Depth, size of infiltrate, and the microbe - The trio that prognosticates the outcome of infective keratitis

PURPOSE

To analyze the influence of infiltrate size, depth, and organism on the outcome of microbial keratitis.

DESIGN

Retrospective comparative study.

METHODS

Medical records of patients with infective keratitis, who reported from January 2015 to December 2019 to a tertiary eye care center, were analyzed. Size and depth of ulcer at presentation were the factors used to group patients, and the influence on the outcome of the organism causing it was analyzed. Grouping was as follows: group A: ulcer size <6 mm/anterior to midstromal infiltrate, group B: ulcer < 6 mm/full-thickness infiltrate, group C: ulcer >6 mm/anterior to midstromal infiltrate, group D: ulcer > 6 mm/full-thickness infiltrate. Patients with viral keratitis or unidentified organism were excluded. Response to treatment and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the final follow-up were the outcome measures.

RESULTS

In the study, 1117/6276 patients were included, with 60.8% patients in group A. A significant improvement in visual acuity was noted in groups A/B compared to groups C/D. Group A had the best response to medical management, irrespective of the organism. Higher risk for surgery was noted in group C compared to group B, with group A as the reference. Overall resolution with medical treatment was noted in 70% miscellaneous keratitis, 64.8% bacterial keratitis, 64.3% mixed keratitis, 62.5% acanthamoeba keratitis, 52.6% fungal keratitis, and 12.1% Pythium keratitis. Bacteria and acanthamoeba responded better to medical management than fungal keratitis, whereas Pythium had the highest risk for surgery.

CONCLUSION

An interplay between virulence of the organism along with depth and size of the infiltrate determines the outcome of microbial keratitis.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Aloe vera Versus Amlexanox in the Treatment of Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers: A Three-Arm Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial

Background Recurrent aphthous ulcers are one of the most common lesions of the oral mucosa. Most currently available treatment methods aim to relieve symptoms, speed up healing and prevent ulcer recurrence. The current study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Aloe vera gel with that of amlexanox 5% oral paste in the treatment of recurrent small-type aphthous ulcers. Materials and Methods The study was conducted on 60 patients (27 males and 33 females) attending the Department of Oral Medicine at the Faculty of Dentistry at Damascus University. The sample age ranged between 15 to 25 years, with an average age of 20.3 ± 2.4 years. Patients were diagnosed with recurrent aphthous ulcers of the small type. The sample was divided into three groups with equal numbers of patients (n=20 for each group) according to the provided drug: Aloe vera, amlexanox, and the placebo groups. Patients' ulcer size was measured on day 0 of treatment, and the ulcer size reduction was assessed on day 3 and day 5. The pain was also recorded at the first visit, and then pain reduction was assessed during follow-up visits. Results The mean ulcer size on the fifth day of treatment was 1.85 mm², 4.05 mm², and 6.20 mm² in the Aloe vera, the amlexanox, and the placebo groups, respectively. The differences between groups were significant (p=0.003). The mean pain on the fifth day was 0.80 cm, 1.60 cm, and 3.20 cm in the Aloe vera, the amlexanox, and the placebo groups, respectively. The differences between groups were significant (p=0.026). Conclusions Within the limits of the current trial, both treatment groups proved effective in accelerating ulcer healing with the superiority of Aloe vera compared to amlexanox, as it achieved a greater reduction in ulcer size and pain when assessed on the fifth day of treatment.

Predicting Mucosal Healing in Crohn's Disease: A Nomogram Model Developed from a Retrospective Cohort

Purpose

Mucosal healing (MH) has become a therapeutic end point for Crohn's disease (CD). The purpose of this study was to identify potential risk factors responsible for a lower probability of mucosal healing in CD. It also aimed to create and validate a noninvasive tool for predicting mucosal healing in CD to aid clinical decision-making.

Patients and Methods

We established a derivation cohort diagnosed with CD, in which endoscopic examination was performed before and after treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2010 and June 2021. Patient data including demographic and clinical characteristics and treatment details were collected. The achievement of mucosal healing (without ulceration on endoscopic examination) after treatment was the endpoint observed during follow-up. We performed logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with mucosal healing. These factors were used to develop a model (CD mucosal healing prediction nomogram) to predict mucosal healing in CD. External validation was performed using a new cohort of 60 patients from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between January 2012 and June 2021.

Results

A total of 331 patients were included in the derivation cohort. We found the following factors to be independently associated with mucosal healing after treatment: disease course <11 months, ulcer size <0.5 cm, Harvey-Bradshaw Index score <9, infliximab treatment, and non-exclusive use of 5-aminosalicylic acid. The model incorporating these factors achieved good discrimination, calibration, and clinical decision curve analysis results on internal validation (C-index: 0.788, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.74-0.84). The external validation cohort also demonstrated good discrimination (C-index: 0.785, 95% CI: 0.68-0.90) and calibration.

Conclusion

The CD mucosal healing prediction nomogram model demonstrated good reliability and validated. It can potentially be developed into a simple and clinically useful tool for predicting mucosal healing in CD.

Omental patch repair of large perforated peptic ulcers ≥25 mm is associated with higher leak rate

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Omental patch repair is the present gold-standard technique for patients with perforated peptic ulcers (PPUs). Data are lacking regarding the safe ulcer size for omental patch repair leak (OPL). We analyze our experience in managing PPU to identify an ulcer size cut-off for predicting OPL.

METHODS

Patients who had undergone omental patch repair for PPU between Jan 2004 and Apr 2016 were included. Demographic data, the American Society of Anesthesiologists score, ulcer size, operative approach, post-operative complications, and length of stay were recorded. OPL, intra-abdominal collection, repeat surgery, and 30-day mortality were recorded. The relationship between ulcer size, pre-operative characteristics, and OPL were investigated with univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis derived the ulcer size cut-off to predict OPL. In addition, we analyzed if ulcer size predicted mortality or malignancy.

