Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with decreased odds for eosinophilic esophagitis in Mexican patients. / La infección por Helicobacter pylori se asocia con disminución del riesgo de esofagitis eosinofílica en pacientes mexicanos.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is increasing in some regions of the world. Retrospective studies have found an inverse association with Helicobacter pylori infection (H. pylori). A recent prospective study has questioned this relationship. We aimed to evaluate this relationship in Mexican patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated adult patients without prior eradication of H. pylori. Cases were defined by the presence of esophageal symptoms and >15 eosinophils/high power field (HPF) in the esophageal biopsy. Controls were defined by the presence of <15 eosinophils/HPF in esophageal biopsy. H. pylori infection was defined by histology. Patients were matched by age and gender assigning four controls per case. RESULTS: We included 190 patients: 38 cases and 152 controls. Cases had higher frequency of atopy, dysphagia, food impaction, peripheral eosinophilia, and endoscopic EoE abnormalities. The overall prevalence of H. pylori was 63.6%. Cases had significantly lower prevalence of H. pylori than controls (36.8% vs. 70.4%, OR 0.21 95% CI 0.08-0.69, p = 0.001). Atopic patients had lower prevalence of H. pylori than non-atopic: 13.1% vs. 50.5% (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.06-0.69, p < 0.001), particularly allergic rhinitis and food allergy. CONCLUSIONS: We observed an inverse relationship between H. pylori and EoE as well as atopy. Studies in experimental models of EoE that clarify the role of H. pylori in this interaction are required, as well as robust studies that include other factors (socioeconomic, cultural, microbiota, etc.) in order to clarify this relationship.

Clinical, endoscopic and histological characteristics of Mexican adult patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has high prevalence/incidence in Western Europe, Canada, United States of America and Australia where it has significantly increased over the past three decades to the extent that some consider it an epidemic.

Evaluation and Validation of a New Score to Measure the Severity of Small Bowel Angiodysplasia on Video Capsule Endoscopy.

INTRODUCTION: Angiodysplasias are responsible of 50% of small bowel bleeding. An endoscopic method that allows measuring its severity is not available. AIMS: The aim of the study was to validate a new endoscopic score with VCE to measure the severity of small bowel angiodysplasias (SBAD). METHODS: Four endoscopists independently reviewed VCE videos of 22 patients with SBAD. The score graded 3 variables: A - extent of lesions: E1, located in one half of the intestine and E2, in both halves; B - number of lesions: N1, <5; N2, 5-10; and N3, >10 lesions; C - probability of bleeding: P1, pale red spots; P2, bright red spots; P3, bleeding stigmata; and P4, active bleeding. Capsule Endoscopy Small Bowel Angiodysplasia Activity Index (CESBAI) was calculated as follows: E × 1 + N × 2 + P × 3. Interobserver variability was analyzed by Spearman's correlation and agreement Kappa statistic tests. RESULTS: The mean CESBAI scores by observers were O1= 11.6 ± 4.1; O2 = 11.3 ± 4.8; O3 = 11.1 ± 4.9; and O4 = 11.8 ± 4.2 (p > 0.05). Spearman's correlation values of CESBAI between every 2 observers were from 0.61 to 0.94 (p < 0.001) with a global correlation of 0.73 among all observers. Kappa values of CESBAI between every 2 observers ranged from 0.42 to 0.87 (p < 0.001) with a global agreement of 0.57 among all observers. All evaluators stated that the method was easy to use. CONCLUSIONS: CESBAI is a reliable and reproducible score. Nevertheless, these results must be validated in other studies with larger population before assessing its power for predicting bleeding recurrence.

Prevalence of liver fibrosis in an unselected general population with high prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus. Time for screening?

INTRODUCTION: Cirrhosis and liver cancer are currently common causes of death worldwide. The global epidemic of obesity has increased the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cirrhosis in recent years. Advanced fibrosis increases the morbimortality rate in NAFLD. The Mexican population has one of the highest prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) worldwide. AIM: To determine the prevalence of advanced liver fibrosis in Mexican general population. METHODS: Adult individuals, without a history of liver disease nor heavy alcohol consumption were randomly sampled from 20,919 participants of a health and nutrition survey applied to the general population. Clinical and laboratory evaluations were performed to calculate the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) (an extensively validated non-invasive method). Two cut-off points were used. Advanced fibrosis was defined as a result >0.676. RESULTS: In total 695 individuals were included. The mean age was 47.8±16.4. The majority were between 20 and 50 years (59%), 70.2% were female, 35.5% showed obesity and 15.8% DM. The 93% had normal serum ALT. Based on the NFS results, 56 individuals (8.1%) had a high probability of fibrosis. Most patients from this subgroup showed normal serum ALT (92.9%), 89.3% were >45yr. old, 52% were obese and 27% suffered from DM. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, 8.1% of Mexican general population without a history of liver disease is at high risk of having advanced liver fibrosis and complications and death derived from cardiovascular disease and cirrhosis. Most of them showed normal ALT serum levels.

