Prevalence of squamous gastric disease in Colombian equids at slaughter: A postmortem comparative study among horses, donkeys and mules.

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) occurs with variable prevalence in horses, donkeys, and mules. Due to the particularities of the mucous membranes, the syndrome is made up of Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD). Given the multifactorial nature and multiple classification systems of the syndrome, significant differences have been reported between prevalence studies performed ante mortem, which are even more remarkable when compared with postmortem evaluations. This study aimed to determine the presence and grade of squamous gastric disease in horses, donkeys and mules immediately after slaughter. The postmortem examination considered the inspection of the squamous region (cardia, dorsal fundus, and margo plicatus) and the classification of the observed lesions. The general prevalence of ESGD in the entire population of study was 83.3 % (78 %, 89 %, and 83 % for horses, donkeys, and mules, respectively), compromising the margo plicatus in all cases. 75 % had more than 5 lesions and 50 % had deep lesions, lesions of varying severity and/or evidence of recent/active bleeding. The prevalence of ESGD was similar in horses, donkeys, and mules subjected to similar handling conditions prior to slaughter, including long-distance traveling, fasting, and stress factors.

Hipocalcemia, hipomagnesemia y uso crónico de inhibidores de la bomba de protones / Hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, and chronic use of proton pump inhibitors

Introducción: Los inhibidores de la bomba de protones son fármacos usados en múltiples gastropatías. El omeprazol pertenece a este grupo de medicamentos y es aprobado y catalogado como indispensable por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Esto ha causado que su uso se vuelva constante y hasta cierto punto equívoco. Pese a ser medicamentos seguros muestran efectos secundarios, dentro de los cuales uno ocasional es el trastorno hidroelectrolítico. Objetivo: Presentar un caso clínico en el cual se constató la presencia de efectos secundarios tras el uso de un fármaco de uso constante por la comunidad médica: el omeprazol. Caso clínico: Se presenta a continuación el caso clínico de un paciente masculino con antecedente de hipertensión arterial y gastropatía crónica que muestra uso por 8 años consecutivos de inhibidores de la bomba de protones, al cual se le diagnostica hipomagnesemia e hipocalcemia. Se obtuvieron resultados de laboratorio normales tras administración de suplementos orales y uso de ranitidina con supresión de terapéutica con omeprazol. Conclusiones: Un control constante de los fármacos que usan los pacientes crónicos es fundamental en atención primaria de salud. El uso de inhibidores de la bomba de protones se ha convertido en rutinario y es necesario corroborar siempre la dosis y el tiempo de uso de los fármacos además de la relación con otros medicamentos que use el paciente(AU)

Introduction: Proton-pump inhibitors are drugs used in multiple gastropathies. Omeprazole belongs to this group of medicines; it is approved and classified as essential by the World Health Organization. This has permitted for its use to become constant and, to some extent, misleading. Despite being safe drugs, they show side effects, among which an occasional one is fluid and electrolyte disorders. Objective: To present a clinical case in which the occurrence of side effects was verified after the administration of a drug constantly used by the medical community. Clinical case: The following is a clinical case of a male patient with a history of arterial hypertension and chronic gastropathy, characterized by the usage of proton-pump inhibitors for eight consecutive years, diagnosed with hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia. Normal laboratory results were obtained after oral supplementation and usage of ranitidine with suppression of omeprazole therapy. Conclusions: Constant control of the drugs used by chronic patients is essential in primary health care. The usage of proton-pump inhibitors has become a routine. It is always necessary to check the dose and time for using the drugs as well as the relationship with other drugs used by the patient(AU)

Helicobacter pylori, clinical, laboratory, and noninvasive biomarkers suggestive of gastric damage in healthy school-aged children: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is acquired largely in early childhood, but its association with symptoms and indirect biomarkers of gastric damage in apparently healthy children remains controversial. We aimed to relate persistent H. pylori infection in apparently healthy school-aged children with clinical, laboratory, and noninvasive biomarkers suggestive of gastric damage using a case-control design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We followed up 83 children aged 4-5 years with persistent H. pylori infection determined by stool antigen detection and/or a urea breath test and 80 noninfected matched controls from a low-income to middle-income, periurban city in Chile for at least 3 years. Monitoring included clinical visits every 4 months and annual assessment by a pediatric gastroenterologist. A blood sample was obtained to determine laboratory parameters potentially associated with gastric damage (hemogram and serum iron and ferritin levels), biomarkers of inflammation (cytokines, pepsinogens I and II, and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase 1), and expression of cancer-related genes KLK1, BTG3, and SLC5A8. RESULTS: Persistently infected children had higher frequency of epigastric pain on physical examination (40% versus 16%; P = 0.001), especially from 8 to 10 years of age. No differences in anthropometric measurements or iron-deficiency parameters were found. Persistent infection was associated with higher levels of pepsinogen II (median 12.7 ng/mL versus 9.0 ng/mL; P < 0.001); no difference was observed in other biomarkers or gene expression profiles. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection in apparently asymptomatic school-aged children is associated with an increase in clinical symptoms and in the level of one significant biomarker, pepsinogen II, suggesting early gastric involvement.

