Review article: the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease -- availability and accuracy of non-invasive methods.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a wide spectrum of clinical conditions, actually representing an emerging disease of great clinical interest. Currently, its diagnosis requires liver biopsy, an invasive procedure not free from potential complications. However, several non-invasive diagnostic strategies have been proposed as potential diagnostic alternatives, each with different sensitivities and accuracies. AIM: To review non-invasive diagnostic parameters and tools for NAFLD diagnosis and to formulate a diagnostic and prognostic algorithm for a better classification of patients. METHODS: A literature search was carried out on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus for articles and abstracts in English. The search terms used included 'NAFLD', 'non invasive method and NAFLD', 'transient elastography' and 'liver fibrosis'. The articles cited were selected based on their relevancy to the objective of the review. RESULTS: Ultrasonography still represents the first-line diagnostic tool for simple liver steatosis; its sensitivity could be enhanced by the complex biochemical score SteatoTest. Serum cytokeratin-18 is a promising and accurate non-invasive parameter (AUROCs: 0.83; 0.91) for the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The staging of liver fibrosis still represents the most important prognostic problem: the most accurate estimating methods are FibroMeter, FIB-4, NAFLD fibrosis score (AUROCs: 0.94; 0.86; 0.82) and transient elastography (AUROC: 0.84-1.00). CONCLUSIONS: Different non-invasive parameters are available for the accurate diagnosis and prognostic stratification of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease which, if employed in a sequential algorithm, may lead to a reduced use of invasive methods, i.e. liver biopsy.

Autoimmune liver diseases in a paediatric population with coeliac disease - a 10-year single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Coeliac disease (CD) can be associated with liver disease. Gluten-free diet (GFD) normalizes cryptogenic forms, but most likely not autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). For this condition, immunosuppressants represent the treatment. However, when these are stopped, AIH generally relapses. AIM: To determine in CD children liver test abnormality frequency, the effect of GFD alone, or plus prolonged immunosuppressants on AIH course. METHODS: Coeliac disease patients with abnormal transaminases were selected; if transaminases <5 x UNL (upper normal limits), GFD alone was administered; if >5 x UNL, liver examinations and biopsy were performed. In AIH, immunosuppressants were administered (5 years). Treatment was stopped only if patients remained in remission during the entire maintenance period and normalized liver histology. RESULTS: A total of 140 out of 350 CD children had hypertransaminaemia: 133 cryptogenic disease, 7 AIH. GFD normalized only cryptogenic hepatitis. During treatment, all AIH persistently normalized clinical and biochemical parameters; after withdrawal, six patients maintained a sustained remission (follow-up range: 12-63 months), while one relapsed. CONCLUSIONS: In CD children with AIH, only GFD plus immunosuppressants determines a high remission rate. When clinical remission is reached, a prolonged immunosuppressive regimen induces a high sustained remission rate after treatment withdrawal, indicating that this regimen may prevent early relapse.

[The short-stay observation unit: an experience of the Pediatric Department in Modena]. / Osservazione breve intensiva (OBI) in pediatria: l'esperienza del Policlinico di Modena.

The use of a short-stay observation unit (OBI) in a pediatric department has reduced the number of admissions. Significant cost savings and a better care for children and their families have been also achieved. During the year 2003 in our department 1759 children received OBI. 226 (12.8%) were then admitted. 1553 (87.2%) were discharged after a nine-hour mean stay. Descriptive statistics are used to outline the sample of patients and used treatments.

Detection of antibodies to human herpesvirus 8 in Italian children: evidence for horizontal transmission.

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV), has been shown to be the causative agent for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and to be more prevalent in populations or risk groups at increased risk for KS. HHV-8 infection is rare in children from the US and the UK, but has been reported in African children. In this study we examine HHV-8 infection in children from Italy, a country with an elevated prevalence of HHV-8 in adults and high socio-economic conditions.

