To determine the acute effects of simvastatin, collateral AVP response was assessed with vehicle or simvastatin. SRS RT-PCR of eNOS, iNOS, COX-1, COX-2 and TXA2-S, and measurements of perfusate nitrite/nitrate, 6-keto-PGF1α and TXB2 levels were performed in parallel Omipalisib in vitro groups without AVP. Results:  Acute simvastatin administration enhanced SRS eNOS expression and elevated perfusate nitrite/nitrate and 6-keto-PGF1α concentrations. Chronic

simvastatin treatment reduced baseline collateral vascular resistance and portal pressure and enhanced SRS eNOS, COX-2 and TXA2-S mRNA expression. Neither acute nor chronic simvastatin administration influenced collateral AVP responsiveness. Conclusion:  Simvastatin reduces portal-systemic collateral vascular resistance and portal pressure in portal hypertensive rats. This may be related to the enhanced portal-systemic collateral vascular NO and prostacyclin activities. “
“Aim:  Although endoscopic LBH589 injection of cyanoacrylate (CA) is the only effective

method for treating isolated fundal gastric variceal bleeding, the rebleeding rate is relatively high. This study investigated the efficacy of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) for management of isolated fundal gastric variceal bleeding. Methods:  Patients (n = 110) with acute or recent bleeding from isolated fundal gastric varices (GV) were retrospectively studied. Acute bleeding was treated by CA injection or balloon tamponade. 44 patients underwent additional endoscopic injection of CA and ethanolamine oleate (EO) weekly until obturation of GVx from 1994 to 2002 (group A). 42 patients 上海皓元医药股份有限公司 from 2003 to 2010 underwent B-RTO after initial hemostasis (group B). Both groups were assessed for the number of sessions required to achieve

GV obturation, hospital stay, recurrent bleeding rate, morbidity and mortality. Results:  Acute gastric variceal bleeding was successfully treated in all patients by CA injection or balloon tamponade. B-RTO was successfully performed except in two patients in group B. The average number of sessions required for obturation was 3.8 for groups A and 2.2 for B (P < 0.05). Recurrent bleeding was observed in 16 and two patients in groups A and B, respectively. The cumulative non-rebleeding rate at 5 years was 58.3% and 98.1% in groups A and B, respectively. The cumulative survival rate at 5 years was 53.8% and 87.6% in groups A and B, respectively. Conclusion:  Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration may be superior to endoscopic injection with CA and EO for prevention of rebleeding in patients with isolated fundal GVs with a major shunt. "
“See article in J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2011; 26: 1733–1739.