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Introduction: care overload, aging of population, and increased chronic diseases lead to increased referrals from primary care, which may sometimes overload the health system. Thus, different interventions have been carried out attempting to improve these aspects. Objectives: to assess the most frequent causes of consultation of general physicians, both in joint consultations and clinical sessions held jointly with specialist consultant in primary care, in the urban and rural setting, and the influence on referrals to first consultations of gastroenterology. Material and methods: a mainly training type of intervention was carried out, consisting of regular meetings in both urban and rural primary care center, to perform joint consultations and clinical sessions on patients and topics related to the specialty of gastroenterology. The intervention period (divided in two subperiods) was compared with a control period. Results: most reasons for consultation were those corresponding to lower gastrointestinal tract, followed by liver disease and upper gastrointestinal tract. Significant differences were only found in distribution of diagnoses between the two centers in joint consultations. There was a relative (percent) decrease in referrals at the global level in both subperiods, only significant in the first (51.45%), as well as in rural setting (45.24%). Conclusion: common consultations motifs were similar in urban and rural settings, with some relevance of lower gastrointestinal tract disease. Most of them can be solved at primary care, with the help of consultant specialist. There is impact on referrals to the outpatient first consultations of gastroenterology, mainly in rural setting.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a safe, efficient technique with minimal complications, and a useful diagnostic tool for the pediatric population. Under ideal conditions endoscopies for children should be performed by experienced pediatric endoscopists. In this study we report our experience with pediatric endoscopy at the general adult endoscopy unit in our hospital. Our goal is to quantify the number of endoscopies performed in children, as well as their indications and findings, the type of sedation or anesthesia used, and the time waiting for the test to occur. Our experience demonstrates that endoscopists in a general adult gastroenterology department, working together with pediatricians, may perform a relevant number of endoscopies in children in a fast, safe, effective manner.La endoscopia gastrointestinal es una técnica segura y eficiente con mínimas complicaciones, así como una útil herramienta diagnóstica en la población pediátrica. En condiciones ideales, las endoscopias en niños deberían ser realizadas por endoscopistas pediátricos experimentados. En este estudio reportamos nuestra experiencia en la realización de endoscopias pediátricas en la Unidad de Endoscopias general de adultos de nuestro hospital. El objetivo es cuantificar la cantidad de endoscopias realizadas en niños, así como las indicaciones y hallazgos de las mismas, el tipo de sedación o anestesia empleado y el tiempo de espera para la realización de la prueba. Nuestra experiencia demuestra que los endoscopistas de un servicio de gastroenterología general de adultos, en colaboración con pediatras, pueden realizar un número importante de endoscopias a niños, de forma rápida, segura y eficaz.

