Integration of Virtual Reality in the Control System of an Innovative Medical Robot for Single-Incision Laparoscopic Surgery.

In recent years, there has been an expansion in the development of simulators that use virtual reality (VR) as a learning tool. In surgery where robots are used, VR serves as a revolutionary technology to help medical doctors train in using these robotic systems and accumulate knowledge without risk. This article presents a study in which VR is used to create a simulator designed for robotically assisted single-uniport surgery. The control of the surgical robotic system is achieved using voice commands for laparoscopic camera positioning and via a user interface developed using the Visual Studio program that connects a wristband equipped with sensors attached to the user's hand for the manipulation of the active instruments. The software consists of the user interface and the VR application via the TCP/IP communication protocol. To study the evolution of the performance of this virtual system, 15 people were involved in the experimental evaluation of the VR simulator built for the robotic surgical system, having to complete a medically relevant task. The experimental data validated the initial solution, which will be further developed.

Interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 in chronic hepatitis C: Correlations with insulin resistance, histological features & sustained virological response.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: One of the multiple factors contributing to virological response in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10). Its level reflects the status of interferon-stimulated genes, which in turn is associated with virological response to antiviral therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of serum IP-10 levels on sustained virological response (SVR) and the association of this parameter with insulin resistance (IR) and liver histology. METHODS: Two hundred and three consecutive biopsy proven CHC patients were included in the study. Serum levels of IP-10 were determined using ELISA method. IR was evaluated by homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR). Histological features were assessed invasively by liver biopsy and noninvasively using FibroTest, ActiTest and SteatoTest. Predictive factors for SVR and their interrelations were assessed. RESULTS: A cut-off value for IP-10 of 392 pg/ml was obtained to discriminate between responders and non-responders. SVR was obtained in 107 patients (52.70%). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for SVR was 0.875 with a sensitivity of 91.6 per cent, specificity 74.7 per cent, positive predictive value 80.3 per cent and negative predictive value 88.7 per cent. Higher values of IP-10 were associated with increasing stages of fibrosis (P<0.01) and higher grades of inflammation (P=0.02, P=0.07) assessed morphologically and noninvasively through FibroTest and ActiTest. Significant steatosis and IR were also associated with increased levels of IP-10 (P=0.01 and P=0.02). In multivariate analysis, IP-10 levels and fibrosis stages were independently associated with SVR. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that the assessment of serum IP-10 level could be a predictive factor for SVR and it was associated with fibrosis, necroinflammatory activity, significant steatosis and IR in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Non-invasive ménage à trois for the prediction of high-risk varices: stepwise algorithm using lok score, liver and spleen stiffness.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Liver stiffness (LS), spleen stiffness (SS) and serum markers have been proposed to non-invasively assess portal hypertension or oesophageal varices (EV) in cirrhotic patients. We aimed to evaluate the performance of a stepwise algorithm that combines Lok score with LS and SS for diagnosing high-risk EV (HREV) and to compare it with other already-validated non-invasive methods. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study including 136 consecutive compensated cirrhotic patients with various aetiologies, divided into training (90) and validation (46) set. Endoscopy was performed within 6 months from inclusion for EV screening. Spleen diameter was assessed by ultrasonography. LS and SS were measured using Fibroscan. Lok score, platelet count/spleen diameter ratio, LSM-spleen diameter to platelet ratio score and oesophageal varices risk score (EVRS) were calculated and their diagnostic accuracy for HREV was assessed. The algorithm classified patients as having/not-having HREV. Its performance was tested and compared in both groups. RESULTS: In the training set, all variables could select patients with HREV with moderate accuracy, the best being LSPS (AUROC = 0.818; 0.93 sensitivity; 0.63 specificity). EVRS, however, was the only independent predictor of HREV (OR = 1.521; P = 0.032). The algorithm correctly classified 69 (76.66%) patients in the training set (P < 0.0001) and 36 (78.26%) in the validation one. In the validation group, the algorithm performed slightly better than LSPS and EVRS, showing 100% sensitivity and negative predicted value. CONCLUSION: The stepwise algorithm combining Lok score, LS and SS could be used to select patients at low risk of having HREV and who may benefit from more distanced endoscopic evaluation.

