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Aims The clinical outcomes of individuals at clinical high risk of psychosis (CHR-P) who do not transition to psychosis are heterogeneous and inconsistently reported. We aimed to comprehensively evaluate longitudinally a wide range of outcomes in CHR-P individuals not developing psychosis. Methods “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses” and “Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology”-compliant meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42021229212) searching original CHR-P longitudinal studies in PubMed and Web of Science databases up to 01/11/2021. As primary analysis, we evaluated the following outcomes within CHR-P non-transitioning individuals: (a) change in the severity of attenuated psychotic symptoms (Hedge's g); (b) change in the severity of negative psychotic symptoms (Hedge's g); (c) change in the severity of depressive symptoms (Hedge's g); (d) change in the level of functioning (Hedge's g); (e) frequency of remission (at follow-up). As a secondary analysis, we compared these outcomes in those CHR-P individuals who did not transition vs. those who did transition to psychosis at follow-up. We conducted random-effects model meta-analyses, sensitivity analyses, heterogeneity analyses, meta-regressions and publication bias assessment. The risk of bias was assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results Twenty-eight studies were included (2756 CHR-P individuals, mean age = 20.4, 45.5% females). The mean duration of follow-up of the included studies was of 30.7 months. Primary analysis: attenuated psychotic symptoms [Hedges’ g = 1.410, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.002–1.818]; negative psychotic symptoms (Hedges’ g = 0.683, 95% CI 0.371–0.995); depressive symptoms (Hedges’ g = 0.844, 95% CI 0.371–1.317); and functioning (Hedges’ g = 0.776, 95% CI 0.463–1.089) improved in CHR-P non-transitioning individuals; 48.7% remitted at follow-up (95% CI 39.3–58.2%). Secondary analysis: attenuated psychotic symptoms (Hedges’ g = 0.706, 95% CI 0.091–1.322) and functioning (Hedges’ g = 0.623, 95% CI 0.375–0.871) improved in CHR-P individuals not-transitioning compared to those transitioning to psychosis, but there were no differences in negative or depressive symptoms or frequency of remission (p > 0.05). Older age was associated with higher improvements of attenuated psychotic symptoms (β = 0.225, p = 0.012); publication years were associated with a higher improvement of functioning (β = −0.124, p = 0.0026); a lower proportion of Brief Limited Intermittent Psychotic Symptoms was associated with higher frequencies of remission (β = −0.054, p = 0.0085). There was no metaregression impact for study continent, the psychometric instrument used, the quality of the study or proportion of females. The NOS scores were 4.4 ± 0.9, ranging from 3 to 6, revealing the moderate quality of the included studies. Conclusions Clinical outcomes improve in CHR-P individuals not transitioning to psychosis but only less than half remit over time. Sustained clinical attention should be provided in the longer term to monitor these outcomes.

Objective To evaluate the effect of hospitalization on deep venous thrombosis (DVT) rate by the cumulative incidence of DVT in the proximal venous tract of the lower limbs at admission and discharge. Methods The AURELIO (rAte of venoUs thRombosis in acutEly iLl patIents hOspitalized in internal medicine wards) multicenter observational study was carried out in hospital-university internal medicine wards including consecutive acutely ill medical patients. Patients underwent compression ultrasonography (CUS) of proximal lower limb veins at admission and discharge. The occurrence of DVT was the primary end point of the study. Results Among 1340 patients, 26 (1.9%; 95% CI, 1.3%-2.8%) had asymptomatic DVT at admission and were excluded. During the follow-up, 144 patients were excluded because of hospitalization less than 5 days. The remaining 1170 patients underwent a CUS at discharge. Two hundred fifty (21%) underwent prophylaxis with parenteral anticoagulants; the remaining 920 (79%) were not treated with anticoagulants. The mean length of hospitalization was 13±8 days. Compared with patients without prophylaxis, those treated with parenteral anticoagulants had a higher incidence of active cancer, heart and respiratory failure, pneumonia, renal failure, previous venous thromboembolism, reduced mobility, and elderly age. During the hospital stay, 3 patients with a negative CUS at admission experienced DVT in the proximal tract (0.025%, rate of 1 per 5017 patient-days); 2 of them were in prophylaxis with parenteral anticoagulants. Conclusion We provide evidence that in the real world acutely ill medical patients display more than 90% (1.9%) asymptomatic DVT at admission, whereas the intrahospital DVT occurrence is very low. This suggests a novel diagnostic workup and a careful reanalysis of anticoagulant prophylaxis.

