A 46-year-old female patient was referred to our department with presenting symptoms of asthenia, jaundice, and pruritus. There was no medical history or clinical evidence of viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, hemochromatosis, or Wilson's disease. The patient revealed that 14 days prior to admission she had begun self-medicating with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to reduce body fat, leading to the suspicion of CLA hepatotoxicity, which was subsequently confirmed by a liver biopsy. After the patient ceased to ingest CLA, liver enzymes levels normalized. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of hepatotoxicity due to CLA ingestion.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently used in clinical practice, and are considered a first-line option for pain management. However, non-selective NSAIDs (nsNSAIDs) and new generation NSAIDs named cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors (coxibs) are very different from one another and their cardiovascular and gastrointestinal safety profiles may influence prescribing. This article resulted from a search of MEDLINE/Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Bandolier, Medscape and Trip database, up to June 2011. Key words included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, coxib and safety, with the purpose of reviewing the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular safety issues of NSAIDS and the main aspects that differentiate both classes. Selective coxibs are associated with a more favourable gastrointestinal safety profile than nsNSAIDs. In terms of the risk of cardiovascular events, there seems to be a class effect for all NSAIDs with the possible exception of naproxen. The proper usage guidelines for NSAIDs detail the importance of risk factors for each patient in addition to the differences between classes. Patients with high cardiovascular or gastrointestinal risk should avoid using NSAIDs. These medications should be used at the minimum effective dose and for the shortest time possible in all patients.

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ObjectiveThe present study was aimed at evaluating the contribution of transrectal prostate ultrasound in the screening for prostate neoplasias and in the guidance of prostate biopsies.Materials and MethodsProspective study developed over a one-year period. All the patients with indication for prostate biopsy were evaluated. Regardless of PSA values, the patients underwent ultrasound in order to identify suspicious nodules (confirmed by two observers). Sextant biopsy was subsequently performed. In cases of finding suspicious nodules, an additional puncture directed to such nodules was done.ResultsIn a total of 155 cases the prevalence of malignancy was of 53%. Suspicious nodules were detected in 34 patients, and 25 where malignant (positive predictive value of 74%). The specificity and sensitivity for suspicious nodules were 88% and 31% respectively. Comparatively with the randomly obtained sextant specimens, the rate of findings of neoplasia was higher in the specimens obtained with puncture directed to the nodule (p = 0.032). No statistically significant difference was observed in the Gleason score for both types of specimens (p = 0.172).ConclusionThe high positive predictive value and the high rate of findings of neoplasia in specimens of suspicious nodules should be taken into consideration in the future. The authors suggest a biopsy technique similar to the one described in the present study (sextant biopsy plus puncture directed to the suspicious nodule).

INTRODUCCIÓNLa esofagitis necrosante aguda (ENA) es una entidad de descripción muy infrecuente. Se reconoce por el aspecto negro difuso del esófago a la endoscopia, en asociación a cambios histopatológicos de necrosis de la mucosa. La necrosis es mayor en el tercio distal con terminación abrupta en la línea Z.La primera descripción endoscópica fue informada por Goldenberg y cols. (1) en 1990. La causa de la lesión no está completamente aclarada, aunque en ella parece intervenir un componente isquémico (1); obstrucción al tracto de salida gástrico (2); hipersensibilidad a antibióticos (3) e infecciones virales (4). El pronóstico es variable. En muchos casos se asoció a un curso fatal, aunque en otros casos no es un evento terminal. Esto sugiere que el pronóstico depende de la edad y de las enfermedades de base. Esofagitis necrosante aguda: análisis retrospectivo RESUMENIntroducción: la esofagitis necrosante aguda es una entidad rara. Se reconoce por el aspecto negro difuso del esófago a la endoscopia. Su incidencia e patogénesis se desconoce.Pacientes y métodos: se analizaron retrospectivamente 11 pacientes con esofagitis necrosante aguda desde el punto de vista de los datos clínicos, de laboratorio y endoscopicos en 2 años.Resultados: se analizaron las endoscopias realizadas a 3.976 pacientes, observándose esofagitis necrosante aguda en 11 pacientes. El estado nutricional era malo en 6 pacientes. La resolución completa de la esofagitis se observó en cuatro pacientes. Durante el seguimiento se observó una estenosis en un paciente y un nuevo episodio de esofagitis necrosante aguda en otro paciente. Siete pacientes fallecieron, pero esta elevada mortalidad parece deberse a las enfermedades de base y no es atribuible a las lesiones de la esofagitis necrosante.Conclusiones: la incidencia de esofagitis necrosante aguda en nuestra serie fue 0,28%. La esofagitis necrosante aguda tiene una elevada mortalidad.Palabras clave: Esofagitis necrosante aguda. Necrosis de la mucosa. Endoscopia. ABSTRACTBackground: acute esophageal necrosis has been considered a rare event. It is defined as the presence of diffuse dark pigmentation of the esophagus on upper endoscopy. Its incidence has not yet been established. The pathogenesis remains unknown.Patients and methods: a retrospective analysis of clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and histological data, and of the clinical course of 11 patients with acute necrotizing esophagitis was carried out over a 2-year period.Results: among 3,976 patients who underwent upper endoscopy, 11 (0.28%) with acute esophageal necrosis were identified. Nutritional status was poor for 6 patients. Complete resolution of acute esophageal necrosis without further recurrence was observed in 4. One stricture appeared during follow-up and other patient developed new-onset acute esophageal necrosis. Seven patients died, but no death was directly related to acute esophageal necrosis.Conclusions: the incidence of acute esophageal necrosis in our series is 0.28%. Acute esophageal necrosis is associated with high m...