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Infectious Diseases of Poverty Oct 2021Severe dengue is a life-threatening complication; rapid identification of these cases, followed by adequate management is crucial to improve the clinical prognosis.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Severe dengue is a life-threatening complication; rapid identification of these cases, followed by adequate management is crucial to improve the clinical prognosis. Therefore, this study aimed to identify risk factors and predictors of severe dengue.
METHODS
A literature search for studies reporting risk factors of severe dengue among individuals with dengue virus infection was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science database from inception to December 31, 2020. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) for patients' demographic characteristics, co-morbidities, and warning signs were estimated using an inverse variance heterogeneity model.
RESULTS
We included 143 articles in the meta-analysis from a total of 13 090 articles retrieved from the literature search. The risk factors of severe dengue were: being a child [OR = 1.96; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-3.13], secondary infection (OR = 3.23; 95% CI: 2.28-4.57), and patients with pre-existing diabetes (OR = 2.88; 95% CI: 1.72-4.81) and renal disease (OR = 4.54; 95% CI: 1.55-13.31). Warning signs strongly associated with severe disease were increased haematocrit with a concurrent decrease in platelet count (OR = 5.13; 95% CI: 1.61-16.34), abdominal pain (OR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.49-2.68), lethargy (OR = 2.73; 95% CI: 1.05-7.10), vomiting (OR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.43-2.26), hepatomegaly (OR = 5.92; 95% CI: 3.29-10.66), ascites (OR = 6.30; 95% CI: 3.75-10.60), pleural effusion (OR = 5.72; 95% CI: 3.24-10.10) and melena (OR = 4.05; 95% CI: 1.64-10.00).
CONCLUSIONS
Our meta-analysis identified children, secondary infection, diabetes and renal disease(s) as important predictors of severe dengue. Our finding also supports the predictive ability of the WHO warning signs to identify severe dengue. These findings are useful for clinicians to identify severe dengue for management and timely interventions.
Topics: Humans; Risk Factors; Severe Dengue
PubMed: 34627388
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-021-00908-2 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Aug 2023: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 caused the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), which rapidly became a pandemic, claiming millions of lives. Apart... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 caused the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), which rapidly became a pandemic, claiming millions of lives. Apart from the main manifestations of this infection concerning the respiratory tract, such as pneumonia, there are also many manifestations from the gastrointestinal tract. Of these, bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract is a significant complication quite dangerous for life. This bleeding is divided into upper and lower, and the primary pathophysiological mechanism is the entering of the virus into the host cells through the Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors. Also, other comorbidities and the medication of corticosteroids and anticoagulants are considered to favor the occurrence of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). : This systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and the studies were searched in two different databases (Scopus and PubMed) from November 2019 until February 2023. All studies that reported GIB events among COVID-19 patients were included. : 33 studies were selected and reviewed to estimate the prevalence of GIB. A total of 134,905 patients with COVID-19 were included in these studies, and there were 1458 episodes of GIB. The prevalence of GIB, in these 33 studies, ranges from 0.47% to 19%. This range of prevalence is justified by the characteristics of the COVID-19 patients. These characteristics are the severity of COVID-19, anticoagulant and other drug treatments, the selection of only patients with gastrointestinal manifestations, etc. The pooled prevalence of gastrointestinal bleeding was estimated to be 3.05%, rising to 6.2% when only anticoagulant patients were included. : GIB in COVID-19 patients is not a rare finding, and its appropriate and immediate treatment is necessary as it can be life-threatening. The most common clinical findings are melena and hematemesis, which characterize upper GIB. Treatment can be conservative; however, endoscopic management of bleeding with embolization is deemed necessary in some cases.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Prevalence; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Anticoagulants
PubMed: 37629790
DOI: 10.3390/medicina59081500 -
ANZ Journal of Surgery Mar 2021Primary gastric melanoma (PGM) is a rare malignant tumour of the stomach with poor prognosis. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the available literature on... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Primary gastric melanoma (PGM) is a rare malignant tumour of the stomach with poor prognosis. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the available literature on this entity and to highlight its biological behaviour and preferred treatment approach.
METHODS
PubMed and Cochrane bibliographical databases were independently searched (last search: 2 February 2020) by two investigators for articles reporting on PGM in the adult population.
RESULTS
Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria and concerned collectively 25 patients (18 males and seven females) with an age of 63.4 ± 8.97 years (mean ± standard deviation). Main symptoms included abdominal pain (64%), weight loss (48%) and hematemesis or melena (32%). The most frequent tumour location was the body of the stomach (54.2%). All tumours were surgically resected and the majority of the patients had a partial gastrectomy (52%). Median recurrence time was 5 months and 12% of patients reached 5-year survival landmark.
CONCLUSION
PGM is a rare disease characterized by an aggressive malignant behaviour. Its differential diagnosis from a metastatic lesion is crucial. A prompt diagnosis and therapeutic approach are needed. Further studies are required to elucidate the optimal management of this clinical entity.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Gastrectomy; Humans; Male; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Stomach
PubMed: 32687691
DOI: 10.1111/ans.16160 -
Journal of Investigative Medicine High... 2021Jejunal Dieulafoy's lesion is an exceedingly rare but important cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. It frequently presents as a diagnostic and therapeutic conundrum due...
