Droplet Digital PCR Detects Low-Density Infection in a Significant Proportion of Helicobacter Pylori-Negative Gastric Biopsies of Dyspeptic Patients.

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori-infected individuals may present low-density infection, undetectable by conventional tests such as histology, rapid urease test, or urea breath test. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) is more sensitive than other polymerase chain reaction methods. We aimed to evaluate the ability of ddPCR to detect H.

Adalimumab or Infliximab for the Prevention of Early Postoperative Recurrence of Crohn Disease: Results From the ENEIDA Registry.

Background: Anti-tumor necrosis factor agents (anti-TNFs) are efficacious at preventing the postoperative recurrence (POR) of Crohn disease, as demonstrated in 2 randomized controlled trials. However, real-life data for infliximab or adalimumab in this setting are scarce. Our aim was to assess both the efficiency of anti-TNFs at preventing early POR of Crohn disease in clinical practice and the associated risk factors for POR.

Relevant Infections in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Their Relationship With Immunosuppressive Therapy and Their Effects on Disease Mortality.

Background And Aims: There is controversy as to whether the risk of relevant infection in IBD is related to immunosuppressants or the disease itself. The aims of this study were to evaluate: [1] the life-long prevalence and types of relevant infections in patients with IBD related to immunosuppressive treatment, and [2] the relationship of both infection and patient comorbidity to mortality.

Methods: Observational multicentre retrospective study of IBD patients that presented a relevant infection.

Fatigue in out-patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Prevalence and predictive factors.

Background And Aim: Fatigue is a common and bothersome symptom in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. The study was aimed to determine the relationship of biological and psychological factors with IBD-related fatigue.

Methods: Consecutive clinically inactive IBD outpatients receiving immunosuppressants or biological drugs were enrolled between January and December 2013.

Good diagnostic accuracy of a chemiluminescent immunoassay in stool samples for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with dyspepsia.

Laboratory-based chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIA) are widely used in clinical laboratories. Some years ago, a CLIA test was developed for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in stool samples, known as LIAISON H. pylori SA, but little information on its use has been reported.

Occult H. pylori infection partially explains 'false-positive' results of (13)C-urea breath test.

Background: In a previous study, UBiT-100 mg, (Otsuka, Spain), a commercial (13)C-urea breath test omitting citric acid pre-treatment, had a high rate of false-positive results; however, it is possible that UBiT detected low-density 'occult' infection missed by other routine reference tests. We aimed to validate previous results in a new cohort and to rule out the possibility that false-positive UBiT were due to an 'occult' infection missed by reference tests.

Methods: Dyspeptic patients (n = 272) were prospectively enrolled and UBiT was performed, according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

A new validation of the Spanish Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-Crohn's disease version.

Objectives: The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI) is an instrument that measures work impairment in the setting of different diseases. One previous study validating the WPAI in Crohn's disease (CD) patients suggested that its reproducibility may be unsatisfactory. This study evaluated the validity and reproducibility of the Spain Spanish version of the WPAI questionnaire in CD patients.

Real-time PCR improves Helicobacter pylori detection in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding.

Background And Aims: Histological and rapid urease tests to detect H. pylori in biopsy specimens obtained during peptic ulcer bleeding episodes (PUB) often produce false-negative results. We aimed to examine whether immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR can improve the sensitivity of these biopsies.

Development and validation of the Crohn's disease perceived work disability questionnaire.

Background: No validated instruments have been developed to measure work disability in Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of our study was to develop and validate a CD perceived work disability questionnaire (CPWDQ).

Methods: Development phase: an initial questionnaire containing 52 items was obtained from patients' interviews plus additional sources; it was completed by 106 patients and the 16 most significant items were selected using a psychometric method in order to create the CPWDQ.

Comparative accuracy of 3 monoclonal stool tests for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection among patients with dyspepsia.

Background: Well-devised studies comparing new but different monoclonal fecal tests for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection are scarce. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of 3 monoclonal stool tests: 2 rapid in-office tools-RAPID Hp StAR and ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA-and an enzyme immunoassay test-Amplified IDEIA Hp StAR-for diagnosing H. pylori infection prior to eradication treatment.

Analysis of court criteria for awarding disability benefits to patients with Crohn's disease.

Background & Aims: Chronic disability and its consequences for social life and employment are important but often neglected aspects of Crohn's disease. No specific scores have been developed to evaluate chronic disability in patients with Crohn's disease; the medical criteria used by government authorities to award disability benefits have not been analyzed. We aimed to determine the courts' criteria for awarding disability benefits to patients with Crohn's disease in Spain.

Validation of the Spanish Work Productivity and Activity impairment questionnaire: Crohn's disease version.

Background: The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire has only been partially validated in Crohn's disease.

Objective: To test the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire for use in Crohn's disease patients.

Methods: A validated Spanish translation of the test was assessed.

Accuracy of diagnostic tests for Helicobacter pylori: a reappraisal.

Background: Despite many changes, no large studies comparing the different diagnostic tests for Helicobacter pylori have been performed in the past 10 years. In this time, monoclonal stool antigen immunoassays and in-office 13C-urea breath tests (UBTs) have appeared. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of invasive and noninvasive tests in a large series of dyspeptic patients.

Evaluation of four different fecal tests for determination of cure after Helicobacter pylori treatment.

Background: Data evaluating the monoclonal tests for determination of cure after Helicobacter pylori treatment are scarce.

Goals: This study was aimed to evaluate the usefulness of 4 stool tests-2 new RAPID monoclonal immunochromatographic tests (RAPID Hp StAR, DakoCytomation, Cambridge, UK and ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA, Meridian Diagnostics, Cincinnati, OH) a monoclonal EIA test (Amplified IDEIA Hp StAR, DakoCytomation, Cambridge, UK), and a polyclonal EIA test (Premier Platinum HpSA, Meridian Diagnostics, Cincinnati, OH)-to confirm cure of H. pylori infection after eradication treatment.

Remission on thiopurinic immunomodulators normalizes quality of life and psychological status in patients with Crohn's disease.

Background: Thiopurinic immunomodulators are effective for maintaining symptom remission in Crohn's disease. Little is known, however, about their effect on patients' quality of life or psychological well-being. The present study aimed to determine whether remission induced by thiopurinic immunomodulators returns levels of quality of life and psychological well-being to normal.

Ranitidine-bismuth citrate, tetracycline and metronidazole followed by triple therapy as alternative strategy for Helicobacter pylori treatment: a pilot study.

Background: Eradication rates of triple therapy--a proton pump inhibitor, clarithromycin and amoxicillin twice daily for 7 days--are suboptimal in some areas of the world. Triple therapy combining ranitidine-bismuth citrate, tetracycline and metronidazole is a very effective second-line therapy. Management strategies including this treatment as first-line therapy may represent a reasonable choice.

[Testing a new in-office test for determination of faecal Helicobacter pylori antigen].

Background: To date, the search for an in-office reliable test for Helicobacter pylori infection has been unsuccessful. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a new immunocromatographic in-office test using monoclonal antibodies to determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori antigen in faeces (Stick H. pyl, Operon S.