Diagnosis of Eosinophilic Enteritis With Video Capsule Endoscopy and Double Balloon Enteroscopy With Favorable Response to Corticosteroids.

Eosinophilic enteritis is a rare disease with nonspecific symptoms, often representing a diagnostic challenge. Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) has enabled examination of the full small bowel. However, capsule retention is an unfortunate complication. We present the case of a female patient admitted for abdominal pain. Appendectomy without resolution of symptoms was performed. A normal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were obtained. The diagnosis was made by VCE and double balloon enteroscopy with biopsy. Asymptomatic capsule retention was resolved after corticosteroid therapy. The patient showed a favorable clinical and endoscopic response, confirmed through a second VCE after 3 months of treatment.

Sheehan's Syndrome Revisited: Underlying Autoimmunity or Hypoperfusion?

Sheehan's syndrome remains a frequent obstetric complication with an uncertain pathophysiology. We aimed to assess the incidence of hypopituitarism (≥2 hormonal axis impairment) within the first six postchildbirth months and to determine the existence of anti-pituitary antibodies. From 2015 to 2017, adult pregnant women, who developed moderate to severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), were consecutively included in the study. Pituitary function was assessed 4 and 24 weeks after PPH. At the end of the study, anti-pituitary antibodies were assessed. Twenty women completed the study. Mean age was 26.35 (±5.83) years. The main etiology for severe PPH was uterine atony (65%) which resulted mostly in hypovolemic shock grades III-IV. Within the first four weeks after delivery, 95% of patients had at least one hormonal pituitary affected and 60% of the patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria for hypopituitarism. At the end of the study period, five patients (25%) were diagnosed with hypopituitarism (GH and cortisol axes affected). Anti-pituitary antibodies were negative in all patients. At 6 months follow-up, one in every four women with a history of moderate-to-severe PPH was found with asymptomatic nonautoimmune-mediated hypopituitarism. The role of autoimmunity in Sheehan's syndrome remains uncertain. Further studies are needed to improve the remaining knowledge gaps.

Testicular Cancer Presenting as Gastric Variceal Hemorrhage.

Testicular cancer is the most common solid malignancy affecting males between the ages of 15 and 35. The symptomatology caused by this tumor varies according to the site of metastasis. We present the case of a 26-year-old male who arrived to the emergency department with hematemesis. He had no previous medical history. On arrival, we noted enlargement of the left scrotal sac. There was also a mass in the left scrotum which provoked displacement of the penis and right testis. The serum alpha-fetoprotein level was 17,090 ng/mL, lactate dehydrogenase was 1480 U/L, and human chorionic gonadotropin was 287.4 IU/mL. Upper endoscopy revealed a type 1 isolated gastric varix, treated with cyanoacrylate. A CT scan showed extrinsic compression of the portal vein by lymphadenopathy along with splenic vein partial thrombosis, which caused left-sided portal hypertension. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was started with etoposide and cisplatin, and seven days later the patient underwent left radical orchiectomy. A postoperative biopsy revealed a pure testicular teratoma. Noncirrhotic left portal hypertension with bleeding from an isolated gastric varix secondary to metastasic testicular cancer has not been described before. Clinicians must consider the possibility of malignancy in the differential diagnosis of a young man presenting with unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding.

Mean platelet volume is decreased in adults with active lupus disease.

BACKGROUND: Only a few biomarkers are available for assessing disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been recently studied as an inflammatory biomarker. It is currently unclear whether MPV may also play a role as a biomarker of disease activity in adult patients with SLE. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between MPV and disease activity in adult patients with SLE. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we compared two groups of adult patients divided according to disease activity (36 per group). Subjects were age- and gender-matched. RESULTS: MPV was significantly decreased with respect to those of inactive patients (7.16±1.39 vs. 8.16±1.50, p=0.005). At a cutoff level of 8.32fL, MPV has a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 41% for the detection of disease activity. A modest positive correlation was found between MPV and albumin (r=0.407, p=0.001), which in turn is inversely associated with disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, MPV is decreased in adult patients with active lupus disease, and positively correlated with albumin, another biomarker of disease activity. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the prognostic value of this biomarker.

Mean platelet volume is decreased in adults with active lupus disease / O volume plaquetário médio está reduzido em adultos com lúpus ativo

ABSTRACT Background: Only a few biomarkers are available for assessing disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been recently studied as an inflammatory biomarker. It is currently unclear whether MPV may also play a role as a biomarker of disease activity in adult patients with SLE. Objective: We investigated the association between MPV and disease activity in adult patients with SLE. Methods: In this retrospective study, we compared two groups of adult patients divided according to disease activity (36 per group). Subjects were age- and gender-matched. Results: MPV was significantly decreased with respect to those of inactive patients (7.16 ± 1.39 vs. 8.16 ± 1.50, p = 0.005). At a cutoff level of 8.32 fL, MPV has a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 41% for the detection of disease activity. A modest positive correlation was found between MPV and albumin (r = 0.407, p = 0.001), which in turn is inversely associated with disease activity. Conclusions: In summary, MPV is decreased in adult patients with active lupus disease, and positively correlated with albumin, another biomarker of disease activity. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the prognostic value of this biomarker.