Acute cholecystitis (AC) represents a principal cause of morbidity worldwide and is one of the most frequent reasons for hospitalization due to gastroenteric tract diseases. AC should be suspected in presence of clinical signs and of gallstones on an imaging study. Upper abdominal US represents the first diagnostic imaging step in the case of suspected AC. Computed tomography (CT) with intravenous contrast (IV) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium contrast and technetium hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (Tc-HIDA) can be employed to exclude complications. US examination should be performed with right subcostal oblique, with longitudinal and intercostal scans. Normal gallbladder US findings and AC major and minor US signs are described. Polyps, sludge and gallbladder wall thickening represent the more frequent pitfalls and they must be differentiated from stones, duodenal artifacts and many other non-inflammatory conditions that cause wall thickening, respectively. By means of bedside ultrasound, the finding of gallstones in combination with acute pain, when the clinician presses the gallbladder with the US probe (the sonographic Murphy's sign), has a 92.2 % positive predictive value for AC. In our preliminary experience, bedside US-performed by echoscopy (ES) and/or point-of-care US (POCUS) demonstrated good reliability in detecting signs of AC, and was always integrated with physical examination and performed by a skilled operator.

Abdominal ultrasonography (US) represents the first-line imaging examination in chronic liver diseases; in most cases, US, laboratory findings and the clinical context are generally sufficient to guide the diagnosis. Thanks to the considerable diffusion of US, we have seen an increased diagnosis of NAFLD in recent years, although this condition is generally silent from a clinical point of view. We have to identify the metabolic syndrome in the general population and to promptly recognize NAFLD to prevent its development into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Among the non-invasive diagnostic techniques for NAFLD and for early vascular damage, ultrasonography represents the method of choice. In fact, besides the traditional semiotics of fundamental US of the liver, new US techniques have recently been proposed (contrast enhancement US, acoustic structure characterization), with respect to serum biomarkers and Fibroscan, for the study of liver fibrosis. Similarly, also as concerns the US measurement of carotid intima-media thickness, new automated methods with sophisticated software and radio-frequency signal have recently been introduced. Finally, we report the preliminary results of a personal experience on liver and carotid US in the epidemiology of the metabolic syndrome.

Summary Introduction The extreme variability of clinical severity in medical admitted patients is diluted in a “average” standard of care, that may be stronger than the real needs for someone, but clearly inadequate, sometimes even dangerous, for other ones, critically ill. Discussion The model of a differentiated intensity of hospital care can be defined as the organizational model structured to areas/sectors dedicated to patients with homogeneous needs of care. The intermediate care unit (“High dependency units”, “sub-intensive care areas” – “high care units”) are particularly suitable for patients who have a lower risk compared to patients treated in intensive care, but liable to develop complications and needing a close monitoring much more than the “standard”, “routine” care. The implementation of the a new organizational model must be careful and consider the possible enlargement errors that can be made. The analysis of the context is necessary for assess prerequisites, excluding the elements opposed to the success of the proposed model (i.e.: wards congestion and overcrowding, with a consequential with increased risk of adverse events). Before implementing and admitting patients in new “models”, we have to define the epidemiological population characteristics, their level of complexity/criticality/instability and the current assessment tools. Conclusions Any new proposal of hospital management change has, as first obligation, to explicit the basic visions and primary goals for “the added value” resulting to the patient and the whole organization, with the evidence of an “health technology assessment” approach, for the professional hospital overall governance. But without the presumption, or worse, the apodictic assertion, to proclaim the implementation of structures with “differentiated intensity of hospital care” organizations that are not.