Clinical, Endoscopic, and Histologic Findings at the Distal Esophagus and Stomach Before and Late (10.5 Years) After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: Results of a Prospective Study with 93% Follow-Up.

OBJECTIVE: Perform a prospective study based on sequential clinical, endoscopic, and histologic evaluations of the foregut late after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in obese patients. After LSG, several studies have suggested an increase in the incidence of clinical gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) while others have reported an improvement but based mainly on clinical questionnaires. METHODS: Prospective study of 104 consecutive patients submitted to LSG. Several postoperative endoscopic and histologic evaluations of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and the gastric tube (GT) were performed and correlated with symptomatic findings. RESULTS: According to clinical preoperative findings, patients were divided into non-refluxers (Group I) and refluxers (Group II). Seven patients were unreachable, leaving 97 (93%) for late evaluation. Among Group I, 58.5% developed de novo GERD, while in Group II just 13.6% showed the disappearance of them. Endoscopic evaluations showed progressive deterioration of the EGJ in Group I, with the development of erosive esophagitis (EE), hiatal hernia (HH), and dilated cardia in a large proportion of them. In the GT, the presence of bile was seen in 40%, and an open immobile pylorus was detected in 82%. Short-segment Barrett's esophagus (BE) appeared in 4%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients submitted to LSG showed a significant and progressive increase in the presence of "de novo" GERD. Also, an increased duodenogastric reflux was seen through an open and immobile pylorus. Therefore, based on these results, it seems like LSG is a "pro-reflux" surgical procedure, which should be continuously evaluated late after surgery.

Gastrointestinal and external parasites of the white-crested elaenia Elaenia albiceps chilensis (Aves, Tyrannidae) in Chile.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the ectoparasites and helminths of the white-crested elaenia, Elaenia albiceps chilensis. Feather mites Anisophyllodes elaeniae, Trouessartia elaeniae, and Analges sp. were detected in 51% of birds (n=106), whereas 24% were infected with lice (Tyranniphilopterus delicatulus, Menacanthus cfr. distinctus, and Ricinus cfr. invadens). Helminths Viguiera sp. and Capillaria sp. were found in five of the birds that were necropsied (n=20). With the exception of A. elaeniae, T. elaeniae, and T. delicatulus, all parasites represented new records found for the white-crested elaenia, and therefore for the Chilean repertoire of biodiversity.

Gastrointestinal and external parasites of the white-crested elaenia Elaenia albiceps chilensis (Aves, Tyrannidae) in Chile / Parasitas gastrointestinais e externos de guaracava de crista branca Elaenia albiceps chilensis (Aves, Tyrannidae) de Chile

The objective of this study is to evaluate the ectoparasites and helminths of the white-crested elaenia, Elaenia albiceps chilensis. Feather mites Anisophyllodes elaeniae, Trouessartia elaeniae, and Analges sp. were detected in 51% of birds (n=106), whereas 24% were infected with lice (Tyranniphilopterus delicatulus, Menacanthus cfr. distinctus, and Ricinus cfr. invadens). Helminths Viguiera sp. and Capillaria sp. were found in five of the birds that were necropsied (n=20). With the exception of A. elaeniae, T. elaeniae, and T. delicatulus, all parasites represented new records found for the white-crested elaenia, and therefore for the Chilean repertoire of biodiversity.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a fauna de ectoparasitas e helmintos do guaracava de crista branca Elaenia albiceps chilensis. Em 51% das aves (n=106), foram detectados os ácaros de pena Anisophyllodes elaeniae, Trouessartia elaeniae e Analges sp. enquanto 24% foram infectadas por piolhos (Tyranniphilopterus delicatulus, Menacanthus cfr. distinctus e Ricinus cfr. invadens. Em contrapartida, em cinco aves necropsiadas foram encontrados os helmintos Viguiera sp. e Capillaria sp. Com exceção de A. elaeniae, T. elaeniae e T. delicatulus, todos os parasitas representam novos registros para a guaracava de crista branca e, portanto, para a diversidade da fauna parasitária do Chile.(AU)

