True incidence and clinical significance of pneumoperitoneum after PEG placement: a prospective study.

Background: PEG is a widely used method for providing nutritional support. Although pneumoperitoneum is a known finding after PEG placement, its true incidence is subject to debate. Small retrospective studies have found varied rates of free air after PEG placement.

Sphincter of Oddi manometry does not predispose to post-ERCP acute pancreatitis.

Background: Sphincter of Oddi manometry is helpful in selecting patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction who will respond to sphincterotomy. However, studies have shown that sphincter of Oddi manometry is associated with a high risk of post-procedure pancreatitis. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of sphincter of Oddi manometry in patients with sphincter of 2Oddi dysfunction.

Cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF): early and reliable predictors of severe acute pancreatitis.

Background: Severe acute pancreatitis is associated with a high mortality, especially when compared with mild acute pancreatitis. Early intervention in patients with severe acute pancreatitis has been shown to improve mortality. The value of cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha) in diagnosing severe acute pancreatitis at an early stage was studied.

Combined ligation and sclerotherapy versus ligation alone for secondary prophylaxis of esophageal variceal bleeding: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: Variceal ligation has been shown to be superior to sclerotherapy in prevention of rebleeding and improving survival in patients with cirrhosis. However, 25% of patients will rebleed before completion of treatment. A number of trials have compared the combination of ligation and sclerotherapy to ligation alone in achieving rapid and complete eradication of esophageal varices, with conflicting results.

Long term omeprazole therapy for reflux esophagitis:follow-up in serum gastrin levels,EC cell hyperplasia and neoplasia.

AIM:To evaluate the long-term safety of omeprazole in patients of gastroesophageal reflux disease resistant to treatment with H2 receptor antagonist.METHODS:We prospectively followed 33 patients on omeprazole therapy for severe erosive esophagitis for 5-8 years, with periodic gastrin levels, H. pyloriinfection, gastric biopsies for incidence of ECL cell hyperplasia, carcinoids, gastric atrophy and neoplasia.

Elevated basal intestinal mucosal cytokine levels in asymptomatic first-degree relatives of patients with Crohn's disease.

AIM:To determine levels of cytokines in colonic mucosa of asymptomatic first degree relatives of Crohn's disease patients.METHODS:Cytokines (Interleukin (IL) 1-Beta, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-8) were measured using ELISA in biopsy samples of normal looking colonic mucosa of first degree relatives of Crohn's disease patients (n = 9) and from normal controls (n = 10) with no family history of Crohn's disease.RESULTS:Asymptomatic first degree relatives of patients with Crohn's disease had significantly higher levels of basal intestinal mucosal cytokines (IL-2, IL-6 and IL-8) than normal controls.