IntroductionThe extreme variability of clinical severity in medical admitted patients is diluted in a “average” standard of care, that may be stronger than the real needs for someone, but clearly inadequate, sometimes even dangerous, for other ones, critically ill.DiscussionThe model of a differentiated intensity of hospital care can be defined as the organizational model structured to areas/sectors dedicated to patients with homogeneous needs of care. The intermediate care unit (“High dependency units”, “sub-intensive care areas” – “high care units”) are particularly suitable for patients who have a lower risk compared to patients treated in intensive care, but liable to develop complications and needing a close monitoring much more than the “standard”, “routine” care. The implementation of the a new organizational model must be careful and consider the possible enlargement errors that can be made. The analysis of the context is necessary for assess prerequisites, excluding the elements opposed to the success of the proposed model (i.e.: wards congestion and overcrowding, with a consequential with increased risk of adverse events). Before implementing and admitting patients in new “models”, we have to define the epidemiological population characteristics, their level of complexity/criticality/instability and the current assessment tools.ConclusionsAny new proposal of hospital management change has, as first obligation, to explicit the basic visions and primary goals for “the added value” resulting to the patient and the whole organization, with the evidence of an “health technology assessment” approach, for the professional hospital overall governance. But without the presumption, or worse, the apodictic assertion, to proclaim the implementation of structures with “differentiated intensity of hospital care” organizations that are not.

Real-time sonoelastography is currently used for the characterization of superficial solid lesions such as thyroid and breast masses. This study evaluates the usefulness of percutaneous sonoelastography for the characterization of solid focal liver lesions.30 out of 43 patients with 38 known liver lesions were included in a prospective, diagnostic study. Qualitative analysis (pattern of deformation, elasticity type of liver tumour) and semi-quantitative measurements (strain ratio, hardness percentage, histogram) were evaluated. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated and the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was constructed.Patterns A and C-D are specific of benign lesions and metastases respectively. The patterns for haemangiomas, focal nodular hyperplasia and metastases were significantly different to each other in terms of strain ratio, hardness percentage and histogram (p0.05). A statistically significant difference (p0.001) was observed between the median values of the 3 measured parameters for benign (1.02; 12%; 47) and malignant lesions (1.66; 65%; 20.5) respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve values for strain ratio, hardness percentage and histogram were 0.88, 0.89, and 0.86 respectively for cut-off values of 1.2, 45, and 30.By percutaneous sonoelastography it is possible to differentiate benign versus malignant focal liver lesions, metastases in particular, with good diagnostic performance.

Background. Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not suitable for surgical therapy. Systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormono-therapy have not had convincingly acceptable results. Therefore, transarterial catheter-targeted therapies such as intraarterial chemotherapy (IAC), possibly followed by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), have been proposed. Methods. A survival analysis curve was drawn using the Kaplan-Meier method for 164 patients, 100 with HCC who underwent TACE (69) or IAC (31), and a matched historic group of 64 who did not receive specific antineoplastic treatment. Results. A significantly more favorable survival was observed for TACE-treated patients compared with IAC-treated patients (P < 0.001) ; TACE- and IAC-treated patients had a statistically superior survival than that of untreated patients (P < 0.001 and P < 0.025, respectively). This difference was still significant (P < 0.001) when the patients were subdivided into Classes A and B and Stages I and II following Child's and Okuda's criteria. The TACE- and IAC-treated groups had a good relationship between technical efficacy of therapy and survival. Stratifying the patients according to the degree of iodized oil (Lipiodol Ultrafluid, Guerbet, Aulnay-Sous-Bois, France) uptake in the three groups with Group 1 having an uptake greater than 75% of tumor mass, Group 2 having an uptake of 50%-75%, and Group 3 having an uptake less than 50%, survival at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months was calculated as 94%, 88%, 67%, 53%, and 30%, respectively, for Group 1 ; 86%, 68%, 13%, 13%, and 0% for Group 2, and 43%, 23%, 6%, 6%, and 0% for Group 3 (Group 1 vs. Group 2 : P < 0.001 ; Group 1 vs. Group 3 : P < 0.001 ; Group 2 vs. Group 3 : P < 0.001, respectively). The most important side effects after the intraarterial procedure were fever (46.2%), abdominal pain (36.6%), chemical cholecystitis (8%), and pancreatitis (1.7%). Death strictly related to treatment occurred in two patients ; one had massive bleeding due to ruptured esophageal varices, and the other had a subphrenic abscess of a superficial HCC of the VIII segment. Conclusions. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and IAC were effective and relatively safe, and the authors believe that they have a primary role in treating patients with unresectable HCC larger than 5 cm ; iodized oil uptake can be considered a suitable prognostic marker. Cancer 1995 ;75 :2427-34.

