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. The diagnosis of AE was made in patients with unequivocal seropositivity; positive histological findings following diagnostic puncture or partial resection of the liver; and/or findings typical for AE at either ultrasonography, CT, magnetic resonance imaging or PET-CT. The CT-morphological findings were grouped into the new classification scheme. RESULTS: Within the classification a lesion was dedicated to one out of five "primary morphologies" as well as to one out of six "patterns of calcification". "primary morphology" and "pattern of calcification" are primarily focussed on separately from each other and combined, whereas the "primary morphology" V is not further characterized by a "pattern of calcification". Based on the five primary morphologies, further descriptive sub-criteria were appended to types I-III. An analysis of the calcification pattern in relation to the primary morphology revealed the exclusive association of the central calcification with type IV primary morphology. Similarly, certain calcification patterns exhibited a clear predominance for other primary morphologies, which underscores the delimitation of the individual primary morphological types from each other. These relationships in terms of calcification patterns extend into the primary morphological sub-criteria, demonstrating the clear subordination of those criteria. CONCLUSION: The proposed CT-morphological classification (EMUC-CT) is intended to facilitate the recognition and interpretation of lesions in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. This could help to interpret different clinical courses better and shall assist in the context of scientific studies to improve the comparability of CT findings.

Prevalence of benign focal liver lesions: ultrasound investigation of 45,319 hospital patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the sonographic prevalence of benign focal liver lesions on the basis of a population of hospital patients. METHODS: The ultrasound results in a population of (n = 45,319) hospital patients over a period of 10 years were examined retrospectively and evaluated for the diagnosis of benign focal liver lesions [hepatic cysts, hepatic hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), hepatic adenoma, and focal fatty sparing]. Results that were incomplete or ambiguous were excluded from this study. RESULTS: At least one of the lesions to be investigated was diagnosed in 15.1% (n = 6839) of the patients of the total population. The most commonly recorded lesion, with a total prevalence of 6.3% (n = 2839), was focal fatty sparing, followed by hepatic cysts with 5.8% (n = 2631). The prevalence of hepatic hemangioma was 3.3% (n = 1640), while that of FNH was 0.2% (n = 81) and that of hepatic adenoma was 0.04% (n = 19). An association between the occurrence of benign focal liver lesions and age was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The calculated prevalence of benign focal liver lesions shows that on the fortuitous discovery of space-occupying lesions of the liver, first consideration should be given to focal fatty sparing, simple hepatic cysts and hemangiomas. The finding of a FNH or an adenoma is rarely a random discovery.

Influence of age, sex, body mass index, alcohol, and smoking on shear wave velocity (p-SWE) of the pancreas.

PURPOSE: A variety of elastographic techniques have been developed to facilitate the non-invasive assessment of tissue properties. The goal of the study was to examine the influence of gender, age, BMI, alcohol consumption, and smoking in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Of the 263 participants who met all the study inclusion criteria, 234 had successful measurements. The examination was performed with the Siemens Acuson S3000 (Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany), using the 6C1 curved array transducer with the virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ) method. RESULTS: The values determined with the curved array in the head of the pancreas were 1.44 ± 0.39 m/s for women and 1.19 ± 0.29 m/s for men; in the body, the results were 1.49 ± 0.37 m/s for women and 1.26 ± 0.30  m/s for men; in the tail, the corresponding values were 1.29 ± 0.36 m/s for women and 1.05 ± 0.30 m/s for men. Comparison of gender showed that men have significantly lower mean values than women. There were significantly higher values in all parts of the organ with the increasing age of the participants (p < 0.0001). For BMI, there was a significant correlation with the values only when considering the BMI in continuous form. Alcohol consumption and smoking did not have any significant effects. CONCLUSIONS: ARFI-VTQ is qualified for use on pancreatic tissue. Further studies are required to examine the influence of other factors in larger populations.

