Appropriateness and diagnostic yield of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in an open-access endoscopy system: a prospective observational study based on the Maastricht guidelines.

Aim: To test the appropriateness of referrals for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Campania, Italy, using the criteria of the Maastricht Consensus.

Patients: Patients undergoing endoscopy during a 1-week period in 21 Endoscopy Services were considered prospectively. The reasons for endoscopy were dyspeptic symptoms, history of peptic ulcer and assessment after treatment.

High prevalence of reflux symptoms in duodenal ulcer patients who develop gastro-oesophageal reflux disease after curing Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease may develop following eradication of Helicobacter pylori. However gastro-oesophageal reflux disease could be preexistent and misdiagnosed since patients often misinterpret gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms or focus their attention on abdominal symptoms. A questionnaire for analysis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms has not been used until now.

Accuracy of stool antigen test in posteradication assessment of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Our aim was to evaluate the accuracy of HpSA test in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection after the end of eradication therapy. In all 106 H. pylori-positive patients (55 men and 51 women, mean age 51 years, range 19-82) were treated with a course of eradicating regimen.

Flumazenil in the treatment of acute hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients: a double blind randomized placebo controlled study.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of flumazenil on hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Patients And Methods: . In the double blind randomized, placebo controlled study, 54 patients with hepatic encephalopathy grade III-IV were randomly assigned to receive either flumazenil 2 mg iv (group A) or placebo (group B); conventional treatment with branched-chain amino acid, saline, glucose, and lactulose was administered in both groups.

Accuracy of the stool antigen test in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection before treatment and in patients on omeprazole therapy.

Aim: To evaluate the Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test in the assessment of H. pylori infection and the effect of omeprazole treatment on its accuracy.

Methods: Study 1: 140 dyspeptic patients were enrolled in the study and defined as H.