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Alcoholic hepatitis is a frequent condition in the Mexican population. It is characterized by acute-on-chronic liver failure, important systemic inflammatory response, and multiple organ failure. The severe variant of the disease implies elevated mortality. Therefore, the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología and the Asociación Mexicana de Hepatología brought together a multidisciplinary team of health professionals to formulate the first Mexican consensus on alcoholic hepatitis, carried out utilizing the Delphi method and resulting in 37 recommendations. Alcohol-related liver disease covers a broad spectrum of pathologies that includes steatosis, steatohepatitis, different grades of fibrosis, and cirrhosis and its complications. Severe alcoholic hepatitis is defined by a modified Maddrey’s discriminant function score ≥ 32 or by a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score equal to or above 21. There is currently no specific biomarker for its diagnosis. Leukocytosis with neutrophilia, hyperbilirubinemia (>3 mg/dl), AST > 50 U/l (< 400 U/l), and an AST/ALT ratio > 1.5-2 can guide the diagnosis. Abstinence from alcohol, together with nutritional support, is the cornerstone of treatment. Steroids are indicated for severe disease and have been effective in reducing the 28-day mortality rate. At present, liver transplantation is the only life-saving option for patients that are nonresponders to steroids. Certain drugs, such as N-acetylcysteine, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, and metadoxine, can be adjuvant therapies with a positive impact on patient survival. Resumen: La hepatitis alcohólica es una condición frecuente en población mexicana, se caracteriza por insuficiencia hepática aguda sobre crónica, importante reacción inflamatoria sistémica y fallo multiorgánico, que en la variante grave de la enfermedad implica una elevada mortalidad. Por lo anterior, la Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología y la Asociación Mexicana de Hepatología conjuntaron un equipo multidisciplinario de profesionales de la salud para elaborar el primer consenso mexicano de hepatitis alcohólica. El consenso fue elaborado con la metodología Delphi, emitiendo 37 recomendaciones. La enfermedad hepática relacionada al consumo de alcohol comprende un amplio espectro, que incluye esteatosis, esteatohepatitis, fibrosis en diferentes grados, cirrosis y sus complicaciones. La hepatitis alcohólica grave se define por una función modificada de Maddrey ≥32 o por un puntaje de MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) igual o mayor a 21. Actualmente no existe un biomarcador específico para el diagnóstico. La presencia de leucocitosis con neutrofilia, hiperbilirrubinemia (>3 mg/dL), AST > 50 U/L ( 1.5-2 pueden orientar al diagnóstico. La piedra angular del tratamiento es la abstiencia junto con el soporte nutricional. Los esteroides estan indicados en la forma grave, en donde han resultado efectivos para reducir la mortalidad a 28 días. El trasplante hepático es en la actualidad la única opción con que se cuenta para salvar la vida de pacientes no respondedores a esteroides. Ciertos fármacos, como la N-acetilcisteína, el factor estimulante de colonias de granulocitos, y la metadoxina pueden ser una terapia adyuvante que puede impactar en la sobrevida de los pacientes.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Gastroparesis is a potentially debilitating gastric motility disorder with limited treatment options. Highest efficacy treatments include gastric per-oral endoscopic myotomy (GPOEM) and surgical pyloromyotomy. This study compares the efficacy and safety of GPOEM versus laparoscopic pyloromyotomy for refractory gastroparesis. METHODS Patients who underwent GPOEM or laparoscopic pyloromyotomy for refractory gastroparesis from four centers across the USA and Latin America were included in a dedicated registry. Data collected included patient demographics, imaging, laboratory values, clinical success, gastroparesis cardinal symptom index, procedure time, pre-op and post-op gastric emptying times, adverse events, and hospital length of stay. RESULTS A total of 102 patients were included (mean age 47; 32.4% male): GPOEM n = 39, surgical pyloromyotomy n = 63.Technical success was 100% in both groups. Clinical success was 92.3% in the GPOEM group and 82.5% in the surgery group (P = 0.164). The GPOEM group had a significantly higher post-op GSCI score reduction by 1.3 units (P

