Predictive factors for colonoscopy complications.

Objective: To determine factors predicting complications caused by colonoscopy.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: A private hospital in Hong Kong.

Use of biologics for inflammatory bowel disease in Hong Kong: consensus statement.

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVE; With the increasing use of biologics in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, the Hong Kong IBD Society developed a set of consensus statements intended to serve as local recommendations for clinicians about the appropriate use of biologics for treating inflammatory bowel disease.

Participants: The consensus meeting was held on 9 July 2011 in Hong Kong. Draft consensus statements were developed by core members of the Hong Kong IBD Society, including local gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons experienced in managing patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

A pilot study on the efficacy of Picolax given as a four-week course for the treatment of refractory constipation.

OBJECTIVES. Although Picolax (sodium picosulphate and magnesium citrate) has been widely documented for use in bowel preparation, there is limited literature on its efficacy in the treatment of constipation. Refractory constipation is a more difficult situation with limited treatment options available.

Clinical and angiographic findings of complete atrioventricular block in acute inferior myocardial infarction.

Introduction: The angiographic findings and prognosis of patients with complete atrioventricular block (AVB) complicating acute inferior myocardial infarction (MI) remain unclear.

Materials And Methods: The clinical and angiographic findings of 70 consecutive patients with complete AVB were compared with those of 319 patients with inferior MI without AVB (control group) admitted within the same study period.

Results: Patients with complete AVB were older (68 +/- 12 vs 63 +/- 13 years; P = 0.

Serum macrophage migration-inhibitory factor as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer.

Background: This study aimed to determine the potential diagnostic value of migration-inhibitory factor (MIF) for gastric cancer in patients presenting with dyspepsia and its prognostic value for gastric cancer.

Methods: A cohort of 97 patients with histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma and 222 patients with dyspepsia were recruited. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum MIF and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).

Prevalence and time trend of intestinal metaplasia in Hong Kong.

Background And Methods: Upper endoscopy records from 1998 to 2003 were reviewed. The demographic data, endoscopic diagnosis, results of rapid urease test and the absence or presence of intestinal metaplasia (IM) in histology were reviewed, to evaluate the prevalence of IM and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection over time in Hong Kong.

Results: Among 1805 endoscopies performed, 1751 had both rapid urease test and histology available.

Quality of life and psychological impact in patients with noncardiac chest pain.

Background: Chest pain is common and data regarding noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) in Asia are lacking.

Aim: To determine the differences in clinical presentations, psychologic impact, and quality of life between patients with NCCP and cardiac chest pain (CCP), and to identify any factors that impacted on these patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography for the evaluation of chest pain were recruited in Hong Kong and Wuhan, China.

E-cadherin promoter hypermethylation induced by interleukin-1beta treatment or H. pylori infection in human gastric cancer cell lines.

Interleukin-1beta is up-regulated in the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. H. pylori infection was associated with E-cadherin methylation.

Effects of aspirin on the development of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric inflammation and heterotopic proliferative glands in Mongolian gerbils.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is a major cause of gastritis and gastric carcinoma. Aspirin has anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic activity. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of aspirin on H.

Decreasing trend of esophageal adenocarcinoma in Hong Kong.

Background: The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma was increasing in the Western Europe and United States, but not in East Asian countries. Population based study on the trend of esophageal adenocarcinoma in Hong Kong was not available.

Materials And Methods: Population-based data of Hong Kong Cancer Registry from 1984 to 2003 were used.

Prevalence of colorectal neoplasm among patients with newly diagnosed coronary artery disease.

Context: Colorectal neoplasm and coronary artery disease (CAD) share similar risk factors, and their co-occurrence may be associated.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of colorectal neoplasm in patients with CAD in a cross-sectional study and to identify the predisposing factors for the association of the 2 diseases.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Patients in Hong Kong, China, were recruited for screening colonoscopy after undergoing coronary angiography for suspected CAD during November 2004 to June 2006.

Symptom resolution does not predict healing of erosive oesophagitis in Chinese.

Background: Previous studies suggested that Chinese have a milder spectrum of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and a lower dose of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) is sufficient for the control of symptoms as compared with the Western population.

