Liver Biopsy: To Do or Not to Do - A Single-Center Study.

Introduction: A variety of liver disorders are associated with characteristic histopathological findings that help in their diagnosis and treatment. However, percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) is prone to limitations and complications. We evaluated all PLBs done in our hospital in a 13-year period, aiming to assess PLB's utility and complications.

TM6SF2-rs58542926 Genetic Variant Modifies the Protective Effect of a "Prudent" Dietary Pattern on Serum Triglyceride Levels.

The epidemic prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), despite extensive research in the field, underlines the importance of focusing on personalized therapeutic approaches. However, nutrigenetic effects on NAFLD are poorly investigated. To this end, we aimed to explore potential gene-dietary pattern interactions in a NAFLD case-control study.

Intensive care unit outcomes following orthotopic liver transplantation: single-center experience and review of the literature.

Background/aim: Orthotopic Liver Transplantation (OLT) is the treatment of choice for patients with end stage liver disease, acute liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma and metabolic disorders. As a result of improvement in surgical and anesthesiological skills, advanced understanding of transplant immunology and better critical care management of complications, patients survive longer after liver transplantation. It has been gradually achieved one-year survival rates of 80-90%.

Dietary patterns and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a Greek case-control study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that posteriori-derived dietary patterns of a Greek sample are associated with the odds for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and common NAFLD-related biomarkers.

Methods: We recruited 351 individuals (134 NAFLD patients, 217 controls). NAFLD was diagnosed with abdominal ultrasound.

Evaluation of Plasma Trace Elements in Different Stages of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Its global prevalence is estimated between 25 and 45%, occurring mainly in overweight individuals with unhealthy dietary habits and low levels of physical activity. Many studies have investigated the association of trace elements with liver diseases, though not with NAFLD.

Fish intake interacts with TM6SF2 gene variant to affect NAFLD risk: results of a case-control study.

Purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a complex disease, resulting from a variety of genetic and environmental factors. The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate the effect of selected genetic polymorphisms, nutrition aspects and their interaction on the risk of NAFLD.

Methods: The sample consisted of 134 patients with NAFLD and 217 controls.

Evaluation of bone involvement in patients with Gaucher disease: a semi-quantitative magnetic resonance imaging method (using ROI estimation of bone lesion) as an alternative method to semi-quantitative methods used so far.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate bone involvement in patients with Gaucher disease (GD) and to propose a novel semi-quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) staging.

Methods: MRI of the lumbar spine, femur, and tibia was performed in 24 patients with GD and 24 healthy controls. We also measured circulating levels of C-C motif ligand-3 (CCL-3) chemokine, C-telopeptide of collagen type-1 (CTX), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform type-b (TRACP-5b).

Percutaneous US-guided liver biopsy in focal lesions using a semiautomatic device allowing to perform multiple biopsies in a single-pass.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous real-time ultra sound

Methods: One hundred and thirty-four consecutive percutaneous liver biopsies were performed in equal number of patients with focal liver lesions during a three-year period. All biopsies were performed with a single puncture, using a Tru-cat semiautomatic 18G needle (Precisa semi-automatic Tru-cut biopsy Device, HS Hospital Service, Italy) with removable inner stylet, under real-time US-guided. Two to five samples were obtained from each biopsy.

Sonographic measurements of subcutaneous fat in obese individuals may correlate better with peripheral artery disease indices.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of various methods for body fat assessment with indices of peripheral artery disease in the deep and superficial femoral arteries.

Methods: The intima-media thickness (IMT), maximal IMT (max IMT), femoral wall thickness (FWT), maximal FWT (max FWT), cross-sectional intima media area (CIMA), and atherosclerotic burden score (ABS) were measured sonographically in 26 subjects. The minimum thickness of the abdominal subcutaneous fat layer (Smin) was measured sonographically close to the xyphoid process, and body fat percentage was calculated using various formulas.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy without interval cholecystectomy as definitive treatment of acute cholecystitis in elderly and critically ill patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous cholecystostomy without interval cholecystectomy as definitive treatment for acute cholecystitis in elderly or critically ill patients with various coexisting diseases who were unfit for surgery under general anesthesia.

Design: Between July 2004 and June 2006, 24 consecutive elderly and critically ill patients unfit for surgery, suffering from acute cholecystitis, and in whom significant comorbid factors were present, underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy as an emergency procedure at Laiko General Hospital. The diagnosis and the severity of acute cholecystitis were based on the Tokyo Guidelines, whereas the American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) physical status classification was used for the perioperative risk stratification for cholecystectomy.

Apoptosis and hepatitis C virus infection in renal transplant recipients.

Hepatocellular injury in renal transplant recipients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains unclear. The suppressed immune response, in combination with increased viremia levels, provides a unique setting for the study of a potential HCV-induced apoptotic process. Liver biopsy specimens from 59 HCV-infected renal transplant recipients were examined histologically.