RESUMO Antecedentes: Existem poucos biomarcadores disponíveis para avaliar a atividade da doença no lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES). O volume plaquetário médio (VPM) foi recentemente estudado como um biomarcador inflamatório. Atualmente não está claro se o VPM também pode desempenhar um papel como um biomarcador da atividade da doença em pacientes adultos com LES. Objetivo: Investigou-se a associação entre o VPM e a atividade da doença em pacientes adultos com LES. Métodos: Neste estudo retrospectivo, compararam-se dois grupos de pacientes adultos divididos de acordo com a atividade da doença (36 por grupo). Os indivíduos foram pareados por idade e gênero. Resultados: O VPM esteve significativamente diminuído nos pacientes com doença ativa em comparação com os níveis em pacientes com doença inativa (7,16 ± 1,39 versus 8,16 ± 1,50, p = 0,005). Em um nível de corte de 8,32 fL, o VPM tem uma sensibilidade de 86% e uma especificidade de 41% para a detecção da atividade da doença. Encontrou-se uma correlação positiva modesta entre o VPM e a albumina (r = 0,407, p = 0,001), que por sua vez está inversamente associada à atividade da doença. Conclusões: Em resumo, o VPM está diminuído em pacientes adultos com lúpus ativo e positivamente correlacionado com a albumina, outro biomarcador da atividade da doença. São necessários estudos prospectivos para avaliar o valor prognóstico desse biomarcador.

Lack of compliance with consensus recommendations on the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in published prevalence studies. A clinical and systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: According to consensus recommendations, the presence of esophageal symptoms, >15 eosinophils/high-power field and unresponsiveness to proton pump inhibitors are required for a diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Nevertheless, inconsistency in using these guidelines has been reported in recent publications. The objective of this study was to assess compliance with EoE diagnostic guidelines in published studies on EoE prevalence and to evaluate other clinical and methodological parameters. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in articles published between 2008 and 2015 on the prevalence of EoE in unselected adults. Studies using EoE diagnostic definitions were judged to be compliant if they included all three components of the definition, partially compliant if they included two and non-compliant if they included one or none. Esophageal biopsy protocol differences and descriptions of patients' characteristics were determined. RESULTS: Among the 20 studies included, eight were performed in a hospital setting and 12 in the general population. Only 40.0% of studies were compliant, 35.0% were partially compliant and 25.0% were non-compliant with the EoE diagnostic definition guidelines. In 60.0% of the studies a proton pump inhibitor trial was not administered. Only 30.0% adhered to the recommendations in the esophageal biopsy protocol. A lack of description of the history of atopia and endoscopic characteristics was observed in many studies. CONCLUSIONS: Partial or non-compliance with the EoE diagnostic definition was observed in most of the published prevalence studies after the publication of the first consensus. The results of these studies might be interpreted taking into account this context.

Mean platelet volume is decreased in adults with active lupus disease. / O volume plaquetário médio está reduzido em adultos com lúpus ativo.

BACKGROUND: Only a few biomarkers are available for assessing disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been recently studied as an inflammatory biomarker. It is currently unclear whether MPV may also play a role as a biomarker of disease activity in adult patients with SLE. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between MPV and disease activity in adult patients with SLE. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we compared two groups of adult patients divided according to disease activity (36 per group). Subjects were age- and gender-matched. RESULTS: MPV was significantly decreased with respect to those of inactive patients (7.16±1.39 vs. 8.16±1.50, p=0.005). At a cutoff level of 8.32 fL, MPV has a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 41% for the detection of disease activity. A modest positive correlation was found between MPV and albumin (r=0.407, p=0.001), which in turn is inversely associated with disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, MPV is decreased in adult patients with active lupus disease, and positively correlated with albumin, another biomarker of disease activity. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the prognostic value of this biomarker.

Frequency of S and Z alleles for alpha-1-antitrypsin and tumor necrosis factor alpha -308 promoter polymorphism in northeastern Mexico.

Diseases characterized by airway inflammation, excessive secretion, and obstruction affect a substantial proportion of the population. Studies for understanding the mechanisms underlying these processes are focused on the initiation and maintenance of inflammation. Polymorphisms on DNA sequence of response mediators such as alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha have the capacity to influence presentation of diseases, affecting protein amount and/or functionality, and can be analyzed as disease modulators. The purpose of this study was to analyze AAT S and Z alleles and -308G/A TNF-alpha polymorphism on the northeast Mexico mestizo population to compare the influence of these genes in several diseases. DNA samples from 103 volunteers (healthy group) were tested for modifier gene variants by polymerase chain reaction-RFLP as follows: AAT gene for S and Z alleles and TNF-alpha promoter -308G/A (TNF1/TNF2) alleles. Allele frequency for S and TNF2 alleles were 1.5 and 2.4%, respectively, whereas the Z allele was not detected. This study shows low frequencies of the AAT S and TNF2 alleles, and the Z allele was not found. Correlation studies in the future will allow to determine if these alleles have some influence in the clinical presentation of diverse diseases in this group of people.