Stress-Related Mucosal Disease: Incidence of Bleeding and the Role of Omeprazole in its Prophylaxis

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is the severe complication of stress-related mucosal disease in hospitalized patients. In intensive care units (ICU), risk factors are well defined and only mechanical ventilation and coagulopathy proved to be relevant for significant bleeding. On the contrary, in non-ICU settings there is no consensus about this issue. Nevertheless, omeprazole is still widely used in prophylaxis of bleeding. The objective of our study was to evaluate the relevance of stress-related mucosal disease bleeding in patients admitted to an internal medicine ward, and the role of omeprazole in its prophylaxis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in which we analysed consecutive patients who were admitted to our ward over a year. We recorded demographic characteristics of the patients, potential risk factors for stress-related mucosal disease (clinical data, laboratory, and medication), administration of prophylactic omeprazole, and total cost of this prophylaxis. Patients with active gastrointestinal bleeding on the admission were excluded. We recorded every upper gastrointestinal bleeding event with clinical relevance. RESULTS: Five hundred and thirty-five patients, mean age 70 years, mean length of stay 9.6+/-7.7 days; 140 (26.2%) patients were treated with 40 mg of omeprazole intravenously, 193 (36.1%) with 20mg of omeprazole orally, and 202 (37.8%) patients had no prophylaxis. There was only one episode (0.2%) of clinically relevant bleeding. CONCLUSION: In patients admitted to an internal medicine ward, incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding as a complication of stress-related mucosal disease is low. We found that there is no advantage in prophylaxis with omeprazole.

A Redução do Tempo de Pré-Admissão e da Duração do Internamento em Fisiatria é Custo-Efectiva na Reabilitação do Traumatismo Crânio-Encefálico?

Objectivos: Em doentes com traumatismo crânio-encefálico (TCE), o aumento da duração do pré-internamento (internamento em cuidados agudos hospitalares de outras especialidades, antes da admissão em Medicina Física e de Reabilitação) e do internamento no Serviço de Medicina Física e de Reabilitação pode não justificar a sua inclusão ou manutenção na reabilitação em internamento, podendo esta não ser custo-efectiva comparativamente a modelos em ambulatório. O objectivo principal deste trabalho foi avaliar o impacto da duração do pré-internamento e do internamento em Medicina Física e de Reabilitação nos ganhos de funcionalidade obtidos por doentes com TCE. Material e Métodos: Doentes internados por TCE em Medicina Física e de Reabilitação (MFR) entre 1/1/1996 e 31/12/2010 (pré-amostra n = 79). Critérios de inclusão: TCE; pré-internamento <6 meses; internamento em MFR >7 dias. Critérios de exclusão: défices neurológicos e músculo-esqueléticos antes do TCE; intercorrências que condicionassem o programa de reabilitação. Amostra n = 64. O género, idade e os tempos de pré-internamento e de internamento em MFR são as variáveis independentes. Com base nos registos de entrada e alta em MFR, analisou-se a variação de vários parâmetros funcionais (variáveis dependentes). Aplicaram-se modelos estatísticos lineares generalizados: regressão logística, regressão linear múltipla e regressão ordinal logística, nas variáveis com escalas binária, intervalar ou ordinal, respectivamente. Para testar se houve melhoria após o internamento em MFR, aplicou-se o teste paramétrico t para amostras emparelhadas. Resultados: Género (feminino: 32.81%, masculino: 67.19%); média de idades (34.73±14.64 anos); duração média (pré-internamento: 68.03±36.71 dias, internamento em MFR: 46.55±:29.23 dias). O internamento em MFR conduziu a ganhos estatisticamente significativos (p < 6.54x10-2) em todas as variáveis dependentes. A duração de pré-internamento tem uma influência não linear estatisticamente significativa na duração de internamento em MFR (estimativa DPI: 1.18, estimativa DPI2: -5.92x10-3, p DPI: 9.17x10-3, p DPI2: 1.52x10-2). A redução da duração de pré-internamento está associada a uma evolução mais favorável em 20 variáveis, das quais 10 com influência estatisticamente significativa (p < 0.12). O aumento do tempo de internamento em MFR está significativamente associado a maiores ganhos nas escalas MIF e Barthel (p < 4.31x10-3). Conclusões: A duração de pré-internamento tem uma influência não linear na duração do internamento em MFR e constitui um parâmetro de prognóstico funcional em reabilitação. A sua redução é custo-efectiva na reabilitação do TCE e recomenda-se que seja um factor a considerar na selecção de doentes para a reabilitação em internamento. O programa de reabilitação em internamento gera ganhos significativos de funcionalidade, estando uma duração maior associada a ganhos mais favoráveis.

