Prevalence of Primary Resistance of Helicobacter pylori to Clarithromycin and Levofloxacin in Southern Spain.

Background: The eradication of Helicobacter pylori (HP) using clarithromycin (CLA)-based triple therapy depends on the resistance of HP to antibiotics. The Maastricht III conference recommends the implementation of locoregional surveillance programmes for primary resistance of HP to CLA. In Andalusia, there are no previous data in this respect.

ERCP during pregnancy.

Background And Aims: ERCP during pregnancy is always challenging for the entire team performing the endoscopic intervention. In this study techniques and different interventional aspects used at several centres about the clinical experience on ERCP in pregnant women are analyzed.

Patients And Methods: the practice on ERCP in pregnant women in six centres during a period of ten years is reported.

Haemodynamic derangement in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis: the role of bacterial translocation.

Background And Aims: Analysis of the influence of the effects of increased intestinal permeability on haemodynamic alterations in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with decompensated hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease.

Methods: Forty HIV/HCV co-infected patients and 40 HCV mono-infected patients, 20 of them with compensated cirrhosis and 20 with a previous decompensation, and 20 healthy controls, were studied. Intestinal permeability was determined by serum levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP).

Bacterial translocation in HIV-infected patients with HCV cirrhosis: implication in hemodynamic alterations and mortality.

Objective: Analysis of the influence of portal hypertension on intestinal permeability in HIV-infected patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis and of the prognostic significance of consequent macrophage activation.

Methods: Twenty HIV-monoinfected patients, 70 patients with HIV-HCV coinfection, 20 of them with compensated and 50 with decompensated cirrhosis, and 20 healthy controls were evaluated for intestinal permeability [measured by lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) serum levels], macrophage activation [soluble CD14, soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 55 Kd, and interleukin 6 (IL-6)], and activation of the rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis were monitored for a median period of 429 days to analyze the prognostic factors implicated in survival.

Implication of inflammation-related cytokines in the natural history of liver cirrhosis.

Background/aims: Increased serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines have been detected in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, their role in the natural history of cirrhosis and portal hypertension, in the absence of infection, and the prognostic significance of inflammation-related cytokines have not been reported. Our objective was the analysis of the prognostic value of inflammation-related cytokines in cirrhotic patients.