Liver decompensation is a frequent cause of treatment discontinuation and prognostic factor in intermediate-advanced HCC.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: With the advent of new therapeutic options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for intermediate or advanced stages of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC), regional real-world data regarding prognostic survival factors are of significant importance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted in Latin America including BCLC B or C patients since 15th May 2018. We report here the second interim analysis focusing on prognostic variables and causes of treatment discontinuation. Cox proportional hazard survival analysis was performed, estimating hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: Overall, 390 patients were included, 55.1% and 44.9% were BCLC B and C at the time of study enrollment. Cirrhosis was present in 89.5% of the cohort. Among the BCLC-B group, 42.3% were treated with TACE with a median survival since the first session of 41.9 months. Liver decompensation before TACE was independently associated with increased mortality [HR 3.22 (CI 1.64;6.33); P<.001]. Systemic treatment was initiated in 48.2% of the cohort (n=188), with a median survival of 15.7 months. Of these, 48.9% presented first-line treatment discontinuation (44.4% tumor progression, 29.3% liver decompensation, 18.5% symptomatic deterioration, and 7.8% intolerance), and only 28.7% received second-line systemic treatments. Liver decompensation [HR 2.9 (1.64;5.29); P<.0001], and symptomatic progression [HR 3.9 (1.53;9.78); P=0.004] were independently associated with mortality after first-line systemic treatment discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: The complexity of these patients, with one-third presenting liver decompensation after systemic therapies, underlines the need for multidisciplinary team management and the central role of hepatologists.

Intervenciones educativas sobre nutrición y actividad física en niños de Educación Primaria: una revisión sistemática / Educational interventions on nutrition and physical activity in Primary Education children: a systematic review

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las intervenciones educativas en el entorno escolar, parecen la forma más efectiva de actuar contra la obesidad infantil. Los objetivos de esta revisión sistemática fueron, describir las intervenciones educativas sobre alimentación y/o actividad física llevadas a cabo en alumnos de Educación Primaria con el fin de disminuir o prevenir la obesidad infantil y analizar la eficacia de dichas intervenciones. METODOLOGÍA: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en las bases de datos WOS y SCOPUS. Los criterios de elegibilidad fueron esTablecidos en base al acrónimo PICOS: (P) niños de educación primaria (6-12 años), (I) estudios que llevaran a cabo intervenciones de nutrición y/o actividad física en el ámbito escolar, (C) no recibir ninguna intervención, (O) evaluar el efecto de los programas educacionales sobre la obesidad infantil, (S) estudios experimentales, publicados entre 2013 y 2017. RESULTADOS Y DISCUSIÓN: Se identificaron 571 artículos, y finalmente se incluyeron 22 estudios. Se encontró que las intervenciones más prometedoras fueron las combinadas. La duración, la participación de los padres, el sexo y nivel socioeconómico pueden influir en la efectividad de las intervenciones. Se observó una escasez de intervenciones teóricamente fundamentadas. CONCLUSIONES: Las intervenciones con mejores resultados son las combinadas, con actividades incluidas en el currículo y la participación de los padres. Las intervenciones a largo plazo parecen tener mejores resultados. Estos programas ayudan a la adquisición de hábitos saludables y existe cierta evidencia de que son útiles en la disminución del Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) o en la prevención de la obesidad infantil

INTRODUCTION: Educational interventions in the school environment seem the most effective way to act against childhood obesity. The objectives of this systematic review were to describe the educational interventions on nutrition and / or physical activity carried out in primary school students in order to reduce or prevent childhood obesity and analyze the effectiveness of these interventions. METHODOLOGY: A bibliographic search was carried out in the WOS and SCOPUS databases. Eligibility criteria were established based on the acronym PICOS: (P) primary school children (6-12 years), (I) studies that will carry out nutrition and / or physical activity interventions in the school setting, (C) not receive any intervention, (O) evaluate the effect of educational programs on childhood obesity, (S) experimental studies, published between 2013 and 2017. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 571 articles were identified, and finally 22 studies were included. It was found that the most promising interventions were the combined ones. Duration, parental involvement, gender and socioeconomic status can influence the effectiveness of interventions. A shortage of theoretically based interventions was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The interventions with the best results are the combined ones, with activities included in the curriculum and the participation of the parents. Long-term interventions seem to have better results. These programs help the acquisition of healthy habits and there is some evidence that they are useful in decreasing the Body Mass Index (BMI) or in the prevention of childhood obesity

The ECHO model proved to be a useful tool to increase clinicians' self-effectiveness for care of patients with Hepatitis C in Argentina.

The ECHO model was developed to expand access to medical care for populations with HCV infection in underserved areas. We aimed to compare HCV treatment outcomes in community-based clinics with the Austral University Hospital (AUH) and to assess improvement in physician knowledge and skills. In October 2015, we established an HCV ECHO clinic at the AUH in Buenos Aires. To evaluate the impact of this programme, we conducted a prospective cohort study comparing treatment for HCV infection at the AUH with healthcare providers from different Argentinean provinces. A survey evaluating skills and competence in HCV care was administered, and results were compared. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response (SVR) and under direct-acting antivirals. Since the implementation of ECHO clinics, a total of 25 physicians participated in at least one session (median 10.0; IQR 3.0-18.0). SVR rates (n = 437 patients) were 94.2% (95% CI 90.4-96.8) in patients treated at AUH clinic (n = 227/242) and 96.4% (95% CI 92.7-98.5) in those treated at ECHO sites (n = 188/195), with a nonsignificant difference between sites, 2.2% SVR difference (95% CI -0.24-0.06; P = 0.4). We also found a significant improvement in all the evaluated skills and abilities. Replicating the ECHO model helped to improve participants' skills in the management of HCV achieving similar SVR rates. ECHO model was demonstrated to be an effective intervention able to multiply and expand HCV treatment, a critical barrier to access to care that needs to be solved if we are committed with WHO goals to eliminate HCV by 2030.