Digital tools in allergy and respiratory care.

Patient care in the allergy and respiratory fields is advancing rapidly, offering the possibility of the inclusion of a variety of digital tools that aim to improve outcomes of care. Impaired access to several health care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic has considerably increased the appetite and need for the inclusion of e-health tools amongst end-users. Consequently, a multitude of different e-health tools have been launched worldwide with various registration and access options, and with a wide range of offered benefits. From the perspective of both patients and healthcare providers (HCPs), as well as from a legal and device-related perspective, several features are important for the acceptance, effectiveness,and long-term use of e-health tools. Patients and physicians have different needs and expectations of how digital tools might be of help in the care pathway. There is a need for standardization by defining quality assurance criteria. Therefore, the Upper Airway Diseases Committee of the World Allergy Organization (WAO) has taken the initiative to define and propose criteria for quality, appeal, and applicability of e-health tools in the allergy and respiratory care fields from a patient, clinician, and academic perspective with the ultimate aim to improve patient health and outcomes of care.

WAO-ARIA consensus on chronic cough - Part III: Management strategies in primary and cough-specialty care. Updates in COVID-19.

Background: Chronic cough management necessitates a clear integrated care pathway approach. Primary care physicians initially encounter the majority of chronic cough patients, yet their role in proper management can prove challenging due to limited access to advanced diagnostic testing. A multidisciplinary approach involving otolaryngologists and chest physicians, allergists, and gastroenterologists, among others, is central to the optimal diagnosis and treatment of conditions which underly or worsen cough. These include infectious and inflammatory, upper and lower airway pathologies, or gastro-esophageal reflux. Despite the wide armamentarium of ancillary testing conducted in cough multidisciplinary care, such management can improve cough but seldom resolves it completely. This can be due partly to the limited data on the role of tests (eg, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide), as well as classical pharmacotherapy conducted in multidisciplinary specialties for chronic cough. Other important factors include presence of multiple concomitant cough trigger mechanisms and the central neuronal complexity of chronic cough. Subsequent management conducted by cough specialists aims at control of cough refractory to prior interventions and includes cough-specific behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy with neuromodulators, among others. Preliminary data on the role of neuromodulators in a proof-of-concept manner are encouraging but lack strong evidence on efficacy and safety. Objectives: The World Allergy Organization (WAO)/Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Joint Committee on Chronic Cough reviewed the recent literature on management of chronic cough in primary, multidisciplinary, and cough-specialty care. Knowledge gaps in diagnostic testing, classical and neuromodulator pharmacotherapy, in addition to behavioral therapy of chronic cough were also analyzed. Outcomes: This third part of the WAO/ARIA consensus on chronic cough suggests a management algorithm of chronic cough in an integrated care pathway approach. Insights into the inherent limitations of multidisciplinary cough diagnostic testing, efficacy and safety of currently available antitussive pharmacotherapy, or the recently recognized behavioral therapy, can significantly improve the standards of care in patients with chronic cough.

WAO-ARIA consensus on chronic cough - Part 1: Role of TRP channels in neurogenic inflammation of cough neuronal pathways.

BACKGROUND: Cough features a complex peripheral and central neuronal network. The function of the chemosensitive and stretch (afferent) cough receptors is well described but partly understood. It is speculated that chronic cough reflects a neurogenic inflammation of the cough reflex, which becomes hypersensitive. This is mediated by neuromediators, cytokines, inflammatory cells, and a differential expression of neuronal (chemo/stretch) receptors, such as transient receptor potential (TRP) and purinergic P2X ion channels; yet the overall interaction of these mediators in neurogenic inflammation of cough pathways remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: The World Allergy Organization/Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (WAO/ARIA) Joint Committee on Chronic Cough reviewed the current literature on neuroanatomy and pathophysiology of chronic cough. The role of TRP ion channels in pathogenic mechanisms of the hypersensitive cough reflex was also examined. OUTCOMES: Chemoreceptors are better studied in cough neuronal pathways compared to stretch receptors, likely due to their anatomical overabundance in the respiratory tract, but also their distinctive functional properties. Central pathways are important in suppressive mechanisms and behavioral/affective aspects of chronic cough. Current evidence strongly suggests neurogenic inflammation induces a hypersensitive cough reflex marked by increased expression of neuromediators, mast cells, and eosinophils, among others. TRP ion channels, mainly TRP V1/A1, are important in the pathogenesis of chronic cough due to their role in mediating chemosensitivity to various endogenous and exogenous triggers, as well as a crosstalk between neurogenic and inflammatory pathways in cough-associated airways diseases.

