Cirugía Pancreática: Rol de la evaluación nutricional como parte del manejo interdisciplinario / Pancreatic Surgery: Role of nutritional assessment as part of interdisciplinary management

El soporte nutricional óptimo en el campo de la cirugía pancreática aún es objeto de debate. Se buscó evaluar la importancia de la evaluación nutricional en pacientes con resecciones pancreáticas. Análisis retrospectivo de una base de datos prospectiva. Se realizó evaluación nutricional sistemática. Las variables analizadas fueron, tiempo de estadía hospitalaria y en UTI, complicaciones y mortalidad. No se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas usando test de forma aislada. Sin embargo la asociación de desnutrición severa por más de un test se asoció a un aumento significativo en la mortalidad post-operatoria. La evaluación interdisciplinaria de los pacientes con tumores bilio-pancreáticos, debe incluir una adecuada valoración del estado nutricional para identificar aquellos con mayor riesgo

The optimal nutritional support in pancreatic surgery is still under debate. We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective data base. Systematic nutritional assessment was performed. Length of hospital stay and in ICU, morbidityand mortality, were analyzed. We didn't find significative differences between any of the nutritional test. However, patients with severe malnutrition in different tests were associated with higher mortality. Interdisciplinary management of patients with biliopancreatic tumors should include an adequate nutritional evaluation to identify high risk patients.

Adherence to Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer therapeutic algorithm for hepatocellular carcinoma in the daily practice: a multicenter cohort study from Argentina.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Adherence to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging algorithm for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma is challenging in the daily practice. We aimed to analyze adherence to BCLC along with its effect on patient survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort study was conducted in 14 hospitals from Argentina including patients with newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma (2009-2016). Adherence was considered when the first treatment was the one recommended by the BCLC. RESULTS: Overall, 708 patients were included. At diagnosis, BCLC stages were as follows: stage 0 4%, A 43%, B 22%, C 9% and D 22%. Overall, 53% of the patients were treated according to BCLC, 24% were undertreated, and 23% overtreated. Adherence to BCLC increased to 63% in subsequent treatments. Independent factors associated with adherence to BCLC were the presence of portal hypertension [odds ratio: 1.63; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-2.39] and BCLC stage C (odds ratio: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.12-0.72). In a multivariable model adjusting for portal hypertension and BCLC stages, adherence to BCLC showed improved survival (hazard ratio: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.52-0.87). CONCLUSION: Adherence to BCLC represents a challenge in the daily practice, with almost half of the patients being treated accordingly, showing that the decision-making process should be tailored to each individual patient.

Fatty liver disease, an emerging etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in Argentina.

AIM: To investigate any changing trends in the etiologies of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Argentina during the last years. METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted by 14 regional hospitals starting in 2009 through 2016. All adult patients with newly diagnosed HCC either with pathology or imaging criteria were included. Patients were classified as presenting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) either by histology or clinically, provided that all other etiologies of liver disease were ruled out, fatty liver was present on abdominal ultrasound and alcohol consumption was excluded. Complete follow-up was assessed in all included subjects since the date of HCC diagnosis until death or last medical visit. RESULTS: A total of 708 consecutive adults with HCC were included. Six out of 14 hospitals were liver transplant centers (n = 484). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 27.7%. Overall, HCV was the main cause of liver disease related with HCC (37%) including cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients, followed by alcoholic liver disease 20.8%, NAFLD 11.4%, cryptogenic 9.6%, HBV 5.4% infection, cholestatic disease and autoimmune hepatitis 2.2%, and other causes 9.9%. A 6-fold increase in the percentage corresponding to NAFLD-HCC was detected when the starting year, i.e., 2009 was compared to the last one, i.e., 2015 (4.3% vs 25.6%; P < 0.0001). Accordingly, a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus was present in NAFLD-HCC group 61.7% when compared to other than NAFLD-HCC 23.3% (P < 0.0001). Lower median AFP values at HCC diagnosis were observed between NAFLD-HCC and non-NAFLD groups (6.6 ng/mL vs 26 ng/mL; P = 0.02). Neither NAFLD nor other HCC etiologies were associated with higher mortality. CONCLUSION: The growing incidence of NAFLD-HCC documented in the United States and Europe is also observed in Argentina, a confirmation with important Public Health implications.

