Capsule endoscopy in the investigation of patients with portal hypertension and anemia.

Introduction: Data on small bowel abnormalities in patients with portal hypertension (PHT) are limited. Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract and anemia are common complications in these patients. Capsule endoscopy (CE) was used to evaluate small bowel (SB) pathology in patients with PHT and anemia, and possible associations with various parameters were examined.

The liver in brucellosis.

Background & Aims: Brucellosis involves the liver in varying ways, ranging from benign subclinical increases in serum aminotransferase levels to ominous chronic suppurative disease. Data on histopathology of the liver in brucellosis are scarce and contradictory. We sought to determine the liver histologic patterns present in a series of brucellosis patients and review the existing knowledge about liver involvement in this worldwide, prevalent zoonotic infection.

Liver tissue dissection: ultrasonic or RFA energy?

Background: Hepatic resection is the only potential curative treatment for a wide variety of conditions. However, liver surgery is technically demanding and closely associated with a number of serious complications. New devices and techniques are currently being applied in practice, which will improve the surgical outcome.

Severe gastrointestinal involvement in systemic sclerosis.

Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the most common organ system involved in systemic sclerosis (SSc). GIT involvement is mainly attributed to GIT dismobility and wide mouth diverticular. GIT involvement in SSc can be also severely debilitating and even life threatening.

Effects of hormone replacement therapy on the main fatty acids of serum and phospholipids of postmenopausal women.

Background: The anti-atherosclerotic effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women are partly mediated by improvement of the lipid and lipoprotein profiles. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of HRT on the main fatty acids of serum and phospholipids in postmenopausal women.

Patients And Methods: Serum samples of two groups of postmenopausal women, receiving either single oestrogen or in combination with progestogens, were analysed before and after a 6- month treatment period.

Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection in Greece: the changing prevalence during a ten-year period and its antigenic profile.

Background: To evaluate changes in H pylori infection prevalence in Greece during a ten-year period, and to examine its antigenic profile.

Methods: Three groups of patients were studied. Group O-87: Banked serum samples of 200 consecutive adult outpatients, from the Hepato-Gastroenterology clinic of a teaching hospital at Athens, collected in 1987.