What is known and unknown about the effects of plastic pollution: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

As a consequence of the global ubiquity of plastic pollution, scientists, decision-makers, and the public often ask whether macroplastics (>5 mm) and microplastics (<5 mm) have a realized ecological threat. In 2016, we conducted a systematic review of the literature and made a call for further research testing hypotheses about ecological effects. In the subsequent years, the amount of relevant research has risen tremendously.

Miliary Tuberculosis in a Crohn's Disease Patient: The Risk beyond the Screening.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) antagonist is recognized as an effective treatment to achieve clinical remission and healing mucosal in patients with moderate to severe active Crohn's disease. Considering that it plays a central role in immune-mediated modulation, there are some obvious concerns about its long-term safety. There is evidence that it may increase the risk of opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, particularly reactivation of previous latent infection.

Mixed cryoglobulinemia: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

Mixed cryoglobulinemia is frequently secondary to hepatitis C virus infection. Diagnosis and therapeutic management are challenging, depending on the spectrum and severity of manifestations, as well as on the presence of comorbidities. We describe a case of a 79-year-old woman with a non-cirrhotic hepatitis C virus infection presenting with weakness, arthralgias, purpuric rash with left leg ulcerative lesions, bilateral peripheral sensorimotor polyneuropathy, renal impairment and cardiac failure.

[Portuguese Consensus on the Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Anaemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease].

Introduction: Anaemia can be considered the most common extra-intestinal manifestation in inflammatory bowel disease. Nevertheless, anaemia is often under-diagnosed and under-treated both in adults and children with inflammatory bowel disease. Herein, we report the consensus statements on the management of anaemia in inflammatory bowel disease developed by the Portuguese Working Group on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (known as Grupo de Estudo da Doença Inflamatória Intestinal - GEDII) to aid clinicians in daily management of inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Diagnostic Performance of Real-Time Elastography in the Assessment of Advanced Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis C.

Background And Aims: Since liver fibrosis index (LFI) was developed by Fujimoto et al., real-time elastography (RTE) has become a promising non-invasive technique to assess fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aims of this study were to compare the diagnostic performance of RTE laboratory tests to predict advanced fibrosis (METAVIR scoring system: F ≥ 3) in patients with CHC, using liver biopsy (LB) as the reference standard; and to evaluated the impact of patient anthropometric features on RTE histogram acquisition.

Endoscopic Management of Foreign Bodies in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract: An Evidence-Based Review Article.

Gastrointestinal foreign bodies (FB) are comprised of food bolus impaction and intentionally or unintentionally ingested or inserted true FB. Food bolus impaction and true FB ingestion represent a recurrent problem and a true challenge in gastrointestinal endoscopy. More than 80-90% of the ingested true FB will pass spontaneously through the gastrointestinal tract without complications.

Leaping Forward in the Treatment of Infection: Update in 2015.

In recent years, significant advances in the treatment of infection (CDI) have risen. We review the most relevant updated recommendations in the current standard of care of CDI and discuss emerging therapies, including antibiotic, alternative therapies (probiotics, toxin-binding resins, immunotherapy) and new data on fecal transplantation. Upcoming surgical options and other rescue therapies for severe refractory disease are also addressed.

Modeling of yeast Brettanomyces bruxellensis growth at different acetic acid concentrations under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Glucose utilization by Brettanomyces bruxellensis at different acetic acid concentrations under aerobic and anaerobic conditions was investigated. The presence of the organic acid disturbs the growth and fermentative activity of the yeast when its concentration exceeds 2 g l(-1). A mathematical model is proposed for the kinetic behavior analysis of yeast growing in batch culture.