BackgroundThe rate of alcohol relapse among patients who underwent liver transplantation for alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is not precisely known.AimSynthesize the available evidence on liver transplantation for AH to assess alcohol relapse and 6-month survival.MethodsMeta-analysis of trials evaluating liver transplantation for AH, either clinically severe or diagnosed on the explant.ResultsEleven studies were included. The pooled estimate rate for alcohol relapse was 0.22 (95% CI = 0.12–0.36) in overall analysis with high heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 76%), 0.20 (95% CI = 0.07–0.43) in the subgroup analysis including patients with clinically severe AH (I2 = 84%), 0.14 (95% CI = 0.08–0.23) among patients with clinically severe AH in sensitivity analysis excluding the discrepant studies that did not use stringent selection criteria for liver transplantation (I2 = 0%), and 0.15 (95% CI = 0.07–0.27) for recurrent harmful alcohol consumption among patients with clinically severe AH (I2 = 3%). The risk of alcohol relapse was not different between AH transplanted patients and patients with alcoholic cirrhosis who underwent elective liver transplantation in sensitivity analysis excluding the discrepant studies (OR = 1.68, 95%CI = 0.79–3.58, p = 0.2, I2 = 16%). The pooled estimate rate for 6-month survival was 0.85 (95% CI = 0.77–0.91, I2 = 49%), and 0.80 among patients transplanted for clinically severe AH (95% CI = 0.69–0.88, I2 = 30%). AH transplanted patients had similar 6-month survival to patients with alcoholic cirrhosis who underwent elective liver transplantation (OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 0.95–4.23, p = 0.07, I2 = 0%).ConclusionUsing stringent selection criteria, 14% of patients with clinically severe AH have alcohol relapse after liver transplantation. The percentage of alcohol relapse of AH transplanted patients is similar than that of patients who underwent elective liver transplantation.

The hypothesis of an infectious connection from the oro-pharyngeal sphere to the brain underlines the interest in analyzing the link between periodontal disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the link between Alzheimer’s disease and periodontal disease in patients aged 65 and over. Databases (PubMed (MEDLINE), the Cochrane Library, and Embase) were analyzed for relevant references up to 21 June 2021. The authors independently selected the studies and extracted the data. The quality of included studies was checked using the National Institutes of Health’s quality assessment tools. Five studies were included. The selected studies described in their results an increase in F. nucleatum in Alzheimer’s disease patients (adjusted p = 0.02), and its incidence was linked to C. rectus and P. gingivalis (adjusted HR = 1.22 (1.04–1.43), p = 0.012) as well as A. naeslundii (crude HR = 2.0 (1.1–3.8)). The presence of periodontitis at baseline was associated with a six-fold increase in the rate of cognitive decline over a 6-month follow-up period (ADAS-Cog mean change = 2.9 ± 6.6). The current review suggests an association between periodontal disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The treatment of periodontal disease could be a way to explore Alzheimer’s disease prevention.

Background and aim The alcoholic hepatitis histologic score has been proposed as a new prognostic tool to assess the risk of death in alcoholic hepatitis. We aimed to evaluate its prognostic value in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis. Methods Liver biopsies were analysed independently by two pathologists according to the alcoholic hepatitis histologic score. The Laennec staging system was also used to evaluate fibrosis. Results One hundred and seven patients were included, and 89% of the patients received corticosteroids. The alcoholic hepatitis histologic score was available in 105 patients. Histologic scoring showed mild, moderate and severe scores in 10, 29 and 66 patients, respectively. Laennec staging was available for 53 patients, among whom 49 had cirrhosis, including 7 with Laennec 4A, 15 with 4B and 27 with 4C. Survival rates in mild, moderate and severe alcoholic hepatitis histologic score groups were 90%, 72% and 69% at 28 days ( p = 0.6), 80%, 52% and 63% at 3 months ( p = 0.3), and 70%, 41% and 58% at 6 months ( p = 0.3), respectively. Within the alcoholic hepatitis histologic score, fibrosis demonstrated the best interobserver reproducibility (agreement = 100%, Κ = 1.00). Compared to patients with Laennec 4B or 4C cirrhosis, survival rates for patients without cirrhosis or with Laennec 4A cirrhosis were 100% vs 83% at 28 days ( p = 0.16), 91% vs 68% at 3 months ( p = 0.13), and 82% vs 64% at 6 months ( p = 0.2), respectively. In multivariate analysis adjusted for age and for model for end-stage liver disease score, the alcoholic hepatitis histologic score and Laennec stage were not associated with 6-month mortality. Conclusions The alcoholic hepatitis histologic score is not predictive of short-term survival in this cohort of patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis.