Bariatric Surgery in Patients with Cirrhosis: Careful Patient and Surgery-Type Selection Is Key to Improving Outcomes.

PURPOSE: Previous reports suggest an increased mortality in cirrhotic patients undergoing bariatric surgery (BS). With advancements in management of BS, we aim to study the trends, outcomes, and their predictors in patients with cirrhosis undergoing BS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using the National Database from 2008 to 2013. Outcomes of BS in patients with cirrhosis were studied. In-hospital mortality, length of stay, and cost of care were compared between patients with no cirrhosis (NC), compensated cirrhosis (CC), and decompensated cirrhosis (DC). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to study the predictors of mortality. RESULTS: Of the 558,017 admissions of patients who underwent BS during the study period, 3086 (0.55%) had CC and 103 (0.02%) had DC. An upward trend of vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) utilization was seen during the study period. On multivariate analysis, mortality in CC was comparable with those in NC (aOR 1.88; CI 0.65-5.46); however, it was higher in DC (aOR 83.8; CI 19.3-363.8). Other predictors of mortality were older age (aOR 1.06; CI 1.04-1.08), male (aOR 2.59; CI 1.76-3.81), Medicare insurance (aOR 1.93; CI 1.24-3.01), lower income (aORs 0.44 to 0.55 for 2nd to 4th income quartile vs. 1st quartile), > 3 Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (aOR 5.30; CI 3.45-8.15), undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass as opposed to VSG (aOR 3.90; CI 1.79-8.48), and centers performing < 50 BS per year (aOR 5.25; CI 3.38-8.15). Length of stay and hospital cost were also significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis as compared with those with NC. CONCLUSION: Patients with compensated cirrhosis can be considered for bariatric surgery. However, careful selection of patients, procedure type, and volume of surgical center is integral in improving outcomes and healthcare utilization in patients with cirrhosis undergoing BS.

Anaemia is associated with monocyte activation in HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia has been linked with mortality in HIV infection. The mechanism of anaemia in the era of contemporary antiretroviral therapy is not understood. The aim of this study was to describe the association between anaemia and markers of immune activation and inflammation in a cohort of HIV-infected adults on stable antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy with HIV-1 RNA<1,000 copies/ml. Soluble and cellular markers of inflammation and immune activation were measured. Relationships between haemoglobin levels, anaemia (haemoglobin <13 g/dl for men and <12 g/dl for women) and mild anaemia (haemoglobin <14 g/dl for men and <13 g/dl for women) and these markers were explored using multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: Among the 147 participants, median age was 46 years, 78% were men, 68% were African American and 29% were Caucasian. Median body mass index (BMI) was 26.7 kg/m(2), nadir and current CD4(+) T-cell counts were 179 and 613 cells/mm(3), respectively, and 78% had HIV-1 RNA<50 copies/ml (range 20-600 copies/ml). Median (IQR) haemoglobin was 14.3 (13.1-15.1) g/dl; 14% were anaemic and 33% had at least mild anaemia. In multivariable analyses, mild anaemia was independently associated with female sex, older age, shorter duration of antiretroviral therapy, lower white blood cell count, higher platelet count, higher sCD14 and a greater number of CD14(dim)CD16(+) cells or 'patrolling' monocytes, which remained significant after further adjusting for race and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Having haemoglobin <14 g/dl for men and <13 g/dl for women was independently associated with monocyte activation (sCD14 and CD14(dim)CD16(+) cells) in HIV-infected adults on stable antiretroviral therapy.

Burden of Human Papillomavirus among Haitian Immigrants in Miami, Florida: Community-Based Participatory Research in Action.

Background. Haitian immigrant women residing in Little Haiti, a large ethnic enclave in Miami-Dade County, experience the highest cervical cancer incidence rates in South Florida. While this disparity primarily reflects lack of access to screening with cervical cytology, the burden of human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes virtually all cases of cervical cancer worldwide, varies by population and may contribute to excess rate of disease. Our study examined the prevalence of oncogenic and nononcogenic HPV types and risk factors for HPV infection in Little Haiti. Methods. As part of an ongoing community-based participatory research initiative, community health workers recruited study participants between 2007 and 2008, instructed women on self-collecting cervicovaginal specimens, and collected sociodemographic and healthcare access data. Results. Of the 242 women who contributed adequate specimens, the overall prevalence of HPV was 20.7%, with oncogenic HPV infections (13.2% of women) outnumbering nononcogenic infections (7.4%). Age-specific prevalence of oncogenic HPV was highest in women 18-30 years (38.9%) although the prevalence of oncogenic HPV does not appear to be elevated relative to the general U.S. population. The high prevalence of oncogenic types in women over 60 years may indicate a substantial number of persistent infections at high risk of progression to precancer.