0000000000087881
AUTHOR
Cosima Schiavone
Ultrasound Curricula of Student Education in Europe : Summary of the Experience
Abstract Background Despite the increasing role of ultrasound, structured ultrasound teaching is only slowly being integrated into the curricula of medical schools and universities all over Europe. Aim To survey the current situation at European universities regarding the integration of ultrasound in student medical education and to report on models of student ultrasound training from selected European universities. Methods A questionnaire survey focusing on the implementation of curricular ultrasound education was sent out to the 28 presidents of the national ultrasound societies of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB), who were asked to dist…
The Changing Epidemiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma : Experience of a Single Center
Aims. To analyze the main etiological factors and some clinical features of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at diagnosis and to compare them with those we described ten years ago. Materials and Methods. We compared two groups of patients with HCC, Group 1 consisting of 132 patients (82 M, 50 F) diagnosed in the 2003–2008 period and Group 2 including 119 patients (82 M, 37 F) diagnosed in the 2013–2018 period. For all patients, age, sex, viral markers, alcohol consumption, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, and the main liver function parameters were recorded. The diagnosis of HCC was based on AASLD, EASL guidelines. The staging was classified according to the “Barcelona Clin…
Nontumorous portal vein thrombosis in liver cirrhosis: Possible role of β-blockers
<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Nonselective β-blockers (NSBB) are used in liver cirrhosis (LC) to prevent variceal bleeding because they decrease portal pressure. A main risk factor for the development of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in LC is decreased portal vein inflow velocity. The aim of our study was to examine retrospectively the incidence of PVT and its correlation with the use of β-blockers in a cohort of LC patients. <b><i>Subjects and Methods:</i></b> Data from 230 LC patients (90% Child-Pugh class A), who had been followed up for at least 5 years, were reviewed. The diagnosis of PVT was made by ultrasound. The presence of PVT was evaluate…
Ultrasonography in Heart Failure: A Story that Matters
Abstract Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome caused by structural and/or functional cardiac abnormalities, resulting in a reduced cardiac output and/or elevated intracardiac pressures at rest or during stress. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in Internal Medicine departments. This article aims at reviewing evidence of the importance of ultrasound in HF both for hospitalized patients and in the follow-up. Ultrasound may be used as a recovery monitoring instrument at the bedside and also as a global cardiovascular assessment tool for these patients. HF represents an exciting opportunity to create an integrative ultrasound approach in Internal Medicine and/or Geriatric departme…