Liver Steatosis and Fibrosis in OSA patients After Long-term CPAP Treatment: A Preliminary Ultrasound Study.

In cases of morbid obesity, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was associated with biopsy-proven liver damage. The role of non-invasive techniques to monitor liver changes during OSA treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is unknown. We used non-invasive ultrasound techniques to assess liver steatosis and fibrosis in severe OSA patients at diagnosis and during long-term CPAP treatment. Fifteen consecutive patients with severe OSA (apnea hypopnea index 52.5 ± 19.1/h) were studied by liver ultrasound and elastography (Fibroscan) at 6-mo (n = 3) or 1-y (n = 12) follow-up. Mean age was 49.3 ± 11.9 y, body mass index (BMI) was 35.4 ± 6.4 kg/m(2). Adherence to CPAP was ≥5 h/night. At baseline, most patients had severe liver steatosis independent of BMI; at follow-up, liver steatosis was not statistically different, but a relationship between severity of steatosis and BMI became apparent (Spearman's rho: 0.53, p = 0.03). Significant fibrosis as assessed by Fibroscan was absent at diagnosis or follow-up (failure or unreliable measurements in four markedly obese patients). Therefore, ultrasound liver assessment is feasible in most OSA patients, and CPAP treatment may positively affect liver steatosis.

Is really megacolon a contraindication to infliximab in Crohn's disease?

Toxic megacolon (TM) is a rare complication of severe ulcerative colitis (UC) and colonic Crohn's disease (CD), defined as a clinical syndrome accompanied by radiographic evidence of colonic dilatation that in many cases must be treated aggressively with surgical intervention (1). We report two cases of steroid and antibiotic-refractory fulminant Crohn's colitis, complicated by toxic megacolon, who were successfully treated with infliximab (IFX), thus avoiding surgical intervention. Although there are no well defined recommendation about the correct timing of colectomy in CD-associated TM, and despite the fact that it may be imprudent to advocate delaying surgery in favour of anti-tumor necrosis (anti-TNF) factor therapy in these cases, we think that a medical "rescue therapy" can be considered in a subset of patients with stable clinical condition during corticosteroid treatment.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic balloon dilation of symptomatic intestinal Crohn's disease strictures.

AIM: To evaluate prospectively the clinical efficacy and safety of endoscopic hydrostatic balloon dilation in a consecutive cohort of symptomatic intestinal Crohn's disease strictures. METHODS: Between September 2003 and December 2008 we performed endoscopic balloon dilations in 37 Crohn's disease patients with 39 intestinal symptomatic strictures (4 naïve and 35 postoperative). Dilations were performed using a Rigiflex through-the-scope balloon. Clinical success rate was claimed if a patient remained asymptomatic and did not require surgery or further endoscopic dilation, following technical success. Actuarial curves of clinical, endoscopic (redilation) and surgical recurrence were obtained by Kaplan-Meier method. Demographic and disease variables were related to the main outcomes. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 26.3 months (range, 2-61 months), the long-term global benefit rate was 89% (33/37). The 1-2-3 years cumulative symptom-free rates were respectively: 76%, 55% and 46%. Four patients were operated upon. Technical success predicts a lower rate of surgery. There were no complications related to the endoscopic procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic balloon dilation of symptomatic Crohn's disease strictures may achieve clinical benefit in many patients and is a valid alternative to surgery in the management of the disease. Dilation may be repeated in recurrent intestinal obstructions and appears safe without morbidity.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis: survival rate and prognostic factors.

BACKGROUND: The role of prognostic variables in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is controversial. AIMS: To evaluate the survival of patients with HCC on cirrhosis treated with TACE and to analyse the prognostic factors affecting survival. METHODS: From 1996 to 2006, 580 consecutive patients with HCC in cirrhosis were observed. Of these 194 patients underwent TACE. The primary end-point was survival. Independent predictors of survival were identified using the Cox model. RESULTS: The cumulative 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates were 96%, 60%, and 41%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed significant reduction of survival among patients with serum bilirubin values >2mg/dl compared to patients with values <2mg/dl (Hazard ratio 3.84; CI 95% 1.70-8.66; p-value=0.001). Multivariate analysis performed in the group of patients treated with TACE alone showed that elevated serum bilirubin (Hazard ratio 2.96; CI 95% 1.20-7.3; p-value 0.02) and incomplete tumour response (Hazard ratio 2.88; CI 95% 1.18-7.05; p-value 0.02) are correlated with a worse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: TACE was well tolerated and overall survival rate was 41% after 5 years. Complete tumour response and serum bilirubin <2mg/dl were identified as predictors of survival.

Radiofrequency thermal ablation vs. percutaneous ethanol injection for small hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RF) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) have been employed in the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as curative treatments. The aim of the study was to review the available evidence comparing RF to PEI for small HCC. SEARCH STRATEGY: Cochrane, MEDLINE, CANCERLIT, and ENBASE databases were used. SELECTION CRITERIA: randomized clinical trials evaluating RF vs. PEI. Data were extracted from each randomized controlled trial (RCT). Primary outcomes were overall survival and local recurrence. Meta-analysis software was used and risk differences (RDs) and their 95% confidence intervals and Q-test for heterogeneity were calculated. RESULTS: Five RCTs were identified including 701 patients. The overall survival was significantly higher in patients treated with RF than in those treated with PEI (RD 0.116, 95% CI 0.173/0.060; heterogeneity not present). Local recurrence rate is significantly higher in patients treated with PEI than in those treated with RF. In the RF group the 1, 2, and 3 years cancer-free survival rates were significantly better than in the PEI-treated patients (respectively: RD 0.098-95% CI 0.006/0.189; heterogeneity P=0.57; RD 0.187, 95% CI 0.082/0.293; heterogeneity P=0.98; RD 0.210, 95% CI 0.095/0.325; heterogeneity P = 0.78). A small number of adverse events were reported in the two treatments. CONCLUSIONS: RF ablation is superior to PEI in the treatment of small HCC with respect to overall survival, 1, 2, and 3 years survival rates, 1, 2, and 3 cancer-free survival rates, and tumor response. RF shows a significantly smaller risk of local recurrence.