Assessment of biopsy-proven liver fibrosis by two-dimensional shear wave elastography: An individual patient data-based meta-analysis.

Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) has proven to be efficient for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in small to moderate-sized clinical trials. We aimed at running a larger-scale meta-analysis of individual data. Centers which have worked with Aixplorer ultrasound equipment were contacted to share their data. Retrospective statistical analysis used direct and paired receiver operating characteristic and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analyses, accounting for random effects. Data on both 2D-SWE and liver biopsy were available for 1,134 patients from 13 sites, as well as on successful transient elastography in 665 patients. Most patients had chronic hepatitis C (n = 379), hepatitis B (n = 400), or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (n = 156). AUROCs of 2D-SWE in patients with hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were 86.3%, 90.6%, and 85.5% for diagnosing significant fibrosis and 92.9%, 95.5%, and 91.7% for diagnosing cirrhosis, respectively. The AUROC of 2D-SWE was 0.022-0.084 (95% confidence interval) larger than the AUROC of transient elastography for diagnosing significant fibrosis (P = 0.001) and 0.003-0.034 for diagnosing cirrhosis (P = 0.022) in all patients. This difference was strongest in hepatitis B patients. CONCLUSION: 2D-SWE has good to excellent performance for the noninvasive staging of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B; further prospective studies are needed for head-to-head comparison between 2D-SWE and other imaging modalities to establish disease-specific appropriate cutoff points for assessment of fibrosis stage. (Hepatology 2018;67:260-272).

Does Intermittent Pringle Maneuver Increase Postoperative Complications After Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma? A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: In a previous study, we have shown that intermittent Pringle maneuver (IPM) might increase postoperative complications after hepatectomy for various indications. Complications which thought to be related to IPM were ascites, pleural effusion, wound infection and intra-abdominal collection. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that applying IPM during hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) could increase postoperative complications. METHODS: Between January 2013 and October 2016, eligible patients who received elective open hepatectomy for HCC were randomized to have IPM or no Pringle maneuver (NPM). Occurrence of various types of postoperative complications was specifically looked for. A routine postoperative day 5 abdominal ultrasound examination and chest X-ray were done to detect and grade any radiological ascites, pleural effusion and intra-abdominal collection. RESULTS: Fifty IPM and 50 NPM patients with histological proven HCC were recruited for final analysis. Demographics and operative parameters were comparable between the two groups. The postoperative complication rates were similar (IPM 36.0 vs. NPM 28.0%, P = 0.391). However, in the IPM group, more patients developed radiological posthepatectomy ascites (42.0 vs. 22.0%, P = 0.032) and pleural effusion (66.0 vs. 38.0%, P = 0.005). In patients with histologically proven cirrhosis, there were 28 IPM and 25 NPM patients. Again, there was no difference in postoperative complication rate but more radiological posthepatectomy ascites and pleural effusion in the IPM group. CONCLUSION: This trial was not able to detect a difference in postoperative complications whether IPM was applied or not, but use of IPM was associated with more subclinical ascites and pleural effusion. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01759901). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01759901.

Safety and efficacy of sonographically guided high-intensity focused ultrasound for symptomatic uterine fibroids: preliminary study of a modified protocol.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of sonographically guided high-intensity focused ultrasound for treating patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids using a modified protocol. METHODS: This work was part of an ongoing prospective phase 1 study. Twenty patients with 22 symptomatic fibroids were treated with sonographically guided high-intensity focused ultrasound under no anesthesia. The modified protocol consisted of repeated and shortened (<25 minutes) treatment sessions of high-input acoustic intensity (1000-1500 W/cm(2)) and intensified sonication pulses (1500-2000) at each spot. The primary end points were periprocedural complications. The secondary end points were symptomatic improvement and radiologic evidence of treatment responses, including the degree of fibroid infarction and volume shrinkage 3 months after treatment. Symptomatic improvement was assessed by a pain score, a pictorial chart menstrual score, the Urogenital Distress Inventory short form, and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire short form. The degree of fibroid infarction was assessed by the nonperfused ratio on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, defined as the ratio of the nonperfused fibroid volume to the total fibroid volume. RESULTS: Nineteen patients tolerated the treatment well, with no major adverse events. One patient who received treatment for a fibroid located within 6 cm from the skin had third-degree skin burns at 2 sites of 1 cm in diameter. Fibroid-related abdominal pain, pictorial chart, Urogenital Distress Inventory, and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire scores were significantly improved (P < .05). The median nonperfused ratio at 3 months was 20% (95% confidence interval, 5%-32.5%). Median volume shrinkage at 3 months was 17.2% (95% confidence interval, 4.3%-26.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Sonographically guided high-intensity focused ultrasound using a modified protocol may be safe and effective for symptomatic uterine fibroids in selected patients to avoid skin burns.

Effects of vitamins C and E on oxidative stress markers and endothelial function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a double blind, placebo controlled pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience excess morbidity and mortality due to coronary artery disease (CAD) that cannot be fully explained by the classical CAD risk factors. Among emerging CAD risk factors, oxidative stress is currently being emphasized. We evaluated the effects of longterm antioxidant vitamins on markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense and endothelial function in 39 patients with SLE. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive either placebo or vitamins (500 mg vitamin C and 800 IU vitamin E daily) for 12 weeks. Markers of oxidative stress included malondialdehyde (MDA) and allantoin. Antioxidants measured included erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, plasma total antioxidant power (as FRAP value), and ascorbic acid and vitamin E concentrations. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and plasma concentration of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1). Primary outcome of the study included the change in lipid peroxidation as revealed by MDA levels. Secondary outcomes included changes in allantoin and antioxidant levels and change in endothelial function. RESULTS: After treatment, plasma ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) increased only in the vitamin-treated group, associated with a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in plasma MDA. Other oxidative stress markers and antioxidant levels remained unchanged in both groups. FMD and vWF and PAI-1 levels remained unchanged in both groups. CONCLUSION: Combined administration of vitamins C and E was associated with decreased lipid peroxidation, but did not affect endothelial function in patients with SLE after 3 months of therapy.