Familial clustering of Helicobacter pylori infection: population based study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the rate of intrafamilial transmission of Helicobacter pylori infection in the general population and the role of a family's social background. DESIGN: Population survey. SETTING: Campogalliano, a town in northern Italy with about 5000 residents. PARTICIPANTS: 3289 residents, accounting for 416 families. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of H pylori infection assessed by presence of IgG antibodies to H pylori. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H pylori infection was 58%. Children belonging to families with both parents infected had a significantly higher prevalence of H pylori infection (44%) than children from families with only one (30%) or no parents (21%) infected (P<0.001). Multivariate analyses confirmed that children with both parents positive had double the risk of being infected by H pylori than those from families in which both parents were negative. Family social status was independently related to infection in children, with those from blue collar or farming families showing an increased risk of infection compared with children of white collars workers (odds ratio 2.02, 95% confidence interval 1.16 to 3.49). CONCLUSIONS: H pylori infection clusters within families belonging to the same population. Social status may also be a risk factor. This suggests either a person to person transmission or a common source of exposure for H pylori infection.

[Nutritional status and dietary habits of children in the Province of Modena]. / Stato nutrizionale e abitudini alimentari dei bambini della Provincia di Modena.

Under the auspices of the "Food and health" project, research was undertaken (Nutritional Diagnosis) to evaluate the state of nutrition and health of a sample of the population of the Province of Modena. 155 children of an average age of 10 +/- 2 years were studied. These children, resident in the Local Health Areas 15 (Mirandola), 16 (Modena) and 18 (Pavullo), took part in a questionnaire comprising specific items. A general examination was carried out checking BMI, arterial pressure and pubertal development. Biohumoral examinations were also carried out which, as far as the average haematic lipids were concerned, showed no significant difference between the various Health Areas for CHT, LDL, and TGT, while for HDL there were significant difference (p < 0.01) for Area 16 with respect to Areas 15 and 18. Extremely high values of CHT and LDL were noted in the three areas and low values of HDL, particularly in Area 16. Case histories obtained while completing the questionnaire showed that the children's knowledge of the normality or not of bodily development was fair, since their replies to the question "how is your weight?" had a correlation of r = 0.6 with respective BMI. The prevalence of allergic illness in the three areas is 34.8% with significant differences for some zones and no significant difference for sex. With regard to physical activity, the evidence is disturbing: 31% of the children did not engage in any form of physical recreation whatsoever, which, given the average age of the target group (10 years), is serious. The findings for fatty acids and haematic lipids reflects the findings of an unbalanced diet. It is clear from the findings and observations reported that a study such as this should give rise to primary preventive strategies aimed particularly at young children, to prevent incorrect lifestyles as far as feeding and motor activity are concerned. Bad habits, once established, are difficult to eradicate and lead to obesity and hypercholesterolaemia, sure risk factors for ATS.

[Celiac disease and lymphoma]. / Malattia celiaca e linfoma.

Celiac disease (CD) has been acknowledge as being responsible for numerous secondary pathologies, in particular autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. Whether CD is more prevalent in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) than in the normal population is not known. Accordingly, we carried out a study of 86 patients hospitalized in the Section of Oncology, Haematology and Internal Medicine of the Department of Medical, Oncological and Radiological Sciences of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and who, between 1988 and 1995 had been diagnosed as affected by NHL. On diagnosis, and before the beginning of antitumour therapy, all the patients were tested for antigliadin (AGA IgA and IgG) and antiendomysium (EMA) antibodies together with total class IgA antibody levels. Our findings showed that none of the 86 patients had an IgA deficit, while one tested positive for AGA IgA (43.9% v.n. < 7.5). The same patient also tested positive for EMA. The extremely high sensitivity and specificity of the AGA IgA and EMA led us to conclude that the patient was affected by CD, although his early death precluded confirmation by biopsy. The presence of one celiac patient among 86 NHL patients examined at the onset of the disease would suggest that CD is not infrequent in NHL. The numbers involved in our study are insufficient for statistical purposes, and we are therefore awaiting the results of a SIGEP multi-centre study into the connection between CD and lymphomas.

[Helicobacter pylori. I. Morphology, biochemistry, antigenic profile and correlated diseases]. / Helicobacter pylori. I. Parte: Morfologia, biochimica, profilo antigenico e patologie correlate.

Infection by Helicobacter pylori (HP) occurs all over the world and is related to the socio-economic development of the subject's country of residence and age. Various strains of HP can be identified on the basis of the microbiological characteristics of the bacterium and, in particular, or its antigenic profile, while the virulence factors are responsible for the damage that HP can cause. The virulence factors include components (flagellum and adhesin) and substances produced by bacterium (enzymes and cytotoxins), the most important among which are urease and the cytotoxins, CagA and VacA. It is the association of these virulence factors that is responsible for the different pathologies to which HP-positive subjects are prone. The link between HP and gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancers (adenocarcinoma and lymphoma) is now proven. Whether there is a link between HP and RAP in young children is still a matter for debate; some Authors claim that there is, while others refute it.