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. RESULTS: No statistically significant correlation with histologically determined fibrosis stage could be identified for any measurements returned using ASQ. Increasing severity of hepatic steatosis, however, was associated with a reduction in the focal disturbance (FD) ratio (r = -0.55; p < 0.0001). The shearwave velocities measured using VTTQ satisfyingly correlated with fibrosis stage (r = 0.56; p > 0.0001). Fibrosis stages > F2 were associated with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.94 (95%-CI:0.84-0.99). A cut-off value for shearwave velocity of 1.66 m/s was determined with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 84 %. VTIQ showed a less pronounced but acceptable correlation with fibrosis stage (r = 0.35; p = 0.0154). For fibrosis stages > F2 analysis showed an AUC of 0.84 (95%-CI:0.70-0.93). The cut-off value was 1.82 m/s with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 58 %. CONCLUSION: While ASQ showed no diagnostic advantage in our patient collective, VTTQ showed high reliability for determining severe liver fibrosis in a group of patients with diffuse liver diseases of different etiology.

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 ± 17.6 years; mean age at time of US examination: 58.7 ± 18.2 years) were retrospectively reviewed with respect to the US morphology of hepatic AE lesions. The sonomorphological findings were grouped according to a five-part classification scheme. RESULTS: Application of the new classification resulted in the following distribution of sonomorphological patterns among the patients examined: hailstorm (54.1%); pseudocystic (13.5%); ossification (13.0%); hemangioma-like (8.1%); and metastasis-like (6.5%). Only 4.9% of lesions could not be assigned to a sonomorphological pattern. CONCLUSION: The sonomorphological classification proposed in the present study facilitates the diagnosis, interpretation and comparison of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in routine practice and in the context of scientific studies.

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 ± 12.8 years) underwent ultrasonographic examination of the liver and completed a standardized questionnaire regarding personal and lifestyle data, in particular relating to coffee consumption and past medical history. In addition, anthropometric data were documented and laboratory examinations performed. Statistical interpretation of the data was performed descriptively and by means of bivariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Data of the present study demonstrated a significant association between hepatic steatosis male gender (p < 0.0001), advanced age (p < 0.0001) and elevated body-mass index (BMI; p < 0.0001). No association between caffeine consumption and fatty liver was identified. An association between caffeine consumption and elevated serum ALT concentrations was not identified. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study provide no evidence for an association between caffeine consumption and either the prevalence of hepatic steatosis or serum ALT concentrations.

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. METHODS: Data from 2,445 subjects (51.7% females) aged 18 to 65 years participating in a population-based cross-sectional study were assessed based on a standardized questionnaire and documentation of physical, biochemical and ultrasonographic findings. After application of exclusion criteria, a total of 1,276 subjects were included in the study collective. The influence of potential factors on the development of hepatic steatosis was assessed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of hepatic steatosis in the study collective was 27.4% (n = 349). The serum thyroxin (TT4) concentration in subjects with hepatic steatosis was reduced (p =0.0004). Adjusting for age, or BMI, there was an increased prevalence of hepatic steatosis in subjects with reduced TT4 concentrations (p = 0.0143; p = < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study confirm an association between both subclinical and clinical hypothyroidism 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. The examiner acquired six measurements per position, thereby giving 24 measurements in total. RESULTS: The 95% confidence intervals of mean were 1.23-1.29 m/s for VTTQ and 1.29-1.37 m/s, 1.17-1.23 m/s, and 1.48-1.57 m/s for VTIQ in a depth of 15 mm and 25 mm in the right hepatic lobe and 15 mm in the left hepatic lobe. Only superficial measurements in the right hepatic lobe with the VTIQ method exhibited an effect of age on shear wave velocity. Measurements acquired using the 6C1 probe with the VTTQ method showed no dependence on BMI. By comparison, BMI influenced measurements taken with the VTIQ method using the 9L4 probe in the superficial and deep areas of the right hepatic lobe, as well as in the left hepatic lobe (P = 0.0160, P = 0.0019, P = 0.0173, respectively). Gender influenced measurements at depths of 50 mm with VTTQ and 25 mm with VTIQ in the right hepatic lobe (P = 0.0001, P = 0.0269). Significant differences were found between measurements with the 6C1 (VTTQ) and 9L4 probes (VTIQ) (P = 0.0067), between superficial and deep measurements (P < 0.0001), and between the right and left lobes of the liver (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Measurements in the right lobe and deep regions are preferable. Gender differences must be considered. BMI must be considered when assessing VTIQ technology.

