A new composite measure of colonoscopy: the Performance Indicator of Colonic Intubation (PICI).

Cecal intubation rate (CIR) is an established performance indicator of colonoscopy. In some patients, cecal intubation with acceptable tolerance is only achieved with additional sedation. This study proposes a composite Performance Indicator of Colonic Intubation (PICI), which combines CIR, comfort, and sedation.

The national colonoscopy audit: a nationwide assessment of the quality and safety of colonoscopy in the UK.

Objective: To perform a comprehensive audit of all colonoscopy undertaken in the UK over a 2-week period.

Design: Multi-centre survey. All adult (≥16 years of age) colonoscopies that took place in participating National Health Service hospitals between 28 February 2011 and 11 March 2011 were included.

One-year investigator-blind randomized multicenter trial comparing Asacol 2.4 g once daily with 800 mg three times daily for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis.

Background: Mesalazine (Asacol) is still widely prescribed in divided doses for ulcerative colitis (UC), despite evidence that adherence is improved by once-daily (OD) prescribing. We aimed to investigate whether OD Asacol was as effective as three times (TDS) daily dosing, and to evaluate the role of treatment adherence.

Methods: An investigator-blind randomized trial was undertaken comparing OD Asacol (three 800 mg tablets) versus one 800 mg TDS in maintenance of remission of UC over 1 year.

Practice guidance on the management of acute and chronic gastrointestinal problems arising as a result of treatment for cancer.

Background: The number of patients with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms after cancer therapies which have a moderate or severe impact on quality of life is similar to the number diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease annually. However, in contrast to patients with inflammatory bowel disease, most of these patients are not referred for gastroenterological assessment. Clinicians who do see these patients are often unaware of the benefits of targeted investigation (which differ from those required to exclude recurrent cancer), the range of available treatments and how the pathological processes underlying side effects of cancer treatment differ from those in benign GI disorders.

Colonic tumour localization using an endoscope positioning device.

Background And Study Aim: Although colonoscopy is reliable in identifying colorectal cancer (CRC), studies have demonstrated incorrect tumour localization in 21-34% of colonoscopies when compared with surgical localization. The aim of this study was to determine our accuracy in determining the position of CRCs detected at colonoscopy with the aid of the ScopeGuide endoscope positioning device.

Patients And Methods: Cancers identified within the English National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme were studied.

Sequence changes in predicted promoter elements of STK11/LKB1 are unlikely to contribute to Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

Background: Germline mutations or large-scale deletions in the coding region and splice sites of STK11/LKB1 do not account for all cases of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS). It is conceivable that, on the basis of data from other diseases, inherited variation in promoter elements of STK11/LKB1 may cause PJS.

Results: Phylogenetic foot printing and transcription factor binding site prediction of sequence 5' to the coding sequence of STK11/LKB1 was performed to identify non-coding sequences of DNA indicative of regulatory elements.