Gastrointestinal and external parasites of the white-crested elaenia Elaenia albiceps chilensis (Aves, Tyrannidae) in Chile / Parasitas gastrointestinais e externos de guaracava de crista branca Elaenia albiceps chilensis (Aves, Tyrannidae) de Chile

The objective of this study is to evaluate the ectoparasites and helminths of the white-crested elaenia, Elaenia albiceps chilensis. Feather mites Anisophyllodes elaeniae, Trouessartia elaeniae, and Analges sp. were detected in 51% of birds (n=106), whereas 24% were infected with lice (Tyranniphilopterus delicatulus, Menacanthus cfr. distinctus, and Ricinus cfr. invadens). Helminths Viguiera sp. and Capillaria sp. were found in five of the birds that were necropsied (n=20). With the exception of A. elaeniae, T. elaeniae, and T. delicatulus, all parasites represented new records found for the white-crested elaenia, and therefore for the Chilean repertoire of biodiversity.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a fauna de ectoparasitas e helmintos do guaracava de crista branca Elaenia albiceps chilensis. Em 51% das aves (n=106), foram detectados os ácaros de pena Anisophyllodes elaeniae, Trouessartia elaeniae e Analges sp. enquanto 24% foram infectadas por piolhos (Tyranniphilopterus delicatulus, Menacanthus cfr. distinctus e Ricinus cfr. invadens. Em contrapartida, em cinco aves necropsiadas foram encontrados os helmintos Viguiera sp. e Capillaria sp. Com exceção de A. elaeniae, T. elaeniae e T. delicatulus, todos os parasitas representam novos registros para a guaracava de crista branca e, portanto, para a diversidade da fauna parasitária do Chile.

Gastrointestinal Parasites in the Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) of Galápagos.

Using a fecal flotation technique, we detected three genera of endoparasites in the critically endangered Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) of Galápagos. These genera were Contracaecum, Tetrabothrius, and Cardiocephaloides. Juvenile albatrosses were more likely to be infected than adults, but we found no effect of sex or mass on infection probability.

Nematophagous fungi from decomposing cattle faeces in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Biological control of gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants by use of nematophagous fungi would become part of any livestock parasite integral control system. Identifying autochthonous species that could then be selected for mass production is an important phase in the practical use of biological control. AIMS: To search for nematophagous fungi with potential use as biological control agents against gastrointestinal nematodes in Argentina. METHODS: Decomposing cattle faeces sampled in different locations were incubated in water agar 2% with Panagrellus sp. The developed nematophagous fungi were transferred to new water agar 2% plates and then to corn meal agar plates in order to carry out their identification. Fungal diversity and richness were also assessed. RESULTS: Seventeen species from nine genera of nematophagous fungi were found. Twelve species were nematode-trapping fungi and three species plus two fungi identified to genus level corresponded to endoparasitic fungi. Arthrobotrys conoides, Arthrobotrys oligospora, Duddingtonia flagrans, Monacrosporium doedycoides, Arthrobotrys robusta and Drechmeria coniospora were the most frequently isolated species overall in the whole study (6.6%, 5.7%, 5.7%, 5.7%, 4.7% and 4.7%, respectively) although other species were more frequently recorded at local levels such as Arthrobotrys pyriformis (18.8%). Only A. conoides has been previously isolated from ruminant faecal samples in Argentina. Five nematode-trapping fungal species are mentioned for the first time in the Americas CONCLUSIONS: D. flagrans and A. conoides, both identified in the present study, are among the most promising ones as biological control agents against gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants.

Prevalence of infection with cagA-positive Helicobacter pylori strains among children and adolescents in southern Brazil.

CONTEXT: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has a worldwide distribution, but the prevalence of infection, virulence factors, and clinical presentation vary widely according to the studied population. In Brazil, a continental country composed of several ethnicities and cultural habits, the behavior of infection also appears to vary, as many other studies have shown. OBJECTIVES: Describe the prevalence of infection with cagA-positive H. pylori strains in a group of children and adolescents who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. METHODS: Fifty-four gastric biopsy specimens of children and adolescents with H. pylori infection demonstrated by histology, urease test and molecular analysis were tested for the presence of cagA positive H. pylori strains by the polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: The prevalence of cagA-positive H. pylori was 29.6% (95% confidence interval, 18 to 43.6%). There were no statistically significant differences in clinical or demographic characteristics or in the endoscopic and histological features of patients infected with cagA-positive strains as compared with those infected by cagA-negative strains. CONCLUSIONS: he study showed a low prevalence of infection with cagA-positive H. pylori strains among children and adolescents who underwent EGD in southern Brazil, in comparison to studies conducted with children from other regions of Brazil. There was no association between the presence of cagA-positive strains and more severe clinical presentations in the studied sample.

