Conclusions:  Selleck 5-Fluoracil There was no significant difference in delta polyp size between the examinees with gallbladder polyps and cholelithiasis and those with gallbladder polyps only. Hence, a small proportion of subjects with gallbladder polyps and cholelithiasis, such as those with thickened gallbladder walls and an interval increase in the size of the gallbladder polyps are candidates for prophylactic cholecytectomy. “
“Transient elastography (TE) is increasingly employed in clinical practice for the noninvasive detection of tissue fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), and particularly chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatitis. The present study was designed to provide

a definitive characterization of the “confounding” increase in liver stiffness (LS) following a standardized meal in a consecutive population of 125 patients with chronic HCV infection at different stages of fibrotic evolution. LS values were obtained after overnight fasting and 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 minutes following the onset of a standardized liquid meal (400 mL, 600 Kcal, 16.7% protein, 53.8% carbohydrates, 29.5% fat). An evident increase in LS values was observed 15 to 45 minutes after the onset of the meal with return to baseline premeal

levels within 120 minutes in all patients. The peak postmeal delta increase in LS was progressively more marked with increasing stages of fibrosis (P < 0.001), becoming maximal in patients with cirrhosis. However, the probability of identifying the Metavir stage Ceritinib manufacturer of fibrosis, the Child-Pugh class, or the presence/absence of esophageal 上海皓元 varices with the postmeal delta increase in LS was inferior to that obtained with baseline LS values. Conclusion: The results of the present study provide definitive evidence of the confounding effect of a meal on the accuracy of LS measurements for the prediction of fibrosis stage in patients with chronic HCV hepatitis and suggest that a fasting period of 120 minutes should be observed before the performance of TE. (HEPATOLOGY 2013;) Transient elastography

(TE) is increasingly employed in clinical practice for the noninvasive detection of tissue fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), and particularly chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatitis.1 In this clinical setting, TE has been shown to be able to discriminate between at least three stages of fibrotic evolution: the absence of significant fibrosis, the presence of advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis, and an intermediate stage, often defined as a “gray area.” This distinction is useful in everyday practice for directing the need of liver biopsy,2 and overall, the use of TE, alone or in association with other noninvasive means, considerably reduces the number of liver biopsies necessary for correct patient management.