Ana Maria Singeap | University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr. T. Popa", Iasi (original) (raw)
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Papers by Ana Maria Singeap
European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2011
Capsule endoscopy (CE) has been proven to be a sensitive and a safe tool for the examination of t... more Capsule endoscopy (CE) has been proven to be a sensitive and a safe tool for the examination of the small bowel. However, careful patient selection is required to avoid complications, primarily capsule retention. The aims of this study were to evaluate the rate of capsule retention in patients with suspected chronic small bowel obstruction and to analyze the role and the impact of subsequent surgical intervention. Fifteen patients referred for CE with a clinical picture suggestive of chronic small bowel obstruction and with negative imaging studies were retrospectively analyzed. Capsule retention occurred in three (20%) patients who developed symptoms of subacute obstruction and subsequently underwent surgery. Radiation enteritis, Crohn's disease, and an ileal tumor were demonstrated as the causes of the capsule retention in these patients. Surgical removal of the retained capsule was performed and the underlying small bowel disease was treated. Capsule retention is a frequent complication of CE in patients with symptoms of chronic small bowel obstruction. Surgery, with the removal of the retained capsule, is proven to be beneficial in identifying the location of, and treating, the underlying disease in these patients.
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
ABSTRACT Introduction: The development of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents for the treatment ... more ABSTRACT Introduction: The development of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has completely transformed the management of this disease. The advantages of using DAA therapies include high efficacy (sustained virological response (SVR) rate >95%) with minimal side effects, good tolerability, easy drug administration (once daily oral dosing), and short duration of treatment (8–12 weeks). This transformative nature of DAA therapy underpins the goal of the World Health Organization to eliminate HCV infection as a public health threat by 2030. Areas covered: This review seeks to address the current status of DAA therapies, including recent developments, current limitations, and future challenges. Expert opinion: The current DAA regimens, with their high effectiveness and safety profiles, have changed patient perception of HCV infection from a disease that requires complex evaluation and long-term monitoring to a disease that can be cured after one visit to the general practitioner. Despite the remarkably high success rate of DAAs, few patients (4–5%) fail to obtain SVR even after treatment. Five years ahead, the landscape of HCV treatment will undoubtedly continue to evolve, and more pan-genotypic treatment options will be available to all patients.
Medicina
Background and Objectives: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a life-threatening complica... more Background and Objectives: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a life-threatening complication of liver cirrhosis. Antibiotic prophylaxis is effective but can lead to an increased incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of CDI and the risk factors in cirrhotic patients with a previous episode of SBP receiving norfloxacin as secondary prophylaxis. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective, cohort study including patients with liver cirrhosis and SBP, successfully treated over a 2-year period in a tertiary university hospital. All the patients received secondary prophylaxis for SBP with norfloxacin 400 mg/day. Results: There were 122 patients with liver cirrhosis and SBP included (mean age 57.5 ± 10.8 years, 65.5% males). Alcoholic cirrhosis was the major etiology accounting for 63.1% of cases. The mean MELD score was 19.7 ± 6.1. Twenty-three (18.8%) of all patients developed CDI during follow-up, corres...
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has become the main concern of hepatologists around the world an... more Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has become the main concern of hepatologists around the world and the main research topic for identifying effective and safe therapy. Advances in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis in recent years have opened the way towards reducing mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. This goal has not yet been reached, as the burden of chronic liver disease remains a future major health problem as the incidence of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease continues to rise. The proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis and those with hepatocellular carcinoma due to nonalcoholic liver disease on the liver transplant waiting list has increased in the last years. The upward trend in the incidence and prevalence of the disease in recent decades raises concern over a possible global epidemic, especially as the disease is still underestimated and underdiagnosed. Chronic kidney disease presented an increase in incidence and prevalence during the last year...
Archive of Clinical Cases, 2014
The true incidence of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is difficult to discern because of an unkn... more The true incidence of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is difficult to discern because of an unknown denominator of individuals receiving a drug, lack of a simple objective test for the diagnosis of DILI, lack of consensus on what liver test abnormalities constitute DILI, difficulty in attribution of causation to a single drug in those on many medicines, and lack of systematic reporting. Over 1000 medications and herbal products have been involved in causing liver injury, and the list continues to grow. Regarding the biologic therapy with infliximab, according to specialized studies, usually there were mild to moderate elevations of liver enzymes. Hereby, we present a clinical case of drug-induced hepatitis, after the administration of monoclonal antibodies over six months, with a remarkable contrast between the major biochemical changes and the absence of any symptoms.