WAO-ARIA consensus on chronic cough - Part II: Phenotypes and mechanisms of abnormal cough presentation - Updates in COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Chronic cough can be triggered by respiratory and non-respiratory tract illnesses originating mainly from the upper and lower airways, and the GI tract (ie, reflux). Recent findings suggest it can also be a prominent feature in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), laryngeal hyperresponsiveness, and COVID-19. The classification of chronic cough is constantly updated but lacks clear definition. Epidemiological data on the prevalence of chronic cough are informative but highly variable. The underlying mechanism of chronic cough is a neurogenic inflammation of the cough reflex which becomes hypersensitive, thus the term hypersensitive cough reflex (HCR). A current challenge is to decipher how various infectious and inflammatory airway diseases and esophageal reflux, among others, modulate HCR. OBJECTIVES: The World Allergy Organization/Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (WAO/ARIA) Joint Committee on Chronic Cough reviewed the current literature on classification, epidemiology, presenting features, and mechanistic pathways of chronic cough in airway- and reflux-related cough phenotypes, OSA, and COVID-19. The interplay of cough reflex sensitivity with other pathogenic mechanisms inherent to airway and reflux-related inflammatory conditions was also analyzed. OUTCOMES: Currently, it is difficult to clearly ascertain true prevalence rates in epidemiological studies of chronic cough phenotypes. This is likely due to lack of standardized objective measures needed for cough classification and frequent coexistence of multi-organ cough origins. Notwithstanding, we emphasize the important role of HCR as a mechanistic trigger in airway- and reflux-related cough phenotypes. Other concomitant mechanisms can also modulate HCR, including type2/Th1/Th2 inflammation, presence or absence of deep inspiration-bronchoprotective reflex (lower airways), tissue remodeling, and likely cough plasticity, among others.

Acute pancreatitis caused by intragastric balloon: A case report.

Obesity represents a global hazard that predisposes to many serious health problems. Various solutions have been proposed to overcome obesity ranging from dietary balance to bariatric surgery. Intragastric balloons are a widely used measure to decrease weight, although they are advocated as safe devices, some major complications have been reported. We report a case of acute pancreatitis after insertion of a gastric balloon for weight reduction. Abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting maybe due to acute pancreatitis caused by compression of the pancreas by the balloon. It is advisable that physicians recognise these complications early to avoid serious and severe end-results.

Challenging the dogma: a randomized trial of standard vs. half-dose concomitant nonbismuth quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Current treatment of Helicobacter pylori consists of three or four drugs for 7-14 days with important associated cost and adverse events. AIMS: This study compared efficacy and safety of standard dose vs. half-dose concomitant nonbismuth quadruple therapy (NBQT) for 7 days. The standard dose consisted of twice daily rabeprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1 g, metronidazole 500 mg, and clarithromycin 500 mg. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized trial. (14)C-urea breath test was performed ≥4 weeks after treatment and ≥2 weeks off acid suppressive therapy. Compliance and adverse events were monitored during treatment. RESULTS: A total of 200 consecutive treatment-naïve patients were enrolled. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, with 15.5% of subjects reporting prior macrolide use. Eradication occurred in 78% (95% CI 68.6-85.7%) in both groups on intention-to-treat analysis. Per-protocol rates were 82.1 vs. 83.9% for standard-dose patients vs. half-dose patients, respectively (p = NS). Adverse events (only mild) were reported in 57 vs. 41% of standard-dose patients vs. half-dose patients (p = 0.024), with metallic taste and nausea notably less frequent in the latter (36 vs. 12% and 18 vs. 7%, respectively; p < 0.05 for both). Overall, eradication failed in 38.7% of prior macrolide users vs. 18.9% without such exposure (p = 0.019). On multivariate logistic regression, prior macrolide exposure was the only factor associated with failed eradication (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.06-6.39; p = 0.038). Treatment was cheaper with the half-dose regimen. INTERPRETATION: A 50% reduction in antibiotic dosage does not diminish efficacy of concomitant nonbismuth quadruple therapy but leads to significant reduction in cost and adverse events. Seven-day concomitant NBQT is suboptimal for H. pylori independent of prior macrolide exposure.

