Effects of Albumin on Survival after a Hepatic Encephalopathy Episode: Randomized Double-Blind Trial and Meta-Analysis.

Unlabelled: No therapies have been proven to increase survival after a hepatic encephalopathy (HE) episode. We hypothesize that two doses of albumin could improve 90-day survival rates after a HE episode.

Methods: (1) A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (BETA) was conducted in 12 hospitals.

Accuracy of the Ultra-Rapid Urease Test for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Rapid Urease Test (RUT) is a simple, cheap and relatively fast method for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection. It is therefore the preferred method used for patients undergoing gastroscopy. Most kits require 24h to give results.

Randomized clinical trial comparing high versus standard dose of ribavirin plus peginterferon alfa-2a in hepatitis C genotype 3 and high viral load. Dargen-3 study.

Introduction: Less than half of patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 (G3) and high viral load (HVL) without a rapid virological response (RVR) achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) when treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin (RBV).

Objectives: To assess the impact of high doses of RBV on SVR in patients with G3 and HVL.

Methods: Ninety-seven patients were randomized to receive peginterferon α-2a+RBV 800 mg/day (A; n=42) or peginterferon α-2a+RBV 1600 mg/day+epoetin β 400 IU/kg/week SC (B; n=55).

[Rapid progression of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgery: apropos of a case and review of the literature].

We report the case of a young man with chronic hepatitis B infection of probable perinatal acquisition who was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma at a very early stage (BCLC 0) with a highly favorable prognosis. However, the tumor progressed rapidly and the patient died within months. Currently, there are few data that could help to identify cases likely to show rapid progression and which could prompt initiation of aggressive therapies that might prevent or control such progression.

[Continuing care unit and day hospital as an alternative to conventional hospitalization: 10 years' experience in a district hospital].

Unlabelled: The continuing care unit and day hospital allows ambulatory care of patients with digestive diseases.

Aim: Reducing hospital admissions and the number of patients with digestive diseases that attend the emergency department.

Material And Methods: Two types of care are provided: a) continuing care; patients are urgently visited when they show acute decompensation of their digestive disease, and b) scheduled care: procedures that, due to their complexity, require nursing care but not necessarily hospital admission.

[How many reach their goal? Outcome of abstracts presented at the XXIV AAEEH (Spanish Liver Study Association) Congress and their progress over time].

Introduction: The aim of the abstracts presented at scientific meetings is their publication in a peer-review journal. In this study, we analysed the publication rates of the abstracts submitted to the 24th AEEH meeting (1999) and also to see if this was stable over time.

Material And Methods: We assessed the publication rates of the abstracts presented at the 24th AEEH meeting in journals included in MEDLINE.