Combining CEUS and ultrasound parameters in thyroid nodule and cancer diagnosis: a TIRADS-based evaluation.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) has been established as a diagnostic tool for assessing microvascularization, essential for understanding angiogenesis in neoplastic development. AIM: This study assesses the effectiveness of CEUS as a supplementary tool to TIRADS in enhancing the ultrasound-based diagnosis of thyroid cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Over one year, 157 nodules in 133 patients, with predominantly solid thyroid nodules, were examined using ultrasound and CEUS and underwent thyroidectomy, allowing for a comparison of ultrasound findings with pathological reports. RESULTS: Thyroid cancer was identified in 31.21% (49/157) of cases. Significant CEUS high-risk features included inhomogeneous enhancement, enhancement defects, and complete hypoenhancement (AUC 0.818, 0.767, 0.864 respectively). Nodules exhibiting any of these features were classified as high-risk in CEUS. The diagnostic performance of TIRADS improved when combined with CEUS, with AUC increasing from 0.707 to 0.840 and improved sensitivity. CONCLUSION: The integration of CEUS with TIRADS significantly enhances the diagnostic accuracy and specificity in identifying thyroid cancer. This combination proves to be a more effective method for risk stratification and diagnosis, highlighting the value of CEUS as an adjunctive tool in thyroid cancer evaluation.

What to screen and how to screen MASLD patients?

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A Prospective Study on the Progression, Recurrence, and Regression of Cervical Lesions: Assessing Various Screening Approaches.

(1) Background: The prediction of cervical lesion evolution is a challenge for clinicians. This prospective study aimed to determine and compare the predictive accuracy of cytology, HPV genotyping, and p16/Ki67 dual staining alone or in combination with personal risk factors in the prediction of progression, regression, or persistence of cervical lesions in human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected patients; (2) Methods: This prospective study included HPV-positive patients with or without cervical lesions who underwent follow-up in a private clinic. We calculated the predictive performance of individual tests (cervical cytology, HPV genotyping, CINtecPlus results, and clinical risk factors) or their combination in the prediction of cervical lesion progression, regression, and persistence; (3) Results: The highest predictive performance for the progression of cervical lesions was achieved by a model comprising a Pap smear suggestive of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), the presence of 16/18 HPV strains, a positive p16/Ki67 dual staining result along with the presence of at least three clinical risk factors, which had a sensitivity (Se) of 74.42%, a specificity of 97.92%, an area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) of 0.961, and an accuracy of 90.65%. The prediction of cervical lesion regression or persistence was modest when using individual or combined tests; (4) Conclusions: Multiple testing or new biomarkers should be used to improve HPV-positive patient surveillance, especially for cervical lesion regression or persistence prediction.

Paraneoplastic Syndromes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Epidemiology, and Survival: A Retrospective Seven Years Study.