Severe hepatotoxicity associated with the combination of spiramycin plus metronidazole.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a leading cause of acute liver failure and is the most frequent reason for post-marketing drug withdrawal. The spectrum of liver injury is wide, ranging from mild and subclinical injury, noticeable only on routine biochemical testing, to fulminant liver failure and death. Antibiotics, as a group, are a leading cause of DILI. We herein describe 4 patients who developed moderate to severe hepatotoxicity after exposure to a commercially - available combination of two antibiotics - spiramycin and metronidazole - commonly used for the treatment and prevention of periodontal infections. No other aetiology for liver injury could be identified in all cases. Two patients recovered spontaneously, and two had a more severe course, one responding to corticosteroids and mycophenolate mofetil and the other requiring liver transplantation for subacute massive necrosis.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus neurolysis.

Endoscopic celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) has become the procedure of choice for the management of patients with pancreatic cancer and abdominal pain unresponsive to medical treatment. It is necessary to differentiate between CPN and endoscopic celiac plexus block performed in patients with benign disease. In this review we describe the technique of this procedure with special emphasis on technical details.

A randomized controlled trial of imipramine in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

AIM: To study the efficacy of low-dose imipramine in relieving symptoms associated with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS: A randomized, double-blind trial of 25 mg imipramine vs matched placebo for 12 wk was performed. Doubling the dose was allowed once at week 2 in case of an unsatisfactory early response. Primary efficacy variables were subjective global symptom relief and quality of life (QoL) using SF-36 at week 12. RESULTS: One hundred and seven patients were enrolled by advertisement or referral by general practitioners and 56 (31 imipramine: 25 placebo) completed the 16-wk study. Baseline characteristics were comparable. A high overall dropout rate was noted in the imipramine and placebo arms (47.5% vs 47.9%, P > 0.05), a mean of 25.0 and 37.4 d from enrollment, respectively (P < 0.05). At the end of 12 wk, there was a significant difference in global symptom relief with imipramine over placebo (per-protocol: 80.6% vs 48.0%, P = 0.01) and a trend on intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis (42.4% vs 25.0%, P = 0.06). This improvement was evident early and persisted to week 16 (P = 0.024 and 0.053 by per-protocol and ITT analyses, respectively). Mean cumulative and component-specific SF-36 scores improved in the imipramine group only (per-protocol, P < 0.01). Drug-related adverse events leading to patient dropout were more common in the imipramine group (25.4% vs 12.5%, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Imipramine may be effective in the treatment of IBS patients and is associated with improved QoL. Careful patient selection, initiation of a low dose with gradual escalation and monitoring for side effects may result in an improved therapeutic response.

A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial of the adjunct use of tegaserod in whole-dose or split-dose polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution for colonoscopy preparation.

