Can mosapride citrate reduce the volume of lavage solution for colonoscopy preparation?

Aim: To evaluate the possibility of reducing the volume of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-electrolyte solution using adjunctive mosapride citrate for colonoscopy preparation.

Methods: This was a single-center, prospective, randomized, investigator-blinded, non-inferiority study involving 252 patients of both sexes, aged from 20 to 80 years, scheduled for screening or diagnostic colonoscopy in our department. A total of 126 patients was randomized to receive 1.

Controlled attenuation parameter for non-invasive assessment of hepatic steatosis: does etiology affect performance?

Background: Hepatic steatosis is an important parameter to assess in chronic liver disease patients. The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) assesses liver steatosis using transient elastography.

Aim: To determine the accuracy of CAP for evaluation of hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis B virus (CHBV)-infected, chronic hepatitis C virus (CHCV)-infected, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients and to determine the influence of etiology on the diagnostic accuracy of CAP.

Combining neurohormonal blockade with continuous-flow left ventricular assist device support for myocardial recovery: a single-arm prospective study.

Background: Combining mechanical unloading by a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) and neurohormonal blockade with heart failure medications (HFMED) is an underexplored clinical strategy to promote recovery of cardiac function in patients with advanced heart failure (HF).

Methods: We implemented a clinical protocol to achieve maximal neurohormonal blockade after placement of a CF-LVAD and assessed its utility in an LVAD weaning (6,200 rpm) study. Thirty-four subjects were enrolled after CF-LVAD and were managed with aggressive, bi-weekly up-titration of HFMED.

Magnetic resonance imaging of time-varying magnetic fields from therapeutic devices.

While magnetic resonance imaging of static magnetic fields generated by external probes has been previously demonstrated, there is an unmet need to image time-varying magnetic fields such as those generated by transcranial magnetic stimulators and radiofrequency hyperthermia probes. A method to image such time-varying magnetic fields is introduced in this study. This article presents the theory behind the method and provides proof of concept by imaging time-varying magnetic fields generated by a figure-eight coil inside simple phantoms over a range of frequencies and intensities using a 7T small animal MRI scanner.

Prospective clinical study of endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy with direct metallic stent placement using a forward-viewing echoendoscope.

A prospective clinical study was conducted to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) with direct metallic stent placement using a prototype forward-viewing echoendoscope. The indication for EUS - CDS in this study was lower biliary obstruction only, and not failed endoscopic biliary drainage, because the aim was to evaluate EUS - CDS for first-line biliary drainage therapy. The technical and functional success rates were 94 % (17 /18) and 94 % (16 /17), respectively.

Epstein-Barr virus associated acute hepatitis with cross-reacting antibodies to other herpes viruses in immunocompetent patients: report of two cases.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis (IM) which is characterized by the triad of fever, sore throat, and lymphadenopathy. Self-limited, mild liver function test abnormalities are seen in IM. Acute hepatitis in primary EBV infection is uncommon.

Transposed intrathoracic stomach: functional evaluation.

Background: To study the functional aspects of the transposed stomach in the thoracic cavity and its effects on other organ systems.

Patients And Methods: Children who had undergone gastric transposition more than 5 years ago were evaluated for symptoms, anthropometry, anaemia, duodenogastric reflux, pulmonary function, gastric emptying, gastric pH, gastroesophageal reflux and stricture, gastric motility, and gastritis and atrophy on histological examination of gastric mucosa.

Results: Ten children were evaluated at a median follow-up of 90.

Managing disorder of sexual development surgically: A single center experience.

Introduction: Ambiguous genitalia are a major cause of parental anxiety and create psychological and social problems to patient, if not managed properly. Here we present our experience in managing patients with ambiguous genitalia.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of all patients with ambiguous genitalia managed surgically at out institute between December 1989 and January 2011.

Childhood actinic keratosis in an albino transforming into squamous cell carcinoma.

Actinic keratosis is a scaly, cutaneous lesion that is often seen in elderly patients. It is almost never seen in children and young adults. It develops on areas such as the face, ears and dorsa of the hands with chronic sun exposure.