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. Patients' epidemiologic data, clinical symptoms, and indications for the intervention, the type of intervention and any additional procedures, hepatic laboratory parameters (pre- and post-intervention), medication and surgical treatment (pre- and post-intervention), as well as complications associated with the intervention and patients' subsequent clinical courses were analyzed. In order to compare patients with AE with and without history of intervention, data from an additional 322 patients with AE who had not experienced hepatobiliary complications and had not undergone endoscopic intervention were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: Included in the study were 22 male and 13 female patients whose average age at first diagnosis was 48.1 years and 52.7 years at the time of intervention. The average time elapsed between first diagnosis and onset of hepatobiliary complications was 3.7 years. The most common symptoms were jaundice, abdominal pains, and weight loss. The number of interventions per patient ranged from one to ten. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was most frequently performed in combination with stent placement (82.9%), followed by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (31.4%) and ERCP without stent placement (22.9%). In 14.3% of cases, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was performed. A total of eight patients received a biliary stent. A comparison of biochemical hepatic function parameters at first diagnosis between patients who had or had not undergone intervention revealed that these were significantly elevated in six patients who had undergone intervention. Complications (cholangitis, pancreatitis) occurred in six patients during and in 12 patients following the intervention. The average survival following onset of hepatobiliary complications was 8.8 years. CONCLUSION: Hepatobiliary complications occur in about 10% of patients. A significant increase in hepatic transaminase concentrations facilitates the diagnosis. Interventional methods represent viable management options.

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. RESULTS: A diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis was made in 36.8% of patients. Broken down according to WHO criteria, patients with at least one echinococcus cyst were determined in 12.0% of cases to exhibit cysts consistent with stage 1 disease (CE1), while in 24.0%, cysts consistent with CE2 and CE3 were identified. CE4 and CE5 cysts were identified in 32.0% and 8.0% of patients, respectively. Solitary cysts were found in 60.0% of patients with cystic echinococcosis, while in patients with at least one cystic lesion, there were most often multiple cysts. The indirect hemagglutination test (IHA) and echinococcus-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration showed a higher sensitivity (60.9%, 68.4%) than did the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Echinococcus multilocularis (Em2+) and total IgE (11.1%, 38.9%). The respective specificities of all four serological methods lay between 83.9% and 88.9%. CONCLUSION: Our data show that ultrasound remains the diagnostic method of choice in the work-up of cystic lesions of the liver suspected to be due to Echinococcus granulosus. Serological methods can serve an adjunctive role.

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 11.35 ± 6.28 µg/mL. The following parameters were assessed for their association with adiponectin: body-mass index (BMI); age; sex; arterial blood pressure; nicotine use; alcohol consumption; physical activity; metabolic syndrome; total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol; triglycerides; aspartate aminotransferase (AST); alanine aminotransferase (ALT); γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT); alkaline phosphatase (AP); C-reactive protein (CRP); insulin sensitivity according to the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA); random blood glucose; and the degree of steatosis of the liver. The numerical differences in the variables influencing adiponectin returned in the descriptive analysis were confirmed at bivariate analysis for BMI, ALT, AST, GGT, AP, total and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, CRP, arterial blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, nicotine use and alcohol consumption. The logistic regression of the multivariate analysis showed that male sex, hepatic steatosis, BMI, metabolic syndrome, tobacco smoking and CRP correlate negatively with adiponectin, while age, moderate alcohol consumption and HDL cholesterol exhibit a positive association. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study confirm the findings of previous research. Adiponectin correlates negatively with cardiometabolic risk factors and is an independent indicator for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

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; 50.3% men) were consecutively collected using a PC-based, standardized documentation system from September 1999 to December 2012. The present study evaluates and presents this data. RESULTS: The population studied includes 270 cases of sporadic angiomyolipoma (184 females; 86 males). This represents an overall prevalence of 0.44%, with 0.60% in the female and 0.28% in the male subpopulations. Mean tumor size was 10.8 ± 5.8 mm. Fifty-seven percent of cases involved the right kidney and 43.0% the left kidney. Only 14 of the 270 patients presented with multiple angiomyolipomas, four of which were bilateral. Sixty-one cases were followed over a mean period of 25 months (range: 1-105 months) and showed no significant increase in tumor size during the period of observation. CONCLUSION: The analysis of 61,389 patients revealed a higher prevalence of sporadic angiomyolipoma than previously observed in smaller studies. There was a significantly higher prevalence in females than in males. Multiple and bilateral angiomyolipomas were rare, and tumor growth was marginal.

