Impairment of GH/IGF-1 Axis in the Liver of Patients with HCV-Related Chronic Hepatitis.

Resistance to the action of growth hormone (GH) frequently complicates liver cirrhosis, while, physiologically, the activation of GH receptor (GHR) determines phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-5 and the consequent induction of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) expression. The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-3 negatively regulates this intracellular cascade. We aimed to evaluate the hepatic expression of the GH/IGF-1 axis components in the liver of patients with HCV-related chronic hepatitis at different fibrosis stages.

[Surgical treatment of solitary thyroid nodule].

In this report we examine the surgery of solitary thyroid nodules, outlining the operations performed and the diagnostic-instrumental procedures aimed at identifying the degree of malignancy of the lesion. If intraoperative cytological and histological examination of a nodule show that it is benign, we perform lobectomy. In a total of 400 cases, we performed 52 (13%) nodule resections, 276 (69%) hemithyroidectomies, and 72 (18%) extended resections comprising the isthmus and Laluette pyramid.