Characteristics at presentation and outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the elderly. A study of the Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP).

Purpose: To describe the characteristics at presentation and the outcome of elderly patients (> or =70 years old) with HCC, a retrospective analysis using a CLIP database was performed.

Patients And Methods: The database included 650 patients. Chi2-test, logistic and Cox model were applied.

Increased IGF-I : IGFBP-3 ratio in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The development of hepatocellular carcinoma in liver cirrhosis is associated with altered synthesis and secretion of several growth factors.

Aim: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the potential implication of IGF-I and its major binding protein (IGFBP-3) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were measured in 150 healthy subjects, 40 patients with liver cirrhosis and 63 with liver cirrhosis and untreated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Partial splenic embolization in patients with idiopathic portal hypertension.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of partial splenic embolization (PSE) in patients with idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) in reducing variceal bleeding episodes, splenomegaly and thrombocytopenia.

Materials And Methods: Six patients (2M, 4F, mean age 30.3 years) with IPH presenting with splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia and recurrent variceal bleeding were treated with PSE using gelatin sponge (four patients) or Contour particles (two patients) as embolization material.

Hepatic resection and percutaneous ethanol injection as treatments of small hepatocellular carcinoma: a Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP 08) retrospective case-control study.

Background: Patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are usually treated with hepatic resection or percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI).

Goals: To compare the effects of hepatic resection versus PEI on survival in a matched case-control study. STUDY Patients with single-nodule HCC ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Effects of carbonated water on functional dyspepsia and constipation.

Objective: The effects of carbonated beverages on the gastrointestinal tract have been poorly investigated. Therefore, this study aims to assess the effect of carbonated water intake in patients with functional dyspepsia and constipation.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with dyspepsia and secondary constipation were randomized into two groups in a double-blind fashion.