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Dai F, Li Y, Zhu Y, Li B, Shi Q, Chen Y, Ta D. B-mode ultrasound to elastography synthesis using multiscale learning. ULTRASONICS 2024; 138:107268. [PMID: 38402836 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2024.107268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Elastography is a promising diagnostic tool that measures the hardness of tissues, and it has been used in clinics for detecting lesion progress, such as benign and malignant tumors. However, due to the high cost of examination and limited availability of elastic ultrasound devices, elastography is not widely used in primary medical facilities in rural areas. To address this issue, a deep learning approach called the multiscale elastic image synthesis network (MEIS-Net) was proposed, which utilized the multiscale learning to synthesize elastic images from ultrasound data instead of traditional ultrasound elastography in virtue of elastic deformation. The method integrates multi-scale features of the prostate in an innovative way and enhances the elastic synthesis effect through a fusion module. The module obtains B-mode ultrasound and elastography feature maps, which are used to generate local and global elastic ultrasound images through their correspondence. Finally, the two-channel images are synthesized into output elastic images. To evaluate the approach, quantitative assessments and diagnostic tests were conducted, comparing the results of MEIS-Net with several deep learning-based methods. The experiments showed that MEIS-Net was effective in synthesizing elastic images from B-mode ultrasound data acquired from two different devices, with a structural similarity index of 0.74 ± 0.04. This outperformed other methods such as Pix2Pix (0.69 ± 0.09), CycleGAN (0.11 ± 0.27), and StarGANv2 (0.02 ± 0.01). Furthermore, the diagnostic tests demonstrated that the classification performance of the synthetic elastic image was comparable to that of real elastic images, with only a 3 % decrease in the area under the curve (AUC), indicating the clinical effectiveness of the proposed method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Dai
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yifang Li
- Academy for Engineering and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yunkai Zhu
- Department of Ultrasound, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Boyi Li
- Academy for Engineering and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Qinzhen Shi
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yaqing Chen
- Department of Ultrasound, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Dean Ta
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
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2
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Yang T, Jin Y, Neogi A. Acoustic Attenuation and Dispersion in Fatty Tissues and Tissue Phantoms Influencing Ultrasound Biomedical Imaging. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:1319-1330. [PMID: 36643513 PMCID: PMC9835773 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c06750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The development of ultrasonic imaging techniques is optimized using artificial tissue phantoms before the practical applications. However, due to the strong attenuation and dispersion, accumulated fatty tissues can significantly impact the resolution and even feasibility of certain ultrasonic imaging modalities. An appropriate characterization of the acoustic properties on fatty phantoms can help the community to overcome the limitations. Some of the existing methods heavily overestimate attenuation coefficients by including the reflection loss and dispersion effects. Hence, in this study, we use numerical simulation-based comparison between two major attenuation measurement configurations. We further pointed out the pulse dispersion in viscoelastic tissue phantoms by simulations, which barely attracted attention in the existing studies. Using the selected attenuation and dispersion testing methods that were selected from the numerical simulation, we experimentally characterized the acoustic properties of common fatty tissue phantoms and compared the acoustic properties with the natural porcine fatty tissue samples. Furthermore, we selected one of the tissue phantoms to construct ultrasound imaging samples with some biomasses. With the known attenuation and dispersion of the tissue phantom, we showed the clarity enhancement of ultrasound imaging by signal post-processing to weaken the attenuation and dispersion effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng Yang
- Department
of Physics, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas76203, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering,University
of North Texas, Denton, Texas76207, United States
| | - Yuqi Jin
- Department
of Physics, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas76203, United States
| | - Arup Neogi
- Department
of Physics, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas76203, United States
- Institute
of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University
of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu611731, P. R. China
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3
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Dhillon JK, Fong MW, Fong TL. Use of liver stiffness measurements in acute decompensated heart failure: new applications of a non-invasive technique. ESC Heart Fail 2022; 9:2800-2807. [PMID: 35821206 DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.14038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is a complex disease associated with multisystem organ failure, recurrent hospital admissions, and increased mortality. Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) increases central venous pressure (CVP) with resultant hepatic congestion, and this relationship has prognostic significance. The gold standard method of measuring CVP, right heart catheterization, is invasive and costly, prompting further investigation into more accurate non-invasive assessments in HF patients, including liver elastography. Liver elastography relies on imaging techniques to assess liver stiffness measurements (LSM), with high values equating to increased stiffness. While this was developed to assess fibrosis in liver disease, LSM also reflect increased CVP and hepatic congestion. Multiple studies involving ADHF patients, find that increased LSM are independently predictive of increased cardiac events, all-cause mortality, and worse post-operative outcome after both acute HF exacerbation and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement. In this review, we discuss the role of LSM as a surrogate for CVP and their applications in determining prognosis in both the ADHF and LVAD populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaspreet K Dhillon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Los Angeles County University of Southern California Medical Center, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael W Fong
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tse-Ling Fong
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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4
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Quantitative, noninvasive MRI characterization of disease progression in a mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6105. [PMID: 33731798 PMCID: PMC7971064 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85679-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an increasing cause of chronic liver disease characterized by steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis which can lead to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and mortality. Quantitative, noninvasive methods for characterizing the pathophysiology of NASH at both the preclinical and clinical level are sorely needed. We report here a multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol with the fibrogenesis probe Gd-Hyd to characterize fibrotic disease activity and steatosis in a common mouse model of NASH. Mice were fed a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD) to induce NASH with advanced fibrosis. Mice fed normal chow and CDAHFD underwent MRI after 2, 6, 10 and 14 weeks to measure liver T1, T2*, fat fraction, and dynamic T1-weighted Gd-Hyd enhanced imaging of the liver. Steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis were then quantified by histology. NASH and fibrosis developed quickly in CDAHFD fed mice with strong correlation between morphometric steatosis quantification and liver fat estimated by MRI (r = 0.90). Sirius red histology and collagen quantification confirmed increasing fibrosis over time (r = 0.82). Though baseline T1 and T2* measurements did not correlate with fibrosis, Gd-Hyd signal enhancement provided a measure of the extent of active fibrotic disease progression and correlated strongly with lysyl oxidase expression. Gd-Hyd MRI accurately detects fibrogenesis in a mouse model of NASH with advanced fibrosis and can be combined with other MR measures, like fat imaging, to more accurately assess disease burden.
