the area under the curve values were as follows: Child-Pugh score 0.80 (95% CI: 0.71-0.86), model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score 0.80 (0.70-0.86), C-reactive protein (CRP) 0.71 (0.60-0.80) and copeptin 0.70 (0.57-0.79). By stratifying the values of these variables into tertiles, the risk of death/liver transplantation for patients belonging to the highest tertile of copeptin (>13 pmol/L) was high (Log-rank test: P = 0.0002) and 2.3-fold higher than for patients with lower concentrations after adjusting for MELD score (>21) and CRP (>24 mg/L) in a Cox model. Other potential predictors (age, total cholesterol, natraemia and serum free cortisol) did not reach a significant level. CONCLUSION: In cirrhotic patients, copeptin concentrations increased along with the severity of liver disease. In our cohort, the 1-year mortality or liver transplantation was predicted by high MELD score and high concentrations of CRP and copeptin.

Endoscopic placement of fully covered self expanding metal stents for management of post-operative foregut leaks.

BACKGROUND: Fully covered self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) placement has been successfully described for the treatment of malignant and benign conditions. The aim of this study is to evaluate our experience of fully covered SEMS placement for post-operative foregut leaks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was done for indications, outcomes and complications of SEMS placed in homogeneous population of 15 patients with post-operative foregut leaks in our tertiary-care centre from December 2008 to December 2010. Stent placement and removal, clinical and radiological evidence of leak healing, migration and other complications were the main outcomes analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-three HANAROSTENT(®) SEMS were successfully placed in 14/15 patients (93%) with post-operative foregut leaks for an average duration of 28.73 days (range=1-42 days) per patient and 18.73 days per SEMS. Three (20%) patients needed to be re-stented for persistent leaks ultimately resulting in leak closure. Total 5/15 (33.33%) patients and 7/23 (30.43%) stents showed migration; 5/7 (71.42%) migrated stents could be retrieved endoscopically. There were mucosal ulceration in 2/15 (13.33%) and pain in 1/15 (6.66%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Stenting with SEMS seems to be a feasible option as a primary care modality for patients with post-operative foregut leaks.

A sessile (diminutive) polyp within a sigmoid diverticulum--EMR or observe?

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a well-established technique for excision of colo-rectal polyps, which can be technically challenging when the polyp is inside a diverticulum, as colonic perforation may easily occur due to the lack of muscular coats. Here we report, to our knowledge, the first case of sessile (diminutive) polyp inside a diverticulum being successfully removed entirely by EMR.