To evaluate the effects of a single oral dose of erythromycin on gastric and gallbladder emptying, 10 volunteers, without a known history of gastrointestinal disease, were investigated. Erythromycin stearate (500 mg) or placebo was given on separate mornings 30 min before a standard solid meal in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Gastric and gallbladder emptying rates were simultaneously evaluated by means of real-time ultrasonography. Gastric antral area and gallbladder volume were determined before the meal and 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 min after commencing eating. Erythromycin, compared to placebo, significantly accelerates and increases the degree of both gastric and gallbladder emptying. As previously reported for intravenous and chronic oral assumption, also a single dose of oral erythromycin is able to accelerate gastric and gallbladder emptying in normal human subjects.

Levels of plasma amino acids, ammonia, glucagon and insulin and their 5-hr responses to a protein feeding were evaluated before and sequentially (3 mo and 1 yr) after distal splenorenal shunt in 10 patients with cirrhosis belonging to Child-Pugh's class A or B. An index of glucagon effectiveness (plasma glucose/glucagon) was also calculated. These parameters were related to liver test results, portal vein diameter and mental state, and they were compared with those found in seven patients undergoing sclerotherapy of esophageal varices with comparable liver function (control group). Liver test results and levels of plasma insulin did not change in either group. Shunt significantly increased levels of fasting tyrosine, methionine, ornithine, arginine, histidine, ammonia and glucagon with respect to the control group; it also significantly decreased levels of leucine, valine, glucagon effectiveness and portal vein diameter. The elevation of levels of tyrosine, ammonia and the sum of arginine and ornithine was correlated directly with the increase in glucagon and inversely with the decline in glucagon effectiveness. Tyrosine increase was also correlated with the reduction of portal vein diameter. One shunted patient showed mild hepatic encephalopathy. Protein feeding did not worsen the mental state of patients before and after the operation. Surgery significantly increased the 5-hr response to the meal of gluconeogenic amino acids; its rise was again correlated with the changes in glucagon plasma levels and effectiveness. Although the absorptive levels of plasma ammonia were significantly higher 1 yr after surgery, its 5-hr response barely rose. In cirrhotic patients with a relatively preserved liver function, distal splenorenal shunt progressively worsened the fasting plasma profile of nitrogen compounds and the response to protein ingestion of gluconeogenic amino acids. The decline of portal blood flow and glucagon effectiveness may be causal factors. Despite this, the “cerebral” tolerance to a moderate oral load of protein was not reduced by surgery. (Hepatology 1994;19:329–338).

Background. The prevalence of the different hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) macroscopic types, and the association between these types and age, gender, blood group, alcohol and coffee intake, smoking habit, hepatitis virus markers, underlying cirrhosis, and cancer histologic type were retrospectively assessed in 416 unselected patients (321 with cirrhosis), Methods. The gross pathologic types of HCC were assessed by ultrasonography combined, in most cases, with computed tomography and angiography. Results. Solitary HCC was the most common cancer type (54.8%), followed by the multinodular (31%), diffuse (7.7%), and massive (6.5%) types. Cirrhosis and blood group other than 0 were independent risk factors for multinodular HCC (relative risk [RR] 1.6, P < 0.05; and RR 1.7, P < 0.005, respectively); the absence of cirrhosis and a heavy smoking habit were risk factors for the massive type (RR 4.9, P < 0.001; and RR 3.3, P < 0.01, respectively); and blood group 0 for the solitary type (RR 1.4, P < 0.001). The prevalence of highly undifferentiated cells increased as the tumor size did, so that grade IV cell atypia was associated with massive size of the carcinoma (P < 0.05). In cirrhotic patients, advanced liver dysfunction was associated with diffuse HCC (P < 0.05). As far as solitary HCC is concerned, the tumor size was greater in noncirrhotic than in cirrhotic patients (7 k 0.4 cm versus 4.8 f 0.15, P < 0.001). Conclusions. In Italian patients, HCC presents most frequently as a solitary nodule. The presence or absence of cirrhosis, blood group, and smoking habit can influ

The aim of this study was to compare the results obtained with an indium-111 scan with those obtained with less expensive and harmless ultrasonography to evaluate the location and inflammatory activity of Crohn's disease. Thirty-one patients previously studied with x-ray underwent abdominal 111In scans and ultrasonography (US). Sensitivity and specificity of US in detecting lesions seen with 111In scan were 77% and 92.8%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of 111In scan in detecting x-ray-defined lesions were 69.2% and 92.7%; the figures for US were 73% and 93.3%, respectively. Considering the evaluation of disease activity, ultrasonographic bowel wall thickness was significantly related to scintigraphic intensity of emission (r = 0.75 P0.01). Our experience suggests that US provided information about the location and inflammatory activity of lesions similar to that obtained from 111In scan.

