Efficacy of ferric carboxymaltose on haemoglobin response among older patients with gastrointestinal bleeding: a randomised clinical trial.

Background: Acute gastrointestinal bleeding (AGIB) is common in older patients but the use of iron in this context remains understudied.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate prospectively the efficacy of ferric carboxymaltose to treat anaemia in older patients after AGIB.

Methods: This randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 10 French centres.

Enhanced liver fibrosis score is stable after withdrawal in patients with heavy alcohol consumption: A pilot study.

Background: Enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) score is an accurate, noninvasive test for assessing the severity of liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease, including alcohol-related liver disease. However, whether the ELF score changes during alcohol withdrawal is unknown. This pilot study assessed changes in the ELF score during withdrawal in patients with a history of excessive alcohol intake.

Evaluation of Side Effects and Long-Term Protection of a Sustained-Release Injectable Moxidectin Formulation against Infection in Dogs: An Observational-In Field Multicentric Study.

The sustained-release moxidectin formulation Afilaria SR is a relatively new product and has been labelled to prevent infection in dogs for a six months-period. An observational, in field multicentric study was performed, aiming to evaluate the tolerability and the long-term prevention of Afilaria SR in Italy, a country where filariasis is endemic. The study was designed to include not less than 300 dogs, older than 6 months, of any breed.

Mefepronic acid is associated with a decrease in serum liver enzyme activities in dogs with suspected hepatopathy.

Although suspected hepatopathy in dogs can be assessed by the blood levels of both liver enzyme activities and functional liver parameters, very often the precise diagnosis of primary or secondary hepatobiliary diseases can remain uncertain. Therefore, in a number of patients, the therapeutic intervention has the purpose of slowing the progression of fibrosis and provide for optimal hepatic support. Recently the PPARs (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors) have been identified as a family of hepatic nuclear hormonal receptors, involved in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism.

Assessment of D-Dimers for the Early Prediction of Complications in Acute Pancreatitis.

Objectives: Severe acute pancreatitis (AP) is characterized by early microcirculation defects causing hypercoagulability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early predictive value of D-dimers in complicated AP.

Methods: This was a prospective single-center study conducted between September 2010 and April 2012.

CT-guided percutaneous catheter drainage of acute infectious necrotizing pancreatitis: assessment of effectiveness and safety.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess retrospectively the effectiveness and safety of CT-guided percutaneous drainage and to determine the factors influencing clinical success and mortality in patients with infectious necrotizing pancreatitis.

Materials And Methods: From April 1997 to December 2005, 48 consecutive patients (33 men and 15 women; median age, 58.5 years) with proven infectious necrotizing pancreatitis underwent percutaneous catheter drainage via CT guidance.

[A comparative study of coding and information systems for the evaluation of medical and social conditions: the case of addictive disorders].

The purpose of this study was to conduct a descriptive and comparative analysis of the tools used by healthcare professionals specializing in addictive disorders to promote a rapprochement of information systems. The evaluation guide used to assess the compensation needs of disabled persons treated in "Maisons Départementales des Personnes Handicapées" (centres for disabled people) organizes information in different areas, including a psychological component. The guide includes social and environmental information in the "Recueil Commun sur les Addictions et les Prises en charges" (Joint Report on Drug Addiction and Drug Treatment).

Plasma carnitine is associated with fatigue in chronic hepatitis C but not in the irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Fatigue is an important determinant of altered quality of life in patients affected by chronic hepatitis C or the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Aim: In this study, we aimed at determining the contributory role of plasma levels of leptin and carnitine on fatigue in chronic hepatitis C and IBS.

Methods: We enrolled 81 patients with chronic hepatitis C, 42 with IBS and 44 healthy subjects.

Effect of detoxification on liver stiffness assessed by Fibroscan® in alcoholic patients.

Aims: The aims of this study were to determine whether alcohol consumption or cessation influences transient elastography (TE) measurements and whether TE is a useful tool to monitor alcoholic patients.

Patients: Twenty-three consecutive heavy drinkers (20 men and 3 women; mean age 47.2 years) admitted for a 7-day hospitalization for alcohol detoxification were included.

Predictive factors of bleeding related to post-banding ulcer following endoscopic variceal ligation in cirrhotic patients: a case-control study.

Background: Life-threatening bleeding caused by early spontaneous slippage of rubber bands has been described after variceal ligation in cirrhotic patients.

Aim: To determine the predictive factors of this complication in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: Among 605 patients, 21 patients (mean age 56.

[CT imaging features and significance of gas in the pancreatic bed].