Objetivo: aunque se recomienda vacunar frente al virus de la hepatitis A (VHA) y al virus de la hepatitis B (VHB) a los pacientes con infección crónica por el virus de la hepatitis C (VHC), la estrategia de vacunación más costo-efectiva aún no está establecida. Nuestro objetivo fue comparar la vacunación universal (de todos los individuos) con la selectiva (únicamente de los individuos no inmunizados) frente al VHA y al VHB de los pacientes con infección crónica por VHC en nuestro medio. Pacientes y métodos: comparamos los costes directos de las dos estrategias de vacunación frente a ambos virus en 313 individuos con infección crónica por VHC. Determinamos los marcadores serológicos del VHA (anti-VHA) y del VHB (HBsAg, anti-HBs y anti-HBc) y tuvimos en cuenta los costes de vacunas y reactivos en nuestro ámbito. Resultados: la prevalencia de anti-VHA fue del 81,2% y la de anti-HBc del 24,6%. La prevalencia de anti-VHA aumentaba progresivamente con la edad. La inmunización frente al VHA suponía 19.806,64 € con la estrategia universal y 9.899,62 € con la selectiva. La vacunación frente al VHB ascendía a 18.780 € con la inmunización universal y a 20.385,57 € con la selectiva (mediante el anti-HBc). Se analizaron los costes considerando distintos grupos etarios y diversos factores de riesgo. Conclusiones: en nuestros individuos con infección crónica por VHC la vacunación selectiva frente al VHA es la más costoefectiva. Pero cuando el porcentaje de inmunización frente al VHA desciende por debajo del 20% la mejor opción es la universal. La diferencia en la costoefectividad de ambas estrategias de vacunación frente al VHB es pequeña, a favor de la universal, por lo que en subgrupos con elevada prevalencia de anti-HBc, como adictos a drogas y tatuados, la selectiva podría ser la mejor alternativa.Objective: although the vaccination against hepatitis A (VAH) and hepatitis B (VBH) is recommended in patients with HCV, the most cost-effective strategy has not been established. Our objective was to compare the cost-effectiveness of universal strategy (vaccination all patients) with selective strategy (vaccination only patients against virus they lack immunity to) in patients with HCV. Patients and methods: we compared the direct medical costs of the two vaccination strategies against both viruses in 313 patients with HC. Serological markers for HAV (anti-HAV) and HBV (HbsAg, anti HBs, anti HBc) were determined in the 313 patients and the costs of the vaccines and the blood tests necessary to determinate the immunity state in our care system were considered. Results: the prevalence of anti-HAV was 81,2% and of anti-HBc was 24,6%. The prevalence of anti-HAV increases with age. HAV vaccination with universal strategy has a cost of 19.806,64 € and with selective one of 9.899,62 €. HBV vaccination with universal strategy rose to 18.780 € and to 20.385,57 € with selective one (employing anti-HBc). Costs were analysed in different groups of age and several hepatitis HBV risk factors. Conclusions: the selective vaccination strategy against HAV was most cost-effective in our patients with HCV. However, when the prevalence of the anti-HAV decreased to less than 20% universal strategy will be the best option. Difference of cost-effective between the two vaccination strategies against HBV was small, on behalf of universal one, so in groups with higher anti-HBc prevalence, like parenteral drugs users and tattoos, the selective strategy could be the best option.

Objetivo: se trata de comparar prospectivamente el comportamiento durante la primera semana del ingreso de los niveles de interleucina-18 (IL-18), y otros parámetros inmunológicos entre pacientes con pancreatitis aguda con y sin criterios de gravedad, así como entre pacientes con y sin desarrollo ulterior de seudoquiste. Pacientes y métodos: se compararon en 36 pacientes con pancreatitis aguda los resultados de sTNF-RI, IL-1Ra, IL-6 e IL-18 los días 1, 2, 3 y 7 desde el ingreso entre pancretitis leve, grave y un grupo control (13 pacientes) con cólico biliar simple, así como entre pacientes con o sin seudoquiste. Resultados: al comparar pancreatitis leve con grave, IL-18 fue significativamente superior sólo el primer día en las pancreatitis graves y los otros parámetros a partir del segundo día de forma mantenida. También en pacientes que desarrollaron seudoquiste, IL-18 estuvo significativamente elevada el primer día. Conclusiones: IL-18 resultó el marcador más precoz de complicaciones y gravedad de la pancreatitis aguda a nivel sistémico y local (seudoquiste).Objective: our aim was to prospectively compare the behavior of interleukin 18 (IL-18) levels and other immunological parameters during the first week of hospitalization between acute pancreatitis patients with and without severity criteria, as well as between patients with and without late pseudocyst development. Patients and methods: in 36 patients with acute pancreatitis we compared sTNF-RI, IL-1Ra, IL-6, and IL-18 levels at days 1, 2, 3 and 7 after hospitalization between mild pancreatitis, severe pancreatitis, and a "control" group (13 patients) with uncomplicated biliary colic, as well as between patients with and without pseudocyst. Results: on comparing mild to severe pancreatitis, IL-18 was significantly higher only the first day in severe pancreatitis, while the other parameters were steadily higher after the second day. In patients developing pseudocyst, IL-18 was also noticeably higher the first day. Conclusions: IL-18 appears to be the earliest marker of complications and severity in acute pancreatitis at both the systemic and local level (pseudocyst).