Diagnostic ability and factors affecting accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration for pancreatic solid lesions: Japanese large single center experience.

Background: Several studies have investigated the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for pancreatic lesions, but they have included only limited patient populations. This study aimed to clarify the diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA in a large number of pancreatic lesions, and to describe the factors that influence it.

Methods: From March 1997 to May 2010, 944 consecutive patients who had undergone EUS-FNA for pancreatic solid lesions were evaluated retrospectively.

Molecular basis for SNX-BAR-mediated assembly of distinct endosomal sorting tubules.

Sorting nexins (SNXs) are regulators of endosomal sorting. For the SNX-BAR subgroup, a Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domain is vital for formation/stabilization of tubular subdomains that mediate cargo recycling. Here, by analysing the in vitro membrane remodelling properties of all 12 human SNX-BARs, we report that some, but not all, can elicit the formation of tubules with diameters that resemble sorting tubules observed in cells.

Host generated siRNAs attenuate expression of serine protease gene in Myzus persicae.

Background: Sap sucking hemipteran aphids damage diverse crop species. Although delivery of ds-RNA or siRNA through microinjection/feeding has been demonstrated, the efficacy of host-mediated delivery of aphid-specific dsRNA in developing aphid resistance has been far from being elucidated.

Methodology/principal Findings: Transgenic Arabidopsis expressing ds-RNA of Myzus persicae serine protease (MySP) was developed that triggered the generation of corresponding siRNAs amenable for delivery to the feeding aphids.

Prognostic value of K-ras mutation status and subtypes in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration specimens from patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Background: Although recent reports indicate that K-ras mutation status is a biomarker that acts as a prognostic factor, only a few analyses of K-ras mutation subtypes have been published. In addition, there are no reports that analyze overall survival and prognostic factors according to K-ras mutation status and subtypes in only unresectable pancreatic cancer (PC) determined from tissues obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 242 patients who were diagnosed as having unresectable PC with available histological diagnosis.

Improving membrane binding as a design strategy for amphipathic peptide hormones: 2-helix variants of PYY3-36.

It has been hypothesized that amphipathic peptides might bind to membranes prior to activating their cognate receptors, but this has proven difficult to test. The peptide hormone PYY3-36 is believed to perform its appetite-suppressing actions through binding to hypothalamic Y2 receptors. It has been proposed that PYY3-36 via its amphipathic α-helix binds to the plasma membrane prior to receptor docking.

Liver stiffness measurements in patients with different stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: diagnostic performance and clinicopathological correlation.

Background: The present study evaluated performance characteristics of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by FibroScan in patients with different stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Patients And Methods: A total of 307 subjects (120 NAFLD, 85 NAFLD related cirrhosis, and 102 healthy controls) were studied.

Results: In NAFLD patients, LSM had significant correlation with fibrosis (r = 0.

Can endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration offer clinical benefit for tumors of the ampulla of vater? -an initial study.

Objective: No previous studies have described endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) only for intra-ampullary lesions of the papilla of Vater. We aimed to examine whether EUS-FNA can be used to diagnose such lesions.

Methods: This study included a subset of 10 consecutive patients in whom EUS-FNA targeted the ampulla of Vater.

Regimens of fetal surveillance for impaired fetal growth.

Background: Policies and protocols for fetal surveillance in the pregnancy where impaired fetal growth is suspected vary widely, with numerous combinations of different surveillance methods.

Objectives: To assess the effects of antenatal fetal surveillance regimens on important perinatal and maternal outcomes.

Search Methods: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (29 February 2012).

Efficacy of mosapride citrate with polyethylene glycol solution for colonoscopy preparation.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjunctive mosapride citrate for bowel preparation before colonoscopy.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with mosapride in addition to polyethylene glycol (PEG)-electrolyte solution. Of 250 patients undergoing colonoscopy, 124 were randomized to receive 2 L PEG plus 15 mg of mosapride citrate (mosapride group), and 126 received 2 L PEG plus placebo (placebo group).