Identification of optimal portal pressure decrease to control ascites while minimizing hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS: A multicenter study.

Background Aims: Clinically-significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in liver cirrhosis patients can lead to refractory ascites. A transjugular-intrahepatic-portosystemic shunt (TIPS) treats CSPH but may cause overt hepatic encephalopathy (oHE). Our aim was to determine the optimal reduction of the portal pressure gradient (PPG) via TIPS to control ascites without raising oHE risk.

Value of systemic inflammation markers for the detection of minimal and prediction of overt hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS insertion.

Development of overt hepatic encephalopathy (oHE) is a particularly feared complication when considering treatment with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). However, the pathophysiology of HE, in particular after TIPS-insertion, is complex and valid predictors remain scarce. We aimed to investigate whether systemic inflammation markers (SIM) are linked to minimal (mHE) and overt HE (oHE) development before and after TIPS.

TIPS insertion leads to sustained reversal of systemic inflammation in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Systemic Inflammation (SI) is considered a key mechanism in disease progression and development of complications in decompensated liver cirrhosis. SI is mainly driven by portal hypertension and bacterial translocation. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)-insertion represents an effective treatment for portal hypertension.

Trans-arterial embolization for treatment of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding-a multicenter analysis.

Purpose: To assess the technical feasibility, safety, and clinical success rate of trans-arterial embolization (TAE) as an emergency treatment for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB).

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients who received urgent TAE due to active LGIB at five academic centers in Germany were retrospectively analyzed. LGIB was confirmed and localized using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) or endoscopy.

Iron saturation and binding capacity of lactoferrin - development and validation of a colorimetric protocol for quality control.

Among the numerous biofunctional properties of lactoferrin, its ability to bind iron ions can be considered a core function. The saturation level with ferric iron affects the stability and functionality of the protein. To reliably quantify the iron saturation, an assay based on the color reagent Ferrozine was developed and validated concerning the lower detection (0.