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Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the clinical outcomes, safety, and efficacy of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) in treating benign gastrointestinal strictures., Methods: A single-center retrospective review of all patients who underwent LAMS placement for benign strictures from June 2017 to July 2023. Primary outcomes were technical success, early clinical success, late clinical success (LCS), and sustained post-LAMS clinical success (SPLCS). Secondary outcomes included stent dwell time, stenosis changes, adverse events, reintervention rates, and symptomatology evaluation., Results: Thirty-five patients underwent placement of 42 LAMS (74% female, mean age: 54.2 ± 11.7 years). Anastomotic strictures accounted for 64% of cases ( N  = 27, 45% at the gastrojejunal anastomosis). The median STD was 91.0 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 55.0-132.0). Technical success was obtained in all cases. Early clinical successand LCS were achieved in 80% of cases overall. SPLCS was achieved in 45% ( n  = 15) of cases. The overall reintervention rate was 63%, with a median time to reintervention being 50.5 days (IQR: 24-105). adverse events occurred in 28% ( n  = 12) overall, with a 24% migration rate ( n  = 10). Follow-up was completed in 83% of cases with a median duration of 629 days (range: 192.0-1297.0). Overall symptom improvement occurred in 79% ( n  = 27) during indwelling LAMS versus 58% and 56% at 30- and 60-days post-removal, respectively., Conclusions: LAMS for benign gastrointestinal strictures are associated with high technical and early clinical success/LCS rates, positive quality-of-life metrics, and a tolerable adverse event rate. Overall, recurrence of symptoms and high reintervention rates post-LAMS removal reinforce the difficulty in managing benign gastrointestinal strictures but also argue for LAMS as a definitive therapy in select cases., Competing Interests: Dr. Sánchez‐Luna is the recipient of the 2021 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) Endoscopic Training Award by the ASGE and Fujifilm. This was not relevant to this study. The rest of the authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). DEN Open published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.)

Objectives: Using a taxonomy previously developed, we assessed the strengths and limitations of available value assessment frameworks (VAF) in Latin America., Methods: Systematic review of peer-reviewed journals, gray literature review, and surveys to ISPOR Latin America Industry Committee members were done to identify and select current VAF. Once selected, independent reviewers, organized by pairs, assessed each framework's input, methodology, and outputs., Results: We assessed 7 of 9 VAF in the region, excluding 2 that were not currently in use. The review included 1 framework developed by a regional entity, and 6 country frameworks for either price assessment or to inform reimbursement. Most of these frameworks had a clear definition of the purpose (6 of 7) but could provide more details on the conceptual approach, including perspectives, methods for obtaining preferences, and the ability to incorporate multiple value dimensions (2 of 7). Most lacked information about inclusions/exclusions of elements included in the framework, and whether it assumes a base case comparator and how it is selected. The description of the evaluation of data sources and their scientific validity was inconsistently reported (3 of 7). Few included an assessment of the intervention's effect on total costs of treating a defined population (2 of 7), or a description of how uncertainty could be incorporated (3 of 7). Finally, potential conflicts of interest among those creating the framework are not sufficiently addressed (0 of 7)., Conclusions: In the 7 frameworks assessed in Latin America, there are opportunities to improve dimensions, methods, and scope. Addressing these issues will strengthen these VAF for policy and clinical decision making., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This article describes the development of Guatemala's animal health legislation since the country signed the international agreement establishing the World Organisation for Animal Health (then Office International des Epizooties) in 1924. This includes the evolution of the legislative framework, with the adoption of the Guatemalan Animal Health Code in 1936, the adoption of the Animal Health Law in 1947 and its conversion into the Plant and Animal Health Law and implementing regulations in 1998. This article also analyses changes in the operational and administrative structure of the competent animal health authority - the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food - in 1978, 1998 and 2010, until the Trade Facilitation Agreement of the World Trade Organization was approved in 2017. It also discusses the role of the Ministry of Economy, through the Foreign Trade Administration Directorate, in boosting the enforcement of sanitary and phytosanitary measures through the National Technical Committee for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

Background: Oral propranolol has been used to treat complicated infantile hemangiomas, although data from randomized, controlled trials to inform its use are limited., Methods: We performed a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, adaptive, phase 2-3 trial assessing the efficacy and safety of a pediatric-specific oral propranolol solution in infants 1 to 5 months of age with proliferating infantile hemangioma requiring systemic therapy. Infants were randomly assigned to receive placebo or one of four propranolol regimens (1 or 3 mg of propranolol base per kilogram of body weight per day for 3 or 6 months). A preplanned interim analysis was conducted to identify the regimen to study for the final efficacy analysis. The primary end point was success (complete or nearly complete resolution of the target hemangioma) or failure of trial treatment at week 24, as assessed by independent, centralized, blinded evaluations of standardized photographs., Results: Of 460 infants who underwent randomization, 456 received treatment. On the basis of an interim analysis of the first 188 patients who completed 24 weeks of trial treatment, the regimen of 3 mg of propranolol per kilogram per day for 6 months was selected for the final efficacy analysis. The frequency of successful treatment was higher with this regimen than with placebo (60% vs. 4%, P<0.001). A total of 88% of patients who received the selected propranolol regimen showed improvement by week 5, versus 5% of patients who received placebo. A total of 10% of patients in whom treatment with propranolol was successful required systemic retreatment during follow-up. Known adverse events associated with propranolol (hypoglycemia, hypotension, bradycardia, and bronchospasm) occurred infrequently, with no significant difference in frequency between the placebo group and the groups receiving propranolol., Conclusions: This trial showed that propranolol was effective at a dose of 3 mg per kilogram per day for 6 months in the treatment of infantile hemangioma. (Funded by Pierre Fabre Dermatologie; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01056341.).