[Application and efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil in hepatitis B virus-associated chronic liver diseases].

In therapy of chronic hepatitis B, there are new and exciting developments in antivirals such as nucleotide analogues. Adefovir dipivoxil is an oral prodrug of adefovir, a nucleotide analogue of adenosine monophosphate. This agent has a potent in vitro and in vivo effect against herpes virus, retroviruses, and hepadnaviruses.

Detection of colorectal adenomas by routine chromoendoscopy with indigocarmine.

Objectives: Nonpolypoid adenomas, which can be important precursors of colorectal cancers, are difficult to find during routine colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of routine chromoendoscopy in Korea, where the incidence of colorectal cancer is low compared with western countries.

Methods: Colonoscopy with chromoendoscopy was performed in 74 consecutive patients (48 men, 26 women; mean age 53.

New serological assay for detection of putative Helicobacter pylori virulence factors.

We evaluated a new immunoblot assay (Helicoblot 2.1) for Helicobacter pylori infection and CagA and VacA status by using serum samples from 222 patients. The test accurately detected H.