Multiparametric ultrasound evaluation of liver fibrosis, steatosis, and viscosity in patients with chronic liver disease.

AIMS: This study assessed the effectiveness of three ultrasound-based techniques (2D-SWE.PLUS, Att.PLUS, Vi.PLUS) for non-invasive evaluation of liver fibrosis, steatosis, and inflammation in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients.Materials and methods: Involving 209 consecutive compensated CLD patients, the study compared these ultrasound methods from Aixplorerwith standard Vibration-controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE) and Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) from Fibroscan, alongside non-invasive serological markers. RESULTS: High validity rates were observed in measurements: 99% for VCTE, 89% for 2D-SWE.PLUS/Vi.PLUS, and 96.6% for Att.PLUS. 2D-SWE.PLUS showed a strong correlation with VCTE (R=0.91) and excelled at a lower Stability Index (80%), with optimal cut-offs for moderate and severe fibrosis at 8 kPa and 10 kPa, respectively. 2D-SWE.PLUS was superior to Fib4, eLIFT, APRI, BARD, and NFS in detecting advanced CLD. Att.PLUS moderately correlated with CAP (R=0.47) for steatosis grades, while Viscosity was highly effective in identifying significant fibrosis (AUC=0.87) but less so for inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: 2D-SWE.PLUS demonstrated superior diagnostic precision in liver fibrosis, exceeding other non-invasive markers. Att.PLUS was relatively accurate for liver steatosis, and viscosity more effectively indicated fibrosis stages than inflammation in CLD patients.

Artificial Intelligence-Based Hazard Detection in Robotic-Assisted Single-Incision Oncologic Surgery.

THE PROBLEM: Single-incision surgery is a complex procedure in which any additional information automatically collected from the operating field can be of significance. While the use of robotic devices has greatly improved surgical outcomes, there are still many unresolved issues. One of the major surgical complications, with higher occurrence in cancer patients, is intraoperative hemorrhages, which if detected early, can be more efficiently controlled. AIM: This paper proposes a hazard detection system which incorporates the advantages of both Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) agents, capable of identifying, in real-time, intraoperative bleedings, which are subsequently displayed on a Hololens 2 device. METHODS: The authors explored the different techniques for real-time processing and determined, based on a critical analysis, that YOLOv5 is one of the most promising solutions. An innovative, real-time, bleeding detection system, developed using the YOLOv5 algorithm and the Hololens 2 device, was evaluated on different surgical procedures and tested in multiple configurations to obtain the optimal prediction time and accuracy. RESULTS: The detection system was able to identify the bleeding occurrence in multiple surgical procedures with a high rate of accuracy. Once detected, the area of interest was marked with a bounding box and displayed on the Hololens 2 device. During the tests, the system was able to differentiate between bleeding occurrence and intraoperative irrigation; thus, reducing the risk of false-negative and false-positive results. CONCLUSION: The current level of AI and AR technologies enables the development of real-time hazard detection systems as efficient assistance tools for surgeons, especially in high-risk interventions.

Safety Issues in the Development of an Innovative Medical Parallel Robot Used in Renal Single-Incision Laparoscopic Surgery.

Robotic-assisted single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is becoming an increasingly widespread field worldwide due to the benefits it brings to both the patient and the surgeon. The goal of this study is to develop a secure robotic solution for SILS, focusing specifically on urology, by identifying and addressing various safety concerns from an early design stage. Starting with the medical tasks and protocols, the technical specifications of the robotic system as well as potential; hazards have been identified. By employing competitive engineering design methods such as Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Risk assessment, and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), a safe design solution is proposed. A set of experiments is conducted to validate the proposed concept, and the results strongly support the development of the experimental model. The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) method is applied to validate the mechanical architecture within a set of simulations, demonstrating the compliance of the robotic system with the proposed technical specifications and its capability to safely perform SILS procedures.

Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT), Left Coronary Artery Plaque Morphology, and Valvular Atherosclerosis as Risks Factors for Sudden Cardiac Death from a Forensic Perspective.

