Hepatitis C virus point-of-care microelimination approach in a vulnerable population in the South of Spain.

Background: Since the introduction of direct-acting antivirals, thousands of chronic hepatitis C patients have been successfully treated. However, vulnerable populations have a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and face barriers that impede their access to antivirals. We carried out an HCV microelimination program focused on vulnerable population groups in Malaga. Methods: People in drug addiction treatment centers and homeless shelters in Malaga who participated in the program between October 2020 and October 2021 were included. After providing participants with educational information on HCV, a dry drop test (DDT) was used to collect blood for subsequent screening for HCV infection. The participants who were diagnosed with HCV infection were scheduled for comprehensive healthcare assessments, including blood tests, ultrasonography, elastography, and the prescription of antivirals, all conducted in a single hospital visit. Sustained viral response (SVR) was analysed 12 weeks after end of treatment. Results: Of the 417 persons invited to participate, 271 (65%) agreed to participate in the program. These participants were screened for HCV infection and 28 of them were diagnosed with HCV infection (10%). These hepatitis C-infected patients had a mean age of 53 ± 9 years; 86% were males and 93% were or had been drug users. Among 23 patients with HCV infection, HCV genotype 1a predominated (74%). Medical exams showed that 19% (4/21) had advanced fibrosis (F3-4), and 5% (1/21) had portal hypertension. Finally, 23 infected patients received treatment with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir and SVR was confirmed in 22 patients (96%). Conclusions: Drug users and homeless people have a higher prevalence of HCV infection than the general population. The microelimination program with educational activity and screening tools achieved a high participation rate, easy healthcare access, and a high rate of SVR despite the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

The Metagenomic Composition and Effects of Fecal-Microbe-Derived Extracellular Vesicles on Intestinal Permeability Depend on the Patient's Disease.

The composition and impact of fecal-microbe-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) present in different diseases has not been analyzed. We determined the metagenomic profiling of feces and fecal-microbe-derived EVs from healthy subjects and patients with different diseases (diarrhea, morbid obesity and Crohn's disease (CD)) and the effect of these fecal EVs on the cellular permeability of Caco-2 cells. The control group presented higher proportions of Pseudomonas and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and lower proportions of Phascolarctobacterium, Veillonella and Veillonellaceae_ge in EVs when compared with the feces from which these EVs were isolated. In contrast, there were significant differences in 20 genera between the feces and EV compositions in the disease groups. Bacteroidales and Pseudomonas were increased, and Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Clostridium and Subdoligranum were decreased in EVs from control patients compared with the other three groups of patients. Tyzzerella, Verrucomicrobiaceae, Candidatus_Paracaedibacter and Akkermansia were increased in EVs from the CD group compared with the morbid obesity and diarrhea groups. Fecal EVs from the morbid obesity, CD and, mainly, diarrhea induced a significant increase in the permeability of Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, the metagenomic composition of fecal-microbe-derived EVs changes depending on the disease of the patients. The modification of the permeability of Caco-2 cells produced by fecal EVs depends on the disease of the patients.

Septotomía endoscópica del divertículo de Zenker mediante Stag-Beetle-KnifeTM: estudio observacional descriptivo y revisión de la literatura / Endoscopic septotomy of Zenker's diverticulum with Stag-Beetle Knife™: A descriptive observational study and literature review

Introducción: El divertículo de Zenker (DZ) es una protrusión de la mucosa hipofaríngea con una prevalencia de 2/100.000 habitantes. La clínica condiciona la necesidad del tratamiento, pudiendo ser quirúrgico o endoscópico. Este último, denominado septotomía o diverticulotomía endoscópica (DE), consiste en la disección del septo diverticular, pudiendo realizarse con distintos dispositivos disectores. Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio es evaluar la eficacia y seguridad de la DE mediante el dispositivo Stag-Beetle Knife™, así como realizar una revisión de la literatura para valorar el posicionamiento de la técnica en el panorama científico actual. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo que incluye pacientes intervenidos mediante DE con SB-Knife™ entre junio de 2017 y febrero de 2020. Revisión de la literatura de la evidencia disponible entre enero de 2013 y abril 2020 de la DE mediante la técnica con SB-Knife™ y sus variantes. Resultados: Se recopilaron 12 pacientes (66% varones) con una mediana de 70,5 años. El tamaño diverticular fue de 32,5mm de mediana y la remisión completa se objetivó en el 75% de los casos. Se realizaron 14 intervenciones con un éxito técnico del 92,8%. No se produjeron complicaciones graves. Se realizó una revisión de la literatura encontrando 13 trabajos de los cuales se incluyeron finalmente 8 (6 estudios retrospectivos, una serie de casos y un caso clínico). Conclusiones: En función de nuestra experiencia y a la bibliografía revisada, consideramos que la DE mediante SB-Knife™ es una técnica segura, eficaz y reproducible, pudiendo ser una mejor alternativa a la cirugía en pacientes con DZ.(AU)

Introduction: Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) is a protrusion of the hypopharyngeal mucosa with a prevalence of 2/100,000 inhabitants. The symptoms of the patients determine the need for treatment, which can be surgical or endoscopic. The latter, known as endoscopic septotomy or diverticulotomy (ED), this involves dissecting the diverticular septum, which can be performed with different dissection devices. AimThe aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ED with Stag-Beetle-Knife™ device, as well as to conduct a literature review to assess the position of the technique in the current scientific panorama. Material and methods: Descriptive retrospective study that includes patients who underwent ED with SB-Knife™ between June 2017 and February 2020. Literature review of the available evidence between January 2013 and April 2020 of ED with SB-Knife™ technique and its variants. Results: Twelve patients (66% male) with a median age of 70.5 years were collected. The median size of diverticular was 32.5mm and complete remission was observed in 75% of the cases. Fourteen interventions were performed with a technical success of 92.8. There were no serious complications. A literature review was carried out, finding 13 papers, of which 8 were finally included (6 retrospective studies, a series of cases and a clinical case). Conclusion: Based on our experience and the reviewed literature, we consider ED with SB-Knife™ is a safe, effective and reproducible technique, and may be a better alternative to surgery in patients with ZD.(AU)

Endoscopic septotomy of Zenker's diverticulum with Stag-Beetle Knife™: A descriptive observational study and literature review. / Septotomía endoscópica del divertículo de Zenker mediante Stag-Beetle-KnifeTM: estudio observacional descriptivo y revisión de la literatura.

INTRODUCTION: Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) is a protrusion of the hypopharyngeal mucosa with a prevalence of 2/100,000 inhabitants. The symptoms of the patients determine the need for treatment, which can be surgical or endoscopic. The latter, known as endoscopic septotomy or diverticulotomy (ED), this involves dissecting the diverticular septum, which can be performed with different dissection devices. AIM: The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ED with Stag-Beetle-Knife™ device, as well as to conduct a literature review to assess the position of the technique in the current scientific panorama. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive retrospective study that includes patients who underwent ED with SB-Knife™ between June 2017 and February 2020. Literature review of the available evidence between January 2013 and April 2020 of ED with SB-Knife™ technique and its variants. RESULTS: Twelve patients (66% male) with a median age of 70.5 years were collected. The median size of diverticular was 32.5mm and complete remission was observed in 75% of the cases. Fourteen interventions were performed with a technical success of 92.8. There were no serious complications. A literature review was carried out, finding 13 papers, of which 8 were finally included (6 retrospective studies, a series of cases and a clinical case). CONCLUSION: Based on our experience and the reviewed literature, we consider ED with SB-Knife™ is a safe, effective and reproducible technique, and may be a better alternative to surgery in patients with ZD.