Objective To introduce the clinical significance and pathophysiologic aspects of the circulatory and cardiac complications in terminal stage cirrhosis. Methods Recently relevant literatures were reviewed and summarized. Results Haemodynamic changes in cirrhosis arose on the basis of combined humoral and nervous dysregulation, with abnormalities in cardiovascular regulation, volume distribution and cardiac performance. Conclusion Comprehending the mechanisms of cardiovascular complications will contribute a lot for the treatment of terminal stage cirrhosis.
Objective
To evaluate the efficiency and security of physical exercise with low intensity against malnutrition and sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis.
Methods
Between December 2014 and October 2015, 37 patients with cirrhosis were divided into two groups according to their willings, with 19 in the exercise group and 18 in the control group. Endurance of the exercise for 3 months were recorded. Mid-arm circumference, " up and go” time, width of portal vein and Child-Pugh score were compared before and after the research between the two groups.
Results
Three months later, the mid-arm circumference and the " up and go” time of the exercise group [(33.99±2.15) cm, (9.17±0.35) s] were better than those before the exercise [(32.09±2.58) cm, (9.77±0.46) s] and those in the control group [(31.93±2.04) cm, (9.76±0.30) s], and the differences above were all statistically significant (P<0.05). The change of the width of portal vein was positively correlated with pre-exercise body mass index in overweight patients (r=0.93, P=0.007).
Conclusions
Physical exercise with low intensity is safe and effective against malnutrition and sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis. Overweitht patiens or malnutrition at the early stage may benefit more.
ObjectiveTo study the application value of multi-slice CT portography (MSCTP) in the diagnosis and evaluation of esophageal and gastric varices (EGV) caused by cirrhosis.
MethodsPatients with cirrhosis diagnosed between September 2009 and December 2012 were screened in this study. And the consistency of MSCTP and digestive endoscopy in the diagnosis, classification and grading of EGV in cirrhosis were evaluated.
ResultsA total of 78 patients were included in this study, and there were 55 patients with EGV diagnosed by endoscopy, including 35, 16 and 4 patients with GOV1, GOV2 and IGV1 respectively by Satin type standards; and the number of patients with mild, moderate and severe EGV by general grading standards was 2, 15, and 37, respectively. In this cohort, the findings of MSCTP examination also showed that 58 patients had EGV, including 36, 17, 4 and 1 patients with GOV1, GOV2, IGV1 and IGV2 by Satin type standards; and the number of patients with grade I,Ⅱ andⅢ EGV by Kim grading standards was 5, 16 and 37, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that there was a high consistency between endoscopy and MSCTP in the diagnosis (Kappa=0.712, P=0.000), typing (Kappa=0.732, P=0.000) or grading (Kappa=0.863, P=0.000) of EGV.
ConclusionMSCTP has a high application value in the diagnosis and severity evaluation of EGV in patients with cirrhosis.
Objective To explore the clinical value of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid （Gd-EOB-DTPA） enhanced magnetic resonance （MR） imaging for cirrhosis-related nodules. Methods Nineteen patients who were suspected cirrhosis with lesions of liver were prospectively included for Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MR imaging test between Nov. 2011 and Jan. 2013. The hepatobiliary phase （HBP） images were taken in 20 minutes after agents’ injection. The images were diagnosed independently in two groups： group A， including the plain phase and dynamic phase images； group B， including plain phase， dynamic phase， and HBP phase images. The signal intensity （SI） of lesions in HBP images， background liver SI， and background noise standard deviation were measured by using a circular region of interest， then the lesion signal to noise ratio （SNR） and contrast signal to noise ratio （CNR） were calculated. Results Nineteen patients had 25 tumors in all， including 18 hepatocelluar carcinoma （HCC） and 7 regenerative nodule （RN） or dysplastic nodule （DN）， with the diameter ranged from 0.6 cm to 3.2 cm （average 1.3 cm） . Sixteen HCC manifested hypo SI relative to the normal liver， while 2 HCC manifested hyper SI at HBP. Five HCC had cystic necrosis with the necrotic area， and there were no enhancement in artery phase， while performed flocculent enhancement at HBP. Six RN or DN showed hyper SI while another 1 showed iso SI to background liver at HBP. The diagnostic accuracy rates of group A and group B were 80.0% （20/25） and 92.0% （23/25）. SNR of RN or DN at HBP was 132.90±17.21， and of HCC was 114.35±19.27， while the CNR of RN or DN was 19.47±8.20， and of HCC was 112.15±33.52. Conclusion Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MR imaging can improve the diagnosis capacity of cirrhosis-related nodules， so as to develop more accurate and reasonable treatment options.
Cirrhosis is an end stage of condition of various liver diseases with specific clinic and pathologic process. The incidence is high and it seriously affects the quality of life for patients. In order to obtain the best prevention and treatment for end-stage cirrhosis, we searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2004), SUMsearch (1981~2004) and MEDLINE (1981~2004), and identified 15 systematic reviews and 65 randomized controlled trials. We critically assessed the quality of studies. The results showed the principal treatment of cirrhosis was to deal with complications, such as the prevention and treatment of variceal bleeding, the treatment of ascites etc.
ObjectiveTo investigate impact of splenectomy plus pericardial devascularization on liver hemodynamics and liver function for liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension.