Prevalence of iffection with caga-positive heliobacter pylori strains among chhildren and adolescents in southern Brazil / Prevalência da infecção por cepas de Helicobacter pylori cagA-positivo em crianças e adolescentes do Sul do Brasil

Context Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has a worldwide distribution, but the prevalence of infection, virulence factors, and clinical presentation vary widely according to the studied population. In Brazil, a continental country composed of several ethnicities and cultural habits, the behavior of infection also appears to vary, as many other studies have shown. Objectives Describe the prevalence of infection with cagA-positive H. pylori strains in a group of children and adolescents who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Methods Fifty-four gastric biopsy specimens of children and adolescents with H. pylori infection demonstrated by histology, urease test and molecular analysis were tested for the presence of cagA positive H. pylori strains by the polymerase chain reaction method. Results he prevalence of cagA-positive H. pylori was 29.6% (95% confidence interval, 18 to 43.6%). There were no statistically significant differences in clinical or demographic characteristics or in the endoscopic and histological features of patients infected with cagA-positive strains as compared with those infected by cagA-negative strains. Conclusions he study showed a low prevalence of infection with cagA-positive H. pylori strains among children and adolescents who underwent EGD in southern Brazil, in comparison to studies conducted with children from other regions of Brazil. There was no association between the presence of cagA-positive strains and more severe clinical presentations in the studied sample. .

Contexto Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) tem distribuição geográfica universal, embora a prevalência da infecção, os fatores de virulência, bem como a apresentação clínica, variem de acordo com a população estudada. No Brasil, um país continental composto por várias etnias e hábitos culturais diversos, o comportamento da infecção também parece variar, como muitos estudos têm demonstrado. Objetivos Descrever a prevalência da infecção por cepas de H. pylori cagA-positivo em um grupo de crianças e adolescentes submetidos a esofagogastroduodenoscopia em Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Métodos Cinquenta e quatro (54) fragmentos de biópsia gástrica com presença de H. pylori demonstrada pela análise histológica, teste da urease e análise molecular foram testados para a presença de cepas de H. pylori cagA-positivo pelo método da reação em cadeia da polimerase. Resultados prevalência de cepas de H. pylori cagA-positivo foi de 29,6% (intervalo de confiança de 95%, 18% a 43,6%). Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas nas características clínicas e demográficas e nos achados endoscópicos e histológicos entre os pacientes infectados por cepas de H. pylori cagA-positivo em comparação com os cagA-negativo. Conclusões O estudo demonstrou uma baixa prevalência de infecção por cepas de H. pylori cagA-positivo nas crianças e adolescentes submetidas a esofagogastroduodenoscopia no Sul do Brasil em comparação com os estudos realizados com crianças de outras regiões do Brasil. Não houve associação entre a presença de cepas cagA-positivo e desfechos clínicos desfavoráveis na amostra estudada. .

Endoscopic and pharmacological secondary prophylaxis in children and adolescents with esophageal varices.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the results of endoscopic secondary prophylaxis, alone or in combination with propranolol, used to prevent upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in children and adolescents with esophageal varices. METHODS: This observational study followed 43 patients younger than 18 years who received secondary prophylaxis between August 2001 and December 2009. Sclerotherapy and/or band ligation were performed, and propranolol was used when no contraindications were present. The rebleeding rate, number of endoscopic sessions required for variceal eradication, rate of varix recurrence, the occurrence of varices at the gastric fundus, and the occurrence of portal hypertensive gastropathy were evaluated. RESULTS: Endoscopic prophylaxis in combination with propranolol was performed in 25 patients (58.1%) and endoscopic prophylaxis alone was performed in 18 patients (41.9%). Esophageal varices were eradicated in all of the patients after a median of 3 sessions. Varices recurred in 22 patients (51.2%). Rebleeding occurred in 13 patients (30.2%). Fundal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy developed in 31% and 61.9% of patients, respectively. No deaths related to the endoscopic procedure or UGIB occurred. No statistically significant differences in any of the studied variables were observed when comparing endoscopic prophylaxis with propranolol and endoscopic prophylaxis alone. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were observed between sclerotherapy and band ligation. Secondary prophylaxis was effective in eradicating esophageal varices. The use of propranolol did not affect the results of the endoscopic prophylaxis. Furthermore, randomized studies will be necessary to assess the best form of prevention during childhood.