Aims: To determine if 8 weeks of esomeprazole 20 mg daily would be adequate for both symptom resolution and oesophagitis healing in Chinese patients and the predictive factors for the response.

Methods: 66 patients with oesophagitis were included.

Increasing prevalence of advanced colonic polyps in young patients undergoing colonoscopy in a referral academic hospital in Hong Kong.

Aim: To investigate the distribution and frequency of advanced polyps over eight years.

Methods: 6424 colonoscopies were reviewed during the study period 1998 to 2005. The study period was subdivided into period I: 1998 to 2001 and period II: 2002-2005.

Influence of positive family history on clinical characteristics of functional constipation.

Background & Aims: We observed that there is familial aggregation in patients with functional constipation. Their clinical characteristics have not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with functional constipation with and without a positive family history.

An inverse correlation between Interleukin-6 and select gene promoter methylation in patients with gastric cancer.

Background: Both serum IL-6 levels and CpG island methylation have been shown to have prognostic significance in gastric cancer, it was suggested that an important link existed between IL-6 and methylation of cancers.

Aim: To investigate the prognostic value of IL-6 serum level and the association between serum IL-6 levels and CpG island methylation at p16, DAPK, MGMT and E-cadherin in patients with gastric cancer.

Patients And Methods: Methylation status was assessed by MSP in 75 surgical specimens of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Familial aggregation in constipated subjects in a tertiary referral center.

Objectives: Clinical observation showed that there is family aggregation in constipated subjects, but formal data are lacking. This prompted us to conduct a formal family study in constipated subjects.

Methods: Constipated subjects (probands) were identified according to the Rome II and Chinese constipation questionnaire criteria, healthy subjects were chosen as controls.

Comparison between empirical prokinetics, Helicobacter test-and-treat and empirical endoscopy in primary-care patients presenting with dyspepsia: a one-year study.

Aim: To investigate the optimal strategy to treat dyspeptic patients in primary care.

Methods: Dyspeptic patients presenting to primary care outpatient clinics were randomly assigned to: (1) empirical endoscopy, (2) H pylori test-and-treat, and (3) empirical prokinetic treatment with cisapride. Early endoscopy was arranged if patients remained symptomatic after 2 wk.

CpG island methylation in precursors of gastrointestinal malignancies.

Gastrointestinal malignancies account for about 20% of all cancers worldwide. It is widely accepted that cancer evolves through several stepwise morphological stages such as the adenoma-carcinoma and hyperplastic polyp-serrated adenoma-carcinoma sequences in colorectal cancers, and the metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequences in esophageal and gastric cancers. The morphological progression is associated with the accumulation of multiple genetic and epigenetic events.

Colonoscopy demand and practice in a regional hospital over 9 years in Hong Kong: resource implication for cancer screening.

Background: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Hong Kong is rising. The trend of colonoscopy demand is uncertain.

Aim: To investigate colonoscopy demand and practice in a Hong Kong regional hospital over the past nine years.

Inhibition of Akt/PKB by a COX-2 inhibitor induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells.

Background/aim: Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 has been proposed to be a potential mechanism for the chemoprevention of gastrointestinal tumors by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This study investigates the mechanisms by which the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor SC236 induces apoptosis of gastric cancer cell lines and its downstream signaling pathway.

Methods: Two gastric cancer cell lines, AGS and MKN28, were treated with SC236 and assessed for cell growth and apoptosis.

All-trans retinoic acid induces XAF1 expression through an interferon regulatory factor-1 element in colon cancer.

Background & Aims: X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP)-associated factor 1 (XAF1) is a novel tumor suppressor and interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) exerts an antiproliferative effect on tumor cells through up-regulation of IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) and the downstream IFN-stimulated genes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect and mechanism of ATRA on XAF1 expression and the role of XAF1 in ATRA-induced growth inhibition in colon cancer.

Effects of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 gene disruption on Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric inflammation.

Background: Cyclooxygenases (COXs) play important roles in inflammation and carcinogenesis. The present study aimed to determine the effects of COX-1 and COX-2 gene disruption on Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric inflammation.

Methods: Wild-type (WT), COX-1 and COX-2 heterozygous (COX-1+/- and COX-2+/-), and homozygous COX-deficient (COX-1-/- and COX-2-/-) mice were inoculated with H.