AIM To build a regional database of chronic patients to define the clinical epidemiology of hepatitis B virus(HBV)-infected patients in the Tuscan public health care system.METHODS This study used a cross-sectional co...AIM To build a regional database of chronic patients to define the clinical epidemiology of hepatitis B virus(HBV)-infected patients in the Tuscan public health care system.METHODS This study used a cross-sectional cohort design. We evaluated chronic viral hepatitis patients with HBV referred to the outpatient services of 16 hospital units. Information in the case report forms included main demographic data, blood chemistry data, viral hepatitis markers, instrumental evaluations, and eligibility for treatment or ongoing therapy and liver transplantation. RESULTS Of 4015 chronic viral hepatitis patients, 1096(27.3%) were HBV infected. The case report form was correctly completed for only 833 patients(64% males, 36% females; mean age 50.1 ± 15.4). Of these HBV-infected patients, 73% were Caucasian, 21% Asian, 4% Central African, 1% North African and 1% American. Stratifying patients by age and nationality, we found that 21.7% of HBV-infected patients were aged < 34 years(only 2.8% were Italian). The most represented routes of transmission were nosocomial/dental procedures(23%), mother-to-child(17%) and sexual transmission(12%). The most represented HBV genotypes were D(72%) and A(14%). Of the patients, 24.7% of patients were HBe Ag positive, and 75.3% were HBe Ag negative. Of the HBV patients 7% were anti-HDV positive. In the whole cohort, 26.9% were cirrhotic(35.8% aged < 45 years), and 47% were eligible for or currently undergoing treatment, of whom 41.9 % were cirrhotic. CONCLUSION Only 27.3% of chronic viral hepatitis patients were HBV infected. Our results provide evidence of HBV infection in people aged < 34 years, especially in the foreign population not protected by vaccination. In our cohort of patients, liver cirrhosis was also found in young adults.展开更多
Ultrasonography(US) and the new applications US elastography(USE) and contrast-enhanced US(CEUS) are used in the screening of thyroid nodules,for which fine-needle aspiration biopsy(FNAB) is the best single diagnostic...Ultrasonography(US) and the new applications US elastography(USE) and contrast-enhanced US(CEUS) are used in the screening of thyroid nodules,for which fine-needle aspiration biopsy(FNAB) is the best single diagnostic test.The aim of the study was to compare the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV),and accuracy of the four examinations in nodules with cytological and histological diagnoses.The study used data from US,FNAB,USE(elasticity(ELX 2/1) index),and CEUS(Peak index and time to peak(TTP) index) evaluated in 73 thyroid nodules in 63 consecutive patients likely to undergo surgery.Cytological-histological correlation was available for 38 nodules.No correlation emerged between nodule size and cytological results.A significant(P=0.03) positive correlation between cumulative US findings and cytological results was found.In addition,significant correlations between cumulative US findings and cytology(P=0.02) and between cumulative US findings and histology(P<0.0001) were found.US showed the best specificity and PPV,and FNAB the best sensitivity.There was no significant difference in the ELX 2/1 index,Peak index,or TTP index among nodules subdivided according to cytological scores.No significant correlation was found between ELX 2/1 index,Peak index,and TTP index,on the one hand,and nodule size,US cumulative findings,cytology,and histology on the other hand.The sensitivity of the ELX 2/1 index was high,but its specificity was very low.The accuracy and PPV of USE were lower than those of the other procedures.Only the correlation between Peak index and cumulative US findings reached a value close to significance.Our ultimate aim is to minimise unnecessary thyroidectomy.US and FNAB continue to play a central diagnostic role.The use of a US score showed high specificity and PPV.The specificity of FNAB was low in this selected series because of the numbers of indeterminate cytological responses.USE and CEUS are innovative techniques that need to be standardized.The ELX 2/1 index,Peak index,and TTP index seem to be unrelated to histology.The best statistical data on USE and CEUS concerned their sensitivity and PPV,respectively.At present,USE and CEUS are too time-consuming and of limited utility in selecting patients for surgery.展开更多
