The impact of dawn to sunset fasting on immune system and its clinical significance in COVID-19 pandemic.

Dawn to sunset fasting, a type of intermittent fasting commonly practiced in the month of Ramadan, requires abstinence from food and drink from dawn to sunset. Dawn and dusk are two transition time zones of the day that play a critical role in the human circadian rhythm. Practicing dawn to sunset fasting requires the alignment of mealtimes and wake-sleep times with the human biological dawn and dusk. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) impairs immune cell responses at multiple levels and leads to severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). It generates high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, also known as a cytokine storm, leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and generation of excessive amounts of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, downregulates autophagy to escape detection for unchecked replication, and alters gut microbiome composition. Severe cases of COVID-19 have been associated with several comorbidities that impair immune responses (e.g., obesity, diabetes, malignancy) and blood laboratory abnormalities (e.g., elevated procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, leukocytosis, lymphopenia). Several studies of dawn to sunset fasting showed anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing several pro-inflammatory cytokines, reducing oxidative stress, inducing a proteome response associated with increased autophagy, remodeling the gut microbiome, and improving the components of metabolic syndrome (e.g., obesity, blood glucose levels, blood pressure, lipids). In conclusion, dawn to sunset fasting has the potential to optimize the immune system function against SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic as it suppresses chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, improves metabolic profile, and remodels the gut microbiome. This review presents scientific literature related to the effects of dawn to sunset fasting on the immune system. Studies are needed to assess and confirm the potential benefits of dawn to sunset fasting against SARS-CoV-2.

Current Trends in Liver Transplantation for Alcoholic Hepatitis.

Liver transplantation (LT) for alcohol-related or alcoholic hepatitis (AH) remains a controversial treatment option. However, recent studies have shown promising outcomes for LT in a subgroup of patients with AH. Considering these emerging data, LT as definitive therapy for severe AH refractory to medical management is gaining recognition. However, concerns of alcohol recidivism pose a significant barrier to perform LT for this indication. Predictive models can be utilized to develop a selection criterion to identify suitable candidates for LT. Hence, carefully selected patients with severe AH and low risk of alcohol relapse can be considered for LT.

Autonomic Nervous System Profiling In Response to Liver Transplantation: Prognostic Evaluation and Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND: Liver cirrhosis leads to autonomic dysfunction (AD). We present a pilot study and review of published literature to investigate the long-term changes in the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) of patients who underwent liver transplant. We propose Autonomic Function Tests (AFT) can be used as a predictor of liver transplant outcome. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients (19 men and 9 women; mean age 45 years) with cirrhosis due to different etiologies underwent a noninvasive ANS evaluation test, pre- and post-liver transplant at 3 to 6 months, 8 to 12 months, and 14 to 24 months. Data were compared with 45 age-matched controls (14 men and 31 women). We investigated changes in the following 3 adrenergic measures: percentage of cutaneous vasoconstriction in the hand and foot in response to cold stress test and cutaneous blood flow adjustment ratio; and 3 cardiovagal measures: change in heart rate in relation to deep respiration, forced respiration represented as Valsalva Ratio, and head-up tilting (30/15 ratio). RESULTS: A total of 23 of 28 patients (82%) had impairment in AFT before transplant, 16 of 28 (57%) in the sympathetic adrenergic measures, and 15 of 28 (54%) in the parasympathetic cardiovagal measures. There was a gradual improvement in ANS function posttransplant, with a significant improvement in the cardiovagal measure of Valsalva Ratio (P < .05 from baseline). These data suggest some temporary decline in ANS functions within the first 6 months posttransplant. CONCLUSIONS: To optimize outcomes in liver transplant patients with autonomic dysfunction, autonomic testing perhaps combined with frailty testing can be used as objective measures of mortality in the pre-liver transplant stage.

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome After Liver Transplant Treated With Eculizumab.

Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA) are a group of serious conditions that are characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, and are often associated with acute kidney injury as well as neurologic abnormalities. There are multiple causes of TMA. TMA in a transplant patient is often attributed to calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) use and is usually treated with discontinuation of the drug. We report a case of TMA in a liver transplant patient who did not respond to CNI discontinuation or plasmapheresis but had great response to shorter than usual course of eculizumab. Eculizumab is a monoclonal antibody that prevents c5 cleavage and indirectly inhibits the formation of the membrane attack complex. Clinical response was sustained for nine months after discontinuation of eculizumab.

Brunner's Gland Hyperplasia: A Massive Duodenal Lesion.

A 57-year-old male with a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophageal strictures presented with melena and abdominal pain. He underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed a 5-cm duodenal bulb mass causing partial obstruction of the gastric outlet. Endoscopic ultrasound showed a 5-cm, hypoechoic lesion, arising from the mucosal layer, with a large blood vessel feeding the lesion. Biopsy revealed benign Brunner's gland hyperplasia. The large mass was causing symptomatic obstruction of the pylorus and iron deficiency anemia, and had risk for malignant transformation. Due to its size it was not amenable to endoscopic removal. Subsequently, he underwent exploratory laparotomy with pyloroplasty, duodenotomy and partial duodenal resection. Surgical pathology showed Brunner's gland hyperplasia and was negative for malignancy.

The Herald Bleed: A Case Report of an Aortoenteric Fistula causing an Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleed.

Aortoenteric fistula (AEF) is a rare life-threatening condition. Secondary AEF (SAEF) occurs in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair and has a high mortality rate. We present a case of a 66-year-old female who presented to the emergency room with hematochezia and hemodynamic instability. Emergent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was negative. Colonoscopy revealed a 5 cm, pulsatile, bleeding, submucosal mass. A stat computed tomography (CT) angiogram of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a large left external iliac artery (LEIA) pseudoaneurysm. Vascular surgery emergently placed a LEIA stent. It appeared the patient had an aorto-bi-iliac (ABI) common iliac artery (CIA) bypass, 15 years ago, for a large AAA that had resulted in a SAEF, with the rare finding of communication with the colon. She had a complicated course involving surgical and medical management but with successful outcomes.

Effects of Gastric Neuromodulation on Crohn's Disease in Patients With Coexisting Symptoms of Gastroparesis.

INTRODUCTION: Crohn's Disease (CD) results from chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract involving TNF-α release. Gastrointestinal electrical stimulation (GES), a form of neuromodulation used to treat upper GI motility symptoms (UGI Sx), exerts an anti-inflammatory effect via TNF-α suppression. We hypothesized patients with CD symptoms in patients with gastroparesis (GP) may respond to GES. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 284 patients with symptomatic gastroparesis (Gp Sx), who underwent GES placement. Patients with Gp Sx were evaluated by validated GI Sx patient reported outcome. Scores were obtained at baseline, after temporary GES placement and after permanent GES placement. Eleven patients from this cohort with coexisting CD were analyzed for improvements in their CD symptomatology using the Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI). HBI scores were compared from before GES to after two sequential applications of electrical stimulation (temporary then permanent). A 3-point decrease in HBI indicated a clinical response and an HBI <5 indicated clinical remission after GES. An unadjusted repeated measures model was used in the analysis with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Our cohort prevalence of CD was 3.9% (2 M & 9 F, mean age 49.8 yrs.). Within both the Gp + CD & Gp subgroups, UGI Sx substantially improved after temporary and permanent GES. Furthermore, 55% of the GP + CD subgroup demonstrated a clinical response by HBI, while one patient achieved clinical remission (p < 0.01). CD medications were reviewed before and after GES placement, and any interval changes are unlikely to explain the improved HBI scores. DISCUSSION: We conclude that both UGI and CD symptoms in GP + CD patients responded well to GES. The interaction of Gp and CD and the effects of neuromodulation on CD symptoms warrant additional investigation.