Background and Objectives: Liver cancer poses a significant global health threat, ranking among the top three causes of cancer-related deaths. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often present with symptoms associated with neoplasms or unusual clinical features such as paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS), including hypoglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, thrombocytosis, and erythrocytosis. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and survival outcomes associated with PNS in HCC patients and assess each PNS's impact on patient survival. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of PNS clinical features and survival among consecutive HCC patients diagnosed at our department over seven years, comparing them with HCC patients without PNS. The study involved a retrospective data evaluation from 378 patients diagnosed with HCC between January 2016 and October 2023. Results: We obtained a PNS prevalence of 25.7%, with paraneoplastic hypercholesterolemia at 10.9%, hypoglycemia at 6.9%, erythrocytosis at 4.5%, and thrombocytosis at 3.4%. Patients with PNS tended to be younger and predominantly male. Multivariate analysis revealed a strong correlation between PNS and levels of alpha-fetoprotein and tumor size, with diabetes also showing a significant statistical association (p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis based on specific paraneoplastic syndromes demonstrated shorter survival in patients with PNS, albeit without significant statistical differences, except for hypoglycemia (p < 0.0001). Matched analysis indicated a shorter survival rate for patients with PNS, although no significant statistical differences were observed. Conclusions: PNS are frequently observed in HCC cases and are associated with unfavorable prognoses and decreased survival rates due to their correlation with increased tumor burdens. However, they do not independently predict poor survival. The impact of individual PNS on HCC prognosis varies.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Resect-and-Discard and Resect-and-Retrieve Strategies for Diminutive Colonic Polyps.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diminutive polyps present a unique challenge in colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention strategies. This study aims to assess the characteristics and variables of diminutive polyps in a Romanian cohort, intending to develop a combined resect-and-retrieve or resect-and-discard strategy that reduces the need for an optical diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted at two endoscopy centers in Romania from July to December 2021. Adult patients undergoing colonoscopies where polyps were identified and resected were included. Endoscopic procedures employed advanced diagnostic features, including blue-light imaging (BLI) and narrow-band imaging (NBI). Logistic regression analysis was utilized to determine factors impacting the probability of adenomatous polyps with high-grade dysplasia (HGD). RESULTS: A total of 427 patients were included, with a mean age of 59.42 years (±11.19), predominantly male (60.2%). The most common indication for a colonoscopy was lower gastrointestinal symptoms (42.6%), followed by screening (28.8%). Adequate bowel preparation was achieved in 87.8% of cases. The logistic regression analysis revealed significant predictors of HGD in adenomatous polyps: age (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.08, p = 0.01) and polyp size (>5 mm vs. ≤5 mm, OR = 4.4, 95% CI: 1.94-10.06, p < 0.001). Polyps classified as Paris IIa, Ip, and Isp were significantly more likely to harbor HGD compared to the reference group (Is), with odds ratios of 6.05, 3.68, and 2.7, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study elucidates significant associations between the presence of HGD in adenomatous polyps and factors such as age, polyp size, and Paris classification. These findings support the feasibility of a tailored approach in the resect-and-discard and resect-and-retrieve strategies for diminutive polyps, potentially optimizing CRC prevention and intervention practices. Further research is warranted to validate these strategies in broader clinical settings.

Prediction of Intrauterine Growth Restriction and Preeclampsia Using Machine Learning-Based Algorithms: A Prospective Study.

(1) Background: Prenatal care providers face a continuous challenge in screening for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preeclampsia (PE). In this study, we aimed to assess and compare the predictive accuracy of four machine learning algorithms in predicting the occurrence of PE, IUGR, and their associations in a group of singleton pregnancies; (2) Methods: This observational prospective study included 210 singleton pregnancies that underwent first trimester screenings at our institution. We computed the predictive performance of four machine learning-based methods, namely decision tree (DT), naïve Bayes (NB), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF), by incorporating clinical and paraclinical data; (3) Results: The RF algorithm showed superior performance for the prediction of PE (accuracy: 96.3%), IUGR (accuracy: 95.9%), and its subtypes (early onset IUGR, accuracy: 96.2%, and late-onset IUGR, accuracy: 95.2%), as well as their association (accuracy: 95.1%). Both SVM and NB similarly predicted IUGR (accuracy: 95.3%), while SVM outperformed NB (accuracy: 95.8 vs. 94.7%) in predicting PE; (4) Conclusions: The integration of machine learning-based algorithms in the first-trimester screening of PE and IUGR could improve the overall detection rate of these disorders, but this hypothesis should be confirmed in larger cohorts of pregnant patients from various geographical areas.

Comparative Analysis of Microbial Species and Multidrug Resistance Patterns in Acute Cholangitis Patients with Cholecystectomy: A Single-Center Study.

This study aimed to compare microbial species and multidrug resistance patterns in acute cholangitis patients with and without a history of cholecystectomy, highlighting potential differences We hypothesized that post-cholecystectomy patients would exhibit distinct microbial spectra and resistance patterns. Conducted at a western Romanian hospital specializing in gastroenterology and hepatobiliary diseases from 2020 to 2023, this retrospective study included 488 acute cholangitis patients, divided into groups based on their cholecystectomy history. Bile and blood samples were analyzed for microbial identification and antibiotic susceptibility using VITEK®2. Positive biliary cultures were found in 66% of patients. The cholecystectomy group showed a higher prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms, with 74.4% exhibiting resistance compared to 31.5% in the non-cholecystectomy group (p < 0.001). Notable microbial differences included higher occurrences of Escherichia coli (40.2%) and Enterococcus spp. (32.4%) in the cholecystectomy group. Resistance to Piperacillin/Tazobactam and Penems was significantly higher in this group, with odds ratios of 3.25 (p < 0.001) and 2.80 (p = 0.001), respectively, for the development of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial species. The study confirmed our hypothesis, revealing distinct microbial profiles and a higher prevalence of multidrug resistance in acute cholangitis post-cholecystectomy patients. These findings underscore the need for tailored antibiotic strategies in managing acute cholangitis in this patient demographic.