Assaying parathyroid hormone(PTH) in the washing liquid after fine-needle aspiration biopsy(FNAB) seems to be a valid approach to locate parathyroid tissue.PTH-FNAB was evaluated in 47 patients with a clinical picture...Assaying parathyroid hormone(PTH) in the washing liquid after fine-needle aspiration biopsy(FNAB) seems to be a valid approach to locate parathyroid tissue.PTH-FNAB was evaluated in 47 patients with a clinical picture of primary hyper-parathyroidism(PHP) and ultrasonography(US) suggestive of parathyroid lesion.The patients were subdivided into two groups on the basis of the absence or presence of US thyroid alterations.The result of PTH-FNAB was compared with those of cytology,scintigraphy and,in 24 patients,surgical outcome.PTH-FNAB samples with a value higher than that recorded in the serum and higher than our institutional cut-off were deemed to be probable samples of parathyroid tissue.Cytology proved diagnostic for benign thyroid lesions,non-diagnostic for thyroid lesions,hyperplastic parathyroid tissue,undetermined or malignant thyroid lesions and other lesions in 45%,30%,17%,4%,and 4% of cases,respectively.In 47% of cases,PTH-FNAB indicated that the sample had been taken in parathyroid tissue.In patients without US alterations,the diagnostic accuracy of PTH-FNAB was greater than that of scintigraphy.After surgery,comparison between the results of PTH-FNAB and scintigraphy,in terms of positive predictive value(PPV),revealed the superiority of PTH-FNAB;PPV was 94% for FNAB and 71% for scintigraphy,while sensitivity was 83% and 69%,respectively.PTH-FNAB evaluation after FNAB appears to be more diagnostic than cytology and scintigraphy.Of all the procedures used,PTH-FNAB appears to be the method of choice when the target is US suggestive and reachable.PTH-FNAB appears to be a useful method of guiding surgical intervention.展开更多
Differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC) generally has a favorable outcome.Thyroid disease,treatments,stress,and comorbidity can compromise health-related quality of life(QoL) and indirectly weigh upon the outcome. From ...Differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC) generally has a favorable outcome.Thyroid disease,treatments,stress,and comorbidity can compromise health-related quality of life(QoL) and indirectly weigh upon the outcome. From 2004 to 2008,we evaluated QoL longitudinally in 128 DTC subjects.During scheduled examinations,subjects were asked to undergo a semi-structured psychiatric interview and five rated inventories.The same examination was conducted in 219 subjects after surgery for benign thyroid pathology.Low scores represent a better QoL.DTC and control subjects were similar in terms of age,male/female ratio,concomitant psychopharmacological treatments,and frequency of psychiatric diseases.In DTC subjects,Billewicz scale(BS) scores showed an increasing trend over time,especially among females.The ad hoc thyroid questionnaire(TQ) scores were similar in both groups and did not change over time,but at the end of the study ad hoc TQ and BS were significantly related.Ad hoc TQ scores were also related to age on entry to the study.In both male and female DTC subjects,Hamilton's tests for anxiety(HAM-A) ,but not for depression(HAM-D),showed an improving trend.At the end of the study,HAM-A and HAM-D scores were comparable to those of the control group.HAM-A and HAM-D were both positively correlated with the stage of cancer and the time between diagnosis and treatment.Only HAM-D correlated with age on entry to the study.Kellner symptom questionnaire(KSQ) item scores were higher in DTC subjects than in controls.The change over time in the items including anxiety,somatization,depression,and hostility was significant.Somatization and hostility were more significantly reduced in DTC females than in DTC males.Hostility scores were significantly lower in DTC subjects than in controls at the end of the study.Somatization and depression were significantly related to staging on diagnosis and age on entry to the study.Our study confirms a wide variation of illness perception in DTC subjects,which is generally unrelated to the favorable clinical follow-up of the disease.Psychological evaluation during long-term follow-up im-proved QoL scores,which reached the same levels noted in subjects with a history of thyroid surgery for benign thyroid pathology.Our data indicate that special attention should be paid to QoL in older DTC subjects and those with more severe staging on diagnosis.展开更多
