Cytokines, paraoxonase-1, periostin and non-invasive liver fibrosis scores in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and persistently elevated aminotransferases: A pilot study.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between paraoxonase-1 (PON1), periostin (POSTN), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 serum concentration with non-invasive liver fibrosis scores, in a cohort of patients with NAFLD. We studied a cohort of 52 patients diagnosed with NAFLD.

Inflammation, Tumoral Markers and Interleukin-17, -10, and -6 Profiles in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma and Chronic Pancreatitis.

Background: Interleukin profiles can be used as biochemical markers regarding the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Aims: To assess CRP, CA 19-9, CEA levels, and interleukin-6, -10, and -17 profiles in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, chronic pancreatitis was compared with a control group, and the correlation with pancreatic cancer survival.

Methods: A total of 87 patients were prospective divided in pancreatic cancer (n = 53), chronic pancreatitis (n = 22) ,and control group (n = 12).

Unfinished business: Terminated cancer trials and the relevance of treatment intent, sponsors and intervention types.

The aim of the study was to report on the association of trial sponsors with intervention type, treatment intent, recruitment success and reasons to terminate cancer trials. The ClinicalTrials database was searched for interventional Phase 3 cancer trials (01/2006-05/2017). Noncancer studies and ongoing studies were excluded, permanently suspended studies were counted as terminated.

Effects of Early Placement of Transjugular Portosystemic Shunts in Patients With High-Risk Acute Variceal Bleeding: a Meta-analysis of Individual Patient Data.

Background & Aims: Compared with drugs plus endoscopy, placement of transjugular portosystemic shunt within 72 hours of admission to the hospital (early or preventive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt [TIPS], also called preemptive TIPS) increases the proportion of high-risk patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding who survive for 1 year. However, the benefit of preemptive TIPS is less clear for patients with a Child-Pugh score of B and active bleeding (CP-B+AB). We performed an individual data meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of preemptive TIPS in these patients and identify factors associated with reduced survival of patients receiving preemptive TIPS.

Rebleeding and mortality risk are increased by ACLF but reduced by pre-emptive TIPS.

Background & Aims: The relationship between acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is poorly understood. Specifically, the prevalence and prognosis of ACLF in the context of AVB is unclear, while the role of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the management in patients with ACLF has not been described to date.

Methods: A multicenter, international, observational study was conducted in 2,138 patients from 34 centers between 2011 and 2015.

Plasma and Tissue Specific miRNA Expression Pattern and Functional Analysis Associated to Colorectal Cancer Patients.

An increasing number of studies suggest the implication of microRNAs (miRNAs) in colorectal (CRC) carcinogenesis and disease progression. Nevertheless, the basic mechanism is not yet clear. We determined plasma miRNA expression levels using Agilent microarray technology followed by overlapping with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) tissue data and a qRT-PCR validation step and analysis of the altered miRNA signatures to emphasize new mechanistic insights.

Specialized Management of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy Improves Outcome in Patients with Chronic Renal Insufficiency.

Oral anticoagulation (OAC) is effective at preventing and treating thromboses and thromboembolism in patients with normal renal function. We aimed to research the impact of severe renal failure (RF) on patient outcome and to determine the potential benefit of caring for these patients in a specialized coagulation service (CS). A total of 1516 usual medical care patients and 756 CS-managed patients of the thrombEVAL multicenter (21 centers), prospective, cohort study (NCT01809015) were analyzed in a 3-year follow-up.

Ultrasound as the first imaging method in severe lung disease. Considerations about a case of pulmonary tuberculosis and review of the literature.

Abdominal ultrasound (US) performed as a "primary imaging procedure" is an important diagnostic tool in gastroenterol-ogy. Expanding the routine investigation to the lower thoracic region might sometimes accelerate the diagnosis in inconclusive manifestations such as pulmonary pathology.US is a valuable tool in evaluating patients with breathing difficulties, chest pain, hypoxia, or chest trauma.

Italian Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AME) and Italian AACE Chapter Position Statement for Clinical Practice: Acromegaly - Part 2: Therapeutic Issues.

Any newly diagnosed patient should be referred to a multidisciplinary team experienced in the treatment of pituitary adenomas. The therapeutic management of acromegaly always requires a personalized strategy. Normal age-matched IGF-I values are the treatment goal.

