Screening for liver fibrosis by using FibroScan(®) and FibroTest in patients with diabetes.

Background: Patients with diabetes are at risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease leading to cirrhosis. Existing guidelines do not advocate screening for liver related complications amongst persons with diabetes.

Aim: The aim of this prospective study was to identify patients with severe liver fibrosis amongst patients hospitalized for their diabetes, using non-invasive methods, and to evaluate factors associated with severe fibrosis.

Assessment of liver fibrosis with transient elastography and FibroTest in patients treated with methotrexate for chronic inflammatory diseases: a case-control study.

Background & Aims: Although methotrexate (MTX) is used in the effective treatment of inflammatory disorders, its use is hampered by the risk of liver fibrosis. Non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis, such as transient elastography (FibroScan) and FibroTest could be useful for monitoring MTX-liver toxicity. The aim of this case-control study was to determine factors associated with liver fibrosis in a large cohort of patients requiring MTX.

Non-invasive evaluation of liver fibrosis by transient elastography and biochemical markers in elderly inpatients.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate liver fibrosis using non-invasive methods in elderly patients.

Methods: In a prospective two-day study, all consecutive patients of geriatric units were examined using transient elastography (FibroScan) and biochemical markers (Hepascore, Aspartate Transaminase (AST) to platelet ratio index [APRI], Forns score, FibroTest). Three groups of patients were included: elderly patients without liver disease (group A, 85.

In vitro endothelialized ePTFE prostheses: clinical update 20 years after the first realization.

The replacement of arteries with synthetic vascular prostheses often leads to failure when small-diameter or low-flow locations are concerned, due in part to the thrombogenicity of the graft surface. In order to improve long-term patency of these grafts, the concept of endothelial cell seeding has been suggested, the composite structure resulting from the combination of biologically active cells to prosthetic materials thus creating more biocompatible vascular substitutes. To achieve endothelialization of synthetic grafts, previous efforts aimed at "one-stage" procedure in the 1980's seemed clinically feasible but results of reported clinical trials were controversial and mostly disappointing.