Single-session percutaneous alcohol sclerotherapy for the treatment of isolated draining intrahepatic biliary duct in a five-month-old liver transplant recipient.

The present paper describes the first reported successful use of a single session of percutaneous alcohol sclerotherapy for the treatment of an excluded segmental biliary duct in a five-month-old left lateral liver recipient. A concomitant stricture of the hepaticojejunostomy was also successfully treated using standard percutaneous balloon dilatation. The patient has remained in good general condition for the next 26 months.

Dopamine agonists in dihydropteridine reductase deficiency.

The traditional treatment of severe disorders of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) metabolism is based on the replacement therapy with BH4, 5-hydroxytryptophan, and L-dopa. Major problems are encountered with L-dopa therapy, especially with increasing age when higher doses are necessary, because of its short half-life and adverse effects. Consequently, different L-dopa-sparing strategies have been successively introduced, with partial reduction of L-dopa dosage and amelioration of the clinical outcome.

Surgical management of complex liver trauma: a single liver transplant center experience.

Complex liver trauma often presents major diagnostic and management problems. Current operative management is mainly centered on packing, damage control, and early utilization of interventional radiology for angiography and embolization. In this retrospective observational study of patients admitted to the Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies, Palermo, Italy, from 1999 to 2010, we included patients that underwent hepatic resection for complex liver injuries (grade I to V according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-Organ Injury Scale).

Cognitive behavioural therapy and its relevance to nursing.

Over the last 20 years, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has gained considerable momentum in mental healthcare practice. Its extensive evidence base for the treatment of mental health problems is well documented with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2007a; b), which has recommended CBT as a key treatment modality in its best practice guidelines. More recently, the use of CBT has widened to a diverse range of physical healthcare environments, including dentistry, occupational therapy, palliative care and physiotherapy (Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, 2004; Buchanan and Zakrzewska, 2008; Donaghy et al, 2008; Hesslop, 2009), with preliminary research highlighting its use in improving patient outcomes both in terms of reduction in morbidity and improved quality of life.

Desire thinking across the continuum of drinking behaviour.

Objective: Desire thinking is a voluntary cognitive process involving verbal and imaginary elaboration of a desired target. Recent research has highlighted the role of desire thinking in predicting addictive behaviours independent of other psychological constructs including negative affect and craving. The goal of this research project was to explore the role of desire thinking across the continuum of drinking behaviour.

Personality and alcohol metacognitions as predictors of weekly levels of alcohol use in binge drinking university students.

This study investigated the relative contribution of the Big 5 personality factors and alcohol metacognitions in predicting weekly levels of alcohol use in binge drinking university students. No research to date has investigated whether either of these constructs predicts levels of weekly alcohol use in binge drinkers. A sample of university students (n=142) who were classified as binge drinkers were administered the following self-report instruments: NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI; Costa & McCrae, 1992), Positive Alcohol Metacognitions Scale (PAMS; Spada & Wells, 2008), Negative Alcohol Metacognitions Scale (NAMS; Spada & Wells, 2008), and Khavari Alcohol Test (KAT; Khavari & Farber, 1978).

Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 deficiency in Italy: clinical and genetic findings in a heterogeneous cohort.

Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase 1 deficiency (CPS1D) is a rare autosomal recessive urea cycle disorder, potentially leading to lethal hyperammonemia. Based on the age of onset, there are two distinct phenotypes: neonatal and late form. The CPS1 enzyme, located in the mitochondrial matrix of hepatocytes and epithelial cells of intestinal mucosa, is encoded by the CPS1 gene.

Transjugular liver biopsy in pediatric patients with left split liver transplantation and severe coagulation impairment.

The aim of this study is to report our experience in TJLB performed in pediatric patients who underwent partial LT using a left lateral segments graft. Eight consecutive TJLBs were performed in six patients with contraindication to percutaneous biopsy owing to severe coagulation impairment and ascites. All procedures were performed using an 18-gauge automated core needle biopsy.

Efficient human fetal liver cell isolation protocol based on vascular perfusion for liver cell-based therapy and case report on cell transplantation.

Although hepatic cell transplantation (CT) holds the promise of bridging patients with end-stage chronic liver failure to whole liver transplantation, suitable cell populations are under debate. In addition to hepatic cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are being considered as alternative cell sources for initial clinical cell work. Fetal liver (FL) tissue contains potential progenitors for all these cell lineages.

Characterisation of in vivo ovarian cancer models by quantitative 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) offer powerful approaches for detecting physiological and metabolic alterations in malignancies and help investigate underlying molecular mechanisms. Research on epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), the gynaecological malignancy with the highest death rate characterised by frequent relapse and onset of drug resistance, could benefit from application of these molecular imaging approaches. In this study, MRI/MRS were used to characterise solid tumour models obtained by subcutaneous (s.

MDCT, MR and interventional radiology in biliary atresia candidates for liver transplantation.

The multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scan and magnetic resonance (MR) of the abdomen play a key role in the work-up to liver transplantation (LT) by identifying congenital anomalies or cirrhosis-related modifications, conditions that can require changes in surgical technique. Moreover, the MDCT and MR scans allow identification of cirrhotic liver hepatic masses, extrahepatic porto-systemic shunts, eventual thrombosis of portal system and radiological signs of portal hypertension associated with biliary atresia (BA). The aim of this paper is to review MDCT, MR imaging and interventional radiology procedures performed to evaluate morphological changes and degree of portal hypertension in pediatric patients with end-stage liver disease secondary to BA, who are candidates for LT.

