Baricitinib and primary biliary cholangitis.

Background And Aims: There is an unmet need for alternative treatments for patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) who do not respond to treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). A proof-of-concept study of baricitinib, an orally administered Janus kinase 1 and 2 inhibitor, was initiated to evaluate its use in PBC patients.

Approach And Results: Patients with PBC showing inadequate response or intolerance to UDCA were eligible.

Dose reduction of baricitinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis achieving sustained disease control: results of a prospective study.

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of dose step-down in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who achieved sustained disease control with baricitinib 4 mg once a day.

Methods: Patients who completed a baricitinib phase 3 study could enter a long-term extension (LTE). In the LTE, patients who received baricitinib 4 mg for ≥15 months and maintained CDAI low disease activity (LDA) or remission (REM) were blindly randomised to continue 4 mg or taper to 2 mg.

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation after sphincterotomy for difficult choledocholithiasis: A case-controlled study.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) + endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD) vs isolated EST.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective single center study over two years, from February 2010 to January 2012. Patients with large (≥ 10 mm), single or multiple bile duct stones (BDS), submitted to endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) were included.

Epstein-Barr virus in healthy individuals from Portugal.

Introduction: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persists for long periods in latent state inside B-lymphocytes after primary infections, and reactivation usually occurs associated to immunosuppression conditions of the host. Recently, the detection of EBV DNA in circulation has been suggested as a predictor marker for the development of EBV related malignancies.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of our study was to characterize the frequency of circulating EBV in healthy individuals (n=508) from the North region of Portugal, using peripheral blood samples.

Association between EGF +61A/G polymorphism and gastric cancer in Caucasians.

Aim: To investigate the association between epidermal growth factor (EGF) +61A/G polymorphism and susceptibility to gastric cancer, through a cross-sectional study.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses were used to genotype EGF +61 in 207 patients with gastric lesions (162 patients with gastric adenocarcinomas, 45 with atrophy or intestinal metaplasia) and 984 controls. All subjects were Caucasian.

Epstein-Barr virus is associated with gastric carcinoma: the question is what is the significance?

Aim: To examine the possible role of the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in the development of gastric adenocarcinoma (GC). It is unclear whether EBV is involved in GC development or is a consequence of gastric inflammation secondary to immunosuppressive treatments.

Methods: A systematic review was carried out of all published observational studies on the temporal association between EBV and GC, with a view to determine a causal relationship.

Overall survival in women with breast cancer: the influence of pepsinogen C gene polymorphism.

We aimed to study the role of an insertion/deletion polymorphism in the Pepsinogen C (PGC) gene in the clinical outcome of 172 breast cancer patients. The six polymorphic alleles were amplified using PCR. Our results indicate that patients carrying the allele 6 present a higher 5-year survival mean (83.

The p53 R72P polymorphism does not influence cervical cancer development in a Portuguese population: a study in exfoliated cervical cells.

The interaction between the E6 protein of the high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) with p53 seems to be crucial in cervical carcinogenesis. The presence of Arg/Arg genotype at codon 72 of TP53 gene was characterized as a risk factor in development of cervical cancer. However, the role of this polymorphism remains controversial and some authors suggested that the origin of DNA (blood or exfoliated cervical cells) might influence these results.

Gastric cancer in a Caucasian population: role of pepsinogen C genetic variants.

Aim: To study the role of an insertion/deletion polymorphism in the pepsinogen C (PGC) gene, an effective marker for terminal differentiation of the stomach mucosa, in the susceptibility to the development of gastric lesions.

Methods: The study was performed with 99 samples of known gastric lesions and 127 samples without evidence of neoplastic disease. PCR was employed and the 6 polymorphic alleles were amplified: Allele 1 (510 bp), Allele 2 (480 bp), Allele 3/4 (450/460 bp), Allele 5 (400 bp) and Allele 6 (310 bp).

A ten-year prospective study on gallbladder stone recurrence after successful extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy.

Objective: The risk of recurrence has limited the acceptability of conservative therapies of gallbladder stones. The aim of the present study was to determine the long-term rate of stone recurrence and its risk factors after successful extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL).

Material And Methods: The study comprised a prospective ultrasound follow-up at yearly intervals or whenever biliary pain was reported.

Long-term gallbladder stone recurrence and risk factors after successful lithotripsy.

Objective: The risk of recurrence has limited the acceptability of conservative therapies of gallbladder stones. The aim of the present study was to determine the rate of stone recurrence and its risk factors, after successful shock-wave lithotripsy.

Design: Prospective ultrasound follow-up at yearly intervals or whenever biliary pain was reported.