The cytology of 130 indeterminate nodules （Thy 3） was retrospectively reviewed according to the British Thyroid Association 2014 classification. Nodules were divided into Thy 3a （atypical features） and Thy 3f （fo...The cytology of 130 indeterminate nodules （Thy 3） was retrospectively reviewed according to the British Thyroid Association 2014 classification. Nodules were divided into Thy 3a （atypical features） and Thy 3f （follicular lesion） categories. Histology was available as a reference for 97 nodules. Pre-surgical evaluations comprised biochemical tests, color-Doppler ultrasonogrephy （US）, semi-quantitative elastography-US （USE）, contrast-enhanced US （CEUS）, and mutation analysis from cytological slides. Thyroid malignancy was the final diagnosis for 19% of surgically- treated nodules. No statistically significant difference in the risk of malignancy was found between Thy 3a （26%） and Thy 3f （14%） nodules. Histology of the Thy 3a and Thy 3f nodules showed a higher incidence of Hurtle cell adenomas in Thy 3f （29%） than in Thy 3a （3%） nodules （P=0.01）. The only pre-surgical difference concerned the BRAF V600E mutation, which was positive in some Thy 3a but not in any Thy 3f nodules （P=0.04）. Receiver-operating characteristic （ROC） analysis was used to obtain cut-off values from US （score）, USE （ELX 2/1 strain index）, and CEUS （time-to- peak index and peak index） data. The cut-off values were similar for Thy 3a and Thy 3f nodules. Data showed that malignancy can be suspected if the US score is 〉2, ELX 1/2 strain index 〉1, time-to-peakindex 〉1, and peak index 〈1. In a sub-group of 24 revised nodules （12 Thy 3a and 12 Thy 3f） with histology as a reference, the diagnostic power of cumulative pre-surgical analysis by means of US, USE, and CEUS showed high positive and negative predictive values （83% and 100%, respectively） for the presence of malignancy in Thy 3a and Thy 3f nodules. In conclusion, in our series of revised Thy 3 nodules, malignancy was low and displayed no significant differences between Thy 3a and Thy 3f categories. The use of cut-offs based on histology as a reference could reduce surgery. Our data support the conviction that, in mutation-negative Thy 3a and Thy 3f nodules, observation should be the first choice when not all instrumental results are suspect.展开更多
文摘AIM To build a regional database of chronic patients to define the clinical epidemiology of hepatitis B virus(HBV)-infected patients in the Tuscan public health care system.METHODS This study used a cross-sectional cohort design. We evaluated chronic viral hepatitis patients with HBV referred to the outpatient services of 16 hospital units. Information in the case report forms included main demographic data, blood chemistry data, viral hepatitis markers, instrumental evaluations, and eligibility for treatment or ongoing therapy and liver transplantation. RESULTS Of 4015 chronic viral hepatitis patients, 1096(27.3%) were HBV infected. The case report form was correctly completed for only 833 patients(64% males, 36% females; mean age 50.1 ± 15.4). Of these HBV-infected patients, 73% were Caucasian, 21% Asian, 4% Central African, 1% North African and 1% American. Stratifying patients by age and nationality, we found that 21.7% of HBV-infected patients were aged < 34 years(only 2.8% were Italian). The most represented routes of transmission were nosocomial/dental procedures(23%), mother-to-child(17%) and sexual transmission(12%). The most represented HBV genotypes were D(72%) and A(14%). Of the patients, 24.7% of patients were HBe Ag positive, and 75.3% were HBe Ag negative. Of the HBV patients 7% were anti-HDV positive. In the whole cohort, 26.9% were cirrhotic(35.8% aged < 45 years), and 47% were eligible for or currently undergoing treatment, of whom 41.9 % were cirrhotic. CONCLUSION Only 27.3% of chronic viral hepatitis patients were HBV infected. Our results provide evidence of HBV infection in people aged < 34 years, especially in the foreign population not protected by vaccination. In our cohort of patients, liver cirrhosis was also found in young adults.