MethodsThe internal diameter, maximum velocity, minimum velocity, mean velocity, and flow volume of portal vein and hepatic artery of 42 cases of liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension were measured by Doppler ultrasonic instrument on day 1 before operation and on day 7 after operation. The free portal pressures at different phases (after open abdomen, after splenic artery ligation, after splenectomy, and after devasculanrization) were read from the disposable pressure sensor. Twenty-four healthy people through physical examination were selected as control.
Results① The free portal pressure of liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension was decreased from (29.12±1.40) mm Hg after open abdomen to (22.71±1.21) mm Hg after splenic artery ligation, and further decreased to (21.32±1.12) mm Hg after splenectomy, but increased to (22.42±1.15) mm Hg after devasculanrization, the difference was statisticly different (all P < 0.01). ② Compared with the healthy people, for the liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension, the internal diameter, maximum velocity, minimum velocity, and flow volume of portal vein were significantly enlarged (all P < 0.01), which of hepatic artery were significantly reduced (all P < 0.01) on day 1 before operation; On day 7 after operation, the internal diameter of portal vein was significantly reduced (P < 0.01), the maximum velocity, minimum velocity, and mean velocity of portal vein were significantly enlarged (all P < 0.01), but the internal diameter of hepatic artery was significantly reduced (P < 0.01), the maximum velocity, minimum velocity, mean velocity, and flow volume of hepatic artery were significantly enlarged (all P < 0.01). For the liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension, compared with the values on day 1 before operation, the internal diameter and the flow volume of portal vein were significantly reduced (all P < 0.01) on day 7 after operation; the internal diameter, maximum velocity, minimum velocity, mean velocity, and flow volume of hepatic artery were significantly enlarged (all P < 0.01) on day 7 after operation. ③ The Child-Pugh classification of liver function between before and after surgery had no significant difference (χ2=1.050, P > 0.05). ④ No death and no hepatic encephalopathy occurred, no thrombosis of splenic vein or portal vein was observed on day 7 after surgery.
Conclusionsplenectomy plus pericardial devascularization could decrease portal vein pressure and reduce blood flow of portal vein, while increase blood flow of hepatic artery, it doesn't affect liver function.
ObjectiveTo discuss the impact of health education for the patients with decompensated cirrhosis and their family members on patients' family life quality, psychological conditions, medication compliance, and re-admission rates.
MethodsWe selected 100 decompensated cirrhosis patients between December 2012 and December 2013, and randomized them into two groups with 50 patients in each. One week prior to discharge, we conducted a comprehensive nursing assessment for the patients and developed hospital care regimen. Patients were followed up after discharge for six months. The control group underwent routine health education and extended care, while the experimental group had an addition of health education and extended care intervention on their family members.
ResultsAnxiety and depression were alleviated in both the two groups. The psychological conditions of patients in the experimental group were significantly better than the control group (P<0.01). The total scores of quality of life was significantly different compared with the scores before intervention (P<0.01). Medication compliance improved more significantly in the experimental group after intervention (P<0.05). Re-admission rates decreased more significantly in the experimental group than the control group (P<0.01).
ConclusionHealth education and extended care intervention for patients and their family members can improve patients' psychological conditions, promote medication compliance, reduce readmission rates, and improve patients' quality of family life.
The anti-oxidative ability of cirrhotic liver tissues was evalated in rat models of cirrhotic liver which were induced by injecting carbon tetrachloride subcutaneously. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), general anti-oxidative ability (GAOA) and malonyldiadehyde (MDA) levels were determined in cirrhotic and normal rats. It was found that SOD and GAOA leves decreased (Ｐ＜0.05, Ｐ＜0.01)respective and MDA level increased(Ｐ＜0.05) significantly in cirrhotic rat liver. The results suggest that cirrhotic livers hav little ability to eliminate the superoxide free radicals as compared with normals and are more sensitive to is chemic-reperfusion or other unjurie.
Variceal bleeding in cirrhosis is one of the most challenging problems in gastroenterology. Bleeding from gastro-oesophageal varices is a main cause of early death (approximately 30%-50% at the first bleeding) in cirrhosis. The aim of our therapy is to locate the place of bleeding, control active bleeding and prevent rebleeding, but it is difficult sometimes. A number of treatment strategies, such as somatostain analogs, vasopressin, endoscopic therapy, transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunt (TIPS) have evolved over time, but which is better? New evidence of therapy for variceal haemorrhage will be introduced in Cirrhosis that includes: 1.Somatostatin, vasopressin, ligation, schlerotherapy and balloon tamponade for acute variceal bleeding; 2.β-blockers, ligation, schlerotherapy and shunt surgery for prophylaxis of primary variceal bleeding; 3.β-blockers, ligation, schlerotherapy, shunt surgery and TIPS for prophylaxis of variceal rebleeding; 4. Antibiotic prophylaxis for cirrhosis with gastrointestinal bleeding.
Objective Certificate Compound Zangyao Dadui for Cirrhosis of liver had unique curative effect. Method This randomized controlled study examined in 100 patients with established cirrhosis, with comparison with the effects of a combined therapy with Gantaile and hepatic growth factor (HGF). The patients in the treatment group (n=50) received Compound Zangyao Dadui, 2 grams and three times daily for three month, and the control group (n=50) with Combination of Gantailei and HGF, for the same period. Results The cure rate, improvement rate, ineffective rate, and total effective rate in the treatment group were 70% (35/50), 20% (10/50), 10% (5/50), and 90%, respectively, while they were 30% (15/50), 30% (15/50), 40% (20/50), and 60%, respectively, in the control group 0. The difference in the total effective rate between the two groups is statistically significant (Plt;0.01).
