The planning of cancer screening programmes.

Positive screening tests require investigation, usually by specialists. Specialist services are known to be limited. The planning of screening programmes must first include a model of existing diagnostic and follow-up services of symptomatic patients so that the added impact of the extra referrals required for screening can be estimated.

Continuation of proton pump inhibitors from hospital to community.

Objectives: To evaluate the appropriateness of initiation of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment in hospital, the quality of discharge information, and any association with continued treatment in the community.

Method: Survey of all inpatients newly initiated on a PPI in June-August 2003. Assessment of appropriateness of therapy and completeness of discharge information; assessment of continuation of PPI therapy in the community after 6 months.

Helicobacter pylori serology in a birth cohort of New Zealanders from age 11 to 26.

Aim: To determine seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (DMHDS) at age 26 in order to investigate seroconversion and seroreversion from age 11 to 26 and the association of seropositivity with risk factors for H pylori infection.

Methods: Participants in the DMHDS at age 26 and retrospectively at age 21 were tested for H pylori antibodies using two commercially available ELISA kits. Gender, socioeconomic status (SES), smoking, educational attainment and employment at age 26 were tested for association with H pylori seropositivity.

Antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori: is it a problem in New Zealand?

Aims: Infection with Helicobacter pylori requires antibiotic treatment when associated with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Antibiotic susceptibility tests on this pathogen are rarely carried out and there is little information available on the incidence of antibiotic resistant strains in New Zealand. The aim of this study was to assess the susceptibility of H.

Diagnosis of helicobacter pylori infection by polymerase chain reaction: is it worth it?

The aim of this study was to determine to what degree polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was superior to histology and culture, and whether a noncommercial urease test was of value, in detecting Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsy specimens. Gastric biopsy specimens from the antrum and corpus of 134 consenting patients were subjected to PCR, targeting the glmM (ureC) gene, histology, culture, and a rapid urease test. PCR detected H.

Prevalence and correlates of irritable bowel symptoms in a New Zealand birth cohort.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and correlates of bowel symptoms and the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in a birth cohort of young New Zealanders.

Methods: Participants in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study at age 26 completed a validated Bowel Disease Questionnaire expressing their experience of clearly defined symptoms over the previous 12 months.

Results: 980 participants (499 male, 481 female, comprising 96% of the birth cohort) completed the questionnaire.

Somatostatin enhances cAMP-dependent short-circuit current in human colon via somatostatin receptor subtype-2.

Somatostatin inhibits colonic ion secretion in animal models and cultured intestinal cell lines via somatostatin receptor subtype 2 and subtype 1, respectively. In a recent in vitro ion transport study of the human colon, somatostatin was shown to stimulate short-circuit current, a measure of electrogenic ion transport. In this study we have used the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and measurements of changes in short-circuit current (Isc) in response to receptor subtype-specific analogs of somatostatin, to define the somatostatin receptor subtype responsible for the stimulation of short-circuit current in human colon.

Somatostatin and octreotide stimulate short-circuit current in human colonic epithelium.

In vitro somatostatin is a potent inhibitor of intestinal ion secretion in animal models and cultured human cell lines, providing a rationale for its use in secretory diarrheas. However, the effects of somatostatin on ion transport in native human colonic epithelium have not been reported. In this study the effects of somatostatin and octreotide on the basal short-circuit current and the cAMP- and Ca2+-stimulated short-circuit current were studied in isolated human colonic mucosa mounted in Ussing chambers.

New treatment for Barrett's oesophagus.

Barrett's esophagus is characterised by the presence of specialised intestinal metaplasia in the lower esophagus. Its importance is related primarily to its link with adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus, often preceded by dysplastic changes. The incidence of this carcinoma has increased dramatically over the last few decades.

Cross-sectional Specimen Preparation and Observation of a Plasma Sprayed Coating Using a Focused Ion Beam/Transmission Electron Microscopy System.

A focused ion beam (FIB) technique was applied to cross-sectional specimen preparation to observe an interface between a plasma sprayed coating and an aluminum (Al) substrate by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The surface of the sprayed coating film has a roughness of several tens of microns. Sputter rates for the coating film and the substrate are greatly different.

Omeprazole therapy decreases the need for dilatation of peptic oesophageal strictures.

Background: Better control of gastric acid secretion with omeprazole appeared to decrease the need for dilatation of oesophageal strictures complicating gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in our hospital-based endoscopy service.

Aim: To investigate whether the perceived decrease in the need for oesophageal dilatation could be documented from endoscopy records, and, if confirmed, whether this could be related to the treatment used.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective study of the records of 69 patients who had peptic oesophageal strictures dilated, followed by treatment with acid inhibition for at least 6 months.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in a longitudinal study of New Zealanders at ages 11 and 21.

Background: Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence increases with age in adult life but spontaneous reversion may occur in childhood and adolescence.

Aims: To determine the seroprevalence of H. pylori in a longitudinal study of New Zealanders at ages 11 and 21.

ERCP: a review of technical competency and workload in a small unit.

Background: ERCP is increasingly performed not only in large referral centers but also in smaller units. We sought to analyze the success rates of selective cannulation and intervention using the cumulative sum method and to document the workload in a small unit.

Methods: Indications, results, and interventions performed by one endoscopist were recorded for all patients undergoing ERCP at Dunedin Hospital.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in a birth cohort of 21-year-old New Zealanders.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in a subset of a birth cohort of New Zealanders at age 21 and examine the association with risk factors and digestion-related symptoms.

Design: Assay of serum collected from members of a longitudinal study during 1993-94 and a survey of risk factors and digestion-related symptoms by interview and questionnaire.

Reflux oesophagitis.

This article summarises the current position concerning the pathogenesis, clinical picture, diagnosis and management of reflux oesophagitis. It is aimed at the practising clinician who forms part of the team including primary care and specialist-based diagnostic services.

Expression of somatostatin receptor genes and their role in inhibiting Cl- secretion in HT-29cl.19A colonocytes.

Recent studies in a cultured model of the intestinal epithelium (HT-29cl.19A) have shown that somatostatin-14 (SS-14) inhibits the Cl- secretory process by acting at multiple G protein-dependent sites. These actions may underlie the antidiarrheal properties of SS peptides.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy for colorectal screening: a randomized trial of performance and acceptability.

In a randomized clinical trail to assess acceptability, yields, costs, and unwanted effects of screening procedures, 232 subjects (137 with family history of colorectal carcinoma or adenoma, 95 without) were offered either flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Subjects with polyps found on sigmoidoscopy were followed up by colonoscopy. The two procedures were similar in compliance (65%) and yield (19% adenoma, 15% hyperplastic polyps).