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Zhou IY, Tanabe KK, Fuchs BC, Caravan P. Collagen-targeted molecular imaging in diffuse liver diseases. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2020; 45:3545-3556. [PMID: 32737546 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-020-02677-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a common pathway shared by all progressive chronic liver diseases (CLD) regardless of the underlying etiologies. With liver biopsy being the gold standard in assessing fibrosis degree, there is a large unmet clinical need to develop non-invasive imaging tools that can directly and repeatedly quantify fibrosis throughout the liver for a more accurate assessment of disease burden, progression, and treatment response. Type I collagen is a particularly attractive target for molecular imaging as its excessive deposition is specific to fibrosis, and it is present in concentrations suitable for many imaging modalities. Novel molecular MRI contrast agents designed to bind with collagen provide direct quantification of collagen deposition, which have been validated across animal species and liver injury models. Collagen-targeted molecular imaging probes hold great promise not only as a tool for initial staging and surveillance of fibrosis progression, but also as a marker of fibrosis regression in drug trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Y Zhou
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, 149 13th St, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
- Institute for Innovation in Imaging (i3), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth K Tanabe
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Peter Caravan
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, 149 13th St, Boston, MA, 02129, USA.
- Institute for Innovation in Imaging (i3), Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
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6
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Naderloo Z, Shayanfar A, Zakeri-Milani P, Valizadeh H. The effect of different factors on partitioning of propofol between aqueous and organic phases of microemulsions. J Mol Liq 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2020.113003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Venkatesh SK, Hoodeshenas S, Venkatesh SH, Dispenzieri A, Gertz MA, Torbenson MS, Ehman RL. Magnetic Resonance Elastography of Liver in Light Chain Amyloidosis. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8050739. [PMID: 31126105 PMCID: PMC6572504 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8050739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we present our preliminary findings regarding magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) on the livers of 10 patients with systemic amyloidosis. Mean liver stiffness measurements (LSM) and spleen stiffness measurements (SSM) were obtained. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images were analyzed for the distribution pattern of amyloid deposition. Pearson correlation analysis was performed in order to study the correlation between LSM, SSM, liver span, liver volume, spleen span, spleen volume, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT pro BNP), and the kappa and lambda free light chains. An increase in mean LSM was seen in all patients. Pearson correlation analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between LSM and liver volume (r = 0.78, p = 0.007) and kappa chain level (r = 0.65, p = 0.04). Interestingly, LSM did not correlate significantly with SSM (r = 0.45, p = 0.18), liver span (r = 0.57, p = 0.08), or serum ALP (r = 0.60, p = 0.07). However, LSM correlated significantly with serum ALP when corrected for liver volume (partial correlation, r = 0.71, p = 0.03) and NT pro BNP levels (partial correlation, r = 0.68, p = 0.04). MRI review revealed that amyloid deposition in the liver can be diffuse, lobar, or focal. MRE is useful for the evaluation of hepatic amyloidosis and shows increased stiffness in hepatic amyloidosis. MRE has the potential to be a non-invasive quantitative imaging marker for hepatic amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhakar K Venkatesh
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Safa Hoodeshenas
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Sandeep H Venkatesh
- Department of Radiology, Sengkang General Hospital, 110 Sengkang East Way, Singapore 544886, Singapore.
| | - Angela Dispenzieri
- Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Morie A Gertz
- Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Michael S Torbenson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Richard L Ehman
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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8
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Zhang D, Zhuang R, Guo Z, Gao M, Huang L, You L, Zhang P, Li J, Su X, Wu H, Chen X, Zhang X. Desmin- and vimentin-mediated hepatic stellate cell-targeting radiotracer 99mTc-GlcNAc-PEI for liver fibrosis imaging with SPECT. Am J Cancer Res 2018; 8:1340-1349. [PMID: 29507624 PMCID: PMC5835940 DOI: 10.7150/thno.22806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation in liver fibrosis is caused by the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The goal of this study was to develop a 99mTc-labeled N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) that specifically interacts with desmin and vimentin expressed on activated HSCs to monitor the progression and prognosis of liver fibrosis using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. Methods: GlcNAc-conjugated polyethylenimine (PEI) was first prepared and radiolabeled with 99mTc. Noninvasive SPECT imaging with 99mTc-GlcNAc-PEI was used to assess liver fibrosis in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) mouse model. The liver uptake value (LUV) of 99mTc-GlcNAc-PEI was measured by drawing the region of interest (ROI) of the whole liver as previously suggested. The LUV of the CCl4 groups was compared with that of the olive oil group. Next, we estimated the correlation between the results of SPECT imaging and physiological indexes. After treatment with clodronate liposome, the LUV of 99mTc-GlcNAc-PEI in fibrotic mice was compared with that in control mice. Results:99mTc-GlcNAc-PEI is a hydrophilic compound with high radiochemical purity (>98%) and good stability. It could specifically target desmin and vimentin on the surface of activated HSCs with high affinity (the Kd values were 53.75 ± 9.50 nM and 20.98 ± 3.56 nM, respectively). The LUV of 99mTc-GlcNAc-PEI was significantly different between the CCl4 and control groups as early as 4 weeks of CCl4 administration (3.30 ± 0.160 vs 2.34 ± 0.114%/cc; P ˂ 0.05). There was a strong correlation between the LUV and Sirius Red quantification (R = 0.92, P ˂ 0.001). Compared with control, clodronate liposome treatment reduced the LUV of 99mTc-GlcNAc-PEI (4.62 ± 0.352 vs 2.133 ± 0.414%/cc; P ˂ 0.05). Conclusion:99mTc-GlcNAc-PEI SPECT/CT was useful in assessing liver fibrosis and monitoring the treatment response.