Italian Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AME) and Italian AACE Chapter Position Statement for Clinical Practice: Acromegaly - Part 1: Diagnostic and Clinical Issues.

Acromegaly is a rare disease. Improvements in lifespan in these patients have recently been reported due to transsphenoidal surgery (TSS), advances in medical therapy, and strict criteria for defining disease remission. This document reports the opinions of a group of Italian experts who have gathered together their prolonged clinical experience in the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of acromegaly patients.

Paraoxonase-1 Serum Concentration and Gene Polymorphisms: Relationship with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important cause of chronic liver diseases around the world. Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is an enzyme produced by the liver with an important antioxidant role. The aim of this study was to evaluate PON1 serum concentration and gene polymorphisms in patients with NAFLD.

Upper gastrointestinal involvement in systemic sclerosis: Findings in a real-life setting.

Gastrointestinal tract involvement is the most common visceral affectation in systemic sclerosis (SSc), but the manifestations may vary in extension and severity. Endoscopic and histopathological gastroesophageal findings were investigated in patients with SSc. A total of 79 consecutive patients with definite SSc were enrolled in a cross sectional study.

Geographic Distribution, Phenotype and Epidemiological Tendency in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients in Romania.

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over the past years in Romania has been on the rise, but epidemiologic data are lacking. The aim of this study was to define the characteristics of IBD, the trends and phenotype among IBD patients in Romania. We conducted a prospective study over a period of 12 years, from 2006 to 2017.

Open-Label Phase II Evaluation of Imatinib in Primary Inoperable or Incompletely Resected and Recurrent Glioblastoma.

Purpose: Preclinical studies indicated that imatinib may have single-agent activity in glioblastoma through inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity and also that it might enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy. We therefore sought to investigate clinical efficacy in patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma in combination with radiotherapy.

Methods: We conducted a nonrandomized, 2-arm, open-label phase II trial including patients aged 18 years or older with an ECOG performance status of 0-2 that were either newly diagnosed (arm A) with a measurable tumor (i.

Liver Stiffness Assessed by Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography from General Electric Accurately Predicts Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension in Patients with Advanced Chronic Liver Disease.

Purpose:  Clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) is responsible for most of the complications in patients with cirrhosis. Liver stiffness (LS) measurement by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is currently used to evaluate CSPH. Bi-dimensional shear wave elastography from General Electric (2D-SWE.

Imaging appearance and role of CEUS of high flow priapism. A case report.

High flow priapism caused by perineal trauma is a relatively rare disorder. Early diagnosis represents a mandatory condition for the therapeutic resolution. Ultrasound examination is affordable and a within reach method for diagnosis also in an emergency context.

Are presepsin and resistin better markers for bacterial infection in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis?

Background: Bacterial infections impair prognosis in patients with cirrhosis. Presepsin and, more recently, resistin are promising markers of infection and sepsis in patients without cirrhosis.

Aims: The aim of our study was to assess the performance of presepsin and resistin as early markers of infection compared with C reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT), and their prognostic relevance in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Congenital Extrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts (Abernethy Malformation): An International Observational Study.

Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS) or Abernethy malformation is a rare condition in which splanchnic venous blood bypasses the liver draining directly into systemic circulation through a congenital shunt. Patients may develop hepatic encephalopathy (HE), pulmonary hypertension (PaHT), or liver tumors, among other complications. However, the actual incidence of such complications is unknown, mainly because of the lack of a protocolized approach to these patients.

Abdominal Surgery in Patients With Idiopathic Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

In patients with idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH), data on morbidity and mortality of abdominal surgery are scarce. We retrospectively analyzed the charts of patients with INCPH undergoing abdominal surgery within the Vascular Liver Disease Interest Group network. Forty-four patients with biopsy-proven INCPH were included.

Real-world study: Escalating targeted lipid-lowering treatment with PCSK9-inhibitors and lipoprotein apheresis.

Introduction: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition with monoclonal antibodies has complemented the armamentarium of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) before the final step of commencing chronic lipoprotein apheresis (LA). Data are scarce on patients who, after escalation of LLT with PCSK9 antibodies, have commenced chronic LA or PCSK9 antibody treatment during ongoing long-term LA.

Patients And Methods: In this study, a cohort of 110 patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) due to hypercholesterolemia or concomitant lipoprotein(a)-hyperlipoproteinemia, who received PCSK9 antibodies for the first time during routine care, were consecutively identified.