Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an increasingly common liver disease worldwide. MAFLD is diagnosed based on the presence of steatosis on images, histological findings, or serum marker levels as well as the presence of at least one of the three metabolic features: overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic risk factors. MAFLD is not only a liver disease but also a factor contributing to or related to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which is the major etiology responsible for morbidity and mortality in patients with MAFLD. Hence, understanding the association between MAFLD and CVD, surveillance and risk stratification of MAFLD in patients with CVD, and assessment of the current status of MAFLD management are urgent requirements for both hepatologists and cardiologists. This Taiwan position statement reviews the literature and provides suggestions regarding the epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, risk stratification, nonpharmacological interventions, and potential drug treatments of MAFLD, focusing on its association with CVD.

Background/Aims: Intrabolus pressures are important for esophageal bolus transport and may detect obstructed bolus flow. This study measured the effect esophageal outflow obstruction experimentally induce by a leg-lift protocol. Methods: Twenty-five gastroesophageal reflux disease patients referred for esophageal manometry and a normal motility diagnosis were included. Supine liquid swallows were tested. Leg-lift protocol generated esophageal outflow obstruction by increasing abdominal pressure. Esophageal pressure topography and intrabolus pressure metrics were calculated. These included, (1) mid-domain bolus distension pressure during esophageal emptying (DPE, mmHg) and (2) ramp pressure (mmHg/sec), generated by compression of the bolus between the peristaltic contraction and esophagogastric junction (EGJ). Results: EGJ relaxation pressure was increased by leg-lift from 13 (11-17) to 19 (14-30) mmHg (P< 0.005) and distal contractile integral also increased from 1077 (883-1349) to 1620 (1268-2072) mmHg · cm · sec (P < 0.001) as a physiological response to obstruction. All bolus pressures were increased by leg lift; DPE increased from 17 (15-20) to 27 (19-32) mmHg (P< 0.001), and ramp pressure increased from 3 (1-4) to 5 (2-9) mmHg/sec (P < 0.05). Conclusion Measuring pressures within the intrabolus domain can quantify changes related to obstruction to outflow and may serve as adjunct measures for confirming a diagnosis EGJ outflow obstruction.

Background/Aims: Performance of diagnostic or therapeutic endoscopic procedures in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients can be challenging during a viral pandemic; the main concerns being the safety and protection of patients and health care providers (HCP). The aim of this study is to identify endoscopic practice patterns and outcomes of IBD and coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a worldwide survey of HCP. Methods: The 20-item survey questionnaire was sent to physician members of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Special Interest Group in Interventional IBD, Chinese IBD Society Endoscopy Interest Group, and the China Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Results: A total of 141 respondents submitted valid responses. Nighty-five respondents (67.9%) reported that at least 25% of their scheduled emergent endoscopic procedures were canceled or postponed during the pandemic. Fifty-six respondents (40.0%) have performed emergent endoscopy during the pandemic. A few respondents (9/140, 6.4%) estimated that more than 25% of their patients had worsened disease due to delayed or canceled emergent endoscopy procedures. More than 80% of respondents believed that personal protective equipment (PPE) for the endoscopy team, room sterilization, and pre-procedure screening of patients for COVID-19 were necessary. Out of 140 respondents, 16 (11.4%) reported that several of their patients had COVID-19. Eight clinicians (5.7%) reported that they or their endoscopy colleagues developed work-related COVID-19. Conclusions Cancellation of elective and emergent endoscopy in IBD care during the pandemic was common. Few respondents reported that their patients’ disease conditions worsened due to the cancellation of the endoscopy procedure. Most respondents voiced the need for proper PPE during the procedure regardless of patients’ COVID-19 status and screening the patients for COVID-19.

