Feasibility and Safety of Through-the-scope versus Over-the-wire Stents for the Palliation of Malignant Dysphagia. A Cohort Real- Life Study.

Background And Aims: In the presence of malignant dysphagia in non-surgical candidates, a self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) represents a safe and effective approach. Recently, a through-the-scope (TTS) SEMS was launched. The aim of our study was to assess the feasibility and safety of the TTS versus over-the-wire (OTW) SEMS in patients with malignant dysphagia.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by an excessive accumulation of fatty acids and triglycerides within the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes of non-alcohol users. The natural history varies according to the initial histological diagnosis. A current consideration is that cryptogenic cirrhosis may be representative of a late stage of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which has lost its features of necroinflammatory activity and steatosis in up to 80% of patients.

Pyogenic granuloma of the sigmoid colon.

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a polypoid form of lobular capillary hemangioma that usually occurs in the skin and some mucosal surfaces. However, it is extremely rare in the intestinal tract and its preoperative diagnosis is difficult. We report on a case of PG of the sigmoid colon in a 62-year-old woman with a 6-month history of rectal bleeding.

Osteoprotegerin and RANKL in alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Background/aims: The mechanisms leading to osteoporosis in alcoholic liver disease remain poorly understood. Recently identified soluble circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG), is the osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor. It acts as a decoy receptor for osteoclast activating factor, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL), and impairs osteoclast function.

Variceal ligation plus nadolol compared with ligation for prophylaxis of variceal rebleeding: a multicenter trial.

beta-Blockers and endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) have proven to be valuable methods in the prevention of variceal rebleeding. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of EVL combined with nadolol versus EVL alone as secondary prophylaxis for variceal bleeding. Patients admitted for acute variceal bleeding were treated during emergency endoscopy with EVL or sclerotherapy and received somatostatin for 5 days.

Liver transplantation with allografts from hepatitis B core antibody-positive donors: a new approach.

The enduring shortfall of organ donors has inspired the widespread utilization of hepatic allografts from donors with hepatitis B core antibodies in spite of the potential risk of transmitting hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection to the recipient. Here we report a protocol of naive recipients receiving livers from hepatitis B core antibody-positive donors. From November, 1999 to March, 2002, 77 liver transplantations were performed in 73 patients at our institution, 7 of whom received livers from hepatitis B core antibody-positive donors.