Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials - Volume 11, Issue 3, 2016

Alcohol represents the oldest substance of abuse known and Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The ALD includes a wide spectrum of injury and may lead progressively from simple steatosis to frank cirrhosis. The ALD diagnosis may be hard and it is mainly defined by the history of chronic alcohol intake, physical and laboratory abnormalities suggestive of liver disease Read More

Alcohol represents the oldest substance of abuse known, existed at least as early as the Neolithic period. In the present era, almost half of the world’s population consumes alcohol and it represents the third largest risk factor for disease and disability and the most prevalent cause of advanced liver disease worldwide. In fact, when alcohol consumption reaches “unsafe quantities” an Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) is ver Read More

Liver biopsy due to the limitations is not recommended for all patients with suspected Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) but useful for establishing the stage and severity of ALD, in case of aggressive forms or severe steatohepatitis requiring specific therapies, for distinguishing comorbid liver pathology. Procedure is invasive and that’s why associated with some potential adverse effects and complications which may be minor ( Read More

Alcohol is considered one of the most common hepatotoxin, and chronic alcoholic liver disease is affecting millions of subjects worldwide. The three most frequently manifestations of alcoholic liver disease are steatosis, acute alcoholic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. The diagnosis of Alcoholic Liver Diseases (ALD) is made by clinical and laboratory analysis. Actually do not exist a single laboratory test able to confirm the diagnosis of Read More

The prevalence of Alcohol related Liver Disease (ALD) continues to rise all over the world due to changing drinking behaviour of the population. Liver disease due to excessive alcohol consumption causes significant morbidity and mortality, and poses a substantial economic burden to the health care resources. Early diagnosis and treatment of ALD may help prevent progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. T Read More

The Gastrointestinal (GI) tract is one of the most affected systems by alcohol consumption. Alcohol can affect the esophagus in several ways: induces mucosal inflammation, increases the risk for Barrett esophagus and esophageal cancer, and also impairs the esophageal motility. Numerous studies have reported an increased prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or erosive esophagitis in alcoholic Read More

Alcohol, in addition to well-known damages on the liver and pancreas, produces direct and indirect injuries in the mucosa of the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large bowel. Different damages can be produced both when a large amount of alcohol is acutely drunk and when this is taken chronically. Almost all these lesions can be detected and treated by endoscopy as shown in the present article. When, over time, Read More

Alcoholic and virus C hepatitis currently represent the main causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Every year many people die and are subjected to complex hospitalization and medical assistance due to these pathologies. Alcoholic liver disease and hepatitis C virus chronic infection are often present in the same patient. These two pathologies sinergically act in determining the onset and progression of liver damage t Read More

Background: Chronic ethyl alcohol consuming is well known independent negative predictor of unfavorable natural course and therapy outcome of Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) infection. Objective: The aim of the present study was to clarify the impact of alcohol consumption on fibrosis rate progression in patients with CHC and Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) rates in patients undergoing treatment with pegylated interfer Read More

The gut–liver axis model has often explained liver disease physiopathology. Among the latter we can mention Non-Alcoholic Liver Steatosis (NAFLD), Liver Steatohepatitis (NASH), liver cirrhosis. In this frame an altered Intestinal Permeability (IP) is the gate for antigenic/toxic substances from gut lumen until target organs such as liver in NAFLD. Altered intestinal permeability was discovered almost forty years ago as consequence Read More

Background: Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) can be defined as the hepatic manifestations caused by excessive alcohol intake. ALD comprises a spectrum from simple steatosis to cirrhosis. Objective: To review diverse clinical and metabolic characteristics and their impact in ALD. Conclusion: The concurrence of metabolic alterations, including obesity and diabetes, and alcohol consumption increase the risk of liver injury and al Read More

Alcoholism is currently listed as the third leading cause of death. Chronic alcohol consumption brings serious medical complications like gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, respiratory system disorders. Liver can be seriously damage by alcohol misuse. Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) is the first important warning sign of alcohol abuse. Since effective therapies for ALD are still limited, natural products in t Read More

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a major healthcare problem. Almost ninety percent of HCCs develops on cirrhosis due to chronic viral hepatitis, Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) and alcohol abuse. Alcohol itself is defined a strong human carcinogenic agent. Some genetic polymorphisms in alcohol-metabolizing systems and more recently, some sequence variations within the genes coding for patatin-like phospholipase en Read More

Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) represents the second most common indication for Liver Transplantation (LT) worldwide. Outcomes of LT for ALD are comparable with those of liver transplantation for other aetiologies of liver disease; however, it's still considered a controversial indication to LT, mainly because ALD is considered a self inflicted disease, and for the risk of relapse after LT. Most transplant programs require 6 month Read More

Currently, many novel therapies are available for physicians treating cancer; some of them are associated with adverse cardiac events. One of the most worrisome cardiac event is QT prolongation, which is a risk factor for developing the potentially fatal torsade de pointe. Many classes of drugs, both anticancer and concomitant agents, are involved in this issue. We report a review of old and new commonly used agents wit Read More

Introduction: Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are common in hospitalized oncology patients. The kinds of ADRs experienced by cancer patients are varied. Therefore, the identification of appropriate manner in order to prevent ADRs may improve patient outcome. Aims: The present study evaluated the incidence, frequency and common types of adverse drug reactions among hospitalized oncology patients. Methods: Patie Read More

Introduction: We propose in this study to analyze the results obtained in the experience of Dar El Amal by comparing the two age groups 45-49 years versus over 50 years. This experience of Dar Al Amal was started in Sfax (Tunisia) in 2004. The project had included women over a period of six and a half years. The target population was all women over the age of 45 years. Results: In the period of the study, 10 000 women h Read More