Investigating the Association between Serum and Hematological Biomarkers and Neonatal Sepsis in Newborns with Premature Rupture of Membranes: A Retrospective Study.

(1) Background: Neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) is associated with important mortality and morbidity. The aims of this study were to evaluate the association between serum and hematological biomarkers with early onset neonatal sepsis in a cohort of patients with prolonged rupture of membranes (PROM) and to calculate their diagnostic accuracy. (2) Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 1355 newborns with PROM admitted between January 2017 and March 2020, who were divided into two groups: group A, with PROM ≥ 18 h, and group B, with ROM < 18 h. Both groups were further split into subgroups: proven sepsis, presumed sepsis, and no sepsis. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a Random Effects Generalized Least Squares (GLS) regression were used to evaluate the data. (3) Results: The statistically significant predictors of neonatal sepsis were the high white blood cell count from the first (p = 0.005) and third day (p = 0.028), and high C-reactive protein (CRP) values from the first day (p = 0.004). Procalcitonin (area under the curve-AUC = 0.78) and CRP (AUC = 0.76) measured on the first day had the best predictive performance for early-onset neonatal sepsis. (4) Conclusions: Our results outline the feasibility of using procalcitonin and CRP measured on the first day taken individually in order to increase the detection rate of early-onset neonatal sepsis, in the absence of positive blood culture.

Learning curves in abdominal ultrasound in medical students.

AIMS: Ultrasound (US) is an essential diagnostic and educational tool in medical practice, and its effective implementation into medical curricula is critical. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two disparate educational approaches-an optional semester course and a specifically curated intensive workshop-on the learning curve of medical students in abdominal ultrasonography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Engaging fourth and fifth-year medical students, this study, incorporated both theoretical and practical elements of US, providing participants with hands-on experience and evaluative assessments pre- and post-training. Students were segregated into two groups: one experienced a 14-hour optional semester course and the other a 6-hour intensive workshop, both yielding distinct teaching methodologies yet aspiring for synonymous educational outcomes. RESULTS: Involving a total of 93 participants, findings elucidated that regardless of the educational method employed, post-training identification of US structures exhibited a significant enhancement compared to pre-training. Interestingly, no substantial disparities were discerned between the two educational approaches nor gender-based differences in learning outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation provides pivotal insights into the versatile utility of different educational strategies in abdominal US training for medical students, affirming that varied pedagogical methods can achieve comparable augmentations in student proficiency. Further research is paramount to ascertain the optimal integration of US education into medicalcurricula, considering aspects such as duration, depth, and mode of delivery.

Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with Urosepsis and Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections-A Retrospective Study.

Background and Objectives: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are an important cause of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the main pregnancy outcomes among pregnant patients with complicated and uncomplicated UTIs; Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 183 pregnant patients who were evaluated for uncomplicated UTIs and urosepsis in the Urology Department of 'C.I. Parhon' University Hospital, and who were followed up at a tertiary maternity hospital-'Cuza-voda' from Romania between January 2014 and October 2023. The control group (183 patients) was randomly selected from the patient's cohort who gave birth in the same time frame at the maternity hospital without urinary pathology. Clinical and paraclinical data were examined. Descriptive statistics and a conditional logistic regression model were used to analyze our data. Results: Our results indicated that patients with urosepsis had increased risk of premature rupture of membranes (aOR: 5.59, 95%CI: 2.02-15.40, p < 0.001) and preterm birth (aOR: 2.47, 95%CI: 1.15-5.33, p = 0.02). We could not demonstrate a statistically significant association between intrauterine growth restriction and pre-eclampsia with the studied urological pathologies. Conclusions: Careful UTI screening during pregnancy is needed for preventing maternal-fetal complications.

