Risk factors associated with the development of hyperamylasemia and post-ERCP pancreatitis in the Cuban National Institute.

Context: Acute pancreatitis is the most common complication in ERCP, and some risk factors were associated with the development of hyperamylasemia and post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Objectives: identifying new factors associated with the development of hyperamylasemia or post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients attended at our center.

Material And Methods: A (retrospective) cohort study was carried out in 170 patients on which a diagnostic-therapeutic ERCP was done due to biliopancreatic disease.

[Propofol versus midazolam and pethidine in the colonoscopy realization].

Introduction: Medications to relief pain are more common in the everyday use during the colonoscopy practice, although schemes of medications vary.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of propofol versus midazolam and petidhine in colonoscopy.

Method: A randomized and simple-blind controlled clinical trial was carried out.

Viusid, a nutritional supplement, increases survival and reduces disease progression in HCV-related decompensated cirrhosis: a randomised and controlled trial.

Objectives: Viusid is a nutritional supplement with recognised antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties which could have beneficial effects on cirrhosis-related clinical outcomes such as survival, disease progression and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of viusid in patients with HCV-related decompensated cirrhosis.

Design: A randomised double-blind and placebo-controlled study was conducted in a tertiary care academic centre (National Institute of Gastroenterology, Havana, Cuba).

Antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects of Viusid in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of Viusid, a nutritional supplement, as an antioxidant and an immunomodulator in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: Sixty patients with chronic hepatitis C who were non-responders to standard antiviral treatment were randomly assigned to receive Viusid (3 sachets daily, n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 24 wk. The primary outcome was the change in serum malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenals (lipid peroxidation products).

Application of a biochemical and clinical model to predict individual survival in patients with end-stage liver disease.

Aim: To investigate the capability of a biochemical and clinical model, BioCliM, in predicting the survival of cirrhotic patients.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated the survival of 172 cirrhotic patients. The model was constructed using clinical (ascites, encephalopathy and variceal bleeding) and biochemical (serum creatinine and serum total bilirubin) variables that were selected from a Cox proportional hazards model.