[De novo malignant tumors following liver transplantation. A single-center experience in Argentina]. / Tumores malignos de novo en el trasplante hepático. Experiencia de un centro en la Argentina.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence and clinical features of de novo tumors in patients undergoing liver transplantation in our center as well as to assess survival. We retrospectively analyzed 168 liver transplantations (159 patients) performed from May 2006 to May 2014. The incidence of de novo tumors was 7.5% (n = 12). The mean age at diagnosis was 63 ± 7 years. The most frequent neoplasms were non melanoma skin tumors and adenocarcinomas. Fifty percent of the tumors developed in the second and third year after transplantation. Type of immunosuppression did not influence tumoral type, although most patients receive tacrolimus in combination with mycofenolate and/or corticoids. The mean duration of follow-up after diagnosis of the tumor was 25 ± 29 months (range 0-76) and the mortality was 41%. The actuarial probability of survival at 1 and 5 years was 83 and 55%, respectively. De novo tumors are frequent after liver transplantation and their clinical course differs from that in the general population. Because their clinical course is more aggressive, regular follow up of these patients is essential for early diagnosis.

Tumores malignos de novo en el trasplante hepático experiencia de un centro en la Argentina

El objetivo del presente trabajo ha sido evaluar la incidencia y las características clínicas de los tumores aparecidos de novo en los pacientes sometidos a trasplante hepático, como así también su supervivencia. Para ello, analizamos en forma retrospectiva los 168 trasplantes hepáticos realizados en 159 pacientes adultos en el período mayo 2006 hasta mayo 2014, encontrando una incidencia de neoplasia de novo de 7.5% (n = 12). La edad media en el momento del diagnóstico fue de 63 ± 7 años. Las neoplasias más frecuentes fueron las de piel no melanoma y adenocarcinomas. El 50% de las neoplasias se desarrollaron en el segundo y tercer año postrasplante. El tipo de inmunosupresión no influyó en el tipo de tumor; sin embargo, debemos destacar que la mayor parte de los pacientes recibieron tacrolimus, micofenolato y/o corticoides. El tiempo medio de seguimiento tras el diagnóstico del tumor fue 25 ± 29 meses (0-76), y la tasa de mortalidad fue de un 41% (5/12 pacientes IC95%,15-72).La supervivencia global luego del trasplante a 1 y 5 años, calculada por análisis de Kaplan-Meier, fue de 83 y 55%, respectivamente. Los tumores de novo son frecuentes luego del trasplante hepático y presentan un patrón evolutivo diferente al de la población general. Teniendo en cuenta esta evolución más agresiva, es fundamental el seguimiento periódico en estos pacientes para realizar un diagnóstico lo más precoz posible.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence and clinical features of de novo tumors in patients undergoing liver transplantation in our center as well as to assess survival. We retrospectively analyzed 168 liver transplantations (159 patients) performed from May 2006 to May 2014. The incidence of de novo tumors was 7.5% (n = 12). The mean age at diagnosis was 63 ± 7 years. The most frequent neoplasms were non melanoma skin tumors and adenocarcinomas. Fifty percent of the tumors developed in the second and third year after transplantation. Type of immunosuppression did not influence tumoral type, although most patients receive tacrolimus in combination with mycofenolate and/or corticoids. The mean duration of follow-up after diagnosis of the tumor was 25 ± 29 months (range 0-76) and the mortality was 41%. The actuarial probability of survival at 1 and 5 years was 83 and 55%, respectively. De novo tumors are frequent after liver transplantation and their clinical course differs from that in the general population. Because their clinical course is more aggressive, regular follow up of these patients is essential for early diagnosis.

Macrófago y oxido nítrico en la tripanosomiasis americana / Macrophage and nitric oxide in american tripanosomiasis

La enfermedad de Chagas es la más grave enfermedad parasitaria de américa Latina y su impacto social y económico es mayor que el impacto combinado de otras enfermadades parasitarias incluida la malaria. Muchos individuos no se detectan en la fase aguda de la enfermedad y progresan a una fase crónica, en la que el paciente se encuentra discapasitado, siendo un porblema para la sociedad productiva. Los antecedentes de la enfermedad y el papel protagónico del macrófago durante su fase aguda, mediado por óxido nítrico (NO), así como el conocimiento de diversas cepas del parasito, ha postulado a esta célula y al NO como claves en la relación hospedero-parásito, al menos experimentalmente. Dada la complejidad de esta interacción, cualquier alteración en la cantidad o calidad de la producción de citoquinas que dirigen la acción del fagocito puede ser indicador del desarrollo de evasión por parte del parásito y de la evolución de la infección a la fase crónica de la enfermedad