Lean/normal-weight metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease is a risk factor for reflux esophagitis.

AIM: Reflux esophagitis is associated with metabolic dysfunction. Recently, fatty liver has been redefined as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). We investigated the impact of MAFLD and its subtypes on the incidence of reflux esophagitis. METHODS: This multicenter, observational cohort study enrolled 9100 consecutive health-check examinees who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and ultrasonography. All patients were classified into the MAFLD or non-MAFLD group. Based on the Asian cut-off value for body mass index (BMI), the MAFLD group was further classified into the lean/normal-weight (BMI <23 kg/m2 ) and overweight/obese (BMI ≥23 kg/m2 ) subgroups. The impact of MAFLD and its subtypes on the cumulative incidence of reflux esophagitis was evaluated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS: MAFLD was diagnosed in 26.5% (2416/9100) of patients. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated that MAFLD (hazard ratio [HR] 1.2183; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0954-1.3550; p = 0.0003), hiatal hernia, and aging were independent risk factors for reflux esophagitis. Stratification analysis indicated that cumulative incidence of reflux esophagitis among patients with MAFLD was significantly higher in the lean/normal-weight than in the overweight/obese group (HR 1.3274; 95% CI 1.0043-1.7547; p = 0.0466). Among various metabolic factors, visceral adiposity was the only independent metabolic risk factor for reflux esophagitis (HR 2.8331; 95% CI 1.0201-7.8691; p = 0.0457) in the lean/normal-weight MAFLD group. CONCLUSIONS: MAFLD, in particular lean/normal-weight MAFLD, is independent risk factor for reflux esophagitis. Furthermore, visceral adiposity was identified as the most strong metabolic risk factor for reflux esophagitis in lean/normal-weight patients with MAFLD.

Non-Obese MAFLD Is Associated with Colorectal Adenoma in Health Check Examinees: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Colorectal adenoma is linked to metabolic dysfunction. Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has a precise definition and three subtypes, including non-obese MAFLD. We aimed to investigate the impact of MAFLD on the prevalence of colorectal adenoma by comparing it to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in health check-up examinees. This is a multicenter retrospective study. We enrolled 124 consecutive health check-up examinees who underwent colonoscopy. NAFLD and MAFLD were present in 58 and 63 examinees, respectively. Colorectal adenoma was diagnosed by biopsy. The impact of the MAFLD definition on the prevalence of colorectal adenoma was investigated by logistic regression, decision-tree, and random forest analyses. In logistic regression analysis, MAFLD was identified as the only independent factor associated with the presence of colorectal adenoma (OR 3.191; 95% CI 1.494-7.070; p = 0.003). MAFLD was also identified as the most important classifier for the presence of colorectal adenoma in decision-tree and random forest analyses (29 variable importance value). Among the three subtypes of MAFLD, non-obese MAFLD was the sole independent factor associated with the presence of colorectal adenoma (OR 3.351; 95% CI 1.589-7.262; p ≤ 0.001). Non-obese MAFLD was also the most important classifier for the presence of colorectal adenoma in decision-tree and random forest analyses (31 variable importance value). MAFLD, particularly non-obese MAFLD, is the most important factor associated with the presence of colorectal adenoma rather than NAFLD. Colonoscopy examination should be considered in patients with MAFLD, especially those who are non-obese.

[Septic pulmonary embolism associated with Fournier's gangrene: a case report].

A 47-year-old man with diabetes visited our hospital complaining of high fever, nausea, and scrotal swelling with pain on 11 April, 2009. He was diagnosed with right epididymitis and given antibiotics. The scrotum ruptured by itself, and the inflammation rapidly spread to the right inguinal area on 19 April. We diagnosed him with Fournier's gangrene. The patient underwent right orchidectomy and debridement of the scrotal contents. Seven days after the operation, he developed a cough. A lung computed tomographic scan (CT) revealed bilateral pleural effusion and multiple nodular lesions. A septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) was diagnosed. We increased the dose of antibiotics and added a new one. After 10 days, a CT showed that the lesions had completely disappeared.

Renoprotective effect of the addition of losartan to ongoing treatment with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor in type-2 diabetic patients with nephropathy.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are frequently used for the treatment for glomerulonephritis and diabetic nephropathy because of their albuminuria- or proteinuria-reducing effects. To many patients who are nonresponsive to monotherapy with these agents, combination therapy appears to be a good treatment option. In the present study, we examined the effects of the addition of an ARB (losartan) followed by titration upon addition and at 3 and 6 months (n=14) and the addition of an ACE-I followed by titration upon addition and at 3 and 6 months (n=20) to the drug regimen treatment protocol in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy for whom more than 3-month administration of an ACE-I or the combination of an ACE-I plus a conventional antihypertensive was ineffective to achieve a blood pressure (BP) of 130/80 mmHg and to reduce urinary albumin to <30 mg/day. During the 12-month treatment, addition of losartan or addition of an ACE-I to the treatment protocol reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) by 10% and 12%, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 7% and 4%, and urinary albumin excretion by 38% and 20% of the baseline value, respectively. However, the effects on both BP and urinary albumin were not significantly different between the two therapies. In conclusion, addition of losartan or an ACE-I to an ongoing treatment with an ACE-I, or addition of an ACE-I to ongoing treatment with a conventional antihypertensive were equally effective at reducing the urinary albumin excretion and BP, and provided renal protection in patients with type-2 diabetic nephropathy.

