Endoscopic findings and associated risk factors in primary health care settings in Havana, Cuba.

INTRODUCTION Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, traditionally performed in Cuba in specialized hospitals, was decentralized to the primary health care level in 2004 to make it more patient-accessible. OBJECTIVES Describe frequency and distribution of the principal symptomatic diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract and their relation to the main risk factors associated with each in a sample of urban adults who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in primary care facilities in Havana in selected months of 2007. METHODS A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted, including 3556 patients seen in the primary health care network of Havana from May through November 2007.

Trends in digestive cancer mortality, Cuba 1987-2008.

Background: Gastrointestinal malignancies are among the most common cancers suffered by Cubans. The purpose of our study is to analyse the evolution of digestive cancer mortality in Cuba.

Methods: Mortality data for this study were obtained from the National Medical Records and Health Statistic Bureau.

Immunization with a DNA vaccine candidate in chronic hepatitis C patients is safe, well tolerated and does not impair immune response induction after anti-hepatitis B vaccination.

Background: In the present study, we evaluated the safety of CIGB-230, a novel vaccine candidate based on the mixture of a plasmid for DNA immunization, expressing hepatitis C virus (HCV) structural antigens, with a recombinant HCV Core protein.

Methods: Fifteen HCV chronically-infected volunteers with detectable levels of HCV RNA genotype 1b, who were nonresponders to previous treatment with interferon plus ribavirin, were intramuscularly injected with CIGB-230 on weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20. Individuals were also immunized at weeks 28, 32 and 36 with a recombinant vaccine against hepatitis B.

[Hepatitis C virus in plasmapheresis donors].

Unlabelled: The high prevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among plasmapheresis donors has been reported in several countries and Cuba. We have studied the possible relationship between the laboratory results and the real infectious state of the anti-HCV positive individuals, as well as the possible routes of infection in this population.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective data were analyzed and a prospective monthly serologic (anti-HCV) and biochemical (alanine aminotransferase) follow-up was established to 61 regular plasmapheresis donors, negative to hepatitis B markers, of a unit, which showed a prevalence of 48.

[A comparative study of cisapride versus metoclopramide in the treatment of symptomatic hiatal hernia].

Comparative study of the therapeutical effects of cisapride and metoclopramide in 50 patients with symptomatic hiatal hernia was performed. Behaviour of media before and after treatment, of resting pressure and relaxation lower esophageal sphincter, pressure of the primary wave and the number of reflux episodes with pH < 4. The group of patients treated with cisapride had a considerably higher beneficial effect (p < 0.