Publications by authors named "Josep M Rene Espinet"

Introduction: Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus is a risk factor for developing atheromatous plaques, although the possible effect of virus clearance is unknown. Our aim was to determine whether or not subclinical atheromatosis improved and there was any modification in the composition of the plaques 12 months after eradication of hepatitis C virus by direct-acting antiviral agents.

Materials And Methods: Prospective study that included 85 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection in different stages of fibrosis who were on direct-acting antiviral agents.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) following hospitalization for acute gastrointestinal bleeding (AGIB) in the context of a restrictive transfusion strategy.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective single-center study analyzed patients with AGIB (excluding AGIB secondary to portal hypertension) administered a single FCM dose with or without blood transfusion.

Results: Eighty-six episodes in 84 patients were analyzed.

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Introduction: There are few studies on iron deficiency anemia (IDA) after non-variceal acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in patients without portal hypertension.

Objectives: To define the incidence of IDA after UGIB, to characterize the predictive factors for IDA and to design algorithms that could help physicians identify those patients who could benefit from iron therapy.

Material And Method: We registered 391 patients with UGIB between April 2007 and May 2009.

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Background: Telomere length (TL) shortened occurs in colorectal carcinogenetic process. Our objective is to determine if it is only a local fact or there are alterations in normal colon cells and in other body cells.

Methods: TL of tumoral and normal mucosa and leukocytes of 40 patients operated of colorectal cancer (CRC) and 40 control patients with normal colonoscopy were measured by Southern-blot.

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Purpose: This study was designed to determine whether telomerase activity measured in samples of tumoral tissue, transitional mucosa, and normal mucosa from patients with sporadic colorectal cancer is a prognostic factor for recurrence and overall survival.

Methods: Telomerase activity was determined by fluorescence-based telomeric repeat amplification in tissue samples from 108 patients with sporadic colorectal cancer. A telomerase index was determined by using the formula log (telomerase activity of cancer tissue - telomerase activity of normal mucosa).

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Background And Objective: The most effective currently available therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection is the combination of interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin both, in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection and in patients without coinfection. In an attempt to avoid morbidity and health costs we searched for an indicator of early virologic response (EVR). We evaluated the EVR efficiency at 4 and 12-weeks after the initiation of antiviral combination therapy.

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