Low co-existence rates of Lactobacillus spp. and Helicobacter pylori detected in gastric biopsies from patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.

BACKGROUND: bacterial diversity of the stomach includes various species. Among them, Helicobacter pylori, a microorganism which has been associated to gastric diseases, is frequently isolated in this habitat. In addition, Lactobacillus spp., a genus including probiotic strains, has also been documented in this habitat. The co-existence of these two species in the stomach of symptomatic patient needs to be elucidated. AIMS: our goal was to establish if Lactobacillus spp. and H. pylori co-exist in the stomach mucosa of symptomatic patients. METHODS: gastric biopsies (antrum and/or the body) from 427 Chilean patients with gastrointestinal discomfort were analyzed. The H. pylori infection and/or Lactobacillus spp. colonization status was determined for each patient by standard culture techniques, and statistical correlations between the presence of those species and the age, gender, or the severity of the gastric disease were also established. RESULTS: only 6.1% of the samples presented co-existence of Lactobacillus spp. and H. pylori. This former species was isolated in 42.6% of the patients as unique species, while Lactobacillus spp. was isolated as single species in 19.4% of the individuals. Chronic non-atrophic gastritis was prevalent in Lactobacillus spp. non colonized individuals, while chronic non-atrophic and chronic atrophic gastritis diagnosis was similar in Lactobacillus spp. harbouring individuals (p < 0.001). The presence of Lactobacillus spp. Significantly increased with age (p = 0.005), independently of gender. CONCLUSION: the negative Pearson correlation between Lactobacillus spp. and H. pylori (r = -0.112, p = 0.020) indicates that the co-existence of both species is low in human gastric mucosa of symptomatic patients.

Reactive gastropathy is associated with inflammatory conditions throughout the gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of reactive gastropathy and its relationship with other conditions of the gastrointestinal tract associated with NSAID use have not been evaluated. AIMS: To test the hypothesis that if reactive gastropathy shares common aetiological factors with these conditions, the analysis of a large cohort would unveil associations. METHODS: We queried a national pathology database for subjects with a diagnosis of reactive gastropathy; controls were patients with normal gastric biopsies. We also extracted diagnoses of H. pylori infection, intestinal metaplasia, duodenal lymphocytosis, duodenitis, ileitis, microscopic colitis and focal colitis. RESULTS: Of 504 011 patients with gastric biopsies, 69 101 had oesophageal, 166 134 duodenal, 13 010 ileal and 83 334 colonic biopsies. Reactive gastropathy was diagnosed in 15.6% of patients, H. pylori infection in 10.3% and normal gastric mucosa in 16.3%. Reactive gastropathy was evenly distributed across the US and increased from 2.0% in the first decade of life to >20% in octogenarians. Compared with controls, reactive gastropathy was significantly associated with Barrett's mucosa (OR 1.21 95% CI 1.16-129); duodenitis (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.28-1.44); duodenal intraepithelial lymphocytosis (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.13-1.39); active ileitis (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.47-2.40); focal active colitis (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.33-1.86); and collagenous colitis (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.12-2.03). CONCLUSIONS: Reactive gastropathy, a common histopathological feature of the stomach, shows an age-dependent rise and is associated with changes of the digestive tract believed to be caused by NSAID use or duodenogastric reflux. However, a large fraction of reactive gastropathy remains unexplained; its frequent occurrence merits further efforts at elucidating its aetiology.

