Patients with cirrhosis in the ED: early predictors of infection and mortality.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cirrhosis have high risk of bacterial infections and cirrhosis decompensation, resulting in admission to emergency department (ED). However, there are no criteria developed in the ED to identify patients with cirrhosis with bacterial infection and with high mortality risk. STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to identify variables from ED arrival associated with bacterial infections and inhospital mortality. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-center study using a tertiary hospital's database to identify consecutive ED patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Clinical variables and laboratory results were obtained by chart review. Logistic regression models were built to determine variables independently associated with bacterial infection and mortality. Scores using these variables were designed. RESULTS: One hundred forty-nine patients were enrolled, most of them males (77.9%) with alcoholic cirrhosis (53%) and advanced liver disease (Child-Pugh C, 47.2%). Bacterial infections were diagnosed in 72 patients (48.3%), and 36 (24.2%) died during hospital stay. Variables independently associated with bacterial infection were lymphocytes less than or equal to 900/mm(3) (odds ratio [OR], 3.85 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.47-10]; P = .006) and C-reactive protein greater than 59.4 mg/L (OR, 5.05 [95% CI, 1.93-13.2]; P = .001). Variables independently associated with mortality were creatinine greater than 1.5 mg/dL (OR, 4.35 [95% CI, 1.87-10.1]; P = .001) and international normalized ratio greater than 1.65 (OR, 3.71 [95% CI, 1.6-8.61]; P = .002). Scores designed to predict bacterial infection and mortality (Mortality in Cirrhosis Emergency Department Score) had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.82 and 0.801, respectively. The Mortality in Cirrhosis Emergency Department Score performed better than Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of ED patients with decompensated cirrhosis, lymphopenia and elevated C-reactive protein were related to bacterial infections, and elevated creatinine and international normalized ratio were related to mortality. Scores built with these variables should be prospectively validated.

Behavioral improvement and regulation of molecules related to neuroplasticity in ischemic rat spinal cord treated with PEDF.

Pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) exerts trophic actions to motoneurons and modulates nonneuronal restorative events, but its effects on neuroplasticity responses after spinal cord (SC) injury are unknown. Rats received a low thoracic SC photothrombotic ischemia and local injection of PEDF and were evaluated behaviorally six weeks later. PEDF actions were detailed in SC ventral horn (motor) in the levels of the lumbar central pattern generator (CPG), far from the injury site. Molecules related to neuroplasticity (MAP-2), those that are able to modulate such event, for instance, neurotrophic factors (NT-3, GDNF, BDNF, and FGF-2), chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPG), and those associated with angiogenesis and antiapoptosis (laminin and Bcl-2) and Eph (receptor)/ephrin system were evaluated at cellular or molecular levels. PEDF injection improved motor behavioral performance and increased MAP-2 levels and dendritic processes in the region of lumbar CPG. Treatment also elevated GDNF and decreased NT-3, laminin, and CSPG. Injury elevated EphA4 and ephrin-B1 levels, and PEDF treatment increased ephrin A2 and ephrins B1, B2, and B3. Eph receptors and ephrins were found in specific populations of neurons and astrocytes. PEDF treatment to SC injury triggered neuroplasticity in lumbar CPG and regulation of neurotrophic factors, extracellular matrix molecules, and ephrins.

