Constipation during pregnancy: a longitudinal survey based on self-reported symptoms and the Rome II criteria.

An increase in the prevalence of constipation during pregnancy has been suggested to occur. We designed a prospective study to evaluate the prevalence of constipation during pregnancy and puerperium, to investigate possible associations with eating habits and lifestyle, and to evaluate the frequency of laxative use. A structured questionnaire was developed addressing demographics, obstetric characteristics, lifestyle, eating habits, variables required for the diagnosis of constipation, and laxative use to evaluate the prevalence of constipation during pregnancy and puerperium.

[Swallowing disorders: a challenge for the gastroenterologist].

Alterations in the physiological mechanism of swallowing involve several anatomical structures performing complex and coordinated activities. These alterations can be secondary to various pathological conditions with highly varied causes. Consequently, the approach to patients with swallowing disorders represents a diagnostic challenge.

[The use of evoked potentials in the follow-up and prognosis of patients in coma following severe traumatic brain injury].

Introduction: When dealing with patients in coma, it can be very useful to have early access to objective tests that provide information about their clinical status and can help to establish a prognosis for survival and functional recovery. The value of evoked potentials (EP) in such cases is already well known, although only techniques that assess the neurological status have been used.

Aim: To determine the usefulness of different types of evoked potentials as a means of reaching a short and medium term prognosis for survival and functional recovery in patients in coma as a result of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

[Air pollutant exposure during pregnancy and fetal and early childhood development. Research protocol of the INMA (Childhood and Environment Project)].

Introduction: The INMA (INfancia y Medio Ambiente [Spanish for Environment and Childhood]) project is a cooperative research network. This project aims to study the effects of environment and diet on fetal and early childhood development. This article aims to present the air pollutant exposure protocol during pregnancy and fetal and early childhood development of the INMA project.

Change over time of bowel habit in irritable bowel syndrome: a prospective, observational, 1-year follow-up study (RITMO study).

Background: Evolution of bowel habit in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not well known.

Aim: To evaluate the change over time of bowel habit in IBS patients followed-up during 1 year.

Methods: Five hundred and seventeen patients with IBS were prospectively included in an observational study with five evaluations over a 1-year period.

Immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors with respect to the outcome of HCV recurrence after liver transplantation: results of a meta-analysis.

A controversy exists over whether the outcome of a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infection-related liver transplant differs based on the calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) used. We have performed a systematic review and a subsequent meta-analysis evaluating tacrolimus (Tac)-based vs. cyclosporine A-based immunosuppression in HCV-infected liver transplant recipients.

Von Willebrand's disease: a novel mutation, P1824H and the incidence of R1205H defect among families with dominant quantitative von Willebrand factor deficiency.

To date, few mutations associated with a dominant quantitative deficiency of von Willebrand factor (VWF) and a high penetrance have been reported. This phenotype was confirmed in seven unrelated families of several patients diagnosed with von Willebrand's disease out of 70 who requested genetic studies of the VWF gene. The mutations linked to this type were identified: R1205H in five families; T1156M in one family; and the new P1824H alteration in one other family.

Healthcare seeking for constipation: a population-based survey in the Mediterranean area of Spain.

Background: The use of healthcare resources for the management of constipation is not well-known.

Aim: To analyse healthcare seeking for constipation, defined by three different criteria, and its related factors and to assess the frequency of use of laxatives, suppositories and enemas for the treatment of constipation.

Methods: A cross-sectional study in the general community.

[Painful tic convulsif and Botulinum toxin].

Introduction: Painful tic convulsif is a rare disorder that associates trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and ipsilateral hemifacial spasm (HFS). These two disorders are the most common examples of hyperactive cranial rhizopathy and are frequently caused by vascular compression of these cranial nerves at the nerve root entry and exit zone in the brain stem, which leads to paroxysmal ephaptic transmission.

Case Reports: We report the cases of four patients with combined TN and HFS out of a total of 247 patients with HFS who were treated with botulinum toxin.

Efficacy, predictors of response, and potential risks associated with antiviral therapy in liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C.

There are unresolved issues regarding sustained virological response (SVR), tolerance and risk of rejection following antiviral therapy in liver transplantation (LT). The aim of our study was to determine efficacy, rejection risk and factors associated with SVR. HCV-infected LT patients with at least 6 months of follow-up following end-of-therapy (EOT) received combination therapy of ribavirin (Rbvr) + standard (n = 31)/pegIFN (n = 36) between 1999 and 2004 (95% genotype 1).

