Search

The intensive crosstalk between the liver and the intestine performs many essential functions. This crosstalk is important for natural immune surveillance, adaptive immune response regulation and nutrient metabolism and elimination of toxic bacterial metabolites. The interaction between the gut microbiome and bile acids is bidirectional. The gut microbiome regulates the synthesis of bile acids and their biological signaling activity and circulation via enzymes. Similarly, bile acids also shape the composition of the gut microbiome by modulating the host's natural antibacterial defense and the intestinal immune system. The interaction between bile acids and the gut microbiome has been implicated in the pathophysiology of many intestinal and extra intestinal diseases, especially liver diseases. As essential mediators of the gut-liver crosstalk, bile acids regulate specific host metabolic pathways and modulate the inflammatory responses through farnesoid X-activated receptor and G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1. Several clinical trials have demonstrated the signaling effects of bile acids in the context of liver diseases. We hypothesize the existence of a gut microbiome-bile acids-liver triangle and explore the potential therapeutic strategies for liver diseases targeting the triangle., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper., (©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Spontaneous peritonitis is one of the most common infectious complications in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Spontaneous fungal peritonitis (SFP) is a type of spontaneous peritonitis that is a less recognized but devastating complication in end-stage cirrhosis. Although high mortality was previously noted, scant data are available to fully define the factors responsible for the occurrence of SFP and its mortality., Aim: To illustrate the differences between SFP and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and discuss the risk factors for the occurrence of SFP and its short-term mortality., Methods: We performed a matched case-control study between January 1, 2007 and December 30, 2018. Patients with SFP were included in a case group. Sex-, age-, and time-matched patients with SBP were included in a control group and were further divided into control-1 group (positive bacterial culture) and control-2 group (negative bacterial culture). The clinical features and laboratory parameters, severity models, and prognosis were compared between the case and control groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for occurrence, and the Cox regression model was used to identify the predictive factors for short-term mortality of SFP., Results: Patients with SFP exhibited more severe systemic inflammation, higher ascites albumin and polymorphonuclear neutrophils, and a worsened 15-d mortality than patients in the control groups. Antibiotic administration (case vs control-1: OR = 1.063, 95%CI: 1.012-1.115, P = 0.014; case vs control-2: OR = 1.054, 95%CI: 1.014-1.095, P = 0.008) remarkably increased the occurrence of SFP or fungiascites. Hepatorenal syndrome (HR = 5.328, 95%CI: 1.050-18.900) and total bilirubin (μmol/L; HR = 1.005, 95%CI: 1.002-1.008) represented independent predictors of SFP-related early mortality., Conclusion: Long-term antibiotic administration increases the incidence of SFP, and hepatorenal syndrome and total bilirubin are closely related to short-term mortality., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that no competing interest exists.

