Plasmons in Pb nanowire arrays on Si(557): Between one and two dimensions

The plasmon dispersion in arrays of nanowires of Pb close to an average Pb coverage of one monolayer was determined on the Si(557) surface using electron energy loss spectroscopy with both high energy and momentum resolution. While we find purely one-dimensional (1D) plasmon losses at a Pb concentration of 1.31 monolayers (ML), measured with respect to the Si(111) surface concentration, the 1.2 and 1.4 ML coverages exhibit wavelength-dependent transitions from 1D to anisotropic 2D properties. However, due to the high anisotropy in the system at all coverages, the dispersion curves exhibit 1D characteristics in both directions. This behavior seems to be related to the Pb-induced refacetting of the Si(557) surface, which depends on Pb coverage. It changes both effective system sizes and coupling strength between miniterraces. © 2011 American Physical Society.Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Japa

Computed tomography for the diagnosis of varices in liver cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

<p><b>Objectives:</b> This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) for varices in liver cirrhosis.</p> <p><b>Methods</b>: PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for the literature identification. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUSROC), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio (PLR and NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated. We performed the subgroup analyses according to the location of varices, CT technique, and study design. The study quality was assessed according to the QUADAS-2 tool.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Seventeen papers were eligible. The study quality was modest. The AUSROC was 0.8975 and 0.9494 for predicting any size and high-risk varices, respectively. Summary sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR of CT for predicting any size and high-risk varices were 0.87/0.80/3.67/0.18/22.70 and 0.87/0.88/7.52/0.12/65.55, respectively. According to the location of varices, the AUSROC was 0.9127 for predicting any size gastric varices alone; and the AUSROC was 0.8958 and 0.9461 for predicting any size and high-risk esophageal varices alone, respectively. According to the CT technique, the AUSROC of multi-detector CT (MDCT) was 0.9047 and 0.9490 for predicting any size and high-risk varices, respectively; and the AUSROC of MDCT esophagograms for predicting any size and high-risk varices was 0.8735 and 0.9664, respectively. In the subgroup analysis of prospective studies, the AUSROC was 0.9122 and 0.9507 for predicting any size and high-risk varices, respectively.</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> CT had a high accuracy for the diagnosis of varices in liver cirrhosis.</p

sj-docx-1-cat-10.1177_10760296231188718 - Supplemental material for Anticoagulation Therapy for Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis Associated With Acute Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-cat-10.1177_10760296231188718 for Anticoagulation Therapy for Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis Associated With Acute Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by Yuhang Yin, Le Wang, Fangbo Gao, Lei Liu and Xingshun Qi in Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis</p

Supersonic shear imaging for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis and portal hypertension in liver diseases: a meta-analysis

<p><b>Background and aims</b>: The meta-analysis aimed to summarize the technical success rate of supersonic shear imaging (SSI) and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of liver and spleen stiffness measurement (LSM and SSM) with SSI for the detection of liver fibrosis, portal hypertension, and gastroesophageal varices in liver diseases.</p> <p><b>Methods</b>: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. Technical success rate of SSI was pooled. Area under curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.</p> <p><b>Results</b>: Included studies regarding the diagnostic performance of SSI for liver fibrosis, portal hypertension, and esophageal varices numbered 28, 4, and 4 respectively. The pooled technical success rates of LSM and SSM were 95.3% and 75.5%, respectively. The AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of LSM/SSM for different stages of liver fibrosis were 0.85–0.94, 0.7–0.89, and 0.82–0.92, respectively. The AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of LSM were 0.84 (95%CI = 0.8–0.86), 0.79 (95%CI = 0.7–0.85), and 0.82 (95%CI = 0.72–0.88) for clinically significant portal hypertension, 0.85 (95%CI = 0.82–0.88), 0.8 (95%CI = 0.68–0.88), and 0.8 (95%CI = 0.6–0.92) for any varices, and 0.86 (95%CI = 0.83–0.89), 0.86 (95%CI = 0.76–0.92), and 0.61 (95%CI = 0.35–0.83) for high-risk varices, respectively.</p> <p><b>Conclusions</b>: LSM with SSI had a high diagnostic accuracy for liver fibrosis, but a moderate diagnostic accuracy for portal hypertension and esophageal varices.</p

