Role of Vitamin D in Liver Disease and Complications of Advanced Chronic Liver Disease

Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient with many pleiotropic effects on health and various chronic diseases. The purpose of this review is to provide a detailed report on the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying vitamin D deficiency in patients with chronic liver disease, addressing the different liver etiologies and the condition of advanced chronic liver disease (cirrhosis) with related complications. To date, patients with liver disease, regardless of underlying etiology, have been shown to have reduced levels of vitamin D. There is also evidence of the predictive role of vitamin D values in complications and progression of advanced disease. However, specific indications of vitamin D supplementation are not conclusive concerning what is already recommended in the general population. Future studies should make an effort to unify and validate the role of vitamin D supplementation in chronic liver disease

Sensory Profiles in School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Descriptive Study Using the Sensory Processing Measure-2 (SPM-2)

Background: Sensory reactivity is considered one of the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and has been associated with poorer functional outcomes, behavioral difficulties, and autism severity across the lifespan. The characterization of the sensory processing in ASD has thus become crucial to identify the sensory and motor features influencing the development of personal autonomy. Objectives: The present study has two aims: (1) to compare the sensory processing between school-aged children with ASD and typically developing peers (TD); (2) to evaluate whether, within the ASD sample, the cognitive level and reported sensory symptoms explain the scores exhibited at the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM-2). Methods: The SPM-2 test was administered to the parents of 105 children with ASD and 70 TD. The ASD group was further subdivided into two groups, namely high and low functioning based on their cognitive level (High Functioning (HF), IQ > 80; Low Functioning (LF), IQ < 80). Results: ASD children exhibited higher scores throughout the SPM-2 total score and its multiple subscales. Within ASD, while HF and LF children did not differ in terms of the SPM-2 total score, a significant difference was found for the hearing, social participation, and balance and motion subscales. Conclusions: Aside from classical knowledge that the ASD population suffers from sensory processing disorders, we revealed that different sensory patterns are associated with high or low cognitive functioning. Beyond its neurobiological interest, such knowledge may be of fundamental importance for individualizing psychoeducational interventions in preschool- and school-aged children and later developmental stages

From Listing to Recovery: A Review of Nutritional Status Assessment and Management in Liver Transplant Patients

Liver transplantation (LT) is a complex surgical procedure requiring thorough pre- and post-operative planning and care. The nutritional status of the patient before, during, and after LT is crucial to surgical success and long-term prognosis. This review aims to assess nutritional status assessment and management before, during, and after LT, with a focus on patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. We performed a comprehensive topic search on MEDLINE, Ovid, In-Process, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed up to March 2023. It identifies key factors influencing the nutritional status of liver transplant patients, such as pre-existing malnutrition, the type and severity of liver disease, comorbidities, and immunosuppressive medications. The review highlights the importance of pre-operative nutritional assessment and intervention, close nutritional status monitoring, individualised nutrition care plans, and ongoing nutritional support and monitoring after LT. The review concludes by examining the effect of bariatric surgery on the nutritional status of liver transplant recipients. The review offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for optimising nutritional status before, during, and after LT

Early Sensory Profile in Autism Spectrum Disorders Predicts Emotional and Behavioral Issues

Background: Abnormal sensory reactivity is considered one of the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and has been associated with autism severity, poorer functional outcomes, and behavioral difficulties across the lifespan. Its early characterization could provide valuable insights into the processes favoring the instantiation of maladaptive behaviors. Objectives: The present study has two aims: (1) to describe the sensory profile of preschool children with ASD compared with an age-matched population of children with a diagnosis of language disorder (DLD) and typically developing (TD) control peers; (2) to explore within each group whether the sensory alterations play a predictive role in the instantiation of emotional and behavioral issues. Methods: The parents of 42 ASD, 18 DLD, and 56 TD filled out the Sensory Processing Measure—Preschool (SPM-P). To gather information on competencies, behaviors, and emotional problems of children, the Child Behavior Checklist 1½-5 (CBCL 1½-5) was also administered. Results: On the SPM-P, ASD and DLD samples generally had scores more compromised than control peers. The contrast between ASD and DLD was reflected in a higher (and highly significant) impairment on the social participation and hearing subscales, suggesting a greater sensitivity and a possible specificity of these scores for ASD. More importantly, linear regression analyses revealed a strong and predictive association for ASD children with SPM total scores explaining more than 50% of the variance of the CBCL 1½-5 total scores (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings reinforce the need to detect the abnormal sensory profiles of ASD already at an early stage and during clinical evaluations. Due to the impact on the emotional and behavioral manifestations, such a procedure has significant clinical and social implications, potentially guiding the development of new interventions relying on multisensory strategies

Mortality after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in older adult cirrhotic patients: a validated prediction model

none34Implantation of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) improves survival in cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites and portal hypertensive bleeding. However, the indication for TIPS in older adult patients (≥70 years) is debated and a specific prediction model developed in this particular setting is lacking. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a multivariable model for an accurate prediction of mortality in older adults.Vizzutti, Francesco; Celsa, Ciro; Calvaruso, Vincenza; Enea, Marco; Battaglia, Salvatore; Turco, Laura; Senzolo, Marco; Nardelli, Silvia; Miraglia, Roberto; Roccarina, Davide; Campani, Claudia; Saltini, Dario; Caporali, Cristian; Indulti, Federica; Gitto, Stefano; Zanetto, Alberto; Di Maria, Gabriele; Bianchini, Marcello; Pecchini, Maddalena; Aspite, Silvia; Di Bonaventura, Chiara; Citone, Michele; Guasconi, Tomas; Di Benedetto, Fabrizio; Arena, Umberto; Fanelli, Fabrizio; Maruzzelli, Luigi; Riggio, Oliviero; Burra, Patrizia; Colecchia, Antonio; Villa, Erica; Marra, Fabio; Cammà, Calogero; Schepis, FilippoVizzutti, Francesco; Celsa, Ciro; Calvaruso, Vincenza; Enea, Marco; Battaglia, Salvatore; Turco, Laura; Senzolo, Marco; Nardelli, Silvia; Miraglia, Roberto; Roccarina, Davide; Campani, Claudia; Saltini, Dario; Caporali, Cristian; Indulti, Federica; Gitto, Stefano; Zanetto, Alberto; Di Maria, Gabriele; Bianchini, Marcello; Pecchini, Maddalena; Aspite, Silvia; Di Bonaventura, Chiara; Citone, Michele; Guasconi, Tomas; Di Benedetto, Fabrizio; Arena, Umberto; Fanelli, Fabrizio; Maruzzelli, Luigi; Riggio, Oliviero; Burra, Patrizia; Colecchia, Antonio; Villa, Erica; Marra, Fabio; Cammà, Calogero; Schepis, Filipp