Hepatitis C screening and detection program in a large population: Epidemiological transition and characterization of the disease.

Introduction: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is considered an important public health challenge. Traditionally identified risk factors have undergone an epidemiological transition where other risk factors have become the main cause of new infections.

Objective: To describe risk factors associated to hepatitis C positivity through the evaluation of the epidemiological profile in hepatitis-C high-risk populations.

Shear-wave elastography for the estimation of liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease: determining accuracy and ideal site for measurement.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of shear-wave elastography (SWE) for staging liver fibrosis in patients with diffuse liver disease (including patients with hepatitis C virus [HCV]) and to determine the relative accuracy of SWE measurements obtained from different hepatic acquisition sites for staging liver fibrosis.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board approved this single-institution prospective study, which was performed between January 2010 and March 2013 in 136 consecutive patients who underwent SWE before their scheduled liver biopsy (age range, 18-76 years; mean age, 49 years; 70 men, 66 women). Informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Novel pharmacological therapies for management of chronic constipation.

Chronic constipation is a common health problem that significantly affects the quality of life of patients and impacts in terms of costs; current treatments based on fiber and laxatives cause dissatisfaction to doctors and patients in more than half of the cases. New drugs are now available or in very advanced stages of research, with different and innovative mechanisms of action as prucalopride, lubiprostone, and linaclotide. Prucalopride an enterokinetic, is a selective high-affinity 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)4 receptor agonist of serotonin that increases the peristaltic reflex and the colonic contractions; lubiprostone, a type 2 chlorine channel activator, or linaclotide, a guanylate cyclase-C agonist of enterocytes, both prosecretory agents, stimulate the secretion of fluid within the intestinal lumen.

Hepatotoxicity associated with dietary energy supplements: use and abuse by young athletes.

 In recent years there has been a significant increase in the consumption of dietary energy supplements (DES) associated with the parallel advertising against obesity and favoring high physical performance. We present the case and outcome of a young patient who developed acute mixed liver injury (hepatocellular and cholestatic) after ingestion of various "over the counter" products to increase muscle mass and physical performance (NO Xplode®, creatine, L-carnitine, and Growth Factor ATN®). The diagnosis was based on the exclusion of other diseases and liver biopsy findings.

Pneumocystosis in a patient with Crohn's disease treated with combination therapy with adalimumab.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a potential complication of immunosuppression. Crohn's disease (CD) is an immune granulomatous disorder characterized by transmural inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Its treatment is based on steroids and immunosuppressants but in non-responders, biologic compounds such as anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) antibodies have been used.

Serum vitamin D levels are not predictive of the progression of chronic liver disease in hepatitis C patients with advanced fibrosis.

In animal models and human cross-sectional studies, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with liver disease progression. Vitamin D supplementation has been suggested as a treatment to prevent disease progression. We sought to evaluate the role of vitamin D levels in predicting chronic liver disease development.

Hepatotoxicity from ingestion of wild mushrooms of the genus Amanita section Phalloideae collected in Mexico City: two case reports.

We present two cases of acute liver injury resulting from consumption of wild mushrooms. The first case was a male who developed acute hepatitis after ingestion of diverse mushrooms including Amanita species. His clinical course was favorable with complete recovery of liver function.

Anatomical cardiac alterations in liver cirrhosis: an autopsy study.

Background: It has been suggested that liver cirrhosis (LC), regardless of etiology, may be associated with anatomical cardiac alterations.

Objective: To describe the frequency and type of macroscopical anatomic cardiac abnormalities present in alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhotic patients in an autopsy series.

Material And Methods: The autopsy records performed at our institution during a 12-year period (1990-2002) were reviewed.

HIV infection increases HCV-induced hepatocyte apoptosis.

Background & Aims: HCV related liver disease is one of the most important complications in persons with HIV, with accelerated fibrosis progression in coinfected persons compared to those with HCV alone. We hypothesized that HCV-HIV coinfection increases HCV related hepatocyte apoptosis and that HCV and HIV influence TRAIL signaling in hepatocytes.

Methods: We analyzed the effect of HIV in JFH1-infected Huh7.

HIV and HCV cooperatively promote hepatic fibrogenesis via induction of reactive oxygen species and NFkappaB.

HIV/HCV coinfection leads to accelerated hepatic fibrosis progression, with higher rates of cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver death than does HCV mono-infection. However, the profibrogenic role of HIV on hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells (HSC) has not been fully clarified. We hypothesized that HIV, HCV induce liver fibrosis through altered regulation of the production of extracellular matrix and matrix metalloproteinases.

Hepatitis B screening, prophylaxis and re-activation in the era of rituximab-based chemotherapy.

Background: Hepatitis B re-activation is a well-described complication in patients with inactive chronic hepatitis B receiving chemotherapy. Screening for HBV and pre-emptive therapy are recommended. However, the rates of HBV screening, prophylaxis and re-activation during rituximab-containing chemotherapy are unknown.

A randomized controlled trial of double versus triple therapy with amantadine for genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C in Latino patients.

Background: With only a third of Latinos achieving sustained virologic response (SVR), there is a need for enhanced HCV treatment. Amantadine has been proposed to improve response rates in addition to standard therapy with peginterferon alpha and ribavirin. Our objective is to evaluate whether triple therapy with amantadine improves SVR rates in this special population.

[Epidemiologic and situational panorama of hepatitis C in Mexico].

Objective: To determine the epidemiological situation of Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) in our country.

Background Data: Chronic Hepatitis C affects 170 million people worldwide, and about 0.7% of Mexican population.