Background: In sudden cardiac deaths (SCD), visceral adipose tissue has begun to manifest interest as a standalone cardiovascular risk factor. Studies have shown that epicardial adipose tissue can be seen as a viable marker of coronary atherosclerosis. This study aimed to evaluate, from a forensic perspective, the correlation between body mass index (BMI), heart weight, coronary and valvular atherosclerosis, left ventricular morphology, and the thickness of the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in sudden cardiac deaths, establishing an increased thickness of EAT as a novel risk factor. Methods: This is a retrospective case−control descriptive study that included 80 deaths that were autopsied, 40 sudden cardiac deaths, and 40 control cases who hanged themselves and had unknown pathologies prior to their death. In all the autopsies performed, the thickness of the epicardial adipose tissue was measured in two regions of the left coronary artery, and the left ventricular morphology, macro/microscopically quantified coronary and valvular atherosclerosis, and weight of the heart were evaluated. Results: This study revealed a higher age in the SCD group (58.82 ± 9.67 vs. 53.4 ± 13.00; p = 0.03), as well as a higher incidence in females (p = 0.03). In terms of heart and coronary artery characteristics, there were higher values of BMI (p = 0.0009), heart weight (p < 0.0001), EAT of the left circumflex artery (LCx) (p < 0.0001), and EAT of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) (p < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, a high baseline value of BMI (OR: 4.05; p = 0.004), heart weight (OR: 5.47; p < 0.001), EAT LCx (OR: 23.72; p < 0.001), and EAT LAD (OR: 21.07; p < 0.001) were strong independent predictors of SCD. Moreover, age over 55 years (OR: 2.53; p = 0.045), type Vb plaque (OR: 17.19; p < 0.001), mild valvular atherosclerosis (OR: 4.88; p = 0.002), and moderate left ventricle dilatation (OR: 16.71; p = 0.008) all act as predictors of SCD. Conclusions: The data of this research revealed that higher baseline values of BMI, heart weight, EAT LCx, and EAT LAD highly predict SCD. Furthermore, age above 55 years, type Vb plaque, mild valvular atherosclerosis, and left ventricle dilatation were all risk factors for SCD.

Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Heart Characteristics Are Correlated with BMI and Predict Silent Myocardial Infarction in Sudden Cardiac Death Subjects: An Autopsy Study.

BACKGROUND: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a significant global public health issue and the leading cause of death worldwide. Its etiopathogenesis is complex and multilayered, involving dynamic factors interacting with a preexistent cardiovascular pathology, frequently unknown, and resulting in cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiac arrest; Methods: This study conducted a retrospective descriptive analysis over a one-year period, identifying 321 autopsy cases of sudden deaths from the Institute of Legal Medicine in Mures County, Romania, in 2019. From the 321 sudden death cases, 189 autopsy reports were selected for analysis based on inclusion and exclusion; Results: The autopsies had a mean age of 61.16 years and included 140 males and 49 females. No significant differences were found between the silent myocardial infarction (SMI) and no-SMI groups regarding demographic data. The SMI group exhibited higher thickness of LV (left ventricle), IV (interventricular septum), EAT LCx (epicardial adipose tissue at left circumflex artery), EAT LAD (epicardial adipose tissue at left anterior descending artery), heart weight, and BMI (body mass index). The left coronary artery showed a higher incidence of type V plaques, while the right coronary artery showed higher incidences of type V and type VI plaque. The SMI group also exhibited a higher incidence of moderate and severe valvular atherosclerosis, severe left ventricle dilatation, and a lower incidence of mild left ventricle dilatation. In addition, the SMI group showed a higher presence of contraction band necrosis on histological examination. Multivariate analysis revealed that type V and type VI plaques for the right and left coronary arteries, moderate and severe valvular atherosclerosis, severe left ventricle dilatation, heart weight, EAT LCx, EAT LAD, LV thickness, IV thickness, BMI, and the presence of contraction band necrosis are all independent predictors of SMI; Conclusions: The findings suggest that SCD is a complex condition, and its etiopathogenesis involves dynamic factors interacting with pre-existing cardiovascular pathology. The risk factors of SCD are similar to those of ischemic heart disease. The findings of this study could guide clinicians in identifying patients at risk of SCD and implementing preventive measures.

Floating thrombus of the ascending aorta after treatment of ureteral carcinoma: A case report.