EFFECT OF THE P.A.R.Q.V.E ON RHIZARTHRITIS.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a clinical management program involving education on hand function in patients with rhizarthritis. METHODS: One hundred and eight patients with rhizarthritis and multiple arthritis (191 hands with clinical and radiographic rhizarthritis) followed for two years as part of an educational program on osteoarthritis were administered the SF-36, DASH, and HAQ questionnaires and measured for the strength of their palmar grip, pulp to pulp pinch, key (lateral) pinch, and tripod pinch at the time of inclusion and after 24 months. Age, race, level and frequency of physical activity, sex, body mass index, percentage of body fat, and degree of osteoarthritis were correlated to the test outcomes. RESULTS: Women improved less than men on the HAQ (p=0.037). Each 1% reduction in fat percentage increased the chance of HAQ score improvement by 9.2% (p=0.038). Physical activity did not influence improvement in the parameters evaluated (p>0.05). Palmar grip improvement was affected by age and presence of rhizarthritis (p<0.05); patients with unilateral rhizarthritis improved 5.3 times more than patients without the disease (p=0.015), while improvement in palmar grip strength decreased 6.8% per year (p=0.004). Pulp pinch grip strength improved more in women than in men (p=0.018). CONCLUSION: Patients with rhizarthritis and multiple arthritis improved quality of life and grip strength through clinical treatment, an educational program, and fat loss. Level of Evidence II; Retrospective study.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito de um programa de tratamento clínico com ensino da função das mãos em pacientes com rizoartrite. MÉTODOS: Cento e oito indivíduos com rizoartrite e poliartrose (191 mãos com rizoartrite clínico-radiográfica) acompanhados por dois anos num programa educacional sobre osteoartrite responderam os questionários SF-36, DASH e HAQ e os testes de força de preensão palmar, pinça-polpa, pinça-chave e pinça-trípode no momento da inclusão e 24 meses depois. Idade, raça, nível e frequência de atividade física, sexo, índice de massa corporal, porcentagem de gordura corpórea, grau de osteoartrite foram correlacionados aos testes realizados. RESULTADOS: As mulheres melhoraram em menor grau que homens no HAQ (p = 0,037) e cada redução de 1% no percentual de gordura aumenta 9,2% a chance de melhora no HAQ (p = 0,038). A atividade física não influenciou a melhora dos parâmetros avaliados (p > 0,05). Idade e presença de rizoartrite influenciam a melhora da preensão palmar (p < 0,05), sendo que pacientes com rizoartrite unilateral melhoram 5,3 vezes mais que pacientes sem a doença (p = 0,015) e a melhora da preensão diminui 6,8% por ano (p = 0,004). As mulheres melhoraram em maior grau que homens na pinça-polpa (p = 0,018). CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes com rizoartrite e poliartrose têm melhor qualidade de vida e força de preensão com o tratamento clínico, programa educacional e perda de gordura. Nível de Evidência II; Estudo retrospectivo.

Effect of the p.a.r.q.v.e on rhizarthritis / Efeito do p.a.r.q.v.e sobre a rizoartrite

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect of a clinical management program involving education on hand function in patients with rhizarthritis. Methods: One hundred and eight patients with rhizarthritis and multiple arthritis (191 hands with clinical and radiographic rhizarthritis) followed for two years as part of an educational program on osteoarthritis were administered the SF-36, DASH, and HAQ questionnaires and measured for the strength of their palmar grip, pulp to pulp pinch, key (lateral) pinch, and tripod pinch at the time of inclusion and after 24 months. Age, race, level and frequency of physical activity, sex, body mass index, percentage of body fat, and degree of osteoarthritis were correlated to the test outcomes. Results: Women improved less than men on the HAQ (p=0.037). Each 1% reduction in fat percentage increased the chance of HAQ score improvement by 9.2% (p=0.038). Physical activity did not influence improvement in the parameters evaluated (p>0.05). Palmar grip improvement was affected by age and presence of rhizarthritis (p<0.05); patients with unilateral rhizarthritis improved 5.3 times more than patients without the disease (p=0.015), while improvement in palmar grip strength decreased 6.8% per year (p=0.004). Pulp pinch grip strength improved more in women than in men (p=0.018). Conclusion: Patients with rhizarthritis and multiple arthritis improved quality of life and grip strength through clinical treatment, an educational program, and fat loss. Level of Evidence II; Retrospective study.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito de um programa de tratamento clínico com ensino da função das mãos em pacientes com rizoartrite. Métodos: Cento e oito indivíduos com rizoartrite e poliartrose (191 mãos com rizoartrite clínico-radiográfica) acompanhados por dois anos num programa educacional sobre osteoartrite responderam os questionários SF-36, DASH e HAQ e os testes de força de preensão palmar, pinça-polpa, pinça-chave e pinça-trípode no momento da inclusão e 24 meses depois. Idade, raça, nível e frequência de atividade física, sexo, índice de massa corporal, porcentagem de gordura corpórea, grau de osteoartrite foram correlacionados aos testes realizados. Resultados: As mulheres melhoraram em menor grau que homens no HAQ (p = 0,037) e cada redução de 1% no percentual de gordura aumenta 9,2% a chance de melhora no HAQ (p = 0,038). A atividade física não influenciou a melhora dos parâmetros avaliados (p > 0,05). Idade e presença de rizoartrite influenciam a melhora da preensão palmar (p < 0,05), sendo que pacientes com rizoartrite unilateral melhoram 5,3 vezes mais que pacientes sem a doença (p = 0,015) e a melhora da preensão diminui 6,8% por ano (p = 0,004). As mulheres melhoraram em maior grau que homens na pinça-polpa (p = 0,018). Conclusão: Pacientes com rizoartrite e poliartrose têm melhor qualidade de vida e força de preensão com o tratamento clínico, programa educacional e perda de gordura. Nível de Evidência II; Estudo retrospectivo.