[Gastric cancer: epidemiologic profile 2001-2007 in Lima, Peru]. / Cancer gastrico: perfil epidemiológico 2001-2007 en Lima, Peru.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the demographic and social characteristics as well as lifestyles of patients with gastric cancer against patients with other important gastric disorders, who attended at main reference health services in Lima, Peru. METHODS: Case control study, matched by sex and age + 2 years, applying a questionnaire to 96 cases with gastric cancer, and to 96 controls from September 2001 to November 2007. RESULTS: There were no significant differences about ethnicity; marital status; exposure to minerals, wood, and metal dusts; tobacco and alcohol; red meat consumption; salt addition; food temperature. 87, 5% of the control group had lesions in the gastric antrum, and 73% of cases group had a tubular adenocarcinoma (56%) in the gastric antrum. There was no family history of cancer in 85% patients of cases group and 59% of controls, (with significant difference). There were significant differences in low scholarship level of cases, as well as for their mothers and fathers (OR 3.75, 3.9, and 3.49 respectively), fruit or vegetables intake, milk or cheese consumption (minus of once a day) (OR 2, 3, 2, 57 and 2, 9 respectively), type of fuel for cooking (firewood, charcoal, and kerosene OR 5, 25), lack of use of refrigerator (OR 8, 4). CONCLUSIONS: The profile of a gastric cancer patient was to proceed from the Andean zone (high altitude +3000 meters over sea level) and jungle, low education level (low socioeconomic level), low consumption of fruits, vegetables and milk, use of firewood, charcoal, or kerosene to cook, and no use of refrigerator. The most frequent histological diagnosis in the case group was tubular adenocarcinoma.

Ataques de nervios and somatic complaints among island and mainland Puerto Rican children.

UNLABELLED: Previous research has documented the association between the Latino cultural idiom of distress, ataques de nervios (i.e., "attacks of nerves"), and unexplained neurological symptoms among adults. However, the associations between ataques and somatic complaints in children have not been sufficiently explored. AIMS: In this study, we assessed the relation between this anxiety-related experience, henceforth ataques, and somatic complaints in a probability sample of Puerto Rican youth, ages 5-13 years, living in San Juan, Puerto Rico (N = 1353) and in the South Bronx, New York (N = 1138). When both sites were combined, children with ataques were significantly more likely to have either a lifetime prevalence of asthma or headaches, and tended to have more stomach aches and a history of epilepsy or seizure than children without ataques. Further within site analyses showed a similar patterning of complaints for the South Bronx sample as for the combined sample. However, children in San Juan with ataques were only slightly more likely to experience headaches, and at risk for injury, than those without ataques. In addition, comparisons between ataque sufferers across sites indicated that children in San Juan with ataques were at elevated risk for serious illness or injury in comparison to those in the South Bronx with ataques. Ataques are significantly associated with a wide range of physical complaints in Puerto Rican youth. However, their pattern of associations differs by context.

Correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection, gastric diseases and life habits among patients treated at a university hospital in Southeast Brazil.

Helicobacter pylori is considered a significant agent in the development of various gastric diseases. However, the diseases caused by this bacterium are known as being multi-factorial, with the genotype, immune system and life habits of the host playing important roles in the establishment of the clinical outcome. Also, H. pylori exhibit a high degree of genetic variability, contributing to the complexity of the host-pathogen relationship. These observations, considered together with the widely-varying origins and social habits of the Brazilian population, lead us to speculate about the influence of these life habits on H. pylori infection and the clinical outcome. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the relationship between H. pylori infection and certain diseases in 172 patients treated at the Hospital das Clínicas of Ribeirão Preto (HCRP), Brazil, taking into account their different life habits, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and alcohol ingestion, and smoking habit. Our analysis indicated that H. pylori infection is not affected by any of the life habits evaluated but is associated with the development of peptic ulcers (gastric and duodenal ulcer) and inverse correlate with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). No correlation was found between the infection with this bacterium and gastritis or intestinal metaplasia. However, gastritis and erosive gastritis were directly correlated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) ingestion. Moreover, ingestion of alcohol beverages exhibited a protective effect on gastritis development in men. Our data also indicated that to achieve reliable detection of this bacterium in biopsies, two or three detection methods should be used.

Gastrointestinal helminth fauna of Enyalius perditus (Reptilia: Leiosauridae): relation to host age and sex.

The purpose of this study was to determine how the gastrointestinal helminthofauna varies according to the age and sex of the lizard, Enyalius perditus, captured in Ibitipoca State Park in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and to discuss the ecological and behavioral significance of these relationships. Fifty-five specimens of E. perditus were captured in drop traps, then killed, necropsied, and examined for the presence of helminths in the gastrointestinal tract. Nematodes, including Strongyluris oscari, Oswaldocruzia subauricularis, and Aplectana vellardi, were found. This was the first record of the last-named species in reptiles, and the first record of the first 2 species in E. perditus. The number of helminths increased with snout-vent length and, therefore, age of the lizards. Male E. perditus lizards were more heavily infected by nematodes than females; the largest numbers of nematodes occurred in the caecum and large intestine.