1,721,180 research outputs found
Utility and appropriateness of the fatty Liver Inhibition of progression ( FLIP) Algorithm and Steatosis, Activity, and Fibrosis ( SAF) Score in the evaluation of Biopsies of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
No full textBiopsy is still the gold standard for the diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis but the
definition may vary among pathologists, a drawback especially in evaluation of biopsies
for clinical trials. We previously developed a scoring system (steatosis, activity, fibrosis
[SAF]) allowing the use of an algorithm (fatty liver inhibition of progression [FLIP])
for the classification of liver injury in morbid obesity. The aim of this study was to
determine whether the use of the SAF score and FLIP algorithm can decrease interobserver
variations among pathologists. In a first session, pathologists categorized 40 liver
biopsies of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) according to their
own experience. In a second reading session, each pathologist reclassified the same slides
by using the FLIP algorithm and SAF score, blinded to their first evaluation. The
experiment was repeated with two different groups of pathologists at varying levels of
training in liver pathology. The percentage of biopsy interpretation concordant with reference
evaluation increased from 77% to 97% in Group 1 and from 42% to 75% in
Group 2 after the use of the SAF score and FLIP algorithm. The strength of concordance
in classification increased in Group 1 from moderate (j50.54) to substantial
(j50.66) and from fair (j50.35) to substantial (j50.61) in Group 2 with application
of the algorithm. With regard to the SAF score, concordance was substantial in
Group 1 for steatosis (j50.61), activity (j50.75), and almost perfect for fibrosis
(j50.83 after pooling 1a, 1b, and 1c together into a single score F1). Similar trends
were observed in Group 2 (j50.54 for S, j50.68 for A, and j50.72 for F). Conclusion:
The FLIP algorithm based on the SAF score should decrease interobserver variations
among pathologists and are likely to be implemented in pathology practice.
(HEPATOLOGY 2014;60:565-575
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Focal Active Colitis: What Are Its Clinical Implications? A Narrative Review
Full text linkFocal active colitis (FAC) is described as a histolopathological term indicating the isolated finding of focal neutrophil infiltration in the colonic crypts. Currently, there exist numerous debates regarding the clinical significance of diagnosing FAC, which may or may not have clinical relevance as it is frequently detected in colorectal biopsies without any other microscopic abnormalities. The objective of this narrative review is to provide an overview of the available evidence concerning the clinical implications of FAC, both in the adult population (among five studies available in the scientific literature) and in the pediatric context (based on two available studies)
Effectiveness and safety of lomitapide in a patient with familial chylomicronemia syndrome
No full textBackground: Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is characterized by severe fasting hypertriglyceridemia, abdominal pain, and recurrent acute pancreatitis. Available triglyceride-lowering drugs are insufficient to avoid pancreatitis. Therefore, there is a significant unmet medical need for effective triglyceride-lowering drugs for patients with FCS. Case report: We report the second case of a patient with FCS and recurrent pancreatitis treated with lomitapide. Lomitapide treatment resulted in a reduction of fasting TG levels from 2897 mg/dL (32.71 mmol/L) to an average of 954 mg/dL (10.77 mmol/L) on the 30 mg lomitapide equating to a 67% reduction from baseline. After 26 months of lomitapide treatment, histological activity score for hepatic fibrosis was stable although liver biopsy showed a marked increase of liver steatosis and mild perivenular and perisinusoidal fibrosis. Conclusions: Lomitapide is effective in reducing triglycerides in FCS and preventing the recurrence of acute pancreatitis. A longer follow-up is necessary to evaluate long-term risk of progression toward severe stages of liver fibrosis. A prospective clinical trial may identify which subgroup of FCS patients would benefit from lomitapide treatment in the absence of significant liver adverse effects
The molecular changes driving the carcinogenesis in Barrett's esophagus: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
No full textEsophageal adenocarcinoma originates from columnar metaplastic epithelium of the distal esophagus. Various steps for this carcinogenetic process are known. Before the onset of high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma, endoscopic surveillance is possible. However, because of the high cost of long-term surveillance, predictive factors for cancer are being evaluated to identify subjects with metaplasia who have a higher risk of developing malignancy. Molecular changes seem suitable for this purpose, but could require a high resource expenditure. While trying to identify the best predictive factors for cancer risk, molecular changes and differences in miRNA expression profile between the various steps leading to cancer could help to clarify Barrett's carcinogenesis. In this attempt to find a molecular explanation for the onset of esophageal adenocarcinoma, it is still difficult to understand whether the molecular changes are causes or effects of the neoplastic phenotypic modifications. © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd
EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF LOMITAPIDE IN A PATIENT WITH FAMILIAL CHYLOMICRONEMIA SYNDROME
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