The pancreas is an organ that normally does not contain gas. The purpose of this article is to reaffirm the value of CT to detect gas in abnormal locations and illustrate the different causes of gas collections in the pancreatic bed. Abscesses and infected pseudocysts are the most frequent causes of gas in the pancreatic bed followed by malignant and inflammatory fistulae.

Factors predictive of alcohol abstention after resident detoxication among alcoholics followed in an hospital outpatient center.

Objectives: A cohort of patient hospitalized for alcohol detoxification between January 2004 and January 2005 were followed prospectively to search for factors predictive factors of sustained abstinence.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and fifteen patients (79 males, 36 females, median age 45.9+/-10.

Glucose intolerance and hypoadiponectinemia are already present in lean patients with chronic hepatitis C infected with genotype non-3 viruses.

Objectives: Steatosis and metabolic abnormalities seem to be frequent and deleterious in chronic hepatitis C. Changes in glucose homeostasis and in adiponectin levels, an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitive properties, were evaluated in patients with chronic hepatitis C according to steatosis, liver fibrosis and body mass index.

Methods: Seventy-three patients with chronic hepatitis C (40 men, 33 women) infected with genotypes non-3 and 22 healthy controls (11 men and 11 women) were included in the study and all had a biochemical evaluation, including metabolic parameters, adiponectin measurement, and a liver biopsy.

Hepatitis C awareness among adolescents in the Alpes-Maritimes area of France.

Objectives: Certain practices with a potential risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission begin early, during adolescence. In 2004, primary prevention interventions targeting adolescents aged 13-17 years attending school in the Alpes-Maritimes region of France were conducted by the "Réseau Hépatite C Ville Hôpital Côte d'Azur". The aim of this study was to assess the adolescents' knowledge about HCV and to evaluate the impact of such interventions.

Fatigue in irritable bowel syndrome: characterization and putative role of leptin.

Objectives: Fatigue has received little attention in the irritable bowel syndrome. Emerging evidence exists that leptin may be involved in the pathogenesis of fatigue in several conditions. We aimed to evaluate the occurrence of fatigue and its characteristics in irritable bowel syndrome and to analyze the relationship between fatigue and leptin.

Gastrojejunocolic fistula after gastric surgery for duodenal ulcer: case report.

Gastrojejunocolic fistulae, a late complication of gastroenterostomy, are presently uncommon. Patients can present with symptoms of a fistula 20 years or more after their original gastric surgery. The knowledge of this rare condition can allow prevention, through a better operative strategy and a medical treatment at the phase of stomal ulcer with proton pump inhibitor and Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Serum C-reactive protein: a non-invasive marker of alcoholic hepatitis.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein (CRP) for alcoholic hepatitis in heavy drinkers.

Material And Methods: A total of 101 heavy drinkers (67 M, 34 F) with elevated transaminase activity and negative HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV antibodies were included in the study. All patients underwent standard liver function tests, CRP determination and liver biopsies.

[Cholestatic hepatitis: an uncommon presentation of Churg-Strauss syndrome].

Churg-Strauss syndrome is a rare form of severe vasculitis characterized by severe asthma and hypereosinophilia. Liver involvement is rare. We report a case of a woman with serious cholestatic hepatitis and vasculitis, without severe asthma.

Choledocholithiasis: repetitive thick-slab single-shot projection magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography versus endoscopic ultrasonography.

This prospective study compares repetitive thick-slab single-shot projection magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for the detection of choledocholithiasis. Fifty-seven consecutive patients (36 women, mean age 61) referred for suspected choledocholithiasis underwent MRCP, followed by EUS. Each procedure was performed by different operators blinded to the results of the other investigation.

Diagnostic and predictive factors of significant liver fibrosis and minimal lesions in patients with persistent unexplained elevated transaminases. A prospective multicenter study.

Background/aims: In patients with unexplained elevated transaminases, prognosis of the liver disease and factors associated with increased risk of liver fibrosis and normal/subnormal liver are unknown. The aim of this prospective study was to identify diagnosis and clinical and biological factors associated with significant (bridging) fibrosis and minimal lesions of the liver in patients with persistent unexplained elevated ALT levels.

Methods: From July 2002 through October 2004, all consecutive asymptomatic patients with unexplained chronically elevated ALT levels were included.

Effect of ondansetron, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, on fatigue in chronic hepatitis C: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study.

Background And Aims: There are no available effective therapies for fatigue associated with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The serotonin antagonist ondansetron has been shown to be effective in the chronic fatigue syndrome. In this randomised, placebo controlled, double blind trial, we investigated the effect of orally administered ondansetron on fatigue in CHC.