Endoscopic dilation of benign post-esophagectomy anastomotic strictures: long-term outcomes and risk of recurrence.

Background: Benign esophageal anastomotic strictures often require repeat dilation to relieve dysphagia. Little is known about the factors that affect their remediation. The purpose of this article was to retrospectively evaluate the long-term clinical results of endoscopic dilation in the treatment of benign anastomotic strictures after esophagectomy, and to identify factors associated with stricture recurrence.

Endoscopic treatment of post-cholecystectomy bile leaks: a tertiary center experience.

Background: Post-cholecystectomy bile leak is relatively a well-known surgical complication. Several potential treatment modalities for such leaks are used. The early use of ERCP to exclude significant bile duct injury and to treat the leak by various endoscopic means is supported by a large bulk of data.

Safety and efficacy of endoscopist-directed balanced propofol sedation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Background: Endoscopist-directed balanced propofol sedation (BPS) appears to be safe and effective for routine endoscopy. However, there are limited data on its use in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We evaluated the safety and efficacy of endoscopist-directed BPS for ERCP, and compared patient outcomes with anesthesiologist-administered moderate sedation.

Management of gastric fistula complicating laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with biological glue in a combined percutaneous and endoscopic approach.

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is considered as a first line treatment for morbid obesity around the globe. Leakage and subsequent gastric fistula is the most dreadful complication, which may lead to serious morbidity and even mortality.

Objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of fibrin glue application in the setting of gastric fistula after LSG.

Multicenter, randomized, tandem evaluation of EndoRings colonoscopy--results of the CLEVER study.

Background And Study Aims: Adenoma miss rate during colonoscopy has become a widely acknowledged proxy measure for post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer. Among other reasons, this can happen because of inadequate visualization of the proximal aspects of colonic folds and flexures. EndoRings (EndoAid Ltd.

Endoscopic removal of partially migrated intragastric bands following surgical gastroplasty: a prospective case series.

Background: The intragastric migration of a surgically placed adjustable gastric band is believed to occur slowly, over months to years. Band removal procedures necessitate surgical laparotomy, thus increasing the risk of complications.

Methods: The endoscopic technique for band removal described in this case-series provides a minimally invasive approach.

Oral corticosteroids and the risk of serious infections in patients with elderly-onset inflammatory bowel diseases.

Objectives: Systemic corticosteroids are among the most common anti-inflammatory treatments in elderly-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Steroid use and older age each independently predisposes to infections, and infections increase mortality in hospitalized older IBD patients. Therefore, our objective was to examine the risk of serious infections in elderly-onset IBD patients treated with oral corticosteroids, and explore how the timing of exposure affects the risk estimates.

Safety and efficacy of a novel balloon colonoscope: a prospective cohort study.

Background And Study Aims: Although colonoscopy is the gold standard for detecting colorectal cancer (CRC), adenomas and cancers are missed. We aimed to establish the safety and feasibility of use of a novel balloon-colonoscope.

Patients And Methods: Patients (40 - 75 years) referred for CRC screening, polyp surveillance, or diagnostic evaluation were enrolled in a prospective pilot cohort study whose primary endpoint was device safety.

Standard forward-viewing colonoscopy versus full-spectrum endoscopy: an international, multicentre, randomised, tandem colonoscopy trial.

Background: Although colonoscopy is the accepted standard for detection of colorectal adenomas and cancers, many adenomas and some cancers are missed. To avoid interval colorectal cancer, the adenoma miss rate of colonoscopy needs to be reduced by improvement of colonoscopy technique and imaging capability. We aimed to compare the adenoma miss rates of full-spectrum endoscopy colonoscopy with those of standard forward-viewing colonoscopy.

A prospective cohort study evaluating a novel colonoscopy platform featuring full-spectrum endoscopy.

Background And Study Aims: Although colonoscopy is the criterion standard for detecting colorectal adenomas and cancers, a significant percentage of adenomas are missed with this technique. We aimed to establish the feasibility, usability, and safety of a novel colonoscopy platform featuring full-spectrum endoscopy (FUSE).

Patients And Methods: This was a prospective, single-center pilot and feasibility study.

Comparison of standard forward-viewing mode versus ultrawide-viewing mode of a novel colonoscopy platform: a prospective, multicenter study in the detection of simulated polyps in an in vitro colon model (with video).