文摘Ultrasonography(US) and the new applications US elastography(USE) and contrast-enhanced US(CEUS) are used in the screening of thyroid nodules,for which fine-needle aspiration biopsy(FNAB) is the best single diagnostic test.The aim of the study was to compare the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV),and accuracy of the four examinations in nodules with cytological and histological diagnoses.The study used data from US,FNAB,USE(elasticity(ELX 2/1) index),and CEUS(Peak index and time to peak(TTP) index) evaluated in 73 thyroid nodules in 63 consecutive patients likely to undergo surgery.Cytological-histological correlation was available for 38 nodules.No correlation emerged between nodule size and cytological results.A significant(P=0.03) positive correlation between cumulative US findings and cytological results was found.In addition,significant correlations between cumulative US findings and cytology(P=0.02) and between cumulative US findings and histology(P<0.0001) were found.US showed the best specificity and PPV,and FNAB the best sensitivity.There was no significant difference in the ELX 2/1 index,Peak index,or TTP index among nodules subdivided according to cytological scores.No significant correlation was found between ELX 2/1 index,Peak index,and TTP index,on the one hand,and nodule size,US cumulative findings,cytology,and histology on the other hand.The sensitivity of the ELX 2/1 index was high,but its specificity was very low.The accuracy and PPV of USE were lower than those of the other procedures.Only the correlation between Peak index and cumulative US findings reached a value close to significance.Our ultimate aim is to minimise unnecessary thyroidectomy.US and FNAB continue to play a central diagnostic role.The use of a US score showed high specificity and PPV.The specificity of FNAB was low in this selected series because of the numbers of indeterminate cytological responses.USE and CEUS are innovative techniques that need to be standardized.The ELX 2/1 index,Peak index,and TTP index seem to be unrelated to histology.The best statistical data on USE and CEUS concerned their sensitivity and PPV,respectively.At present,USE and CEUS are too time-consuming and of limited utility in selecting patients for surgery.
文摘Assaying parathyroid hormone(PTH) in the washing liquid after fine-needle aspiration biopsy(FNAB) seems to be a valid approach to locate parathyroid tissue.PTH-FNAB was evaluated in 47 patients with a clinical picture of primary hyper-parathyroidism(PHP) and ultrasonography(US) suggestive of parathyroid lesion.The patients were subdivided into two groups on the basis of the absence or presence of US thyroid alterations.The result of PTH-FNAB was compared with those of cytology,scintigraphy and,in 24 patients,surgical outcome.PTH-FNAB samples with a value higher than that recorded in the serum and higher than our institutional cut-off were deemed to be probable samples of parathyroid tissue.Cytology proved diagnostic for benign thyroid lesions,non-diagnostic for thyroid lesions,hyperplastic parathyroid tissue,undetermined or malignant thyroid lesions and other lesions in 45%,30%,17%,4%,and 4% of cases,respectively.In 47% of cases,PTH-FNAB indicated that the sample had been taken in parathyroid tissue.In patients without US alterations,the diagnostic accuracy of PTH-FNAB was greater than that of scintigraphy.After surgery,comparison between the results of PTH-FNAB and scintigraphy,in terms of positive predictive value(PPV),revealed the superiority of PTH-FNAB;PPV was 94% for FNAB and 71% for scintigraphy,while sensitivity was 83% and 69%,respectively.PTH-FNAB evaluation after FNAB appears to be more diagnostic than cytology and scintigraphy.Of all the procedures used,PTH-FNAB appears to be the method of choice when the target is US suggestive and reachable.PTH-FNAB appears to be a useful method of guiding surgical intervention.
