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Introduction: Transabdominal ultrasound (TU) pancreatic 2D-SWE elastography is a developing technique that needs to be protocolized., Objectives: Establish a protocol for image acquisition and measurement of TU pancreatic - 2D-SWE elastography and estimate the minimum number of measurements to be performed., Materials and Methods: Ten measurements of pancreatic elasticity were taken in healthy volunteers using TU-2D-SWE, following a strict protocol for image acquisition and measurement., Results: The 70% of the participants were women, with an average age, weight, and BMI of 49.5±15.7 years, 65.9±11.9kg, and 24.5±4.2kg/m 2 , respectively. Measurements were taken from the body (70%), tail (16.7%), and pancreatic head (13.3%). The median mean velocity and elasticity were 1.46±0.25cm/sec and 6.46±2.87KPa, respectively. The ROI depth was 4.12±1cm and the SP-ROI distance was 5.2mm on average. There were no statistically significant differences between the 10 measurements. The reliability analysis of the measurements showed high internal consistency and repeatability. Taking 5-6 measurements ensured high concordance with the ten reference measurements. The measurements were significantly lower when the SP-ROI values were intermediate (0.3-0.6cm). The measurement accuracy was higher when performed at a depth less than 4.8cm., Conclusion: To measure pancreatic elasticity using TU-2D-SWE, we propose a strict protocol for image acquisition and measurement, taking a minimum of 5 measurements in the best visualized and accessible pancreatic portion, and preferably at a depth of less than 4.8cm., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objectives: TPE drastically reduces serum triglyceride (sTG), but its role in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) or at risk of developing it, is not well established. The objectives were to assess the effectiveness and safety of TPE in the treatment of severe HTG (sHTG), as well as to evaluate the severity of HTG-AP treated with TPE., Materials and Methods: Observational-retrospective-single-center study, in which a descriptive analysis of sHTG treated with TPE was conducted, with the aim of treating HTG-AP or preventing its recurrence. TPE was performed if sTG≥ 1000 mg/dL after 24 hours of admission., Results: 42 TPE were performed to treat 35 sHTG in 23 patients: 29 HTG-AP, and 6 sHTG with previous HTG-AP. Among the patients, 37% (13/55) were women, with 37 ± 14 years-old, 74.3% had normal BMI (25/35), 34% (12/35) were drinking > 40 g/alcohol/day and 54% (19/35) were diabetics. TPE significantly reduced the baseline sTG (4425 ± 2782 mg/dL vs. 709 ± 353 mg/dL, p < 0.001) in a single session, achieving a mean percentage reduction of 79 ± 13%; 20% (7/35) of sHTG cases required two TPE sessions to reduce sTG to < 1000 mg/dL. Adverse effects were reported in 4/42 TPE sessions (9,5%). sHTG-AP was observed in 3% of cases (1/29), and there were no deaths. sTG at 24 hours of admission showed no relation with the severity of APs., Conclusion: The treatment of sHTG with TPE, with the aim of treating HTG-AP or preventing its recurrence, reduces sTG quickly and safety., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

We present the endoscopic finding of a juxtapapillary duodenal pyogenic granuloma in a patient under study for chronic recurrent anemia. The images show the presence of an enlarged papilla, with an exophytic growth of erythematous and friable tissue at its lower border. Although this is a very rare entity, it is necessary to take it into account in the differential diagnosis of refractory anemia because there is an effective endoscopic treatment for it.

Cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (cP-NET) are a diagnostic challenge for clinic, since sometimes nor imaging features, cytology, or the study of biological markers in pancreatic cyst fluid (PCF), are able to provide the nature of the lesion, and therefore the definitive diagnostic is often made in the surgical piece. Is not infrequent that the lesions are wrongly defined as benign, in special when the cytology is negative for malignancy and the PCL is not mucinous and has a high glucose and a low CEA. We could incorporate new markers to improve the diagnostic performance of PCF samples, like chromogranin A, as in our case may be the only specific finding to detect a cP-TNE.

Introduction: Angelman syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder of genetic origin, with important clinical motor, behavioural, communicative and electroencephalographic manifestations, with particular relevance as regards the presence of epileptic seizures., Aims: To describe the electroencephalographic characteristics (qualitatively and quantitatively) of patients diagnosed with Angelman syndrome and to determine the electroencephalographic profile according to age and genetic alteration., Patients and Methods: A retrospective observational study in which the demographic, clinical and electroencephalographic characteristics of 51 patients with Angelman syndrome were analysed., Results: A higher delta power was evident in all brain regions, with a maximum peak in the frontopolar and temporal regions, and a lower power in the alpha and beta frequency range in all regions, with a greater preponderance in younger patients, and a trend that decreases with age. The coherence showed a predominance of delta and theta in the frontopolar region, which was higher for all frequencies in the deletion group, where delta was predominant, especially in the frontopolar region., Conclusion: The electroencephalogram could be a useful biomarker as a qualitative and quantitative tool in the investigation of Angelman syndrome and in measuring the response to possible therapies under investigation.

The Spanish Society of Gastroenterology (SEPD) has published a consensus document that discusses the key standards and recommendations for organizing digestive system units (DSUs) in the 21st century. This is aimed at quality, efficient and patient-centered health care.