An asymptomatic 59-year-old female patient presented with a large floating mass, presumably a thrombus, in the distal ascending aorta. It developed during chemotherapy following nephrectomy for ureteral carcinoma. Due to embolic risks, surgery was indicated. Epiaortic echography revealed embolic risks upon aortic cross-clamping. Aortotomy was performed during brief circulatory arrest under mild hypothermia, followed by safe aortic cross-clamping under direct vision and aortic thrombectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. Malignancy- and chemotherapy-induced hypercoagulation probably favored thrombus formation. In conclusion, epiaortic echography and short circulatory arrest under tepid hypothermia help to avoid embolic events during ascending aorta thrombectomy.

Risk Assessment-Oriented Design of a Needle Insertion Robotic System for Non-Resectable Liver Tumors.

Medical robotics is a highly challenging and rewarding field of research, especially in the development of minimally invasive solutions for the treatment of the worldwide leading cause of death, cancer. The aim of the paper is to provide a design methodology for the development of a safe and efficient medical robotic system for the minimally invasive, percutaneous, targeted treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, which can be extended with minimal modification for other types of abdominal cancers. Using as input a set of general medical requirements to comply with currently applicable standards, and a set of identified hazards and failure modes, specific methods, such as the Analytical Hierarchy Prioritization, Risk Analysis and fuzzy logic Failure Modes and Effect Analysis have been used within a stepwise approach to help in the development of a medical device targeting the insertion of multiple needles in brachytherapy procedures. The developed medical device, which is visually guided using CT scanning, has been tested for validation in a medical environment using a human-size ballistic gel liver, with promising results. These prove that the robotic system can be used for the proposed medical task, while the modular approach increases the chances of acceptance.

Integration of Real-Time Image Fusion in the Robotic-Assisted Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with its mortality rate correlated with the tumor staging; i.e., early detection and treatment are important factors for the survival rate of patients. This paper presents the development of a novel visualization and detection system for HCC, which is a composing module of a robotic system for the targeted treatment of HCC. The system has two modules, one for the tumor visualization that uses image fusion (IF) between computerized tomography (CT) obtained preoperatively and real-time ultrasound (US), and the second module for HCC automatic detection from CT images. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) are used for the tumor segmentation which were trained using 152 contrast-enhanced CT images. Probabilistic maps are shown as well as 3D representation of HCC within the liver tissue. The development of the visualization and detection system represents a milestone in testing the feasibility of a novel robotic system in the targeted treatment of HCC. Further optimizations are planned for the tumor visualization and detection system with the aim of introducing more relevant functions and increase its accuracy.

Fatal Hypocalcaemia Due to Hungry Bone Syndrome with Secondary Refractory HyperParathyroidism After Parathyroidectomy: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Hungry bone syndrome (HBS) refers to the rapid, profound, and prolonged hypocalcaemia associated with hypophosphatemia and hypomagnesaemia, and is exacerbated by suppressed parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, which follows parathyroidectomy in patients with severe primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and preoperative high bone turnover. [1]. CASE REPORT: This report concerns a dialysed patient who underwent surgical treatment for secondary refractory hyperparathyroidism. Haemodialysis was carried out pre-operatively, and subsequently, a total parathyroidectomy with auto-transplantation of parathyroid tissue in the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) was performed. Rapid and progressive hypocalcaemia symptoms developed during the second day postoperatively. Acute cardiac symptoms with tachyarrhythmia, haemodynamic instability and finally asystole occurred, which required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The ionic calcium level was 2.2 mg/dL being consistent with a diagnosis of HBS. A second cardiac arrest unresponsive to CPR followed an initial period of normal sinus rhythm. Death ensued shortly after. Before death, the ionic calcium was 3.1 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: HBS, after parathyroidectomy in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), may be severe, prolonged and sometimes fatal. Generally, HBS symptomatology is that of a mild hypocalcaemia. It can, however, include heart rhythm disturbances with haemodynamic alterations requiring intensive care measurements and even cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A close clinical and laboratory post-parathyroidectomy monitoring of dialysed patients is of the utmost importance.