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Williams MR, Ward DS, Carlson D, Cravero J, Dexter F, Lightdale JR, Mason KP, Miner J, Vargo JJ, Berkenbosch JW, Clark RM, Constant I, Dionne R, Dworkin RH, Gozal D, Grayzel D, Irwin MG, Lerman J, O'Connor RE, Pandharipande P, Rappaport BA, Riker RR, Tobin JR, Turk DC, Twersky RS, Sessler DI. Evaluating Patient-Centered Outcomes in Clinical Trials of Procedural Sedation, Part 1 Efficacy: Sedation Consortium on Endpoints and Procedures for Treatment, Education, and Research Recommendations. Anesth Analg 2017; 124:821-830. [PMID: 27622720 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000001566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The Sedation Consortium on Endpoints and Procedures for Treatment, Education, and Research, established by the Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations, Innovations, Opportunities, and Networks public-private partnership with the US Food and Drug Administration, convened a meeting of sedation experts from a variety of clinical specialties and research backgrounds with the objective of developing recommendations for procedural sedation research. Four core outcome domains were recommended for consideration in sedation clinical trials: (1) safety, (2) efficacy, (3) patient-centered and/or family-centered outcomes, and (4) efficiency. This meeting identified core outcome measures within the efficacy and patient-centered and/or family-centered domains. Safety will be addressed in a subsequent meeting, and efficiency will not be addressed at this time. These measures encompass depth and levels of sedation, proceduralist and patient satisfaction, patient recall, and degree of pain experienced. Consistent use of the recommended outcome measures will facilitate the comprehensive reporting across sedation trials, along with meaningful comparisons among studies and interventions in systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark R Williams
- From the *Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York; †Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York; ‡Department of Anesthesiology, Tufts School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; §Department of Pediatrics, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois; ‖Department of Pediatrics, St John's Children's Hospital, Springfield, Illinois; ¶Department of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; #Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; **Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa, Iowa City; ††Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts; ‡‡Department of Anesthesiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; §§Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota; ‖‖Department of Emergency Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; ¶¶Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio; ##Pediatric Critical Care, Kosair Children's Hospital, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky; ***Section for Professional Standards, American Society of Anesthesiologists Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado; †††Department of Anesthesiology, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Paris, France; ‡‡‡Department of Pharmacology and Foundational Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina; §§§Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York; ‖‖‖Division of Anesthesiology and CCM, Hadassah University Hospital, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel; ¶¶¶Annovation BioPharma, Cambridge, Massachusetts; ###Department of Anesthesiology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; ****Department of Anesthesiology, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York; ††††Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia; ‡‡‡‡Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; §§§§Analgesic Concepts LLC, Arlington, Virginia; ‖‖‖‖Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; ¶¶¶¶Department of Critical Care Medicine and Neuroscience Institute, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine; ####Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; *****Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; †††††Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine, Josie Robertson Surgery Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; and ‡‡‡‡‡Department of Outcomes Research, Anesthesiology Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
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Swanson S, Ma Y, Scherzer R, Huhn G, French AL, Plankey MW, Grunfeld C, Rosenberg WM, Peters MG, Tien PC. Association of HIV, Hepatitis C Virus, and Liver Fibrosis Severity With the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Score. J Infect Dis 2015; 213:1079-86. [PMID: 26621911 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver disease is common during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but valid serum fibrosis markers are lacking. We hypothesize that HIV monoinfection and HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is associated with an enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) score higher than that for uninfected controls and examine whether this association is affected by factors other than liver injury. METHODS The association of HIV and HIV/HCV coinfection with the ELF score was evaluated using multivariable regression after controlling for transient elastography-measured liver stiffness and traditional and HIV-related factors in a cross-sectional analysis of 297 women. RESULTS HIV/HCV-coinfected and HIV-monoinfected women had higher median ELF scores than controls (9.6, 8.5, and 8.2, respectively). After adjustment for demographic, behavioral, and metabolic factors and for inflammatory markers, HIV/HCV coinfection remained associated with a 9% higher ELF score (95% confidence interval [CI], 5%-13%), while the association of HIV monoinfection was substantially attenuated (1% higher ELF score; 95% CI, -2% to 4%). After further adjustment for liver stiffness, HIV/HCV coinfection remained associated with 6% higher levels (95% CI, 3%-10%). In HIV/HCV-coinfected and HIV-monoinfected women, higher liver stiffness values were associated with higher ELF scores, as were older age and a nadir CD4(+) T-cell count of <200 cells/mm(3). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the ELF score can be used to assess liver fibrosis severity in HIV-infected women. However, higher ELF scores may reflect extrahepatic fibrosis in HIV-infected patients with a history of severe immunosuppression or advanced age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Swanson
- Department of Medicine, University of California Medical Service, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California
| | - Yifei Ma
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California
| | - Rebecca Scherzer