A big floating thrombus in the common carotid artery.

The management of the free-floating thrombus (FFT) is difficult, and it is unclear whether surgical or medical treatment is superior. The common carotid artery is rarely involved. An 80-year-old woman presented with right hand weakness and syncope.

Impact of recipients' socio-economic status on patient and graft survival after liver transplantation: the IsMeTT experience.

Aim: We aimed to determine whether education level and socioeconomic status in a cohort of liver transplant recipients in the south of Italy were potential predictors of graft and patient survival.

Methods: This retrospective study included 221 liver transplant recipients at Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione between January 2006 and September 2009. Donor gender and age, cold ischaemic time, extended criteria donors, recipient age, gender, body mass index, primary aetiology, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, co-morbidities, patient health score assessed on the basis of clinical follow-up, highest level of education achieved, and socioeconomic status were collected and analysed.

The Desire Thinking Questionnaire: development and psychometric properties.

Desire thinking is a voluntary cognitive process involving verbal and imaginal elaboration of a desired target. Recent research has highlighted the role of desire thinking in the maintenance of addictive, eating and impulse control disorders. The goal of this research project was to develop the first self-report measure of desire thinking.

Parental overprotection and metacognitions as predictors of worry and anxiety.

Background: Parental overprotection may have a direct effect on worry through hindering children's exploration experiences and preventing the learning of action-oriented coping strategies (Cheron, Ehrenreich and Pincus, 2009; Nolen-Hoeksema, Wolfson, Mumme and Guskin, 1995) and an indirect effect through fostering the development of maladaptive metacognitions that are associated with the activation of worry and the escalation of anxiety (Wells, 2000).

Aim: The aim was to investigate the relative contribution of recalled parental overprotection in childhood and metacognitions in predicting current levels of worry.

Method: A community sample (n = 301) was administered four self-report instruments to assess parental overprotection, metacognitions, anxiety and worry.

Thrombectomy and surgical reconstruction for extensive iliocaval thrombosis in a patient with agenesis of the retrohepatic vena cava and atresia of the left renal vein.

In 80% of the patients presenting with deep-venous thrombosis (DVT), a risk factor can be identified. An absent or hypoplastic infrarenal vena cava is a rare risk factor for DVT in young adults. In these cases, the prevalence of congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is estimated at 0.

Metacognitive factors in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Unlabelled: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which is characterized by fatigue and flu-like symptoms that are not alleviated by rest, is a poorly understood condition and an often controversial diagnosis. Earlier research has indicated that general metacognitions are associated with the severity of symptoms in patients with CFS. In the current study, we aimed to determine whether specific metacognitive factors are implicated in CFS.

Tulip bundle technique and fibrin glue injection: unusual treatment of colonic perforation.

We report a case of a 63-year-old male who experienced an iatrogenic sigmoid perforation repaired combining three endoscopic techniques. The lesion was large and irregular with three discrete perforations, therefore, we decided to close it by placing one clip per perforation, and then connecting all the clips with two endoloops. Finally we chose to use a fibrin glue injection to obtain a complete sealing.

Type I IFNs control antigen retention and survival of CD8α(+) dendritic cells after uptake of tumor apoptotic cells leading to cross-priming.

Cross-presentation is a crucial mechanism for generating CD8 T cell responses against exogenous Ags, such as dead cell-derived Ag, and is mainly fulfilled by CD8α(+) dendritic cells (DC). Apoptotic cell death occurring in steady-state conditions is largely tolerogenic, thus hampering the onset of effector CD8 T cell responses. Type I IFNs (IFN-I) have been shown to promote cross-priming of CD8 T cells against soluble or viral Ags, partly through stimulation of DC.

Early and one-year results of infrainguinal bypass after failure of endovascular therapy.

Aim: The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare early and one-year results of open surgery (OS) for critical limb ischemia (CLI) in patients who underwent primary surgery and in patients operated after a previous failure of endovascular treatment (EV).

Methods: Between January 2004 and December 2007, 460 patients (304 males, 156 females) aged between 46 and 95 (average age 72) underwent OS or EV for CLI. We performed 273 EV (47%) and 307 OS (53%) procedures.

Metacognitions and negative emotions as predictors of symptom severity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Objective: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) describes a condition that is primarily characterized by fatigue and flu-like symptoms that are not alleviated by rest. This study investigated the relationship among metacognitions, negative emotions, and symptom severity in CFS.

Methods: A total of 96 patients who had received a diagnosis of CFS according to the Oxford Criteria completed a battery of self-report measures that consisted of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, the 30-Item Metacognitions Questionnaire, the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ), and the RAND 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey-Physical Functioning.

Impact of metabolic control on bone quality in phenylketonuria and mild hyperphenylalaninemia.

Objectives: A reduction of bone mineral density of unknown etiology has been reported in phenylketonuria (PKU) by radiological techniques, whereas no data on bone density in mild hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) are available. We aimed to assess bone condition in PKU and HPA by quantitative ultrasound (QUS), taking into account patients' clinical and biochemical features.

Patients And Methods: Phalangeal QUS has been used for bone assessment in 78 patients affected by PKU (n = 42) or mild HPA (n = 36).