La esofagitis necrotizante aguda (ENA) es una rara entidad cuya etiología es desconocida, siendo el mecanismo patogénico multifactorial, participando fundamentalmente el compromiso isquémico, la malnutrición y la obstrucción del tracto digestivo alto. Los hallazgos endoscópicos muestran una coloración negruzca de la mucosa esofágica con transición brusca a nivel de la unión esofagogástrica. El pronóstico depende de las enfermedades de base. Se revisan los casos de ENA, excluyendo los secundarios a caústicos, recogidos de forma retrospectiva durante los últimos 2 años. Se analizan los factores de riesgo, la presentación clínica, los hallazgos endoscópicos, la histología, el tratamiento y la evolución. En nuestro departamento, se han diagnosticado 7 casos de ENA en 6.003 gastroscopias realizadas en el periodo de estudio, representando así la ENA el 0,11% de la exploraciones.Acute esophageal necrosis is a rare disorder, and its etiology is unknown, the mechanism of damage being usually multifactorial and secondary to ischemic compromise, acute gastric outlet obstruction, and malnutrition. Endoscopic findings show circumferential black discoloration of the distal esophagus with proximal extension ending sharply at the gastroesophageal junction, which is the most common presentation. Prognosis depends on comorbid illnesses. In this study we analyze all cases reported in a retrospective analysis over a 2-year period to define risk factors, clinical presentation, endoscopic features, histological appearance, treatment and outcome. Our department has recorded 7 cases from 6,003 endoscopies performed in the last 2 years. The finding of a "black esophagus" represented 0.11% of cases.

Introduction: our objective was to investigate the effects of the administration of pancreatic homogenates, with or without enzymatic activation, to healthy animals regarding cytokine serum levels and the development of pulmonary distress. Material and methods: 106 male Wistar rats, divided into three groups, were studied: group A, intraperitoneal administration of homogenates activated with enterokinase; group B, homogenates without enterokinase; and group C, control group with administration of physiological saline solution. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups according to the time of sacrifice: 0, 2, 6 and 24 hours. We studied the pulmonary and pancreatic histology, serum parameters of renal and hepatic function, and serum levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNFa. Results: there was no mortality in any group. Pancreatic disorders in A and B groups were noted at 24 hours. These two groups had statistically significant higher transaminase serum levels than those of the control group, as well as statistically significant higher creatinine levels in group A. IL-1ß showed a statistically significant higher level at 6 h in both groups, A and B, but was higher in group A, which also exhibited significant pulmonary histologic damage with respect to controls at 6 h. Conclusions: the higher IL-1ß level in group A may result from production by peritoneal macrophages under the influence of homogenate enzymatic activation. This may be the reason for lung damage.Introducción: nuestro objetivo es investigar, en animales sanos, los efectos de la administración de homogeneizado pancreático, con y sin activación enzimática, sobre los niveles séricos de citoquinas y el desarrollo de lesiones pulmonares. Material y métodos: se estudiaron 106 ratas Wistar macho divididas en 3 grupos: A: administración intraperitoneal de homogeneizado pancreático activado con enteroquinasa; B: homogeneizado sin enteroquinasa; y C: control, con la administración de suero fisiológico. Cada grupo fue dividido en 4 subgrupos de acuerdo al tiempo de sacrificio: 0, 2, 6 y 24 horas. Estudiamos la histología pancreática y pulmonar, parámetros séricos de función renal, hepática y los niveles séricos de IL-1ß, IL-6 y TNFa. Resultados: no hubo mortalidad en ningún grupo. Se observaron alteraciones pancreáticas en los grupos A y B a las 24 horas. Estos dos grupos presentaron niveles de transaminasas significativamente más elevados que aquellos del grupo control. Los niveles séricos de creatinina estaban más elevados en el grupo A. Los valores de IL-1ß fueron significativamente más altos a las 6 horas en ambos grupos A y B, aunque mayor en el grupo A, el cual también presentó más lesiones histológicas pulmonares en relación con los controles a las 6 horas. Conclusiones: los niveles de IL-1ß más elevados en el grupo A podrían deberse a la activación enzimática del homogeneizado que podría inducir la producción de esta citoquina por los macrófagos peritoneales, lo que a su vez podría ser el promotor de las lesiones pulmonares.

Las manifestaciones extraintestinales respiratorias en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) son excepcionales. Presentamos un caso de bronquiolitis obliterante con neumonía organizada (BONO) en paciente con enfermedad de Crohn, en remisión clínica sin tratamientos farmacológicos.Extraintestinal respiratory manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are rare. We present a case of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) in a patient with Crohn's disease, with clinical remission with no drug therapy.

