Efficacy and safety of colesevelam for the treatment of bile acid diarrhoea: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 4 clinical trial.

Background: Bile acid diarrhoea is a common but overlooked cause of chronic watery diarrhoea. Plasma 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4) is an alternative to the gold standard tauroselcholic [Se] acid (SeHCAT) test. Low-certainty evidence supports sequestrant treatment, including colesevelam.

Protective effect of sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto) on kidney function and filtration barrier injury in a porcine model of partial nephrectomy.

Kidney surgery often includes organ ischaemia with a risk of acute kidney injury. The present study tested if treatment with the combined angiotensin II-angiotensin II receptor type 1 and neprilysin blocker Entresto (LCZ696, sacubitril/valsartan) protects filtration barrier and kidney function after ischaemia and partial nephrectomy (PN) in pigs. Single kidney glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by technetium-99m diethylene-triamine-pentaacetate clearance was validated (n = 6).

Comparison of nuclear imaging techniques and volumetric imaging for the prediction of postoperative mortality and liver failure in patients undergoing localized liver-directed treatments: a systematic review.

Background/aims: Although volumetric imaging by computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard for preoperative assessment of the future liver remnant, nuclear imaging studies have shown promising data. This systematic review summarized the results from trials investigating volumetric and nuclear medicine imaging for the prediction of postoperative mortality and liver failure (LF).

Methods: MEDLINE and Web of Science were searched for papers investigating nuclear imaging methods for the prediction of postoperative clinical outcomes in patients undergoing local, liver-directed treatments.

Accuracy of hepatobiliary scintigraphy and added value of SPECT/CT versus planar imaging for diagnosing biliary atresia.

Objective: Hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) is an important tool in diagnosing biliary atresia in infants. There is limited evidence on the use of single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) as an additional imaging method to planar imaging. We evaluated the value of SPECT/CT in unclear cases of planar HBS.

Nuclear imaging methods for the prediction of postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing localized, liver-directed treatments: a systematic review.

Background: Several nuclear imaging methods may predict postoperative liver function and outcome, but none has achieved recommendations in clinical guidelines. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the existing knowledge on this topic.

Methods: MEDLINE and Web of Science were searched for studies investigating nuclear medicine imaging methods for the prediction of postoperative liver function in patients undergoing localized, liver-directed treatments.

Biochemical Diagnosis of Bile Acid Diarrhea: Prospective Comparison With the 75Seleno-Taurohomocholic Acid Test.

Introduction: The diagnosis of bile acid diarrhea is often missed because the availability of the seleno-taurohomocholic acid (SeHCAT) test is limited. We aimed to compare the biomarkers 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4) and fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) with the SeHCAT test.

Methods: Patients with chronic diarrhea without intestinal resection referred for SeHCAT were prospectively recruited for this diagnostic accuracy study.

Sedation practice for paediatric nuclear medicine procedures in Denmark related to EANM guidelines.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine sedation practices for paediatric nuclear medicine examinations.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all nuclear medicine departments in Denmark about sedation practices during 2012.

Results: The response rate was 100% (18 departments).

Effect of recent contrast-enhanced CT and patient age on image quality of thyroid scintigraphy.

Purpose Of The Report: When thyroid scintigraphy (TS) is performed after contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT), tracer uptake of 99mTcO4 in the thyroid gland can be inhibited by free iodide. Currently, it is recommended to postpone TS until 4 to 8 weeks after CE-CT, but few data exist to support this recommendation. The purpose was to investigate the effect of CE-CT and other variables for the diagnostic quality of TS.

Detecting reduced renal function in children: comparison of GFR-models and serum markers.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the ability of renal indicators [serum creatinine (SCr), cystatin C (SCysC)] and glomerular filtration rate (GFR)-models to discriminate normal and reduced renal function. As a single cut-off level will always lead to false classifications, we propose using two cut-off levels, dividing renal function into normal or reduced, with an intermediate "gray zone" of indeterminable results.

Methods: Glomerular filtration rate was measured by plasma clearance of (51)Cr-EDTA (13.

GFR prediction from cystatin C and creatinine in children: effect of including body cell mass.

Background: Aiming to develop a more accurate cystatin C-based model for estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in children, we hypothesized that inclusion of body cell mass (BCM) would increase the accuracy of the GFR estimate in comparison to a well-established GFR reference method.

Study Design: Diagnostic test accuracy study.

Settings & Participants: 119 children (mean age, 8.

Measuring glomerular filtration rate in children; can cystatin C replace established methods? A review.

Our aim was to evaluate published methods that use serum cystatin C (s-CysC) for measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in children and to discuss advantages and limitations of s-CysC and of established GFR methods. A comprehensive literature review of clinical studies in children evaluating s-CysC or CysC-based formulas and plasma creatinine or creatinine-based formulas against an exogenous reference method using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves or Bland-Altman plots is presented. The comparison of s-CysC with plasma creatinine indicated that s-CysC was superior to plasma creatinine in five of 13 studies; four studies showed no difference, and, in four studies, no statistical comparison was made.