RESULTS

Six hundred and ninety patients with a mean age of 55.1 years (range 16-94) were managed for PPU during the study period. Free air on X-ray was evident in 417 (60.4%) patients. Mean ulcer size was 7.8 mm (range 1-50). OPL occurred in 15 patients (2.2%) and 30-day mortality was 7.4% (n=51). Multivariate analysis found ulcer size increase of 10 mm (OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.81-6.02, P<0.001) predicted increased risk of OPL. At 25 mm cut-off, sensitivity was 26.7%, specificity was 97.2%, positive likelihood ratio was 9.47, and negative likelihood ratio was 0.76 for OPL.

CONCLUSION

Ulcer size increase in 10 mm increases leak rate by 3.3 times. Ulcer size ≥25 mm predicts OPL.

RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS

Increased risk of OPL for ≥25 mm warrants need for close post-operative monitoring and lowers threshold for investigations in event of clinical deterioration. Decision for omental patch repair versus gastrectomy however should not be based on ulcer size alone.

Evidence-based effectiveness of herbal treatment modality for recurrent aphthous ulcers - A systematic review and meta-analysis

Recurrent Apthous Ulcers (RAU) has affected mankind through time immemorial. It is the most commonly prevalent oral mucosal lesion manifesting as painful ulcers involving non – keratinised oral mucosa. This review was done to assess herbal intervention in RAU patients for outcomes of ulcer size and pain intensity. Literature search of published articles in Medline, Scopus, Ovid and Journal of Web upto August 2020 were reviewed for the pre-described outcomes. Revman 5.4 software was used for study analysis. Total 9 articles were finally chosen for qualitative analysis. Meta analytic comparison demonstrated the ulcer reduction (CI = -2.22 to – 0.09; p <0.001) and pain intensity (CI = -4.60 to – 0.08; p <0.001) was reduced in the herbal group as compared to the controls. A definite evidence of herbal intervention was noted in alleviating RAU signs and symptoms.

Adjunctive role of manual lymph drainage in the healing of venous ulcers: A comparative pilot study

Compression therapy plays a pivotal role in the treatment of venous leg ulcers and clinical observations include lymph stasis as contributing to the maintenance of chronic wounds. This finding raises the question whether further improvement in lymph circulation with manual lymph drainage (MLD) as a part of complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP) can improve ulcer healing. We examined whether CDP improves healing of venous leg ulcers and compared the efficacy of CDP with that of multilayered compression with short-stretch bandages. Eight patients (mean age: 64.8 years, mean ulcer area: 23.07 cm2, duration of ulcers: 25.37 months) were treated with a 5-day-course of CDP and 9 patients (mean age: 70.77 years, mean ulcer area: 21.47 cm2, duration of ulcers: 15.8 months) were included in a 10-day-course of CDP. Control goup consisted of 9 patients (mean age: 56.33 years, mean ulcer area: 13.87 cm2, duration of ulcers: 6.11 months) receiving multilayered compression. Wound surface measurement was carried out on days 5 and 10 and ulcer area reduction rate was calculated as area (initial)-area (final)/time unit. There was no statistical difference between the 5-daycourse of CDP and compression of the same duration regarding ulcer healing (t=-1.62, df=15, p= 0.125). A 10-day-course of CDP significantly increased ulcer healing compared to compression of the same duration (t=-2.42, df=16, p= 0.039). Our preliminary results suggest that MLD as a part of CDP supports healing of venous leg ulcers.

Independent risk factors of 30-day outcomes in 1264 patients with peptic ulcer bleeding in the USA: large ulcers do worse

BACKGROUND

Predictors of worse outcomes (rebleeding, surgery and death) of peptic ulcer bleeds (PUBs) are essential indicators because of significant morbidity and mortality rates of PUBs. However those have been infrequently reported since changes in medical therapy (PPI, proton pump inhibitors) and application of newer endoscopic haemostatic technique.

AIMS

To determine: (i) independent risk factors for 30-day rebleeding, surgery, and death and (ii) whether ulcer size is an independent predictor of major outcomes in patients with severe PUB after successful endoscopic haemostasis and treatment with optimal medical (high dose IV PPI) vs. prior treatment (high dose IV histamine 2 antagonists - H2RAs).

METHODS

A large prospectively followed population of patients hospitalised with severe PUBs between 1993 and 2011 at two US tertiary care academic medical centres, stratified by stigmata of recent haemorrhage (SRH) was studied. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, independent risk factors for each outcome (rebleeding, surgery and death) up to 30 days were analysed. Effects for medical treatment (H2RA patients 1993-2005 vs. PPIs 2006-2011) were also analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 1264 patients were included. For ulcers ≥10 mm, the odds of 30-day rebleeding increased 6% per each 10% increase in ulcer size (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.10, P = 0.0053). Other risk factors for 30-day rebleeding were major SRH, in-patient start of bleeding, and prior GI bleeding. Major SRH and ulcer size≥10 mm were predictors of 30-day surgery. Risk factors for 30-day death were major SRH, in-patient bleeding, and any initial platelet transfusion or fresh frozen plasma transfusion ≥2 units. Among patients with major SRH and out-patient start of bleeding, larger ulcer size was also a risk factor for death (OR 1.08 per 10% increase in ulcer size, 95% CI 1.02-1.14, P = 0.0095). Ulcer size was a significant independent variable for both time periods.

CONCLUSIONS

Ulcer size is a risk factor for worse outcomes after PUB and should be carefully recorded at initial endoscopy to improve patient triage and management.