[Pilot test for Helicobacter pylori detection with ammonia breath test].

Background: In Argentina we have little access to the more sensitive and specific non-invasive diagnostic methods for the detection of Helicobacter pylori (HP), such as the urea breath test. The upper gastrointestinal videoendoscopy, with biopsy for histological analysis and rapid urease test remains as the usual method in our country, but the cost is high and the accessibility is also limited. For this reason we propose to develop a new fast, accurate, accessible and inexpensive method for measuring the concentration of expired NH in order to achieve a diagnosis of active infection.

Validation of the number connection test for identifying patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy.

Objectives: Hepatic encephalopathy is a serious neuropsychiatric complication in advanced liver disease. The affected patients exhibit alterations in psychomotor and intellectual functions. The aims of this study were to identif the set ofnormal values for the number connection tests (NCT-A and NCT-B) in a population of volunteers without liver disease, to compare the values from this reference population with those from patients with cirrhosis without hepatic encephalopathy.