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 ± 12.8 years) underwent sonographic examination of the liver in the midclavicular line to determine liver span. Subjects underwent physical examination and blood tests and completed a standardized interview questionnaire. RESULTS: The average liver span in the midclavicular line for the overall collective was 15.0 ± 1.5 cm; the average for females was 14.9 ± 1.6 cm and 15.1 ± 1.5 cm for males. Liver span exceeded 16 cm in 24.3% of subjects. Results of the multivariate analysis showed that, of the factors potentially influencing liver span, gender, age, body mass index, body height, fatty liver (p < 0.0001), waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.015), and metabolic syndrome (p = 0.032) are significant. By contrast, diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption, physical activity, and laboratory findings showed no influence. CONCLUSIONS: Sonographic measurement of liver span in the midclavicular line is a simple method for routine clinical use. Gender, age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, body height, hepatic steatosis, and metabolic syndrome are factors associated with liver span.

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). A second objective was to determine the effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease exerted on the above-mentioned lipid levels. METHOD: Subjects participating in a population-based cross-sectional study (2,445 subjects; 51.7% females) were questioned at time of phlebotomy regarding duration of pre-phlebotomy fasting. Total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were determined and correlated with length of fasting. An upper abdominal ultrasonographic examination was performed and body-mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Subjects were divided into three groups based on their reported fasting periods of 1-4 h, 4-8 h and > 8 h. After application of the exclusion criteria, a total of 1,195 subjects (52.4% females) were included in the study collective. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for continuous variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables. The effects of age, BMI, WHR, alcohol consumption, fasting time and hepatic steatosis on the respective lipid variables were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: At multivariate analysis, fasting time was associated with elevated triglycerides (p = 0.0047 for 1-4 h and p = 0.0147 for 4-8 h among females; p < 0.0001 for 1-4 h and p = 0.0002 for 4-8 h among males) and reduced LDL cholesterol levels (p = 0.0003 for 1-4 h and p = 0.0327 for 4-8 h among males). Among males, hepatic steatosis represents an independent factor affecting elevated total cholesterol (p = 0.0278) and triglyceride concentrations (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: Total and HDL cholesterol concentrations are subject to slight variations in relation to the duration of the pre-phlebotomy fasting period. LDL cholesterol and triglycerides exhibit highly significant variability; the greatest impact is seen with the triglycerides. Fasting time represents an independent factor for reduced LDL cholesterol and elevated triglyceride concentrations. There is a close association between elevated lipids and hepatic steatosis.

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. METHODS: A total of 24 patients (male = 13/female = 11, mean age = 52 years (16-85), mean disease duration = 68 months (1-334)) with HAE were examined with ASQ using a Toshiba Aplio 500 unit. ASQ parameters were measured in HAE liver lesions and in adjacent non-tumor parenchyma. Quantitative analysis was performed offline using ASQ quantification software. RESULTS: Subjectively parasitic tumors in HAE appear more prominent in color-coded ASQ imaging, but the size of lesions measured in ASQ mode does not differ from size measurements in B-mode. Median focal disturbance ratio (FD ratio) in lesions was 3 (0.1-3), compared with 0.5 (0.1-1.8) in surrounding liver parenchyma (p < 0.0001). Statistical comparison of other ASQ parameters (mode, average, standard deviation) shows results that are similarly significant with p values between p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0018. CONCLUSION: ASQ is a promising sonographic method for examination and quantification of structural changes of liver parenchyma in HAE lesions.

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. Subjects with positive antibody titers and those with histories positive for celiac disease then underwent biopsy. At the first follow up, antibody titers were again determined in these subjects and subjects were questioned regarding symptoms specific for celiac disease and disorders associated with celiac disease. The second follow up consisted of a telephone interview with subjects positive for celiac disease. RESULTS: Antibody tests consistent with celiac disease were reported in eight subjects, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 1:270 (8/2157). The prevalence among women was 1:224 and 1:518 in men. Classical symptoms were observed in 62.5% of subjects. Atypical celiac disease was present in 25.0%, and transient celiac disease in 12.5%. False-negative test results were returned in three subjects. This yields a sensitivity and specificity of 62.5% and 50.0%, respectively, for tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin-A antibody; of 62.5% and 71.4% respectively, for endomysium antibody; and of 62.5% and 71.4%, respectively, for antigliadin antibody. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate in our collective lies within the middle tertile of comparable studies in Europe. The use of a single antibody test for screening purposes must be called into question.

