Rate of non-response to ursodeoxycholic acid in a large real-world cohort of primary biliary cholangitis patients in Italy.

Background and aim: Response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is crucial for the prediction of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) prognosis, and different response criteria were validated and proposed by reference centers for PBC. To date, rates of non-response to UDCA from real-world series are lacking.Methods: Hepatology/Gastroenterology centers belonging to 'Club Epatologi Ospedalieri' (CLEO) and 'Associazione Italiana Gastroenterologi Ospedalieri' (AIGO) were invited to participate in the study, and asked to extract all patients followed for PBC, without any selection or exclusion, and fill in the database provided.Results: Thirty-four centers were enrolled throughout Italy, for a total of 713 patients. None of these centers, except one, had a hepatology outpatient clinic devoted to the care of patients with autoimmune liver diseases. After excluding 79 cases of PBC/autoimmune hepatitis overlaps, 634 patients were analyzed: mean age, 64.4 ± 12.0 years; 91.2% females; F/M 10.3/1. For patients with at least 1 year of UDCA treatment (583), rates of non-response to UDCA were evaluated according to the Paris-I/-II, Toronto and GLOBE criteria, and compared with those in the original cohorts: 27% vs 39% in Paris-I cohort; 39.6% vs 52% in Paris-II; 20.1% vs 43.5% in Toronto; 15.7% vs 30% in GLOBE (age-specific cutoffs). Mean alkaline phosphatase levels on UDCA treatment, and the age-adjusted prevalence of F3/F4 fibrosis, appeared lower in this PBC population than in reference cohorts.Conclusions: A mean ∼15% better response to UDCA is observed in a real-world PBC population, probably due to migration of some of most severe/advanced cases to PBC referral centers.

A bedside ultrasound protocol to the measurement of the systemic vascular resistances: Preliminary results in the patients with sepsis.

BACKGROUND: The use of the ultrasound (US) bedside examination is increasing for the detailed evaluation of the hemodynamic parameters, allowing the physicians to set the appropriate therapeutic strategies with greater precision. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the hemodynamic parameters (the cardiac output or CO, the central venous pressure or CVP and the systemic vascular resistance or SVR) in the patients with sepsis, by using a bedside US approach. METHODS: We consecutively enrolled n.82 patients of S.Andrea Hospital (n.47 with sepsis and n.35 without sepsis), examining the hemodynamic parameters by a bedside US evaluation. RESULTS: The incidence of sepsis was more than 50% of cases. The patients with sepsis presented higher comorbidity and polypharmacy (p < 0.01, p < 0.001), with increased creatinine (p < 0.001) and consequent esteemed glomerular filtration rate (p < 0.01), C-reactive protein (p < 0.01), SOFA (Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment) score (p < 1.58×10-7) and reduced SVR (p < 0.05). The SOFA score was inversely related to the SVR (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: To our best knowledge, this is the first study with a bedside US protocol to measure SVR, beyond the abdominal and cardiac qualitative evaluation.

The Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) by the Handheld Ultrasound Devices (HUDs) in the COVID-19 Scenario: a Review of the Literature.

The use of portable ultrasound (US) devices is increasing, due to its accessibility, versatility, non-invasiveness, and its significant support in the patient management, extending the traditional physical examination through the POCUS (point-of-care ultrasound). The pocket-size or handheld ultrasound devices (HUDs) can easily perform focused exams, not aiming to substitute for the high-end US systems (gold standard), since the HUDs usually have more limited functions. The HUDs are promising tools for the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of the COVID-19 infection and its related disorders. In conclusion, the routine use of HUDs may ameliorate the management of COVID-19 pandemic, according to the guidelines for the POCUS approach and the procedures for the protection of the patients and the professionals.