Benefits of quantitative gated SPECT in evaluation of perioperative cardiac risk in noncardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Gated single-photon emission computed tomography (G-SPECT) was used to evaluate cardiac risk associated with noncardiac surgery and determine the benefits and indications of this technique for this type of surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients scheduled to undergo noncardiac surgery under the supervision of anesthesiologists and subjected to preoperative cardiac evaluation using G-SPECT during the 26-month period between June 2000 and August 2002 were followed for the presence/absence of cardiac events (i.e., cardiac death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, or fatal arrhythmia) during surgery and the postoperative period until discharged. Relationships between the occurrence of cardiac events and preoperative G-SPECT findings were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients underwent G-SPECT; 6 of the 39 exhibited abnormal ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEFor=50 ml). Surgery was suspended for three of these six patients and cardiac events developed in the remaining three patients. Both abnormal perfusion images (PI) and abnormal wall thickening (WT) were observed in all six patients. All six patients exhibited abnormal LVEF and/or ESV. Three patients had either abnormal PI or WT, and a cardiac event occurred in one of them. Of the five patients who experienced cardiac events during or after surgery, two exhibited a short run of ventricular tachycardia requiring a continuous administering of antiarrhythmic drugs, whereas the remaining three patients exhibited cardiac failure requiring inotropic support following surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the occurrence of perioperative cardiac events can be predicted by considering the severity of expected surgical stress and preoperative G-SPECT findings for LVEF, PI, and WT. We conclude that G-SPECT is quite useful for cardiac risk assessment in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Clinical feasibility of noncontrast-enhanced magnetic resonance lymphography of the thoracic duct.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The dilatation of the thoracic duct was previously demonstrated in liver cirrhosis by lymphangiography, endoscopic ultrasound, and at autopsy. The evaluation of the morphologic change of the thoracic duct may be important in assessing the altered lymphodynamics in liver cirrhosis. The objectives of this study were to determine which combination of posture and breathing phase during noncontrast-enhanced magnetic resonance lymphography (MRL) provided the clearest images, and to evaluate the morphologic changes in the thoracic duct in healthy volunteers and patients with liver disease and malignancy. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Community general hospital. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Twenty-three healthy volunteers and 113 patients underwent the MRL examination using a three-dimensional, half-Fourier, fast spin echo sequence on a 1.5-T, whole-body magnetic resonance system. The appropriate posture and breathing phase of MRL to obtain the best visualization was first determined by trial on 14 healthy volunteers. Morphologic changes of the thoracic ducts were evaluated in 23 healthy volunteers including the 14 healthy volunteers for the first trial and 113 patients using this appropriate method. The width of the thoracic ducts in both patients and volunteers was measured. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: MRL with respiratory gating in the supine position depicted the thoracic duct well and was the most comfortable for the subjects. In 82 of 113 patients (72.6%), the thoracic ducts were entirely visualized from the diaphragm level to the subclavian region. The remaining 31 patients had ducts that could not be entirely visualized due to sections or short lengths that were obscured. The maximum diameter was 3.74 +/- 0.81 mm in all healthy volunteers, 6.98 +/- 2.77 mm in alcoholic cirrhosis, 4.12 +/- 1.51 mm in nonalcoholic cirrhosis, 3.76 +/- 1.10 mm in malignancy, and 3.60 +/- 0.80 mm in chronic hepatitis (mean +/- SD). The diameter in alcoholic cirrhosis was significantly greater than in other groups (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory gating in the supine position is the best MRL method for acquiring the clearest images. This may be a good method of detecting morphologic changes in the thoracic duct. The patients with alcoholic cirrhosis showed a greater thoracic duct diameter than other groups.

Severe alcoholic hepatitis successfully treated by leukocytapheresis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of severe alcoholic hepatitis is poor, and there is no established method for a cure. METHODS: A 34-year-old man was admitted to Kurume University Hospital because of severe liver dysfunction due to excess alcohol intake. He was treated with prednisolone and two sessions of granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis (GCAP) using an Adacolumn, which removes leukocytes--especially granulocytes and monocytes--from the peripheral blood. We evaluated the changes in the serum levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, as well as the conventional liver tests and peripheral white blood cell count. RESULTS: Prednisolone was effective in the short term but resulted in an increase in C-reactive protein (CRP), peripheral leukocytes, and serum total bilirubin. GCAP performed on the 34th and 41st hospital days produced decreases in the white blood cell count, total bilirubin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1. The patient survived, despite the expected poor prognosis on admission. CONCLUSIONS: GCAP is recommended as a potential therapeutic option for severe alcoholic hepatitis.