Long-term, open-label trial: safety and efficacy of continuous maintenance treatment with pantoprazole for up to 15 years in severe acid-peptic disease.

Background: To date, the safety and tolerability of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been demonstrated in studies of up to 10 years.

Aim: To report on the tolerability, safety and efficacy of up to 15 years' continuous treatment with pantoprazole in patients with severe acid-peptic disease.

Methods: Following healing of endoscopically confirmed peptic ulcer or reflux oesophagitis during 4-12 weeks' treatment with pantoprazole (40-80 mg/day), adult patients received open-label maintenance treatment with pantoprazole (40-160 mg/day) for up to 15 years in a single centre combined study (10-year initial study; 5-year extension study).

Effect of HBV polymerase inhibitors on renal function in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: Therapy of chronic hepatitis B with HBV-polymerase inhibitors, in particular tenofovir or adefovir, may affect renal function. To assess renal function more accurately in the normal range, we used the recently validated, Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula to calculate the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Methods: Patient subgroups included: patients with HBV-monoinfection treated with lamivudine (n=36), adefovir (n=32), entecavir (n=32), or tenofovir (n=37).

Treatment of severe refractory pruritus with fractionated plasma separation and adsorption (Prometheus).

Objective: Severe pruritus is a serious complication of cholestatic liver disease. Prometheus is a recently introduced extracorporeal liver support system with direct toxin adsorption of the patient's albumin fraction (FPSA; fractionated plasma separation and adsorption). Here we report on the effect of Prometheus therapy in patients with intractable cholestatic pruritus.

Role of the receptor-mediated apoptosis in Helicobacter pylori in gastric epithelial cells.

Background And Aims: Two major pathways leading to apoptosis have been described. It has been shown that Helicobacter pylori-mediated apoptosis is mainly effected through the mitochondrial pathway (type II). The role of the type I pathway, including the death receptors, has been discussed controversially.

Effect of H. pylori on the expression of TRAIL, FasL and their receptor subtypes in human gastric epithelial cells and their role in apoptosis.

Background And Aims: In the human stomach expression of TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its receptors and the modulatory role of Helicobacter pylori are not well described. Therefore, we investigated the effect of H. pylori on the expression of TRAIL, FasL and their receptors (TRAIL-R1-R4, Fas) in gastric epithelial cells and examined their role in apoptosis.