ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to estimate the heritability (h2) and genetic correlation (ρG) between GERD symptoms severity, metabolic syndrome components, and inflammation markers in Mexican families.MethodsCross-sectional study which included 32 extended families resident in Mexico City. GERD symptoms severity was assessed by the ReQuest in Practice questionnaire. Heritability and genetic correlation were determined using the Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines software.Results585 subjects were included, the mean age was 42 (±16.7) years, 57% were women. The heritability of the severity of some GERD symptoms was h2 = 0.27, 0.27, 0.37, and 0.34 (p-value <1.0x10-5) for acidity complaints, lower abdominal complaints, sleep disturbances, and total ReQuest score, respectively. Heritability of metabolic syndrome components ranged from 0.40 for fasting plasma glucose to 0.61 for body mass index and diabetes mellitus. The heritability for fibrinogen and C-reactive protein was 0.64 and 0.38, respectively. Statistically significant genetic correlations were found between acidity complaints and fasting plasma glucose (ρG = 0.40); sleep disturbances and fasting plasma glucose (ρG = 0.36); acidity complaints and diabetes mellitus (ρG = 0.49) and between total ReQuest score and fasting plasma glucose (ρG = 0.43). The rest of metabolic syndrome components did not correlate with GERD symptoms.ConclusionGenetic factors substantially explain the phenotypic variance of the severity of some GERD symptoms, metabolic syndrome components and inflammation markers. Observed genetic correlations suggest that these phenotypes share common genes. These findings suggest conducting further investigation, as the determination of a linkage analysis in order to identify regions of susceptibility for developing of GERD and metabolic syndrome.

The aim of the Mexican Consensus on Portal Hypertension was to develop documented guidelines to facilitate clinical practice when dealing with key events of the patient presenting with portal hypertension and variceal bleeding. The panel of experts was made up of Mexican gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and endoscopists, all distinguished professionals. The document analyzes themes of interest in the following modules: preprimary and primary prophylaxis, acute variceal hemorrhage, and secondary prophylaxis. The management of variceal bleeding has improved considerably in recent years. Current information indicates that the general management of the cirrhotic patient presenting with variceal bleeding should be carried out by a multidisciplinary team, with such an approach playing a major role in the final outcome. The combination of drug and endoscopic therapies is recommended for initial management; vasoactive drugs should be started as soon as variceal bleeding is suspected and maintained for 5 days. After the patient is stabilized, urgent diagnostic endoscopy should be carried out by a qualified endoscopist, who then performs the corresponding endoscopic variceal treatment. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be regarded as an integral part of treatment, started upon hospital admittance and continued for 5 days. If there is treatment failure, rescue therapies should be carried out immediately, taking into account that interventional radiology therapies are very effective in controlling refractory variceal bleeding. These guidelines have been developed for the purpose of achieving greater clinical efficacy and are based on the best evidence of portal hypertension that is presently available.

Goals: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PB+S (pinaverium bromide 100 mg plus simethicone 300 mg) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Background: IBS is a multifactorial disorder; thus, combination therapy with different mechanisms of action is expected to be useful. PB+S has shown effectiveness in an open-label clinical study in IBS. However, there are no placebo-controlled trials. Materials and Methods: IBS-Rome III patients with abdominal pain/discomfort for at least 2 days within the week prior to baseline assessment were included in this 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of PB+S versus placebo, bid. The primary endpoint was overall symptom improvement, evaluated weekly by the patient (Likert Scale). Secondary endpoints included the weekly improvement in the severity of abdominal pain and bloating assessed both by patients (10-cm Visual Analogue Scale) and investigators (Likert Scale); frequency of Bristol Scale stool types (consistency) evaluated by patients and the IBS Quality of Life scores. Results: A total of 285 patients (female: 83%; 36.5±8.9 y old) received at least 1 dose of PB+S (n=140) or placebo (n=145). No difference was observed in overall symptom improvement between the groups (P=0.13). However, PB+S was superior in abdominal pain (effect size: 31%, P=0.038) and bloating (33%, P=0.019). Patients with IBS-C and IBS-M showed the best improvement in the frequency of stool types with PB+S. No differences were observed in IBS Quality of Life scores and adverse events. Conclusions: PB+S was superior to placebo in improving abdominal pain and bloating in patients with active IBS. The effect on the frequency of stool consistency was particularly significant in IBS-C and IBS-M.

BWR appears to be a safe, effective, simple, and widely available technique for eradicating SSBE. This is a pilot study and we do not recommend the ablation of nondysplastic BE at this time. Further studies are needed.

Background: dilatation of the intercellular spaces by electron microscopy has been considered as an early morphological marker of tissue injury in gastroesophageal reflux disease. The degree of dilatation in Barrett's esophagus is currently unknown.Objectives: to determine the frequency of dilated intercellular spaces in Barrett's esophagus.Material and methods: cross-sectional and prospective analysis of consecutive patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. We selected symptomatic patients > 18 years and both sexes. Patients with recent PPI use (< 14 days), H-2 antagonists, NSAID's or previous upper GI tract surgery were excluded. Variables included: clinical-demographic data, Carlsson-Dent score, conventional endoscopy findings, pH-metry results (in non-erosive) and normal mucosal biopsies at 2 and 5 cm above the squamocolumnar junction. Dilation of intercellular spaces was measured by electron microscopy. Statistics: Chi square test with a significance level 0.05 was calculated. The following four groups were compared: a) non-erosive reflux disease (n = 14); b) erosive esophagitis (n = 5); c) Barrett's esophagus (n = 13); and d) healthy controls (n = 5).Results: the dilation of intercellular spaces was increasingly greater from non-erosive reflux to Barret´s esophagus and higher in biopsies taken at 5 cm than at 2 cm of the squamous columnar junction (2.72 ± 1.35 vs. 1.71 ± 0.48 µm) (p = 0.001). There was no difference between biopsies at 2 and 5 cm in the other groups.Conclusion: dilation of intercellular spaces was greater in Barrett's esophagus than in the other groups and higher at 5 cm from the squamocolumnar junction. RESUMENIntroducción: la dilatación de los espacios intercelulares mediante microscopia electrónica se considera un marcador morfológico temprano de daño tisular en la enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico. El grado de dilatación en el esófago de Barrett se desconoce actualmente.Objetivos: determinar la frecuencia y grado de la dilatación de los espacios intercelulares en el esófago de Barrett.Material y métodos: series de casos consecutivos con análisis transversal y prospectivo de pacientes con reflujo gastroesofágico. Criterios de selección: > 18 años, sintomáticos, ambos sexos. Se excluyeron aquellos con ingesta de IBP, antagonistas H-2, AINE y cirugía previa. Tomamos datos clínicos, cuestionario de Carlsson-Dent, endoscopia, pH-metría (no erosivos), y biopsias de la mucosa normal a 2 y 5 cm por encima de la unión escamo-columnar. La medición de la dilatación de los espacios intercelulares fue por microscopia electrónica. Estadística: descriptiva. Prueba de Chi-cuadrado con nivel de significancia de 0,05. Se compararon 4 grupos: a) enfermedad por reflujo no erosiva (n = 14); b) esofagitis erosiva (n = 5); c) esófago de Barrett (n = 13); y d) controles sanos (n = 5).Resultados: hubo mayor dilatación de los espacios intercelulares en el esófago de Barrett (5 cm, 2,72 ± 1,3 µm vs. 2 cm, 1,7 ± 0,48 µm) (p = 0,001). Los otros grupos mostraron menor dilatación y sin diferencias entre los...

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