RESIST-HCV Criteria to Monitor Progression of Low-Risk Esophageal Varices in Patients With Compensated Cirrhosis After HCV Eradication: The SIMPLE Study: SIMPLE: Scoring Index to Monitor Progression of Low-risk Esophageal varices.

Introduction: Noninvasive criteria to predict the progression of low-risk esophageal varices (EV) in patients with compensated hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis after sustained virological response (SVR) by direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are lacking. Our aim was to assess the diagnostic performance of Rete Sicilia Selezione Terapia-HCV (RESIST-HCV) criteria for EV progression compared with elastography-based criteria (Baveno VI, Expanded Baveno VI, and Baveno VII-HCV criteria).

Methods: All consecutive patients observed at 3 referral centers with compensated HCV cirrhosis with or without F1 EV who achieved sustained virological response by DAAs were classified at last esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) as RESIST-HCV low risk (i.

Metabolic comorbidities and male sex influence steatosis in chronic hepatitis C after viral eradication by direct-acting antiviral therapy (DAAs): Evaluation by the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP).

Background: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with hepatic steatosis, related to both a direct viral action and metabolic features. Vice-versa data on hepatic steatosis after viral eradication by direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) are undefined although the presence of metabolic alterations could strongly influence the occurrence of steatosis as in NAFLD. The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) (FibroscanⓇ) allows the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of fatty liver.

Rubberlike dynamics in sulphur above the lambda-transition temperature.

The high-frequency acoustic dynamics of sulfur across the liquid-liquid, lambda transition has been studied using inelastic x-ray scattering. The combination of these high-frequency data with lower frequency, literature data indicates that liquid sulfur develops, in the high-temperature, polymeric solution phase, some characteristic features of a rubber. In particular, entanglement coupling among polymeric chains plays a relevant role in the dynamics of this liquid phase.

Alternating sequence of ring and chain structures in sulphur at high pressure and temperature.

Sulphur is the subject of a renewed intensive research effort aiming at characterizing its complex phase diagram. Nonetheless, on reading recent literature on its high-pressure phases, a confused picture emerges where different techniques obtain different results. We have investigated the phase diagram of sulphur by X-ray diffraction at high pressures and temperatures (6-11 GPa and 300-1,000 K), and have observed a new occurrence of a molecular S6 phase, in addition to the previously described polymeric helical trigonal and tetragonal phases.

Factors determining the percentage of hypochromic red blood cells in hemodialysis patients.

Unlabelled: Factors determining the percentage of hypochromic red blood cells determines iron status in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Determination of the percentage of hypochromic red blood cells (RBC; %HYPO) has been advocated as a sensitive index of functional iron deficiency during erythropoietin (EPO) therapy in hemodialyzed patients.

Methods: The significance of %HYPO in chronic renal failure was evaluated in 64 chronically hemodialyzed patients.