Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics
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Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. · Oct 2012
Meta AnalysisMeta-analysis: the safety and efficacy of vaptans (tolvaptan, satavaptan and lixivaptan) in cirrhosis with ascites or hyponatraemia.
Vaptans may correct hyponatraemia and mobilise ascites through an increased excretion of water. The effect on clinical outcomes is debated. ⋯ Vaptans have a small beneficial effect on hyponatraemia and ascites, but do not affect mortality, complications to cirrhosis or renal failure. The data do not support the routine use of vaptans in cirrhosis.
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Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. · Oct 2012
Comparative StudyA modified Glasgow Blatchford Score improves risk stratification in upper gastrointestinal bleed: a prospective comparison of scoring systems.
Several risk scoring systems exist for upper gastrointestinal bleed (UGIB). We hypothesised that a modified Glasgow Blatchford Score (mGBS) that eliminates the subjective components of the GBS might perform as well as current scoring systems. ⋯ The modified Glasgow Blatchford Score performed as well as the full Glasgow Blatchford Score while outperforming both Rockall Scores for prediction of clinical outcomes in American patients with upper gastrointestinal bleed. By eliminating the subjective components of the Glasgow Blatchford Score, the modified Glasgow Blatchford Score may be easier to use and therefore more easily implemented into routine clinical practice.
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Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. · Sep 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyRandomised clinical trial: the efficacy and safety of pancreatin enteric-coated minimicrospheres (Creon 40000 MMS) in patients with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency due to chronic pancreatitis--a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) results in maldigestion, leading to abdominal pain, steatorrhoea, malnutrition and weight loss. ⋯ The results provide evidence for the efficacy of pancreatin (Creon 40000 MMS) in patients with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency due to chronic pancreatitis, and confirm that this formulation is well tolerated, with a good safety profile, at the dose administered.
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Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. · Sep 2012
Multicenter StudyAdmission time is associated with outcome of upper gastrointestinal bleeding: results of a multicentre prospective cohort study.
It has been suggested that patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) during the weekend have a worse outcome compared with weekdays, with an increased risk of recurrent bleeding and mortality. ⋯ Although quality of care did not appear to differ between week/weekend admissions, patients with suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding admitted during the weekend were at higher risk of an adverse outcome. This might be due to the fact that these patients have more severe haemorrhage.