This is a retrospective study to evaluate the history of hepatocellular carcinoma and find the relationship between clinical, biochemical and ultrasonographic features and survival in Italian patients. In 135 consecutive patients median follow-up was 16 months (range 1–66 months) and median survival from the time of diagnosis was 12 months. Univariate analysis showed that individual variables associated with significantly decreased survival included: absence of therapy, Okuda's Stage III, Child-Pugh's Class C, α -fetoprotein greater than 400 ng/ml, presence of symptoms, moderate or severe ascites, tumor involving both lobes, mixed internal echo pattern, and multinodular or massive type. Multiple regression analysis (Cox model) revealed that the mixed internal echo pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma, the presence of moderate or severe ascites and Okuda's Stage III were independent predictors of high risk of death. These data can help in selecting patients whose probability of survival is considered high enough to undergo treatment and may be useful for stratifying patients in randomized controlled trials.

Ultrasonography (US) is an invaluable tool in the management of many types of patients in Internal Medicine and Emergency Departments, as it provides rapid, detailed information regarding abdominal organs and the cardiovascular system, and facilitates the assessment and safe drainage of pleural or intra-abdominal fluid and placement of central venous catheters. Bedside US is a common practice in Emergency Departments, Internal Medicine Departments and Intensive Care Units. US performed by clinicians is an excellent risk reducing tool, shortening the time to definitive therapy, and decreasing the rate of complications from blind invasive procedures. US can be performed at different levels of practice in Internal Medicine, according to the experience of ultrasound practitioners and equipment availability. In this review, the indications for bedside US that can be performed with basic or intermediate US training will be highlighted.

Purpose Percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) has been proposed as an active treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, large multicenter studies using this technique have not been reported. Patients and Methods We retrospectively analyzed treatment and survival parameters of 432 cirrhotic patients with nonsurgical early HCC (single nodule ≤ 4 cm or three nodules ≤ 3 cm each) who had received PLA in nine Italian centers. Results Single tumors were seen in 344 (80%) of 432 patients, and two to three nodules were seen in 88 patients (20%), for a total of 548 tumors. An initial complete response after PLA was observed in 338 patients (78%). Median overall survival time was 47 months (95% CI, 41 to 53 months). The 3- and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 61% and 34%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of survival were serum albumin levels more than 3.5 g/dL (P = .002; risk ratio [RR] = 0.580; 95% CI, 0.409 to 0.821), the achievement of a complete tumor ablation (P = .001; RR = 0.517; 95% CI, 0.346 to 0.771), and age less than 73 years (P < .001; RR = 0.466; 95% CI, 0.320 to 0.681). Child-Turcotte-Pugh class A patients had a 5-year cumulative survival rate of 41%; this figure increased up to 60% with a median survival time of 63 months (95% CI, 48 to 78 months) in patients with tumors ≤ 2.0 cm. Conclusion This analysis confirms that a complete tumor ablation results in improved survival in patients with nonsurgical HCC. Ideal candidates for PLA are younger patients with normal serum albumin levels and tumor size ≤ 2 cm.

To retrospectively and prospectively determine the rate and type of complications and their association with clinical or technical factors after percutaneous laser ablation (LA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).The institutional research board of each center approved the study and all patients provided informed consent. By using an Internet liver tumor database of nine Italian centers, 520 patients were included with HCC nodules of any size (small, 0-3 cm; intermediate,3-5 cm; large,5 cm). Postprocedural complications were related to clinical or percutaneous LA factors by using the Student t and chi(2) tests. Follow-up was carried out with computed tomography (CT) at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, and primary effectiveness rate was defined as the percentage of HCCs completely ablated after percutaneous LA.A total of 353 men and 147 women (age range, 24-86 years; Child-Pugh score A = 63.4%, B = 30.8%, C = 5.9%) with 647 nodules (mean diameter, 3.2 cm +/- 1.7) were treated by 1004 percutaneous LA sessions. There were four (0.8%) deaths in 520 patients; 15 (1.5%) of 1004 sessions presented major complications without any seeding. Major complications were associated with excess energy (10 520 J +/- 7073 vs 7474 J +/- 3803; P = .001) and high-risk location (P = .05). Sixty-two (6.2%) sessions resulted in minor complications associated with excess energy (P = .001), high bilirubin level (1.74 mg/dL +/- 1.10), and low prothrombin time (P = .01). Primary effectiveness rates were 60% in all HCCs and 81% in HCCs smaller than 3 cm.Percutaneous LA may be considered a safe treatment for small HCCs.

