Proposal of a computed tomography classification for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.

Aim: To establish a computed tomography (CT)-morphological classification for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis was the aim of the study.

Methods: The CT morphology of hepatic lesions in 228 patients with confirmed alveolar echinococcosis (AE) drawn from the Echinococcus Databank of the University Hospital of Ulm was reviewed retrospectively. For this reason, CT datasets of combined positron emission tomography (PET)-CT examinations were evaluated.

Comparison of Acoustic Structure Quantification (ASQ), shearwave elastography and histology in patients with diffuse hepatopathies.

Background: Objective of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of novel ultrasonographic modalities in comparison with simultaneously performed liver biopsy.

Methods: The results of simultaneously performed examinations using Acoustic Structure Quantification (ASQ), Virtual Touch Imaging and Quantification (VTIQ) and Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (VTTQ) were compared with the findings of liver biopsy in patients with a wide variety of diffuse hepatopathies (n = 51). The histologically determined fibrosis stage according to Desmet and Scheuer was compared with quantitative measurements returned by the ultrasonographic imaging modalities.

Proposal of an ultrasonographic classification for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis: Echinococcosis multilocularis Ulm classification-ultrasound.

Aim: To establish an ultrasonographic classification based on a large sample of patients with confirmed hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE).

Methods: Clinical data and ultrasonography (US) findings of 185 patients (100 males; 85 females; mean age at diagnosis: 51.4 ± 17.

Coffee consumption and NAFLD: a community based study on 1223 subjects.

Background: Objective of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the impact of caffeine consumption on fatty liver and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations in a random population sample.

Methods: All subjects (n = 1452; 789 women, 663 men; average age 42.3 ± 12.

Subclinical and clinical hypothyroidism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a cross-sectional study of a random population sample aged 18 to 65 years.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common disorders of the liver worldwide. Recently, a correlation between thyroid dysfunction and NAFLD has been discussed. Objective of the present study was to investigate the association between thyroid dysfunction and hepatic steatosis.

Parameters affecting different acoustic radiation force impulse applications in the diagnosis of fibrotic liver changes.

Aim: To analyze the virtual touch tissue quantification (VTTQ) and virtual touch imaging quantification (VTIQ) techniques, and identify possible factors that may influence VTTQ and VTIQ measurements.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-six (104 women/82 men) of 323 subjects met the inclusion criteria (age > 18 years, no history of chronic or gastrointestinal disease, body-mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m², a fasting period of at least three hours, no history of hepatotoxic pharmaceuticals, alcohol consumption < 24 g/d in men and < 12 g/d in women, and normal findings upon ultrasound examination of the abdomen). Measurements were taken at depths of 50 mm with VTTQ, 15 mm and 25 mm with VTIQ in the right hepatic lobe, and at 15 mm with only VTIQ in the left hepatic lobe.

Hepatobiliary complications of alveolar echinococcosis: A long-term follow-up study.

Aim: To determine the long-term hepatobiliary complications of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) and treatment options using interventional methods.

Methods: Included in the study were 35 patients with AE enrolled in the Echinococcus Multilocularis Data Bank of the University Hospital of Ulm. Patients underwent endoscopic intervention for treatment of hepatobiliary complications between 1979 and 2012.

Acoustic structure quantification (ASQ): a new tool in sonographic examination of liver lesions in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.

Purpose: Qualitative and quantitative acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) is a new, noninvasive sonographic imaging method based on B-mode. This prospective clinical pilot study aims to answer the question whether delineation and measurement of liver lesions in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) can be improved by ASQ. Furthermore, this is the first pilot study to explore how ASQ parameters in HAE lesions develop.

Diagnostics in cystic echinococcosis: serology versus ultrasonography.

Background/aims: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is the most widespread zoonosis worldwide. The objective of the present study was to compare diagnostic methods in the work-up of suspected cystic echinococcosis of the liver.

Materials And Methods: Data from a total of 68 patients were compiled and analyzed.

Prevalence of sporadic renal angiomyolipoma: a retrospective analysis of 61,389 in- and out-patients.

Purpose: To calculate the prevalence, localization, and growth of sporadic angiomyolipomas and to identify the predominant sex in the largest patient population reviewed to date.

Methods: Abdominal ultrasound analyses of 61,389 patients (49.7% women; 50.

Association of adiponectin with hepatic steatosis: a study of 1,349 subjects in a random population sample.

Background: Objective of the present study was to examine the association between adiponectin and hepatic steatosis, and other biochemical and anthropometric parameters in healthy subjects.

Results: A total of 1349 subjects (age 18-65 years) underwent ultrasound examination of the liver. Mean adiponectin concentration for the study collective was 11.

Assessment of liver size by ultrasonography.

Background: To determine liver span sonographically in a randomly selected population sample and identify factors that affect liver size.

Methods: A total of 1,789 subjects (963 females, 826 males; mean age 41.8 ± 12.

Fasting time and lipid parameters: association with hepatic steatosis--data from a random population sample.

Background: Current guidelines recommend measuring plasma lipids in fasting patients. Recent studies, however, suggest that variation in plasma lipid concentrations secondary to fasting time may be minimal. Objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of fasting time on plasma lipid concentrations (total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides).

Prevalence of celiac disease in Germany: a prospective follow-up study.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of celiac disease in a randomly selected population sample.

Methods: A total of 2157 subjects (1036 males; 1121 females) participating in a population-based cross-sectional study underwent laboratory testing for tissue transglutaminase and antibodies to immunoglobulin A, endomysium and antigliadin. In a second step, all subjects who had been examined serologically were surveyed using a questionnaire that included questions specific to celiac disease.

Sonographically guided puncture of the pancreas: incidence of complications, and risk factors.

Purpose: Data yielded by transabdominal ultrasound-guided puncture techniques are valuable for determining the malignancy of inoperable mass lesions of the pancreas. In this study we analyzed the incidence of complications and the risk factors.

Methods: A total of 430 punctures of the pancreas were performed for 281 patients.

Percutaneous ultrasonographically guided liver punctures: an analysis of 1961 patients over a period of ten years.

Background: Ultrasonographically guided punctures of the liver represent a decisive tool in the diagnosis of many diseases of the liver. Objective of the study was to determine the extent to which the complication rate for ultrasonographically guided punctures of the liver is affected by less comprehensively studied risk factors.

Methods: A total of 2,229 liver biopsies were performed in 1,961 patients (55.

Association of proinsulin and hepatic steatosis in a random, population-based sample.

Objective: Proinsulin may represent a predictive marker for assessing insulin resistance and reduced β-cell function. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between hepatic steatosis, proinsulin and other parameters in a random, population-based sample.

Design: Cross-sectional study, conducted in south-western Germany.

Physical exercise in southern Germany: a cross-sectional study of an urban population.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of physical exercise and self-assessment of physical fitness (PF) and their relationship to health- and behaviour-specific factors in a randomly selected sample of an urban population in southern Germany.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: In the southern German city of Leutkirch.