Background: the training program of the gastroenterology specialty that is mandatory for resident physicians, obliges them to be proficient in diagnostic and therapeutic digestive ultrasound tools., Methodology: the Asociación Española de Ecografía Digestiva (AEED) performed a survey of the 93 Departments of Gastroenterology with training programs for resident physicians in gastroenterology, in order to assess the exact situation of training in digestive ultrasound in Spain., Results: only 31 of the 93 (33%) Departments of Gastroenterology were able to provide training in Digestive Ultrasound. Moreover, 33% (48 out of 148) of the residents in gastroenterology did not receive specific training in digestive ultrasound. Whereas, 31% (46 out of 148) had received some specific training, but with ample room for improvement. These deficiencies were spread throughout the Spanish regions (Autonomous Communities) in an uneven manner, with almost half totally lacking gastroenterology departments that were capable of providing digestive ultrasound training., Conclusions: there is a significant deficit of gastroenterology departments capable of providing training in digestive ultrasound to residents, causing a significant training inequality. Until this situation can be reversed, the AEED has designed a training project in digestive ultrasound aimed at providing adequate training to all residents in gastroenterology as required.

The abdominal ultrasound (AU) is a diagnostic imaging modality that is yet to be established in most Gastrointestinal (GI) Units in Spain. This is largely due to the difficulties that GI specialists face with regard to the appropriate training received when starting the specialty. Insufficient resources have been allocated to develop AU units in many GI units where AUs are performed. The equipment is obsolete and there are no adaptations to the needs of the GI specialist to provide good medical care. Thus, due to all the above, the AU does not hold the position it deserves in our specialty. This probably stems from a lack of impulse and/or support to the technique, which has underestimated its usefulness and has limited the implementation of resources in the GI units. For the AU to overcome these obstacles, it needs to be considered as a process or a series of activities based on scientific evidence and the experience of professionals that achieves a result that covers the patients' needs with minimal risk. In this article, we defend the need to boost AU as a key discipline for the diagnosis of digestive diseases. Quality is considered as the key aspect on which this transformation and improvement is founded.

Background/objectives: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is an important complication of chronic pancreatitis (CP). Guidelines recommend to rule out EPI in CP, to detect those patients who would benefit from pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of EPI in patients with CP without follow-up in the last 2 years and to describe their nutritional status and quality of life (QoL)., Methods: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter Spanish study. CP patients without follow-up by a gastroenterologist or surgeon in at least 2 years were included. EPI was defined as fecal elastase test <200mcg/g. For nutritional assessment, laboratory and anthropometric data were obtained. QoL was investigated using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire., Results: 64 patients (mean age 58.8±10.3 years, 85.9% men) from 10 centers were included. Median time since diagnosis of CP was 58.7 months [37.7-95.4]. Forty-one patients (64.1%) had EPI. Regarding nutritional status, the following differences were observed (EPI vs. Non-EPI): BMI (23.9±3.5kg/m 2 vs. 25.7±2.5, p=0.03); glucose (121 [96-189] mg/dL vs. 98 [90-116], p=0.006); HbA1c 6.6% [6.0-8.4] vs. 5.5 [5.3-6.0], p=0.0005); Vitamin A (0.44mg/L [0.35-0.57] vs. 0.53 [0.47-0.63], p=0.048) and Vitamin E (11.2±5.0μg/ml vs. 14.4±4.3, p=0.03). EPI group showed a worse EORTC QLQ-C30 score on physical (93.3 [66.7-100] vs. 100 [93.3-100], p=0.048) and cognitive function (100 [83.3-100] vs. 100 [100-100], p=0.04)., Conclusions: Prevalence of EPI is high in patients with CP without follow-up. EPI group had higher levels of glucose, lower levels of vitamins A and E and worse QoL., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is an uncommon form of portal hypertension that occurs in hematopoietic-cell transplant recipients who receive intense conditioning treatments. The diagnosis is clinical and it is usually delayed, because in these patients there are many causes that can damage the liver and can delay its detection. We present the case of a 47-year-old man, whose diagnosis was made with clinical and analytical data supported by ultrasound signs that showed hepatic congestion. After treatment with defibrotide the patient improved clinically and analytically. Hepatic vascularization and perfusion also improved. Therefore, abdominal doppler ultrasound is shown as a noninvasive exploration useful for the clinical management of SOS and as an early marker of good clinical evolution.

Background: Lymphangiomas are benign tumours, considered to be congenital malformations of the lymphatic system that predominately affect children, with only a few cases reported in adults. The most common sites of these lesions are the neck (75%) and axillary region (20%), but rarely found in the spleen., Objective: A description is presented of 3 cases of incidentally detected splenic lymphangioma, one in a child and in 2 adults, respectively, as well as a literature review., Clinical Cases: After a clinical and physical examination, all patients had an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan and a complete splenectomy, followed by a histopathological study on the removed spleen. Two patients were asymptomatic, and the paediatric patient referred to intermittent abdominal pain without other symptoms. The clinical and physical examinations related to the mass were negative. The final diagnosis was based on a combination of radiological and histopathological findings. Total splenectomy was undertaken in all cases without complications., Conclusions: Splenic lymphangioma is very rare, and more so in adults. This condition is often asymptomatic and is incidentally detected by imagenology due to any other differet cause. The final diagnosis should be based on a combination of clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings. Splenectomy is the treatment of choice and the prognosis is good., (Copyright © 2015 Academia Mexicana de Cirugía A.C. Published by Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.)

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is an infrequent, nonadenomatous, acquired polyposis that is associated with ectodermic alterations. The etiopathogenesis and optimal therapeutic management are unknown. We present a case of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome in a 58-year-old man who, after combined treatment with corticosteroids, disodium cromoglycate, loratadine, ciprofloxacin, and zinc, showed complete clinical and partial endoscopic remission. The polypoid lesions of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome can be reversed with medical treatment. Consequently, the natural history of the disease can be modified and its prognosis improved.