Fibrous ring formation in cirrhotics treated with band ligation.

Background/aims: We observed that the formation of a fibrous ring following variceal eradication appeared to be associated with less variceal recurrence. We aimed to evaluate this formally.

Methodology: Twenty-one cirrhotic patients with a fibrous ring formation in the esophagus after eradication of varices (FR group) were compared with 21 controls of similar age, gender and liver function but without ring formation after eradication in terms of variceal recurrence, portal hypertension related bleeding and survival.

Production of activated carbon from bagasse and rice husk by a single-stage chemical activation method at low retention times.

The production of activated carbon from bagasse and rice husk by a single-stage chemical activation method in short retention times (30-60min) was examined in this study. The raw materials were subjected to a chemical pretreatment and were fed to the reactor in the form of a paste (75% moisture). Chemicals examined were ZnCl2, NaOH and H3PO4, for temperatures of 600, 700 and 800 degrees C.

Long-term therapy with adefovir dipivoxil in hepatitis B e antigen-negative patients developing resistance to lamivudine.

Background: The efficacy of long-term adefovir dipivoxil monotherapy or combination of adefovir and lamivudine in hepatitis B e antigen (HBe-Ag)-negative lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients is still under investigation.

Aim: To assess the safety and efficacy of the long-term adefovir treatment alone or in combination with lamivudine in HBe-Ag-negative CHB patients who had developed breakthrough because of lamivudine-resistant mutants.

Methods: Fifty-nine patients received combination therapy, while 23 switched to adefovir alone after a 3-month course of combination therapy.

Biliary tract malignancy and abnormal pancreaticobiliary junction in a Western population.

Background And Aim: Abnormal pancreaticobiliary junction is a rare congenital disorder in which the junction of biliary and pancreatic duct is located outside the duodenal wall and forms a long common channel. The disorder has been associated with a high incidence of gallbladder cancer in Japanese studies. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of abnormal pancreaticobiliary junction in a Western population and its association with biliary tract malignancies.

Is preservation of the adrenal vein mandatory in laparoscopic adrenal-sparing surgery?

Background And Objective: Adrenal tissue-sparing or partial adrenalectomy evolved initially for patients with bilateral synchronous adrenal surgical pathology to preserve vital adrenal volume. In the laparoscopic era, the exact criteria for performing such procedures laparoscopically have yet to be defined. Controversy exists regarding the importance of preserving the adrenal vein, main or accessory.

A newly detected mutation of the RET protooncogene in exon 8 as a cause of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) is a syndrome of familial neoplasias characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), pheochromocytoma and hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands. RET protooncogene mutations are responsible for MEN 2A. Mutations in exons 10 or 11 have been identified in more than 96% of patients with MEN 2A.

Feasibility of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large pheochromocytomas.

Background And Objectives: The majority of surgeons consider large and potentially malignant pheochromocytomas an absolute contraindication for laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the risks and outcomes of LA in patients with this anomaly.

Methods: Five patients (2 males, 3 females) with large (>6 cm) pheochromocytomas were selected.

Ultrasound-guided liver biopsy in real life: comparison of same-day prebiopsy versus real-time ultrasound approach.

Background And Aim: Currently, an increasing number of liver biopsies are performed by radiologists under real-time ultrasound control. A routine ultrasound assessment of a puncture site before performing percutaneous biopsy is reported to increase diagnostic yield and decrease complication rates. It is not clear if real-time ultrasound is superior to marking the puncture site before biopsy as regards reducing biopsy size and avoiding fragmentation and complications.

An assessment of serum leptin levels in patients with chronic viral hepatitis: a prospective study.

Background: The role of leptin in the course of liver disease due to chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) remains controversial. Our aims were to investigate the relationship between serum leptin concentrations and the severity of liver disease in a cohort of subjects with HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC) and to analyze the effect of body composition, the leptin system and insulin resistance together with viral factors on virologic response to antiviral treatment.

Methods: We studied 50 (36 men) consecutive patients suffering from biopsy-proven CVH due to HBV (n = 25) or HCV (n = 25) infection.

A single alcohol ingestion does not affect serum hepatitis C virus RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background And Aim: The safe level of alcohol ingestion in sporadic drinkers with hepatitis C is unknown. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of a single moderate alcohol intake on serum HCV RNA concentrations and hepatic function in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with chronic hepatitis C were randomly assigned to consume 50 g alcohol (group 1) or a non-alcoholic beverage (group 2).

Leptin in the field of hepatic fibrosis: a pivotal or an incidental player?

Leptin is a 16-kDa nonglycosylated protein primarily secreted from the adipocytes of white fat; minor levels of regulated leptin expression also occurs at other sites such as placenta, skeletal muscle, the stomach fundus, and culture-activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Leptin is primarily involved in the regulation of food intake and body composition through a central feedback mechanism linking food ingestion, hypothalamus, and adipose tissue mass. In recent years, however, emerging evidence has suggested a critical role of leptin in hepatic inflammation and fibrogenesis and the influence of leptin on chronic liver disease has been an area of active research worldwide.

Lamivudine monotherapy in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B: prediction of response-breakthrough and long-term clinical outcome.

Background: Factors that predict response and breakthrough phenomenon to lamivudine monotherapy in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B have not been well defined.

Aim: To determine pre-treatment and on treatment variables that predict initial response and breakthrough in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B receiving long-term lamivudine.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients, with chronic HBeAg-negative hepatitis B, who received lamivudine for a median of 31 months were included in the study.

Interferon-alpha plus lamivudine vs lamivudine reduces breakthroughs, but does not affect sustained response in HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B.

Aim: The HBeAg negative form of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) predominates in the Mediterranean area and has a rising frequency in Europe and North America. At present there are three approved therapies for patients with CHB: interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil. Unfortunately, none of these drugs are effective in achieving a sustained response in patients with HBeAg negative CHB.

Clinical significance of cytotoxin-associated gene A status of Helicobacter pylori among non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug users with peptic ulcer bleeding: a multicenter case-control study.

Background: The role of Helicobacter pylori infection and especially of the cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) product strain in peptic ulcer bleeding among non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) users remains controversial.

Methods: A case-control study was carried out including 191 consecutive chronic NSAIDs users admitted to hospital because of peptic ulcer bleeding. Peptic ulcer was verified by endoscopy.

Effect of sintering temperature on the properties and leaching of incinerator bottom ash.

The fine particle size fraction of municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash is often problematic because reuse applications for this material are limited. In these experiments incinerator bottom ash with a particle size of less than 8 mm was processed using conventional ceramic production techniques involving wet milling, drying, compacting and sintering. The effect of sintering temperature on the sintered density, microstructure, acid neutralization capacity (ANC) and the release of metal ions as a function of leachate pH are reported.

Ceramic processing of incinerator bottom ash.

The <8 mm fraction of aged incinerator bottom ash from a commercial incinerator (energy from waste) plant has been collected at regular intervals, characterised and processed to form ceramic materials. Ashes were sieved, wet ball milled, dried, compacted and sintered at temperatures between 1080 and 1115 degrees C. Variations in the chemical composition and mineralogy of the milled ash, and the mineralogy, physical properties and leaching of sintered products have been assessed.