Incidence and predicting factors of inadequate bowel preparation for colonoscopy: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aim: Adequate bowel preparation is necessary for optimal colonoscopy. Inadequate bowel preparation results in increased costs and imprecise colonoscopy results. This study aims to determine the incidence and risk factors of inadequate bowel preparation.

Knowledge of Laboratory Medicine in Medical Students: Is It Sufficient?

Background & Objective: Appropriate use of laboratory testing is essential for achieving safe and effective care to patient. Insufficient knowledge could lead to poor case management and increase the health care costs. It is believed that education on laboratory testing for undergraduate medical student is inadequate.

Pharmacological prophylaxis versus pancreatic duct stenting plus pharmacological prophylaxis for prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis in high risk patients: a randomized trial.

Background: Acute pancreatitis is a serious complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The aim of this noninferiority study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pancreatic duct (PD) stenting plus pharmacological prophylaxis vs. pharmacological prophylaxis alone in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in high risk patients.

Mortality from respiratory diseases associated with opium use: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that opium use may increase mortality from cancer and cardiovascular diseases. However, no comprehensive study of opium use and mortality from respiratory diseases has been published. We aimed to study the association between opium use and mortality from respiratory disease using prospectively collected data.

Pepsinogen II can be a potential surrogate marker of morphological changes in corpus before and after H. pylori eradication.

Background: The aim of this investigation is to study the relationship between gastric morphology and serum biomarkers before and after Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Methods: First-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients underwent gastroscopy before and 2.5 years after H.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and overall and Cause-specific Mortality: A Prospective Study of 50000 Individuals.

BACKGROUND Only a few studies in Western countries have investigated the association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and mortality at the general population level and they have shown mixed results. This study investigated the association between GERD symptoms and overall and cause-specific mortality in a large prospective population-based study in Golestan Province, Iran. METHODS Baseline data on frequency, onset time, and patient-perceived severity of GERD symptoms were available for 50001 participants in the Golestan Cohort Study (GCS).

Diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography in patients with inconclusive magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of biliopancreatic abnormalities.

Aim: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in patients with inconclusive magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP) in pancreatobiliary abnormalities.

Methods: During 10 months, patients with pancreatobiliary diseases referred to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) because of inconclusive MRI/MRCP diagnosis were scheduled to undergo endoscopic ultrasonography. Patients were divided into four major groups: patients with (i) resectable periampullary neoplasms who were referred to a surgeon, (ii) unresectable periampullary cancer who underwent ERCP for biliary stenting, (iii) bile duct stone who were referred to ERCP for stone extraction, and (iv) normal pancreatobiliary tract.

Long-term follow-up of common bile duct diameter after endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients with common bile duct stones.

Background And Aims: To determine the time to normalization of common bile duct (CBD) diameter after endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction in patients with choledocholithiasis.

Methods: Patients with CBD dilation due to choledocholithiasis were enrolled. CBD diameter was measured by transabdominal ultrasonography before, and repeated after one, three, six and twelve months after endoscopic sphincterotomy and stone extraction, until normalization of CBD diameter.

Management of cystic craniopharyngiomas with intracavitary irradiation with 32P.

Background: Cystic craniopharyngiomas are the most frequent intracranial neoplasm of nonglial origin in children. Follow-up data were analyzed to assess the value of intracavitary irradiation with stereotactically applied 32P radioisotopes for the treatment of patients with craniopharyngioma cysts admitted to Shohada Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, Iran, between 1998 and 2005.

Methods: Patients with predominantly cystic craniopharyngiomas, who underwent stereotactic intracavitary irradiation, were followed for tumor response and complications.

Needle-knife fistulotomy versus standard method for cannulation of common bile duct: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with endoscopic sphincterotomy has become widely available for the treatment of pancreatobiliary diseases; however, it has mortality and complications. The aim of this study was to compare the success rates and complications of two different methods of common bile duct cannulation.

Methods: From June 2003 though February 2004, patients who were candidates for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and/or endoscopic sphincterotomy were randomly divided into two groups: standard cannulation (group A) and suprapapillary needle-knife fistulotomy (group B).

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus.

Background: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy has become the preferred treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus. The purpose of this paper is to present our experience with ventriculostomy at our center.

Methods: Twenty-four patients underwent ventriculostomy for the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus between May 2000 and May 2006.

Furazolidone-based, metronidazole-based, or a combination regimen for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in peptic ulcer disease.

Background: Furazolidone has been effective against Helicobacter pylori in Iran, with no resistance, but with intolerable side effects in the second week. One-week regimens have not been useful here. We compared the efficacy and side effect profiles of three anti-H.