Autophagy and nuclear morphometry are associated with histopathologic features in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Less than 15% of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) survive 5 years after diagnosis. A better understanding of the biology of these tumors and the development of clinical biomarkers is needed. Autophagy is a physiological mechanism involved in the turnover of cellular components that plays a key role in cancer.

Predicting dry weight in patients with cirrhotic ascites undergoing large-volume paracentesis.

Background & Aims: Ascites impairs the correct diagnosis and nutritional management in patients with cirrhosis, because the body weight, which is needed for nutritional assessment and calculation of nutritional needs, is overestimated. To adjust the weight in patients with ascites, dietetic guidances indicate substracting 2.2-14 kg or 5-15% of the measured body weight according to the degree of ascites, however, there is a lack of evidence to substantiate these values.

Employing AI to Better Understand Our Morals.

We present a summary of research that we have conducted employing AI to better understand human morality. This summary adumbrates theoretical fundamentals and considers how to regulate development of powerful new AI technologies. The latter research aim is benevolent AI, with fair distribution of benefits associated with the development of these and related technologies, avoiding disparities of power and wealth due to unregulated competition.

High Prevalence of Multidrug Resistant Bacteria in Cirrhotic Patients with Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis: Is It Time to Change the Standard Antimicrobial Approach?

Introduction: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) has a deleterious clinical impact in end-stage liver disease, and multidrug resistance has increased, raising concern about effectiveness of traditional antibiotic regimens.

Patients And Methods: Single-center retrospective study of ascitic fluid infections in cirrhotic patients.

Results: We analyzed medical records related to 2129 culture-positive ascitic fluid and found 183 samples from cirrhotic patients.

Sofosbuvir-based antiviral therapy in patients with recurrent HCV infection after liver transplant: A real-life experience.

Introduction And Aim: Recurrent HCV infection after liver transplant (LT) has a negative impact on graft and patient survival. The aim of this study is to describe the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir (SOF-based) regimens in the treatment of recurrent HCV after liver transplant (LT).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 68 adults with recurrent HCV infection after LT, treated with different SOF-based regimens between March 2015 and December 2016.

Bosentan Inducing Autoimmune Hepatitis in a Patient with Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

A 41-year-old woman diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension presented symptoms despite the use of vasodilators, requiring treatment with bosentan. Previously, the patient had no signs of autoimmunity and had normal liver function. After three years of bosentan use, aminotransferase levels increased, without improvement after bosentan suspension, leading to complementary investigation.

Urinary Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolites in Drinkers in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Consumption of , an infusion of the herb , is associated with increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but the carcinogenic mechanism is unclear. Commercial brands of contain high levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are acquired during the traditional drying process. The purpose of this study was to characterize exposure to PAHs in drinkers over a wide range of consumption.

Stepwise expression of CDKN2A and RB1 proteins in esophageal mucosa from patients at high risk for squamous cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is a lethal cancer and carries a poor prognosis because of late diagnosis. Identification of molecular markers may aid early diagnosis. We assessed the expression of CDKN2A/RB1 in the esophageal mucosa and its association with the histology.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma - precursor lesions and early diagnosis.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE) carries a poor prognosis due to late diagnosis. Early detection is highly desirable, since surgical and endoscopic resection offers the only possible cure for esophageal cancer. Population screening should be undertaken in high risk areas, and in low or moderate risk areas for people with risk factors (alcoholics, smokers, mate drinkers, history of head and neck cancer, achalasia and lye stricture of the esophagus).

Detecting p53 immunoexpression in esophageal mucosa with exfoliative cytology in individuals at risk for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of p53 expression in cytologic smear collected by the RS Balloon in high-risk individuals, and test its yield in the cytologic screening of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE).

Study Design: Asymptomatic individuals at risk for SCCE underwent esophageal exfoliative cytology with the RS Balloon immediately followed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsies of unstained areas after iodine mucosal staining of the esophagus. For each patient, cytologic expression of p53 was compared with the worst endoscopic biopsy diagnosis and the histologic expression of p53.