Search results for "Biliary"

HUMAN LEUKOCYTE ANTIGEN POLYMORPHISMS IN ITALIAN PRIMARY BILIARY CIRRHOSIS: A MULTICENTER STUDY OF 664 PATIENTS AND 1992 HEALTHY CONTROLS

2008

Genetic factors are critical in determining susceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), but there has not been a clear association with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes. We performed a multicenter case-control study and analyzed HLA class II DRB1 associations using a large cohort of 664 well-defined cases of PBC and 1992 controls of Italian ancestry. Importantly, healthy controls were rigorously matched not only by age and sex, but also for the geographical origin of the proband four grandparents (Northern, Central, and Southern Italy). After correction for multiple testing, DRB1*08 [odds ratio (OR), 3.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.4-4.5] and DRB1*02 (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0.8-1.2) …

Primary biliary cholangitis: perception and expectation of illness

2022

Unlabelled: An important tool to explore personal experience of symptoms, treatment and clinical outcome is stratification of illness perception in patients affected by PBC. Aim: To assess the perception of illness in a cohort of Italian patients with PBC. Methods: Between June and December 2019, a specific questionnaire was administered to a pool of 210 patients from 7 tertiary Italian centers, in order to identify and assess the patient's past history, symptoms and their impact on the quality of life, follow-up, treatment and perceived satisfaction of patients toward the provided care. Results: Fatigue, pruritus, and abdominal discomfort and sicca syndrome were present in 50.4%, 45%, 30.4…

ESGAR consensus statement on liver MR imaging and clinical use of liver-specific contrast agents

2016

Objectives: To develop a consensus and provide updated recommendations on liver MR imaging and the clinical use of liver-specific contrast agents. Methods: The European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) formed a multinational European panel of experts, selected on the basis of a literature review and their leadership in the field of liver MR imaging. A modified Delphi process was adopted to draft a list of statements. Descriptive and Cronbach’s statistics were used to rate levels of agreement and internal reliability of the consensus. Results: Three Delphi rounds were conducted and 76 statements composed on MR technique (n = 17), clinical application of liver-speci…

Experimentally Induced Biliary Atresia by Means of Rotavirus‐Infection Is Directly Linked to Severe Damage of the Microvasculature in the Extrahepati…

2018

Abstract: Vascular damage has been reported to contribute to atresia formation in several diseases including biliary atresia. This study focused on the extrahepatic biliary plexus in experimental biliary atresia. Newborn BALB/cAnNCrl-pups were infected with rhesus rotavirus within 24 hr after birth to induce experimental biliary atresia. The extrahepatic biliary plexus was examined by confocal microscopy on whole-mount preparations, scored by three independent researchers, and further evaluated at the subcellular level with transmission electron microscopy. Imaging results revealed a progressive destruction of the extrahepatic biliary vascular plexus in the course of experimental biliary at…

Electrospun Polyhydroxyethyl-Aspartamide-Polylactic Acid Scaffold for Biliary Duct Repair: A Preliminary In Vivo Evaluation

2017

Abstract Tissue engineering has emerged as a new approach with the potential to overcome the limitations of traditional therapies. The objective of this study was to test whether our polymeric scaffold is able to resist the corrosive action of bile and to support a cell's infiltration and neoangiogenesis with the aim of using it as a biodegradable tissue substitute for serious bile duct injuries. In particular, a resorbable electrospun polyhydroxyethyl-aspartamide–polylactic acid (90 mol% PHEA, 10 mol% PLA)/polycaprolactone (50:50 w/w) plate scaffold was implanted into rabbit gallbladder to assess the in vivo effects of the lytic action of the bile on the scaffold structure and then as a tu…

Segmented relationships to model erosion of regression effect in Cox regression

2010

In this article we propose a parsimonious parameterisation to model the so-called erosion of the covariate effect in the Cox model, namely a covariate effect approaching to zero as the follow-up time increases. The proposed parameterisation is based on the segmented relationship where proper constraints are set to accomodate for the erosion. Relevant hypothesis testing is discussed. The approach is illustrated on two historical datasets in the survival analysis literature, and some simulation studies are presented to show how the proposed framework leads to a test for a global effect with good power as compared with alternative procedures. Finally, possible generalisations are also present…

Intraductal aspiration: a promising new tissue-sampling technique for the diagnosis of suspected malignant biliary strictures

2012

Brushing is the most commonly used technique for biliary sampling at ERCP, despite its limited sensitivity. To evaluate intraductal aspiration (IDA) as a new combined endoscopic technique for cytodiagnosis, its cellular adequacy, diagnostic accuracy for cancer detection, feasibility, and safety. Prospective, observational study. Single tertiary referral center. IDA cellular adequacy, diagnostic accuracy for cancer detection, feasibility, and safety. From April 2009 to September 2010, 42 consecutive patients with suspected malignant biliary stricture underwent ERCP, with tissue sampling obtained with IDA. IDA included performance of standard brushing in all patients. After standard brushing,…

Rapamycin and Zoledronic acid exert a potent antifibrotic effect in murine biliary fibrosis

2018

Accuracy of Transient Elastography in Assessing Fibrosis at Diagnosis in Naïve Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis: A Dual Cut-Off Approach

2021

Background & aims Liver fibrosis holds a relevant prognostic meaning in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Non-invasive fibrosis evaluation using vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is routinely performed. However, there is limited evidence on its accuracy at diagnosis in PBC. We aimed to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of VCTE in assessing advanced fibrosis at disease presentation in PBC. Approach & results We collected data from 167 consecutive treatment-naive PBC patients who underwent liver biopsy(LB) at diagnosis at six Italian centers. VCTE examinations were completed within 12 weeks of LB. Biopsies were scored by two blinded expert pathologists, according to Ludwig sy…

Clinical relevance of antiphospholipid antibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis.

2005

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a cholestatic liver disease characterized by the presence of antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMAs), but also with reactivities to other autoantigens. Recent studies showed that antibodies to phospholipids (APAs) represent an important group of autoantibodies identified in patients with PBC. In this study different types of APAs were identified in the sera of patients with PBC and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and control subjects. Sera from patients with PBC and AIH were tested for the presence of antibodies directed against cardiolipin (CL), phosphatidylserine (PS), and to beta(2)-glycoprotein I (beta(2)-GPI). Furthermore, an in-house test for antithrombop…