Novel role of the serine protease inhibitor elafin in gluten-related disorders.

Objectives: Elafin, an endogenous serine protease inhibitor, modulates colonic inflammation. We investigated the role of elafin in celiac disease (CD) using human small intestinal tissues and in vitro assays of gliadin deamidation. We also investigated the potential beneficial effects of elafin in a mouse model of gluten sensitivity.

IL-15 controls T cell functions through its influence on CD30 and OX40 antigens in Celiac Disease.

Aim: To evaluate the ability of interleukin (IL)-15 to control T cell functions through its influence on CD30 and OX40 expressing cells in Celiac Disease (CD). In peripheral blood (PB), by examining the expression of OX40 in conventional effectors cells and T cells with a phenotypic specialization of regulatory cells [CD4+CD25high forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3)+], and the co stimulation of IFN-γ and IL-4 production within CD30 and OX40 positive subsets of T cells. At the duodenal mucosa, by assessing the expression of CD30 and OX40 in intraepithelial (IE) and lamina propria (LP) lymphocytes (IEL, LPL).

[Total anorectal reconstruction after proctocolectomy: surgical results and functional outcome].

The aim of this report is to describe a novel technical approach to total anorectal reconstruction and show surgical results and functional outcome. The technique is an innovative surgery to restore gastrointestinal perineal continuity after coloproctectomy in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. We made the internal anal sphincter replacement with demucosated small bowel plication, the external anal sphincter replacement with an artificial bowel sphincter (ABS) and the restitution of intestinal transit with and ileal "S" pouch.

[Generalized secondary peritonitis: predictors of in-hospital mortality and survival and mortality evolutive links].

Background: The knowledge of mortality predictors and evolutive variables linked with in-hospital death can help us to optimize corrective procedures.

Objectives: To identify independent predictors of in-hospital mortality and survival, and independent evolutive links with death in patients with generalized secondary peritonitis (GSP).

Methods: Two hundred and forty-two patients admitted into the hospital due to GSP were followed until in-hospital death or hospital discharge.

[Image-guided percutaneous biopsy of gastric lesions with suspicion of malignancy and negative endoscopic biopsies: report of our experience and revision of the literature].

Background: Endoscopic biopsy is the most efficient way to obtain a biopsy specimen from neoplastic lesions located in the stomach. Therefore, it is the procedure of choice to obtain a histologic diagnosis of gastric cancer. Image guided percutaneous biopsy is an alternative method to obtain histologic material for definitive diagnosis when the biopsies are negative for neoplastic cells in several endoscopies.

[Why are there few publications by the Argentine gastroenterology? Considerations on a bibliometric analysis of Argentine publications on gastroenterology].

The publication of scientific findings is the main way to communicate advances. Our aim was to perform a bibliometric and comparative analysis of the Argentinean gastroenterological research output. We analyzed Argentinean gastroenterological publications selectively retrieved from LILACS (between years 1982-2006) and EMBASE (1996-2007) databases by means of specially constructed filter based on author address and subject headings.

Low-dose aspirin affects the small bowel mucosa: results of a pilot study with a multidimensional assessment.

Background & Aims: Whether low-dose aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid [ASA]) produces intestinal damage is controversial. Our aim was to determine whether the small bowel is damaged by low-dose ASA on a short-term basis.

Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers (age range, 19-64 years) underwent video capsule endoscopy (VCE), fecal calprotectin, and permeability tests (sucrose and lactulose/mannitol [lac/man] ratio) before and after ingestion of 100 mg of enteric-coated ASA daily for 14 days.

A prospective evaluation of endoscopic markers for identifying celiac disease in patients with high and low probability of having the disease.

Background/objectives: the usefulness of duodenoscopic markers for predicting celiac disease (CD) has been questioned. We assessed the diagnostic efficacy of endoscopic markers of mucosal atrophy in individuals with different pretest probability of CD.

Methods: we prospectively performed endoscopic intestinal biopsies and CD-related serology tests in 661 individuals, including 143 consecutive patients attending a malabsorption clinic (high pretest probability) and 518 subjects randomly selected fom those undergoing routine endoscopy because of upper GI symptoms (low pretest probability).