Comparative Analysis of Antibiotic Resistance in Acute Cholangitis Patients with Stent Placement and Sphincterotomy Interventions.

In response to rising concerns over multidrug resistance patterns in acute cholangitis patients, this retrospective study was conducted at the Emergency County Hospital Timisoara, Romania, encompassing patients treated between August 2020 and August 2023. The study aimed to investigate the influence of prior interventions, specifically sphincterotomy (with or without stent placement), on the current clinical and microbiological profiles of acute cholangitis patients. By differentiating between patients with a history of sphincterotomy and the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-naïve, we assessed the resistance of bacterial strains to antibiotics by the Tokyo Guidelines 2018, using bile cultures from 488 patients. The study identified various multidrug-resistant organisms, with a total multidrug resistance incidence of 19.9%. Significant variations were observed in the distribution of specific microorganisms and resistance patterns across different intervention groups. Patients with previous interventions, particularly those with both sphincterotomy and stent, exhibited elevated white blood cells (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in comparison to their ERCP-naïve counterparts. This group also presented a striking prevalence of two bacteria in their bile cultures at 50.0%, compared to 16.1% in ERCP-naïve individuals. Regarding multidrug resistance, the prior sphincterotomy with stent placement had a prevalence of 50.0%. The presence of ESBL bacteria was also significantly higher in the same group at 28.7%, contrasting with the 8.9% in ERCP-naïve patients. Additionally, the same group had a higher burden of Klebsiella spp. infections, at 37.2%, and Enterococcus spp. at 43.6%. On the antibiotic resistance front, disparities persisted. Piperacillin/Tazobactam resistance was notably more rampant in patients with a previous sphincterotomy and stent, registering at 25.5% against 11.1% in the ERCP-naïve group. This study underscores a substantial discrepancy in multidrug resistance patterns and antibiotic resistance among acute cholangitis patients with previous manipulation of the bile ducts, without expressing significant differences by the type of stent used.

Unraveling the Metabolic Changes in Acute Pancreatitis: A Metabolomics-Based Approach for Etiological Differentiation and Acute Biomarker Discovery.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) remains a challenging medical condition, where a deeper metabolic insight could pave the way for innovative treatments. This research harnessed serum metabolomics to discern potential diagnostic markers for AP and distinguish between its biliary (BAP) and alcohol-induced (AAP) forms. Leveraging high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, the metabolic signatures of 34 AP patients were contrasted against 26 healthy participants, and then between different etiologies of AP. The results identified metabolites primarily from glycerophospholipids, glycerolipids, fatty acyls, sterol lipids, and pteridines and derivative classes, with the Human Metabolome Database aiding in classification. Notably, these metabolites differentiated AP from healthy states with high AUROC values above 0.8. Another set of metabolites revealed differences between BAP and AAP, but these results were not as marked as the former. This lipidomic analysis provides an introduction to the metabolic landscape of acute pancreatitis, revealing changes in multiple lipid classes and metabolites and identifying these metabolites. Future research could add and discover new diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic strategies enhancing the management of acute pancreatitis.

The Prevalence of Liver Fibrosis Stages on More than 23,000 Liver Stiffness Measurements by Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography: A Single Center Study.

Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) was the first non-invasive method used for assessing liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease. Over the years, many studies have evaluated its performance. It is now used globally, and, in some countries, it represents the primary step in evaluating liver fibrosis. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of VCTE and highlight the prevalence of liver fibrosis stages assessed by VCTE in a large cohort of patients at a single study center. We also aimed to observe the trends in liver stiffness (LS) values over the years according to each type of hepatopathy. A retrospective study was conducted over a period of 13 years (2007-2019) and included patients who presented to our clinic for LS measurements (LSMs), either with known liver diseases or with suspected liver pathology who were undergoing fibrosis screening. The database contained a total of 23,420 measurements. Valid LSMs were obtained in 90.91% (21,291/23,420) of the cases, while 2129 (9.09%) of the measurements were either failed or unreliable. In untreated patients with chronic viral hepatitis, LS values tended to increase during the years, while in patients undergoing antiviral therapy LS values significantly decreased. Our comprehensive study, one of the largest of its kind spanning 13 years, emphasizes the reliability and significance of VCTE in real-world clinical settings.