Diabetic muscle infarction after kidney and pancreas transplantation: case report and literature review.

Diabetic muscle infarction (DMI) is a rare, long-term complication of poorly controlled diabetes (typically of type I). DMI was first described in 1965 and more than 100 cases have been reported thereafter in the English literature. Usually, there is a coexistence with concomitant nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy.

Colour duplex sonography of temporal arteries before decision for biopsy: a prospective study in 55 patients with suspected giant cell arteritis.

Although a temporal artery biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA), there is considerable evidence that characteristic signs demonstrated by colour duplex sonography (CDS) of the temporal arteries may be of diagnostic importance. We aimed to test the hypothesis that CDS can replace biopsy in the algorithm for the approach to diagnose GCA. Bilateral CDS was performed in consecutive patients older than 50 years with clinically suspected GCA, as well as in 15 age- and gender-matched control subjects with diabetes mellitus and/or stroke and 15 healthy subjects, to assess flow parameters and the possible presence of a dark halo around the arterial lumen.

Surgical management of nipple discharge.

Purpose: Nipple discharge is reported in 2.5-3% of women with breast carcinoma. Breast carcinoma is found in approximately 8% of surgically treated patients presenting with bloody nipple discharge (ND).

Wire localisation biopsy of non-palpable breast lesions: reasons for unsuccessful excision.

Surgical excision following needle-wire localization of nonpalpable, mammographically detected breast lesions is a very valuable diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. No further treatment is usually required after establishing an accurate histological benign diagnosis of indeterminate lesions on preoperative assessment. On the other hand, ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) and early invasive cancer, properly excised, may sometimes require further management depending on specific histologic findings.

Emphysematous cholecystitis. Review of five cases and report of septic musculoskeletal complications.

A variant of acute cholecystitis is emphysematous cholecystitis. Here in we reviewed useful clinical data of five cases of this entity. Clinical outcomes were uncomplicated for three patients who were treated with open cholecystectomy.

Open surgical biopsy for nonpalpable breast lesions detected on screening mammography.

The aim of this retrospective clinical study was the analysis of histologic findings of nonpalpable breast lesions managed by open surgical biopsy. A series of 630 women underwent 664 preoperative localizations of nonpalpable, mammographically detected breast lesions during the last 10-year period. Indications for biopsy were (1) clustered microcalcifications, (2) solid mass, and (3) radiologic parenchymal distortion.

Breast arterial calcifications as an indicator of systemic vascular disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between mammographically detected arterial calcifications and systemic vascular disease.

Material And Methods: The medical records of 77 women who had either breast arterial calcifications or underwent surgery for carotid stenosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, or femoropopliteal bypass (study groups A and B) were evaluated and compared with 33 women without breast arterial calcifications (group C). Patients in both arms of the study underwent additional vascular tests or mammography.

Missed cancers on mammograms: causes and measures of prevention.

Mammographically missed breast cancers remain a major medical and legal issue. In order to clarify causes and methods of the limitations, we present the experience of our Unit on this field. During the years 1999 and 2000, 319 breast cancer patients were admitted for surgical treatment to our Unit.

Computer-aided preoperative diagnosis of microcalcifications on mammograms.

Purpose: To evaluate of a computer-aided method for differentiating malignant from benign clustered microcalcifications.

Material And Methods: Our material was 350 suspicious microcalcifications on mammograms from 330 female patients who underwent breast biopsy (after hook wire localization and under mammographic guidance). The histologic findings were malignant in 140 cases (40%) and benign in 210 cases (60%).

Eosinophilic granuloma of the femur in an HIV-1-positive patient.

A case of eosinophilic granuloma in the right femur of an HIV-1-infected patient is described, and the possible pathogenetic role of HIV infection in eosinophilic granuloma formation is discussed.

Autoimmune thyroid disease in women with breast carcinoma.

Aims: Estimation of prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disorders in Greek breast cancer patients (prospective study).

Methods: The prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis was estimated in 310 Greek breast cancer patients, in 100 women with benign breast disease and in 190 women without any breast disease, by submitting them to clinical examination, ultrasound thyroid evaluation, serum thyroid antibody determination and fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the thyroid gland.

Results: Autoimmune thyroiditis was found in 136/310 (43.

Long-term effects of small doses of calcitriol in hemodialysis patients with moderate secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Prevention of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPTH) and treatment of the moderate cases by small p.os doses of Vitamin D has not been thoroughly investigated on the long term, while large doses of Vitamin D have been successful in the short term treatment of this entity. We administered calcitriol p.

Acute renal failure in an adult patient with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura after episode of macroscopic hematuria.

A case of severe prolonged acute renal failure with a histological picture of acute tubulointerstitial lesions in an adult patient with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura after an episode of macroscopic hematuria is described. The macroscopic hematuria lasted only for 5 days and the renal biopsy was performed 50 days after the end of the macroscopic hematuria. Restoration of renal function was not complete six months after the beginning of improvement.