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 ß-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. METHODS: Upper abdominal ultrasound examinations were performed in 343 subjects (147 females, 196 males; average age 40.0±11.5 years). Proinsulin, the proinsulin-to-insulin ratio and other laboratory parameters were determined, and the BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and other anthropometric data were documented. RESULTS: HEPATIC STEATOSIS WAS OBSERVED IN 80 SUBJECTS (23.3%: 29.6%, males; 15.0%, females). Multivariate analysis showed an association with hepatic steatosis for male gender (P=0.0212), advancing age (P=0.0241), elevated BMI (P<0.0001), elevated WHR (P=0.0024), alanine aminotransferase (P=0.0046), proinsulin (P=0.0403) and proinsulin-to-insulin ratio (P=0.0116). CONCLUSIONS: There is an association between elevated proinsulin concentrations and hepatic steatosis.

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. Risk factors were prospectively assessed and complications were recorded. All punctures were sonographically guided. RESULTS: The 281 patients underwent a total of 351 puncture procedures including 430 punctures and 901 passes. The maximum diameter of the pancreatic mass lesion was documented; the mean diameter was 48.3 ± 29.1 mm. 75.8 % of punctures were performed with a needle diameter of 0.7-0.95 mm, and 23.0 % of punctures were performed as cutting biopsies producing a tissue sample 1.2 or 1.6 mm in diameter. In 77.8 % of punctures, one puncture was performed, and in 21.9 %, two punctures were performed. Three punctures were performed for one patient (0.3 %) only. The incidence of major complications was 0.3 %. None of the assessed risk factors was associated with an elevated incidence of complications. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate the safety of transabdominal percutaneous puncture of the pancreas but do not enable conclusions to be drawn with regard to individual risk factors.

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 (55.5% males; 44.5% females). We recorded actual complications and assessed the following risk factors: needle gauge, puncture technique, examiner experience, coagulation status, puncture target (focal lesion versus parenchyma), lesion size, patient sex and age. RESULTS: he rate of complications stood at 1.2% (n = 27), of which 0.5% (n = 12) were major and 0.7% (n = 15) minor complications. A significant increase in complications involving bleeding was observed with larger-gauge needles compared with smaller-gauge needles and for cutting biopsy punctures compared with aspiration biopsies (Menghini technique). In the bivariate analysis complications were 2.7 times more frequent in procedures performed by experienced examiners compared with those with comparatively less experience. Lower values for Quick's test and higher partial thromboplastin times were associated with a higher rate of bleeding. Neither the puncture target, lesion size or patient sex exerted any measurable influence on the puncture risk. Advanced patient age was associated with a higher rate of complications involving bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Our study helps to establish the importance of potential and less comprehensively studied risk factors and may contribute to further reduction in complications rates in routine clinical practice.

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. PARTICIPANTS: 2187 subjects randomly selected from the registry of inhabitants. Of the selected group, aged 18-65 years, 52.1% were women and 47.9% men. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were asked how many hours per week they spent on physical exercise and sports. They were also asked to rate their own performance and/or PF. RESULTS: Overall, 38.9% of the participants reported no physical exercise. Men reported a higher level of physical exercise than did women. Less exercise was reported by subjects with diabetes, high body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio and by those who were underweight. Alcohol consumption, smoker status and higher educational level showed a positive association with physical exercise. A negative trend with respect to moderate physical exercise was observed for those with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension and hepatic steatosis, but this was statistically significant only for subjects with diabetes. In both men and women, there was a relationship between self-assessed 'good' PF and high physical exercise. CONCLUSIONS: The data show that a large proportion of the study population is not physically active; specific risk groups (overweight subjects, older subjects, smokers or subjects with low educational level) are even less active. The data suggest that there is a great potential for measures promoting physical exercise in these groups.