Association between Dietary Habits and Sarcopenia in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity are frequent complications of cirrhosis, and the dietary patterns of patients with these diseases significantly impact the development of both conditions. This study aims to evaluate the adequacy of the dietary intake of patients with liver cirrhosis. A total of 201 patients with liver cirrhosis were included in this analysis. We evaluated the nutritional status of the patients as stated by EWGSOP2 criteria. Subjects were divided into three groups: non-sarcopenic, sarcopenic, and with sarcopenic obesity. We conducted a dietary assessment three times over nonconsecutive 24 h periods within a month. According to EWGSOP2 criteria, combining low handgrip strength with low skeletal muscle index, the prevalence of sarcopenia was 57.2%. Sarcopenic obesity was found in 25.3% of patients. In the sarcopenic group of patients, the energy intake was lower than the current recommendations. Regarding protein intake, the consumption was relatively low in both sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity samples of patients (0.85 g/kg body weight and 0.77 g/kg BW, p < 0.0001). Patients had a median of 2-3 eating episodes daily, and they often missed late-evening snacks. In conclusion, diet quality in cirrhotic patients was relatively poor, and energy and protein intakes were lower than suggested.

Managing Fetal Ovarian Cysts: Clinical Experience with a Rare Disorder.

Background and Objectives: Fetal ovarian cysts (FOCs) are a very rare pathology that can be associated with maternal-fetal and neonatal complications. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of ultrasound characteristics on FOC evolution and therapeutic management. Materials and Methods: We included cases admitted to our perinatal tertiary center between August 2016 and December 2022 with a prenatal or postnatal ultrasound evaluation indicative of FOC. We retrospectively analyzed the pre- and postnatal medical records, sonographic findings, operation protocols, and pathology reports. Results: This study investigated 20 cases of FOCs, of which 17 (85%) were diagnosed prenatally and 3 (15%) postnatally. The mean size of prenatally diagnosed ovarian cysts was 34.64 ± 12.53 mm for simple ovarian cysts and 55.16 ± 21.01 mm for complex ovarian cysts (p = 0.01). The simple FOCs ≤ 4 cm underwent resorption (n = 7, 70%) or size reduction (n = 3, 30%) without complications. Only 1 simple FOC greater than 4 cm reduced its size during follow-up, while 2 cases (66.6%) were complicated with ovarian torsion. Complex ovarian cysts diagnosed prenatally underwent resorption in only 1 case (25%), reduced in size in 1 case (25%), and were complicated with ovarian torsion in 2 cases (50%). Moreover, 2 simple (66.6%) and 1 complex (33.3%) fetal ovarian cysts were postnatally diagnosed. All of these simple ovarian cysts had a maximum diameter of ≤4 cm, and all of them underwent size reduction. The complex ovarian cyst of 4 cm underwent resorption during follow-up. Conclusions: Symptomatic neonatal ovarian cysts, as well as those that grow in size during sonographic follow-up, are in danger of ovarian torsion and should be operated on. Complex cysts and large cysts (with >4 cm diameter) could be followed up unless they become symptomatic or increase in dimensions during serial ultrasounds.

Identification of Microbial Species and Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in Acute Cholangitis Patients with Malignant and Benign Biliary Obstructions: A Comparative Study.

