Two-year risedronate treatment for osteoporosis in patients with esophageal varices: a non-randomized clinical trial.

Background: Bisphosphonates are the mainstay of osteoporosis treatment, but their use for patients with esophageal varices has been avoided due to the risk of esophagitis, which may cause variceal bleeding. Since most clinical trials assessing osteoporosis treatment last 2-3 years, this study aimed to evaluate a 2-year risedronate treatment for patients with esophageal varices and liver cirrhosis.

Methods: The study received Institutional Review Board approval, and the sample was divided into two groups according to bone mineral density (BMD).

MicroRNA expression in inflammatory bowel disease-associated colorectal cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules composed of 19-25 nucleotides that regulate gene expression and play a central role in the regulation of several immune-mediated disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). IBD, represented by ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC is one of the most prevalent tumors in the world, and its main risk factors are obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, alcoholism, advanced age, and some eating habits, in addition to chronic intestinal inflammatory processes and the use of immunosuppressants administered to IBD patients.

Mixed and disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis after liver transplantation: Case report.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic granulomatous fungal infection rarely associated with solid organ transplantation. We report the second case of PCM in an adult after liver transplantation. A 47-year-old woman who had undergone liver transplantation was hospitalized for flu-like symptoms and multiple erythematous ulcerated skin papules.

Refining dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry data to predict mortality among cirrhotic outpatients: A retrospective study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of muscle wasting according to measures obtained by different limb muscle mass indexes, to find the best mortality predictor among outpatients with cirrhosis.

Methods: Patients with liver cirrhosis (N = 210) were submitted to dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Appendicular muscle mass (AMM), AMM index (AMMI), upper limb muscle mass (ULMM), and ULMM index (ULMMI) were calculated.

Safety and efficacy of risedronate for patients with esophageal varices and liver cirrhosis: a non-randomized clinical trial.

Despite the high prevalence of osteoporosis in liver cirrhosis, the indication of bisphosphonates for patients with esophageal varices has been avoided due to risk of digestive mucosal damage. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the safety profile of risedronate treatment for patients with osteoporosis, liver cirrhosis and esophageal varices with low risk of bleeding. A total of 120 patients were allocated into two groups according to their bone mineral density measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Anthropometric measures associated with sarcopenia in outpatients with liver cirrhosis.

Aim: The present study aimed to identify variables associated with sarcopenia in cirrhotic outpatients using clinical data, anthropometric measures and lab tests. In a single centre prospective study, 261 cirrhotic outpatients were followed on average for 2 years. The diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia were applied according to the current guidelines, combining muscle strength and appendicular muscle mass index.

Which of the branched-chain amino acids increases cerebral blood flow in hepatic encephalopathy? A double-blind randomized trial.

Branched-chain amino acids increase the brain perfusion of patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE), but the amino acid and the mechanisms involved are still unknown. This study compared brain perfusion and clinical improvement during leucine or isoleucine supplementation. After randomization, 27 subjects with cirrhosis and HE received leucine or isoleucine supplements for one year.

Handgrip strength as a predictor of bone mineral density in outpatients with cirrhosis.

Background And Aim: Osteoporosis is well recognized as a cirrhosis complication; however, most studies assessing this condition included only patients on liver transplantation lists with an elevated rate of bone diseases. While general population studies show that handgrip strength is clearly associated with bone mineral density, until now this tool has not been applied to patients with cirrhosis in relation to their bone condition. This study aimed to evaluate whether handgrip strength, bone, and liver tests may be useful as predictors of bone disease in outpatients with cirrhosis.

Embolization of splenorenal shunt associated to portal vein thrombosis and hepatic encephalopathy.

Unlabelled: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a cognitive disturbance characterized by neuropsychiatric alterations. It occurs in acute and chronic hepatic disease and also in patients with portosystemic shunts. The presence of these portosystemic shunts allows the passage of nitrogenous substances from the intestines through systemic veins without liver depuration.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy associated with severe acute pancreatitis: A case report.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare disease that affects women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Although infrequent, the disease can cause maternal mortality. The diagnosis is not always clear until the pregnancy is terminated, and significant complications, such as acute pancreatitis, can occur.

Pancreatic paracoccidioidomycosis simulating malignant neoplasia: case report.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic granulomatous disease caused by fungus, and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of intra-abdominal tumors in endemic areas. We report a rare case of paracoccidioidomycosis in the pancreas. A 45-year-old man was referred to our institution with a 2-mo history of epigastric abdominal pain that was not diet-related, with night sweating, inappetence, weight loss, jaundice, pruritus, choluria, and acholic feces, without signs of sepsis or palpable tumors.