Diagnostic Accuracy of a Noninvasive Test for Detection of Helicobacter pylori and Resistance to Clarithromycin in Stool by the Amplidiag H. pylori+ClariR Real-Time PCR Assay.

The noninvasive detection of and its resistance to clarithromycin could revolutionize the management of -infected patients by tailoring eradication treatment without any need for endoscopy when histology is not necessary. Several real-time PCR tests performed on stools have been proposed, but their performances were either poor or they were tested on too few patients to be properly evaluated. We conducted a prospective, multicenter study including 1,200 adult patients who were addressed for gastroduodenal endoscopy with gastric biopsies and who were naive for eradication treatment in order to evaluate the performance of the Amplidiag +ClariR assay recently developed by Mobidiag (Espoo, Finland).

Diagnosis and measurement of liver fibrosis by MRI in bile duct ligated rats.

The noninvasive evaluation of liver fibrosis is a major clinical goal in liver diseases. Our aim was to identify MRI parameters to quantify liver fibrosis in vivo in an animal model of liver fibrosis with slight inflammation. We evaluated serum hyaluronate, liver hydroxyproline, area of liver fibrosis (image analysis), and 1.

[1,1, 1-trichloroethane-induced chronic active hepatitis].

1,1, 1-trichloroéthane is derived from carbon tetrachloride and has been widely used as an industrial solvent since 1954, because of its supposed lack of toxicity. However, several cases of central nervous system toxicity and heart disorders due to intoxication by 1,1, 1-trichloroéthane have been reported. Cases of liver injury are infrequent, with less than 10 cases, unlike 1,1, 2-trichloroéthane that it replaced.

Low-dose terlipressin improves systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics in fluid-challenged endotoxic rats.

Objective: Vasopressin has been used to treat arterial hypotension associated with hyperdynamic vasoplegic states, but detrimental effects on splanchnic circulation have been reported. We tested the effects of a low-dose vasopressin analogue, terlipressin (6 microg/kg), on systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics in fluid-challenged endotoxic rats (lipopolysaccharide, 30 mg/kg in 1 hr).

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled experimental study with repeated measures.

Hemodynamic and antifibrotic effects of losartan in rats with liver fibrosis and/or portal hypertension.

Background/aims: To assess the effects of the early and chronic administration of losartan--a specific angiotensin II receptor antagonist--in the prevention of hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension.

Methods/results: (1) In CCl(4) rats, losartan at 5 and 10 mg/kg per day significantly decreased portal pressure (-11, -18%, respectively), splenorenal shunt blood flow (-60, -80%) and liver fibrosis (liver hydroxyproline and area of fibrosis) without significant changes in mortality and mean arterial pressure (MAP). (2) In bile duct ligated (BDL) rats, losartan at 5 mg/kg per day significantly decreased portal pressure (-14%), splenorenal shunt blood flow (-70%) and liver fibrosis.

Prothrombin index is an indirect marker of severe liver fibrosis.

Objective: The non-invasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis is based mainly on biochemical markers. The main aim was to validate whether the prothrombin index is an indirect marker of the severity of liver fibrosis.

Patients And Methods: The predictive value of the prothrombin index for liver fibrosis was first assessed in 243 patients with chronic liver disease, then validated in 193 other patients with chronic liver disease.