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Background/Aims: Performance of diagnostic or therapeutic endoscopic procedures in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients can be challenging during a viral pandemic; the main concerns being the safety and protection of patients and health care providers (HCP). The aim of this study is to identify endoscopic practice patterns and outcomes of IBD and coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a worldwide survey of HCP. Methods: The 20-item survey questionnaire was sent to physician members of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Special Interest Group in Interventional IBD, Chinese IBD Society Endoscopy Interest Group, and the China Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Results: A total of 141 respondents submitted valid responses. Nighty-five respondents (67.9%) reported that at least 25% of their scheduled emergent endoscopic procedures were canceled or postponed during the pandemic. Fifty-six respondents (40.0%) have performed emergent endoscopy during the pandemic. A few respondents (9/140, 6.4%) estimated that more than 25% of their patients had worsened disease due to delayed or canceled emergent endoscopy procedures. More than 80% of respondents believed that personal protective equipment (PPE) for the endoscopy team, room sterilization, and pre-procedure screening of patients for COVID-19 were necessary. Out of 140 respondents, 16 (11.4%) reported that several of their patients had COVID-19. Eight clinicians (5.7%) reported that they or their endoscopy colleagues developed work-related COVID-19. Conclusions Cancellation of elective and emergent endoscopy in IBD care during the pandemic was common. Few respondents reported that their patients’ disease conditions worsened due to the cancellation of the endoscopy procedure. Most respondents voiced the need for proper PPE during the procedure regardless of patients’ COVID-19 status and screening the patients for COVID-19.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease that represents a tremendous burden on both patients and society in general. Studies have addressed how demographic variables, socioeconomic variables, and psychological comorbidity are related to the quality of life (QOL) of people with epilepsy (PWE). However, there has been less focus on how these factors may differ between patients who exhibit varying degrees of seizure control. This study utilized data from the Managing Epilepsy Well (MEW) Network of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the aim of elucidating differences in demographic variables, depression, and QOL between adult PWE. METHODS: Demographic variables, depression, and QOL were compared between PWE who experience clinically relevant differences in seizure occurrence. RESULTS: Gender, ethnicity, race, education, income, and relationship status did not differ significantly between the seizure-frequency categories (p>0.05). People with worse seizure control were significantly younger (p=0.039), more depressed (as assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire) (p=0.036), and had lower QOL (as determined using the 10-item Quality of Life in Epilepsy for Adults scale) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present results underscore the importance of early screening, detection, and treatment of depression, since these factors relate to both seizure occurrence and QOL in PWE.
Adult ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Comorbidity ; Continental Population Groups ; Depression ; Education ; Epilepsy* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Quality of Life ; Seizures* ; Self Care

BACKGROUND: This analysis presents patient-reported outcomes of breast augmentation procedures performed in Singapore using an inframammary fold incision and the “5 Ps” best practice principles for breast augmentation. These data are the first of their kind in Southeast Asian patients. METHODS: Through a retrospective chart review, patients who underwent primary breast augmentation with anatomical form-stable silicone gel breast implants using an inframammary fold incision were followed for ≥6 months postoperatively. The BREAST-Q Augmentation Module (scores standardized to 0 [worst] – 100 [best]) and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS; 1 [normal skin] to 10 [worst scar imaginable]) were administered. Responses were summarized using descriptive statistics. Patient-reported events were collected. RESULTS: Twenty-two Southeast Asian patients (mean age, 35.1 years) completed ≥1 postoperative BREAST-Q and POSAS assessment and were assessed 11 months to 5.5 years postoperatively. The mean postoperative BREAST-Q satisfaction with breasts and psychosocial well-being scores were 69.2 and 84.0, respectively. The mean POSAS score for their overall opinion of the scar was 4.2; the mean scores for all scar characteristics ranged from 1.2 to 4.2. Over 90% of patients (20/22) said that they would recommend the procedure. Patient complaints following surgery included anisomastia (possibly pre-existing; n=2), sensory loss at the nipple (n=2) or around the nipple (n=3), scarring (n=4), and slight capsular contracture (n=1). No patients required reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Southeast Asian patients reported high long-term satisfaction scores on the BREAST-Q scale and with their scar characteristics following breast augmentation using an inframammary fold incision, and nearly all said they would recommend this procedure. No reoperations were necessary in patients assessed for up to 5.5 years postoperatively.
Asia, Southeastern ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Breast Implants ; Breast* ; Cicatrix ; Contracture ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Nipples ; Patient Satisfaction ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Silicon ; Silicones ; Singapore

