Preliminary results of the molecular diagnosis of familial adenomatous polyposis in Cuban families.

Background And Aims: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by multiple adenomatous polyps in the colon and rectum that inevitably develop into adenocarcinomas if the patient's colon is not removed in time. To date more than 500 mutations related to the disease have been identified in the APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) gene. The molecular study of FAP families was initially introduced in Cuba with the aim of identifying the asymptomatic carriers of APC gene mutations in each family.

[Long-term study of patients with active chronic hepatitis treated with leukocyte interferon].

Seven patients with active chronic hepatitis who received Interferon Alfa showed a marked humoral and histological improvement one year after the treatment was concluded, in 3 patients the hepatic histology was almost normal, 2 evolved to a persistent chronic hepatitis and only one showed deterioration. These results differed from those obtained immediately after the treatment (p 0.05).

[Emergency laparoscopy in the diagnosis of acute abdomen].

In our Country through the acquired experience, we have reached the 10 more frequent diagnostics in laparoscopies of urgency. 1) Our 10 more frequent diagnosis in laparoscopy were: Salpingitis 27.5%; Appendicitis 18%; Ovarian cyst 18%; Inflammatory localized processes 8.

[Diagnosis of acute abdomen by means of laparoscopy (experience in 6,400 cases)].

A study of 6,400 cases of Emergency Laparascopy (E.L.) was made in the Instituto de Gastroenterología de Habana, Cuba.

[Emergency fibroendoscopy. Basic exploration in the diagnosis of upper digestive bleeding (experience in 200 cases)].

Prognosis in upper gastrointestinal hemorrage (UGIH) depends mostly upon an early diagnosis. The addition of an around the clock endoscopist on duty in the hospital was decided upon to provide inmediate evaluation of all UGIH. The team performed 200 endoscopies, many within the first 12 hours and all of them before 24 hours of bleeding.