BACKGROUND: Problems of compliance, quality, and safety of colon preparation regimens have prompted continued investigation with alternative forms of cleansing. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of tegaserod as an adjunct to a polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution (PEG-E), given as a whole dose or split dose, in colonoscopy preparation. DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. SETTING: A single university-based hospital. PATIENTS: Patients who were undergoing elective colonoscopy. INTERVENTIONS: A 4-arm randomization scheme that compared tegaserod with a placebo, each with whole-dose or split-dose PEG-E preparation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Efficacy of colon cleansing was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included adherence, tolerability, adverse effects, and patient perceptions of their preparation quality. RESULTS: A total of 382 patients completed the trial. Patients who received the split-dose preparation had significantly better colon cleansing than those who received the whole-dose preparation (88.9% vs 42.6%, P < .001). The addition of tegaserod did not significantly improve the overall colonoscopy preparation quality compared with a placebo. However, there were fewer poor preparations in the whole-dose PEG-E group (12.4% vs 1.1%, P = .002, Bonferroni correction removes significance) and more excellent preparations in the split-dose group (53.3% vs 38.3%, P = .035, Bonferroni correction removes significance) in favor of tegaserod. Interobserver and intraobserver variability analysis showed substantial agreement among endoscopists. Adherence was significantly lower in the whole-dose group versus the split-dose PEG-E group (68.8% vs 91%, P < .001), independent of the use of tegaserod. Adverse effects were not different between study groups. LIMITATIONS: A 4-arm randomization and the single-center nature of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Tegaserod has a marginal effect on the quality of colonoscopy preparation when used as an adjuvant to PEG-E. The split-dose PEG-E was superior to the whole-dose PEG-E and resulted in better colon cleansing, adherence, and tolerance.

Duodenal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma successfully treated by radiation therapy.

Duodenal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is very rare, and little is known about its clinical characteristics, endoscopic and endosonographic features, and treatment. We hereby report a case of duodenal MALT lymphoma successfully treated by radiation therapy (RT). The patient was referred to us with epigastric pain and positive fecal occult blood testing. His symptoms failed to resolve with eradication therapy for a Helicobacter pylori infection that was diagnosed by a gastric biopsy performed elsewhere. Endoscopy at our institution revealed hypertrophy of the duodenal folds with erosions involving a third of the circumference few centimeters beyond the ampulla of Vater. Histopathologic and immunophenotypic features were consistent with a MALT lymphoma. There was no evidence of a H. pylori infection by gastric biopsy and urea breath test. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis was normal. Endoscopic ultrasound showed thickening of the duodenal wall and hypoechoic infiltration into the submucosal layer. The patient was treated with RT with a complete response. Two and a half years later, he remains in complete clinical, endoscopic, and histopathologic remission. This case illustrates the importance of RT in patients with duodenal MALT lymphoma whose disease did not respond to H. pylori eradication.

Prevalence of endoscopically identified heterotopic gastric mucosa in the proximal esophagus: endoscopist dependent?

GOALS: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of heterotopic gastric mucosa in the proximal esophagus (HGMPE) and whether thorough endoscopic search may influence such prevalence. BACKGROUND: Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the esophagus (sometimes known as inlet patch) refers to a discrete area of gastric mucosa, with a spherical or ellipsoid configuration, that is typically located in the proximal esophagus. The prevalence of endoscopically diagnosed HGMPE varies from 0.1% to 10%. Endoscopic detection may be difficult as HGMPE is often located at or just below the upper esophageal sphincter. It might be associated with severe complications such as bleeding, perforation, fistula, and stricture formation, in addition to the development of adenocarcinoma. STUDY: During a 2-year period, 455 consecutive patients with various gastrointestinal complaints underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy by a single endoscopist (group 1). This endoscopist paid special attention to detecting HGMPE by thoroughly examining the proximal esophagus upon withdrawal of the endoscope. During the same period of time, endoscopy reports of 472 patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy in the same hospital by 3 other endoscopists were retrospectively reviewed (group 2). These endoscopists were aware of the existence of the HGMPE and reported that the presence of HGMPE would be included as an endoscopic finding in their reports. RESULTS: In the first group, HGMPE was identified in 12 out of 455 patients (2.6%). Whereas in the second group, only 2 out of 472 patients (0.4%) had reports identifying HGMPE (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic detection of HGMPE is influenced by the endoscopist's thorough search of this entity, and thus, more time devoted to such a search may lead to higher detection rates.