[Predictors of intrahospitalary mortality in the upper gastrointestinal variceal bleeding due to chronic liver disease treated endoscopically].

Unlabelled: Upper gastrointestinal variceal bleeding is one of the most serious complications in patients with chronic liver disease. The aim of this trial is to identify in hospital mortality predictors in this illness.

Material And Methods: 106 hospitalizations due to this disease from October 2001 to April 2006 in cohort design.

Prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis in patients with ulcerative colitis and the risk of developing malignancies. A large prospective study.

Background/aim: primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) and seems to be a risk factor for colon cancer. However, taking into account that no data are available in South American population, we analyzed the prevalence of PSC in 1,333 patients with UC and the risk for developing colon cancer.

Material: patients with persistent increases of alkaline phosphatase were studied by cholangiography and liver biopsy.

[Therapeutics of infection by Helicobacter pylori in 2008].

Eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori is recommended in a number of clinical conditions as developed in Maastricht Consensus (I, II, III). In this state of art we discuss the results of current eradication therapies, the new approaches to the management of infection (new antibiotics and eradication schemes) and antimicrobial resistance.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm in functional dyspepsia].

Introduction: Dyspepsia is a word that means bad digestion. In the conviction of which it is a question of an entity that it includes different disciplines, we realize a meeting consensus to discuss and to resolve a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm of national order.

Objective: To agree on a national algorithm applicable to the functional dyspepsia.

Antibodies against synthetic deamidated gliadin peptides as predictors of celiac disease: prospective assessment in an adult population with a high pretest probability of disease.

Background: Noninvasive serologic tests have shown high diagnostic accuracy for celiac disease (CD) in selected populations. Our aim was to determine prospectively the performance of CD-related serology in individuals undergoing intestinal biopsy because of clinical suspicion of small-bowel disorders.

Methods: We enrolled 141 unselected consecutive adult patients attending a small-bowel disease clinic.

[Sacral neuromodulation in fecal incontinence. A pilot prospective experience in Argentina].

Introduction: Anal incontinence is a severe physical and emotional condition that affects quality of life. Its treatment with neuromodulation, that consists in sacral roots electrical stimulation, has became a therapeutic option.

Objective: This study was designed to present the surgical technique and the first prospective experience in neuromodulation for fecal incontinence in Argentina.

Clinical utility of counting intraepithelial lymphocytes in celiac disease intestinal mucosa.

Background/aims: Our aims were to establish the clinical utility of assessing the intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) density in intestinal biopsies from a large series of individuals and to determine the best threshold discriminating celiac disease (CD) patients and controls in two populations with different pre-test prevalence.

Methods: We prospectively performed intestinal biopsy and CD-related serology in 349 subjects undergoing upper GI endoscopy. While 116 had symptoms suggestive of a small bowel disorder (high prevalence), 233 individuals were randomly selected from patients referred to endoscopy because upper GIsymptoms (low prevalence).

Celiac disease serology in dermatitis herpetiformis. Which is the best option for detecting gluten sensitivity?

Background: Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), a well-established gluten-sensitive skin disorder presenting variable degrees of enteropathy, constitutes a very useful model in order to assess the utility of the celiac disease (CD)-related serology in patients with mild intestinal damage.

Objective: Our aim was to explore comparatively the performance of a panel of CD-related serologic tests in patients with DH.

Methods: We assessed a series of 18 consecutive patients with skin biopsy proven DH presenting the overall spectrum of intestinal damage ranging from normal mucosa (n = 6) to total villous atrophy (TVA) (n = 6) through partial villous atrophy (PVA) (n = 6).

[GERD related respiratory symptoms: diagnosis and treatment].

Gastroesophageal reflux disease can cause respiratory symptoms. These symptoms are triggered by reflux events that reach the pharynx, causing microaspiration or through vagal reflex. Respiratory symptoms can be vague and coexist with gastroesophageal reflux disease, without a real link between the two entities.