Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhotic Patients With Bacterial Infections: Frequency, Clinical Characteristics, and Prognostic Relevance.

Background/objectives: Bacterial infections (BIs) are well-recognized precipitants of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Nevertheless, there is a paucity of data in patients with HE associated with BI. Our aim was to describe clinical characteristics, recurrence, and prognosis of HE in patients with BI.

IL36G genetic variant is independently associated with susceptibility, severity and joint involvement in psoriasis.

Psoriasis (PsO) is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory and polygenic dermatosis associated with both physical and psychological burden that can be triggered by injury, trauma, infections and medications. The etiology of PsO is not fully elucidated but genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors are all likely to play a role. A case-control study was carried out to evaluate the frequency of the IL36G C>T (rs13392494) and the IL36G A>G (rs7584409) variants and their association with susceptibility, joint involvement and severity of PsO.

Genetic Ancestry, Race, and Severity of Acutely Decompensated Cirrhosis in Latin America.

Background & Aims: Genetic ancestry or racial differences in health outcomes exist in diseases associated with systemic inflammation (eg, COVID-19). This study aimed to investigate the association of genetic ancestry and race with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), which is characterized by acute systemic inflammation, multi-organ failure, and high risk of short-term death.

Methods: This prospective cohort study analyzed a comprehensive set of data, including genetic ancestry and race among several others, in 1274 patients with acutely decompensated cirrhosis who were nonelectively admitted to 44 hospitals from 7 Latin American countries.

Frequency and predictive factors of minimal hepatic encephalopathy before and after sustained virological response in HCV cirrhosis.

Introduction: Data of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) before and after hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment remain scarce. We aimed to describe the prevalence, evolution and predictive factors of MHE before and after a sustained virological response (SVR).

Material And Methods: It was a prospective study that included adults with cirrhosis due to HCV treated by direct-acting agents (DAA).

Adherence to central venous catheter maintenance bundle in an intensive care unit.

Objective: To check adherence to the Central Venous Catheter maintenance bundle in an Intensive Care Unit, after an educational intervention to the professionals who provide care to patients using this catheter.

Method: Descriptive-exploratory study, carried out in two stages: stage 1 - educational intervention and stage 2 - verification/observation of adherence. Data were organized in the Microsoft Excel® and analyzed through the Stata®.

FOXP3 variants are independently associated with transforming growth factor Β1 plasma levels in female patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of -924 G>A (rs2232365) and -3279 C>A (rs3761548) FOXP3 variants with IBD susceptibility, clinical and endoscopic activity, and IL-10 and TGF-β1 plasma levels.

Method: The study included 110 IBD female patients, 60 with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and 50 with Crohn's Disease (CD), and 154 female controls. FOXP3 variants were determined with Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Dacryoendoscopic recanalization of lacrimal passage obstruction/stenosis after radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Purpose: Radioiodine therapy, a standard treatment for differentiated thyroid carcinomas, is associated with several adverse events including lacrimal drainage system obstruction. Herein, we describe the first case of duct lumen recanalization using dacryoendoscopy for lacrimal passage obstruction and stenosis after radioiodine therapy.

Observations: A 48-year-old female treated with radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma 5 years prior presented with epiphora in both eyes.

Mixture of probiotics reduces inflammatory biomarkers and improves the oxidative/nitrosative profile in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Studies have demonstrated that the gut microbiota of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is different from that of healthy individuals and could influence inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, we sought to evaluate the effects of supplementation with a mixture of probiotics on cytokine plasma levels, inflammatory biomarkers, oxidative/nitrosative stress profile, and Disease Activity Score-28 in people with RA.

Methods: A randomized and double-blind placebo-controlled study was carried out with 42 participants with RA divided into two groups-the probiotic group (n = 21), who over 60 d took a daily ingestion of probiotics in a sachet containing 109 CFU/g each of five freeze-dried strains: Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14, Lactobacillus casei Lc-11, Lactococcus lactis Ll-23, Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04 and B.

Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Decompensation of Cirrhosis.

Background: Although recently challenged, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria are still commonly used in daily practice to define sepsis. However, several factors in liver cirrhosis may negatively impact its prognostic ability. .

Cytokines in psoriasis.

Psoriasis is chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory disease with a multifactorial etiology that affects the skin tissue and causes the appearance of dry and scaly lesions of anywhere on the body. The study of the pathophysiology of psoriasis reveals a network of immune cells that, together with their cytokines, initiates a chronic inflammatory response. Previously attributed to T helper (Th)1 cytokines, currently the Th17 cytokine family is the major effector in the pathogenesis of psoriatic disease and strongly influences the inflammatory pattern established during the disease activity.

CLIF-C AD Score Predicts Development of Acute Decompensations and Survival in Hospitalized Cirrhotic Patients.

Background And Aims: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis are at increased risk of mortality, even in absence of ACLF. The CLIF-C AD score (CLIF-C ADs) was proposed as a prognostic score but lacks sufficient validation. Our aim was to describe clinical characteristics and hospital evolution according to score groups and evaluate prognostic capability of CLIF-C ADs alone or in combination with other scores.

IL6 genetic variants haplotype is associated with susceptibility and disease activity but not with therapy response in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the IL6 -174 G>C (rs1800795) and -572 G>C (rs1800796) genetic variants and their association with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), disease activity, and response to TNF-α inhibitors.

Methods: The study included 178 patients with IBD and 224 healthy controls. Among the IBD patients, 66 of them were in use of TNF-α inhibitors therapy and were followed during 48 weeks and categorized as responders and non-responders.

Correction to: Cell adhesion molecules, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, and metabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. Camila Cataldi de Alcantara was not listed among the authors. The corrected author group should be.

Combination and sequential evaluation of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and hyponatremia and prognosis in cirrhotic patients.

Background: Few studies have evaluated whether combination and sequential evaluation of ACLF (acute-on-chronic liver failure) and hyponatremia aids prognosis.

Aims: Describe clinical course and determine prognostic capability of assessing ACLF and hyponatremia at specific time-points.

Methods: Prospective study with inclusion of 376 patients.