What's in Metabolomics for Alcoholic Liver Disease?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Current management of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), especially for alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is still driven by liver biopsy. Therefore, the identification of novel and accurate noninvasive biomarkers for the diagnosis and assessment of severity is important. Metabolomics, because it unravels changes closest to the phenotype, may represent the key for novel biomarkers. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize potential metabolomic biomarkers for diagnosis, staging and severity assessment of ALD. METHODS: 30 consecutive ALD patients and 10 healthy controls were included in this proof-of-concept cross-sectional study. Baseline assessment consisted in evaluation of Maddrey's Discriminant Function, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and ABIC scores as well as ASH-Test (Fibromax) as a surrogate for the confirmatory diagnosis of AH in suggestive clinical and biologic settings. Additionally, SOP metabolomics and lipidomics were performed from serum samples by liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry analysis. RESULTS: From the 127 and 135 serum/urine candidate metabolites initially identified, only 11/5 metabolites were characteristic for ALD patients. None of them correlated with alcohol intake, and only 5/1 metabolites could differentiate cirrhotic from non-cirrhotic patients. Of those, N-Lauroglycine (NLG) was the best for identifying cirrhosis (100% sensitivity and 90% negative predictive value, NPV) and decatrienoic acid (DTEA) was the best for assessing disease severity (evaluated by ABIC score) with 100% sensitivity and 100% NPV. CONCLUSION: Due to their high NPV, NLG and DTEA could be used in conjunction in ALD patients to exclude cirrhosis or a severe disease. If further validated, they could become biomarkers for better management and risk assessment in ALD.

Prostate ultrasound: back in business!

The use of grey scale prostate ultrasound decreased after the implementation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis and evaluation of prostate cancer. The new developments, such as multiparametric ultrasound and MRI-ultrasound fusion technology, renewed the interest for this imaging method in the assessment of prostate cancer. The purpose of this paper was to review the current role of prostate ultrasound in the setting of these new applications. A thorough reevaluation of the selection criteria of the patients is required to assess which patients would benefit from multiparametric ultrasound, who wouldbenefit from multiparametric MRI or the combination of both to assist prostate biopsy in order to ensure the balance between overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of prostate cancer.

Impaired health-related quality of life in Romanian patients with chronic viral hepatitis before antiviral therapy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic hepatitis is a disabling condition leading to impairment of a patient's quality of life. We investigated the impact of chronic viral hepatitis on health-related quality of life. The relationship between transaminase level and score in the quality-of-life questionnaire was also investigated. METHODS: We studied 66 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (27 with hepatitis B, 38 with hepatitis C, 1 with hepatitis B+C; 32 men, 34 women) naive to any previous antiviral therapy. All had high levels of transaminases. Patients with chronic disease or those using drugs to modify their quality of life were discarded. The control group consisted of 36 healthy volunteers (17 men, 19 women). Both groups completed the Short Form 36 health survey, with the exception of the items concerning bodily pain. RESULTS: Significant differences between the two groups for every domain of quality of life (physical functioning, role physical, mental health, role emotional, social functioning, vitality and general health) were recorded. We found no significant correlation between the level of transaminases and any item of the health-related quality-of-life questionnaire. In hepatitis B patients, several quality-of-life scores (general health, social functioning, mental health) were better than in hepatitis C patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic viral hepatitis not receiving antiviral therapy have an impaired quality of life as estimated by the Short Form 36 health survey.

What is the real prevalence of the D virus infection in chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis in Romania?

Virus D hepatitis continues to represent a public health problem in the south-eastern European countries, but the spread of the D virus infection in Romania is not completely elucidated. The paper proposes to assess the prevalence of the hepatitis D virus infection in patients with HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis in Romania. A number of 219 patients with chronic hepatitis and 168 with liver cirrhosis, all testing positive for HBsAg were studied. Viral markers were determined by immunoenzymatic methods. In HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis the prevalence of the D virus was 37.9 % and in liver cirrhosis 51.19%. The great majority of the cases infected with hepatitis B virus were HBeAg-negative. These findings situate Romania among countries with a high prevalence of the hepatitis D virus infection, but which is decreasing as compared to the data communicated by previous reports.

Serum levels of soluble intercellular-1 and vascular cell-1 adhesion molecules in chronic hepatitis C and the influence of interferon-alpha + ribavirin therapy.