Acid suppression in patients treated with endoscopic therapy for the management of gastroesophageal varices: a systematic review and meta-analysis

<p><b>Background and aim</b>: Endoscopic therapy is the cornerstone choice for the management of varices and variceal hemorrhage. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of acid suppression in patients treated with endoscopic therapy for gastroesophageal varices.</p> <p><b>Methods</b>: All eligible studies were searched via the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. Incidence of bleeding, mortality, ulcers, chest pain, and dysphagia after endoscopic therapy and length of stay were analyzed. Subgroup analyses were performed according to the types and major indications of endoscopic treatments. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated.</p> <p><b>Results</b>: Nine studies with 1470 patients were included. Acid suppression could significantly decrease the incidence of bleeding (OR = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.19–0.81, P = 0.01) and diminish the ulcer size (OR = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.38–1.57, P = 0.48) after endoscopic therapy. The subgroup analyses showed that acid suppression could significantly decrease the incidence of bleeding in patients undergoing prophylactic EVL, rather than in patients undergoing therapeutic EVL. There was no significant difference in the incidence of mortality, ulcers, chest pain, and dysphagia and length of stay between patients treated with and without acid suppression.</p> <p><b>Conclusion</b>: Acid suppression might be considered in patients undergoing prophylactic EVL for gastroesophageal varices.</p

ABO blood type and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis

<p><b>Background</b>: ABO blood type is an invariant factor. There is a link between ABO blood type and some malignancies, such as gastric, pancreatic, and skin cancer. The role of ABO blood type in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to explore the relationship between ABO blood type and risk of HCC.</p> <p><b>Methods</b>: Literature search was conducted among the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.</p> <p><b>Results</b>: Seven papers were included. They included 92,847 healthy subjects, 5,463 patients with hepatitis, 294 cirrhotic patients, and 3,322 HCC patients. The proportion of blood type O was significantly lower in HCC patients than healthy subjects (OR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.66–0.87, P < 0.0001) without any significant heterogeneity (P = 0.55, I² = 0%). The proportions of blood types A, B, and <i>AB</i> were not significantly different between HCC patients and healthy subjects. The proportion of ABO blood type was not significantly different between patients with HCC and those with hepatitis or cirrhosis.</p> <p><b>Conclusion</b>: HCC patients might have a lower proportion of blood type O than healthy subjects. Among the patients with chronic liver diseases, ABO blood type might not be associated with the risk of HCC.</p

Survival and prognostic indicators of Budd–Chiari syndrome: a systematic review of 79 studies

<p>This paper aimed to systematically review the survival of Budd–Chiari syndrome and to identify the most robust prognostic predictors. Overall, 79 studies were included. According to the treatment modalities, the median 1-, 5- and 10-year survival rate was 93, 83 and 73% after interventional radiological treatment; 81, 75 and 72.5% after surgery other than liver transplantation; 82.5, 70.2 and 66.5% after liver transplantation and 68.1, 44.4% and unavailable after medical therapy alone. According to the publication years, the median 1-, 5- and 10-year survival rate was 68.6, 44.4% and unavailable before 1990; 75.1, 69.5 and 57% during the year 1991–1995; 77, 69.6 and 65.6% during the year 1996–2000; 86.5, 74 and 63.5% during the year 2001–2005 and 90, 82.5 and 72% after 2006. Bilirubin, creatinine and ascites were more frequently identified as significant prognostic factors in univariate analyses. But their statistical significance was less frequently achieved in multivariate analyses.</p

