Publications (9)23.24 Total impact
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Article: Does transient elastography (FibroScan®) have a role in decision making in hepatocellular carcinoma?
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ABSTRACT: Portal hypertension has been reported as a negative prognostic factor and a relative contraindication for liver resection. This study considers a possible role of fibrosis evaluation by transient elastography (FibroScan(®)) and its correlation with portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis, and discusses the use of this technique in planning therapeutic options in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 77 patients with cirrhosis, 42 (54.5%) of whom had HCC, were enrolled in this study during 2009-2011. The group included 46 (59.7%) men. The mean age of the sample was 65.2 years. The principle aetiology of disease was hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis (66.2%). Liver function was assessed according to Child-Pugh classification. In all patients liver stiffness (LS) was measured using FibroScan(®). The presence of portal hypertension was indirectly defined as: (i) oesophageal varices detectable on endoscopy; (ii) splenomegaly (increased diameter of the spleen to ≥ 12 cm), or (iii) a platelet count of <100,000 platelets/mm(3). Median LS in all patients was 27.9 kPa. Portal hypertension was recorded as present in 37 patients (48.1%) and absent in 40 patients (51.9%). Median LS values in HCC patients with and without portal hypertension were 29.1 kPa and 19.6 kPa, respectively (r = 0.26, P < 0.04). Liver stiffness was used to implement the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer algorithm in decisions about treatment. Conclusions: The evaluation of liver fibrosis by transient elastography may be useful in the follow-up of patients with cirrhosis and a direct correlation with portal hypertension may aid in the evaluation of surgical risk in patients with HCC and in the choice of alternative therapies.HPB 06/2012; 14(6):403-8. · 1.60 Impact Factor -
Article: Treatment induced seroconversion to HBsAb following HBV reactivation in the immunosuppressed haematology and oncology patient: a clinical survey of 5 cases in Catania, Italy.
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ABSTRACT: In onco-haematological patients inactive or occult HBV infection may be reactivated as a result of disease-related immuno-suppression and/or chemotherapy with rituximab. This study reports the clinical features of five patients affected by onco-haematological disorders who experienced hepatitis B reactivation. From 2005 to 2010, five onco-haematological patients with hepatitis B reactivation were admitted to the department of Infectious Diseases, Ferrarotto Hospital, Catania, Italy. At the time of onco-haematological disease diagnosis, 3 patients were HBcAb positive; 1 HBsAb and HBcAb positive; and 1 HBsAg positive, HBV DNA negative. None of the patients received hepatitis B prophylaxis. Reactivation was observed following chemotherapy. One patient was treated with lamivudine, 2 with tenofovir and 2 with telbivudine. Following treatment all patients achieved undetectable HBV DNA and normalization of transaminases. Three patients, those treated with lamivudine and tenofovir, cleared HBsAg and developed protective titres of HBsAb. The remaining patients, who were treated with telbivudine, were HBV DNA negative and HBsAg positive one at 27 months and the other at 5 months of therapy. Treatment thus continued in these patients. HBV reactivation can be a severe complication in onco-haematological patients undergoing chemotherapy with rituximab. In our experience all nucleos(t)ide analogues were safe and effective. Three patients seroconverted to HBsAb. This may be as a result of the antivirals enhancing the immune response to HBV. A similar role may also be played by immune recovery following the withdrawal of immune-suppressive treatment. This report confirms the importance of anti-viral prophylaxis in patients with a high risk of HBV reactivation.Journal of clinical virology: the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology 09/2011; 52(4):284-7. · 3.12 Impact Factor -
Article: Telbivudine use in a patient affected by occult hepatitis B virus and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Leukemia & lymphoma 03/2010; 51(3):554-7. · 2.40 Impact Factor -
Article: Self-expanding stent placement as a bridge for safe hepatic chemoembolization in a patient with isolated spontaneous dissection of the celiac artery.
Journal of vascular and interventional radiology: JVIR 02/2009; 20(3):425-6. · 1.81 Impact Factor -
Article: Application of a new combined guiding technique in RF ablation of subphrenic liver tumors.
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ABSTRACT: We present an unreported technique used to treat with RF ablation hepatic subphrenic hepatocellular carcinoma. It consists in the combination of fluoroscopic and computed tomography guidance for lesions already embolized with lipiodol located at the hepatic dome, approached in parallel fashion with a 22-gauge chiba "finder" needle followed by the RF electrode.European Journal of Radiology 06/2008; 66(2):321-4. · 2.61 Impact Factor -
Article: Gingival ulcers as first manifestation of leishmaniasis and HIV infection.
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ABSTRACT: An abstract is unavailable. This article is available as HTML full text and PDF.AIDS (London, England) 02/2008; 22(1):160-1. · 4.91 Impact Factor -
Article: Visceral leishmaniasis in an Italian heart recipient: first case report.
The Journal of heart and lung transplantation: the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 01/2008; 26(12):1347-8. · 3.54 Impact Factor -
Article: Prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases among Colombian and Dominican female sex workers living in Catania, Eastern Sicily.
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ABSTRACT: STDs are a significant cause of illness throughout the world. Female sex workers (FSWs) are commonly perceived as belonging to a social group which may engage in high-risk behaviour for acquiring or transmitting HIV and other STDs. The number of immigrant women engaged in sex work has increased in Catania, Sicily, over the last 10 years. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis among Colombian and Dominican FSWs. In total 118 (63.78%) of the FSWs contacted in the course of the project agreed to participate in the study. All women enrolled were counselled on STDs/HIV, safer sex practices and the use of condoms. Blood samples were taken and tested for HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis. Of the 118 FSWs enrolled, all were negative for both HIV and HCV infection. Two women (1.6%) were positive for hepatitis B (HbsAg). Syphilis testing by VDRL showed three positive results (2.5%), which was confirmed by TPHA. This study showed that HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis seroprevalence among Colombian and Dominican FSWs remains low or very rare. It also indicates that these women were healthy when they arrived in Italy and that condom use with clients is high.Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 11/2006; 8(4):319-23. · 1.16 Impact Factor -
Article: MDCT anatomic assessment of right inferior phrenic artery origin related to potential supply to hepatocellular carcinoma and its embolization.
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ABSTRACT: To prospectively assess the anatomic variation of the right inferior phrenic artery (RIPA) origin with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans in relation to the technical and angiographic findings during transcatheter arterial embolization of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two hundred patients with hepatocellular carcinomas were examined with 16-section CT during the arterial phase. The anatomy of the inferior phrenic arteries was recorded, with particular reference to their origin. All patients with subcapsular HCC located at segments VII and VIII underwent arteriography of the RIPA with subsequent embolization if neoplastic supply was detected. The RIPA origin was detected in all cases (sensitivity 100%), while the left inferior phrenic artery origin was detected in 187 cases (sensitivity 93.5%). RIPAs originated from the aorta (49%), celiac trunk (41%), right renal artery (5.5%), left gastric artery (4%), and proper hepatic artery (0.5%), with 13 types of combinations with the left IPA. Twenty-nine patients showed subcapsular HCCs in segments VII and VIII and all but one underwent RIPA selective angiography, followed by embolization in 7 cases. MDCT assesses well the anatomy of RIPAs, which is fundamental for planning subsequent cannulation and embolization of extrahepatic RIPA supply to HCC.CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology 31(2):349-58. · 2.09 Impact Factor
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2006
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Università degli Studi di Catania
Catania, Sicily, Italy
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