Clinical epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease in Lebanon.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a representative Lebanese cohort and to describe practice prevalence trends, disease characteristics, and impact on quality of life (QoL) of IBD patients in Lebanon. METHODS: All of a university-based health program's 2000-2004 computerized records that listed a diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) were reviewed. In addition, data on patients seen in the gastroenterology clinics and data from the IBD registry at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) from the same period were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 15,073 insured individuals, 8 had a diagnosis of CD and 16 of UC, giving an age-adjusted prevalence of 53.1 per 100,000 people for CD and 106.2 per 100,000 people for UC. The mean age at diagnosis for patients with CD and UC was 28.8 +/- 11.1 and 32.0 +/- 13.4 years, respectively, and there was a slight female predominance. The mean annual incidence was 4.1 per 100,000 people for UC and 1.4 per 100,000 people for CD (range, 0-6.9/100,000 for both). Of the 10,383 patients seen in the gastroenterology clinic from 2000 to 2004, 251 (2.4%) had IBD (142 UC, 100 CD, and 9 indeterminate), a ratio that trended upward over time (range, 1.8%-2.7%). The median IBD Quality-of-Life (IBDQ) questionnaire score was 124.9 +/- 30.5, indicating that the disease had a moderately severe impact on QoL. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of IBD in this representative Lebanese cohort falls in the intermediate range of that reported for white populations in Europe and North America. Future studies are needed to examine local risk factors, disease genotypes and phenotypes, and epidemiologic time trends. The psychosocial burden of IBD in Lebanon appears significant.

Massive gastric dilatation after a single binge in an anorectic woman.

OBJECTIVE: Massive gastric dilatation is a very serious condition that is extremely rare in patients with no history of gastrointestinal disease. Several cases have been reported in patients with eating disorders, particularly after a binge. We report here the case of a young woman who developed severe gastric dilatation after a single binge. METHODS: A computed tomographic (CT) scan of the abdomen was done and a psychiatric evaluation was performed. RESULTS: The diagnosis of acute gastric dilatation was confirmed and superior mesenteric artery syndrome was excluded. The patient responded to nasogastric drainage and bowel rest. She was also found to have situational anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as a nonspecified eating disorder. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates the serious sequel of even a single binge in any patient with abnormal dietary habits, and demonstrates the useful role of the CT scan in the diagnosis.

A randomized single-blind trial of split-dose PEG-electrolyte solution without dietary restriction compared with whole dose PEG-electrolyte solution with dietary restriction for colonoscopy preparation.

BACKGROUND: Colonoscopy preparation regimens are poorly tolerated, requiring the use of a large volume of an unpalatable solution and diet restriction for adequate cleansing. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of two regimens of bowel preparation before colonoscopy: a whole dose of polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution (PEG-E), with diet restriction vs. a split dose with no diet restriction. METHODS: A total of 141 patients (ages 20-84 years, 81 men) were randomly assigned to receive either 4 L PEG-E, along with a liquid diet the day before colonoscopy (Group A) or 2 L PEG-E with a regular diet the day before colonoscopy followed by another 2 L PEG-E on the day of the procedure (Group B). The quality of the preparation was graded by the endoscopist (poor to excellent), who was blinded to the type of preparation. Tolerability of the assigned preparation and adverse effects were recorded by an independent investigator by using a questionnaire administered before colonoscopy. Intra- and interobserver variability was studied by using randomly chosen videotapes of colonoscopies performed as part of the study. RESULTS: There were 73 patients in Group A and 68 patients in Group B. The quality of the preparation was significantly better in Group B ( p = 0.011). The tolerability of the preparation regimen was not different overall between study groups in terms of side effects (except for bloating, which was more frequent in Group B, p = 0.039) or willingness to repeat the preparation. There was a nonsignificant trend toward improved adherence to the assigned preparation in favor of Group B ( p = 0.062). Inter- and intraobserver variability analysis showed good to excellent correlation among endoscopists. CONCLUSIONS: Colonic preparation with split-dose PEG-E and no dietary restriction provides better quality colon cleansing than whole-dose preparation, with no significant impact on patient tolerability and side effects.