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Pereira LDJM, Pereira JAC, Fontani V, Rinaldi S. REAC Reparative Treatment: A Promising Therapeutic Option for Alcoholic Cirrhosis of the Liver. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1698. [PMID: 38138925 PMCID: PMC10744513 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13121698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a significant global health concern associated with excessive alcohol consumption. ALD encompasses various liver conditions with complex pathogenesis and progression influenced by environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors. Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver (ALC) is particularly prevalent among socially disadvantaged individuals, and current pharmacotherapy options provide limited treatment. This study aims to explore the potential benefits of radio electric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) technology and its tissue optimization reparative treatment (TO-RPR) in managing ALC. The liver possesses remarkable regenerative capabilities closely tied to its bioelectrical properties. REAC TO-RPR is a novel biotechnological therapeutic approach that aims to enhance and expedite reparative processes in injured tissues by restoring disrupted cellular endogenous bioelectric fields. This study seeks to optimize understanding of REAC TO-RPR's impact on liver function and clinical outcomes in ALC patients. By investigating the mechanisms underlying liver's reparative abilities and evaluating the efficacy of REAC TO-RPR, this research aims to address the urgent need for improved interventions in managing ALC. The findings hold potential for developing innovative treatment approaches, improving patient outcomes, and reducing the societal and individual burden associated with ALC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Vania Fontani
- Research Department, Rinaldi Fontani Foundation, 50144 Florence, Italy
- Department of Reparative and Regenerative Medicine, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, 50144 Florence, Italy
- Department of Adaptive Neuro Psycho Physio Pathology and Neuro Psycho Physical Optimization, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, 50144 Florence, Italy
| | - Salvatore Rinaldi
- Research Department, Rinaldi Fontani Foundation, 50144 Florence, Italy
- Department of Reparative and Regenerative Medicine, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, 50144 Florence, Italy
- Department of Adaptive Neuro Psycho Physio Pathology and Neuro Psycho Physical Optimization, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, 50144 Florence, Italy
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Buckholz A, Clarke L, Paik P, Jesudian A, Schwartz R, Krieger A, Rosenblatt R, Brown RS. Evaluating sleep in covert encephalopathy with wearable technology: results from the WATCHES study. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0002. [PMID: 36724117 PMCID: PMC9894338 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Covert HE (CHE) is a common early stage of HE associated with poor outcomes. Available neuropsychiatric diagnostic testing is underutilized and has significant clinical limitations. Sleep deterioration is consistently associated with CHE and HE; however, objective data is sparse and it has not been studied longitudinally. We longitudinally study and describe an association of sleep metrics with CHE as detected by a commercial wearable technology. METHODS We monitored sleep for 6 months using a commercial fitness tracker in 25 participants with cirrhosis, hypothesizing that CHE as diagnosed by psychometric testing would be associated with significant reductions in sleep quality, especially restorative sleep (deep sleep + rapid eye movement). Mixed-effects modeling was performed to evaluate sleep factors associated with CHE and developed and internally validated a score based on these sleep metrics for associated CHE. RESULTS Across 2862 nights with 66.3% study adherence, we found that those with CHE had consistently worse sleep, including an average of 1 hour less of nightly restorative sleep, driven primarily by reductions in rapid eye movement. A model including albumin, bilirubin, rapid eye movement, sleep disturbances, and sleep consistency showed good discrimination (area under the receiver operating curve=0.79) for CHE status with a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 69%. CONCLUSIONS Our large longitudinal study of sleep in cirrhosis suggests that sleep derangements in CHE can be detected using wearable technology. Given the known importance of sleep to overall health and CHE/HE to prognosis in cirrhosis, the ability to associate dynamic sleep metrics with CHE may in the future help with the detection and passive monitoring as factors that precipitate decompensation of cirrhosis become better understood and mobile health data validation and integration improves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Buckholz
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Lindsay Clarke
- Department of Internal Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Paul Paik
- Department of Internal Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Arun Jesudian
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Robert Schwartz
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Ana Krieger
- Department of Medicine, Division of Sleep Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Russell Rosenblatt
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Robert S. Brown
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York, USA
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Kumar M, Kainth S, Kumar S, Bhardwaj A, KumarAggarwal H, Maiwall R, Jamwal KD, Shasthry SM, Jindal A, Choudhary A, Anand L, Dhamija RM, Chibbar G, Chander Sharma B, Sarin SK. Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Sleep-Wake Abnormalities in Patients with Cirrhosis. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2021; 11:453-465. [PMID: 34276152 PMCID: PMC8267360 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2020.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Sleep-wake abnormalities [poor nighttime sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)] are common in patients with cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sleep-wake abnormalities and clinical factors associated with these abnormalities in a group of patients with cirrhosis. METHODS 1098 patients with cirrhosis [Child Turcotte Pugh (CTP) class A, 22.2%; CTP class B, 29.2% and CTP class C, 48.6%], with either no ascites or mild ascites controlled on diuretics, and no history of or current overt hepatic encephalopathy were included in the study. RESULTS Poor nighttime sleep and EDS were found in 569 (51.8%) and 489 (44.5%) patients respectively. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with poor nighttime sleep were CTP class C (vs. class A), presence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), intermediate or evening type of diurnal preference category (vs. morning type), high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), diuretic use, presence of major depression, and presence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Factors associated with EDS on multivariate analysis were CTP class B and C (vs. class A), intermediate or evening type of diurnal preference category (vs. morning type), high risk for OSA, presence of major depression, and presence of GAD. CONCLUSIONS Sleep-wake abnormalities are common in patients with cirrhosis. CTP status, diurnal preference chronotype, risk of OSA, major depression and GAD are associated with both poor nighttime sleep and EDS. MHE and diuretic use are associated with poor nighttime sleep, but not with EDS.
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Key Words
- ACLF, Acute on chronic liver failure
- BQ, Berlin questionnaire
- CFF, Critical flicker frequency
- CLDQ, Chronic liver disease questionnaire
- CSM, Composite scale of morningness
- CTP, Child Turcotte Pugh
- EDS, Excessive daytime sleepiness
- ESS, Epworth sleepiness scale
- GAD, generalized anxiety disorder
- HE, Hepatic encephalopathy
- HRQOL, Health related quality of life
- MHE, Minimal hepatic encephalopathy
- NASH, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- OSA, Obstructive sleep apnea
- PHQ, Patient health questionnaire
- PSQI, Pittsburgh sleep quality index
- cirrhosis
- insomnia
- sleep disturbances
- sleep-wake abnormalities
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Kumar
- Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, New Delhi, India,Address for correspondence: Manoj Kumar, MD, DM, Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, Institute of Liver & Biliary Sciences, D1 Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, 110070 India.
| | - Sumeet Kainth
- Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, New Delhi, India
| | - Sachin Kumar
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Hemant KumarAggarwal
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, New Delhi, India,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Rakhi Maiwall
- Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, New Delhi, India
| | - Kapil D. Jamwal
- Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Ankur Jindal
- Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, New Delhi, India
| | - Ashok Choudhary
- Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, New Delhi, India
| | - Lovkesh Anand
- Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Guresh Chibbar
- Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Liver & Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Barjesh Chander Sharma
- Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, New Delhi, India,Corresponding author.
| | - Shiv K. Sarin
- Department of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, New Delhi, India
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Kempinska-Podhorodecka A, Adamowicz M, Chmielarz M, Janik MK, Milkiewicz P, Milkiewicz M. Vitamin-D Receptor-Gene Polymorphisms Affect Quality of Life in Patients with Autoimmune Liver Diseases. Nutrients 2020; 12:E2244. [PMID: 32727130 PMCID: PMC7469002 DOI: 10.3390/nu12082244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with depressive symptoms and reduced physical functioning. The aim of the study was to characterize the relationship between polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and the quality of life in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Three polymorphisms of the VDR gene (TaqI-rs731236, BsmI-rs1544410, and ApaI-rs7975232) were analyzed in patients with AIH (n = 142) and PBC (n = 230) and in healthy individuals (n = 376). Patient quality of life was assessed by validated questionnaires such as Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 (SF-36), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Modified Fatigue-Impact Scale (MFIS), Patient-Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), and PBC-40. The TaqI C and ApaI A alleles are risk alleles in both AIH and PBC, and a significant dominance of the A allele in BsmI was observed in AIH patients. In terms of quality of life, the presence of the CC or CT TaqI genotype was associated with emotional reactions, including the fatigue and the cognitive skills of patients with PBC, whereas in the group of AIH patients, homozygotes CC of TaqI, AA of BsmI, and AA of ApaI had worse physical, social, emotional, and mental function. The genetic variations of VDR gene can influence individual susceptibility to develop chronic autoimmune liver diseases such as AIH and PBC and affect quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monika Adamowicz
- Department of Medical Biology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.A.); (M.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Mateusz Chmielarz
- Department of Medical Biology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.A.); (M.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Maciej K. Janik
- Liver and Internal Medicine Unit, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (M.K.J.); (P.M.)