Diabetes Gestacional e o Impacto do Actual Rastreio

Introdução: Em 2011, foi introduzido um novo rastreio para a diabetes gestacional que permitiu um diagnóstico mais precoce e de maior número de casos com o intuito de reduzir complicações maternas e perinatais. O objectivo deste estudo foi avaliar a prevalência da diabetes gestacional, comparar resultados obstétricos e perinatais do anterior e presente rastreio e os resultados e realização da prova de reclassificação pós-parto. Material e Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo em gestações simples e diabetes gestacional diagnosticados em 2009 (n = 223) e 2012 (n = 237), vigiadas na Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa, Portugal. Após consulta de processos clínicos procedeu-se à análise de características demográficas, história médica e obstétrica, aumento ponderal durante a gravidez, idade gestacional do diagnóstico, terapêutica utilizada, resultados perinatais e reclassificação pós-parto, seguida de comparação destas variáveis entre os anos de 2009 e 2012. Resultados: Em 2012, houve maior prevalência de diabetes gestacional, ganho ponderal inferior (p < 0,001), maior recurso à terapêutica farmacológica (p < 0,001) e aumento dos casos diagnosticados no primeiro e segundo trimestres (p < 0,001). Relativamente aos resultados neonatais, o peso médio do recém-nascido ao nascer foi significativamente menor (p = 0,001) com diminuição dos recém-nascidos grandes para a idade gestacional (p = 0,002). A taxa de reclassificação pós-parto foi semelhante nos dois anos mas em 2012 houve um aumento dos resultados normais e diminuição das anomalias da glicémia em jejum. Discussão: Critérios mais apertados do actual rastreio permitiram a redução da maioria das complicações da diabetes gestacional levantando novas questões. Conclusão: A introdução do actual rastreio resultou num aumento de prevalência, diagnóstico mais precoce e redução da macrossomia.

Cutaneous Infection by Different Alternaria Species in a Liver Transplant Recipient

Fungal invasive infections are rare in general population but are an emergent cause of infection in the immunocompromized population, especially in the solid organ transplant recipients. Herein the authors report a clinical case of a liver transplanted patient suffering a cutaneous co-existent infection with A. alternata as well as A. infectoria. To our knowledge this is the first case of cutaneous concomitant infection due to those two species reported not only in Portugal but also worldwide. The patient was treated with surgical excision of the lesions and oral itraconazol without relapse.

Transthyretin Amyloidosis: Chaperone Concentration Changes and Increased Proteolysis in the Pathway to Disease

Transthyretin amyloidosis is a conformational pathology characterized by the extracellular formation of amyloid deposits and the progressive impairment of the peripheral nervous system. Point mutations in this tetrameric plasma protein decrease its stability and are linked to disease onset and progression. Since non-mutated transthyretin also forms amyloid in systemic senile amyloidosis and some mutation bearers are asymptomatic throughout their lives, non-genetic factors must also be involved in transthyretin amyloidosis. We discovered, using a differential proteomics approach, that extracellular chaperones such as fibrinogen, clusterin, haptoglobin, alpha-1-anti-trypsin and 2-macroglobulin are overrepresented in transthyretin amyloidosis. Our data shows that a complex network of extracellular chaperones are over represented in human plasma and we speculate that they act synergistically to cope with amyloid prone proteins. Proteostasis may thus be as important as point mutations in transthyretin amyloidosis.

Clinical Outcomes and Genetic Expression Profile in Human Liver Graft Dysfunction During Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Introduction. This study aims to compare the molecular gene expression during ischemia reperfusion injury. Several surgical times were considered: in the beginning of the harvesting (T0), at the end of the cold ischemia period (T1), and after reperfusion (T2) and compared with graft dysfunction after liver transplant (OLT). Methods. We studied 54 patients undergoing OLT. Clinical, laboratory data, and histologic data (Suzuki classification) as well as the Survival Outcomes Following Liver Transplantation (SOFT) score were used and compared with the molecular gene expression of the following genes: Interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-a, perforin, E-selectin (SELE), Fas-ligand, granzyme B, heme oxygenase-1, and nitric oxide synthetase. Results. Fifteen patients presented with graft dysfunction according to SOFT criteria. No relevant data were obtained by comparing the variables graft dysfunction and histologic variables. We observed a statistically significant relation between SELE at T0 (P ¼ .013) and IL-1b at T0 (P ¼ .028) and early graft dysfunction. Conclusions. We conclude that several genetically determined proinflammatory expressions may play a critical role in the development of graft dysfunction after OLT.

