Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescents with phenylketonuria

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to investigate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurrence and factors associated with the disease in phenylketonuria (PKU) patients undergoing exclusive dietary treatment. Method: This cross-sectional study included 101 adolescents 10 to < 20 years of age with PKU, who were undergoing exclusive dietary treatment and monitored since early diagnosis at a single reference service. Anthropometric and biochemical assessments were performed and food intake was documented, and an ultrasound diagnosis of NAFLD was established. Data were evaluated using the Student's t-test for continuous variables, the chi-square for categorical variables, and logistic regression using the Wald chi-squared test; differences with p < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results: NAFLD was detected in 26 (25.7%) teenagers. There was no difference in prevalence between the sexes or nutritional status. The final logistic regression model revealed low sensitivity (26.1%) and high specificity (94.7%). The specificity suggested a lower likelihood of NAFLD in older adolescents, in the presence of normal or high levels of alkaline phosphatase, lower carbohydrate intake, and adequate protein and lipid intake. Conclusions: The prevalence of NAFLD in adolescents with PKU was higher than that found in healthy Brazilian adolescents and similar to that found in obese Brazilian children, suggesting a higher risk for NAFLD in patients with PKU treated exclusively by dietary modification.

Microbiota Evaluation and Extracellular Cytokine Profile in Patients Affected with Intraabdominal Infection.

Failures in the control of infectious focus may be associated with Intra-abdominal infections (IAI)-driven sepsis. We evaluated the bacterial antimicrobial profile and the cytokine production in patients with IAI in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. To the analyses, Vitek 2 bioMérieux and BD-CBA Human Inflammatory Cytokines were used. Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Bacteroides fragilis were predominant in this cohort. Enterobacteriaceae was resistant to at least 4 different antimicrobial classes and 80.0% of Acintobacter baumannii strains to imipenem. 81.8% of Staphylococcus spp. were methicillin-resistant. Penicillin and clindamycin resistance were found in 80.0% and 26.7% of anaerobes, respectively. IL-8 was found in all IAI secretions and in 93.5% of analyzed sera; while IL-6 was identified in 93.5% of patient’s serum and in 51.6% analyzed secretions. IL-10 was detected in 53.3% of patient’s serum. Our data indicates the relevance of further cytokine profile studies to better understanding the evolution of these processes.

Ultrasound in schistosomiasis mansoni

We reviewed ultrasound features in patients with schistosomiasis mansoni. The alterations that we observed in acute and hepatosplenic schistosomiasis are described. The advantages and disadvantages of using ultrasound patterns in the evaluation of liver fibrosis are discussed. Other diseases that are important in the differential diagnosis of schistosomal liver fibrosis are presented. Ultrasound is an effective and flexible diagnostic tool in the evaluation of a variety of diseases. It presents no harmful effects to patients, allowing non-invasive studies in hospitalized patients and in other facilities.

Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni

Relatamos os achados ultrassonográficos e à ressonância magnética intra-abdominais observados em um paciente com esquistossomose mansoni grave. Um homem de 25 anos de idade com esquistossomose hepatoesplênica e sangramento digestivo de varizes esofagianas, com diagnóstico confirmado pela endoscopia, foi submetido à ultrasonografia abdominal e ressonância magnética. Durante a cirurgia de hipertensão porta, um fragmento de fígado foi obtido e o exame histológico confirmou o diagnóstico de fibrose de Symmers. A ressonância magnética forneceu informações mais precisas sobre a vesícula biliar, espessamento periportal e sistema venoso abdominal do que a ultrassonografia.

Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis in field-based studies: a combined clinical and sonographic definition

A combined clinical and sonographic classification of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni to be used in field-based studies is proposed herein. Seven hundred forty one individuals out of 892 (83 percent), living in an area endemic for schistosomiasis in Brazil, have been ubmitted to clinical and ultrasound examinations. Based on two stool examinations the overall prevalence for schistosomiasis in this area was 73 percent. Abdominal palpation was performed with patients in dorsal decubit, during deep breath, by two experienced physicians and a portable ultrasound was used for the evaluation of liver fibrosis, portal collaterals and spleen size. Four groups of individuals were identified using data obtained by abdominal palpation and ultrasound examination: (1) palpable spleen and intense periportal thickening in 9 individuals (1.2 percent); (2) spleen not palpable and intense periportal thickening in 15 (2 percent); (3) palpable spleen with light to moderate periportal thickening in 32 (4.3 percent), and (4) palpable spleen with a normal liver on ultrasound in 30 (4 percent). The definition of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis in field-based studies as the finding of Schistosoma mansoni eggs in the stools in an individual with splenomegaly is not acceptable anymore. Abdominal ultrasound should be combined with clinical examination to accurately identify hepatosplenics in endemic areas for schistosomiasis

Sonographic features of portal hypertension in schistosomiasis mansoni

Sessenta e seis pacientes com esquistossomose mansoni hepatoesplenica foram examinados pela ultra-sonografia do abdomen. Trinta e sete tambem submeteram-se a esplenoportografia. Todos apresentavam fibrose de Symmers e varizes de esofago. Selecionaram-se setenta e um individuos sem esquistossomose como controles. Mediu-se o diametro dos vasos porta nos pacientes e controles. A pressao intra-esplenica encontrava-se acima de 30cm de agua em 44 de 60 pacientes com esquistossomose. Os limites superiores da normalidade para os vasos do sistema porta foram definidos como 12mm para a veia porta, 9 mm para a veia esplenica no hilo e 9mm para a veia mesenterica superior....