Fat composition may be a clue to explain the primary therapeutic effect of enteral nutrition in Crohn's disease: results of a double blind randomised multicentre European trial.

Background: Dietary fat has been suggested to determine the therapeutic effect of enteral diets in Crohn's disease.

Aim: To assess the efficacy of two whole protein based diets with different fat compositions (n6 polyunsaturated fatty acids v monounsaturated fatty acids) in inducing clinical remission in active Crohn's disease compared with steroids.

Methods: Sixty two patients with active Crohn's disease were randomised to receive, for not more than 4 weeks: (a) a polymeric enteral diet containing 35 g of lipids per 1000 kcal, high in oleate (79%) and low in linoleate (6.

Short- and long-term outcome of severe alcohol-induced hepatitis treated with steroids or enteral nutrition: a multicenter randomized trial.

Steroids are recommended in severe alcohol-induced hepatitis, but some data suggest that artificial nutrition could also be effective. We conducted a randomized trial comparing the short- and long-term effects of total enteral nutrition or steroids in these patients. A total of 71 patients (80% cirrhotic) were randomized to receive 40 mg/d prednisolone (n = 36) or enteral tube feeding (2,000 kcal/d) for 28 days (n = 35), and were followed for 1 year or until death.

[Persistent leucocytosis as initial manifestation of Whipple's disease and development of gastric cancer in the follow up].

We report the case of a 57 year old male with Whipple's disease. The patient was asymptomatic and an unexplained peripheral leucocytosis was found in a routine examination. It persisted as the only abnormality for one year and then he developed articular symptoms, diarrhoea and weight loss.

Randomized clinical trial of Plantago ovata seeds (dietary fiber) as compared with mesalamine in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis. Spanish Group for the Study of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU).

Objective: Butyrate enemas may be effective in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis. Because colonic fermentation of Plantago ovata seeds (dietary fiber) yields butyrate, the aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Plantago ovata seeds as compared with mesalamine in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis.

Methods: An open label, parallel-group, multicenter, randomized clinical trial was conducted.

[Silent axial arthropathy in inflammatory bowel disease. Clinical, radiological and genetic characteristics].

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence, clinical and radiological characteristics, association with HLA B27 in a subgroup of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and subclinical sacroileitis. The sensitivity of the diagnostic criteria for spondyloarthropathy in this group of patients is evaluated.

Materials And Methods: All patients with inflammatory bowel disease attending an outpatient gastroenterology unit from January 1994 to June 1994 were recruited.

[Etiology and epidemiology of 547 episodes of acute viral hepatitis diagnosed in adults in a general hospital (1983-1994)].

The etiology and epidemiology of 547 consecutive episodes of acute viral hepatitis in adults and diagnosed in a general hospital over 12 years (1983-1994) were prospectively analyzed as were the changes observed during the two halves of the study period. Of the 547 episodes, 25.4% were of type A, 41.

Tuberculous peritonitis: diagnostic value of ascitic fluid pH and lactate.

Background: The analytical pattern of ascitic fluid in peritoneal tuberculosis is frequently similar to that found in other causes of ascites. The diagnostic value of the ascitic fluid pH and lactate in cases of tuberculous peritonitis has not yet been established.

Methods: Ascitic fluid pH, lactate, total proteins, cell count, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose, and their blood-ascitic gradients were determined in 10 patients with tuberculous peritonitis (group I).

[Behavioral profile of the patient with Crohn's disease].

The present study describe epidemiology, clinics and psychology of 92 patients with Crohn's Disease. The study has been designed in order to assess the psychological repercussion and the way of life secondary to Crohn's Disease; and assess the relationship between environmental factors and behavioral reactions with the symptomatology. The psychological assessment show higher levels of neurosis (66.

[Ulcerative colitis and amyloidosis. Presentation of a case and review of the literature].

A case of ulcerative colitis associated with secondary amyloidosis in a 62-year-old man who died from septic shock and pneumonia complicating head injury is reported. Amyloid deposition was incidentally found at autopsy. Proteinuria and hepatomegaly discovered a few days before his death were the only signs of amyloidosis.

[Crohn's disease and amyloidosis. An association to be considered].

Two instances of Crohn's disease and amyloidosis are presented. The time elapsed between the diagnosis of Crohn's disease and that of amyloidosis was 2 and 8 years respectively. The first case had hepatosplenomegaly and moderate proteinuria; the other one, severe proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome range.

[Prognosis of patients with irritable intestine syndrome. A prospective study with 1 year follow-up].

An analysis was made of the prognosis over a one-year follow-up period of a consecutive series of 86 out patients with irritable bowel syndrome (SII) who were treated randomly with an antispasmodic (otilonium) or a tranquilizer (clobazam), and the existence of factors, mainly psychological, that could worsen it was determined with the Zung anxiety test and the Hamilton depression scale. We confirmed that irritable intestine syndrome is a chronic disease, with a mean course of 13 +/- 12.5 years at the time of consultation.