Increasing Serum Albumin Level Shortly After Gastrostomy Tube Insertion Predicts Longer Survival in Elderly Patients With Dementia.

Goal: To identify factors influencing survival after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube insertion in elderly patients with severe dementia.

Background: Use of PEG in patients with dementia raises medical and ethical questions.

Study: The cohort included 189 patients aged ≥64 years with severe dementia who underwent PEG tube insertion in 2002 to 2011 at a tertiary hospital and were followed through 2014.

Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal Findings in PTEN Mutation-Positive Cowden Syndrome Patients Participating in an Active Surveillance Program.

Objectives: Cowden syndrome (CS), associated with germline PTEN mutations, is an autosomal-dominant disorder with increased frequencies of thyroid and breast cancers. Recent reports document the occurrence of gastrointestinal (GI) polyps and increased risk of colon cancer in PTEN mutation carriers. Studies to date, however, have not been based on mutation carriers undergoing active, systematic, routine-interval GI surveillance.

Mucin gene expression in bile of patients with and without gallstone disease, collected by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.

Aim: To investigate the pattern of mucin expression and concentration in bile obtained during endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) in relation to gallstone disease.

Methods: Bile samples obtained at ERC from 29 consecutive patients, 17 with and 12 without gallstone disease were evaluated for mucin content by gel filtration on a Sepharose CL-4B column. Dot blot analysis for bile mucin apoproteins was performed with antibodies to Mucin 1 (MUC1), MUC2, MUC3, MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC6.

Assessment and validation of the new capsule endoscopy Crohn's disease activity index (CECDAI).

Background: Capsule endoscopy is a relatively new imaging tool for the detection of small bowel pathology. The assessment of the severity of Crohn's disease by capsule endoscopy is not standardized and is limited by interobserver variations in interpreting the findings.

Aim: To develop, assess and validate a new, simple capsule endoscopy Crohn's disease activity index (CECDAI) in order to grade the severity of small bowel capsule endoscopy findings.

Gallbladder inflammation is associated with increase in mucin expression and pigmented stone formation.

Mucin is a high molecular weight glycoprotein that plays an important role in protecting the gallbladder epithelium from the detergent effect of bile. However, it also participates in gallstone formation. There is little information about a possible relationship between gallbladder inflammation and mucin expression or gallbladder stones' characteristics.

Preparation for colonoscopy in hospitalized patients.

Successful colonoscopy depends on good preparation of the colon before the procedure. Inadequate preparation may lead to cancelled or repeat procedures and compromise patient safety, quality of care, and cost effectiveness. The primary aim of this study was to isolate factors that affect preparation success, especially in older, more severely ill, bedridden patients.

Treatment of rectal cancer by chemoradiation followed by surgery: analysis and early clinical outcome in 66 patients.

Background: Abdominoperineal resection entails the need for a permanent colostomy, which significantly reduces patient self-image and quality of life.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of preoperative chemoradiation in increasing the resectability rates of rectal cancer and increasing the anal sphincter preservation rate.

Methods: The study group included 66 patients aged 33-84 years with T2-T3 rectal carcinoma who were treated in our institute from 1997 to 2002 with preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery 6 weeks later.

Safety and outcome of endoscopic snare excision of the major duodenal papilla.

Background: The optimal management of adenoma of the major duodenal papilla is not established. Options include surgical excision, endoscopic ablative techniques, snare excision, and observation with periodic biopsies. The aims of this retrospective study were to determine the safety and outcome of snare excision of the papilla.