Objective: although the vaccination against hepatitis A (VAH) and hepatitis B (VBH) is recommended in patients with HCV, the most cost-effective strategy has not been established. Our objective was to compare the cost-effectiveness of universal strategy (vaccination all patients) with selective strategy (vaccination only patients against virus they lack immunity to) in patients with HCV., Patients and Methods: we compared the direct medical costs of the two vaccination strategies against both viruses in 313 patients with HC. Serological markers for HAV (anti-HAV) and HBV (HbsAg, anti HBs, anti HBc) were determined in the 313 patients and the costs of the vaccines and the blood tests necessary to determinate the immunity state in our care system were considered., Results: the prevalence of anti-HAV was 81,2% and of anti-HBc was 24,6%. The prevalence of anti-HAV increases with age. HAV vaccination with universal strategy has a cost of 19.806,64 euro and with selective one of 9.899,62 euro. HBV vaccination with universal strategy rose to 18.780 euro and to 20.385,57 euro with selective one (employing anti-HBc). Costs were analysed in different groups of age and several hepatitis HBV risk factors., Conclusions: the selective vaccination strategy against HAV was most cost-effective in our patients with HCV. However, when the prevalence of the anti-HAV decreased to less than 20% universal strategy will be the best option. Difference of cost-effective between the two vaccination strategies against HBV was small, on behalf of universal one, so in groups with higher anti-HBc prevalence, like parenteral drugs users and tattoos, the selective strategy could be the best option.

Extraintestinal respiratory manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are rare. We present a case of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) in a patient with Crohn s disease, with clinical remission with no drug therapy.

Aim: to analyze the epidemiology, prognosis and treatment of those diagnosed as having cholangiocarcinoma of the extrahepatic biliary tree., Methods: a prospective study including all cases diagnosed over a period of 26 months. Fifteen patients with primary bile duct carcinoma were included., Results: the incidence rate was 3.23 cases/10(4). The tumor locations were: 40% proximal bile duct, 33% distal bile duct, and 27% mid-duct. The treatments used were: curative resection in 1 case (7%); palliative surgery in 3 cases (20%); internal drainage through a prosthetic biliary stent by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in 6 cases (40%) and by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography in 2 cases (13%); external bile drainage in case (7%), and in the remaining 2 patients (13%) no treatment was possible. The 1-month, 6-month and 10-month survival rates were 67%, 40% and 33% respectively. Factors associated with a worse survival in this study were age over 70 years and female sex. The worst prognostic location was the mid-duct compared to the distal and proximal thirds., Conclusions: the incidence of the primary bile duct carcinoma is high in our population. The commonest location is the proximal bile duct. Curative surgical resection is possible in only a few cases, and thus the overall prognosis is very bad.

Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma comprises a group of distinctive clinicopathological entities. They may be of B or T-cell type. Intestinal T-cell lymphomas are much less common and include the entity: lymphomas T enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, the most common, and T-cell lymphoma without features of enteropathy. The morphologic and immunologic findings suggest that derived from mucosal T lymphocytes population. Clinically, the patients were usually males with constitutional symptoms and acute perforation and/or obstruction of the small bowel. Their prognosis are very poor and tumor are very aggressive.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with alfa interferon for 6 months achieves sustained responses in 15-25% of the patients. The initial induction with higher doses and the prolongation of treatment can improve the results. A randomized, prospective study was carried out to compare the efficacy of a short term induction schedule of interferon alfa-2b (group A) versus a long term one (group B). 106 patients with chronic hepatitis C were included: 54 received 5 megaunits tiw for 8 weeks and 52 for 16 weeks; afterwards, interferon was reduced to 3 megaunits up to 9 months. The percentage of sustained responses, transient responses and non responses were 18.5%, 24% and 57.4% in group A and 23.1%, 28.8% and 48.1% in group B (NS). The following factors were related to a poor response in the univariate analysis: an increase of serum iron levels, ferritin, Gamma-GT and bilirubin, anti-nuclear antibody positivity, presumed non-parenteral infection, an AST/ALT ratio greater than 0.75, a higher Knodell's index and a greater necrosis and fibrosis score. The multivariate analysis revealed that elevated serum iron and ferritin and anti-nuclear antibody positivity had an independent predictive value related to a non response. Our results appear to suggest that an induction with higher doses and the treatment over nine months are more efficient than the classic schedule. The prolongation of the induction period does not provide additional advantages.