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Introduction: Alcohol consumption (AC) represents a widespread cause of liver diseases affecting 10–20% of the population. The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between advanced liver fibrosis (ALF) measured by transient elastography (TE), laboratory parameters, and the amount of AC depending on non-modifiable risk factors such as age and gender. Methods: We examined 689 patients with an average age of 49.32 ± 14.31 years, 72.9% males, without liver pathology, who admitted a moderate/high consumption (female ≤ 7 versus > 7 drinks/week; male ≤ 14 versus > 14 drinks/week) for at least five years. The fibrosis level was adjusted according to transaminase levels. Predictive factors were established using univariate regression analysis. Results: ALF (≥F3) was detected in 19.30% of subjects, predominantly males (14.1%) and patients over 55 years (12.5%). Excessive consumption of distilled spirits is associated with ALF in females (OR = 4.5), males (OR = 6.43) and patients over 55 years (OR = 3.73). A particularity highlighted in both genders, regardless of the age group, was the negative correlation between the decrease in the number of platelets, the albumin concentration, and the appearance of AFL. Conclusions: Screening using TE represents an approach for early detection of ALF in asymptomatic populations and the development of a risk stratification scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the most important medical-surgical emergencies. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), defined as hemorrhage having its origin above Treitz'angle, is the most frequent type, and is suspected when the patient present with hemethemesis and/or melena. Etiological diagnosis is vital for the patients'prognosis, and it relies mostly on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE). However, endoscopy can show more than one bleeding or potentially bleeding lesion. Aim. The objective of our study was to analyze the frequence of multiple potentially bleeding lesions as seen in emergencies upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. Material and Methods. We performed a retrospective study on patients with acute UGIB presented in the Emergency Department of „St. Spiridon" Clinical County Hospital, investigated by UGIE, in the last six months; epidemiological, clinical and biologic data were recorded, as well as the results of UGIE. Furthermore, correlations between the presence of multiple potentially bleeding lesions and clinical and biological factors were made. Results. 480 patients with suspected acute UGIB were investigated by emergency UGIE. The bleeding source was found in 375 (78%) patients; among them, 278 (58%) patients had one single bleeding lesion, while in 97 (14%) patients more than one potentially bleeding lesion was found. For the remaining 105 (22%) patients, no obvious causal lesion were found, and they were further investigated. The most frequent unique lesions were peptic ulcers and gastro-oesophageal varices, while the most encountered associations were Mallory-Weiss syndrome and peptic ulcer, and gastrooesophageal varices and gastro-duodenal ulcer. The factors correlated with the presence of multiple potentially bleeding lesions were: age, alcohol consumption, the presence of cirrhosis and Charleson comorbidity index. Conclusions. Even if in most cases UGIE is diagnostic for UGIB, there are cases when no lesions are found and also cases with more than one potentially bleeding lesion. Older age, the alcohol consumption, cirrhotic patients and the presence of comorbidities are associated with multiple potentially bleeding lesion. Thorough clinical examination and accurate endoscopic exam are mandatory for the right diagnosis and treatment, to ensure the most favorable patients' outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]