- Department of Medicine, University of California Medical Service, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California
| | - Greg Huhn
- CORE Center, Stroger Hospital and Rush University, Chicago, Illinois Department of Medicine, Stroger Hospital and Rush University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Audrey L French
- CORE Center, Stroger Hospital and Rush University, Chicago, Illinois Department of Medicine, Stroger Hospital and Rush University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Michael W Plankey
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington D.C
| | - Carl Grunfeld
- Department of Medicine, University of California Medical Service, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California
| | - William M Rosenberg
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, University College London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Phyllis C Tien
- Department of Medicine, University of California Medical Service, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California
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11
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Efficacy and Accessibility of a Novel Liver Fibrosis Evaluation Program: Limited Abdominal Ultrasound with Concurrent Transient Elastography. Acad Radiol 2015; 22:814-9. [PMID: 25857940 DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2015.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Revised: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To review sustainability and fair access related to setting up a centralized transient elastography (TE) program in the radiology department and to perform a quality assessment of a novel liver fibrosis evaluation program that combines TE with limited abdominal ultrasound (US). MATERIAL AND METHODS As part of a quality assessment, a retrospective chart review was performed on 758 patients who underwent TE immediately after limited abdominal US of the liver over a 12-month period. The elastography results and sonographic findings were documented, including the number and type of lesions identified. In terms of fair access evaluation, the indication for TE and referring service was reviewed for each case. RESULTS Most referrals were initiated by infectious disease (52.2% [396 of 758]) or gastroenterology (46.3% [351 of 758]) for patients with viral hepatitis (29.8% [226 of 758] for HBV and 52.2% [396 of 758] for HCV) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (11.9% [90 of 758]). Only 3.2% (24 of 758) of indications were outside the usual indications for which standardized values of TE were available. Most studies demonstrated minimal fibrosis (66.6% [510 of 766] ≤F1) or more advanced fibrosis (21.1% [162 of 766] ≥F3). Liver nodularity was observed in 63 cases, correlating to F2 fibrosis and above in 81.0% (51 of 63). US screening detected five new cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). CONCLUSIONS This unique program allows fair access and ensures that referrals are requested for appropriate indications. Concurrent US confers many advantages including proper TE probe placement to optimize measurement success, characterization of sonographic features that correlate with advanced fibrosis, and provides an opportunity to screen for HCC, in a population which may not otherwise have access to standardized screening.
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Abstract
There is worldwide epidemic of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a clinical entity related to metabolic syndrome. Majority of the patients are obese but the disease can affect non-obese individuals as well. Metabolic factors and genetics play important roles in the pathogenesis of this disorder. The spectrum of disorders included in NAFLD are benign macrovesicular hepatic steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis of liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the disease remains asymptomatic most of the time, it can slowly progress to end stage liver disease. It will be the most common indication of liver transplantation in the future. It is diagnosed by abnormal liver chemistry, imaging studies and liver biopsy. As there are risks of potential complications during liver biopsy, many patients do not opt for liver biopsy. There are some noninvasive scoring systems to find out whether patients have advanced hepatic fibrosis. At the present time, there are limited treatment options which include lifestyle modification to loose weight, vitamin E and thioglitazones. Different therapeutic agents are being investigated for optimal management of this entity. There are some studies done on incretin based therapies in patients with NAFLD. Other potential agents will be silent information regulator protein Sirtuin and antifibrotic monoclonal antibody Simtuzumab against lysyl oxidase like molecule 2. But they are still in the investigational phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monjur Ahmed
- Monjur Ahmed, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
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13
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Ahmed M. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in 2015. World J Hepatol 2015; 7:1450-1459. [PMID: 26085906 PMCID: PMC4462685 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i11.1450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2014] [Revised: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
There is worldwide epidemic of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a clinical entity related to metabolic syndrome. Majority of the patients are obese but the disease can affect non-obese individuals as well. Metabolic factors and genetics play important roles in the pathogenesis of this disorder. The spectrum of disorders included in NAFLD are benign macrovesicular hepatic steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis of liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the disease remains asymptomatic most of the time, it can slowly progress to end stage liver disease. It will be the most common indication of liver transplantation in the future. It is diagnosed by abnormal liver chemistry, imaging studies and liver biopsy. As there are risks of potential complications during liver biopsy, many patients do not opt for liver biopsy. There are some noninvasive scoring systems to find out whether patients have advanced hepatic fibrosis. At the present time, there are limited treatment options which include lifestyle modification to loose weight, vitamin E and thioglitazones. Different therapeutic agents are being investigated for optimal management of this entity. There are some studies done on incretin based therapies in patients with NAFLD. Other potential agents will be silent information regulator protein Sirtuin and antifibrotic monoclonal antibody Simtuzumab against lysyl oxidase like molecule 2. But they are still in the investigational phase.