In chronic hepatitis C (CHC) intercellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) are expressed de novo on hepatocytes infected by hepatitis C virus and on endothelial cells from sinusoidal vessels, respectively. The soluble forms of these (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) reflect their level of expression in tissue. Serum levels of sICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were measured using ELISA assays in 20 patients with CHC, at baseline and after 6 months of treatment with interferon-a + ribavirin. Significantly higher mean values of both adhesions, comparing to healthy controls, were observed. In all patients the lowest value of sICAM-1 was above highest level of controls. At the beginning of the study the responders and nonresponders to treatment (at 1 year) did not differ from each others concerning sICAM-1/sVCAM-1 concentrations. A significant reduction of sICAM-1 levels was apparent after 6 months of therapy, especially in the group of responders. Just a normalization of sICAM-1 values in all but one of responders, comparing to only 5 of 9 nonresponders has been achieved. By contrast, the mean level of sVCAM-1 did not change significantly with therapy. In conclusion, the normalization of serum sICAM-1 at 6 months of treatment may be useful prognostic parameter of response to the end of the administration period (1 year).

Correlation of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 level with biochemical, histological and viral findings in chronic hepatitis C after interferon-alpha + ribavirin therapy.

UNLABELLED: Intercellular cell adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecules-1 (VCAM-1) are expressed in a high quantity on hepatocytes and at the level of endothelium cells from sinusoidal vessels in the liver tissue of patients with chronic hepatitis C. The soluble forms of these molecules sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 can be determined in the serum of patients through the immunoenzymatic technique (ELISA). THE AIM: of the study was to analyse the base level of these molecules and the changes induced through the combined treatment of interferon-alpha (IFN- alpha) and ribavirin (Rib). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients suffering from viral chronic hepatitis C were studied: 10 patients responded completely to antiviral treatment and 10 patients showed no response at the end of the treatment. At the end of the therapy patients were placed under biochemical observation for a further six months. The serum concentration of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 was measured using ELISA assay at the beginning and the end of the combined treatment: six months IFN 3MU (three times a week) associated with Rib. RESULTS: Statistically, a significant correlation was observed between the values of sICAM-1 pretreatment and the level of viremia, gamma glutamiltrans-peptidase (GGT), but without correlation to the alanin amino transferase (ALT) level. The value of sICAM-1 was significantly higher in patients who had fibrosis score F: 3-4. After the treatment, the serum concentration of sICAM-1 dropped significantly in patients with sustained biochemical response in comparison to patients who had an unsustained response or had no response whatsoever. A significant correlation between the sVCAM-1 pre-treatment value and the level of viremia, GGT, ALT was not established. CONCLUSIONS: The level of sICAM-1 could be a useful parameter in the observation of the disease evolution of patients with viral chronic hepatitis C treated with IFN-alpha and Rib.

The metabolic syndrome is not correlated with the short-term risk of decompensation in patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obesity proved to favor clinical decompensation in patients with cirrhosis. Our aim was to investigate if metabolic syndrome (MS) in cirrhotic patients represents a risk factor for decompensation. METHODS: 704 cirrhotics, included in a MS prevalence study were considered for evaluation; 121 patients were excluded because they did not complete the follow-up and 303 because they were decompensated at the start of the study. The remaining 280 were followed-up for a median period of 28.1+/-18 months. Patients were censored at the end of follow-up or at occurrence of a liver related event (LRE). Liver related events were considered the following: decompensation (ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatorenal syndrome, jaundice, encephalopathy), hepatocellular carcinoma, portal vein thrombosis and infections. RESULTS: All MS criteria except the abdominal circumference were significantly different between decompensated and compensated patients. HDL-cholesterol levels were lower in decompensated patients. Among the 280 patients who completed the follow-up, 85 (30%) presented LREs. Ascites was the most frequent event. In the univariate analysis of the MS criteria we found a trend to significance of an inverse correlation between MS and LREs. There was no significant difference between patients with or without MS regarding survival free of LREs, 76.7% and 66.5%, respectively. None of the MS criteria reached the level of significance in discriminating patients with and without LREs. CONCLUSIONS: In short term, presence of MS was not a risk factor for LREs. In short term, liver function and lower nutritional status influenced the prognosis. In decompensated patients, the MS defining criteria are not applicable.