Tale of the Frail: Understanding Frailty in Cirrhosis.

Frailty is a dynamic condition that results in increased vulnerability to health stressors. Often associated with older adults, frailty is not limited to the geriatric population, although aging and disease burden often go hand in hand. This syndrome is recognized increasingly as an important factor in healthcare costs, rate of adverse outcomes, and overall resource utilization. Frailty may be reversible to a degree, and thus appropriate recognition affords a focus for efficient intervention. Notably, frailty is becoming increasingly relevant in cirrhosis, and has been noted to be an independent predictor of outcomes in patients both before and after liver transplantation. Cirrhosis is currently the 12th leading cause of death in the United States, and its incidence is anticipated to markedly increase in the coming years with the aging of our population. With the anticipated surge in disease prevalence, liver disease care will likely shift from specialist-driven to a multidisciplinary approach between primary care physicians, internists, and hepatologists to adequately care for these patients. This review serves as a guide for clinicians to learn about frailty, its role in cirrhosis, and the current tools to educate patients and families about the importance of nutrition and physical exercise within this population.

Artificial intelligence compared with human-derived patient educational materials on cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: The study compared the readability, grade level, understandability, actionability, and accuracy of standard patient educational material against artificial intelligence chatbot-derived patient educational material regarding cirrhosis. METHODS: An identical standardized phrase was used to generate patient educational materials on cirrhosis from 4 large language model-derived chatbots (ChatGPT, DocsGPT, Google Bard, and Bing Chat), and the outputs were compared against a pre-existing human-derived educational material (Epic). Objective scores for readability and grade level were determined using Flesch-Kincaid and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook scoring systems. 14 patients/caregivers and 8 transplant hepatologists were blinded and independently scored the materials on understandability and actionability and indicated whether they believed the material was human or artificial intelligence-generated. Understandability and actionability were determined using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printable Materials. Transplant hepatologists also provided medical accuracy scores. RESULTS: Most educational materials scored similarly in readability and grade level but were above the desired sixth-grade reading level. All educational materials were deemed understandable by both groups, while only the human-derived educational material (Epic) was considered actionable by both groups. No significant difference in perceived actionability or understandability among the educational materials was identified. Both groups poorly identified which materials were human-derived versus artificial intelligence-derived. CONCLUSIONS: Chatbot-derived patient educational materials have comparable readability, grade level, understandability, and accuracy to human-derived materials. Readability, grade level, and actionability may be appropriate targets for improvement across educational materials on cirrhosis. Chatbot-derived patient educational materials show promise, and further studies should assess their usefulness in clinical practice.

Feasibility and reliability of the FibroScan S2 (pediatric) probe compared with the M probe for liver stiffness measurement in small adults with chronic liver disease.

BACKGROUND: The success of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography (TE, FibroScan) is influenced by anthropometric factors. In smaller adults, the M probe may fail due to narrow intercostals spaces and rib interference. We aimed to compare LSM using the FibroScan S2 (pediatric) probe with the M probe in small adults with chronic liver disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 41 liver disease patients and 18 controls with a thoracic perimeter ≤ 75 cm underwent LSM using the FibroScan M and S2 probes. TE failure was defined as no valid LSMs and unreliable examinations as < 10 valid LSMs, an interquartile range (IQR)/LSM > 30%, or success rate < 60%. RESULTS: TE failure was not observed and reliability did not differ between the M and S2 probes (86% vs. 95%; P = 0.20). Liver stiffness measured using the M and S2 probes was highly correlated (ρ = 0.81; P < 0.0005) and median liver stiffness did not differ between probes (4.5 vs. 4.4 kPa; P = 0.10). However, in participants with a skin-capsular distance ≥ 15 mm, median liver stiffness was higher using the S2 probe (5.5 vs. 4.9 kPa; P = 0.008). When compared with validated liver stiffness cut-offs, the S2 probe would have overestimated the stage of fibrosis compared with the M probe in 10% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The FibroScan S2 probe does not improve the feasibility of LSM in adults of smaller stature and may overestimate liver stiffness compared with the M probe. The FibroScan M probe should remain the preferred tool for LSM in small adults with chronic liver disease.

Liver Segment Disposition of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Predicts Microvascular Invasion.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. Findings of microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients with HCC have emerged as an important prognostic factor for poor survival after tumor resection. Aim: This study evaluated the relation between MVI and HCC within various anatomical Couinaud's segments of the liver. Method: A multicenter retrospective review of HCC records was conducted from 2012 to 2017. HCC cases were identified using ICD-9 and 10 codes 155, C22.0, and C22.8. HCC patients who underwent liver transplants were included in this study. Liver segment of the location of HCC was obtained from radiographic records, and MVI information was obtained from pathology reports. Segmental distributions of HCC in MVI versus non-MVI groups were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum tests. p value was set at <0.05. Results: We analyzed 120 HCC patients who underwent liver transplantation. The mean age of our cohort was 57 years, and the most common etiology of liver disease was hepatitis C at 58.3%. The median HCC size was 3.1 cm, and MVI was present in 23.3% of the explanted specimens. MVI was 2 to 3 times significantly higher in patients with HCC affecting segments 2 and 3 and segments 4b and 5 (p = 0.01). Moreover, median survival was significantly lower in patients with MVI versus those without MVI (50 vs. 137 months, p < 0.05). Conclusion: MVI was significantly higher in HCC tumors located in liver segments 2 and 3 and 4b and 5, and survival was lower in patients with MVI compared with those without.

Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Endoscopic Outcomes in Patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Over the past year, the novel coronavirus has been a topic of significant research. Multiple gastroenterological symptoms have been associated with this infection, in addition to the well-established pulmonary presentations. Gastrointestinal bleeding can be a complication of infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, which can be exacerbated by the anticoagulants used to treat its thrombotic sequelae. We describe the clinical cases of four patients infected with the novel coronavirus, with significant upper gastrointestinal bleeding requiring endoscopic visualization, along with their clinical outcomes.

Eosinophilic Colitis in Recurrent Sigmoid Volvulus.

Eosinophilic colitis (EC) falls along the spectrum of a series of inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders in which eosinophils infiltrate the gut without known tissue eosinophilia. Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders include eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastritis, and the least common EC. The presentation of EC is extremely variable in mucosal, submucosal, and transmural inflammation. We present a case of recurrent volvulus with histologic findings of eosinophilia.

Case Report: Zika Virus Meningoencephalitis and Myelitis and Associated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings.

Zika virus (ZIKV) has a wide clinical spectrum of associated neurologic disease including microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome but, despite its known neurotropism, ZIKV meningoencephalitis and myelitis have been rare complications. We describe a case of ZIKV meningoencephalitis and probable myelitis and its associated magnetic resonance imaging findings that rapidly resolved during recovery in a previously healthy adult.

The feasibility and reliability of transient elastography using Fibroscan®: a practice audit of 2335 examinations.

BACKGROUND: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using transient elastography is widely used in the management of patients with chronic liver disease. OBJECTIVES: To examine the feasibility and reliability of LSM, and to identify patient and operator characteristics predictive of poorly reliable results. METHODS: The present retrospective study investigated the frequency and determinants of poorly reliable LSM (interquartile range [IQR]/median LSM [IQR/M] >30% with median liver stiffness ≥7.1 kPa) using the FibroScan (Echosens, France) over a three-year period. Two experienced operators performed all LSMs. Multiple logistic regression analyses examined potential predictors of poorly reliable LSMs including age, sex, liver disease, the operator, operator experience (<500 versus ≥500 scans), FibroScan probe (M versus XL), comorbidities and liver stiffness. In a subset of patients, medical records were reviewed to identify obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2). RESULTS: Between July 2008 and June 2011, 2335 patients with liver disease underwent LSM (86% using the M probe). LSM failure (no valid measurements) occurred in 1.6% (n=37) and was more common using the XL than the M probe (3.4% versus 1.3%; P=0.01). Excluding LSM failures, poorly reliable LSMs were observed in 4.9% (n=113) of patients. Independent predictors of poorly reliable LSM included older age (OR 1.03 [95% CI 1.01 to 1.05]), chronic pulmonary disease (OR 1.58 [95% CI 1.05 to 2.37), coagulopathy (OR 2.22 [95% CI 1.31 to 3.76) and higher liver stiffness (OR per kPa 1.03 [95% CI 1.02 to 1.05]), including presumed cirrhosis (stiffness ≥12.5 kPa; OR 5.24 [95% CI 3.49 to 7.89]). Sex, diabetes, the underlying liver disease and FibroScan probe were not significant. Although reliability varied according to operator (P<0.0005), operator experience was not significant. In a subanalysis including 434 patients with body mass index data, obesity influenced the rate of poorly reliable results (OR 2.93 [95% CI 0.95 to 9.05]; P=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: FibroScan failure and poorly reliable LSM are uncommon. The most important determinants of poorly reliable results are older age, obesity, higher liver stiffness and the operator, the latter emphasizing the need for adequate training.

Liver stiffness by transient elastography predicts liver-related complications and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography (TE, FibroScan) is a validated method for noninvasively staging liver fibrosis. Most hepatic complications occur in patients with advanced fibrosis. Our objective was to determine the ability of LSM by TE to predict hepatic complications and mortality in a large cohort of patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS: In consecutive adults who underwent LSM by TE between July 2008 and June 2011, we used Cox regression to determine the independent association between liver stiffness and death or hepatic complications (decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation). The performance of LSM to predict complications was determined using the c-statistic. RESULTS: Among 2,052 patients (median age 51 years, 65% with hepatitis B or C), 87 patients (4.2%) died or developed a hepatic complication during a median follow-up period of 15.6 months (interquartile range, 11.0-23.5 months). Patients with complications had higher median liver stiffness than those without complications (13.5 vs. 6.0 kPa; P<0.00005). The 2-year incidence rates of death or hepatic complications were 2.6%, 9%, 19%, and 34% in patients with liver stiffness <10, 10-19.9, 20-39.9, and ≥40 kPa, respectively (P<0.00005). After adjustment for potential confounders, liver stiffness by TE was an independent predictor of complications (hazard ratio [HR] 1.05 per kPa; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.06). The c-statistic of liver-stiffness for predicting complications was 0.80 (95% CI 0.75-0.85). A liver stiffness below 20 kPa effectively excluded complications (specificity 93%, negative predictive value 97%); however, the positive predictive value of higher results was sub-optimal (20%). CONCLUSIONS: Liver stiffness by TE accurately predicts the risk of death or hepatic complications in patients with chronic liver disease. TE may facilitate the estimation of prognosis and guide management of these patients.