Changes in Liver Stiffness and Noninvasive Fibrosis Scores in Egyptian Adolescents Successfully Treated with Ledipasvir-Sofosbuvir for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in noninvasive liver fibrosis measurements after chronic hepatitis C eradication by direct-acting antivirals in Egyptian adolescents. STUDY DESIGN: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM), by vibration-controlled transient elastography and noninvasive fibrosis scores (Firbosis-4, aspartate aminotransferase-platelet ratio index), was obtained before and 12 months after eradication with ledipasvir-sofosbuvir. The primary outcome was a more than 30% decrease in LSM with resulting fibrosis stage regression for initial fibrosis of F2 or higher and nonprogression of F0-F1, using the Ishak score (F0-F6). The secondary outcome was change in noninvasive fibrosis scores after treatment. RESULTS: Analyzing 85 patients, the median baseline LSM was 5.8 (IQR, 4.2-6.5) and at follow-up 5.1 kPa (IQR, 4-6 kPa) (P = .045); 62 (73%) met the primary outcome, 16 patients (19%) experienced regression, and 46 (54%) nonprogression of LSM. Of 18 with initial fibrosis of F2 0r higher, 13 regressed to F0-F1 and 2 from F6 to F5, 1 unchanged at F3, and 1 increased to F3 and 1 to F4. Among 67 patients with a baseline fibrosis of F0-F1, 62 were unchanged and 5 increased-4 to F2 and 1 to F3. Although 23 (27%) had a more than 30% LSM increase, only 7 (8%), with associated comorbidities (4 ß-thalassemia, 3 hepatic steatosis), had increased fibrosis stage. The median baseline FIB-4 and aspartate aminotransferase-platelet ratio index scores were 0.34 (IQR, 0.22-0.47) and 0.35 (0.24-0.57), and at follow-up 0.3 (IQR, 0.22-0.34) and 0.2 (0.18-2.8) (P < .001, <.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic hepatitis C eradication by direct-acting antiviral agents in Egyptian adolescents was associated with nonprogression or regression of liver fibrosis, by noninvasive fibrosis measurements, at 12 months after treatment in the majority of cases.

Nasogastric versus Orogastric Bolus Tube Feeding in Preterm Infants: Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: According to the most recent metanalysis, the best way to establish safe enteral feeding in preterm babies using nasogastric or orogastric tubes is still not well understood. This study aimed to determine the effects of bolus nasal tubes versus bolus orogastric tubes on the time required to reach full enteral feeding in preterm infants, as well as to compare the incidence rates of adverse events including nonintentional removal or displacement of the feeding tube, aspiration pneumonia/pneumonitis, apnea, necrotizing enterocolitis, gastric residual, and growth parameters between the studied cohort of preterm infants. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted an unblinded pilot randomized clinical trial on hemodynamically stable preterm infants (>28 weeks) recruited from level 2 neonatal intensive care unit at Mansoura University Children's Hospital from June 2015 to May 2017. RESULTS: Our study included 98 stable preterm infants with mean gestational age (orogastric group: 33.27 ± 1.08, nasogastric group: 33.32 ± 1.57) and mean birthweight (orogastric group: 1,753.3 ± 414.51, nasogastric group: 1,859.6 ± 307.05). Preterm infants who were fed via bolus nasogastric tube achieved full enteral feeding in a significantly shorter duration compared with the infants fed via bolus orogastric tube. The incidence rates of aspiration and feeding tube displacement were significantly higher in the bolus orogastric tube group compared with the bolus nasogastric tube group. There was no difference in the incidence rates of apnea, necrotizing enterocolitis, bradycardia, oxygen desaturation, and gastric residual in both groups. CONCLUSION: Preterm infants without any respiratory support receiving bolus nasogastric tube feeding achieved full enteral feeding significantly sooner than those receiving bolus orogastric tube feeding. Additionally, bolus nasogastric tube feeding had a lower incidence of aspiration, tube displacement, and the infants regained birthweight more quickly than those receiving orogastric tube feeding. KEY POINTS: · Preterm babies achieve full entral feeds sooner by nasogastric tubes than orogastric tubes.. · Incidence of nasogastric tube displacement and aspiration is less than orogastric tube.. · Infants on nasogastric tubes feeding regain birth weight quicker than those fed by orogastric tubes..

Effects of intrapartum epidural analgesia at high altitudes: maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. A randomized controlled trial of two formulations of analgesics.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether intrapartum epidural analgesics (bupivacaine or ropivacaine) have an influence (safety and efficacy) on mothers, fetuses, or newborns at high altitudes (2,200 m above the sea level). DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial. SETTING: A tertiary referral hospital in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. POPULATION: Eighty parturient women with normal full term pregnancy (37-40 weeks) were randomly allocated to a group receiving epidural bupivacaine 0.125% and the other receiving ropivacaine 0.2%, with fentanyl 100 microg given to both groups. METHODS: Intra- and postpartum clinical management of the pregnant women and newborns and fetal Doppler assessments were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Severity of pain, onset and duration of analgesia, and occurrence of motor blockade were primary outcomes. Progress of labor, need for oxytocin augmentation, mode of delivery, and neonatal condition were secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Demographic, labor characteristics, and neonatal outcomes of the two groups were comparable. The onset of analgesia was relatively more rapid for ropivacaine group (p = 0.067). Duration of analgesia after the first bolus dose was longer and the need for supplemental epidural analgesic doses was lesser in the bupivacaine group (p = 0.041 and 0.045, respectively). In both groups, the fetal umbilical and middle cerebral artery pulsatility indices showed significant change when compared to the baseline of the same group. CONCLUSION: At high altitudes, no major advantage was found for epidural ropivacaine over bupivacaine in addition to fentanyl for labor analgesia and no harmful effects of the medications were found on mothers, fetuses, or newborns.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha production from mononuclear cells in nephrotic syndrome.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in supernatant fluid from cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured by ELISA in 54 children with active non-inherited forms of primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS), 10 nephrotics in remission, and 10 healthy controls. Children with active PNS included 21 patients with steroid-sensitive (SS) minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), 5 patients with steroid-resistant (SR) MCNS, 11 with SR focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), 6 patients with SS diffuse mesangial proliferation (DMP), 5 patients with SR DMP, and 6 patients with mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCGN). Patients with active PNS had elevated TNF-alpha production compared with controls. Remission was associated with normalization of TNF-alpha production. There was a positive correlation between TNF-alpha production and the degree of proteinuria ( r=0.34, P=0.013), mesangial hypercellularity ( r=0.42, P=0.028), and glomerulosclerosis ( r=0.46, P=0.001). By using ROC curve, TNF-alpha production greater or equal to a cut-off point of 50 pg/ml could be used to predict resistance to steroid therapy (predictability 93.2%). By discriminate analysis, TNF-alpha production could be used to discriminate between patients with SR MCNS, SR FSGS, and SR DMP (predictability 100%). In conclusion, TNF-alpha from cultured PBMC might be involved in the pathogenesis of proteinuria as well as the pathological changes that occur in non-inherited forms of PNS. TNF-alpha levels in PBMC culture could be used to predict the pathological type of PNS and the response of these patients to steroid therapy.