Effects of empagliflozin on liver fat in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease without diabetes mellitus: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background And Aims: We investigated whether empagliflozin reduces hepatic steatosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease without diabetes mellitus.

Approach And Results: This was an investigator-initiated, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial recruiting adult subjects from the community. Eligible subjects without diabetes mellitus (fasting plasma glucose < 7 mmol/L and HbA1c < 6.

Predicting the level of difficulty of the double-stapling technique in laparoscopic total mesorectal excision.

Background: The transection of rectum and fashioning of anastomosis is a crucial step in laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) and the double-stapling technique (DST) is often employed. This study aimed to evaluate the factors that were associated with difficult DST.

Method: Cases of laparoscopic TME were retrospectively reviewed.

Development and validation of an imaging and clinical scoring system to predict early mortality in spontaneous ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transarterial embolization.

Purpose: To develop and validate a scoring system using a combination of imaging and clinical parameters to predict 30-day mortality in ruptured HCC (rHCC) patients after transarterial embolization (TAE).

Methods: 98 consecutive patients with rHCC who underwent abdominal CT and subsequent TAE between January 2007 and December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The CT scans were reviewed by two radiologists blinded to the patient outcome.

Left ventricular torsional mechanics and myocardial iron load in beta-thalassaemia major: a potential role of titin degradation.

Background: Iron may damage sarcomeric proteins through oxidative stress. We explored the left ventricular (LV) torsional mechanics in patients with beta-thalassaemia major and its relationship to myocardial iron load. Using HL-1 cell and B6D2F1 mouse models, we further determined the impact of iron load on proteolysis of the giant sarcomeric protein titin.

Depiction of celiac ganglia on positron emission tomography and computed tomography in patients with lung cancer.

Objective: To differentiate imaging characteristics of celiac ganglia from metastatic lesion on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) in patients with lung cancer and correlate these findings to postmortem multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT).

Methods: One hundred twenty-nine patients were included. Imaging characteristics and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avidity of the celiac ganglia were recorded.

Total colorectal and terminal ileal duplication presenting as intussusception and intestinal obstruction.

Colonic intussusception and gastrointestinal duplication are diseases that arise in young children. The clinical presentation of adult cases of intussusception and enteric duplication is non-specific and thus poses a diagnostic challenge. A computed tomography (CT) scan is recommended in adult cases as the most sensitive diagnostic tool and the pathognomonic finding of outer intussuscepiens and central intussusceptum is diagnostic.

Dynamic dyssynchrony and impaired contractile reserve of the left ventricle in beta-thalassaemia major: an exercise echocardiographic study.

Background: Performance of the left ventricle during exercise stress in thalassaemia patients is uncertain. We aimed to explore the phenomenon of dynamic dyssynchrony and assess contractile reserve in patients with beta-thalassaemia major and determine their relationships with myocardial iron load.

Methods And Results: Thirty-two thalassaemia patients (16 males), aged 26.

"Venous cut-off sign" as an adjunct to the "whirl sign" in recognizing acute small bowel volvulus via CT scan.

Introduction: A young adult patient was admitted for signs and symptoms of acute abdomen.

Materials And Methods: Urgent CT scan was performed and small bowel volvulus was confirmed. The "whirl sign" diagnostic of small bowel volvulus was present.

Case report: Completely unroofed coronary sinus with a left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium studied by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

A persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC) draining through a dilated coronary sinus into the right atrium is a relatively common congenital cardiovascular anomaly. It is readily identified by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). However, a LSVC draining into the left atrium (LA) and associated with unroofing of the coronary sinus, with resulting interatrial communication, is rare and may have important clinical consequences.