Translation and validation of chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) in Tamil language.

BACKGROUND: Chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ), a self-administered quality-of-life (QOL) instrument for chronic liver disease (CLD) patients, was originally developed in English language. We aimed to translate and validate CLDQ in Tamil language (CLDQ-T). METHODS: CLDQ-T, prepared by two forward and two backward independent translations by four bilingual (Tamil and English) persons, and repeated iterative modifications, was validated in adult, native-Tamil patients with CLD. CLDQ-T was re-tested in some patients 2 weeks later. Convergent validity was assessed using Spearman's correlation, and discriminant validity by comparison with World Health Organization's brief QOL tool (WHOQOL-BREF). Reliability was assessed through internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation). Cutoff used for statistical significance was p<0.05. RESULTS: The study included 126 patients (age: mean [SD] 46 years [12.5]; male 104; cause: alcohol 42%, HBV 25%, HCV 4%, cryptogenic 29%; CTP class A 47%, B 37%, and C 16%). In convergent validity, all domains except the "abdominal domain" showed significant correlation between CLDQ-T and WHOQOL-BREF. Patients with severe disease had lower scores for all domains of CLDQ-T except the "abdominal" domain, but not for any of the domains for WHOQOL-BREF. Overall Cronbach's alpha was 0.942, and more than 0.7 for all the individual domains except the "activity" domain. On retesting in 44 (35%) patients, intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.879 for the overall CLDQ-T score and >0.700 for individual domains. CONCLUSION: CLDQ-T was easily understood and showed good performance characteristics in assessing QOL in Tamil-speaking patients with CLD.

Single-center prospective study of Plummer-Vinson syndrome.

Post-cricoid web is an uncommon cause for dysphagia and is most frequently reported in middle-aged women. Triad of web, iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and dysphagia is known as Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS). Literature on PVS is very limited. Here we report the first prospective study of PVS with predefined diagnostic criteria and management plan. Adults with dysphagia or those incidentally found to have esophageal web were prospectively enrolled between July 2011 and June 2013. Participants were evaluated with hemogram, barium swallow, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy. PVS was diagnosed if a person had IDA and a post-cricoid web in barium swallow and/or endoscopy. Patients were managed with dilation using through-the-scope controlled radial expansion balloon followed by oral iron and folic acid supplementation. Thirty-seven patients (age, median [range] 40 [19-65] years; 32 [86%] women) were enrolled. Thirty-one symptomatic patients had dysphagia grade 1 (n = 12, 39%), 2 (n = 13, 42%), and 3 (n = 6, 19%) for a median (range) duration of 24 (4-324) months. Barium swallow, done in 29, showed web in 25 which were either circumferential or anterior in position. Twenty-nine (29/31, 94%) patients had complete and two had partial response after the first session of endoscopic dilatation without any complication. Dysphagia recurred in three (10%) of the 30 patients who were followed for a median (range) of 10 (1-24) months. Esophageal-web related dysphagia in patients with PVS responds favorably after single session of endoscopic dilation.

Cholestatic presentation of yellow phosphorus poisoning.

Yellow phosphorus, a component of certain pesticide pastes and fireworks, is well known to cause hepatotoxicity. Poisoning with yellow phosphorus classically manifests with acute hepatitis leading to acute liver failure which may need liver transplantation. We present a case of yellow phosphorus poisoning in which a patient presented with florid clinical features of cholestasis highlighting the fact that cholestasis can rarely be a presenting feature of yellow phosphorus hepatotoxicity.

A hospital-based epidemiological study of corrosive alimentary injuries with particular reference to the Indian experience.

Corrosive alimentary tract injuries are a source of considerable morbidity all over the world. Despite this, actual data on the epidemiology of this problem are scarce mainly due to the lack of a well-established reporting system for poisoning in most countries. The burden of the disease is naturally more in countries such as India where the condition is common because of poor regulation of sale of corrosive substances. We analyse the available data on epidemiology of corrosive injuries, as well as patterns of involvement of the alimentary tract, with special reference to Indian data, and also provide an overview of the management options and long-term sequelae of this condition.

Frequency and factors associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in patients with cirrhosis of the liver and extra hepatic portal venous obstruction.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), a common complication of cirrhosis of liver, might result from translocation of bacteria from the small bowel. However, there is scanty data on frequency of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. There are no data on SIBO in patients with extra-hepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) in the literature. A total of 174 patients with cirrhosis of the liver, 28 with EHPVO and 51 healthy controls were studied for SIBO using glucose hydrogen breath test (GHBT). Persistent rise in breath hydrogen 12 ppm above basal (at least two readings) was considered diagnostic of SIBO. Of 174 patients (age 47.2 +/- 11.9 years, 80.5% male) with cirrhosis due to various causes, 67 (38.5%) were in Child's class A, 70 (40.2%) class B and 37 (21.7%) class C. Of the 174 patients with cirrhosis, 42 (24.14%) had SIBO as compared to 1 of 51 (1.9%) healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Patients with EHPVO had similar frequency of SIBO compared to healthy controls [2/28 (7.14%) vs 1/51 (1.97%), P = ns]. Frequency of SIBO in Child's A, B and C was comparable [13 (18.6%) vs 16 (23.9%) and 13 (35.1%), respectively; P = ns]. Presence of SIBO were not related to ascites, etiology of cirrhosis, and degree of liver dysfunction. SIBO is common in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. Patients with EHPVO do not have higher frequency of SIBO than healthy subjects. SIBO in cirrhosis is not related to the degree of derangement in liver function or of portal hypertension.

Pancreatic diabetes.

Pancreatic endocrine insufficiency secondary to destruction of acinar cells is a well known complication of chronic pancreatitis (CP). Of all patients with diabetes mellitus, 0.5-1% is secondary to CP. The frequency of occurrence of diabetes in CP is about 40-60%. This figure varies according to the aetiology, extent of calcification, and duration of the disease. Pancreatic diabetes is more commonly associated with alcoholic and tropical calcific pancreatitis of long duration. The pathophysiology of pancreatic diabetes is related to beta cell failure and reduced insulin secretory capacity. The development of pancreatic diabetes calls for careful evaluation and management to prevent long term complications. Pancreatic cancer is a known complication of chronic pancreatitis and sometimes manifests with new onset diabetes. As destruction of pancreatic tissue in CP leads to depletion of both insulin and glucagon-producing cells of the islets of Langherhans, pancreatic diabetics are usually not prone to ketoacidosis. A trial of oral hypoglycemic agents followed by insulin therapy when the need arises has been the line of management thus far in these patients. This review focuses on the prevalence, unique pathophysiological aspects, clinical features and special issues in the management of diabetes secondary to chronic pancreatitis.