Background and Objectives: Acute cholangitis (AC) is still lethal if not treated promptly and effectively. Biliary drainage, also known as source control, has been acknowledged as the backbone treatment for patients with AC; nonetheless, antimicrobial therapy allows these patients to undergo non-emergent drainage procedures. This retrospective study aims to observe the bacterial species involved in AC and analyze the antimicrobial resistance patterns. Materials and Methods: Data were collected for four years, comparing patients with benign and malignant bile duct obstruction as an etiology for AC. A total of 262 patients were included in the study, with 124 cases of malignant obstruction and 138 cases of benign obstruction. Results: Positive bile culture was obtained in 192 (73.3%) patients with AC, with a higher rate among the benign group compared with malignant etiologies (55.7%.vs 44.3%). There was no significant difference between the Tokyo severity scores in the two study groups, identifying 34.7% cases of malignant obstruction with Tokyo Grade 1 (TG1) and 43.5% cases of TG1 among patients with benign obstruction. Similarly, there were no significant differences between the number of bacteria types identified in bile, most of them being monobacterial infections (19% in the TG1 group, 17% in the TG2 group, and 10% in the TG3 group). The most commonly identified microorganism in blood and bile cultures among both study groups was E. coli (46.7%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (36.0%) and Pseudomonas spp. (8.0%). Regarding antimicrobial resistance, it was observed that significantly more patients with malignant bile duct obstruction had a higher percentage of bacterial resistance for cefepime (33.3% vs. 11.7%, p-value = 0.0003), ceftazidime (36.5% vs. 14.5%, p-value = 0.0006), meropenem (15.4% vs. 3.6%, p-value = 0.0047), and imipenem (20.2% vs. 2.6%, p-value < 0.0001). Conclusions: The positive rate of biliary cultures is higher among patients with benign biliary obstruction, while the malignant etiology correlates with increased resistance to cefepime, ceftazidime, meropenem, and imipenem.

A Statistical Approach to the Diagnosis and Prediction of HCC Using CK19 and Glypican 3 Biomarkers.

Various statistical models predict the probability of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis, with GALAD being one of the most extensively studied scores. Biomarkers like alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), AFP-L3, and des-g-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) are widely used alone or in conjunction with ultrasound to screen for HCC. Our study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and Glypican-3 (GPC3) as standalone biomarkers and in a statistical model to predict the likelihood of HCC. We conducted a monocentric prospective study involving 154 participants with previously diagnosed liver cirrhosis, divided into two groups: 95 patients with confirmed HCC based on clinical, biological, and imaging features and 59 patients without HCC. We measured the levels of AFP, AFP-L3, DCP, GPC3, and CK19 in both groups. We used univariate and multivariate statistical analyses to evaluate the ability of GPC3 and CK19 to predict the presence of HCC and incorporated them into a statistical model-the GALKA score-which was then compared to the GALAD score. AFP performed better than AFP-F3, DCP, GPC3, and CK19 in predicting the presence of HCC in our cohort. Additionally, GPC3 outperformed CK19. We used multivariate analysis to compute the GALKA score to predict the presence of HCC. Using these predictors, the following score was formulated: 0.005*AFP-L3 + 0.00069*AFP + 0.000066*GPC3 + 0.01*CK19 + 0.235*Serum Albumin-0.277. The optimal cutoff was >0.32 (AUROC = 0.98, sensitivity: 96.8%, specificity: 93%, positive predictive value-95.8%, negative predictive value-94.8%). The GALKA score had a similar predictive value to the GALAD score for the presence of HCC. In conclusion, AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP were the best biomarkers for predicting the likelihood of HCC. Our score performed well overall and was comparable to the GALAD score.

Pregnancy Outcomes, Immunophenotyping and Immunohistochemical Findings in a Cohort of Pregnant Patients with COVID-19-A Prospective Study.

(1) Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy could determine important maternal and fetal complications. We aimed to prospectively assess placental immunohistochemical changes, immunophenotyping alterations, and pregnancy outcomes in a cohort of patients with COVID-19; (2) Methods: 52 pregnant patients admitted to a tertiary maternity center between October 2020 and November 2021 were segregated into two equal groups, depending on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Blood samples, fragments of umbilical cord, amniotic membranes, and placental along with clinical data were collected. Descriptive statistics and a conditional logistic regression model were used for data analysis; (3) Results: Adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm labor and neonatal intensive care unit admission did not significantly differ between groups. The immunophenotyping analysis indicated that patients with moderate-severe forms of COVID-19 had a significantly reduced population of T lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells (only numeric), CD4+/CD8+ index, B lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells. Our immunohistochemistry analysis of tissue samples failed to demonstrate positivity for CD19, CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD56 markers; (4) Conclusions: Immunophenotyping analysis could be useful for risk stratification of pregnant patients, while further studies are needed to determine the extent of immunological decidual response in patients with various forms of COVID-19.