Background & Aims: Corticosteroids are the only effective therapy for severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH), defined by a model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score >20. However, there are patients who may be too sick to benefit from therapy. Herein, we aimed to identify the range of MELD scores within which steroids are effective for AH. Methods: We performed a retrospective, international multi-center cohort study across 4 continents, including 3,380 adults with a clinical and/or histological diagnosis of AH. The main outcome was mortality at 30 days. We used a discrete-time survival analysis model, and MELD cut-offs were established using the transform-the-endpoints method. Results: In our cohort, median age was 49 (40-56) years, 76.5% were male, and 79% had underlying cirrhosis. Median MELD at admission was 24 (19-29). Survival was 88% (87-89) at 30 days, 77% (76-78) at 90 days, and 72% (72-74) at 180 days. A total of 1,225 patients received corticosteroids. In an adjusted-survival-model, corticosteroid use decreased 30-day mortality by 41% (hazard ratio [HR] 0.59; 0.47-0.74; p 51. The type of corticosteroids used (prednisone, pred-nisolone, or methylprednisolone) was not associated with sur-vival benefit (p = 0.247). Conclusion: Corticosteroids improve 30-day survival only among patients with severe AH, especially with MELD scores between 25 and 39. Lay summary: Alcohol-associated hepatitis is a condition where the liver is severely inflamed as a result of excess alcohol use. It is associated with high mortality and it is not clear whether the most commonly used treatments (corticosteroids) are effective, particularly in patients with very severe liver disease. In this worldwide study, the use of corticosteroids was associated with increased 30-day, but not 90-or 180-day, survival. The maximal benefit was observed in patients with an MELD score (a marker of severity of liver disease; higher scores signify worse disease) between 25-39. However, this benefit was lost in patients with the most severe liver disease (MELD score higher than 51). (C) 2021 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Background: Probiotics and antispasmodics have been tested extensively in the management of symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but they have rarely been evaluated in combination. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the efficacy of treatment with the probiotic formulation i3.1 (Lactobacillus plantarum CECT7484 and CECT7485 and Pediococcus acidilactici CECT7483), with or without the addition of the antispasmodic alverine/simethicone, in improving IBS-related quality of life (QoL) and reducing abdominal pain and diarrhea in patients with IBS. Methods: This was a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 3 parallel arms (probiotic, probiotic plus antispasmodic, and placebo). Patients with IBS (N = 55) were recruited at the Gastroenterology Department of the Juárez Hospital (México City). QoL was assessed with the IBS-QoL questionnaire, abdominal pain with a visual analog scale, and stool consistency with the Bristol scale. Results: The IBS-QoL rate of response (ITT analysis) was 50.0% for patients in the group with probiotic alone, 68.4% in the group with probiotic plus antispasmodic, and 16.7% in the group with placebo after 6 weeks of treatment (p = 0.005). Response to abdominal pain was reported by 38.9% of patients treated with probiotic, 57.9% with probiotic plus antispasmodic, and 16.7% with placebo (p = 0.035). Regarding stool consistency, a response to treatment was reported by 44.4% of patients treated with probiotic, 57.9% with probiotic plus antispasmodic, and 16.7% with placebo (p = 0.032). Conclusion: The results are consistent with previous studies on the use of the i3.1 probiotic formulation for the management of symptoms in IBS patients, and the addition of an antispasmodic improves its observed effects.

