Rosann Cholankeril

An Overview of Dietary Interventions and Strategies to Optimize the Management of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of lifestyle adjustment strategies as a preventive measure and/or treatment of obesity-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adults. Method: A systematic review of literature through 1 July 2017 on the PubMed Database was performed. A comprehensive search was conducted using key terms, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), combined with lifestyle intervention, diet, and exercise. All of the articles and studies obtained from the search were reviewed. Redundant literature was excluded. Results: Several types of dietary compositions and exercise techniques were identified. Most studies concluded and recommended reduction in the intake of saturated and trans fatty acids, carbohydrates, and animal-based protein, and increased intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), plant-based proteins, antioxidants, and other nutrients was recommended. The Mediterranean and Paleo diet both seem to be promising schemes for NAFLD patients to follow. Exercise was also encouraged, but the type of exercise did not affect its efficacy as a NAFLD treatment when the duration is consistent. Conclusions: Although these different dietary strategies and exercise regimens can be adopted to treat NAFLD, current literature on the topic is limited in scope. Further research should be conducted to truly elucidate which lifestyle adjustments individually, and in combination, may facilitate patients with obesity-related NAFLD.

Impact of Drug Overdose Deaths on Solid Organ Transplantation in the United States

In 2015, prescription opioids and heroin overdoses resulted in more than 30,000 fatalities in the United States (US). The preventable deaths in these young and relatively healthy victims have contributed to the expansion of a scarce donor organ pool for critically ill patients waitlisted for solid organ transplantation due to single/multi-organ failure refractory to medical treatment options. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution and outcomes associated with the utilization of drug overdose (DO) donors on solid organ transplantation in the US.

Hepatitis C in Pregnancy

The prevalence of hepatitis C in pregnancy is as high as 3.6% in large cohorts. The prevalence of hepatitis C acquired by vertical transmission is 0.2% to 0.4% in the United States and Europe. Although screening is not recommended in the absence of certain risk factors, the importance of understanding hepatitis C in pregnancy lies in its association with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. There is potential for those infants infected by vertical transmission to develop chronic hepatitis C, cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. The risk of vertical transmission is increased when mothers are co-infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or possess a high viral load. There is no clear data supporting that mode of delivery increases or reduces risk. Breastfeeding is not associated with increased risk of transmission. Premature rupture of membranes, invasive procedures (such as amniocentesis), intrapartum events, or fetal scalp monitoring may increase risk of transmission. In pregnant patients, hepatitis C is diagnosed with a positive ELISA-3 and detectable Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA viral load. Infants born to HCV-infected mothers should be tested for either HCV RNA on at least two separate occasions. Although prevention is not possible, there may be a role for newer direct acting anti-viral medications in the future.

Anti-Diabetic Medications for the Pharmacologic Management of NAFLD

As a chronic disease encompassing a wide spectrum of liver-related histologic damage, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a global epidemic with significant impacts on all-cause morbidity and mortality. Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus predispose individuals to NAFLD and related complications. Therefore, timely intervention with anti-diabetic medications may prevent and delay the development of NAFLD or have a therapeutic implication. The focus of this review is to evaluate the evidence supporting the efficacy of anti-diabetic medications in the treatment of NAFLD. While many of these anti-diabetic agents have shown to improve biochemical parameters, their effect on hepatic histology is limited. Among anti-diabetic medications, only thiazolidinediones and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists demonstrate significant improvement in hepatic histology.

Portomesenteric venous thrombosis complicated by a haemorrhagic shock: a rare complication of laparoscopic gastrectomy

Portomesenteric venous thrombosis is a rare complication reported in only a few cases involving laparoscopic bariatric surgery. We report a case of a 44-year-old woman who presented 14 days after recent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with the chief complaint of abdominal pain and associated nausea. Abdominal CT demonstrated thrombi in her superior mesenteric, portal and splenic veins. She was initiated on therapeutic heparin but developed haemorrhagic shock shortly afterwards. Subsequent CT angiogram failed to localise the source of her haemorrhage. Her haemodynamic instability improved following a 6-day intensive care unit stay requiring vasopressive agents and blood transfusions. Further hypercoagulable workup revealed that she was a heterozygous carrier of the prothrombin gene mutation, and thus started on lifelong oral anticoagulation.