Consequences of TIPSS placement on the body composition of patients with cirrhosis and severe portal hypertension: a large retrospective CT-based surveillance.

Background: Body composition may be modified after improvement of portal hypertension (PHT) by transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) insertion.

Aims: To evaluate changes in body composition following TIPSS placement, their relationship with radiological TIPSS patency and function, and the predictive value of these parameters METHODS: We retrospectively included 179 patients with cirrhosis who underwent TIPSS placement in our centre for severe PHT from 2011 to 2017. CT scan-based surveillance was performed at baseline, 1-3 (M1-M3) and 6 months (M6).

Elements of margin of safety, toxicity and action of sodium selenite in a lipopolysaccharide rat model.

Project: Both septic shock and sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) lead to multiple organ failure through oxidation. Na2SeO3 has direct oxidant effects above the nutritional level and indirect anti-oxidant properties. In a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) rat model we assessed margin of safety, toxicity and beneficial effect of pentahydrate Na2SeO3 (5H2O·Na2SeO3) at oxidant doses.

Dr House, TV, and reality..

Background: Medical practice in the media is usually far from reality. Thus, the viewer may be led astray. The world-famous fictional Dr House has to face a difficult diagnosis every week.

Urgent endoscopy in severe non-variceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage: does the Glasgow-Blatchford score help endoscopists?

Objective: The Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS) has been validated to select severe patients with non-variceal upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH). The aim was to compare the yield of the triage based on the GBS with an endoscopist' decision to perform an urgent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) in newly admitted patients and inpatients with UGIH in the setting of an endoscopy on-duty service in 13 tertiary care centers.

Material And Methods: During a 6-month period, GBS and patient data were collected for all patients with non-variceal UGIH for whom an UGIE was requested in emergency.

[Management of orbital inflammation in internal medicine: a retrospective case series of 29 patients].

Purpose: To describe a case series of patients investigated in internal medicine for an inflammation of the orbit and to clarify the clinical and pathological features of patients with idiopathic orbital inflammatory syndrome (IOIS).

Patients And Methods: Forty patients were consecutively referred by a specialized center where an orbital biopsy was performed in case of accessible lesion. Eleven patients were excluded because of missing data or diagnosis of lymphomas, periorbital xanthogranulomas, or Graves' disease.