BACKGROUND Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has become the preferred alternative treatment to standard Heller myotomy for patients with esophageal achalasia, in Latin American countries. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a POEM in the management of achalasia with and without Chagas disease in patients receiving POEM. METHODS Patients who underwent POEM from tertiary centers in Latin America were included in a dedicated registry. Countries included Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Patients enrolled needed to have a preoperative manometry and swallow contrast study confirming achalasia. Clinical success was defined as significant improvement in Eckardt score after therapy. RESULTS POEM was technically successful in 81/89 (91%) patients (mean age, 44 y). There was a significant decrease in preprocedure and postprocedure Eckardt score from 8.7 (range, 3 to 12) to 2.15 (0 to 10) (P

Background. The Rockall, Glasgow-Blatchford, and AIMS65 are useful and validated scoring systems for predicting the outcomes of patients with nonvariceal gastrointestinal bleeding. However, there are no validated evidence for using them to predict outcomes on variceal bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the prognostic accuracy of different nonvariceal bleeding scores with other liver-specific scoring systems in cirrhotic patients. Material and methods. A retrospective multicenter study that included 160 cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding. The AUROC’s to predict in-hospital mortality, and rebleeding, were analyzed for each scoring system.Results. Overall in-hospital mortality occurred in 13% and in-hospital rebleeding in 12% of patients. The systems with the best AUROC value for predicting mortality were MELD (0.828; 95% CI 0.748-0.909), and AIMS65 (0.817; 95% CI 0.724-0.909). The best score systems for predicting rebleeding were Glasgow-Blatchford (0.756; 95% CI 0.640-0.827), and Rockall (0.691; 95% CI 0.580-0.802).Conclusions. In addition to liver-specific scores, the AIMS65 score is accurate for predicting in-hospital mortality in cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding. Other scoring systems might be useful for predicting significant clinical outcomes in these patients.

Background The treatment for achalasia has traditionally been Heller myotomy (HM). Despite its excellent efficacy rate, a number of patients remain symptomatic post-procedure. Limited data exists as to the best management for recurrence of symptoms post HM. We present an international, multicenter experience evaluating the efficacy and safety of post-HM per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). Methods Patients who underwent a POEM post-HM from 13 centers from January 2012 to January 2017 were included as part of a prospective registry. Technical success was defined as successful completion of the myotomy. Clinical success was defined as an Eckardt score of ≤ 3 on 12-month follow-up. Adverse events (AE) including anesthesia-related, operative, and post-operative complications were recorded. Results 51 patients were included in the study (mean age 54.2, 47% male). Technical success was achieved in 100% of patients. Clinical success on long term follow-up was achieved in 48 patients (94%), with a mean change in Eckardt score of 6.25. Seven patients (13%) had AEs: 6 experienced peri-procedural mucosal defect treated endoscopically and 2 patients developed mediastinitis treated conservatively. Conclusion For patients with persistent symptoms after HM, POEM is a safe salvation technique with good short-term efficacy. Due to the challenge associated with repeat HM, POEM might become the preferred technique in this patient population. Further studies with longer follow-up are needed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has emerged as an endoscopic treatment of achalasia. There are no pre-procedural imaging modalities to predict the safest and the most efficacious approach. To evaluate the use of optimal coherence tomography (OCT) in providing a pre-procedural esophageal assessment. Patients undergoing POEM from July 2013 to November 2015 were captured in a multicenter, international registry. Patients who underwent OCT pre-POEM (“OCT arm”) were compared to patients without pre-POEM OCT (“control arm”). OCT images were assessed for the degree of vascularity and the thickness of the circular muscular layer, and an approach was determined. A total of 84 patients were captured in the registry. Fifty-one patients underwent pre-POEM OCT. Using OCT as a guide, 24 (47 %) of patients underwent anterior POEM while 27 (53 %) underwent posterior POEM. Technical success was achieved in 96 % of patients. Significantly less bleeding occurred in the OCT arm when compared to the control group [4 (8 %) vs. 14 (43 %), p = 0.0001]. As a result, procedural time was significantly lower in the OCT group as compared to the control group (85.8 vs. 121.7 min, p = 0.000097). Pre-POEM OCT results in a reduction in procedural bleeding which contributes to a reduction in overall procedural time. NCT01438385.