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Quantitative imaging: quantification of liver shape on CT using the statistical shape model to evaluate hepatic fibrosis. Acad Radiol 2015; 22:303-9. [PMID: 25491738 DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2014.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To investigate the usefulness of the statistical shape model (SSM) for the quantification of liver shape to evaluate hepatic fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ninety-one subjects (45 men and 46 women; age range, 20-75 years) were included in this retrospective study: 54 potential liver donors and 37 patients with chronic liver disease. The subjects were classified histopathologically according to the fibrosis stage as follows: F0 (n = 55); F1 (n = 6); F2 (3); F3 (n = 1); and F4 (n = 26). Each subject underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) using a 64-channel scanner (0.625-mm slice thickness). An abdominal radiologist manually traced the liver boundaries on every CT section using an image workstation; the boundaries were used for subsequent analyses. An SSM was constructed by the principal component analysis of the subject data set, which defined a parametric model of the liver shapes. The shape parameters were calculated by fitting SSM to the segmented liver shape of each subject and were used for the training of a linear support vector regression (SVR), which classifies the liver fibrosis stage to maximize the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). SSM/SVR models were constructed and were validated in a leave-one-out manner. The performance of our technique was compared to those of two previously reported types of caudate-right lobe ratios (C/RL-m and C/RL-r). RESULTS In our SSM/SVR models, the AUC values for the classification of liver fibrosis were 0.96 (F0 vs. F1-4), 0.95 (F0-1 vs. F2-4), 0.96 (F0-2 vs. F3-4), and 0.95 (F0-3 vs. F4). These values were significantly superior to AUC values using the C/RL-m or C/RL-r ratios (P < .005). CONCLUSIONS SSM was useful for estimating the stage of hepatic fibrosis by quantifying liver shape.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES With the introduction of smaller probes (S1, S2), the use of transient elastography has been expanded to children. Accordingly, we aimed to address points of consideration in probe choice and interpretation of measured liver stiffness by applying and comparing FibroScan S and M probes in biliary atresia. METHODS Using S1, S2, and M probes, 3 liver stiffness measurements, success rates, and interquartile ranges were obtained from 100 patients. Patients were assigned to 2 groups according to thoracic perimeter (≤ 45 cm vs > 45 cm). In both groups, obtained values were compared and the relation between liver stiffness measurement and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index was analyzed. RESULTS In the small-thorax group, the success rate was highest with the S1 probe and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was highest for S1 versus S2 (0.98), compared with that for S1 versus M (0.69) and S2 versus M (0.77). In the large-thorax group, ICC was the highest for S2 versus M (0.88), compared with that for S1 versus S2 (0.69) and S1 versus M (0.51). In the small-thorax group, correlations between aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and liver stiffness measurement were stronger for S1 (0.65) and S2 (0.64) than for M (0.49). In the large-thorax group, all probes showed good correlation, S1 (0.68), S2 (0.62), and M (0.62). CONCLUSIONS We recommend that the S1 probe is more appropriate for use in small children, especially those with a thorax perimeter of < 45 cm. If no S probe is available, the M probe may be acceptable in children whose thorax perimeter is > 45 cm.
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Noninvasive Biomarkers of Liver Fibrosis: Clinical Applications and Future Directions. CURRENT PATHOBIOLOGY REPORTS 2014; 2:245-256. [PMID: 25396099 DOI: 10.1007/s40139-014-0061-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Chronic liver disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current strategies for assessing prognosis and treatment rely on accurate assessment of disease stage. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for assessing fibrosis stage but has many limitations. Noninvasive biomarkers of liver fibrosis have been extensively designed, studied, and validated in a variety of liver diseases. With the advent of direct acting antivirals and the rise in obesity-related liver disease, there is a growing need to establish these noninvasive methods in the clinic. In addition, it has become increasingly clear over the last few years that noninvasive biomarkers can also be used to monitor response to antifibrotic therapies and predict liver outcomes, including hepatocellular carcinoma development. This review highlights the most well-established noninvasive biomarkers to-date, with a particular emphasis on serum and imaging-based methodologies.
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Sangwaiya MJ, Sherman DIN, Lomas DJ, Shorvon PJ. Latest developments in the imaging of fibrotic liver disease. Acta Radiol 2014; 55:802-13. [PMID: 24226293 DOI: 10.1177/0284185113510159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization, liver cirrhosis accounted for 1.8% of all deaths in Europe, causing about 170,000 deaths per year. Approximately 29 million persons in the EU suffer from chronic liver disease and this trend is on the rise. Liver disease is the EU's fifth most common cause of death accounting for at least one in six deaths. Early detection and monitoring of fibrosis has the potential to direct management of these chronic liver diseases and avert morbidity and mortality. Although the available techniques are in their infancy and the very early stages of fibrosis are difficult to detect, there have been significant advances in imaging over the last decade that has resulted in the use of these new imaging techniques being introduced into the patient pathway. This review explores the accuracies of these imaging techniques, their role in the management of patients, and the potential for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minal J Sangwaiya
- Central Middlesex Hospital, Northwest London Hospitals NHS Trust, Acton, London, UK
- Imperial College, South Kensington, London, UK
| | - David IN Sherman
- Central Middlesex Hospital, Northwest London Hospitals NHS Trust, Acton, London, UK
| | | | - Philip J Shorvon
- Central Middlesex Hospital, Northwest London Hospitals NHS Trust, Acton, London, UK
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Lee TH, Lee CK. Endoscopic sedation: from training to performance. Clin Endosc 2014; 47:141-50. [PMID: 24765596 PMCID: PMC3994256 DOI: 10.5946/ce.2014.47.2.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2014] [Revised: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Adequate sedation and analgesia are considered essential requirements to relieve patient discomfort and pain and ultimately to improve the outcomes of modern gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures. The willingness of patients to undergo sedation during endoscopy has increased steadily in recent years and standard sedation practices are needed for both patient safety and successful procedural outcomes. Therefore, regular training and education of healthcare providers is warranted. However, training curricula and guidelines for endoscopic sedation may have conflicts according to varying legal frameworks and/or social security systems of each country, and well-recognized endoscopic sedation training systems are not currently available in all endoscopy units. Although European and American curricula for endoscopic sedation have been extensively developed, general curricula and guidelines for each country and institution are also needed. In this review, an overview of recent curricula and guidelines for training and basic performance of endoscopic sedation is presented based on the current literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Hoon Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea
| | - Chang Kyun Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Kutty SS, Peng Q, Danford DA, Fletcher SE, Perry D, Talmon GA, Scott C, Kugler JD, Duncan KF, Quiros-Tejeira RE, Kutty S. Increased hepatic stiffness as consequence of high hepatic afterload in the Fontan circulation: a vascular Doppler and elastography study. Hepatology 2014; 59:251-60. [PMID: 23913702 DOI: 10.1002/hep.26631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Revised: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Hepatic dysfunction is a recognized complication after Fontan palliation of congenital heart disease. We sought to quantitatively measure hepatic stiffness and vascular Doppler indices using ultrasound (US) and shear wave elastography (SWE) in a Fontan cohort. Subjects were prospectively recruited for echocardiography and real-time hepatic duplex US with SWE for hepatic stiffness (kPa). Doppler peak velocities, velocity time integral, resistive, pulsatility, acceleration indices (RI, PI, AI), and flow volume were measured in celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery, and main portal vein (MPV). A subset underwent cardiac catheterizations with liver biopsy. Correlations were explored between SWE, duplex, hemodynamic, and histopathologic data. In all, 106 subjects were studied including 41 patients with Fontan physiology (age 13.8 ± 6 years, weight 45.4 ± 23 kg) and 65 controls (age 15.0 ± 8.4 years, weight 47.9 ± 22 kg). Patients with Fontan physiology had significantly higher hepatic stiffness (15.6 versus 5.5 kPa, P < 0.0001), higher celiac RI (0.78 versus 0.73, P = 0.04) superior mesenteric artery RI (0.89 versus 0.84, P = 0.005), and celiac PI (1.87 versus 1.6, P = 0.034); while MPV flow volume (287 versus 420 mL/min in controls, P = 0.007) and SMA AI (829 versus 1100, P = 0.002) were lower. Significant correlation was seen for stiffness with ventricular end-diastolic pressure (P = 0.001) and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (P = 0.009). Greater stiffness correlated with greater degrees of histopathologic fibrosis. No significant change was seen in stiffness or other duplex indices with age, gender, time since Fontan, or ventricular morphology. CONCLUSION Elevated hepatic afterload in Fontan, manifested by high ventricular end-diastolic pressures and pulmonary arterial wedge pressures, is associated with remarkably increased hepatic stiffness, abnormal vascular flow patterns, and fibrotic histologic changes. The MPV is dilated and carries decreased flow volume, while the celiac and superior mesenteric arterial RI is increased. SWE is feasible in this population and shows promise as a means for predicting disease severity on liver biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaija S Kutty
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Nebraska College of Medicine and Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, NE
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Abstract
Real-time elastography is an emerging sonographic imaging technique that provides a noninvasive method of evaluating biomechanical properties of a lesion: specifically, the elasticity, or stiffness, of the cellular composition relative to surrounding tissue. Clinical studies have demonstrated the diagnostic capability of elastography to detect specific cancers with accuracy that may substantially affect patient care and improve outcome. This literature review examines the basics of elastography, the advantages and limitations of this technique, and the results of research centered on its role in cancer detection and evaluation of tissue response to cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tia Mapes-Gonnella
- Adventist University of Health Sciences and St. Elizabeth Health Care, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Bailony MR, Scherzer R, Huhn G, Plankey MW, Peters MG, Tien PC. Association of HIV infection, hepatitis C virus infection, and metabolic factors with liver stiffness measured by transient elastography. J Infect Dis 2013; 208:1776-83. [PMID: 23901097 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jit357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have examined the relationship of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) monoinfection and its associated perturbations with liver fibrosis. METHODS USING multivariable linear regression, we examined the demographic, behavioral, metabolic and viral factors associated with transient elastography-measured liver stiffness in 314 participants (165 HIV positive/hepatitis C virus [HCV] negative, 78 HIV positive/HCV positive, 14 HIV negative/HCV positive, 57 HIV negative/HCV negative) in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. RESULTS Compared with HIV negative/HCV negative women, HIV positive/HCV positive women had higher median liver stiffness values (7.1 vs 4.4 kPa; P < .001); HIV positive/HCV negative and HIV negative/HCV negative women had similar liver stiffness values (both 4.4 kPa; P = .94). HIV/HCV coinfection remained associated with higher liver stiffness values (74% higher; 95% confidence interval [CI], 49-104) even after multivariable adjustment. Among HCV positive women, waist circumference (per 10-cm increase) was associated with 18% (95% CI, 7.5%-30%) higher liver stiffness values after multivariable adjustment; waist circumference showed little association among HIV positive/HCV negative or HIV negative/HCV negative women. Among HIV positive/HCV negative women, history of AIDS (13%; 95% CI, 4% -27%) and HIV RNA (7.3%; 95% CI, 1.59%-13.3%, per 10-fold increase) were associated with greater liver stiffness. CONCLUSIONS HCV infection but not HIV infection is associated with greater liver stiffness when infected women are compared with those with neither infection. Our finding that waist circumference, a marker of central obesity, is associated with greater liver stiffness in HIV/HCV-coinfected but not HIV-monoinfected or women with neither infection suggests that in the absence of HCV-associated liver injury the adverse effects of obesity are lessened.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Rami Bailony
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