Aim: To investigate prescribing pattern in low-dose aspirin users and physician awareness of preventing aspirin-induced gastrointestinal (GI) injury with combined protective medications., Methods: A retrospective drug utilization study was conducted in the 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. The hospital has 2300 beds and 2.5 million outpatient visits annually. Data mining was performed on all aspirin prescriptions for outpatients and emergency patients admitted in 2011. Concomitant use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), histamine 2-receptor antagonists (H2RA) and mucoprotective drugs (MPs) were analyzed. A defined daily dose (DDD) methodology was applied to each MP. A further investigation was performed in aspirin users on combination use of GI injurious medicines [non-steoid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids and clopidogrel and warfarin] or intestinal protective drugs (misoprostol, rebamipide, teprenone and gefarnate). Data of major bleeding episodes were derived from medical records and adverse drug reaction monitoring records. The annual incidence of major GI bleeding due to low-dose aspirin was estimated for outpatients., Results: Prescriptions for aspirin users receiving PPIs, H2RA and MPs (n = 1039) accounted for only 3.46% of total aspirin prescriptions (n = 30 015). The ratios of coadministration of aspirin/PPI, aspirin/H2RA, aspirin/MP and aspirin/PPI/MP to the total aspirin prescriptions were 2.82%, 0.12%, 0.40% and 0.12%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in age between patients not receiving any GI protective medications and patients receiving PPIs, H2RA or MPs. The combined medication of aspirin and PPI was used more frequently than that of aspirin and MPs (2.82% vs 0.40%, P < 0.05) and aspirin/H2RA (2.82% vs 0.12%, P < 0.05). The values of DDDs of MPs in descending order were as follows: gefarnate, hydrotalcite > teprenone > sucralfate oral suspension > L-glutamine and sodium gualenate granules > rebamipide > sucralfate chewable tablets. The ratio of MP plus aspirin prescriptions to the total MP prescriptions was as follows: rebamipide (0.47%), teprenone (0.91%), L-glutamine and sodium gualenate granules (0.92%), gefarnate (0.31%), hydrotalcite (1.00%) and sucralfate oral suspension (0.13%). Percentages of prescriptions containing aspirin and intestinal protective drugs among the total aspirin prescriptions were: rebamipide (0.010%), PPI/rebamipide (0.027%), teprenone (0.11%), PPI/teprenone (0.037%), gefarnate (0.017%), and PPI/gefarnate (0.013%). No prescriptions were found containing coadministration of aspirin and other NSAIDs. Among the 3196 prescriptions containing aspirin/clopidogrel, 3088 (96.6%) prescriptions did not contain any GI protective medicines. Of the 389 prescriptions containing aspirin/corticosteroids, 236 (60.7%) contained no GI protective medicines. None of the prescriptions using aspirin/warfarin (n = 22) contained GI protective medicines. Thirty-five patients were admitted to this hospital in 2011 because of acute hemorrhage of upper digestive tract induced by low-dose aspirin. The annual incidence rates of major GI bleeding were estimated at 0.25% for outpatients taking aspirin and 0.5% for outpatients taking aspirin/warfarin, respectively., Conclusion: The prescribing pattern of low-dose aspirin revealed a poor awareness of preventing GI injury with combined protective medications. Actions should be taken to address this issue.

Aim: To evaluate whether total splenic artery embolization (TSAE) for patients with hypersplenism delivers better long-term outcomes than partial splenic embolization (PSE)., Methods: Sixty-one patients with hypersplenism eligible for TSAE (n = 27, group A) or PSE (n = 34, group B) were enrolled into the trial, which included clinical and computed tomography follow-up. Data on technical success, length of hospital stay, white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts, splenic volume and complications were collected at 2 wk, 6 mo, and 1, 2, 3, 4 years postoperatively., Results: Both TSAE and PSE were technically successful in all patients. Complications were significantly fewer (P = 0.001), and hospital stay significantly shorter (P = 0.007), in group A than in group B. Post-procedure WBC and PLT counts in group A were significantly higher than those in group B from 6 mo to 4 years (P = 0.001), and post-procedure residual splenic volume in group A was significantly less than that observed in group B at 1, 2, 3 and 4 years post-procedure (P = 0.001). No significant differences were observed in red blood cell counts and liver function parameters between the two groups following the procedure., Conclusion: Our results indicate that TSAE for patients with hypersplenism not only delivers a better long-term outcome, but is also associated with lower complication rates and a shorter hospital stay than PSE.

Aim: To study the safety and feasibility of total embolization of the main splenic artery as a supplemental treatment modality for hypersplenism with thrombocytopenia or leukocytopenia accompanying liver cirrhosis., Methods: Fifteen consecutive patients with hypersplenism due to cirrhosis were enrolled in this study from January 2006 to June 2010. All patients underwent total embolization of the main splenic artery. Clinical symptoms, white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts, splenic volume, and complications of the patients were recorded. The patients were followed up for 1 and 6 mo, and 1, 2, 3 years, respectively, after operation., Results: Total embolization of the main splenic artery was technically successful in all patients. Minor complications occurred in 13 patients after the procedure, but no major complications were found. The WBC and PLT counts were significantly higher and the residual splenic volume was significantly lower 1 and 6 mo, and 1, 2, 3 years after the procedure than before the procedure (P < 0.01). Moreover, the residual splenic volume increased very slowly with the time after embolization. All patients were alive during the follow-up period., Conclusion: Total embolization of the main splenic artery is a safe and feasible procedure and may serve as a supplemental treatment modality for hypersplenism with thrombocytopenia or leukocytopenia accompanying liver cirrhosis.