High proportions of HBV-infected subjects with an HBeAg-negative pattern were observed, with a higher risk of vertical/intrafamily transmission. Alcohol abuse was associated with male subjects and with cirrhosis of the liver in this group. A tendency toward an increase in the number of HBeAg-negative cases was observed over time.

GI KS is an infrequent finding in patients with HIV infection. Among those with GI KS, 80% had concomitant skin lesions. Immunohistochemical methods for CD31, CD34, and LNA-1 were important tools in the diagnostic assessment of lesions suggestive of KS in the GI tract. Further studies are required to confirm these data, and the need for routine endoscopic investigation of the GI tract in HIV-infected patients with cutaneous KS should be assessed.

-Background -Esophageal motility has been described in the literature as having differences between men and women. Most of these investigations use the water perfusion method for esophageal manometry. In this investigation the esophageal motility of men and women was compared with high-resolution manometry of the esophagus. Objective -To compare the esophageal motility of men and women with the high-resolution manometry method for esophageal manometry, performed in the sitting position. The hypothesis was that men and women have differences in esophageal motility. Methods -High-resolution manometry was performed in normal volunteers, 10 men [mean age: 37.5 (8.1) years] and 12 women [mean age: 38.7 (7.5) years], in the sitting position and with 10 swallows of a 5 mL bolus of saline, with an interval of at least 30 seconds between consecutive swallows. We evaluated the integrated relaxation pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, contraction front velocity, distal contraction integral, distal latency, proximal contraction extension, proximal contraction duration >30 mmHg, proximal contraction duration, proximal contraction integral and maximal upper esophageal sphincter pressure. Results -There was no significant difference between men and women in the variables measured. Conclusion -There was no difference in esophageal motility of men and women evaluated by the high resolution manometry method, in the sitting position with swallows of a liquid bolus. HEADINGS -Gastrointestinal motility. Manometry, methods. Sex factors.

Background Proximal esophagus is composed of striated muscle replaced by smooth muscle in the distal section. Sildenafil, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5, causes a decrease in the amplitude of contractions in distal smooth muscle esophagus, with no effect on the proximal esophageal striated muscle. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the hypothesis that proximal contractions are affected by changes in distal contractions caused by sildenafil. Methods Esophageal motility was assessed by high resolution manometry in 22 healthy volunteers (12 women) aged 22-50 years (mean 38.1±7.7 years). All volunteers performed, in the sitting position, 10 swallows of liquid (5 mL of saline) and 10 swallows of solid boluses (1 cm 3 pieces of bread), before and after ingestion of 50 mg of sildenafil. We evaluated the proximal esophageal contractions in response to the changes in distal esophageal motility induced by sildenafil. Results Sildenafil caused a significant reduction in distal contractile integral and integrated relaxation pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter. In the proximal esophagus the alteration in distal esophageal contraction caused a significant increase in contraction length, contractile integral, and contraction duration. Conclusion Induction of ineffective distal esophageal motility by sildenafil in healthy volunteers causes an increase in proximal esophageal motility, suggesting that proximal esophagus adapts to an induced impairment of distal esophageal motility.