Adenoma weight: the only predictive factor for multiple gland disease in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Predicting a multiple gland disease (MGD) in primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate predictive factors for MGD.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of 1211 patients with histologically confirmed parathyroid adenoma or hyperplasia between 2007-2016.

Accuracy of Parathyroid Adenoma Localization by Preoperative Ultrasound and Sestamibi in 1089 Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is well treatable surgically. Sonography (US) and sestamibi scintigraphy (MIBI) are used routinely, but it is unclear how valuable they are in determining Parathyroid glands' different locations. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of US and MIBI in relation to the different localization of parathyroid adenomas in one of the largest study populations analyzed to date.

European Expert Consensus on Practical Management of Specific Aspects of Parathyroid Disorders in Adults and in Pregnancy: Recommendations of the ESE Educational Program of Parathyroid Disorders.

This European expert consensus statement provides recommendations for the diagnosis and management of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), chronic hypoparathyroidism in adults (HypoPT), and parathyroid disorders in relation to pregnancy and lactation. Specified areas of interest and unmet needs identified by experts at the second ESE Educational Program of Parathyroid Disorders (PARAT) in 2019, were discussed during two virtual workshops in 2021, and subsequently developed by working groups with interest in the specified areas. PHPT is a common endocrine disease.

Clinical Presentation, Treatment, and Outcome of Parathyroid Carcinoma: Results of the NEKAR Retrospective International Multicenter Study.

Objective: In this retrospective cohort study, we describe the clinical presentation and workup of parathyroid carcinoma (PC) and determine its clinical prognostic parameters. Primary outcome was recurrence free survival.

Summary Background Data: PC is an orphan malignancy for which diagnostic workup and treatment is not established.

Pharmacodynamic monitoring of nuclear factor of activated T cell-regulated gene expression in liver allograft recipients on immunosuppressive therapy with calcineurin inhibitors in the course of time and correlation with acute rejection episodes--a prospective study.

Background: Due to considerable pharmacokinetic (PK) variability, immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) remains challenging. The objective of this study was to assess a pharmacodynamic (PD) approach of monitoring nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT)-regulated gene expression in the course of time and in correlation with rejection episodes.

Material/methods: 22 de novo liver allograft recipients were observed for a period of up to 12 months and the residual gene expression (RGE) of NFAT-regulated genes was monitored prospectively and correlated to acute rejection episodes.

Mycophenolate mofetil combination therapy improves survival after liver transplantation. A single-center retrospective analysis.

Background: Because the immunosuppressive regimen is a modifiable risk factor after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), physicians are nowadays aiming at an optimized and individualized strategy for each patient. The aim of this retrospective study was to examine the impact of different immunosuppressive regimens on the long-term outcome post-OLT based on routine, real-life situations, with particular focus on the subgroups of patients with HCC or HCV.

Material And Methods: Our study included 186 patients who underwent OLT between 1999 and 2008 at the University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany with an available minimum follow-up period of 12 months.

Flotillin-2 expression in the human gut: from a cell model to human tissue in health and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background And Aims: The etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) remains largely unexplained. Flotillins (flotillin-1 and flotillin-2) are ubiquitous proteins which have been linked to inflammation and regeneration. We hypothesized that alterations in the expression of flotillin-2 in enterocytes may be related to the pathogenesis of IBD as a classical example of an inflammatory disorder of mostly unknown origin.

Factors influencing long-term quality of life and depression in German liver transplant recipients: a single-centre cross-sectional study.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has become increasingly important. Therefore, we aimed to identify factors affecting HRQOL after OLT.

Material And Methods: This cross-sectional, single-centre study surveyed 281 OLT patients.

Immunomonitoring of nuclear factor of activated T cells-regulated gene expression: the first clinical trial in liver allograft recipients.

Long-term calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) treatment can cause serious side effects in liver allograft recipients. An optimal risk-to-benefit ratio for CNI blood levels has not been established. Pharmacodynamic drug monitoring through the measurement of the CNI biological activity, that is, the expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)-regulated genes, seems to be a promising approach.

Myocardial late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with cirrhosis.

Background: Portal hypertension and cardiac alterations previously described as "cirrhotic cardiomyopathy" are known complications of end stage liver disease (ELD). Cardiac failure contributes to morbidity and mortality, particularly after liver transplantation and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). We sought to identify myocardial tissue characterization and evaluate cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) for diagnosis of cardiac impairment.

Budd-Chiari syndrome: long term success via hepatic decompression using transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt.