| | - Piotr Milkiewicz
- Liver and Internal Medicine Unit, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (M.K.J.); (P.M.)
- Translational Medicine Group, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Milkiewicz
- Department of Medical Biology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.A.); (M.C.); (M.M.)
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De Silva AP, Niriella MA, Ediriweera DS, De Alwis JP, Liyanage IK, Ettickan U, Liyanapathirana KV, Undugodage C, de Silva HA, de Silva HJ. Low-dose melatonin for sleep disturbances in early-stage cirrhosis: A randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. JGH OPEN 2020; 4:749-756. [PMID: 32782966 PMCID: PMC7411556 DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.12356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background and aim Melatonin is used to treat sleep disturbances (SDs). The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of low‐dose melatonin for SDs in early‐stage cirrhosis. Methods In a single‐center, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over clinical trial, patients with early‐stage (Child‐Turcotte‐Pugh [CTP] class A or B) cirrhosis with SDs, without hepatic encephalopathy, were randomized to placebo or 3 mg of melatonin for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, the patients were given a washout period of 1 week and crossed over to melatonin or placebo for a further 2 weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were used to measure sleep quality and daytime sleepiness, respectively. Analysis of results was based on intention to treat, and linear mixed‐effect models were used to evaluate the effect of melatonin. Analysis was conducted using R‐programming language 3.5.1. Results Seventy one patients were recruited (mean age: 61.9 ± 8.7 years, males: 46 [64.8%], and CTP Class A = 52 [73.2%] and Class B = 19 [26.8%]). Sixty patients completed the study (mean age: 61.7 ± 8.8 years, males: 40 [66.6%], and CTP Class A = 45 [75.0%] and Class‐B = 15 [25.0%]). Two patients dropped out due to adverse events. Nine patients were lost to follow up. Patients given melatonin had a significantly lower PSQI and ESS compared to both pretreatment (P < 0.001) and postplacebo scores (P < 0.001). Incidence of adverse events was similar (two each of abdominal pain, one each of headache, one each of dizziness) in both groups. Conclusion Melatonin seems safe and effective for use in patients with SDs in early‐stage cirrhosis in the short term. However, larger and longer‐term studies to assess efficacy and safety are required before its clinical use can be recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jerome P De Alwis
- University Medical Unit Colombo North Teaching Hospital Ragama Sri Lanka
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Abstract
Purpose of Review This review presents an in-depth overview of the sleep–wake phenotype of patients with cirrhosis, together with available pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment strategies. A set of simple, practical recommendations is also provided. Recent Findings The understanding of the pathophysiology of sleep disorders in this patient population has improved over the past decade, especially in relation to the interplay between homeostatic and circadian sleep regulation. In addition, new tools have been utilised for both screening and in-depth investigation of the sleep–wake profile of these patients. Finally, a number of studies have evaluated the efficacy of novel treatment strategies, often with encouraging results. Summary Since sleep disturbances are common in patients with cirrhosis, more so than in patients with other chronic diseases of similar severity, their assessment should become routine hepatological practice, along with the initiation of adequate treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Formentin
- 1Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Garrido
- 1Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padua, Italy.,Department of Physiology, Neuroimmunophysiology and Chrononutrition Research Group, Faculty of Science, Avda. Elvas s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Sara Montagnese
- 1Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padua, Italy
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