Celiac disease, primary biliary cirrhosis and helicobacter pylori infection: one link for three diseases.

The association between celiac disease (CD) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has been reported in literature. Recent epidemiological studies showed an increased prevalence of CD in patients with PBC and vice versa. The cause of PBC is unknown.

Metformin versus dietary treatment in nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis: a randomized study.

Objective: We aimed at evaluating whether the addition of low-dose metformin to dietary treatment could be an effective approach in nondiabetic patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: We carried out a 6-month prospective study in a series of overweight or obese patients with ultrasonographic diagnosis of hepatic steatosis. In total, 50 patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups: the first group (n=25) was given metformin (1 g per day) plus dietary treatment and the second group (n=25) was given dietary treatment alone.

Hepatitis C virus cirrhosis: prolonged sustained virological response in a patient after low-dose antiviral treatment.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most frequent cause of chronic liver disease in the western world. The ''gold standard'' treatment of chronic HCV infection currently involves the administration of pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin. The success of this therapy is demonstrated by sustained virological responses (SVR).

[Familial intrahepatic cholestasis. Novel advances].

In the last years hepatology has known remarkable improvement to understanding the mechanisms involved in familial intrahepatic cholestasis. The role of genetic anomalies is very important. Identification of genes involved in familial intrahepatic cholestasis has proven to be an important strategy to unravel the processes of bile acid synthesis and bile salt transport.

[Study on biochemical activity of many strains of Pseudomonas isolated from various morbid forms (author's transl)].

The AA. refer the results of a series of bacteriological proofs on many strains of Ps. aeruginosa isolated in Messina (Italy) from various pathological matters.