BACKGROUND Cholelithiasis affects an estimated 20 million people in the United States yearly; 20% of symptomatic patients will develop acute cholecystitis (AC). A recent single-center study estimating test characteristics of point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) for the detection of AC, as defined by gallstones plus sonographic Murphy's or pericholecystic fluid or gallbladder wall-thickening, r...

BACKGROUND Animal experiments have shown a protective effect of vitamin C on the formation of gallstones. Few data in humans suggest an association between reduced vitamin C intake and increased prevalence of gallstone disease. The aim of this study was to assess the possible association of regular vitamin C supplementation with gallstone prevalence. METHODS An observational, population-based...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Gallstones are a frequent complication of hemolytic anemias. The association with the mutation of the A(TA)nTAA motif of the promoter of the bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase gene has also been reported to increase the risk of gallstones. We studied the prevalence of cholelithiasis in thalassemia minor and the role of the Gilbert mutation. DESIGN AND METHODS A gr...

OBJECTIVE To observe the changes of intracellular free calcium level ([Ca(2+)]i) in gallbladder cells of guinea pigs with gallstones so as to study the mechanisms of gallstone formation and the prevention and treatment function of traditional Chinese herbs for nourishing the liver. METHODS Eighty guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups, which were normal control group, untreated gr...

BACKGROUND Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) have an increased prevalence of gallstones. AIMS To study prospectively the incidence of gallstones and gall bladder contractility in patients with SCI. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty six consecutive patients with SCI were studied: 18 patients with SCI above thoracic 10 neuronal segment (> T10) and 18 patients with SCI below T10 (< T10). An equ...

OBJECTIVE It has been suggested that apo A-I can inhibit cholesterol crystal nucleation in vitro, and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a safe and effective treatment for selected patients with cholesterol gallstones the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of UDCA on the steady-state levels (SSL) of apo A-I mRNA in the liver, as well as serum apo A-I, in patients with cholesterol galls...

Epidemiological and clinical studies have found that gallstone prevalence is twice as high in women as in men at all ages in every population studied. Hormonal changes occurring during pregnancy put women at higher risk. The incidence rates of biliary sludge (a precursor to gallstones) and gallstones are up to 30 and 12%, respectively, during pregnancy and postpartum, and 1-3% of pregnant women...

BACKGROUND The prevalence of gallstones among Ghanaians is unknown. We aimed to determine the prevalence of gallstones among persons undergoing abdominal ultrasound at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study of patients aged ≥14years presenting to KATH for abdominal ultrasound between 2009 and 2012. Patient demographics were recorded. The gallbl...

Recent evidence suggests that gallstones and kidney stones are associated with insulin resistance, but the relation between stone diseases and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus is not clear. Participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam Study (Potsdam, Germany) provided information about the presence of gallstones and kidney stones...

Gallstone disease is one of the major surgical problems in the Libyan population; it is probably related to diet, especially excessive consumption of meat. The study was conducted to determine the composition of gallstones and their possible etiology in a Libyan population. The chemical composition of gallstones from 41 patients (six males and 35 females) was analyzed. The stones were classifie...