Robinson G. Gonzalez

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and its association with obesity, insulin resistance and increased serum levels of C‐reactive protein in Hispanics

Background: Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disorder of the liver, which may progress to fibrosis or cirrhosis. Recent studies have shown a significant impact of ethnicity on susceptibility to steatosis‐related liver disease.

Increased orocecal transit time in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Intestinal bacterial overgrowth (IBO) has been suggested to play a pathogenic role in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Delayed intestinal transit may contribute to IBO development. Ten nondiabetic patients with NAFLD and abnormal liver enzymes were recruited. Ten healthy individuals, matched by sex, age, and body mass index, were used as controls. Orocecal transit time (OCTT) was measured by the lactulose breath test. Anti-endotoxin core antibodies (EndoCAb) were determined. The effect of oral norfloxacin (400 mg BID during 2 weeks) on liver enzymes, lactulose breath test, and EndoCAb was also studied. NAFLD patients had higher basal breathed H2 and prolonged OCTT compared to controls (127 ± 61 vs. 57 ± 23 min, respectively; P = 0.0037). EndoCAb titers were similar in NAFLD patients and controls. Norfloxacin administration had no effect on ALT levels, lactulose breath test, or EndoCAb titers in patients with NAFLD. The present data show evidence of deranged intestinal motility in nondiabetic patients with NAFLD and support the hypothesis that NAFLD could be linked to endotoxin-induced liver damage of intestinal origin.

Diagnóstico precoz de cáncer gástrico: Propuesta de detección y seguimiento de lesiones premalignas gástricas: protocolo ACHED

An expert panel analyzed the available evidence and reached a consensus to release 24 recommendations for primary and secondary prevention of gastric cancer (CG) in symptomatic patients, with indication for upper GI endoscopy. The main recommendations include (1) Search for and eradicate H. pylori infection in all cases. (2) Systematic gastric biopsies (Sydney protocol) in all patients over 40 years of age or first grade relatives of patient with CG, to detect gastric atrophy, intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia. (3) Incorporate the OLGA system (Operative Link on Gastritis Assessment) to the pathological report, to categorize the individual risk of CG. (4) Schedule endoscopic follow-up according to the estimated risk of CG, namely annual for OLGA III- IV, every 3 years for OLGA I- II or persistent H. pylori infection, every 5 years for CG relatives without other risk factors and no follow-up for OLGA 0, H. pylori (-). (4) Establish basic human and material resources for endoscopic follow-up programs, including some essential administrative processes, and (5) Suggest the early CG/total CG diagnosis ratio of each institution and the proportion of systematic recording of endoscopic images, as quality indicators. These measures are applicable using currently available resources, they can complement any future screening programs for asymptomatic population and may contribute to improve the prognosis of CG in high-risk populations.

Quimioembolización hepática en el manejo terapéutico del hepatocarcinoma. Reporte de dos casos

Chemoembolization is a therapeutic alternative for those patients with hepatocarcinoma that cannot be excised surgically or that are waiting a liver allograft. We report two patients with hepatocarcinoma who were subjected to chemoembolization. A 65 years old male with a chronic liver disease and right lobe hepatocarcinoma, waiting for a liver transplantation, was subjected to two sessions, of chemoembolization four weeks apart. A magnetic resonance showed a 80% reduction of tumor volume one month later. A 72 years old diabetic male with an alcoholic liver disease with two hepatocarcinoma in the right lobe was subjected to two sessions of chemoembolization, separated by four weeks. A magnetic resonance one month later showed the absence of blood flow in both lesions, suggesting complete necrosis.