Nosocomial Infections Affecting Newborns with Abdominal Wall Defects.

Abdominal wall defects are serious birth defects, with long periods of hospitalization and significant costs to the medical system. Nosocomial infection (NI) may be an additional risk factor that aggravates the evolution of newborns with such malformations. METHODS: in order to analyze the factors that may lead to the occurrence of NI, we performed a retrospective study over a period of thirty-two years (1990-2021), in a tertiary children's hospital; 302 neonates with omphalocele and gastroschisis were eligible for the study. RESULTS: a total of 33.7 % patients were infected with one or more of species of bacteria or fungi. These species were Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp., Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp. or Candida spp., but the rate of NI showed a significant decrease between the 1990-2010 and 2011-2021 period (p = 0.04). The increase in the number of surgeries was associated with the increase in the number of NI both for omphalocele and gastroschisis; in the case of gastroschisis, the age of over 6 h at the time of surgery increased the risk of infection (p = 0.052, marginal statistical significance). Additionally, for gastroschisis, the risk of NI was 4.56 times higher in the presence of anemia (p < 0.01) and 2.17 times higher for the patients developing acute renal failure (p = 0.02), and a hospitalization period longer than 14 days was found to increase the risk of NI 3.46-fold (p < 0.01); more than 4 days of TPN was found to increase the NI risk 2.37-fold (p = 0.015). Using a logistic regression model for patients with omphalocele, we found an increased risk of NI for those in blood group 0 (OR = 3.8, p = 0.02), in patients with a length of hospitalization (LH) of ≥14 days (OR = 6.7, p < 0.01) and in the presence of anemia (OR = 2.5, p = 0.04); all three independent variables in our model contributed 38.7% to the risk of NI. CONCLUSION: although in the past 32 years we have seen transformational improvements in the outcome of abdominal wall defects, there are still many factors that require special attention for corrections.

Assessment of Thyroid Stiffness and Viscosity in Autoimmune Thyroiditis Using Novel Ultrasound-Based Techniques.

The estimation of viscosity by measuring the shear-wave dispersion (SWD) using ultrasound 2D shear-wave elastography (SWE) is becoming more and more popular. Recent research suggests that SWD can be used in addition to 2D-SWE (shear-wave speed) to diagnose diffuse liver disease. Viscosity was studied for the assessment of normal thyroid tissue. This study aims to evaluate the use of viscosity measurements in patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis using the SuperSonic MACH®30 ultrasound machine (Hologic SuperSonic Imagine, Aix-en-Provence, France) which provides the Vi PLUS mode for viscosity and the 2D SWE PLUS mode for shear-wave speed measurements. Valid measurements were obtained in 308 cases, 153 with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT) and 155 with no thyroid pathology (95.95% feasibility of the methods). The differences between the healthy group and the CAT group were statistically significant both for Vi PLUS (2.5 ± 0.4 vs. 2.8 ± 0.5, p < 0.0001) and for 2D-SWE PLUS (13.5 ± 3.3 vs. 23.1 ± 8.3, p < 0.0001). The diagnostic performance was poor for Vi PLUS alone (AUC = 0.69; cut-off > 2.5 Pa·s, se = 68.6%; sp = 64.52%) and good for 2D-SWE PLUS alone (AUC = 0.861; cut-off > 18.4 kPa, se = 69.9%; sp = 92.2%). Vi PLUS correlated with 2D-SWE PLUS, with the presence of CAT, the thyroid volume, levothyroxine replacement therapy and age. Statistically significant differences were found between the CAT subgroup receiving thyroid replacement therapy and the subgroup without therapy: 24.74 ± 8.33 vs. 21.93 ± 8.12 kPa for 2D-SWE (p = 0.0380) and 3 ± 0.5 vs. 2.7 ± 0.4 Pa·s for Vi PLUS (p = 0.0193). Elastography-based methods improve the classic ultrasound evaluation: 2D-SWE PLUS performed somewhat better in distinguishing CAT from normal thyroid tissue, while Vi PLUS made a slightly better assessment regarding the functional status.