Feasibility of opportunistic colorectal cancer screening of hospitalized patients in tertiary care and community hospitals.

Background: Population screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) remains low, requiring alternative approaches for increasing participation. Opportunistic screening of hospitalized patients may aid in increasing uptake rates.

Objective: To assess whether inpatients can be recruited for opportunistic CRC screening using fecal immunochemical testing (FIT).

Fecal Occult Blood Test for Evaluation of Symptoms or for Diagnostic Testing.

This editorial discusses the role of fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in a diagnostic workup. Utility of FOBT in colorectal cancer screening is well documented in multiple clinical trials, although there continues to be a debate (and ongoing trials) on its merit relative to other screening tests. Over the years, FOBT has seen growth in its application for assessment of symptomatic gastrointestinal disease without clear guidelines on its use in this setting.

Prostate-Specific Antigen Test Utilization in a Major Canadian City.

Objectives: To review the utilization of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in Winnipeg, a major Canadian city, and to compare PSA testing rates between Winnipeg and Calgary, another major Canadian city of comparable size.

Methods: PSA testing results were reviewed by year and age group. We focused our studies in years 2011 and 2016, for which census demographic data are available.

Utility of fecal immunochemical test vs guaiac fecal occult blood test for assessment of gastrointestinal bleed in hospitalized patients.

Background: Guaiac fecal occult blood testing (gFOBT) is often used "off-label" for gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is increasingly replacing gFOBT in colorectal cancer screening and may play a role in assessment for significant bowel disease. We examined the concordance of FIT with gFOBT (Hemoccult Sensa II) among inpatients and between day 1 and day 3 gFOBT results.

Increased rates of 25-hydroxy vitamin D testing: Dissecting a modern epidemic.

Introduction: Laboratories have noted marked increases in the analysis of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) in recent decades. Our objectives were to describe the annual number of 25(OH)D tests, examine the characteristics of those tested and those ordering them, and determine the proportion of potentially unnecessary tests in Manitoba.

Methods: Manitoba residents who were tested between 2006/7 and 2012/13 had their data anonymously linked to Manitoba Centre for Health Policy comprehensive administrative datasets.

Serum Vitamins and Minerals at Diagnosis and Follow-up in Children With Celiac Disease.

Objectives: Children with celiac disease (CD) may experience deficiencies of several micronutrients. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in children with CD at diagnosis, 6 months, and 18 months after the start of a gluten-free diet (GFD), and examine any correlation between micronutrient deficiencies, serum tissue transglutaminase (TtG) immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody titers, and the degree of mucosal damage at diagnosis.

Methods: Children (<17 years) with CD had their serum vitamins, minerals, and anti-TtG IgA antibodies measured at diagnosis, 6 and 18 months after starting a GFD.

Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody titres correlate well with disease activity in children with Crohn's disease.

Aim: The role of noninvasive biologic markers for disease activity is very important in children with Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to assess an association between disease activity and quantitative serum anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) titres.

Methods: Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody immunoglobulin (Ig) A and immunoglobulin G titres, paediatric Crohn's disease activity index (PCDAI), serum albumin and C-reactive protein (CRP) were repeatedly measured simultaneously in children with Crohn's disease.

Use of fecal occult blood testing in hospitalized patients: results of an audit.

Background: The fecal occult blood test (FOBT), widely used as a colorectal cancer screening tool, continues to be used in hospitalized patients. However, the utility of this test for hospitalized patients is unclear.

Objective: To assess FOBT use in a large urban regional health authority.

Use of fecal occult blood test in hospitalized patients: survey of physicians practicing in a large central Canadian health region and Canadian gastroenterologists.

Background: Although the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) was developed for colorectal cancer screening in the outpatient setting, it continues to be used among hospitalized patients. No previous study has evaluated the knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of practicing physicians on the use of FOBT among hospitalized patients and compared practices among physicians with different medical specialty training.

Objective: To survey physicians in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) and Canadian gastroenterologists (GIs) on the use of FOBT in hospitals.

Diagnosis and high incidence of hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinemia (HHH) syndrome in northern Saskatchewan.

Mutations in the SLC25A15 gene, encoding the human inner mitochondrial membrane ornithine transporter, are thought to be responsible for hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinemia (HHH) syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive condition. HHH syndrome has been detected in several small, isolated communities in northern Saskatchewan (SK). To determine the incidence of HHH syndrome in these communities, a PCR method was set up to detect F188Δ, the common French-Canadian mutation.

Quantitative endogenous formate analysis in plasma using headspace gas chromatography without a headspace analyzer.

The objective was to develop a simple routine method for quantitative measurement of endogenous formic acid in plasma and whole blood using headspace gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. (GC-FID). Two-hundred microliters of sample was placed in a 1-mL glass vial.