The Influence of Food Intake on Liver Stiffness Values Assessed by Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography—Preliminary Results

The present study assessed the influence of food intake on acoustic radiation force impulse elastography (ARFI) measurements. Seventy-three healthy volunteers were included: 57 subjects in the study group (on whom ARFI measurements were performed first in fasting condition, followed by measurements made 1h and 3h after food intake); and 16 subjects in the control group (on whom ARFI measurements were performed 3 times during a 3-h interval without eating). All subjects included in the study group received the same standard solid meal. In the study group, the mean liver stiffness (LS) values by ARFI increased significantly 1 h after food intake (1.51 ± 0.40 m/s vs. 1.27 ± 0.23, p = 0.003), but 3 h after the meal the differences were no longer significant (1.46 ± 0.51 vs. 1.27 ± 0.23, p = 0.06). In the control group, the mean LS values were similar in all 3 measurements. In conclusion, food intake significantly increased the LS values, thus ARFI measurements should be performed in fasting conditions.     

Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse and Supersonic Shear Imaging Versus Transient Elastography for Liver Fibrosis Assessment

Our study compared three elastographic methods—transient elastography (TE), acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging and supersonic shear imaging (SSI)—with respect to the feasibility of their use in liver fibrosis evaluation. We also compared the performance of ARFI imaging and SSI, with TE as the reference method. The study included 332 patients, with or without hepatopathies, in which liver stiffness was evaluated using TE, ARFI and SSI. Reliable measurements were defined as a median value of 10 (TE, ARFI imaging) or 5 (SSI) liver stiffness measurements with a success rate ≥60% and an interquartile range interval <30%. A significantly higher percentage of reliable measurements were obtained using ARFI than by using TE and SSI: 92.1% versus 72.2% (p < 0.0001) and 92.1% versus 71.3% (p < 0.0001). Higher body mass index and older age were significantly associated with inability to obtain reliable measurements of liver stiffness using TE and SSI. In 55.4% of patients, reliable liver stiffness measurements were obtained using all three elastographic methods, and ARFI imaging and TE were similarly accurate in diagnosing significant fibrosis and cirrhosis, with TE as the reference method.     

Liver Stiffness Measurements by Means of Supersonic Shear Imaging in Patients Without Known Liver Pathology

We used supersonic shear imaging to determine the liver stiffness (LS) values of 82 patients without known liver pathology and studied the factors that influence these measurements. Five LS measurements were made in each subject, and the median value, expressed in kilopascals, was calculated. Reliable LS measurements were obtained in 84.5% of patients. Higher body mass index and older age were associated with failure to obtain reliable measurements. The mean value of LS measurements determined by SSI in our cohort of patients without known liver pathology was 6 ± 1.4 kPa. The mean LS measurements determined by SSI for men were significantly higher than those for women; body mass index did not significantly influence SSI measurements. Thus, 6 kPa is the mean SSI value in patients without known liver pathology, with higher values being obtained in men.     

Experimental Study Regarding the Behavior at Different pH of Two Types of Co-Cr Alloys Used for Prosthetic Restorations

Cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloys are widely utilized in dentistry. The salivary pH is a significant factor, which affects the characteristics and the behavior of dental alloys through corrosion. This study aimed to evaluate the corrosion behavior in artificial saliva with different pH values (3, 5.7, and 7.6) of two commercial Co-Cr dental alloys manufactured by casting and by milling. Corrosion resistance was determined by the polarization resistance technique, and the tests were carried out at 37 ± 1 °C, in Carter Brugirard artificial saliva. After the electrochemical parameters, it can be stated that the cast Co-Cr alloy has the lowest corrosion current density, the highest polarization resistance, and the lowest speed of corrosion in artificial saliva with pH = 7.6. In the case of milled Co-Cr alloy, the same behavior was observed, but in artificial saliva with pH = 5.7, it recorded the most electropositive values of open circuit potential and corrosion potential. Although both cast and milled Co-Cr alloys presented a poorer corrosion resistance in artificial saliva with a more acidic pH value, the milled Co-Cr alloy had better corrosion behavior, making this alloy a better option for the prosthetic treatment of patients suffering from GERD.     

Relationship between platelet serotonin content and rejections of unfair offers in the ultimatum game

The ultimatum game (UG), a well-studied decision task used in experimental neuroeconomics, represents a simple two-person bargaining between a proposer and a responder. The proposer offers the responder how to split a sum of money. The responder decides whether to accept or reject the offer. When the responder accepts it, each player earns money according to the proposer's offer. If the offer is rejected, neither player gets anything. Rejections of “free” money in the UG represent a deviation from the standard economic model of rationality. This behaviour could be linked to adverse psychological reactions to unfair offers, including anger, hostility and impulsiveness. Currently, it is believed that the most plausible biological system related to anger and impulsivity is the serotonergic system. We hypothesize that serotonergic activity, as measured by platelet serotonin levels, will differentiate subjects who either reject or accept low UG offers. A sample of 60 economy students (31 males and 29 females, mean age: 24.4 ± 2.3 years) was investigated. As predicted, the mean platelet serotonin level was significantly lower in participants who reject unfair offers (€1 out of €10) than in those who accept (2.86 ± 0.13 versus 3.48 ± 0.11 nmol/10⁹ platelets, respectively, p < 0.001). We conclude that low platelet serotonin may serve as a reliable biomarker to identify people who are more likely to reject unfair ultimatum offers in an experimental neuroeconomic setting. Our pilot data seem to indicate that the serotonergic system may play an important role in the UG rejection behaviour.     

Clear-cell myoepithelial carcinoma of the salivary glands: a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study of two cases involving the submandibular gland with review of the literature

Myoepithelial carcinoma (MC) is an uncommon neoplasm of the salivary glands, and cases of the clear-cell (CC) variant are extremely rare. Two cases of MC of the CC variant arising in the left submandibular gland are described herein. Both cases, which involved elderly women, almost exclusively consisted of large glycogen-rich CCs. Both cases were immunopositive for several epithelial and myoepithelial markers, and electron microscopy (EM) demonstrated hybrid epithelial and myoid differentiation in both. Case 1 arose in a pre-existing pleomorphic adenoma ("ex mixed tumor MC"), while Case 2 was a "de novo MC". CC-MC is an aggressive tumor with frequent recurrence, lymph node, and systemic metastases. A total of 14 cases of this type of neoplasm have been reported so far in the salivary glands, two arising from the submandibular gland. To date, only four cases have been studied using EM. The cases of CC-MC presented here are the third and fourth ones, respectively, originating from the submandibular glands, and the first two cases arising from this location, in which EM investigation succeeded in demonstrating myoepithelial differentiation. CC-MC needs to be distinguished from diverse primary and secondary CC neoplasms.