Purpose: LTA has been demonstrated a safe and effective image guided ablation technique for HCC only in small series and in selected centers. Aim of this multicentric study was to assess the incidence of LTA complications and associated risk factors in a large population of HCC. Methods and Materials: Retrospective observational study from march 1996 to march 2005 on consecutive HCC patients (9 centers of radiology, internal medicine, gastroenterology) with different experience in LTA and other ablation techniques. An internet based public registry for liver tumor treatments was setup on march 2004 with the collaboration of all the participating centers under the management of one coordinating author (V.A.). Inclusion criteria for this study were: diagnosis of HCC (non surgical), HCC of anynumber and size, ablation treatments with LTA (Pacella CM, Radiology 2001). Demographic characteristics and items related to the patient (Child, prothrombin time, and platelet count,portal hypertension), to HCC nodule (size, site and ease of approach), to LTA procedure (n. of needles/fibers introduced, total energy delivered, necrosis induced) together with the number and type of complications were recorded. Complications were classified as major (death or any condition requiring surgery, interventional procedure or intensive care to be resolved) and minor. Fisher exact, Chi square or Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistic evaluation of association between complications and centers, patients/nodule or LTA characteristics. Results: A total of 520 patients (males 68%, mean age 67.2±7.9% range 24–86yrs; Child score A: 63.4%, B: 30.7%, C: 5.9%) with 652 nodules (single: 69.8%, two: 18.7%, three: 8.6%, four or more: 2.9%; mean diameter 32,3±16.9mm range 6–99mm) were tyreated by 1011 LTA sessions. Major complications were 10/1011 (0.99% with 4 (0.34%) deaths: 3 liver failure and 1 intestinal perforation) not associated with center experience, patient characteristics, nodule features or LTA procedure. Minor complications were 519/1011 (53.1%) LTA sessions and the most frequent were pleural effusion (32.6%), fever (4.9%), pain (4%) and ascites (3.9%). Conclusions: LTA is a safe ablative technique for HCC with low incidence of major complications.

Background/Aims : To clarify the hemodynamic pattern of pre-ascitic cirrhosis, we compared the impact of posture on systemic and regional hemodynamics of patients and healthy subjects without and with plasma volume expansion. Methods : Cardiac index (CI), peripheral vascular resistance (PVRi), heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and the mean blood flow velocities of superior mesenteric (SMAV) and common femoral arteries were evaluated by duplex-Doppler techniques in 10 patients and 20 healthy controls after 2 h of standing and 2 h after lying down. Ten healthy controls received saline infusion (15 ml/kg body weight) when they changed their posture, and five were also evaluated after plasma volume expansion in the upright posture. Results : Standing systemic and regional hemodynamics did not differ between patients and controls. After saline infusion, standing control subjects showed greater CI and SMAV than patients. Recumbency caused changes of CI, PVRi and SMAV greater in patients and controls with plasma expansion than in controls without expansion, so that supine patients and controls with expansion were indistinguishable, showing higher CI and SMAV and lower PVRi than controls without expansion. Conclusions : Systemic and regional hemodynamics of patients with pre-ascitic cirrhosis are mainly determined by blood volume expansion which is compartmentalized within the splanchnic venous bed during standing and translocates towards the central and arterial circulatory districts during recumbency.