Jejunal Dieulafoy's lesion is an exceedingly rare but important cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. It frequently presents as a diagnostic and therapeutic conundrum due to the rare occurrence, intermittent bleeding symptoms often requiring prompt clinical action, variability in the detection and treatment methods, and the risk of rebleeding. We performed a systematic literature search of MEDLINE, Cochrane, Embase, and Scopus databases regarding jejunal Dieulafoy's lesio from inception till June 2020. A total of 136 cases were retrieved from 76 articles. The mean age was 55 ± 24 years, with 55% of cases reported in males. Patients commonly presented with melena (33%), obscure-overt gastrointestinal bleeding (29%), and hemodynamic compromise (20%). Hypertension (26%), prior gastrointestinal surgery (14%), and valvular heart disease (13%) were the major underlying disorders. Conventional endoscopy often failed but single- and double-balloon enteroscopy identified the lesion in 96% and 98% of patients, respectively. There was no consensus on the treatment. Endoscopic therapy was instituted in 64% of patients. Combination therapy (34%) with two or more endoscopic modalities, was the preferred approach. With regard to endoscopic monotherapy, hemoclipping (19%) and argon plasma coagulation (4%) were frequently employed procedures. Furthermore, direct surgical intervention in 32% and angiographic embolization was performed in 4% of patients. The rebleeding rate was 13.4%, with a mean follow-up duration of 17.6 ± 21.98 months. The overall mortality rate was 4.4%. Jejunal Dieulafoy's lesion is still difficult to diagnose and manage. Although the standard diagnostic and therapeutic modalities remain to be determined, device-assisted enteroscopy might yield promising outcomes.
Topics: Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Humans; Male; Middle Aged
PubMed: 33472441
DOI: 10.1177/2324709620987703 -
World Journal of Gastrointestinal... Mar 2020Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a rare entity with multifactorial etiology, usually presenting with signs of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
BACKGROUND
Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a rare entity with multifactorial etiology, usually presenting with signs of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
AIM
To systematically review all available data on demographics, clinical features, outcomes and management of this medical condition.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was performed with respect to the PRISMA statement (end-of-search date: October 24, 2018). Data on the study design, interventions, participants and outcomes were extracted by two independent reviewers.
RESULTS
Seventy-nine studies were included in this review. Overall, 114 patients with AEN were identified, of whom 83 were males and 31 females. Mean patient age was 62.1 ± 16.1. The most common presenting symptoms were melena, hematemesis or other manifestations of gastric bleeding (85%). The lower esophagus was most commonly involved (92.9%). The most widely implemented treatment modality was conservative treatment (75.4%), while surgical or endoscopic intervention was required in 24.6% of the cases. Mean overall follow-up was 66.2 ± 101.8 d. Overall 29.9% of patients died either during the initial hospital stay or during the follow-up period. Gastrointestinal symptoms on presentation [Odds ratio 3.50 (1.09-11.30), = 0.03] and need for surgical or endoscopic treatment [surgical: Odds ratio 1.25 (1.03-1.51), = 0.02; endoscopic: Odds ratio 1.4 (1.17-1.66), < 0.01] were associated with increased odds of complications. A sub-analysis separating early versus late cases (after 2006) revealed a significantly increased frequency of surgical or endoscopic intervention (9.7 % 30.1% respectively, = 0.04).
CONCLUSION
AEN is a rare condition with controversial pathogenesis and unclear optimal management. Although the frequency of surgical and endoscopic intervention has increased in recent years, outcomes have remained the same. Therefore, further research work is needed to better understand how to best treat this potentially lethal disease.
PubMed: 32218893
DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v12.i3.104 -
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology 2023Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare systemic vascular anomaly mainly affecting the skin, central nervous system and gastrointestinal tracts. Its clinical...
BACKGROUND
Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare systemic vascular anomaly mainly affecting the skin, central nervous system and gastrointestinal tracts. Its clinical presentation and characteristics in adult patients are unclear.
AIM
To clarify the characteristics of BRBNS in adult patients with a focus on gastrointestinal symptoms.
METHODS
Following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews, we searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for all peer-reviewed articles using keywords including 'Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome' from their inception to 28 December 2021.
RESULTS
Ninety-nine articles, including 3 observational studies and 101 cases from case reports and series, were included. Observational studies were consistently with small sample sizes, and there was only one prospective study to show the effectiveness of sirolimus in BRBNS. Common clinical presentations included anemia (50.5%) and melena (26.5%). While skin findings were known to be representative of BRBNS, only 57.4% had known vascular malformation. The diagnosis was primarily made clinically, with only 1% being diagnosed with BRBNS through genetic sequencing. Distribution of BRBNS-related lesions were variable, but predominantly oral (55.9%), followed by small bowel (49.5%), colorectal (35.6%) and stomach (26.7%) vascular malformations.
CONCLUSION
While it has been underrecognized, adult BRBNS could be a culprit for refractory microcytic anemia or occult gastrointestinal bleeding. Further studies are critical to establish a uniform understanding of diagnosis and treatment for those with adult BRBNS. The utility of genetic testing in adult BRBNS diagnosis and the patient characteristics that may benefit from sirolimus, a potentially curative agent, remain to be clarified.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Prospective Studies; Skin Neoplasms; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Sirolimus; Anemia
PubMed: 37211745
DOI: 10.1080/00365521.2023.2214263