Association of non-selective β blockers with the development of renal dysfunction in liver cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Non-selective β blockers (NSBBs) may negatively influence renal function through decreasing heart rate and cardiac output. This study aimed to systematically investigate their association. PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases were searched to identify all relevant studies evaluating the association of NSBBs with renal dysfunction in cirrhotic patients. Unadjusted and adjusted data were separately extracted. Odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) were pooled. Subgroup meta-analyses were performed according to the proportions of ascites and Child-Pugh class B/C and the mean model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework. Fourteen studies were finally included. Based on unadjusted data, NSBBs significantly increased the risk of developing renal dysfunction (OR = 1.49; p = 0.03), and this association remained significant in subgroup analyses of studies where the proportions of ascites was >70% and Child-Pugh class B/C was 100%. Based on adjusted data with propensity score matching (adjusted OR = 0.61; p = 0.08) and multivariable regression modelling (adjusted HR = 0.86; p = 0.713), NSBBs did not increase the risk of developing renal dysfunction, and this association remained not significant in subgroup analyses of studies where the proportions of ascites was >70% and NSBBs may not be associated with the development of renal dysfunction in liver cirrhosis. However, more evidence is required to clarify their association in specific populations. Non-selective β blockers (NSBBs) may negatively influence renal function through decreasing heart rate and cardiac output in liver cirrhosis.Our meta-analysis failed to support the association of NSBBs with an increased risk of developing renal dysfunction after covariate adjustment. Non-selective β blockers (NSBBs) may negatively influence renal function through decreasing heart rate and cardiac output in liver cirrhosis. Our meta-analysis failed to support the association of NSBBs with an increased risk of developing renal dysfunction after covariate adjustment.</p

Liver-to-abdominal area ratio for predicting the in-hospital mortality in advanced liver cirrhosis

<p><b>Objectives</b>: To identify the value of liver-to-abdominal area ratio (LAAR) score for predicting the in-hospital mortality in advanced cirrhotic patients.</p> <p><b>Methods</b>: All cirrhotic patients with Child-Pugh class B or C who were admitted between July 2012 and June 2014 and underwent abdominopelvic CT scans were considered in this retrospective observational study. The association of LAAR with in-hospital death was calculated. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed. The area under curve (AUC) was calculated.</p> <p><b>Results</b>: In the overall analysis of 128 cirrhotic patients with Child-Pugh class B or C, LAAR score was significantly associated with the risk of in-hospital death (p = 0.012). The AUC of LAAR score for predicting the in-hospital mortality was 0.764 (p < 0.0001). The best cut-off value was 0.29 with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 73.33%. In the subgroup analysis of 37 patients with Child-Pugh class C, LAAR score was significantly associated with the risk of in-hospital death (p = 0.008). The AUC of LAAR score was 0.821. The best cut-off value was 0.29 with a sensitivity of 85.71% and a specificity of 80%. In the subgroup analysis of 80 patients with moderate-severe ascites, LAAR score was not significantly associated with the risk of in-hospital death (p = 0.072). The AUC of LAAR score was 0.684 (p = 0.0158). The best cut-off value was 0.29 with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 63.89%.</p> <p><b>Conclusion</b>: LAAR score might be effective for predicting the in-hospital death of advanced cirrhosis.</p

Efficacy and safety of tolvaptan in cirrhotic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Tolvaptan has been approved for the management of cirrhosis-related complications according to the Japanese and Chinese practice guidelines, but not the European or American practice guidelines in view of FDA warning about its hepatotoxicity. This study aimed to systematically evaluate its efficacy and safety in cirrhosis. The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and/or safety of tolvaptan in cirrhosis. Risk ratios (RRs) and weight mean differences (WMDs) were calculated. The incidence of common adverse events (AEs) was pooled. Eight RCTs were included. Tolvaptan was significantly associated with higher rates of improvement of ascites (RR = 1.49, P P = 0.005) and incidence of any AEs (RR = 1.18, P = 0.003), but not serious AEs (RR = 0.86, P = 0.410). Tolvaptan was significantly associated with reductions in body weight (WMD = −1.30 kg, P P P P  Short-term use of tolvaptan may be considered in cirrhotic patients with ascites who have inadequate response to conventional diuretics and those with hyponatremia.</p