BACKGROUNDThe role of interferon treatment on the natural history of hepatitis C virus related cirrhosis is under debate.AIMTo evaluate the effect of interferon on the clinical course of compensated hepatitis C virus related cirrhosis.PATIENTS AND METHODSSeventy two cirrhotic patients treated with interferon and 72 untreated controls matched treated patients with for quinquennia of age, sex, and Child-Pugh's score were enrolled in a prospective non-randomised controlled trial. Treated patients received leucocytic interferon alfa, with an escalating schedule for 12 months. The incidence and risk (Cox regression analysis) of clinical complications (hepatocellular carcinoma, ascites, jaundice, variceal bleeding, and encephalopathy) and death were calculated.RESULTSOver median follow up periods of 55 months for treated and 58 for untreated subjects, seven and nine patients, respectively, died, and 20 and 32, respectively, developed at least one clinical complication (ns). Hepatocellular carcinoma developed in six treated and 19 untreated patients (p=0.018). Seven treated patients showed sustained aminotranferase normalisation and none died or developed complications. Clinical complications were significantly associated with low albumin, bilirubin, and prothrombin activity while hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly related to no treatment with interferon, oesophageal varices, and high α fetoprotein levels. By stratified analysis, the beneficial effect of interferon was statistically evident only in patients with baseline α fetoprotein levels ⩾20 ng/ml.CONCLUSIONSInterferon does not seem to affect overall or event free survival of patients with hepatitis C virus related cirrhosis while it seems to prevent the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients who achieved sustained aminotransferase normalisation survived and did not develop any complications during follow up.

50% of patients with functional dyspepsia have delayed gastric emptying. Levosulpiride is an orthopramide drug that stimulates gastrointestinal motility. Aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of levosulpiride on symptoms and gastric and gall-bladder emptying, in dyspeptic patients.Thirty adult patients, treated for 20 days with levosulpiride (75 mg/day) or placebo, were evaluated in a randomized double-blind study. Symptoms were assessed by a cumulative index and overall intensity (visual analogue line). Gastric and gall-bladder emptying were evaluated by epigastric impedance (liquid meal) and real-time ultrasonography (mixed meal).Levosulpiride, with respect to placebo, accelerated the mean gastric half-emptying time of liquids (P0.05), gastric emptying (P0.001 at 180 min; P0.05 at 240 min), and gall-bladder emptying (P0.05 at 60 and 120 min) emptying after a solid-liquid mixed meal. Both the mean cumulative index (P0.05) and the overall intensity (P0.025) of dyspeptic symptoms were reduced significantly by levosulpiride.Our results showed that levosulpiride can be usefully employed in patients affected by functional dyspepsia.

AIM: To ascertain whether carotid lesions are more prevalent in outpatients with incidental findings of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) at abdominal ultrasound (US). METHODS: One hundred and fifty-four consecutive outpatients (age range 24-90 years, both sexes) referred by general practitioners for abdominal US, and drinking less than 20 g alcohol/day, underwent carotid US for an assessment of carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) and carotid plaque prevalence. Hepatic steatosis, visceral fat thickness and subcutaneous fat thickness were also assessed at ultrasonography. RESULTS: Higher c-IMT values were found in the presence of NAFLD (90 patients), even after adjustment for indices of general and abdominal obesity and for the principal cardiovascular risk factors (0.84 ± 0.10 mm vs 0.71 ± 0.10 mm, P < 0.001). The prevalence of carotid plaques was 57.8% in the patients with NAFLD vs 37.5% in the patients without this condition (P = 0.02). The adjusted relative risk of having carotid plaques for patients with NAFLD was 1.85 (95% CI: 1.33-2.57, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: An incidental finding of hepatic steatosis may suggest the presence of silent carotid atherosclerotic lesions.

Editor,—We read with interest the paper by Gasche et al ( Gut 1999; 44 :112–117) on the accuracy of transabdominal ultrasound in the detection of complications in Crohn's disease. The authors evaluated 33 patients with Crohn's disease who had resective bowel surgery. The results were impressive: 87% sensitivity with 90% specificity in the diagnosis of entero-enteric fistulas; 100% sensitivity with 92% specificity in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal abscesses; and 100% sensitivity with 91% specificity in the diagnosis of strictures. However, these data are in contrast with those reported by Maconi and colleagues1 who found very low sensitivity (50%) with 95.5% specificity in ultrasound detection of entero-enteric fistulas. The difference in levels of sensitivity in these studies could be explained by the use of different standards and also, in our opinion, by varying definitions of fistulas. Gasche and colleagues considered fistulas to be …