European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2011
Capsule endoscopy (CE) has been proven to be a sensitive and a safe tool for the examination of t... more Capsule endoscopy (CE) has been proven to be a sensitive and a safe tool for the examination of the small bowel. However, careful patient selection is required to avoid complications, primarily capsule retention. The aims of this study were to evaluate the rate of capsule retention in patients with suspected chronic small bowel obstruction and to analyze the role and the impact of subsequent surgical intervention. Fifteen patients referred for CE with a clinical picture suggestive of chronic small bowel obstruction and with negative imaging studies were retrospectively analyzed. Capsule retention occurred in three (20%) patients who developed symptoms of subacute obstruction and subsequently underwent surgery. Radiation enteritis, Crohn's disease, and an ileal tumor were demonstrated as the causes of the capsule retention in these patients. Surgical removal of the retained capsule was performed and the underlying small bowel disease was treated. Capsule retention is a frequent complication of CE in patients with symptoms of chronic small bowel obstruction. Surgery, with the removal of the retained capsule, is proven to be beneficial in identifying the location of, and treating, the underlying disease in these patients.
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
ABSTRACT Introduction: The development of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents for the treatment ... more ABSTRACT Introduction: The development of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has completely transformed the management of this disease. The advantages of using DAA therapies include high efficacy (sustained virological response (SVR) rate >95%) with minimal side effects, good tolerability, easy drug administration (once daily oral dosing), and short duration of treatment (8–12 weeks). This transformative nature of DAA therapy underpins the goal of the World Health Organization to eliminate HCV infection as a public health threat by 2030. Areas covered: This review seeks to address the current status of DAA therapies, including recent developments, current limitations, and future challenges. Expert opinion: The current DAA regimens, with their high effectiveness and safety profiles, have changed patient perception of HCV infection from a disease that requires complex evaluation and long-term monitoring to a disease that can be cured after one visit to the general practitioner. Despite the remarkably high success rate of DAAs, few patients (4–5%) fail to obtain SVR even after treatment. Five years ahead, the landscape of HCV treatment will undoubtedly continue to evolve, and more pan-genotypic treatment options will be available to all patients.
Medicina
Background and Objectives: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a life-threatening complica... more Background and Objectives: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a life-threatening complication of liver cirrhosis. Antibiotic prophylaxis is effective but can lead to an increased incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of CDI and the risk factors in cirrhotic patients with a previous episode of SBP receiving norfloxacin as secondary prophylaxis. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective, cohort study including patients with liver cirrhosis and SBP, successfully treated over a 2-year period in a tertiary university hospital. All the patients received secondary prophylaxis for SBP with norfloxacin 400 mg/day. Results: There were 122 patients with liver cirrhosis and SBP included (mean age 57.5 ± 10.8 years, 65.5% males). Alcoholic cirrhosis was the major etiology accounting for 63.1% of cases. The mean MELD score was 19.7 ± 6.1. Twenty-three (18.8%) of all patients developed CDI during follow-up, corres...
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has become the main concern of hepatologists around the world an... more Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has become the main concern of hepatologists around the world and the main research topic for identifying effective and safe therapy. Advances in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis in recent years have opened the way towards reducing mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. This goal has not yet been reached, as the burden of chronic liver disease remains a future major health problem as the incidence of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease continues to rise. The proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis and those with hepatocellular carcinoma due to nonalcoholic liver disease on the liver transplant waiting list has increased in the last years. The upward trend in the incidence and prevalence of the disease in recent decades raises concern over a possible global epidemic, especially as the disease is still underestimated and underdiagnosed. Chronic kidney disease presented an increase in incidence and prevalence during the last year...
Archive of Clinical Cases, 2014
The true incidence of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is difficult to discern because of an unkn... more The true incidence of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is difficult to discern because of an unknown denominator of individuals receiving a drug, lack of a simple objective test for the diagnosis of DILI, lack of consensus on what liver test abnormalities constitute DILI, difficulty in attribution of causation to a single drug in those on many medicines, and lack of systematic reporting. Over 1000 medications and herbal products have been involved in causing liver injury, and the list continues to grow. Regarding the biologic therapy with infliximab, according to specialized studies, usually there were mild to moderate elevations of liver enzymes. Hereby, we present a clinical case of drug-induced hepatitis, after the administration of monoclonal antibodies over six months, with a remarkable contrast between the major biochemical changes and the absence of any symptoms.