Background: Although colonoscopy is the criterion standard for detecting colorectal adenomas and cancers, a significant percentage of adenomas are missed.

Objective: To compare forward-viewing with ultrawide-viewing colonoscopy in the detection of simulated colon polyps in an in vitro colon model.

Design: Prospective, multicenter.

Validity of clinical criteria in the management of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography related duodenal perforations.

Objective: To assess the validity of predetermined clinical and radiologic criteria in the management of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related duodenal perforations (DPs).

Design: Prospective case series.

Setting: Tertiary medical facility.

The impact of endoscopic ultrasonography on the management of suspected pancreatic cancer--a comprehensive longitudinal continuous evaluation.

Objectives: Between 1997 and 2001, a single-center chart review demonstrated significant impact of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in evaluating suspected pancreatic cancer (PCA). Repeating and comparing this review with that from 2001 to 2004 was performed to determine whether increased use of EUS results in more patients being accurately chosen for curative versus palliative procedures, and for surgical versus nonsurgical oncotherapy.

Methods: The complete systematic review was made up of electronic files from the gastroenterology, oncology, and pathology departments of patients presenting with suspected PCA.

Failure of Synbiotic 2000 to prevent postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease.

Complications of Crohn's disease (CD) lead to surgery in about 70-90% of patients. The majority of patients suffer from relapse of the disease. Colonic bacteria are essential to the development of CD.

[The contribution of capsule endoscopy to the diagnosis of small-bowel tumors in cases of obscure overt gastrointestinal bleeding].

Background: The source of obscure bleeding is usually located in the small bowel. The use of capsule endoscopy (CE) has changed the management of these patients.

Goals: To review our experience with the diagnosis of small bowel tumors by CE in patients with obscure overt gastrointestinal bleeding.

Difference of CBD width on US vs. ERCP.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between US and ERCP in the measurement of common bile duct (CBD) width after application of Compound and Harmonic imaging on ultrasound.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated the CBD width as measured on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and ultrasonography (US), applying Compound and Harmonic US techniques, on 100 patients. Furthermore, we retrospectively re-examined US and ERCP images of 48 patients who underwent ERCP and US during the same hospitalization period.

Ferrus calcium citrate is absorbed better than iron bisglycinate in patients with Crohn's disease, but not in healthy controls.

Our purpose was to compare the absorption of iron bisglycinate and ferrous calcium citrate in volunteers using an oral iron tolerance test. Twenty volunteers, 10 healthy controls and 10 with stable Crohn's disease, agreed to participate in the study. All were given 50 mg of elemental iron as iron bisglycinate or ferrous calcium citrate.

Paraoxonases (PONs) 1, 2, and 3 are expressed in human and mouse gastrointestinal tract and in Caco-2 cell line: selective secretion of PON1 and PON2.

The paraoxonase (PON) family contains three genes (PON1/2/3) that are believed to be involved in the protection against oxidative stress. PON1 and PON3 are circulating in serum attached to high-density lipoprotein fraction (HDL), whereas PON2 is ubiquitously expressed. The intestine is the second major organ that synthesizes lipoproteins; therefore, we examined PON mRNA expression and protein levels in gastrointestinal biopsies from humans, from C57BL6 mice, and from Caco-2 cells, a colon carcinoma-derived cell line that exhibits properties of intestinal epithelium at differentiation.

NOD2/CARD15 genotype and phenotype differences between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews with Crohn's disease.

Objective: NOD2/CARD15 has been identified as a major susceptibility gene for Crohn's disease (CD). Three mutations, Arg702Trp, Gly908Arg, and Leu1007fsinsC, are associated with CD. The incidence and prevalence rate of inflammatory bowel diseases is two- to four-fold higher in Ashkenazi Jews as compared to non-Jewish Caucasians.

Wireless capsule video endoscopy is a superior diagnostic tool in comparison to barium follow-through and computerized tomography in patients with suspected Crohn's disease.

Background: The recently introduced wireless M2A capsule video endoscopy (CVE) has been demonstrated to be superior to barium follow-through and enteroscopy in diagnosing patients with occult blood loss and iron-deficiency anaemia.

Objective: To further investigate CVE in comparison to barium follow-through and entero-computerized tomography (CT) in establishing the diagnosis of patients with suspected Crohn's disease.

Design And Setting: The study was conducted in one academic hospital.