PD-1/PD-L1 expression in pancreatic cancer and its implication in novel therapies.

Pancreatic cancer is the seventh leading cause of death in developed countries and it still has a poor prognosis despite intense research in the last 20 years. Immunotherapy is a relatively new strategy in cancer treatment. The aim of immunotherapy is to block the immunosuppressive effect of tumoral cells.

Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Biopsy of Liver Tumors.

Background/aim: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided liver tumor biopsy has some advantages over the percutaneous and surgical route and, in many cases, should be preferred. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of EUS-fine needle aspiration (FNA) in the diagnosis of liver tumors with an emphasis on its diagnostic accuracy and histological quality of the acquired specimen.

Patients And Methods: We followed 30 consecutive patients who underwent liver tumor biopsy using EUS guidance.

Ultrasound Image Computerized Analysis for Non-invasive Quantitative Evaluation of Hepatic Fibrosis.

Background: Assessing the diagnostic value of liver ultrasound image computerized analysis (USICA) for hepatic fibrosis (HF) staging in respect to the "gold standard" provided by liver biopsy (LB).

Methods: Two-hundred twenty-eight patients with chronic hepatopathies were prospectively enrolled in the study. All the patients underwent LB and abdominal ultrasound (US).

Hepatoprotective effects of silymarin coated gold nanoparticles in experimental cholestasis.

The present study reports the green synthesis of hybrid organic-inorganic gold nanocomposites using silymarin as reducing and capping agent. The structure of the silymarin loaded gold nanoparticles was investigated by using the appropriate analysis tools such as UV-Vis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. TEM micrographs demonstrated that the gold nanoparticles were spherical in shape, well distributed and their mean size was about 10 nm.

Optical Coherence Tomography for Identification, Characterization and Optimal Treatment of Spontaneous Recanalization of Coronary Thrombus.

Background/aim: Spontaneous recanalization of coronary thrombus (SRCT) is a rare in vivo appearance, with a nonspecific angiographic aspect. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of optical coherence tomography (OCT) use for SRCT identification, characterization of pathogenic mechanisms and optimal treatment.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all patients with angiographic suspicion of SRCT who underwent coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease and afterward investigated by OCT imaging.

Accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy of focal liver lesions.

Aim: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has become an indispensable method for diagnosis in gastroenterology and new indications for EUS continue to emerge. However, there are limited data regarding the accuracy of EUS-guided biopsy of hepatic focal lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic yield of EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of focal liver lesions.

Digital pressure in haemodialysis patients with brachial arteriovenous fistula.

Background & Objectives: : The pathophysiological mechanisms involved in distal pressure changes following arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are not completely understood. This study was aimed to assess digital pressure changes post-AVF creation and to identify the factors that might influence these changes in ESRD patients.

Methods: : In this prospective study, 41 patients with ESRD underwent AVF creation.

Diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy of focal liver lesions.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has become an indispensable method for diagnosis and therapeutic procedures in gastroenterology. As experience with this technique grows, new indications continue to emerge. Due to the vicinity of the transducer to the liver, endoscopic ultrasonography provides detailed images of the liver segments and its vascular and biliary structures.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) associates with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure variability in type 2 diabetes and controls.

Background And Aim: Endothelial dysfunction is a common feature in hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Whether blood pressure (BP) variability is influencing serum intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) remains to be clarified. We aimed to assess the association between the circulating adhesion molecules and ambulatory blood pressure variability in patients with type 2 diabetes and controls.

Correlation between preoperative vein and artery diameters and arteriovenous fistula outcome in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Background And Aims: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation failure rates remain high in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although preoperative morphological and functional assessment of blood vessels by duplex ultrasonography (DUS) has been shown to improve AVF maturation, there is no consensus regarding the optimal vein (VD) and artery (AD) diameters to be universally used for AVF creation. To improve patient selection, set out to investigate if there is a correlation between preoperative VD/AD and clinical covariates, and postoperative AVF outcome.

Ultrasound-guided biopsy of osteolytic metastasis - could be less than three cores enough?

Aims: The purpose of this study was to analyze the diagnostic yield and accuracy of the ultrasound (US) guided core biopsy in a population of patients with osteolytic metastasis.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 16 consecutive cases of US-guided core biopsies of osteolytic lesions performed in our Ultrasound Unit, from January 2006 to May 2017. We used 18G or 16G Tru-cut needles coupled with automated biopsy guns.

Effect of the veins histopathological characteristics and preexisting medical conditions on arteriovenous fistula maturation and primary patency in patients with end-stage renal disease: an observational, prospective study.