Objective: To investigate the role of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the regulation of inflammatory cytokines in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD) rat model, and to explore the possible mechanism involved in G-CSF neuroprotective effect via the mammalian target of Rapamycin/p70 ribosomal S6 protein kinase (mTOR/p70S6K) signaling pathway. Methods: A group of postnatal day 7 (P7) Sprague-Dawley rat pups (90 cases) were randomly divided into sham-operated group, hypoxia-ischemia(HI) group, G-CSF group, Rapamycin (RAP) group and control group, and the improved Rice method was used to establish a neonatal rat model of HIBD.One hour before HI induction, Rapamycin was administered intraperitoneally with a dose of 250 μg/kg, and the control group was given equal volume of ethanol injected intraperitoneally.One hour after HI, a dose of 50 μg/kg of G-CSF was injected intraperitoneally into the G-CSF group, Rapamycin group and control group.The same volume of normal saline was injected intraperitoneally into HI group and sham-operated group.Forty-eight hours after HI, Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, and the mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway in brain tissue.Neuron injury of the hippocampal CA1 region and the cortex was assessed by Nissl staining, and infarct volume detected by 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Results: The G-CSF group and control group were associated with significantly reduced infarction volume compared to the HI group [(12.87±1.54)%, (11.90±1.31)% vs.(24.21±3.28)%], and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). There was an increased positive neuron cell number in the ipsilateral hemispheres of the hippocampal CA1 region in the G-CSF group and the control group [(61.00±4.90) cell/field and (61.67±6.40) cell/field] and cortex [(92.67±6.68) cell/field and (90.17±4.45) cell/field] compared with those in HI group [(42.62±4.46) cell/field and (70.83±6.97) cell/field], and the differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). The expression levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly decreased in the G-CSF group and the control group, compared with those in HI group(TNF-α: 0.67±0.07, 0.55±0.05 vs.0.86±0.05; IL-1β: 0.65±0.06, 0.52±0.10 vs.0.86±0.06), and the differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). There was increased expression levels of IL-10, p-mTOR/mTOR and p-p70S6K/p70S6K in the G-CSF group and the control group, compared with those in HI group (IL-10: 0.68±0.04, 0.62±0.05 vs.0.34±0.02; p-mTOR/mTOR: 0.53±0.02, 0.51±0.01 vs.0.26±0.01; p-p70S6K/p70S6K: 0.89±0.03, 0.90±0.03 vs.0.55±0.02), and the differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05). There was an increased infarct volume in Rapamycin group [(25.70±1.50)%], compared with the G-CSF group and the control group, and there were decreased number of positive neuron cell count in the hippocampal CA1 region [(40.67±3.50) cell/field] and cortex [(68.33±8.17) cell/field], increased expression levels of TNF-α and IL-1β (0.97±0.06 and 0.98±0.10, respectively), decreased expression levels of IL-10, p-mTOR/mTOR and p-p70S6K/p70S6K (0.21±0.02, 0.30±0.01 and 0.55±0.01, respectively) in the Rapamycin group, and the differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions G-CSF may inhibit inflammatory responses after HIBD by up-regulating the mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway in neonatal HI encephalopathy.

PURPOSE: Appendiceal tumors are a heterogeneous group of diseases that include typical neuroendocrine tumors (TNET), goblet cell carcinoids (GCC), and atypical GCC. Atypical GCC are classified into signet-ring cell cancers (SRCC) and poorly differentiated appendiceal adenocarcinoids. The prognosis and management of these diseases is unclear because there are no prospective studies. The aim of this study is to assess the characteristics and outcome of appendiceal TNET, GCC, and SRCC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Appendiceal TNET, GCC, and SRCC patients diagnosed between 1973 and 2011 were identified in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Demographics, type of surgery, and clinicopathologic characteristics were collected. Survival functions were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test was used to assess the difference in overall survival (OS) among the three histologies. RESULTS: The SEER database yielded 1,021 TNET patients, 1,582 with GCC, and 534 SRCC patients. TNET presented at a younger age (p < 0.001). Patients with SRCC presented with advanced stage disease (p < 0.001). The median OS (mOS) for GCC and TNET patients was not reached; mOS for SRCC was 24 months. Multivariate analysis stratified for stage revealed significantly longer survival for TNET and GCC than SRCC (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This is the largest report to date for appendiceal neuroendocrine tumor patients, suggesting a spectrum of diseases with different characteristics and outcomes. In this report, we present a treatment approach for this complex spectrum of disease, based on the experience of Ohio State and Emory Universities investigators.
Appendiceal Neoplasms ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Demography ; Disease Management ; Epidemiology ; Goblet Cells ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Ohio ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Research Personnel

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of cetirizine in dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD) while fulfilling Favrot's diagnostic clinical criteria. Dogs received either 3 mg/kg cetirizine (n = 27), or a placebo (n = 23) orally once daily for 14 days in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study, without concomitant medication. The effects were evaluated using a pruritus visual analog scale at the start (day 0) and at day 14. After 14 days, cetirizine clearly had no effect on the pruritus in dogs with chronic AD, and there was no significant difference between groups. These findings indicated that cetirizine (and likely H1 histamine receptor antagonists in general) should not be recommended for the control of pruritus in dogs with long term allergies.
Animals ; Cetirizine* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dogs* ; Hypersensitivity ; Pruritus ; Receptors, Histamine ; Visual Analog Scale