3 +/- 1.5 g) by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (20 mg/kg). Animals recieved a daily oral gavage of TH-4 at 10(9) cfu/ml or skim milk (vehicle) from days 0 to 8. At day 6, rats were injected with either saline or doxorubicin. At kill, small intestinal tissues were collected for determination of sucrase and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and histological assessment. Results. Body weight was significantly decreased by doxorubicin

compared with normal controls (p < 0.05). Histological parameters, such as crypt depth and villus height, were also significantly decreased by doxorubicin. TH-4 partially prevented the loss of body weight induced by doxorubicin (2.3% compared with 4%), but provided no further therapeutic benefit. Conclusions. The minimal amelioration learn more of doxorubicin-induced mucositis by TH-4 further supports folate production as a likely mechanism of TH-4 action against methotrexate-induced mucositis. Further studies into TH-4 are required to confirm its applicability to other conventional chemotherapy regimens.”
“Objective. To assess the effect of propranolol treatment on the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and the relationship between native HVPG and the effect of propranolol in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension in a prospective, observational, single-center study. Material and methods. The HVPG was registered prospectively in 124

consecutive cirrhosis patients with and without treatment with propranolol 80 mg daily. Results. 41% of the patients responded to the treatment with the intended reduction of HVPG to <12 mm Hg and/or by >20%. The SRT1720 molecular weight HVPG reduction was larger for higher native

HVPG values Carnitine dehydrogenase (p < 0.001). There was no significant relation between changes in heart rate and changes in HVPG (p = 0.8). Conclusions. The high fraction of hemodynamic non-responders supports the rationale of measuring the HVPG with and without propranolol treatment to assist the clinical assessment and avoid meaningless and potentially harmful treatment. The positive association between a high native HVPG and propranolol-induced HVPG reduction indicates that pharmacological treatment also benefits patients with advanced portal hypertension.”
“Introduction. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with surgically altered upper gastrointestinal anatomy (SAA) is generally challenging despite the use of enteroscopy. After failed biliary cannulation, rendezvous technique (RV) can be an option to assist the biliary access. However, proper needle puncture of biliary ducts, which is critical in the RV procedure, can be difficult because of insufficient biliary dilation. By contrast, the gallbladder can be punctured as a possible access route for RV. Aim. To evaluate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous transgallbladder (PTGB)-RV in patients with SAA. Patients and methods. Six patients who underwent PTGB-RV were included.