We assessed the veins histopathological characteristics and preexisting medical conditions before arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation, and their correlation with AVF outcome and primary patency in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In this observational, prospective, mono-center study in Romania, patients with artery and venous diameters =2 mm and =2.5 mm, respectively, were enrolled.

Mediastinal masses-transthoracic ultrasonography aspects.

Mediastinal masses are usually assessed by computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Transthoracic ultrasonography (TUS) can also provide useful information concerning prevascular and posterior mediastinal masses abutting the thoracic wall, but is underused for mediastinal pathology. Moreover, it provides a valuable and safe method for guiding interventional procedures in those areas, even in cases when other approaches are difficult or impossible.

Adrenal glands transabdominal ultrasonography - pictorial essay.

Adrenal gland ultrasonography is one of the corner stones of the abdominal ultrasonography examination for many medical specialties. The adrenal areas can be easily overlooked though adrenal gland pathology is diverse. We present the normal aspects and various transabdominal ultrasonography findings of the adrenal glands, both common and rare.

Ultrasound-guided bone lesions biopsies - a systematic review.

Aims: Ultrasound (US) is a highly valuable imagistic tool used to guide numerous interventional procedures. The US guided bone lesions biopsy has not yet received a consensus or a guideline. We aimed to evaluate the evidence to support the US role in guiding bone lesions biopsies.

Unusual Discovery after an Examination for Abdominal Pain: Abernethy 1b Malformation and Liver Adenomatosis. A Case Report.

Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (Abernethy malformation) is a rare condition characterized by developmental abnormalities of the portal venous system resulting in the diversion of the portal blood from the liver to the systemic venous system through a complete or partial shunt of the portomesenteric blood. We report the case of an 18 year-old female examined for abdominal pain, presenting cholestasis syndrome and an elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase level. Liver ultrasound examination revealed the absence of the portal vein with a complete extrahepatic shunt of the portal blood, multiple focal liver lesions, and multiple associated vascular anomalies.

The Role of PDGFs and PDGFRs in Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Angiogenesis was reported as one important mechanism activated in colorectal carcinogenesis. Tumor microenvironment associated angiogenesis involves a large spectrum of signaling molecules and deciphering their role in colorectal carcinogenesis still represents a major challenge.

Pethidine efficacy in achieving the ultrasound-guided oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane block in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A prospective study.

Pethidine is a synthetic opioid with local anesthetic properties. Our goal was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of pethidine for achieving the ultrasound-guided oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane (OSTAP) block in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This prospective, double-blind study included 79 patients of physical status I and II according to American Society of Anesthesiologists, scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Unusual multiple metastatic localisations in adult Burkitt's lymphoma. A case report.

Burkitt's lymphoma is an aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is less common in adults accounting for less than 5% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases. Radiological methods (ultrasonography, computed tomography) are indispensable for the initial evaluation and appreciation of organ extension; complete diagnosis is confirmed by the histopathological examination.

Beneficial Effects of Silymarin After the Discontinuation of CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis.

Silymarin (Si) is a herbal product with hepatoprotective potential, well-known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. We have recently demonstrated that the usual therapeutic doses of Si are capable of inhibiting the progression of incipient liver fibrosis. We aimed at further investigating the benefits of Si administration upon liver alterations after the hepatotoxin discontinuation, using CCl4 to induce liver injuries on rats.

Appendicular mucinous adenocarcinoma associated with pseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare and difficult imaging diagnosis.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare disease, caused by primary mucinous tumors that arise most frequently from appendix, ovary, or pancreas. Usually diagnosis is made by computed tomography, but ultrasonography can be a very useful imagistic method, if this diagnosis is taken into account by the observer. We present a case of a PMP caused by an appendiceal mucinous carcinoma, in a 34-year-old male patient, with family history of malignancies, diagnosed in our department.

The efficacy of oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane block in laparoscopic cholecystectomy - a prospective, placebo controlled study.

Introduction: Pain control after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy can represent a challenge, considering the side effects due to standard analgesia methods. Recently the transversus abdominis plane block (TAP Block) has been used as a part of multimodal analgesia with promising results. The subcostal approach (OSTAP Block), a variant on the TAP block, produces reliable unilateral supraumbilical analgesia.

Current Management of NAFLD.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in Western countries. It affects about 1 billion individuals worldwide. While people with simple steatosis have no higher risk of death than the general population, people with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are at increased risk of death compared to general population.

The role of complement system in adipose tissue-related inflammation.

As the common factor linking adipose tissue to the metabolic context of obesity, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis are associated with a low-grade chronic inflammatory status, to which the complement system is an important contributor. Adipose tissue synthesizes complement proteins and is a target of complement activation. C3a-desArg/acylation-stimulating protein stimulates lipogenesis and affects lipid metabolism.