[Vaccination against hepatitis A]. / La vaccinazione anti epatite A.

The epidemiology of hepatitis A, a disease endemic in various countries, is in a state of continuous change. Adults are more exposed to infection and considering the frequent absence of immunity, in contrast to children in whom the disease is almost always asymptomatic, the disease is often serious and prolonged with a mortality of up to 2.5%. The mode of transmission of HAV is predominantly the fecal-oral route; the virus is isolated during the prodromic period of the disease from the feces, blood, bile and seminal fluid. The virus can also be found in saliva (OMS '95); in addition it may also be transmitted by the maternal-fetal route. The HAV infects cells in vitro but does not cause a direct cytopathic effect. At the beginning of the acute phase of the disease the production of anti-HAV antibodies is of the IgM type followed later by IgG. Some studies have shown a potential role of cellular immunity in clearance of the virus from the hepatocytes and in the pathogenesis of the infection of HAV. The efficacy of immunoglobulin serum in the prevention of hepatitis A has been demonstrated since 1944. As regards active immunity two types of vaccinations have been prepared. One with live attenuated HAV carried by either bacteria or virus. The other, killed inactivated HAV, HAV capsule, antigenic subunit, synthetic peptides, anti-idiotypes or virosomes. The recent literature describe the vaccine produced by Merck Sharp & Dohme and by Smith Kline Beecham (SKB); both vaccines are made from HAV, grown in vitro, inactivated with formalin and adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide. The protection of the vaccine begins 14 days after administration and lasts from one month to one year. Numerous studies have been conducted which have shown that the vaccine is effective when given in 2 doses and confers protection against HAV for at least one year. The results have shown that the vaccination causes seroconversion in approximately 100% of subjects, and does not cause serious side effects and the acceptance of the vaccination worldwide has been good.

[Autoimmune hepatitis: pediatric aspects]. / Epatite autoimmune. Aspetti pediatrici.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), a liver inflammatory condition, is characterized by hypergammaglobulinemia, hypertransaminasemia, presence of autoantibody and periportal hepatitis revealed by histology. Usually it comes with acute onset and with bad prognosis. We describe recent updated literature for clinical manifestation and pathogenesis, principally referring to adult disease. We described the data obtained from a multicenter investigation (10 Italian center) included in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Italian Society. The investigation collected 42 AIH cases in 18 years, this confirms that the disease is rare for pediatric age. There is a prevalence of females on males but not as important as in adults (F/M:3/1). The average age at diagnosis was 7 + 4 years old. The diagnosis was always made based on observed symptoms excluding 2 cases with silent hypertransaminasemia. The most frequently observed autoantibody was SMA. In two cases, diagnosis was done without finding commonly investigated autoantibody. Prognosis is severe, in one case the hepatic transplantation was successful.

[Continuous intraesophageal pH monitoring in the study of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in children. Influence of age on the considered parameters]. / La pH-metria intraesofagea di lunga durata nello studio del reflusso gastroesofageo (RGE) del bambino. Influenza dell'età sui parametri considerati.

Gastroesophageal reflux is a very common event in children; it is studied using 24-hour intraesophageal pH-monitoring, which has a large sensitivity and specificity, but in the literature is not clear if the age of the children could have influence on the parameters considered in the pH-monitoring. The aim of our study is to assess if the age of our small patients could modify the results of pH-monitoring. During 3-year period from 1991-1993 continuous intraesophageal pH-monitoring of 45 children (29 males and 16 females), divided in three groups on the bases of age, homogeneous for number, sex and clinical symptoms, with pathologic reflux time (> 4% of 24 hours) has been evaluated. In our cases the pathologic total reflux time in 24 hours doesn't seem change with age. It has been noted that under two years of age the pH-monitoring measures are homogeneous with a tendency of reflux longer than children over two years. This older group has more after lunch refluxes; that is the number of total refluxes is larger in older children but the number of refluxes with length higher than five minutes is more in younger. These data are discussed in relation to the anatomical and functional gastroesophageal characteristics of the different age of the child.