Liver Depurative Techniques: A Single Liver Transplantation Center Experience

In a liver transplant (LT) center, treatments with Prometheus were evaluated. The main outcome considered was 1 and 6 months survival. Methods. During the study period, 74 patients underwent treatment with Prometheus; 64 were enrolled,with a mean age of 51 13 years; 47men underwent 212 treatments (mean, 3.02 per patient). The parameters evaluated were age, sex, laboratorial (liver enzymes, ammonia) and clinical (model for end-stage liver disease and Child-Turcotte-Pugh score) data. Results. Death was verified in 23 patients (35.9%) during the hospitalization period, 20 patients (31.3%) were submitted to liver transplantation, and 21 were discharged. LT was performed in 4 patients with acute liver failure (ALF, 23.7%), in 7 patients with acute on chronic liver failure (AoCLF, 43.7%), and in 6 patients with liver disease after LT (30%). Seven patients who underwent LT died (35%). In the multivariate analysis, older age (P ¼ .015), higher international normalized ratio (INR) (P ¼ .019), and acute liver failure (P ¼ .039) were independently associated with an adverse 1-month clinical outcome. On the other hand, older age (P ¼ .011) and acute kidney injury (P ¼ .031) at presentation were both related to worse 6-month outcome. For patients with ALF and AoCLF we did not observe the same differences. Conclusions. In this cohort, older age was the most important parameter defining 1- and 6-month survival, although higher INR and presence of ALF were important for 1-month survival and AKI for 6-month survival. No difference was observed between patients who underwent LT or did not have LT.

Infections After Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective, Single-Center Study

Objective. To access the incidence of infectious problems after liver transplantation (LT). Design. A retrospective, single-center study. Materials and Methods. Patients undergoing LT from January 2008 to December 2011 were considered. Exclusion criterion was death occurring in the first 48 hours after LT. We determined the site of infection and the bacterial isolates and collected and compared recipient’s variables, graft variables, surgical data, post-LT clinical data. Results. Of the 492 patients who underwent LT and the 463 considered for this study, 190 (Group 1, 41%) developed at least 1 infection, with 298 infections detected. Of these, 189 microorganisms were isolated, 81 (51%) gram-positive bacteria (most frequently Staphylococcus spp). Biliary infections were more frequent (mean time of 160.4 167.7 days after LT); from 3 months after LT, gram-negative bacteria were observed (57%). Patients with infections after LT presented lower aminotransferase levels, but higher requirements in blood transfusions, intraoperative vasopressors, hemodialysis, and hospital stay. Operative and cold ischemia times were similar. Conclusion. We found a 41% incidence of all infections in a 2-year follow-up after LT. Gram-positive bacteria were more frequent isolated; however, negative bacteria were commonly isolated later. Clinical data after LT were more relevant for the development of infections. Donors’ variables should be considered in future analyses.

Propylthiouracil Induced Pulmonary-Renal Syndrome: a Case Report.

Propylthiouracil (PTU) is known to induce antineutrophil cytoplasmatic antibody (ANCA) seropositivity; however, small vessel vasculitis (SVV) with pulmonary and renal involvement is rare. We present the case of an 81-year-old woman on PTU treatment due to toxic nodular goitre who developed alveolar hemorrhage and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. The authors highlight the importance of early recognising drug-induced pulmonary-renal syndrome (PRS) in order to avoid unnecessary tests, a delay in the diagnosis and evolution to end-stage kidney disease or life-threatening conditions.

Nursing Home-Acquired Pneumonia Presenting at the Emergency Department

Nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) is one of the most common infections arising amongst nursing home residents, and its incidence is expected to increase as population ages. The NHAP recommendation for empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, arising from the concept of healthcare-associated pneumonia, has been challenged by recent studies reporting low rates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. This single center study analyzes the results of NHAP patients admitted through the Emergency Department (ED) at a tertiary center during the year 2010. There were 116 cases, male gender corresponded to 34.5 % of patients and median age was 84 years old (IQR 77-90). Comorbidities were present in 69.8 % of cases and 48.3 % of patients had used healthcare services during the previous 90 days. In-hospital mortality rate was 46.6 % and median length-of-stay was 9 days. Severity assessment at the Emergency Department provided CURB65 index score and respective mortality (%) results: zero: n = 0; one: n = 7 (0 %); two: n = 18 (38.9 %); three: n = 26 (38.5 %); four: n = 30 (53.3 %); and five; n = 22 (68.2 %); and sepsis n = 50 (34.0 %), severe sepsis n = 43 (48.8 %) and septic shock n = 22 (72.7 %). Significant risk factors for in-hospital mortality in multivariate analysis were polypnea (p = 0.001), age ≥ 75 years (p = 0.02), and severe sepsis or shock (p = 0.03) at the ED. Microbiological testing in 78.4 % of cases was positive in 15.4 % (n = 15): methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (26.7 %), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.0 %), S. pneumoniae (13.3 %), Escherichia coli (13.3 %), others (26.7 %); the rate of MDR bacteria was 53.3 %. This study reveals high rates of mortality and MDR bacteria among NHAP hospital admissions supporting the use of empirical broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy in these patients.