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Au JT, Kingham TP, Jun K, Haddad D, Gholami S, Mojica K, Monette S, Ezell P, Fong Y. Irreversible electroporation ablation of the liver can be detected with ultrasound B-mode and elastography. Surgery 2013; 153:787-93. [PMID: 23489942 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2012.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2012] [Accepted: 11/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel ablation technique that induces permanent membrane permeability and cell death. We are interested in ultrasound B-mode and elastography to monitor IRE ablation in the liver. METHODS Yorkshire pigs underwent IRE ablation of the liver and were imaged with ultrasound B-mode and elastography. Histologic evaluation of cell death by triphenyltetrazolium chloride and hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed. RESULTS Elastography showed that liver ablated by IRE exhibited increased tissue stiffness with a peak strain ratio of 2.22. The IRE lesion had a discrete border without bubble artifact, and the lesion size significantly correlated with area of cell death on histology. IRE ablation was unaffected by presence of large blood vessels or bile ducts. CONCLUSION IRE ablation led to increased tissue stiffness that was detectable by elastography and indicative of cell death. Elastography may complement B-mode ultrasonography to monitor IRE ablation of the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce T Au
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Holst K, Liebgott H, Wilhjelm JE, Nikolov S, Torp-Pedersen ST, Delachartre P, Jensen JA. Internal strain estimation for quantification of human heel pad elastic modulus: A phantom study. ULTRASONICS 2013; 53:439-446. [PMID: 23079052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2012.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2010] [Revised: 08/07/2012] [Accepted: 08/10/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Shock absorption is the most important function of the human heel pad. However, changes in heel pad elasticity, as seen in e.g. long-distance runners, diabetes patients, and victims of Falanga torture are affecting this function, often in a painful manner. Assessment of heel pad elasticity is usually based on one or a few strain measurements obtained by an external load-deformation system. The aim of this study was to develop a technique for quantitative measurements of heel pad elastic modulus based on several internal strain measures from within the heel pad by use of ultrasound images. Nine heel phantoms were manufactured featuring a combination of three heel pad stiffnesses and three heel pad thicknesses to model the normal human variation. Each phantom was tested in an indentation system comprising a 7MHz linear array ultrasound transducer, working as the indentor, and a connected load cell. Load-compression data and ultrasound B-mode images were simultaneously acquired in 19 compression steps of 0.1mm each. The internal tissue displacement was for each step calculated by a phase-based cross-correlation technique and internal strain maps were derived from these displacement maps. Elastic moduli were found from the resulting stress-strain curves. The elastic moduli made it possible to distinguish eight of nine phantoms from each other according to the manufactured stiffness and showed very little dependence of the thickness. Mean elastic moduli for the three soft, the three medium, and the three hard phantoms were 89kPa, 153kPa, and 168kPa, respectively. The combination of ultrasound images and force measurements provided an effective way of assessing the elastic properties of the heel pad due to the internal strain estimation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Holst
- Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Ørsteds Plads, Building 349, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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Lewis JR, Cohen LB. Update on colonoscopy preparation, premedication and sedation. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2013; 7:77-87. [PMID: 23265152 DOI: 10.1586/egh.12.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The advent of optical colonoscopy has enabled gastroenterologists to visualize the colonic mucosa. This procedure has since become the cornerstone of colon cancer screening programs. Clinicians and scientists have made great strides to fine-tune the technical aspects of this procedure and have also made important advances that allow for a more effective and safer colonoscopy. This article focuses on current research and expert opinion regarding colonoscopy preparation, premedication and sedation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Lewis
- The Department of Medicine (Gastroenterology), The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Glaser KJ, Manduca A, Ehman RL. Review of MR elastography applications and recent developments. J Magn Reson Imaging 2012; 36:757-74. [PMID: 22987755 PMCID: PMC3462370 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.23597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The technique of MR elastography (MRE) has emerged as a useful modality for quantitatively imaging the mechanical properties of soft tissues in vivo. Recently, MRE has been introduced as a clinical tool for evaluating chronic liver disease, but many other potential applications are being explored. These applications include measuring tissue changes associated with diseases of the liver, breast, brain, heart, and skeletal muscle including both focal lesions (e.g., hepatic, breast, and brain tumors) and diffuse diseases (e.g., fibrosis and multiple sclerosis). The purpose of this review article is to summarize some of the recent developments of MRE and to highlight some emerging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Armando Manduca
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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Molecular MR imaging of liver fibrosis: a feasibility study using rat and mouse models. J Hepatol 2012; 57:549-55. [PMID: 22634342 PMCID: PMC3423553 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2012.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2012] [Revised: 03/23/2012] [Accepted: 04/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Liver biopsy, the current clinical gold standard for fibrosis assessment, is invasive and has sampling errors, and is not optimal for screening, monitoring, or clinical decision-making. Fibrosis is characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins including type I collagen. We hypothesize that molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a probe targeted to type I collagen could provide a direct and non-invasive method of fibrosis assessment. METHODS Liver fibrosis was induced in rats with diethylnitrosamine and in mice with carbon tetrachloride. Animals were imaged prior to and immediately following i.v. administration of either collagen-targeted probe EP-3533 or non-targeted control Gd-DTPA. Magnetic resonance (MR) signal washout characteristics were evaluated from T1 maps and T1-weighted images. Liver tissue was subjected to pathologic scoring of fibrosis and analyzed for gadolinium and hydroxyproline. RESULTS EP-3533-enhanced MR showed greater signal intensity on delayed imaging (normalized signal enhancement mice: control=0.39 ± 0.04, fibrotic=0.55 ± 0.03, p<0.01) and slower signal washout in the fibrotic liver compared to controls (liver t(1/2)=51.3 ± 3.6 vs. 42.0 ± 2.5 min, p<0.05 and 54.5 ± 1.9 vs. 44.1 ± 2.9 min, p<0.01 for fibrotic vs. controls in rat and mouse models, respectively). Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR could not distinguish fibrotic from control animals. EP-3533 gadolinium concentration in the liver showed strong positive correlations with hydroxyproline levels (r=0.74 (rats), r=0.77 (mice)) and with Ishak scoring (r=0.84 (rats), r=0.79 (mice)). CONCLUSIONS Molecular MRI of liver fibrosis with a collagen-specific probe identifies fibrotic tissue in two rodent models of disease.
