IBD Patients' Perception of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Pandemic and Satisfaction with Provided Healthcare: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic is affecting public health systems and mental health significantly. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease are witnessing vigorous organizational changes in inflammatory bowel disease centers and experiencing all psychosocial effects of the crisis. We conducted a single-center cross-sectional study in order to assess inflammatory bowel disease patients' concerns, behavior, and satisfaction with provided healthcare during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic.

A score derived from routine biochemical parameters increases the diagnostic accuracy of chromogranin A in detecting patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Background: Chromogranin A (CgA) is a valuable biomarker for detection and follow-up of patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). However, various comorbidities may influence serum CgA, which decreases its diagnostic accuracy. We aimed to investigate which laboratory parameters are independently associated with increased CgA in real-life setting and to develop a scoring system, which could improve the diagnostic accuracy of CgA in detecting patients with NENs.

Bleeding Peptic Ulcer - Tertiary Center Experience: Epidemiology, Treatment and Prognosis.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate epidemiological, clinical and endoscopic characteristics of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) with special reference to peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB). The study included 2198 consecutive patients referred to our emergency department due to acute UGIB from January 2008 to December 2012. All patients underwent urgent upper GI endoscopy within 24 hours of admission, and 842 patients diagnosed with PUB were enrolled and prospectively followed-up.

Scoring systems for peptic ulcer bleeding: Which one to use?

Aim: To compare the Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS), Rockall score (RS) and Baylor bleeding score (BBS) in predicting clinical outcomes and need for interventions in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers.

Methods: Between January 2008 and December 2013, 1012 consecutive patients admitted with peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) were prospectively followed. The pre-endoscopic RS, BBS and GBS, as well as the post-endoscopic diagnostic scores (RS and BBS) were calculated for all patients according to their urgent upper endoscopy findings.

CX43 Expression in Colonic Adenomas and Surrounding Mucosa Is a Marker of Malignant Potential.

Background/aim: Colorectal cancer is a major public health problem. The adenoma-carcinoma sequence offers potential for screening and surveillance. We tested the clinical behavior and diagnostic utility of connexin 43 (CX43) in connection with pathohistological risk.

Biliary leakage after urgent cholecystectomy: Optimization of endoscopic treatment.

Aim: To investigate the results of endoscopic treatment of postoperative biliary leakage occurring after urgent cholecystectomy with a long-term follow-up.

Methods: This is an observational database study conducted in a tertiary care center. All consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) for presumed postoperative biliary leakage after urgent cholecystectomy in the period between April 2008 and April 2013 were considered for this study.

North vs south differences in acute peptic ulcer hemorrhage in Croatia: hospitalization incidence trends, clinical features, and 30-day case fatality.

Aim: To assess the seven-year trends of hospitalization incidence due to acute peptic ulcer hemorrhage (APUH) and associated risk factors, and examine the differences in these trends between two regions in Croatia.

Methods: The study collected sociodemographic, clinical, and endoscopic data on 2204 patients with endoscopically confirmed APUH who were admitted to the Clinical Hospital Center "Sestre Milosrdnice," Zagreb and Clinical Hospital Center Split between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011. We determined hospitalization incidence rates, 30-day case fatality rate, clinical outcomes, and incidence-associated factors.

Quantitative investigation of efficiency of ultraviolet and visible light in eradication of Candida albicans in vitro.

Objective: The aim of this study was to quantitatively investigate the efficiency of the ultraviolet (UV) and visible light in eradication of Candida albicans in vitro; in particular, to determine, for selected wavelengths, the specific eradication coefficients and thresholds in terms of energy density levels required to effect 3.0log10 and 4.0log10 reduction.

Endoscopic balloon dilatation of postsurgical intestinal strictures in Crohn's disease: case report and review of the literature.

Strictures are one of the most common complications of Crohn's disease. If symptomatic and resistant to medical anti-inflammatory therapy, and especially in cases of acute obstruction, surgical correction may be unavoidable. Although surgical treatment is dramatically effective in curing Crohn's disease strictures, a high rate of postsurgical restenosis has been recognized, ultimately requiring additional surgery.

Mortality in high-risk patients with bleeding Mallory-Weiss syndrome is similar to that of peptic ulcer bleeding. Results of a prospective database study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the predictive factors influencing mortality in patients with bleeding Mallory-Weiss syndrome in comparison with peptic ulcer bleeding.

Material And Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2009, 281 patients with endoscopically confirmed Mallory-Weiss syndrome and 1530 patients with peptic ulcer bleeding were consecutively evaluated. The 30-day mortality and clinical outcome were related to the patients' demographic data, endoscopic, and clinical characteristics.

The influence of etiologic factors on clinical outcome in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding.

Background: Peptic ulcer bleeding remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) use, Helicobacter pylori infection and non-H. pylori-non-NSAIDs causes of peptic ulcer bleeding and to identify the predictive factors influencing the rebleeding rate and in-hospital mortality in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer.

Endoclips vs large or small-volume epinephrine in peptic ulcer recurrent bleeding.

Aim: To compare the recurrent bleeding after endoscopic injection of different epinephrine volumes with hemoclips in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer.

Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2009, 150 patients with gastric or duodenal bleeding ulcer with major stigmata of hemorrhage and nonbleeding visible vessel in an ulcer bed (Forrest IIa) were included in the study. Patients were randomized to receive a small-volume epinephrine group (15 to 25 mL injection group; Group 1, n = 50), a large-volume epinephrine group (30 to 40 mL injection group; Group 2, n = 50) and a hemoclip group (Group 3, n = 50).

A randomized-controlled trial of endoscopic treatment of acute esophageal variceal hemorrhage: N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection vs. variceal ligation.

Background/aims: This prospective randomized trial compares the efficacy of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection and variceal ligation in emergency endoscopic treatment of acute esophageal variceal hemorrhage in patients with portal hypertension and chronic liver disease.

Methodology: Between January 2004 to December 2008 43 patients with endoscopy-proven acute esophageal variceal hemorrhage were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups: endoscopic injection with N-butyl-2-cyanacrylate (n=22) and endoscopic variceal ligation (n=21). Vital signs, the amount of blood transfusion and infection status were recorded before and after endoscopic treatment.

Fungicidal effect of diode laser irradiation in patients with denture stomatitis.

Background And Objective: Denture stomatitis (DS) is a common inflammatory condition that affects denture wearers. The aim of this study was to examine, in vivo, the effect of diode laser irradiation on fungal growth in both the palatal mucosa and in denture base materials, in denture wearing patients.

Study Design/materials And Methods: In total, 70 patients with clinical study design evidence of DS participated in this parallel, single blind, and placebo controlled study.