Background: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) generally implies thrombosis of the hepatic veins and/or the intrahepatic or suprahepatic inferior vena cava. Treatment depends on the underlying cause, the anatomic location, the extent of the thrombotic process and the functional capacity of the liver. It can be divided into medical treatment including anticoagulation and thrombolysis, radiological procedures such as angioplasty and transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS) and surgical interventions including orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Limitations of the MELD score in predicting mortality or need for removal from waiting list in patients awaiting liver transplantation.

Background: Decompensated cirrhosis is associated with a poor prognosis and liver transplantation provides the only curative treatment option with excellent long-term results. The relative shortage of organ donors renders the allocation algorithms of organs essential. The optimal strategy based on scoring systems and/or waiting time is still under debate.

Serum bile acid profiling reflects enterohepatic detoxification state and intestinal barrier function in inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim: To determine free and conjugated serum bile acid (BA) levels in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) subgroups with defined clinical manifestations.

Methods: Comprehensive serum BA profiling was performed in 358 IBD patients and 310 healthy controls by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Results: Serum levels of hyodeoxycholic acid, the CYP3A4-mediated detoxification product of the secondary BA lithocholic acid (LCA), was increased significantly in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), while most other serum BA species were decreased significantly.

Low levels of prothrombin time (INR) and platelets do not increase the risk of significant bleeding when placing central venous catheters.

Background And Purpose: Central venous catheters are frequently placed in intensive care medicine for multiple indications. The risk of severe bleeding after cannulation is considered to be increased in patients with abnormal coagulation, common in critically ill patients.

Patients And Methods: This open prospective trial, performed at two medical intensive care units and one hematology intermediate care ward, investigated whether insertion of a central venous catheter in patients with coagulopathy (prothrombin time or= 1.

Aquaporin-8 expression is reduced in ileum and induced in colon of patients with ulcerative colitis.

Aim: To study susceptibility genes which may play a potential role in the pathogenesis and etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: To identify potential susceptibility genes we performed global gene expression profiling in patients with IBD and control specimens. For determination of an intrinsic gene expression profile in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) compared to normal subjects, mucosal biopsies of non-inflamed regions of the colon and the terminal ileum were subjected to DNA microarray analysis.

Health-related quality of life correlates with clinical and endoscopic activity indexes but not with demographic features in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) impairs health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Our aim was to investigate whether the improvement in the Clinical Activity Index (CAI) and Endoscopic Activity Index (EAI) is significantly correlated with the advancement of HRQOL and its dimensions in ulcerative colitis (UC) and to assess whether demographic and disease-related factors influence patients' experience of HRQOL. This examination was performed in the context of our recently published study of the anti-inflammatory effect of phosphatidylcholine in UC.

Aberrant intestinal expression and allelic variants of mucin genes associated with inflammatory bowel disease.

Loss of intestinal mucosa integrity is an important factor in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to characterize expression changes and allelic variants of genes related to intestinal epithelial barrier function in this disease. Therefore, ileal and colonic mucosal biopsies from nonaffected regions of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), as well as non-IBD probands, were subjected to Affymetrix DNA-microarray analysis.

Alterations in intestinal fatty acid metabolism in inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) constitutes a severe intestinal disorder in developed countries with increasing incidence worldwide. Upcoming evidence indicates an important role of intestinal epithelial barrier function in the development of IBD. Fatty acids exert nutritional and protective effects on enterocytes, serve as activators of transcription and constitute precursors of inflammatory mediators.

Loss of detoxification in inflammatory bowel disease: dysregulation of pregnane X receptor target genes.

Background & Aims: Phase 1, phase 2, and cellular efflux transporters are critical components in intestinal barrier function against xenobiotics and bacteria. We therefore performed global gene expression profiling in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease as well as control specimens, with a special emphasis on genes involved in detoxification and epithelial membrane integrity.

Methods: Mucosal biopsy specimens from nonaffected regions of the colon and the terminal ileum were subjected to DNA microarray analysis and pathway-related data mining.

Real-time reverse transcription-PCR expression profiling of the complete human ATP-binding cassette transporter superfamily in various tissues.

Background: ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are involved in many physiologic processes, such as lipid transport, sterol homeostasis, immune mechanisms, and drug transport, and cause various human inherited diseases. Thus, the analysis of ABC transporter mRNA expression profiles for basic research, especially in the field of lipid metabolism, for clinical diagnosis, and for monitoring of drug effects is of great interest.

Methods: We have developed a rapid, accurate, and highly sensitive real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) method for detection and quantification of all 47 currently known members of the ABC transporter superfamily.