Comparative evaluation of the detection rate, workflow and associated costs of a multiplex PCR panel versus conventional methods in diagnosis of infectious gastroenteritis.

Introduction. Infectious gastroenteritis is a common reason for consulting a physician. Although most cases of gastrointestinal illness are self-limiting, the identification of the etiologic pathogen by stool specimen analysis is important in cases of more severe illness and for epidemiological reasons.Due to the broad range of causative pathogens, the conventional examination of a stool specimen is labour-intensive and usually requires different diagnostic methods. Multiplex PCR tests [e.g. BioFire Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel] allow the rapid detecting of up to 22 pathogens in one test.Hypothesis. Using a multiplex PCR panel to test stool specimens for infectious gastroenteritis pathogens can improve the detection rate, reduce the time-to-result and hands-on time and lower the costs of a microbiology laboratory.Aim. This study was aimed at evaluating the detection rate, the workflow and associated costs of stool specimen management using the BioFire GI Panel versus conventional methods.Methodology. Stool specimens were evaluated prospectively during the routine operation. Pathogen detection rate, hands-on time, time-to-result and material and personnel costs were determined for the BioFire GI Panel and conventional methods-the latter based on physician request and excluding viral testing.Results. Analysing 333 specimens collected between 2019 and 2020, the detection rate of enteropathogens was significantly higher with a positivity rate of 39.9 % using the multiplex PCR panel compared with 15.0 % using the conventional methods. The BioFire GI Panel presented results in a median time of 2.2 h compared with 77.5 h for culture and 22.1 h for antigen testing, noting that no tests were performed at weekends except for toxinogenic Clostridioides difficile. Based on list prices, the BioFire GI Panel was nine times more expensive compared with conventional methods, whereas hands-on-time was significantly lower using the BioFire GI Panel.Conclusion. Multiplex PCR panels are valuable tools for laboratory identification of infectious agents causing diarrhoea. The higher costs of such a multiplex PCR panel might be outweighed by the higher detection rate, ease of handling, rapid results and most likely improved patient management. However, these panels do not provide information on antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Therefore, if this is necessary for targeted therapy or if outbreak monitoring and control is required, specimens must still be cultured.

Thoracic impedance pneumography in propofol-sedated patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement in gastrointestinal endoscopy: A prospective, randomized trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of an ECG-based method called thoracic impedance pneumography to reduce hypoxic events in endoscopy. DESIGN: This was a single center, 1:1 randomized controlled trial. SETTING: The trial was conducted during the placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). PATIENTS: 173 patients who underwent PEG placement were enrolled in the present trial. Indication was oncological in most patients (89%). 58% of patients were ASA class II and 42% of patients ASA class III. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized in the standard monitoring group (SM) with pulse oximetry and automatic blood pressure measurement or in the intervention group with additional thoracic impedance pneumography (TIM). Sedation was performed with propofol by gastroenterologists or trained nurses. MEASUREMENTS: Hypoxic episodes defined as SpO2 < 90% for >15 s were the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints were minimal SpO2, apnea >10s/>30s and incurred costs. MAIN RESULTS: Additional use of thoracic impedance pneumography reduced hypoxic episodes (TIM: 31% vs SM: 49%; p = 0.016; OR 0.47; NNT 5.6) and elevated minimal SpO2 per procedure (TIM: 90.0% ± 8.9; SM: 84.0% ± 17.6; p = 0.007) significantly. Apnea events >10s and > 30s were significantly more often detected in TIM (43%; 7%) compared to SM (1%; 0%; p < 0.001; p = 0.014) resulting in a time advantage of 17 s before the occurrence of hypoxic events. As a result, adjustments of oxygen flow were significantly more often necessary in SM than in TIM (p = 0.034) and assisted ventilation was less often needed in TIM (2%) compared with SM (9%; p = 0.053). Calculated costs for the additional use of thoracic impedance pneumography were 0.13$ (0.12 €/0.11 £) per procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Additional thoracic impedance pneumography reduced the quantity and extent of hypoxic events with less need of assisted ventilation. Supplemental costs per procedure were negligible. KEY WORDS: thoracic impedance pneumography, capnography, sedation, monitoring, gastrointestinal endoscopy, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

The macrophage activation marker CD163 is associated with IL28B genotype and hepatic inflammation in chronic hepatitis C virus infected patients.

Recent data highlighted the association of the macrophage activation marker CD163 with histological inflammation and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of successful antiviral treatment and IL28B genotypes on macrophage activation reflected by CD163 levels in HCV infected patients. In a retrospective cohort study, serum sCD163 levels were correlated with results of liver histopathology, IL28B genotyping and clinical parameters in 329 patients with HCV infection, 15 healthy controls and in 161 patients who achieved a sustained virologic response after antiviral treatment. sCD163 levels were significantly higher in patients with chronic HCV infection in comparison to healthy controls (5202 vs 896 ng/mL, P < 0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, sCD163 was independently associated with histologically determined inflammation (P = 0.043) but not with fibrosis (P = 0.091). sCD163 dropped significantly after successful antiviral treatment in comparison to baseline values (5202 vs 3093 ng/mL, P < 0.001). In the univariate analyses, sCD163 was significantly associated with IL28B genotype (C/C vs C/T+T/T) with higher values in the C/C group (6098 vs 4812 ng/mL, P = 0.003). In the multivariate logistic regression model, sCD163 levels were significantly associated with IL28B genotype (P = 0.003) and sustained virologic response (SVR) (P < 0.001). Our data support the association of activated liver macrophages with hepatic necroinflammation in chronic HCV infection as sCD163 levels drop rapidly after SVR. The irresponsiveness of IL28B minor genotypes to interferon might be related to a lower level of macrophage activation in these patients.

Proton pump inhibitor treatment is associated with the severity of liver disease and increased mortality in patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are widely used in patients with liver diseases. Within the last years, there have been concerns about the PPI use as they may promote infections in patients with cirrhosis. AIM: As there are sparse data of the prognostic relevance of PPI treatment, to perform a prospective study investigating the relation of PPI treatment and overall survival (OS) in cirrhotic individuals. METHODS: Patients with cirrhosis were enrolled and followed prospectively. The primary end point was OS. PPI treatment and additional clinical and laboratory data were assessed at the day of the study inclusion. The time until the end point death was assessed and the individual risks were calculated with Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 272 patients were included and 213 individuals (78.3%) were on PPI treatment. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, PPI treatment was associated with higher MELD scores (P = 0.027) and ascites (P = 0.039). In a multivariate Cox regression model, PPI use was an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio 2.330, 95% confidence interval 1.264-4.296, P = 0.007) in addition to the model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic decompensation. CONCLUSIONS: PPI use is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Although a causative role for increased mortality in patients taking PPI is still missing, the prescription of PPI in cirrhotics should be considered carefully taking into account its potential adverse effects.

Soluble CD163 is an indicator of liver inflammation and fibrosis in patients chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus.

Soluble CD163 (sCD163), a marker for macrophage activation, was found to be associated with the severity of liver cirrhosis. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether serum sCD163 levels correlate with liver inflammation and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In a retrospective cohort study, serum sCD163 levels were assessed by ELISA together with clinical and laboratory data in 186 patients with chronic HBV infection and 15 healthy controls. The relation between parameters for liver fibrosis and necroinflammation and sCD163 levels was analysed. Additionally, sCD163 was quantified in a subset of follow-up serum samples after initiation of antiviral treatment. sCD163 levels differed among phases of chronic HBV infection (P < 0.0001), and sCD163 concentrations were associated with inflammatory activity and fibrosis in the liver. sCD163 levels ≥ 1961 ng/l had a high specificity in the identification of subjects with substantial fibrosis (F ≥ 2). sCD163 concentrations decreased significantly after initiation of antiviral treatment. The correlation of sCD163 levels with necroinflammation and fibrosis and the sCD163 decline under treatment indicates that macrophage activation plays a role in HBV-related liver pathogenesis.

CTLA-4 CT60 polymorphism in thyroid and polyglandular autoimmunity.

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) frequently occur together with other endocrine autoimmune conditions, denominated as polyglandular autoimmunity (PGA). The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene was recently associated with AITD and PGA, and the CTLA-4 protein is a strong inhibitor of T-cells.The tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a proinflammatory cytokine. This study aimed to analyze the association of the CTLA-4 CT60 and TNF-alpha-863 polymorphisms with PGA. Homogeneous groups of 70 patients with AITD, 70 with type 1 diabetes (T1D), 70 with both AITD and T1D (PGA), and 100 healthy controls were genotyped for the CTLA-4 CT60 and TNF-alpha-863 polymorphisms by minisequencing on an ABI PRISM-3100 genetic analyzer. The CT60 G/G genotype was significantly more common in patients with PGA than in healthy controls (48.6 % vs. 32.0 % , OR = 2.01, 95 % CI = 1.07-3.77, p = 0.038). The CT60 allele frequencies differed as well between PGA patients and controls, with the predisposing G allele being increased in PGA (OR = 1.63, 95 % CI = 1.03-2.55, p = 0.042). Patients with PGA did not differ from those with AITD (p = 0.602) or T1D(p = 0.362). For TNF-alpha-863, carriers of the minor A allele occurred more frequently in the T1D group than in controls (47.1 % vs. 33 % , OR = 1.81, 95 % CI = 0.97-3.39, p = 0.079), but no differences in allele or genotype distribution were noted between PGA patients and controls (p = 0.886 and 0.389, respectively). In conclusion the CTLA-4 CT60 polymorphism is associated with PGA.