文摘Differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC) generally has a favorable outcome.Thyroid disease,treatments,stress,and comorbidity can compromise health-related quality of life(QoL) and indirectly weigh upon the outcome. From 2004 to 2008,we evaluated QoL longitudinally in 128 DTC subjects.During scheduled examinations,subjects were asked to undergo a semi-structured psychiatric interview and five rated inventories.The same examination was conducted in 219 subjects after surgery for benign thyroid pathology.Low scores represent a better QoL.DTC and control subjects were similar in terms of age,male/female ratio,concomitant psychopharmacological treatments,and frequency of psychiatric diseases.In DTC subjects,Billewicz scale(BS) scores showed an increasing trend over time,especially among females.The ad hoc thyroid questionnaire(TQ) scores were similar in both groups and did not change over time,but at the end of the study ad hoc TQ and BS were significantly related.Ad hoc TQ scores were also related to age on entry to the study.In both male and female DTC subjects,Hamilton's tests for anxiety(HAM-A) ,but not for depression(HAM-D),showed an improving trend.At the end of the study,HAM-A and HAM-D scores were comparable to those of the control group.HAM-A and HAM-D were both positively correlated with the stage of cancer and the time between diagnosis and treatment.Only HAM-D correlated with age on entry to the study.Kellner symptom questionnaire(KSQ) item scores were higher in DTC subjects than in controls.The change over time in the items including anxiety,somatization,depression,and hostility was significant.Somatization and hostility were more significantly reduced in DTC females than in DTC males.Hostility scores were significantly lower in DTC subjects than in controls at the end of the study.Somatization and depression were significantly related to staging on diagnosis and age on entry to the study.Our study confirms a wide variation of illness perception in DTC subjects,which is generally unrelated to the favorable clinical follow-up of the disease.Psychological evaluation during long-term follow-up im-proved QoL scores,which reached the same levels noted in subjects with a history of thyroid surgery for benign thyroid pathology.Our data indicate that special attention should be paid to QoL in older DTC subjects and those with more severe staging on diagnosis.
文摘The cytology of 130 indeterminate nodules （Thy 3） was retrospectively reviewed according to the British Thyroid Association 2014 classification. Nodules were divided into Thy 3a （atypical features） and Thy 3f （follicular lesion） categories. Histology was available as a reference for 97 nodules. Pre-surgical evaluations comprised biochemical tests, color-Doppler ultrasonogrephy （US）, semi-quantitative elastography-US （USE）, contrast-enhanced US （CEUS）, and mutation analysis from cytological slides. Thyroid malignancy was the final diagnosis for 19% of surgically- treated nodules. No statistically significant difference in the risk of malignancy was found between Thy 3a （26%） and Thy 3f （14%） nodules. Histology of the Thy 3a and Thy 3f nodules showed a higher incidence of Hurtle cell adenomas in Thy 3f （29%） than in Thy 3a （3%） nodules （P=0.01）. The only pre-surgical difference concerned the BRAF V600E mutation, which was positive in some Thy 3a but not in any Thy 3f nodules （P=0.04）. Receiver-operating characteristic （ROC） analysis was used to obtain cut-off values from US （score）, USE （ELX 2/1 strain index）, and CEUS （time-to- peak index and peak index） data. The cut-off values were similar for Thy 3a and Thy 3f nodules. Data showed that malignancy can be suspected if the US score is 〉2, ELX 1/2 strain index 〉1, time-to-peakindex 〉1, and peak index 〈1. In a sub-group of 24 revised nodules （12 Thy 3a and 12 Thy 3f） with histology as a reference, the diagnostic power of cumulative pre-surgical analysis by means of US, USE, and CEUS showed high positive and negative predictive values （83% and 100%, respectively） for the presence of malignancy in Thy 3a and Thy 3f nodules. In conclusion, in our series of revised Thy 3 nodules, malignancy was low and displayed no significant differences between Thy 3a and Thy 3f categories. The use of cut-offs based on histology as a reference could reduce surgery. Our data support the conviction that, in mutation-negative Thy 3a and Thy 3f nodules, observation should be the first choice when not all instrumental results are suspect.