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Tapper EB, Cohen EB, Patel K, Bacon B, Gordon S, Lawitz E, Nelson D, Nasser IA, Challies T, Afdhal N. Levels of alanine aminotransferase confound use of transient elastography to diagnose fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2012; 10:932-937.e1. [PMID: 22289876 PMCID: PMC3402604 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2012.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2011] [Revised: 01/03/2012] [Accepted: 01/04/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatic elastography (HE) is a noninvasive technique that measures liver stiffness and is used to diagnose hepatic fibrosis. It can help patients who are thought to have early-stage disease avoid a staging liver biopsy, but only when confounding variables that increase liver stiffness are excluded. Chronic inflammation from hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is not considered to be one of these variables. METHODS We identified 684 patients with HCV and METAVIR fibrosis scores of 0-2 from a prospective, multi-institutional study of liver stiffness in 2880 patients with chronic liver disease. Patients were 49.6 ± 9.0 years old, 64.3% were male, and they had an average body mass index of 26.7 ± 4.1 kg/m(2). RESULTS In a multivariate analysis, inflammation (based on histologic analysis) and level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were associated with liver stiffness. The chances of a patient having a level of stiffness that indicates cirrhosis increased with grade of inflammation and level of ALT. By using a conservative 14.5-kPa cutoff for the diagnosis of cirrhosis, grade 3 inflammation had an odds ratio of 9.10 (95% confidence interval, 2.49-33.4). Likewise, levels of ALT greater than 80 and 120 IU/L had odds ratios of 3.84 (95% confidence interval, 2.10-7.00) and 4.10 (95% confidence interval, 2.18-7.69), respectively. The effect of the level of ALT persisted when analysis was restricted to patients with fibrosis scores of F0 to F1. CONCLUSIONS In patients with HCV infection and early-stage fibrosis, increased levels of ALT correlate with liver stiffness among patients in the lowest strata of fibrosis (METAVIR scores 0-2). Patients without fibrosis but high levels of ALT could have liver stiffness within the range for cirrhosis. Inflammation should be considered a confounding variable in analysis of liver stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot B. Tapper
- The Liver Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave; LM-8001, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Eric B. Cohen
- The Liver Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave; LM-8001, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Keyur Patel
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Bruce Bacon
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 3635 Vista Avenue at Grand Boulevard, P.O. Box 15250, St. Louis, Missouri 63110-0250
| | - Stuart Gordon
- Columbus (Novi), 39450 12 Mile Road, Novi, MI, 48377
| | - Eric Lawitz
- Alamo Medical Research, Camden Medical Center, 621 Camden, San Antonio, TX
| | - David Nelson
- University of Florida COM, Box 100214, Room M-440 Gainesville, FL 32610-0214
| | - Imad A. Nasser
- The Liver Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave; LM-8001, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Tracy Challies
- The Liver Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave; LM-8001, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Nezam Afdhal
- The Liver Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave; LM-8001, Boston, MA 02215
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Abstract
The limitations of and the invasive nature of liver biopsy has spurred extensive interest in the development of non-invasive tests to measure liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Clinically applicable non-invasive tests, including radiological studies, elastography, and serum markers, all of which perform extremely well in excluding significant disease and diagnosing cirrhosis. FibroScan and acoustic radiation force impulse elastography are two elastography-based tests that show promise. In this new era of increased cure rates with newly Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs and the availability of multiple non-invasive tests of liver fibrosis, we anticipate a decreasing need for liver biopsies in the management of chronic hepatitis C.
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Abstract
The practice of sedation for digestive endoscopy continues to evolve throughout the world. In many countries, there is a trend for increased utilization of sedation during routine endoscopic procedures. Sedation improves patient satisfaction with endoscopy and the willingness to comply with screening guidelines and it improves the quality of examination. Moderate sedation, using a benzodiazepine and an opioid, remains the standard method of sedation in most areas of the world, although propofol, a short-acting hypnotic agent, is being used increasingly in some countries. Controversy regarding the feasibility of endoscopist-directed propofol administration continues, in spite of overwhelming evidence supporting this practice. In the USA, recent revisions in policy by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services may threaten the practice of endoscopist-directed propofol administration. In this article, future trends in sedation practice, including fospropofol and computer-assisted personalized sedation, are discussed.
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