Health

  2010 MAR 28 - (VerticalNews.com) -- Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the most common cause of liver cirrhosis in the Western world. Liver biopsy is currently considered the gold standard for assessing hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis in these patients. However, it is an invasive procedure, with rare but potentially life-threatening complications and its accuracy is limited due to sampling error. Transient elastography (FibroScan®, FS) is a novel rapid and noninvasive method to assess liver fibrosis via measurement of liver stiffness (LS). Although LS closely correlates with fibrosis stage, it also increases in patients with inflammation (steatohepatitis) which often confounds fibrosis in patients with ALD. Thus, novel criteria are urgently required to determine whether LS is increased due to fibrosis or inflammation ...read more

  2010 MAR 28 - (VerticalNews.com) -- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the most effective agents for treating acid related gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The utilization of intravenous (IV) formulations of PPIs has dramatically increased in health care institutions for inappropriate indications, route of administration and length of treatment. This is associated with an increased cost burden, increased risk of IV related infections, and utilization of hospital resources ...read more

  2010 MAR 28 - (VerticalNews.com) -- Gastric varices (GV) are an important complication of portal hypertension. As an almost atraumatic method, computed tomography (CT) angiography has been used widely to show the portal vein system. However, the collateral circulation of GV in different locations has been reported only rarely.

  A research article published on February 28, 2010 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. A research team led by Professor Wen He from Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, China, used multidetector computed tomography portal venography (MDCTPV) to study the collateral circulation of GV ...read more