Genetic similarity of hepatitis C virus and fibrosis progression in chronic and recurrent infection after liver transplantation.

The effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genetic heterogeneity on clinical features of post-transplantation hepatitis C is controversial. Different regions of the HCV genome have been associated with apoptosis, fibrosis, and other pathways leading to liver damage in chronic HCV infection. Besides, differences in immunodominant regions, such as NS3, may influence HCV-specific immune responses and disease outcome.

Analysis of prognostic factors and applicability of Kohne's prognostic groups in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with first-line irinotecan or oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

Background: The objective of this study was to analyze prognostic factors for survival and to assess the applicability of Kohne's classification in patients treated with irinotecan- or oxaliplatin-based first-line chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: One hundred forty-two consecutive cases from a single center were retrospectively reviewed. Median patient age was 62 years.

Identification of a novel founder mutation in the DYSF gene causing clinical variability in the Spanish population.

Background: Mutations in the dysferlin (DYSF) gene cause 3 different phenotypes of muscular dystrophies: Miyoshi myopathy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B, and distal anterior compartment myopathy.

Objective: To present the results of clinical and molecular analysis of 8 patients with dysferlinopathy from 5 unrelated families.

Design: Clinical assessment was performed with a standardized protocol.

[Gastroesophageal reflux disease refractory to esomeprazole].

Resistance to proton pump inhibitors (PPI) in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which has been described in patients treated with omeprazole, could explain some exceptional cases of treatment failure and the need for surgery. The objective test of resistance to PPI is obtained with 24-hour intragastric pH-metry performed during treatment. A gastric pH of less than 4 for more than 50% of recording time indicates resistance.

[Anesthesia for cesarean delivery in a woman with congenital aortic stenosis].

The patient was a 26-year-old primipara diagnosed in the first trimester with aortic stenosis and coarctation of the descending aorta. She had remained stable until the 37th week, when she developed dyspnea, edema in the lower extremities, crepitations, oliguria, hypotension, and mild sinus tachycardia consistent with left ventricular insufficiency. A cesarean was performed under general anesthesia with remifentanil, with good outcomes for mother and infant.

[Different phenotypes of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease caused by mutations in the same gene. Are classical criteria for classification still valid?].

Molecular genetic research is leading to the continuous discovery of new genes and protein involved in peripheral nerves function. Simultaneously, extended clinical, neurophysiological and pathological research has yielded new genotype-phenotype correlation on Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). This has made it possible to know that several genes can cause both demyelinating (CMT1) and axonal (CMT2) phenotypes.

Prevalence of constipation: agreement among several criteria and evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of qualifying symptoms and self-reported definition in a population-based survey in Spain.

The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of chronic constipation and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the symptoms and the self-reported definition of constipation. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the general community in 1999. A questionnaire comprising 21 items was developed and mailed to a random sample of 489 subjects who were aged between 18 and 65 years and who belonged to a Spanish population.

Genetic variability of hepatitis C virus NS3 protein in human leukocyte antigen-A2 liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C.

The association between the severity of chronic hepatitis C and the variability of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome remains controversial, but to our knowledge few data are available to date regarding T-cell epitope coding regions in transplant patients. In the current study, we identified 21 human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2-positive Spanish patients with chronic hepatitis C, 14 immunosuppressed liver transplant recipients, and 7 immunocompetent controls. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, viral load, and rate of fibrosis progression were determined.

Severe recurrent hepatitis C after liver retransplantation for hepatitis C virus-related graft cirrhosis.

An increase in the number of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected transplant recipients at need for repeated liver transplantation is anticipated. To date, there is a certain reluctance to accept these patients because of an increased organ shortage, early reports suggesting a poor outcome, and uncertainty regarding the natural history of recurrent hepatitis C in the second graft. The aim of this study is to determine the outcome of patients undergoing retransplantation for HCV-related graft cirrhosis.

Contribution of obesity to hepatitis C-related fibrosis progression.

Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease progression is variable. Identification of factors predictive of rapid progression is an important goal for improving patient management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive role of several variables, including some that are etiologically related to the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) syndrome such us obesity, in fibrosis progression in both patients with elevated and normal transaminase levels.